You asked...

A reader asked me to talk about what I eat on a day to day basis.
She wanted simple nutritional Weight Watchers point friendly food ideas and menus.

I seriously recommend that you first talk with your doctor before embarking on any plan.
Thyroid problems are responsible for a lot of weigh gain by women in their later years...so it is good to have a test done just in case your gland is not producing enough of the thyroid hormone. (like mine)
Once you get the go ahead to start reducing I would strongly urge you to join Weight Watchers.
It is a sensible regime and one that my physician enthusiastically endorses.

Breakfast is the easiest meal and takes the least amount of time to prepare, plus I like to keep it simple.
I alternate between fresh fruit and yogurt, eggs and toast.

I opt for a variety of fresh fruits and berries with 1/3 cup of Source Yogurt several mornings a week.
Poached or scrambled eggs with Silver Hills Little Big Bread are served on other days.
Two slices of crisp bacon are a treat and I will add these on occasion.
Often I will top two slices of bread with sliced bananas or low fat peanut butter.

To make meals quick and easy I roast a tray of assorted vegetables once a week and keep them in a container in the fridge.

I use yams, carrots, peppers, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, beets, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, whatever looks fresh at the market. I drizzle a small amount of olive oil and toss with the veggies before roasting them at 450 for 40 minutes.

They get a nice colour and have a nutty flavour when they are done.

Lunches are mainly wraps or salads.
I use these with Grimm Co. corn and flour tortilla wraps topped with roasted veggies or a scrambled egg with salsa for a quick lunch.
The roasted vegetables are nice topped with a sprinkling of feta cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar which can be used as a side dish or a main course.
Salads are great for lunches and I always serve mine with a small amount of protein.
Lean chicken or turkey breast, leftover salmon, tuna, soft or a hard boiled egg.
Dressing is used sparingly, about 1 tablespoon, which you can serve on the side and dip the tines of your fork before each bite or dress your entire salad. I use Paul Newmans' lite Thai dressing as I love the flavour.

Dinners usually call for some lean meat, poultry or fish with a salad and lots of vegetables.
A bit of starch on occasion, a baked potato topped with salsa or 1/2 cup of brown rice with a bit of Braggs.

I like to drizzle some lemon juice and sprinkle herbs on top of white fish which I bake on parchment paper at 350 for about 20-25 minutes until done. If I cook salmon I use a wee bit of maple syrup and soy sauce or grated ginger if I have some fresh on hand.

Chicken breast is my preferred choice but Mr. HB likes thighs and wings which I rarely eat because they have skin and more fat than I like to consume. I cook him these when I have lean chicken breast.
Remember that the suggested 3 ounce portion is about the size of a deck of cards.

Steak is a good choice but we don't BBQ much in the winter and I don't grill in my oven so we might have some ground hamburger in burritos, chili or spaghetti sauce.
I severely limit the amount of pasta that I have because it is so high in points and serve a big salad with it so I am not hungry and tempted to have seconds!

I make a big pot of chili with beans, peppers, corn and ground turkey...this is nice leftover served in a wrap for lunch the next day.

Stir fries are a great way to get lots of veggies and a just wee bit of meat. I use vegetable stock to stir fry instead of oil so I save points and still get a tasty result. Bean sprouts are used instead of noodles and I aways add Braggs, red pepper flakes, freshly grated ginger and some Chinese five spice powder.
You can use a bottled stir fry sauce that is low in calories for added flavour if you prefer.

Homemade soup with a tomato base is great to have on hand. Make a big batch and freeze it in small containers for when hunger strikes and you do not have time to whip one up from scratch.
I saute onions, carrots and celery until soft then add water and fish or chicken bones and make a broth.
Season with dill, salt and pepper add a can of tomato paste and simmer. You can add leftover vegetables or some frozen ones if you like.
Homemade soup is very filling.

Snacks mostly consist of an apple sliced with 2 wedges of lite Laughing Cow cheese.

Fresh carrot sticks, peppers, pea pods, celery, cherry tomatoes with a tablespoon of lite Dilly Dip made by the Lighthouse company. Great for serving to company too, and look how beautiful it looks!

Popcorn is a good choice too but with no added butter!

Remember to eliminate or drastically reduce the consumption of sodas, sweet drinks, candy, cookies and pastries.
Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol.

I hope this helps and remember that the Weight Watchers have a website where you can sign up for a free newsletter to get recipes and ideas that help you eat nutritionally good food in portions that allow for weigh loss and maintain your health. Exercise is an important component when trying to lose weight. Walking just 20 minutes each day will help you to rev up your metabolism and aids in sleep. The more activity that you engage in the faster you will notice results.

One of the best things I did was buy the Walk Meter app for my IPhone which keeps track of my walk stats.

You can program it to talk and encourage you to step up your pace to walk faster if you need the motivation.

It is not a huge task if you start small.

Make a few changes a bit at a time and before you know it they become a habit.

Best of luck and thank you for posing the question.

OOTD, snow flurries and snowdrops.

Most days I wear more than one outfit...
so I am posting two OOTD ~ Outfits Of The Day.

One Tooth Yoga top in a glorious shade of aubergine.

(One Tooth has made lots of LuLu Lemon's products over the years.)

Black LuLu Lemon Yoga pants.

Grey cashmere socks

OT Fit Wear shop in Victoria is located on Broad Street across from Pagliacci's.

If you have never eaten at Pag's you are missing a tasty spot for a bite.

It's a fun place to meet a friend and you never know who you might see when you are there.

It's a popular place so be prepared to go early or stand in line...

it's worth the wait.

I wore my "uniform" to the Yoga Studio for a 75 minute Gentle Hatha class with Jacquie...
this is not an "easy" class even though it sounds like it might be. Jacquie has us doing the plank for what seems like forever! (Much longer than I can hold.) There is a roomful of strong "warriors" who often sway on our mats.

Let's not forget about the sturdy tree...I am unable to keep my foot off the ground for very long and must plant it firmly beside my trunk! Not to worry, I will get better at this Tree pose in time.
The benefits are already evident as sleep is deeper and I'm feeling blissfully calm.

OOTD

Vintage Spanner beaded sweater (thrift shop find)

white Coldwater Creek tank (thrift shop find)

skinny jeans g21 (Walmart bargain at $10)

Black leather belt 

(came with a skirt that I no longer own)

I love beaded sweaters and so does my sister.

She has quite a large collection and I have this one.

If a black or grey beaded one fell into my lap I would not turn it down!

I wore this OOTD to take Mother out for a drive and we ran some errands.

Snow was in the forecast but we dodged it in our neck of the woods.

Two years ago we got a serious snowfall.

Enough to make a snowman.

Our vintage Volvo wagon handles well in the snow as it has a "Winter" gear in addition to the regular gears.

The car has considerable weight so it feels safe and reliable in inclement weather but I usually opt to take the bus or walk when we get a serious dump of snow.

A gentle dusting of snow.

This image was taken a few years ago...

I simply cannot get enough snowdrops.

I plant some every year and am hoping to see the day when I have masses of them blooming in the garden.

I'm dreaming of a carpet of wonderful wee white and green bonnets holding their heads up high.

There is such beauty in the small details.

Emma Bridgewater mug, a gift from my husband.

Lunch wraps these days are my go to meal.

The Grimm Co. make corn and flour tortillas which are only 3 WW points so I have been filling them with fresh veggies and topping them off with a dollop of chipotle salsa.

Simple and delicious.

Quote for the day:

"To be beautiful means to be yourself. 

You don’t need to be accepted by others. 

You need to accept yourself.” 

~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~

Trompe l'oeil...

Since changing my eating habits I have been very aware of how food is served and the relation of it's visual beauty and it's effect on pleasure and taste. Plating and presentation are what good chefs and cooks do best.
Garnishes are so pretty and I rarely take the time to add them to a plate.
I think that garnishes are like a gorgeous colourful Hermes silk scarf tied at the neck.
I doubt that anyone would disagree that they impart colour to perk up a basic outfit.

Spa food always looks so appetizing, and there's a reason. Spa food is incredibly lean and low on calories so to trick the eye and brain, the chef must make it look like a work of art, a worthy gift to a high paying customer.
You feel fuller after savouring a beautifully presented plate of food. Besides the added garnishes are edible, and even though they may be sliced thinly, they are artfully fanned out to make you think that you are getting more...
Trompe l'oeil !

While I've never spent more than a few hours each time I visit a spa, I have read numerous articles while dreaming what it might be like to spend a restorative week as a guest in a luxury spa somewhere exotic.

So I am trying to serve beautifully arranged dishes as I think they make a difference in how we feel about food.
If it is haphazardly cobbled together it's rather boring and why would you take time to savour the flavour if it is a mess?

Bland and basic,

a humble breakfast of banana slices on slices of Silver Hill's Little Big Bread.

Weight Watchers Friendly!

Imagine this with a few fresh red strawberries slices or a green kiwi.

Wouldn't that be lovely?

When making salads which I do with regularity, I now look for the brightest vegetables.

Mixing textures and shapes makes for a more interesting effect.

Food can be beautiful to look at as well as fueling and nourishing the body.

We eat a lot of salads and vegetables in The Humble Bungalow.

Roasted veggies with whole garlic cloves and onion quarters.

This makes a delicious side dish if you are serving meat or poultry for dinner.

Imagine this as a main course sprinkled with feta cheese and balsamic vinegar.

Yum Yum.

A pretty fruit salad, 

great as dessert or served with plain yogurt for breakfast.

Can you "taste the flavours" just looking at this colourful fruit salad?

It looks so appetizing all mixed together...colour, shapes, and texture.

 Humble Homemade buns...

bland to look at but imagine them with a wee drizzle of butter served with a robust soup or stew.

Friend and local caterer Jule makes food look so appetizing.

Perhaps you'll consider inviting her into your home to add some of her magic to your next event.

Primulas are blooming!

Look how they cheer us just by being here on a grayish day in the Pacific Northwest.

I bid you adieu as it's time for a tea break...

and some casual reading.

Make the most of your weekend.

Throw on a bright scarf and seize the day.

Carpe Diem

"You don't get to choose how you're going to die.  

Or when.  

You can only decide how you're going to live.  

Now."  

~ Joan Baez ~

A Gift From the Sea ~ beachy whites.

When I think of beachy whites I think of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's book "A Gift From the Sea"
This book has influenced me over the years...the first time I read it I was in the throes of peri-menopause and felt like I was at sea with my emotions, trying desperately to keep myself ship shape and stable in a violent storm.
Her words helped me to take stock and to look for the small things in my daily round that would keep me on an even keel. Those wise words continue to inspire and resonate with me today.

I make a point to read Anne's book every year. You might enjoy reading it.
A small book which can be a quick read, if unlike me, you do not stop after each chapter to reflect and digest the message within...

Anne wrote a lovely account about "finding herself" in a beautiful place where she lived for a short time as she needed to escape from her duties as a wife and mother. Anne lived a very simple and solitary existence listening to the waves and watching the tides roll in and out with the rhythm of the sea.
The beach taught her many of life's lessons.
Taking time to be in a quiet place, seeking solace from her hectic life, she was able to stop, listen to her heart, and it was only then that she found inner strength, her truth and was able to find her voice.
Writing this book has been her gift to many of us who have struggled at some point with the demands of life.

I am so grateful to have stumbled upon her work...and I often ponder what it might be like to own a rustic simple white washed home by the seashore.

I love looking at shabby chic rooms in the magazines and online sites.
This look is very popular, however, it is not in keeping with our dark heritage designated arts and crafts bungalow.

Dreamy, creamy whites are so soothing.
Beachy seaside whites play a big role in our guest room decor.

The all white collection of beach glass sits beside a clam fossil and some coral.

Barnacle and shell in the background.

Shades of white.

Sunshine and shadows.

Can you see Chester's silhouette in the shadow?

Large shells are often sold at flea markets and antique malls.

I bought this one at a local flea market many years ago.

The distressed oar standing up behind the wicker chair was a boulevard freebie.

I stop for boulevard freebies, often quickly!

 If you are following behind me in the car proceed with caution and I do put on my turn indicator.

I abide by the rules of the road.

I am guilty of following rules to the letter and I cannot tell a lie...

perhaps a little teeny tiny white lie

but only if it concerns a wedding or baby shower or a surprise 

never ask me to lie for you, it cannot be done!

I've added a touch of pink...

reminds me of Rachel Ashwell who created the Shabby Chic shop and books.

I loved watching her TV show and would dream of having my own Shabby Chic cottage.

So this guest room satisfies my urge to live in such a cottage...

 if it was on a sandy beach I'd find myself walking barefoot in the sand while the waves wash in and wash out beach combing 

for some pure white sea glass and creamy shells.

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choice less as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea."

~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~

Lashing out...

Applying mascara is one of my daily habits...it has been part of my regime since I was a teen and feels as natural as showering and wearing deoderant.
I bought my Maybelline in the five and dime stores, Woolworth's and Kresge's.
You can read about the Maybelline story here.

Maybelline came in a small plastic box with a tray of powdered black tint and a separate brush.
All that was needed before promising "long luxurious lashes" was a bit of water to moisten the cake of mascara before loading up the brush.
(as unhygienic as it was many of us used spit)

If you are in your 50's or older you may remember this wee red box that promised a bit of glamour for a only few cents. These days mascara prices have soared and are made by every major cosmetic company.
The brushes and formulas have really changed...I have tried many!
How does one choose the best one without trying all of them?

I have been a fan of Aveda and Lancome Definicils until I was recently lured away to try the popular Benefit brand "they're Real!" I have given this mascara a real "girl scout" try and I am sorry to report that I am really disappointed.
I don't like the plastic applicator which "mascara-ades" as  a brush.
While generally I am a very polite Canadian, I must speak honestly as I blogged about this awhile back and I remember that a reader asked me to give her some feedback.
"I cannot abide this goopy mess..."

"Benefit" if you are reading this, the opinion is purely mine, and in no way do I want to attract any litigation...
I am sure that the hundreds of fans and their rave reviews on Sephora cannot be wrong.
It is just not for me,  a "natural look" is what I aspire to for my lashes.

Finding myself at the local pharmacy waiting for my thyroid prescription to be filled I had a few minutes to browse so I set my designs on procuring a less expensive mascara that might deliver on the promise of darker lashes that were separated without gloppy goopy results.

I bought two tubes that were under $10 each.

Maybelline Great Lash and Almay Intense I-Colour for hazel eyes in Midnight.

I have disposed of the Benefit mascara which is on the bottom of the image.

I have tried the Almay mascara and I love the brush 

which does not load too much product when it comes out of the tube.

My personal opinions will be posted after I have had some time to evaluate these two mascaras.

The rain eased up a bit this afternoon

but not enough for me to walk my regular 5K route.

We have a bit of a pond forming in our north side yard,

 our gardener remarked was a bit deeper than he expected when he was out there weeding today!

 An unexpected visit from my BFF meant we could sit, share tea, a piece of chocolate, and a chat.

Thanks S!

Gosh darn it, I found another engaging book...I really do love reading!

Kathleen Tessaro wrote this early on in her career before she wrote her most recent and delightful novel 

The Perfume Collector.

I read Elegance a few years ago and this book, Innocence, actually fell off the shelf into my hands!

What are you reading and are you loyal to any particular brand of mascara?