Standing in line...

I've found myself standing in line quite a bit lately.
It's a busy time of year at the post office, bakery and the small shops.

In the line up at the bakery an elderly gent was dressed so fine that I did a double take.
He had a grey wool coat which must have been cashmere and a jaunty plaid scarf red, black and white on a grey background. His black shoes were shined and smart. He had snow white hair and a sparkle in his eye.
He was very animated and chatted with the clerks as he bought a loaf of bread and some scones.

The woman behind him was overdressed in my opinion...she looked like she was trying too hard to impress.
She obviously had money as she was wearing designer duds head to toe.
Coach bag and shoes and a Burberry coat and scarf. She was in a hurry and was rather inpatient with the clerk which made others in line up roll their eyes. She bought quite a few pastries and sticky buns. When she turned around I could see how pretty she was...soft features and on her lips she wore a deep shade of crimson but she had an air of sadness about her, perhaps she was grieving.

The woman directly in front of me had 3 kids in tow, all in private school uniforms, jumping up and down like Jack rabbits. She was buying them after school treats. I thought she looked amazing...simple denim jeans, a red cardigan, her hair pulled back into a pony tail, huge pearl studs a simple wallet and her car keys. She looked too young to have children of this age.
(I wonder how she tends to her complexion, whatever she does it's working.)

I was next in line and having rather an "off day" I was tired and had not taken much care with my choice of clothes as I ran out the door before the bakery closed. I had on LuLu black capri length Yoga pants, a pair of teal Ben Simons, and my black puffy down coat, a grey scarf and my hair was a mass of tangles from the wind.
I'd even forgotten to put on lipstick...

Thinking to myself as I studied the customers while I waited ~
I wondered what ~ or if people even looked at me...
and if they did what would they be thinking!

I should have done what Mother would have...

which would be 

dress your best even if you are going down in the elevator to the lobby to pick up the post!

I am so glad I didn't let Mother see me that day!

~ ~ ~

Take care

Do you strike up a conversation with strangers while waiting in line

or are you an observer?

~ ~ ~

My heart is heavy after hearing about the massacre at Sandy Hook School in Connecticut.

It is all just too horrible to imagine...

question on my lips is why?

I'll never understand it.

BLINGLE ALL THE WAY!...

It's the festive season
a time to get dressed up and I'm opting for some major bling.
Pushing the fashion envelope just a wee bit in the spirit of FUN!
Glittering, sparkling and twinkling all the way...

silver shimmer

sparkles

the marriage of heather grey and silver

a pleasant palette

with a  twist

a top 

from the 

Gap

if this doesn't say BLING I don't know what does...

and that's not all...

lovely DIL and I both bought some chandelier earrings from Club Monaco

(we were shopping together at the Mall for gifts last weekend)

Hostess style faux fun

they will reflect the light when the candles are glowing

icy crystals

~ ~ ~

I'm thinking of wearing these at Christmas and on New Years Eve.

In case you were thinking that's a major overdose of bling and have your hand poised to call The Fashion Police 

rest assured I would not do double duty

by wearing the top and the earrings at the same time.

What are you planning to wear for the holidays?

Have you got something in your closet or do you need to pick up a little something?

Will you be choosing classic or conservative

Bohemian or Chic?

I'm all ears

(and they are dressed up for the holidays!)

Hostess

XO

Signs of the Season

Decorating The Humble Bungalow...
is rather simple.

We never have gone overboard and I often wonder why.
I suppose keeping things simple and stress free is what's behind our minimalist philosophy.
I love seeing beautifully decorated homes at Christmas and often go on the annual Art Gallery fundraiser which showcases homes dressed to the nines.

We will have a live tree in the "Charlie Brown Style" and decorate it with vintage ornaments that we have collected over the past 40 years but that happens very close to Christmas Eve.

We tend to opt for natural flourishes rather than the artificial.

I will be purchasing some red twigs with red berries or rose hips to add to the greenery...

maybe some variegated holly but I haven't found an abundance of it in my travels yet.

My BFF told me of a new shop that has opened up and I am planning to pay them a visit this weekend.

Cones collected from the heritage trees in the cemetery after a gale force storm.

Poinsettia

Arts and Crafts Weller jardinere

The traditional wreath

hanging on the newly crafted door which is in the same style as the 100 year old one which delaminated.

As we are a designated heritage home we need to maintain in the original style all the exterior details.

I have used a plastic suction cup on the glass to hang it from as Mr. HB did not want to put any holes in the wood.

Chester broke off a stem from the poinsettia (!)

so I added it with some dusty miller and made a bathroom posy.

They don't look too naughty right now...

when we have the tree decorating I am sure that they will be up to their usual tricks!

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

Be Well, Be Kind and Be Lovely!

Hostess

XO

Partners in grime

                                               You asked to see more of the glove...

it's back

some are more easily amused than others...

~ ~ ~

                                              I'd like to introduce you to The Scrub

It's a superb workhorse here in The Humble Bungalow

Bon Ami is an American made product

it translates from French and means "Good Friend"

first made in 1886

and it is a "green product"

which makes me feel good using it

plus there has never been a better friend in the Bungalow Kitchen

it's especially great at keeping the porcelain country farmhouse sink looking

 spic and span.

Tea stains and scratches are common enemies of the sink

Bon ami removes then in an instant with very little effort.

It's a good friend in the bathroom too!

~ I copied the following information right off the website ~

But kitchens and bathrooms have changed, and need an updated cleaner. Bon Ami Powder Cleanser is the answer. This formula starts with vegan, plant-based cleaning agents made from coconut and corn oils, then adds feldspar and the even softer abrasive, limestone. We add a little bit of soda ash and a touch of baking soda. The result is a natural, effective cleaner for modern surfaces.

Bon Ami Powder Cleanser is our most popular, general use powder.  It sports an updated yellow label, and can be found in most grocery stores, as well as online at BonAmi.net and EcoMom.com.

~ ~ ~

It costs a bit more than a chemical laden version cleaner

but it makes cleaning safer and greener for all of us who share the planet.

~ ~ ~

The arsenal of tools that sit by the sink at the ready.

Don't thank me for this tip

thank the glove.

Hard working domestic help is hard to find!

I'm hanging up my gloves for the weekend

as all here is chaos 

with our renovation in the last stages of readiness

there is very little that I can do but get dressed and head to the mall and do some Christmas shopping

and I'll leave the Humble Bungalow in the hands (paws) of the experts!

Be Well, Be Kind and Be Lovely!

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