The Humble Bungalow Porch...dressing it up for the holidays.

Our porch is the first thing that visitors to The Humble Bungalow see.
We like to keep it looking festive depending on the season.

In the summertime it is a riot of colour as there are cheery red geraniums and many flowering plants in pots.
I keep cushions on the wicker chairs when the weather is warm.

At this time of year we have a few potted plants...
and we like to keep the theme organic and natural.

Cones gathered after wind storms in the Ross Bay Cemetery.

Plunked in the vintage tool carrier that last season held fresh herbs.

A succulent from my BFF a gift for our 39th anniversary last July.

My BFF is a generous and thoughtful giver of gifts...

she brought this to our dinner party as she knows that the cats destroy floral bouquets.

I think she called it a lemon cypress.

Boughs of balsam and red Huck twigs, my nod to the holidays.

I may add some holly to give it a red berry punch.

What do you do to decorate your front porch?

This week is a busy one as there are some last minute things to do.

More baking, shopping and some entertaining and being entertained are on the calendar.

Some long walks and cleaning the Humble Bungalow will be interspersed with sipping tea and finishing Tish Jett's new book Forever Chic.

What is on your agenda this week?

OOTD ~ a leaner wardrobe and some holiday sparkle.

Still rebuilding my wardrobe...
It is taking a long time because I am being very discriminating when I buy something new.
It needs to tick all the boxes...fit well, be versatile and classic, and at a price that I can feel comfortable spending.

Our local thrift shops have lots of stock so it takes time to carefully sift through the racks.
Keeping my wardrobe on the leaner size I pass up a lot of clothes that would "do."

In the new year I have an appointment with a consignment shop to sell off the garments that are just too big to wear. I thought I could make them work but they do not flatter me anymore...much too much volume!

OOTD

Ann Taylor top which feels like silk but is obviously a high quality polyester.

Gemstone earrings made by lovely daughter.

They pick up the amber shade in the top.

I like a drop earring for evening.

They catch the light and I feel more feminine.

The basic black Bellissima ponte knit pants were a thrift shop bargain

worn here with my new Calvin Klein kitten heels which are so comfy.

I wore this OOTD when we had some friends over for a casual meal.

The basic garments (the ones I refer to as workhorses) are getting lots of wear.

CPW (cost per wearing) is hovering at about 50 cents for these pants.

Our Humble Bungalow "Closet" has no doors!

The last room on our renovation list is the master bedroom.

It needs a complete makeover.

I have empty hangers in the closet for the first time in many years.

Each garment is hung in its' colour group and has lots of breathing room!

Our wee Humble Bungalow closet has never seemed as large as it does right now.

Living with less, has surprised me so much, I should have done this years ago.

I've discovered that it's never too late to make a change...

I just needed to be in the right frame of mind to commit and embrace it wholeheartedly,

My recent weight loss journey is a prime example.

I needed to be "ready" before embarking on the program.

It only took me 6 years!

The festive season is a good excuse to wear some sparkly jewels.

JCrew necklace a gift from son and lovely daughter in law.

Sherman brooch

Sequins

Club Monaco earrings from last season.

These are fabulous to wear for candle lit dinners!

Thoughts and changes are afoot...

In the New Year I plan to explore the opportunities to get more involved.

With so many agencies needing volunteers in our community I'll have a few options.

The difficulty lies in deciding where to put my time and energy.

If you volunteer in your community how did you decide which job to take on?

Hostess

Meow...

Our cats rule the roost here in The Humble Bungalow!
They sleep wherever they want and are very vociferous when it comes to feeding time.
We have had to modify the plants and flowers that we have in our home as they munch leaves of the plants and deconstruct the floral arrangements that I love so much. Fortunately they leave the orchids alone.

Chester the youngest, is what our grand daughter Isla calls a "Troublemaker."
He gets into everything! Cupboards, drawers, baskets, the washer and dryer when the doors are open.
If there is something mischievous that he can find to do, he does it!

Pepper is much more ladylike and she is less demanding and much better behaved...perhaps because of her age she has matured and has left those kitten habits behind. Pepper chirrups at the moths that flap by the light shining through the windows into the night.
She will bite us when she has had enough attention.
Chester will bite if we have not put out the dry food at the same time as the canned food.
He is greedy about having food on the bowls all day long and I attribute that to the fact that he was malnourished in his first few weeks of life.
He was a California rescue kitten flown up by Victoria Adoptables a local rescue organization and he only weighed 1 3/4 pounds when we got him at 7 weeks old.

Pepper was also a rescue cat but she was a local find from a farmer's field on the Saanich peninsula.
Pepper has the softest fur and she eats lots of food...
where Chester grazes Pepper gobbles!

They bring us much joy here in our Humble Bungalow.

The cats asleep on our bed.

Pepper

Chester

This post is in response to a request from reader Sharon from Toronto.

I'm glad that you asked.

Hostess

Popcorn cookies ~ Smitten Kitchen

The inclement weather kept me inside so I decided to have a browse in my cookbooks and make some cookies for my husband, lovely daughter and her fellow.
My OOTD is the Bon appetit linen apron with skinny jeans, a Merino long sleeved sweater and cozy slippers.
Not really photo worthy!

This book was a gift from my son and daughter in law.

Deb Perlman is very creative and in her small kitchen she produces some pretty amazing recipes.

Can you see the popcorn in that cookie batter?

I was curious about popcorn cookies so I just had to make them.

I tried a small one and they are delicious.

Mr. HB enjoyed them too.

The collection of cookie tins has been a focus for the past few weeks.

 Homemade shortbread, cookies and rum balls make great Hostess gifts.

I thought that I was being quite thrifty sourcing them at second hand stores until I popped into the dollar store 

where I found new ones for the same price and less than I was paying for second hand ones!

What do you make for the festive season?

Do you have any tried and true favourites?

Holiday thoughts...giving.

Have you experienced the stress that can accompany the festive season?
Getting everything ready when working full time can be a challenge.
I learned how to cope with what I could control and let go of the rest...

For the things that can be controlled I say "minimize getting frazzled" by starting early and making lists.
I am a fan of lists...they can be handwritten or entered into "Notes" on your IPhone.

Lists of the people whom you exchange or give gifts to with ideas and a budget amount that is realistic.
Another list of things to do to get ready...the tree, order the turkey, buy the Christmas crackers, etc.
Food items that you might need to buy for homemade Hostess gifts, food and spirits for any events you are planning to host, the annual Christmas feast recipes and ingredients so there is no last minute panic.

I am an advocate of shopping early in small shops.

I also like to make homemade gifts like marmalade, chocolate dipped fruit and shortbread.

I find these are especially nice as Hostess gifts.

My other favourites are beeswax candles wrapped in linen tea towels, scented candles, and exotic teas.

I wrap presents as I bring them home.

The gift wrap is purchased on Boxing Day of the previous year at 50% off.

Tags are often recycled Christmas cards cut into shapes using pinking shears.

Beautiful ribbons are saved and then reused.

If you do not have the time to wrap you might opt for one of the gift wrap kiosks that local charities run at this time of year and for a donation they will do the job for you.

I make a "two dinner meal" so that I cook one night and reheat it the next.

Baking happens a week to 10 days ahead of Christmas.

Lots of pretty tins are lined with doilies and I store the baked goods downstairs in a colder spot.

Weight Watchers website published a cranberry chutney recipe this week and I made two jars for our family feast.

It keeps in the fridge for a month.

Finding balance during this busy festive season is essential for my well being.

I take extra care of my health and pay attention and slow down when I feel that I am too busy.

I drink lots of Perrier to keep hydrated and I go to bed early.

 I take Mother out more often as with the holidays she seems to feel the loss of my father more profoundly.

We go to The Fairmont Empress to look at the decorated trees and wander along The Esplanade in Oak Bay.

We'll grab a nourishing bowl of soup at Pure Vanilla Cafe.

This year she is hosting a wine and cheese!

She has invited all the residents of her condominium to drop in for the afternoon.

She is so excited that the response has been so positive but now she is feeling a little overwhelmed.

I am going to help her prepare and serve the food after all she is 86!

She continues to be an inspiration to me...

I've learned so much from her all these years.

I've got a few things yet to accomplish, the biggest of which will be cleaning The Humble Bungalow.

Our cleaning gal is in The Philippines lending her capable hands to action some much needed "missionary work." 

Knowing her as I do, I am certain she is helping the victims and putting a much needed smile on their faces.

Giving them hope and help.

She has put her jobs on hold and to do so in these busy times is so generous.

A reminder that we all need to be mindful of our fellow man.

Not just at this time of year but all year long.

I know that I need to do more to help those in need.

I'm curious, 

do you volunteer in your community?

Will you share with us how you help.