Sunlit Sunday... a peek inside The Humble Bungalow.

Do you find the grey days of January and February a wee bit long and tedious?
I know it is my attitude that affects how I view these days and one that I can alter by adopting a grateful approach but some days I just don't have the energy. Weak in spirit and ebbing low on energy make for some moodiness.

To get happy I stop focusing on the negative...
I get busy, take action.
Apart from putting on cheery red shoes which are an instant mood lifter I use a few of the following strategies:

Like going for a walk outside,
cooking or baking for my husband and family.
Spending a few quiet minutes in the tub soaking in scented bath salts.
A mini facial seems to wake me up and helps my skin I skip make up for the rest of the day
leafing through the saved issues of Country Living magazine with a hot mug of tea.
Calling a friend, reading blogs, reading Simple Abundance a Day Book of Comfort and Joy.
Reaching out and helping others.
Watching a favourite film.
Reading a great novel.
Writing down things that I am grateful for or posting them on the blog.

What do you do to get your happy on?

Mother Nature had her own idea of perking up the day.
Bright sunshine shone through the dirty salt speckled windows and filled The Humble Bungalow with a radiant warmth that transported me from my funk to a place of joy and beauty.

Raw silk scarf in turquoise and sienna brown.

Black quilted Barbour vest.

Grey Segments Merino tee.

Gap Boyfriend jeans

(cozy and worn grey slippers perfect for schlepping around the Bungalow)

This Silk Road blend is divine so I brewed a pot and took my cup to the bedroom

and lay upon our duvet for some quiet meditation.

I indulged in a little reading on the bed in the sunshine...

the cats snuggled up and cozied beside me.

Still Life is the first book by Louise Penny.

It's a grand read and she has 4 more!

Here are some images of our Arts and Crafts Bungalow

bathed in sunshine.

can you see where the cat was snoozing?

it would be fun to saunter through the piazza

Our furniture is made up of years of collecting vintage arts and crafts era pieces.

Mr. HB and I love to sit and read beside the fireplace.

OOPS! "someone" needs to clean out the fireplace.

I feel rejuvinated!

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you."

~ Walt Whitman ~

Frisky business...

Life here in The Humble Bungalow is so much richer because of the resident felines.
They are great company and follow me around as I action domestic jobs.
Sometimes I think that they are more like dogs than cats.
One of their favourite places to play is downstairs in the laundry room.
I spend a lot of time doing laundry and ironing the linen napkins and tea towels.
It's always fun to see their enthusiasm at work.

What time is it?

Morning recess otherwise known as playtime.

Chester  - You can't see me I'm in the bucket.

Pepper - Why yes I can!

What do you take me for?

I might be old but my eyesight is keen.

Chester - What is she doing in there behind closed doors?

Chester - Sounds to me like she's rolling up the TP.

Drat!

Pepper - I told you she wouldn't approve.

You really unrolled far too much.

Chester - Hah! and she thought that she was so clever squishing the tube to make it harder to unroll.

She really underestimates us doesn't she?

Pepper - Don't try to hide and make me take the blame!

Pepper - Do I look like a guilty cat?

I'm trying to look disgusted.

Chester - I like claw foot tubs.

Chester - What are these curtains doing in here?

Chester - They make it hard to see.

Chester - Were you thinking of turning on the tap by any chance?

Chester - I'm glad the seat is down...I hate getting my paws wet.

Chester - Oh wow you really are taking a lot of photos of me today.

I must have done something right.

You haven't forgotten about those teeth marks on your IPad and IPhone chargers have you?

I really am cute. 

I might be a trouble maker but you really do love me.

I can tell by the way you look at me.

OK I'm tired now and in dire need of a nap.

Playtime's over.

Enjoy your day!

More thoughts on building my wardrobe and meet my new white jeans!

Do you like to get a bargain or intentionally buy things that you need on sale?
If you are on a budget like I am you may search for many weeks to find the right item at a price that you can justify.
Recently I found some new pieces at Value Village or as we commonly refer to it here as "The "VV Boutique."

If you have been following my weight loss journey for awhile you'll recall that I have had to rebuild my wardrobe almost entirely from scratch.
I have pretty much finished replacing the basics for fall and winter and am thinking ahead now to spring and summer.

I have rebuilt my wardrobe for under $1,000.00 which is no small sum when one considers that I am retired but
this includes dressy evening and special occasion wear, everyday casuals, tops, sweaters, lingerie and outerwear.
I opted for quality cashmere's and name brand basics that would mix and match with each other so that I could get the most bang for my buck.

It took me over an hour to scour the racks at VV and like Sheila taught me I looked at all the size ranges.
Sunday is a great day to explore VV at your leisure because there is free parking on the street.

Two new sweaters were found and at such a budget friendly price they were great value for the money...
the first one retails for $100-120 in our local shops.

It is made of cotton in black and has a lovely shawl collar detail.

I'll wear this as a light layer over a tank top or tee.

Or a jacket in the warmer weather.

Are you familiar with the Pure Hand Knit brand?

They make fun sweaters in a variety of styles and bright colours in 100% cotton.

The sweaters are hand knit by women in Thailand...4500 women are behind this company busy knitting.

I can almost hear the collective click of their needles....it is music to my ears.

Lands' End deep V neck cardigan in an angora and wool blend.

Soft and cozy.

I can wear this with my dressy black pants or skirt for evening.

Pop it on with a tank top or tee and my favourite jeans.

I have a white pair of Club Monaco pants (also thrifted for $6.00) which when paired with this cardigan and several strands of pearls like Coco Chanel will be on the dressy side of casual.

White Jeans are a new and exciting discovery!

I love them.

I know many women love bright coloured and pastel jeans but I have never hopped on that bandwagon.

Club Monaco garments are well made and neatly finished.

I blanch a wee bit at the regular price of their garments but I do love to go into their stores and browse.

I get some great ideas of how to mix and match simple pieces and accessorize them to create a polished outfit.

Never underestimate the power of an accessory.

They are easy to find at reasonable prices and it is the best way to personalize your signature look.

If you are loathe to go into thrift or consignment shops try art gallery gift shops, local ethnic stores or antique markets...ebay and Etsy have thousands of great pieces just waiting for the right buyer.

Pearls are wonderful and these days I think the larger gum ball sizes are more fun than the smaller ones...

a little bit of whimsy can make me feel younger!

Massed in a grouping of several strands like Coco Chanel I get more mileage out of them.

I wear fragrance most days now that I am not at school.

(the cats don't seem to mind)

Mitsouko makes me feel very grown up and sophisticated.

NEVER spray it on your pearls or the nacre will dissolve and your pearls will be ruined.

I wish that I had a large mirror with great lighting here in The Humble Bungalow so that I wouldn't need to sneak around taking pictures in the fitting rooms!

It is freezing cold here in Victoria.

I am bundled up wearing cashmere sox and several cashmere sweaters hunkered down indoors.

I walked to the Yoga Studio this morning for a gentle Hatha class instead of walking 5K in minus 4 degree temperatures.

Thank goodness that we have heat and power so that we can keep the freeze at bay and make pots of tea.

The resident hummingbirds are sipping iced sugar water today and they are not straying too far from the feeder.

I think they must be storing up their energy for the cold night ahead.

Snow flurries are in the forecast!

Blue Jeans...a desert island wardrobe MUST!

Have you got a favourite pair of jeans?
Are you fond of denim? Did you know it was first made in France?

Many many pairs of jeans have been in my wardrobe since I was a teen.
First there were Levis, and Lees, Wranglers, and GWG's...
and many other brands whose names I cannot recall.
There were the dressier "grown up jeans" from Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, and DKNY.

Jeans are such a basic that I think they deserve a place of honour.
I wear jeans most days now that I have retired.
I have 4 pairs of jeans and 1 pair of black dress pants in my winter wardrobe....does that tell you something?
Well my lifestyle has changed as well as my wardrobe...dressy events are few and far between and I don't need to dress for work anymore.

In the past 5 years I have fallen hard for jeans from The Gap and it is quite possibly that they make an ankle version for height challenged women like myself.
I have never been very successful finding a tailor who is adept at shortening jeans.
I like how they look straight from the factory...or if they are only a bit too long I'll turn them up and wear them cuffed with booties, ballet flats or loafers.

Enter the boyfriend jeans for which I am smitten...seriously I love them!
I don't think I am too old for them at least that's what I say to myself when I see all those  younger women wearing them in the street.
Sadly I have parted with those wonderfully soft Vera Wang jeans ~ post weight loss they were far too baggy and would slip down over my hips. Not being the rapper type of dresser they HAD to go. I hope they have made some woman very happy!

I bought a pair of boyfriend jeans from the Gap in a smaller size when I started to lose weight.
That was months ago, early in my weight loss journey and they they were my first purchase.
Then they got too big so it was off to the donation bag...then a thrifted pair in a size 10 and they are long gone too to join their larger cousins.

Enter the new jean...
the sexy boyfriend jean and they fit.
Does that make me a 6?
(I don't think so, more like an 8)

in dark denim, not too distressed, no rips or tears

Here is how I am styling them today...

white Lands' End tank top

navy Lands' End cashmere sweater

chunky bubble gum pearls

spotty sox

Timberland booties

OOTD 

Mother, Sister and I are off for a stroll on the Esplanade

and we'll be having dinner together.

Sis is making a kale salad and I am thinking of a sockeye salmon fillet.

"I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes."

~ Yves Saint Laurent ~

~ ~ ~

What brand of jeans are you fond of wearing?

Would they make your desert island list?

How many pairs of jeans do you own?

(Our darling daughter once calculated that she had 22 pairs of jeans in her closet!)

Enjoy your week.

Pussy Willows, Primulas et Poulet

On the heels of the boggers Tea, my previous post, which I hope you have read...
I am dreaming of pussy willows.

Pussy Willows are blooming...
since I was a little girl I have always loved them.

I went to Thorn and Thistle in search of something to cheer up our Humble Bungalow.
One can always find something of great beauty in this wee flower shop.

Outside they have a stand with seasonal flowers and greenery...and lo and behold bunches of pussy willows.
I ventured inside and spied some cheery hyacinths, roses, and floral arrangements.
The decor has a Valentine's theme...red garlands, red roses, and candy hearts with messages of love.
Satisfied with my choice, they were wrapped up in brown paper and tied it with black twine.

The short willow branches were getting lost inside the tall vase so I popped them in this wee elephant vase.

I have two arrangements for the price of one.

One sits in the dining room and the other on the plate rail in the family room.

Primulas signal that Spring is on the way.

Our Humble Bungalow porch is not complete without a few of these plants.

Tradition dictates that we dress up winter in a bright manner.

Sunny Yellow and Brilliant Cobalt Blue.

Every year I find myself challenged to choose the plants.

So many colours...and they are all so lovely and bright.

It takes me many minutes and I group the plants together and stand back as I consider the options.

Our local garden shop had a one day special.

 Primulas were $1.00 each which was quite a saving as they are usually priced at $2.50!

Not bad for a $5.00 investment and when they finish blooming on the porch I plant them in the garden.

le Poulet

I am shocked at the price of a free range chicken.

This little roaster was almost $13.00 and it is so small that it fits on a dinner plate with room to spare.

It will be our dinner tonight.

Leftovers for lunch tomorrow and soup stock when there is nothing much left on the carcass.

I am serving it with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy.

What about that Super Bowl?

Did you see it?

The Seattle Sea Hawks were amazing!

I don't usually watch football but after all it is the biggest game of the season.

Did you hear that Philip Seymour Hoffman died in NY city from an apparent drug overdose?

he was only 46 years old...what a shame.

I thought that he gave so many brilliant performances in films.

I loved him in Capote.

I'm going to pour myself a glass of wine now and watch the post game highlights.

Seattle is abuzz with glee.

The chicken smells great and we will be dining in a few short minutes.

Cheers