Generous and thoughtful...my BFF

My BFF is a generous and thoughtful woman.
She has a family, works part time outside her lovely home and attends most events that her grand children are involved in.
She regularly visits and grocery shops for her 95 year old Mother who lives on her own.
My BFF also helps her husband in his business, does payroll and book keeping for another friend and yet she always makes time for her friends.

You know what they say...
if you want something done ask a busy person well this is so true of Suzanne.

She popped over the other day with a card and a gift.

Her generous and giving spirit radiates from within and adds to her beauty.

So Suzanne I wanted to take a moment, a small tribute to you and all that you have done for those around you...
be it the fresh flowers that you bring into the office and make the reception a more welcoming place
or the timely phone calls when someone is having troubles, you are a great listener
a trusted friend who can keep secrets who has her feet firmly planted on the ground and can offer sage advice.

I've known you since we were about 8 years old which makes our friendship about half a century young!
Can you believe it?
Yet we do not NEED to see each other all the time to keep our friendship healthy and strong.
Mr HB knows when we get on the phone it might be 15 minutes or more like an hour!
We often share the same thoughts, have similar taste and have purchased identical garments unbeknownst to each other and have had to say are you going to wear that top (dress/ pants/ jacket/sweater) tonight 'cuz if you are I'll wear something different!

Our husbands get along too which is great!

Suzanne, I feel so blessed to have you in my life.

Thank you for the years of friendship and I hope that we get to grow into old age together!

Cheers!

In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. 

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. 

Khalil Gibran 

~ ~ ~ 

Hostess

XO

I've got a crush....

It's a season of discovery in so many areas...
thoughts of retirement, changes afloat and listening to my heart.

I have been faithful to the Avene line of creams and potions for quite sometime and have been satisfied by their performance until recently when my skin had some dry scaly patches appear. I am alarmed when my skin reacts to the weather or the indoor heat and when the products that I have come to rely on fail to perform.
I feel self conscious and my self esteem falters.
Most people notice your skin when they are looking at you.

So with this in mind when I shopped L'Occitane en Provence for some Christmas gifts I took advantage of their free samples. Introducing a new cream can be problematic when one has sensitive skin so I do not rush out and buy full size portions until I have tested them first.

Here's the new kid on the block and I have to admit I have a crush!

It's the new star in my arsenal of skin care products.

Immortelle

Divine Cream

interestingly there are 3 patents pending and the buzz about this cream

is positive

women my age cannot get enough of this stuff 

and they are not shy when raving about it

it would appear that L'Occitane en Provence has lassoed some youth inducing plant based serums

added vitamins and blended them together to create this divine cream.

Just reading the box is illuminating!

"Proven anti wrinkle efficiency"

Anti age spots effectiveness evaluated by clinical scoring on 32 women over 8 weeks."

~  reduction of intensity of dark spots 32% ~

Satisfaction tested on 50 women over 4 weeks:

~ the skin is revitalized (90%) ~

~ the skin is smoother  (94%) ~

~ the skin slackening is reduced (84%) ~

My skin feels plumper softer and more radiant.

If you are in the market for a new cream stop by the L'Occitane store or go online and read about the testimonials of women and get your hands on some free sample and see for yourself.

While it won't give you back your youth

it might just give your skin the boost it needs to reflect the beauty that is within.

For me it's an indulgence but one worth scrimping and saving for...

Hope that you are having a great week!

Hostess

XO

The Gospel According to Coco Chanel ~ a great read.

I powered through this book about Coco Chanel in one day.
Her life was quite different than I had imagined it would be...

She was a  powerful woman, a force to be reckoned with.
Strong, determined, driven,
She had a dynamic personality.
She was a master of her craft and had perfectionist tendencies and had high expectations from those that she employed.
This book is well written, informative and worth reading.

Did you know that Chanel No. 5 is the largest selling perfume?

 A bottle is sold almost every 55 seconds!

~ ~ ~

The 2.55 Chanel classic quilted handbag was introduced to the world in February of 1955

(named after the launch date!)

a bag that is still in production and coveted by many.

Things Coco loved...

Pearls

camellias

tweedy jackets

simplicity

minimalist wardrobes

impeccable fit and tailoring

luxe fabrics

the LBD

~ ~ ~

"Elegance is refusal."

Coco Chanel

Sloane Teas ~ a gift from Donna, aka the duchess

After my recent blog post on making the perfect cup of tea I received an email from Donna from Ontario who blogged as The duchess of H for awhile.
Her blog chronicled the construction of their vast home which took several years to build...
it looked like a mansion when I last saw her blog.
Donna suggested that I might like to sample the exquisite Sloane Teas that are artfully blended by the talented sommelier Hoda Paripoush.
The Sloane Tea company is a Canadian company and has a wonderful website. Check it out it's very friendly.
You can read more about Hoda here.

Imagine my surprise when a day or two later the doorbell rang and the Fed Ex man handed me this package!
It was the day I lay in bed with the flu so it was a wonderful treat to brew a pot of restorative tea,
a tonic for my soul.

Thank you Donna I am really enjoying the Sloane Teas!

Look for a card and a little something for you in the mail soon,
I'll try to get the package in the post tomorrow,
you are so thoughtful.

I have the perfect pink tea cup to go with the tea tins.

Silver Mist

Orchid Oolong

Heavenly Cream

Persian Palace

I've sampled and savoured the Persian Palace

brewed 4-6 minutes

and served it without milk to maximize the flavour and aroma

in a bone china cup and saucer of course!

The Orchid Oolong is much milder and very refreshing

I'd be tempted to serve it iced in the summertime.

 Heavenly Cream is luxe and smooth, very balanced.

I'm looking forward to brewing Silver Mist next.

The Persian Palace is my favourite so far...

Donna thought I'd like it because it's blended with rose petals!

The packaging is lovely

such pretty tins

embossed ribbon 

adorns and ties up the assortment 

 this would make an exceptional Holiday Hostess gift.

Please let Hoda know that you heard about the teas from The Humble Bungalow Hostess.

~ ~ ~

The duchess takes her tea with Laduree macarons 

which she keeps fresh in the freezer.

How do you take your tea?

I hope that you have a wonderful week and remember to take some time to rest

sip a cup of tea perhaps

and reflect on all that is good in your life.

Be well.

Hostess

XO

Musings and the winds of change are blowing through The Humble Bungalow

Thank you all for your warm wishes and wonderful comments on my blog yesterday.
You made my blog anniversary something special.
I am very grateful.

Random thoughts are zigging and zagging while I sit calmly sipping my tea.
"Be still my mind" I mutter aloud,
 and yet there's no silencing the voice within...

Retirement has been very much on my brain of late.
I think that there is a change blowing in the wind.
Beckoning...

I've been working for the same school district for almost 25 years!
Mother's health is gradually deteriorating, her mind is getting muddled and she is confused about her banking, investments, and worries more often about simple daily routines.

Plus I have been getting almost every cold and flu bug going around in our vast school.
I am home sick today with the stomach flu.

So I'm pondering a change...thinking out loud today here on my blog.
I could work part time doing something completely different that feeds my creative soul...

What might be available for an older woman like myself?
Or do I simply retire and take care of my family, home and garden at a slow pace?
I love to potter about in the kitchen and would love to join a fitness class and get back into Yoga.

There is a sense of reinvention brewing...
I can feel the vibration of change in the air.

I'd need to be much more frugal
 but in the end would it not all balance out?

Luxury is not buying the latest Hermes scarf or the most popular designer hand bag.
Luxury is a gift, a gift of time that money cannot buy.


 Merriam Webster defines luxury as:

a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort : sumptuous environment

something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary

an indulgence in something that provides pleasure, satisfaction, or ease

Devoting time to an elderly parent, tending to a wonderful husband, reading more books, painting and perhaps taking a writing course or volunteering with The Art Gallery or in a soup kitchen.

My wardrobe is small and consists of mostly neutral shades.
I think it would transfer very well into a casual lifestyle....
Lunching, volunteering, taking Mother out and fitness/Yoga classes I'd certainly have plenty of options in my closet.

OOTD

It was mid week when I snapped this shot and my outfit is very casual.

My days are very busy and active at work so I don't opt for dry clean only garments

plus anything that rides up or shows off too much flesh is not going to make the cut.

Gilmour mushroom toned tunic top

black ponte knit leggings

black boots

(very affordable and pedestrian ~ Hush Puppies)

Burberry wool scarf

Sherman pin

(Gift from MIL eons ago)

The old washer and dryer are going to be vacating any day now as the tiler will be back on the job

The new LG's will arrive after the tile has been completed.

This brooch always gets comments.

Chester likes to get in on the action!

Change is inevitable

life does not stand still.

“Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.”
― Maya Angelou

My thoughts today...

embracing honest feelings and listening to my heart.

Be Well.

Hostess

XO