Nighty Night...sleep tight.

It's night time and all is quiet and calm in The Humble Bungalow kitchen.

Mr. HB and I have been watching House of Cards on Netflix and I am stunned by the evil and malice of Frances. 

He is the character that Kevin Spacey portrays so convincingly alongside his on screen wife Claire played by Robin Wright whose role is a nasty piece of work as well.

It is about as far away from delicious and addictive Downton Abbey as it can get but we sit riveted just the same.

I like the grittiness of the cinematography, the sepia tones playing against the blacks and white of the sets.

Robin's hair cut is very chic and she looks so attractive in her stylish wardrobe.

I do not know how she walks around in those high heeled shoes though...

meandering on a path in the park with her lover she walks with such grace that it looks effortless.

(a skill that I have never mastered!)

I have a routine at night...before getting myself ready for bed.

Do you?

I plump the pillows on the love seats.

Put all the dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on.

Wipe down all the granite counter tops and stove before turning out the lights.

I take off my make up and wash my face before applying a light layer of Sea Buck Thorn Salve.

Brush and floss my teeth and put some lip conditioner on before grabbing a bottle of Perrier.

If I wake up during the night I'll have a few sips so that I stay hydrated throughout the night.

I am a firm believer of drinking lots of water.

I think it helps in so many ways and keeps my skin clear.

Reading is not one of my regular night time routines unless I go to bed super early.

My mind gets over active when I read at night and I have a difficult time quieting it after I close my book.

Sleep is much deeper on the days when I walk vigorously and get plenty of fresh sea air.

On nights when I have had a busy or stressful day or had caffeine after 4 pm I need to practise Yogic breathing...

it works surprisingly well....no need to count sheep.

Alternatively view this You Tube Sleepy Time Yoga session.

Soft cotton sateen sheets, a feather pillow, and the goose down duvet all contribute to making my sleep as restorative experience as possible and I need at least 8 hours or I cannot function.

How are you sleeping at night?

What habits have you adopted to ensure that you enjoy a restful night of slumber?

Sweet dreams,

Hostess

Eleven Things....as requested...

Jen Lawrence of Dwell On These Things gave me a nod...and I am not one to shy away from a challenge even though it requires me to share 11 personal tidbits...

But before I go there I have been seriously distracted....tea at Mother's with my family today was sublime.
Tea, food, family, a cacaphony of conversation, and a charming child who had us all in the palm of her hands made for a fabulous afternoon. I came home with a renewed strength of family connection and a larger reading list!

I lit a candle to set the mood.

For me there is nothing like a scented candle to invite quiet contemplation.

I have my Town and Country magazine on the bedside table waiting...

Paris is very much on my radar...

I have been online checking out apartments and am trying to wrap my head around the cost.

I am saving money and will need to get creative as I am now retired and on a pension.

 I will need to be more frugal in order to save money as I do not want to be penny pinching in France.

OK 11 things about me...

I am afraid of spiders.

I cannot tell a lie...I have tried it never works!

My favourite colour is green.

Potatoes are my favourite all time food...I could eat them forever....possibly because of my Irish Roots.

I have NEVER pumped my own gas...hope I never have to cuz I have no idea how to do it in style!

Love diamonds and pearls...have only a few pieces of costume jewels and think I might be a bit of a snob because I rarely wear anything faux.

Have a passion for scarves...especially Hermes.

My nails are rarely polished because I garden and I am rather hard on them.

Tim Minchin's White Wine in the Sun makes me weep.

I brush and floss my teeth 4 or 5 times a day.

I could go on....

well I must as that is only 10 things!

Am addicted to Downton Abbey and House of Cards.

 I would like to invite any bloggers to join in and share 11 facts about themselves.

I do not want to single out any one in particular so please link your answers here and we can follow up on your response.

See you soon...

sweet dreams.

Hostess

XO

OOTD French Lessons

White tank top by Coldwater Creek

Grey Lord and Taylor cashmere V neck cardigan

g21 skinny jeans

black Mee Too ballet flats

English coin necklace

(thrifted costume jewelry)

I just finished reading this book, which I found quite by accident when I was at the public library.

 The subject has been carefully researched by the author and is very well written.

I would recommend it if you are at all interested in the elements of living with grace and style.

This old tote has come in handy for all my French textbooks, workbooks and dictionary.

I like to keep things all together so I find a tote is the perfect vessel for the job.

Once my homework is finished I pop everything right back inside and zip it up.

It's so easy to grab on my way out the door when I go to class.

The sun is shining down on us today and the birds are chirping.

The smell of fresh mown grass is in the air and the neighbours are outside pottering in their gardens.

Spring weather is so uplifting...and I cannot help dreaming of what Spring time in Paris might feel like!

Mother and I are hosting a tea for family in her condo.

We will be using her polished silver tea service, fine bone china and vintage linens.

She has ordered a chocolate torte from Pure Vanilla.

 I am making stuffed devilled eggs and arranging a fruit and petit sandwich tray.

Hope that you have some fun planned for your weekend!

Soup of the Gods and French Lessons...

It's been a busy few days here in The Humble Bungalow.
Janet from The Gardener's Cottage inspired me with her recent post.
She lives in the most beautiful cottage and her eye for detail in decor is sheer perfection.

Spring Cleaning has commenced and I have started with some really messy spaces...
kitchen drawers and the pantry cupboard.

The dry goods shelf of the pantry cupboard.

I washed the shelves and wiped the jars before rearranging the supplies.

I was surprised how many packages of half full pasta were lurking in the back of the cupboard.

It's good to have a regular clean out so you can keep on top of what you have on hand.

No need to buy what you already have!

I switched over my "junk" drawer and turned it into my spice drawer.

I got rid of most of the junk and so now it looks more like an office supply spot.

You can see why the spices were crowded as this drawer is tiny compared to the one that house the spices.

I cleaned out my make up tin and wiped all the containers and washed and air dried the brushes.

I am a minimalist when it comes to make up...

rather a maximalist when it comes to skin care but that is another post altogether!

I made the BEST mushroom soup that I have ever tasted!

It is so delicious that I used the word "orgasmic" when describing it to the girlfriend that gave me the book.

Soup Sisters Easy and Delish mushroom soup recipe can be viewed here.

Saute the onions, garlic and mushrooms.

Make the roux.

Simmer the soup a few minutes.

Serve.

Enjoy!

I have started taking French Lessons from Alliance Francaise.

I've 5 years of French under my belt but that was years ago, so I need to bring my skills up to speed in preparation for the trip to Paris next year.

There is a lot of homework in addition to the weekly lessons, so my blog posting will be taking a back seat for awhile until I catch up and feel more confident in class.

I would like to ask readers who have been to Paris for a favour.

I wonder if you might share some of the best things to see and do and also if any of you have apartment rental agencies or accommodation information.

 I would be most grateful.

Amities,

Hostess

XO

Branching out...

In our neighbourhood people are always putting stuff out on the boulevard.
Stuff that they no longer want and it's free for the taking.
Sometimes it is a ragged couch, old computer or a TV...and I think this is a rather unfortunate habit of dumping things people are too lazy to recycle at the appropriate depots and it makes our neighbourhood look a bit scruffy.

On occasion one finds a true gem.
I have been very lucky scooping up the odd wicker chair, table, vase or canning jars.

I was chatting with my neighbour as she walked by our Humble Bungalow and she had a few large branches in her hands. I thought they were pussy willows at first but upon closer inspection I could see that they were magnolia buds, much larger than pussy willows so naturally I asked her where she had found them. She told me that someone had pruned their magnolia tree and put the trimmings on the boulevard in front of their house a few blocks away...with no time to waste I dashed off to procure my own branches!

I arranged them in the arts and crafts copper vase.

I wonder if they will bloom.

I cut down the pussy willows that were in the copper vessel and rearranged them in a white pitcher.

The bluest skies energize me no end.

I feel that I can breathe deeper and there is an extra bounce in my step.

One of the bounties of Mother Nature's gifts.

Have you found a gem free for the taking?

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

~ Coco Chanel ~

Make some time this week to do something nice for someone who needs a little TLC.

It can be a simple gesture, something from the heart.

Plant some seeds of kindness and watch them grow and blossom.

Hostess

XO