Hermes and the Hostess OOTD

The sun shone down on us this past weekend.
There's nothing quite so uplifting as the sun and the spring fresh air.
Flowers and blue skies...
It prompted me to get busy and seek out some lighter clothes from the wardrobe
wash some wintery things, readying them for storage.
The weekend was not all work as Mother and I drove out to the country and perused some chic shops before settling into a very serious afternoon tea tray.
I mentioned to Mother that I was dressing casual...

Hermes scarf

makes an appearance.

I love this Olsen belt so much 

but I fear it's days are numbered 

as some stones have fallen out 

and there is some base metal showing 

where the silver has worn off.

I must find a suitable replacement before I let go of this belt.

This Hermes scarf is so summery 

it feels like a whisper.

I am so happy that I opted for subtle instead of bright and bold.

I wore my white Symplii tank top

Aerie dove grey light sweater

and Gap wide legged jeans.

The teahouse was pleasant and the voices of the tea drinkers were polite and hushed.

Good too because Mother's hearing is becoming a problem and she refuses to buy a hearing aid.

She is very firm about this and has taken a stand on it even after repeated requests from her family.

Did I tell you that I am taking her to seattle this summer for a jaunt and a shopping expedition?

We'll be staying at our home away from home, The Mayflower Park Hotel.

It's the same age as Mother, and they both look good for their ages!

Did you know that Hermes sells rocks?

They do.

Mr. HB received these with his Terre d'Hermes

the way they work is you spritz them with your scent and they retain the scent

 you can pop them in a drawer

to scent your lingerie 

or leave them out in a room as a diffuser.

Well that's about it for the weekend wrap up

 a new week is about to begin

I am keeping my fingers crossed for more sunshine.

What did you do this weekend?

Baskets are weaving their way into my heart.

There is something about a basket that sends me all aflutter...
baskets speak to me and I have quite a few that I am passionate about.
I didn't think I needed another basket but two new ones have entered The Humble Bungalow.

Mother gave me a new basket and it reminds me of some that I have seen from Nantucket.
She is Spring cleaning her condo and getting rid of stuff.
I think that my de-cluttering binge has influenced her...
she has way too much stuff so I am really encouraged that she is paring down.

Strong sturdy and well crafted.

So pretty just on it's own

a perfect size for toting to the market.

My friend Cheryl and I did some shopping when she was here visiting and we ventured into a consignment shop in the Village and she found a lovely vintage framed picture and I found a basket!

Nut brown

 well woven and seriously commodious.

Pepper hopped inside and promptly curled up and went to sleep.

I've left it on the floor in the kitchen for now as she is enjoying it so much!

These baskets are in the front hallway

the hinged basket holds gloves scarves and hats.

The one on the left holds shopping bags

it's easy to grab a couple on my way out the door.

I try to always bring a bag or basket when I go shopping

it's one easy thing that I can do to help reduce reuse and recycle.

Earth Week has been full of "green" themed events.

We got involved in a community clean up project at school.

Our class filled 6 garbage bags with litter that we found scattered in and around the park.

It surprises me no end that people litter so much...

no excuse really as there are numerous garbage cans available

back in the day we'd call these folks litterbugs!

Take a tote, basket or some canvas bags when you go shopping

it's the right thing to do.

I don't know about you but I feel chic carrying something other than plastic.

Check this out!

 Be well

and many thanks for popping by and visiting.

It's a sun shiny day out there so I am off to weed the garden....

XO

My hairdresser listens to me and my OOTD

My hair has been getting me down lately...
too thick and too heavy
so I asked my talented hairdresser to thin it out and crop it into a French bob.
She, my dear readers, is a miracle worker.

All I need is to dry it with my diffuser and add some mousse and voila

I'm ready.

Slightly shorter in the back

with face framing layers at the sides.

OOTD

black Nygaard dark denim jeans

black loafers, Aerosoles

black Symplii tank top

tweedy waterfall sweater by Style & Co.

baroque opera length strand of pearls

sterling bangles

I don't have any plans for the weekend but have a play date with my granddaughter today.

That in itself is a recipe for happy.

loving tangerine these days

especially these roses

Hope that you make time to stop and smell the flowers.

Be good to yourself and others

and don't forget to smile!

Camouflage dressing...

Waterfall style sweaters seem to call my name...

I gravitate to them whenever I see one in a shop.

They do a good job of camouflaging my wobbly bits and when fitted properly they skim the bumps and drape nicely. 

It would be nice if I was slim...

who am I kidding

it would be fabulous!
But that's another post altogether!

For the time being...

I found a new sweater and it feels much lighter and springy than the tweedy black one I have been wearing all winter.

Oatmeal toned

lacy light and loose knit

great to pop over a white tank

here's a close up of the pattern detail

I have been eating rabbit food for lunch for weeks

raw veggies and hummus dip

an apple

I thought this might help shed some weight but so far the scale has not budged.

Yoga is going to be the exercise I opt for after my swimming and back injury fiasco.

Which BTW is still not quite mended even after several massages

but I have little to complain about

 as it is getting better.

Lovely daughter is having her birthday this month

she'll be 33.

She wanted clothes as a gift so we blitzed the mall and came home with some great stuff.

She's a tiny gal and she looks great in anything she puts on.

We'll be hosting a family dinner celebration and we are ordering in sushi

and she wants a cheesecake for dessert.

We have a long standing tradition

that you can have whatever food you want on your birthday.

I do love traditions.

It's my MIL's birthday today, 

you can imagine how excited she was when our lovely daughter was born on her special day.

Coincidentally there was a great grandchild born on this day as well

3 family members all celebrating today.

Happy Birthday to all.

Must be running as I have a long list of things to do today.

Cheerio!

Paris Tea and The Titanic.

The lovely reader Peg sent me some teas and I am in love with Paris Tea!
Nothing says luxury better than a cup of tea brewed to perfection
served in a beautiful patterned bone china cup and saucer.
I highly recommend it for what ails you...

My favourite china tea cup is by English maker Royal Chelsea.

I love the deep wide bowl

and the pattern is so pretty and the gilt is thick.

I hand wash this very carefully, never ever will it go in the dishwasher!

I do love a special teacup to celebrate the simple pleasure of taking tea.

I cannot imagine life without tea.

It's a life saver...

The Titanic is in all the newspapers

 100 years ago that she was launched and then sank

such a tragic disaster

so many lives lost

the story still haunts us

stories that have come out years after her sinking are grim reminders of how fragile and precious life can be...

Julian Fellowes production Titanic is on the TV

it's worth a look...

I caught up on some blog reading here at Slim Paley's blog

she is a clever and talented woman

you really must not miss her blog posts

just browse her amazing photographs 

and you'll be hooked like her several thousand followers!

(of which I am one)

Life is infinitely better when sipping tea.

It elevates my pedestrian life to meet up with those of the titled and privileged.

Hostess

XO

I'd love to see your favourite tea cups

perhaps you'll send me a picture

it would make a fun post to show all the cups here in a future post.

There's your challenge people

send me your tea cup images

or link up a blog post on your tea cups for a virtual tea party!