My style ~ skin care ~ make up.

When it comes to make up I am a minimalist.
Using a light hand with just a hint of make up to draw attention to my eyes.

I wash and moisturize my face twice daily with an arsenal of products...

Avene from France

sold locally at the Pharmacy in the Village.

My weapon of choice...

a battery powered Olay brush

deeper cleansing 

sloughing

and a gentle massage.

I love this tool and I think it has made my skin look better since I started using it.

My rosacea has settled down since using it so that's a bonus!

This enamel tin holds all my make up.

This is it, 

all of the products that I use.

Organic Mineral sunscreen by Eminence

Lancome mascara

Great Lash clear for eye brow control

2 eye liners 

one in brown for daytime

one in black for evening

eye shadow powder brush

eyebrow and eye lash grooming tool

eye lash curler

shadows for daytime in mauve, pink and grey

a darker shade for the smokey eye at night

basic neutral pink lip

Like most things here in The Humble Bungalow

keeping it simple seems to be the way to go.

What is your approach?

Minimal or maximum?

Tory Burch ~ Thrift Find of the Summer!

On our summer boating holiday we visited a Gulf Island that had a Thrift Shop
"Nu~to~U" which was only open 2 days a week.
My BFF and I went early before the 10am scheduled opening and stood behind a few locals in a line that snaked it's way out the door and down the steps. I thought to myself as we waited that this must be one fabulous shop if the locals were queuing well before the doors were open.

She's made with recycled finds

love that aluminum teapot cover

can you spot it?

This female form certainly was a conversation starter!

On my first visit I found a wee watercolour of roses

which I plan to hang on the wall of our guest room.

 a brooch with two scottie dogs made out of bakelite

On Labour Day Weekend 

lovely daughter and I paid this wee shop another visit.

This time we found ourselves way at the very bottom of the stairs with probably 20 people ahead of us.

Listening in to the local gossip was incredibly entertaining

I suppose living on a small island means that everyone knows what everyone else is doing!

(there was some pretty interesting chatter with some very personal details going public)

When they opened the doors there was quite a surge 

as people entered the shop and scouted out the tables and shelves

it was rather difficult negotiating the tiny aisles

and I spied a black handbag

that no one else seemed to be interested in...

I bought it!

supple leather

a simple style 

do you recognize the logo?

Tory Burch design

Dena Glazed Hobo Bag.

subtle details

well constructed

a mirror inside

zippered section

with pockets for keys and a cellphone

(the mirror still had the protective film on it)

I think this bag is brand new.

You can see it here  at Saks for much more than I paid.

After we shopped the Thrift Store we went grocery shopping and my Roots cross body bag's strap broke!

It must have been meant for me.

I have taken the Roots bag in for repair and in the meantime I am enjoying this Tory Burch Bag

and I am feeling a little smug about the fact that I did not have to pay the regular retail price of this bag.

It's a guilt free pleasure!

What have you been fortunate enough to find at a thrift shop?

What is your best score ever?

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Soothing sights just steps away.

Life has been anything but routine here in The Humble Bungalow and I have needed to seek solace.
Things beyond our control that have upset the balance of calm and thrown us off kilter.
These events can only make us stronger and bind us tighter together as a family.

Looking for something to soothe my spirit I did what I usually do when life gets me down and I went outside and slowly meandered in the garden.

a cheery bunch of colchiums

tucked beneath a ginger plant

(also known as the Autumn Crocus)

here's the bloom on the ginger plant

looks very much like a lily

pretty ~ in ~ pink

speaking of lilies

here is a lovely orange day lily

sadly their blooms wilt after a day 

I have a mass planting of these against the north foundation of the Humble Bungalow

they've multiplied like mad

a flush of roses

this lovely rose whose name escapes me is a happy specimen

and never fails to please

Alliums which attract the bees like nobody's business

I like to use them as fillers for my arrangements.

a nod to blue

with this hydrangea

I have several blue hydrangeas in bloom

Recently I have fallen in love with hydrangeas

and have at 5 limelights in the front garden 

several blues in the back yard

 a few weeks ago I purchased an oak leaf hydrangea with a creamy lace-like pom pom flower.

It's comforting to know that they will grow and thrive in our clay soil.

They can be pruned and shaped which is convenient 

so that they do not take over the space where they have been planted.

Our reliable Jacob's Coat Rose

has been blooming all summer long

it is located just outside the back door

within easy reach

for picking and the necessary dead heading.

I feel the gloom has lifted ever so slightly

in just taking the time to look around outside 

getting some fresh air and sunshine.

I count on my garden to help me as I negotiate the often precarious journey of life.

What gives you strength in times of distress?

Where do you go to be alone with your thoughts and regain perspective when things go sideways?

Purr ~ affection, a catty post.

The news on the feline front is that a bond of friendship is being forged.
There are cat chases around the house when the rugs go flying and the cats are a blurry flash.

They regularly eat out of each other's food bowls.
Concerned about this habit I mentioned this to the vet she nodded and smiled and said there's very little you can do about it and she knows because she has two cats herself.

Pepper and Chester having an afternoon nap

(someone disturbed their slumber by taking a photo!)

Chester looking very chic in a feather boa

looking very wild attacking the feather boa

Chester has doubled his weight since arriving here from California

where he was rescued.

He had been malnourished and was a very skinny kitten.

I hope that he will continue to thrive and be as affectionate...

he purrs like a motor boat

and loves to snuggle and cuddle.

Our pets are family

they give us so much love and joy.

I can't imagine The Humble Bungalow 

without a pet or pets about...

He's a sweet little fellow.

Speaking of cats...

Have any of you been watching the Real Housewives of Vancouver?

They are the cattiest women I have ever seen.

One woman is mean to the core and doesn't care who she hurts...

they had 2 episodes of the Housewives Tell All and it was a full on cat fight.

I do not know any catty women

have had very few experiences that border on catty 

and wonder if I am just lucky.

How about you

have you got some cat tales to share?

~  ~  ~  

White Wednesday and The Verbena scent goes to....

I've been terribly lazy posting on the Humble Bungalow Blog.

One reason may be that my cleaning lady is on leave as her daughter got married and she has been hosting all the relatives from far and wide on this vast planet.
I cannot believe how much help she is around our dusty little home.
I am seriously missing her expertise.

I really don't do well living in chaos or watching the dust bunnies multiply like rabbits.
So I am "on the job."
It's a great way to get some exercise too.

JOY!

The Iceberg rose is having her second flush of blooms!

speaking of lovely ~ just look at that crisp clear blue sky

Thank you to all of you for stopping by...

your comments mean the world to me

honestly.

You must want to know whose name we drew out of the bowl.

Congratulations to Awakening My Wardrobe

please send me an email with your mailing address 

 I'll pop over to the Post Office later on in the week.

I hope that you'll enjoy this scent.

~ ~ ~

Hostess