"Lessons from Madame Chic" a giveaway!

You don't need to speak French to enjoy Jennifer Scott's new book "Lessons from Madame Chic"
I am immersed in all things French...
so learning more about French Style Chic is exciting.

Jennifer lived in Paris with an aristocratic family in the 16th arrondissement for six months. Her keen observations and attention to details are shared as she highlights the top 20 things she learned from her experience.

Jennifer Scott is a very savvy young woman who has produced many You Tube Tutorials and she is the author of the blog The Daily Connoisseur. She very graciously sent me an autographed copy of Madame Chic in the post all the way from California.
In fact, she sent me TWO copies so that I could host a giveaway!

If you have never visited her blog you are going to be delighted when you pop over and meet her.
Jennifer if you are reading this I sent a note in the post and you should get it any day now.
Merci beaucoup!

I am halfway through the book and I don't want it to end.

Mr. HB snapped the photo and I must say I look quite serious

or

perhaps studious...

 Sitting by the fire reading and keeping cozy

Pepper is asleep on the other chair and Mr. HB is reading a novel.

The house is scented with the aroma of Beef Daube as it cooks in the oven.

I used this French wine in the recipe.

 Herbes de Provence 

c'est marvielleux!

une baguette s'il vous plait

(a must to soak up all the tasty juices)

French Chic soap...

I am saying farewell to that hideous bar that makes me cringe every time I use it.

Jennifer has a chapter in her book that is titled 

"Only use the best things you have"

this made me realize how much negative energy went into that cracked bar of soap

BTW it was French too!

Black and white 

are my kind of colours

this zebra tunic top is going to be top dressing for my black leggings and boots.

If you would like to be entered for the giveaway you must be a follower of my blog

You don't need to advertise my giveaway or tweet about it

I want to keep it simple.

I'd like you to tell me what makes you feel Chic.

Please enter before February 6th, 2012

Mr. HB and I will choose whose description will win the book.

Have fun...

Bon Chance!

Bon appetit!

Flowers, brown paper packages and keeping up appearances...

I wrapped a gift with brown paper and string and it reminded me of that song from the Sound of Music.
I viewed the movie no less than 7 times
my grandmother took me to the theatre often
as my grandfather was a projectionist at the Pantages Theatre here in town for years.....
he earned his gold watch.

brown paper package tied up with string...

a package of another kind

I drove up island awhile back and stopped for coffee in Cobble Hill

at the Drumroaster cafe

it turned out to be the best cup of coffee I have had in recent memory.

www.drumroaster.com

these little sweets came in a small brown box nestled on top of spun cotton

dainty pearls

and

deep red garnets

   I will wear them when I want to feel feminine.....

I like taking the extra time to get dressed up to go out

I don't always do this and I should

because I have been "caught" in my Yoga pants and sneakers!

It does seem to me that when I am thoughtlessly dressed I invariably meet up with a well turned out woman friend

who politely ignores my attire

she graciously excuses me when I stammer

 "I have just run out of a key ingredient for something that is simmering on the stove and I really must run."

I make a hasty retreat and vow under my breath, that I will not leave the house in the future 

unless I look decent...

(until next time that I must dash out unexpectedly!)

Sunny Yellow Tulips

fresh flowers in the Bungalow are a staple

considered not to be an extravagance.

In spring and summer the Bungalow garden has plenty of fresh flowers free for the picking.

Roses are plentiful....

Bright blooms are so cheery

 I buy them by the bunch in winter.

My "go to" flower shop is Harry's.

they carry a wide variety of greenery

and berries

as well as the mainstream blooms...

 I do so love the frothy petals on peonies.

Florist roses are not highly scented like the David Austin Roses 

that I tend and grow in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I'll be perusing and choosing some flowers today

after taking Mother and darling daughter out to tea.

"Take care of luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves."

~Dorothy Parker~

Have a fabulous weekend

and treat yourself and others kindly.

Thoughts of motherhood, food and more...

Children are a gift.
Mothering has offered me so many benefits beyond feeding and diapering.
I am eternally grateful that I was able to be a Mom.
It has been such a huge part of my life...

Tears well up when I recall past events or look at their baby pictures.
I turn to mush.

They grow up so fast and when they leave the nest it is painful to see them go...
knowing that my job was done and that time of my life was over and done with was not without sadness...
sure there would be new beginnings and opportunities would present themselves, but it's not quite the same.

In the quiet moments of solitude over a mug of steaming tea I often go back to those busy days,
the house littered with toys
mounds of laundry waiting to be washed and folded
cookies to bake
lunches to be packed
baths to be drawn
bedtime stories
hugs and kisses
the goodnight bed bug song before lights out...

Was it really so long ago?
It seems like yesterday and my heart is full with wonderful memories
and yet sometimes in the space that happens "in between" moments...
I feel an ache that goes very deep
and it startles and humbles me by it's sheer power.

Spending time with my adult children is so precious
I feel honoured to be invited into their homes.
I love how they have turned out.

Last weekend we were invited to our son and lovely DIL's for dinner
which meant there would be playtime
Isla = hours of grammy good times = LOVE
talk about tugging at my heart strings!

I snapped a few pictures and video's which were emailed off to friends near and far.
Who have responded with oohs and ahhs...thanks guys for indulging me my bragging "grammy time."

The other afternoon our darling daughter called and asked if she could come over and watch The Batchelor
(the ritual mother/daughter show)
and cook us a Thai dinner...
well that's a no brainer...
I'll be the sous chef,
bring it on!

Oh it is so delicious

Thai jasmine rice

Le Creuset wok full of Thai tasty goodness...

chicken, peppers, beans, coconut curry...

so amazing that I had seconds.

(sadly it's not low cal)

We enjoyed cooking together and critiquing the Batchelor

there is always so much drama!

I wonder if Ben the winemaker will find a wife?

Downton Abbey was fabulous

I just wonder how that housekeeper sleeps at night!

"Modern Family"

is a relatively new favourite of mine

such a great cast and the episodes always make me laugh.

If you are a mom and your kids have left home...

do you still hear their voices, 

and listen for their footsteps on the stairs?

Sitting here in the glow of the candlelight

I reflect on days gone by....

 while a new life has been born

Welcome to Rose Ashley

lovely DIL's BFF has become a mom!

I feel that great things are on the horizon

sincere congratulations

 the circle expands

we are all in this miracle of birth and life together....

Sleep well mom and babe....

know that you are in our thoughts and hearts tonight...

Cold winters and a skin care S.O.S

My skin dries out in the flashiest of flashes...
and not those of the menopausal kind.

The kind that is brought on by cold winter temperatures, those on the minus side of zero.
My skin has been rather parched by being outdoors and when indoors the central heating wreaks havoc on it too.
I have a small patch on my cheek that looks flakey despite my best efforts to keep my skin exfoliated and moisturized.
I find this exasperating....

I suppose I obsess about my skin...
with a no make up look I cannot slack off in the skin department.

I'd rather spend money on my skin than buy a new outfit or handbag.
It's something people notice right away when they meet you.

A frosty welcome...

 not my style

( in case you are wondering...I am NOT a doormat!)

I am not vain

nor beautiful

or remarkable in any way, shape, or form

I am

 an aging woman

who has started to sag

wrinkle

with a waistline on the move

expanding hips

who chooses to focus on her skin

as there will be no cosmetic surgery

no nips 

nor tucks

or magic tricks

just due diligence

and

a happy attitude towards the future.

“Nature gives you the face you have when you are twenty. 

Life shapes the face you have at thirty. But it is up to you to earn the face you have at fifty.”

~ Coco Gabrielle Chanel ~

I am going to make an appointment for a professional facial.
It's been months since I had one.
(I will use the gift certificate I received from Mr. HB at Christmas)
I enjoy a little pampering...

My daily army of products are these 5 basics...

I regularly have a home spa day for exfoliation and a mud masque.

The Olay version of the Clairsonic is a great tool which I use several times a week.

Rosacea is a tricky skin condition that needs lots of TLC.

The Sea Buckthorn ointment is only used at night.

I love it when companies put together packages...

this one has eye make up remover and eye cream.

I have not been a regular user of eye cream because my eyes are so reactive.

Rosacea affects the eyes too.

Interesting that the size of these two products are the regular sizes that are on the shelf not travel sizes.

The cost for both was $10 more than the eye make up remover alone.

French women value their skin and take great pains to maintain their complexions.

My Inner French Girl is listening...

I will be visualizing 

smoother, plumper, softer, clearer, more radiant skin.

Mother disapproves of spending money on facials and pedicures

she has never gone to a Spa.

My sister and I are trying to persuade her to go with us so we can all be pampered together.

My sister has booked all three of us into a luxe resort in February

which BTW has an outstanding Spa...

so we'll see what happens.

How do you feel about skin care?

Would you consider a face lift, Botox, Restylane ?

If you do, or did, would you tell anyone?

 or 

would you keep it secret?

"Geek Chic" Goggles and a Bungalow Style Weekend

Weekends see me getting up later and lazing about in my robe longer
savouring the slow pace
listening to the sounds of the clocks chiming in the bungalow
as life ticks along...

Breakfast usually turns into brunch
with a light snack to follow later in the afternoon
before a hearty dinner of roast chicken or roast beef.

One skillet

brunch for two.

I had a play day and went thrift shopping with my daughter and BFF.

I found a butter dish in our everyday Maxwell Williams pattern

 a large vintage English Johnson ironstone bowl

which will be fabulous for pasta, salad or fruit.

I picked up my new glasses

  "Geek Chic goggles"

(can you say investment glasses?)

I don't know if they are chic

  they definitely are GEEK!

I love them especially with my bright red Chanel lipgloss.

At my age I feel that I have earned the right to push the envelope...

I can see so much better now...

gosh 

it's been 3 years since my last prescription 

words were getting blurry, very distorted and wobbly.

If things get much worse I might need to get a seeing eye dog...

a Golden of course!

These Eyes by The Guess Who

A Canadian band

who played at my high school...

there's a bit of a story...

I played the flute

and backstage my BFF and I met the band

we got autographs

the flute of Burton Cummings jumped into my hand 

and he indulged me

and listened

a very nervous girl

who was somewhat awestruck

played a few notes 

before their concert 

 my BFF and I were in the front row!

I have been cruising the internet for their songs...

check this out...

Nils Lofgren 

Bruce Springsteen

ROCKS!

He's going to be touring soon

I hope I can be there!

Have a fabulous weekend