Bits and Bobs...Books and Bags in the Bungalow.

It has been a quiet day here in The Humble Bungalow.
It's one of the first days that I gave myself permission to just relax and have a slow day. A guilt free day of indulging in reading and drinking tea with no thoughts of jumping up and tackling the domestics.

I ate a variety of fresh fruit for breakfast and lunch. 

(no WW points!)

I splurged and ate sushi for dinner.

I've rediscovered our local library.

They have their collection online so it makes it easy to peruse the collection.

 Holds can be placed with the click of the mouse. 

I have been reserving many books...from home decor to entertaining, fashion to food and novels.

Quotes from the book jacket.

"A good handbag makes the outfit."

"Only the rich can afford cheap shoes."

"The only thing worse than being skint is looking as if you're skint."

For centuries, an interest in clothes has been dismissed as the trivial focus of vain, empty headed women.

And yet clothes matter, because how we choose to dress ourselves defines our identity. From the immigrant arriving in a new country to the teenager who needs to be a part of the fashion pack or the woman turning forty who must reassess her wardrobe. the truth is that how we look and what we wear tells a story.

And what a story. The Thoughtful Dresser tells us how a woman's hat saved her life in Nazi Germany; looks at the role of department stores in giving women a public place outside the home; celebrates the pleasure of adornment; and savours the sheer joy of finding the perfect dress.

Here is the thinking woman's guide to our relationship with what we wear: why we want to look our best and why it matters.

In this book almost 1500 of the world's perfumes are reviewed.

There are only a handful that the experts claim are masterpieces.

I've made a list of a few that I would like to sample.

This handbag is new to me...

A lovely gift from my daughter who regularly shops in the local thrift stores.

The brand is Valentina and it is made in Italy.

The leather is sturdy and unscuffed and I love the shape and style.

Thank you J!

Elle Canada has a couple of interesting You Tube Video's I thought you might like.

 How to Tie an Hermes scarf and 15 accessories that you will wear forever.

What perfume do you love to wear and do you have an all time favourite?

Hostess

XO

OOTD ~ Janice Riggs might call it Potato Sack Dressing!

Oh my! I just finished reading Janice Riggs, the writer of the fabulous Vivienne Files.
Today Janice has some great tips on dressing 10 years younger.
That would make me um, 48.

I appreciate and agree with her tips and they all make sense.
Today I think perhaps I've dropped the ball...

OOTD

Grey grey and more grey.

Skirt ~ Armor Jeans

Top ~ Segments Merino

Scarf ~ Tilo

Boots ~ Hush Puppies 

Belt ~ unknown maker

This Tilo scarf gets lots of wear as it is light and not too warm under a coat.

I liked the details on the belt.

 I have worn this to cinch in some of my bigger clothes which I am keeping until I reach my final WW goal.

I plan on replacing some of them when I get there.

Looking at this rather plain errand running OOTD I can see that I could switch up the boots and scarf.

Perhaps my cowboy boots and a colorful scarf are in order.

OK readers it's your turn...

Please "be kind" when you chime in on what you would do to perk up this OOTD.

Hostess

The No Make Up Look

Are you familiar with the "No Make Up Look?"
It is make up that looks like you only better!

Too much make up makes me feel like a clown!
I've never gone in for the thick pancake and pressed powders...

I want to use products that imbue a subtle, healthy result.

I've noticed that aging has changed my skin tone and elasticity so I need to use a lighter touch with all cosmetics and choose shades that flatter softly without screaming or drawing too much attention.
I also found that eye shadows can settle into the creases, that powder mineral based formulas seem to stay set and look fresh much longer.

Here is what I have in my make up bag:

I can "do my face" once it is cleansed and moisturized in under 10 minutes between sips of my morning tea.

I highly recommend having good lighting and a magnification mirror.
As a woman whose eyesight is rather dodgy without her specs I would be messing things up something dreadful if I cannot "see" what I am doing!

Bobbi Brown

Foundation

Bronzer and Blush

The foundation and bronzer are applied with brushes.

The cheek lip tint duo are done with clean fingers.

Eye pots are Mac and Pur

I always curl my lashes and mascara is a staple because my lashes are so fair that they virtually disappear.

On days when I am going out of the house, not just for my walk, I will use some liner and shadow.

Lining the upper eye only and using a very thin line.

Lavender Mourite, the eye pot on the right is great by itself for daytime.

For evening I'll add some of the darker Haux above the Lavender for a bit of a smokey eye effect.

Bobbi Brown Fresh Melon

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters in Sugar Plum and Pink Truffle

for evening I wear a Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Red Velvet.

“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. 

That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” 

~ Gwyneth Paltrow ~

Enjoy your day and remember that Kindness Matters!

Hostess

XO

As an after thought....

My darling daughter gave me the most gorgeous vintage handbag!

 I will share it with you just as soon as I can.

The NZ meat pies were a huge success on Sunday evening.

I ate a piece and they tasted seriously delicious...lip smacking good.

Positively Beastly Weather and Comfort Food.

Autumn walks are beyond beautiful.
I find them to be refreshing, exhilarating and energizing.
The air is fresh and crisp and there is a bit of a chill which keeps me moving.
The trees are shedding their leaves with the change of season...
I like to listen to the crunch of the leaves as I walk on their colourful carpeting.

On one of my most recent walks I ventured into the local cemetery. It's a park like space in our neighbourhood which has many heritage trees and a wide assortment of wildlife from birds and squirrels, to raccoons and deer. There are many headstones and a few crypts. My family ancestors have a plot and are buried here.

mushrooms the size of dinner plates!

I gathered a few leaves and cones to add to the wee pumpkins.

Walking in the crisp air made me so hungry!

 A simple salad on such a chilly day would not be enough so I actioned some serious COMFORT food for lunch.

French Toast with a wee drizzle of Canadian Maple Syrup!

Seriously simple to make...

whisk and egg in a shallow dish big enough to accommodate a piece of bread.

Buy the Silver Hills Little Big Bread in the blue bag ~ 2 pieces are only 1 WW point!

Soak bread and then flip over to allow it to absorb the rest of the egg.

Place in a small fry pan with a wee and I do mean "wee" bit of butter.

Cook a few minutes and then flip until done.

Drizzle with Maple Syrup.

I ate a pear after as dessert and sipped a mug of Earl Grey Tea.

~ ~ ~

Today as I read over and edit this post it is blustery outside and I am not too keen going out for my walk.

The wind is howling outside and I am grateful to be snug in a warm Humble Bungalow keeping cozy.

The weather is really beastly out there today...the ferries have been stopped due to the high winds and many people are stranded at the terminal waiting for a break in the storm.

I have been busy in the kitchen all morning making meat pies for my daughter's fellow, who is originally from the Marlborough area of New Zealand. His family own an award winning Olive Grove.

 N has been craving the meat pies that he grew up eating...

apparently they even sell them in McDonald's in NZ!

I googled New Zealand meat pies and found a recipe in a woman's magazine so I am following it to the letter.

The pies are cooked and cooling on the counter, and a pear dessert is baking in the oven.

I plan to cook fish for my daughter and myself...

I will try one bite of the meat pies just to see what they taste like.

What family recipes do you remember loving from your childhood?

Do you still make them?

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."

 ~ Virginia Woolf ~

Hostess

XO

The Humble Bungalow ~ Our Guest Room.

As a Hostess I try to make guests feel welcome when they come to stay.
I think it truly is "the little things" that make a BIG difference in their enjoyment and comfort while they are away from home. I put myself in their position and think about what I like to have when I am staying in someone else's home.

A quiet place to sleep and one that feels cozy enough to retire to for a midday nap. Often we do not sleep as deeply or as long in a strange bed so naps are often needed. This time will also allow the Hostess to prepare appetizers or tidy up a bit before serving the next meal.

I like to have extra blankets, a shawl and robe for guests to use.
Some light reading and a room spray as well as a light pillow spray for setting the tone for slumber.
Bottled water, energy bars or chocolates if I know my guests have a sweet tooth.
Shampoo, cream rinse, soaps and lotions are kept in the bathroom in case they have forgotten to bring their own.
Cotton balls, Kleenex, razors, Q Tips, toothpaste, mouthwash and Tylenol...just a courtesy really but it saves them having to ask.
I realize that I need to buy a blow dryer as my friend did not bring hers along when she last stayed overnight.

A bedside light to read by...

Perrier and pillow spray.

Vintage oak luggage stand at foot of bed

like a butlers tray but lower.

Warm wool blanket just in case.

The duvet on the bed is down filled and usually warm enough but it never hurts to be prepared.

Wicker chair by the window.

A distressed oar adds whimsy.

Thrift shop floral painting.

I used a nautical, beach theme to decorate the guest room.

White beach glass that I collect is stored in a vintage sealer jar.

Shells and coral round out the beach theme.

Light reading...

The bathroom has the basics.

I love fluffy large white towels so naturally I put them in the guest bathroom.

Hotel size samples.

More toiletries reside in this handy shelf unit.

We like to let the guests wake at their own time.

So we get the coffee maker ready the night before and show them how to use it.

With glass fronted cupboards in the kitchen it is easy to see when the mugs are located. 

I would put mugs and sugar out on a tray in the kitchen otherwise.

The Breakfast I usually serve is:

Yogurt, fruit, scrambled eggs, turkey sausages, toasted English muffins assorted jams.

Coffee, juices and tea.

It's important to make your guests feel welcome.

I think by providing the basics and thinking ahead one can relax and enjoy the company with the minimum of fuss.

~ ~ ~

Have I forgotten anything?

Tell me what you like in a guest room?

Have a wonderful weekend.

I am going to play around with my camera and be back soon.

Hostess

XO