OOTD at the Staff Party...

My husband had his Christmas Staff Party on Saturday evening in the penthouse of a local hotel.
A spectacular choice of venue and expansive views of the city and the twinkling lights.
Food and wine flowed and I stuck to my Weight Watchers points and had a great time.
It was lots of fun meeting some of the new people and I felt confident in my outfit.

Sigrid Olsen mauve sleeveless top

Susan Bristol sweater jacket in black rayon

 (Chanel-esque with ruffle details at the sleeves and hem)

Black skirt with raised ridges Reitmans

Pearls an anniversary gift from Mr. HB a few years ago.

Black Calvin Klein pumps with kitten heels and fishnet hose.

I met up with my blogger friend Sheila for lunch and a shopping spree at My Sister's Closet in the plaza.

I found a few gems thanks to her expert shopping skills.

Sheila shares something valuable about shopping every time I meet up with her. 

She worked in retail for years and she knows quality fabrics and designs when she see them.

Sheila looks at everything in all the sizes because there is no universal sizing standards.

If I had not listened to her I would have missed a couple of things.

I had a great day and am very excited to show you what I bought...

all at bargain budget friendly prices too.

I'll get busy and put together my post and try to have it ready for tomorrow.

Hostess

XO

High Maintenance on a shoestring.

Keeping up appearances does require some personal effort or money and time spent at the spa.
While I am a fan of the spa and their treatments I cannot justify the expense when I have oodles of time to do my own high maintenance at home. I will indulge from May to September where I will enjoy the pampering pedicures and have my toes polished. The rest of the year I keep my toes buffed and free from polish.

It is sunny but bitterly cold today so I donned my cashmere socks this morning...
but not before giving my feet a little TLC.

($20 for the basics)

My home pedicure starts with a foot bath of warm water and bath salts.

I soak for about 10 minutes and close my eyes and visualize a beautiful place that makes me feel serene.

After toweling off my feet I use a pumice on the heels and rough patches.

Rinse and then slather on Badger Cream...don't let the label fool you it is great all over the foot.

Clip to shape and file the nails then push back the cuticles.

Make sure the nail beds are free from the cream and use the Revlon buffer.

One side smooths any ridges and the other imparts shine that is dazzling.

I love this tool!

I reapply the cream and pop on my socks and my pedicure is complete.

Even though my toes are not "on display" I know they are in good shape.

Looking down at my socks I know I am putting my best foot forward.

In my attempt to warm, this time from the inside out, I am actioning another curry!

Curried Chicken and Mushroom Casserole

My favourite thing to make and take to a potluck supper.

You can make this a vegetarian feast by adding a variety of vegetables and omitting the chicken.

It is really good with white fish or prawns.

I published the recipe BBC Bungalow Basic Curry back in January 31, 2011.

If you want the specifics go to the tag list on the sidebar and look under recipes and you can see step by step instructions.

Bon appetit!

Snow Day Doings...

I've been busy this morning in The Humble Bungalow.

I "planted" the paper whites so that they will be blooming for Christmas.

These bulbs are forced into bloom using glass pebbles and water at their roots.

 I love their heady fragrance and pure white flowers.

Keep the water levelled at the roots and you will be surprised how fast they grow.

We woke up to see a light frosting of snow this morning and it is still snowing.

I love an excuse to stay home, keep warm and putter in The Humble Bungalow.

Our house guest left yesterday...

we had a wonderful visit.

I served her a curried chicken soup which proved out be a great time saver as we had gone to the late afternoon showing of Philomena starring Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.

Steve wrote the screenplay, produced and starred in the film.

We had a funny experience at the ticket wicket...

The young fellow on duty assumed that we were both seniors!

I was ahead of my friend and I quickly moved aside to make room for her at the wicket 

and I was out of earshot while she was paying.

When she caught up with me she was smiling broadly...as was I.

I told her that I got in for $4.75 the seniors rate!

She told me she got the seniors rate too but the fellow had a problem with her debit card...

 so he said go on in the movie is on me today.

I highly recommend the film.

The soup "mix" base.

All you need to add are onions, chicken or prawns, a can of coconut milk, water and a few carrots.

I made this the previous day.

This hearty soup made a great meal.

We walked to and from the theatre and did not get back until just about 7 pm.

  I put out some fresh veggies and dip while I heated up the soup and we sat and had a glass of wine while we waited for it to get hot.

I'm going to spend some of the afternoon cooking before sitting down to finish reading my current novel.

The forecast is for a wind chill factor which will give the impression of minus 15...

I might need to light a fire in the fireplace to chase the chill away.

Cashmere socks and a thick fleece jacket are not quite enough!

 Definitely not my usual OOTD!

Hostess

XO

Sumptuous, Soft and Soothing ~ Cashmere OOTD

I adore cashmere!
Do you love it too?
Lately I have found that the cashmere sweaters available in our local shops are of lesser quality and almost whisper thin, yet the prices are quite steep for what you are buying.
I really wished that Lands' End would ship their cashmere sweaters across the Canada border but those gorgeous buttons made of Mother of Pearl or abalone shell are the reason that they cannot ship. Apparently they are "protected and at risk."

Years ago my husband gave me a luxurious black Johnston cashmere pullover. It is soft, thick and warm like no other sweater that I had owned before. It cost the earth though and I would need to save up for a donkey's age to buy another! Let's face it my lifestyle has changed and I really cannot justify that kind of expense at this stage.

Lands' End had some exceptional weighty cashmere cardigans a few years ago. I bought a black one which is still going strong, although it is a tad big now, I will not part with it until it is in tatters.

I couldn't believe my luck when I found a similar cardigan with a V neck and abalone buttons recently in the thrift shop.
The quality and weight was evident even before I even looked at the tag...alas it was a size small.
I wear a medium, but I tried it on anyways and guess what?
I bought it...I usually do not button my cardigan but did so that you would see that it is a bit on the small size.

Cashmere Lands' End in Navy Blue!

The pearls have a new partner in crime.

Pearls + Cashmere = Bliss 

We have a house guest in The Humble Bungalow for a few days so my posting will be sporadic.

I might manage a few minutes to check in but it will depend on how full our schedule will be.

We do love to focus our attention and energies on our friends when they come to stay.

Hostess

We may get some snow this week!

I love how beautiful the neighbourhood looks all dressed in white.

I will host a snow post if we get a frosting.

Forever Chic has arrived in The Humble Bungalow!

Blogger and writer Tish Jett's book Forever Chic arrived in the post this week!
The chic and savvy Deja Pseu hosted a giveaway on her blog and I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of this delicious book. Thank you Deja Pseu I am so grateful that the book arrived safely after the post office mix up.

I can hardly wait to read it but it will have to wait as we are busy with friends and the calendar is getting filled up.
I'd like to hunker down and take a couple of days and simply soak in all of Tish's words of wisdom.

I'll write a review of the book when I am finished reading it.

(Did you notice the card that Deja Pseu sent with the book?)

My lazy lunch...

leftover butternut squash, a few strands of spaghetti noodles, and an egg beaten up and topped with chives.

When I bought this wee frying pan I had no idea that it would get so much use.

It comes in so handy for roasting nuts, cooking up an egg or two and making a single serving of French Toast.

I must be off as I have some chocolate zucchini cakes to bake.

The Root Cellar had zucchini on sale and I could not resist a bargain.

Be Well and remember Kindness never goes out of style.

Hostess