Slow Living ~ Rebuilding my wardrobe one piece at a time

Where to start once the culling, donating, and consigning has commenced?

What are the wardrobe workhorses?

What to buy first?

How many garments does one  actually "need"?

I've purchased several pairs of pants as they were the most needed...

the bagginess of a pair of jeans or pants cannot be camouflaged like a dress.

First purchases = JEANS!

(are you surprised?)

Spanx dark wash high waisted pull on wide leg

Mos Mosh basic jean medium wash cuffs fold up 

Off white "jean style" pants

Black slim pull on ankle length pants

Linen mocha wide leg pants

Slim ankle length cotton cream with a blue stripe

I am happy with all these pants...they fit and look decent.

I've kept several of my X large shirts...

pale and regular wash Gap denim shirts

blue and white oversized striped Ralph Lauren shirt

Most of my Tees still work.

Next order of business is a white linen shirt.

One that is closer to the body but can be used as a layering piece as well.

How long do you think it would take to find the best white linen shirt?

I looked for weeks at the thrift and consignment stores but no luck.

Off to Marshall's...

I took 5 shirts to the change room and tried them all on and critiqued each one.

Two made the cut but I planned to only buy one.

In the end I chose the Sigrid Olsen shirt.

The fit and the details nailed it...also at $39.99 it was a winner!

Shell buttons

cleanly finished

pockets that sit flat

Even stitching

goes with pearls :-))

Pale denim jacket goes with the striped pants

assorted white tops for layering

one striped Saint James cotton tee

black casual waffle dress 

 did not make the cull...

Linen thrifted Habitat black and grey print skirt 

which sits lower on my hips but still works

shown here with a new locally made black linen top.

Black large Fig half zip polo sweatshirt.

I've kept a few dressy dresses in the guest room closet...

so stay tuned for more updates.

Fall and winter will require some warmer layers...

I have 4 sweaters at the ready:

Grey cashmere V neck pullover

Periwinkle cashmere cardigan by Saint James

Black cashmere turtleneck by Lord and Taylor

thick wool vintage grey cable sweater pullover by Gap (menswear) thrifted

Rebuilding a wardrobe is going to be a challenge.

 I am feeling very positive as I know that I don't need to rush.

I'm fussy and frugal and enjoy the hunt and willing to wait for the right piece.

(at the right price)

In the meantime I am leaning heavily on accessories.

A pair of black pants and a white linen shirt.

Add these fun pieces and I'm good to go.

Soft pink linen Italian Scarf/Shawl

Pearls

Chloe fragrance

Thank you for the positive feedback on my last post.

Posting might be sporadic...I feel encouraged to keep my blog going.

Will post on Instagram when I have a new blog post published...

If you enjoy slow living, simple life and easy stress free tidbits

 you are in the right place.

It might be DULL to some 

(you know who you are )

unapologetically 

it's my lifestyle vibe...

I've nothing to prove, no timeline of when to post,

no agenda per say

just random snippets of my simple life. 

Thank you for being here :-))

Take Care

XO

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Simple, slow living....

 

~ Candle burning in a thrifted silver dish ~

Watching the flame...

the pool of wax softening

the scent of beeswax wafting in the air.

I've been overwhelmed by all your comments.

Slow living and quiet times seem to resonate with many of you.

I had been thinking of my daily routines as simple and not worthy of recording...

sharing them felt somewhat insignificant 

it even crossed my mind that they were dull.

Not dull to me, because they uplift me, but perhaps readers find them of no interest.

We are living in a fast world full of chaos and change...

my recipe for calm and peace is to embrace the small simple Joys.

Go outside and breathe in the fresh air and simply walk.

I posted these two roses floating in the birdbath on my Instagram page...

can you see the reflection of the arbutus tree limbs?

This vast tree is in our neighbour's garden and it has grown so large 

that it has turned our front yard into a shade garden.

We now grown mostly Hostas and shade loving plants in the beds.

We need to adapt and change...

Having lost weight over the past 9 months means that the bulk of my carefully curated wardrobe no longer fits me.

I lost the weight after my surgeon advised me that my intense hip pain would be reduced if I shed a few pounds.

So I took action and cut many starchy carbs, quit drinking alcohol,

avoided fried foods, chips and salty snacks.

Focused on lots of veggies and lean protein.

25 pounds lost ~ I am culling my wardrobe...

consigning many quality items and donating the rest.

I have SO MANY empty hangers!

I'm carefully buying a few new pieces...

and wearing these basics on repeat.

Reading is one of my favourite hobbies!

Book found in a wee free library...

morning coffee and my candles.

~ Garden roses ~

Gifts from the garden

soft, frilly frothy petals and oh so fragrant.

Thank you for those of you who have expressed an interest 

staying with me on this slow and simple journey.

I'm planning to continue these wee posts...

and 

will be posting when my creative spirit 

is feeling like sharing.

In the meantime...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

~ The Humble Bungalow ~

Mid June Snippets ~ Gardens, Roses and Pearls ~

I must be busy if I am not posting more frequently...

(that is true)

The Humble Bungalow Garden is a riot of blooms

 so we are "full on" with the maintenance.

Add that to the home keeping jobs, grocery shopping, and cooking.

Exercises from the physio and walking.

Reading, and all the "new" appointments since we acquired a nurse practitioner.

HOORAY!

Our long time doctor retired and we cut loose...

so we are very happy to have been assigned a new practitioner.

She's amazing and VERY thorough.

Snippets from my favourite garden on the recent Teeny Tiny Garden Tour.

This delightful garden is on a street off Oak Bay Avenue.

It is an OASIS of beauty...

lush green plantings...

Hostas, Boxwoods, Trees, Roses and many cozy seating spots.

I peeked in the windows of the charming home and was so smitten...

white ironstone, shiny silver, art and a kitchen that looks so gorgeous.

I am sharing some of our roses so if you are tired of seeing them LOOK AWAY!

Gertrude Jekyll Rose

We moved her last year...she's finally put down roots and is blooming.

  ~ VERY FRAGRANT ~

Graham Thomas

 a David Austin Climber...

We actually need to rake up the rose petals!

Deadheading roses and managing black spot are ongoing tasks.

Sunshine and Roses...

a lovely combo.

Hubby and I have been outside in the garden most of the day.

Lots of things require our attention.

If we stopped doing these jobs the garden would be a TOTAL jungle.

While we are outside the hummingbirds flit about, 

we can hear the house finches chattering, 

the boat horns from the Inner Harbour.

Some car traffic, occasional buses and the neighbour children laughing.

(sometimes fighting and screaming)

Volunteer Poppies in the gravel drive.

I wore my mom's pearls this week with my denim jacket.

These baroque pearls were a very special gift to mom from my father...

who was not a very demonstrative fellow.

This gift was a cherished one for mom

  she wore them several times every week.

I feel very honoured to have been given them...mom knew I loved pearls.

They GLOW...and RADIATE LOVE.

My view from the laundry room...

Joseph's Coat Rose.

~ Strawberry Hill Rose ~

A David Austin Climber...one of our newest roses.

it is a STAR performer.

Loads of blooms and a carpet of pink petals that YES need to be raked up.

I'm repeating myself...and often...

Janet at The Gardener's Cottage has stopped posting

 saying that she has said everything.

I am wondering if it is time for me to close the door on The Humble Bungalow?

Things change...

I'm not the same person I was when I started this blog.

I've matured and my tastes have changed...

not even sure if there is an audience out there that wants to read my posts.

And that is OK.

We are living in a new era.

I am slowing down and not buying a lot of things.

I'm wearing clothes on repeat.

Going for walks, reading books and eating simple meals.

Feeling gratitude for everyday life.

Embracing simple JOYS.

It might be rather DULL.

SO

I'll mull it over and see what I decide.

In the meantime...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

June ~ Flowers and more...

 

~ David Austin Rose ~

Climbing Graham Thomas

a fragrant and prolific repeat blooming rose.

It's a RIOT of Yellow blooms and the bees love it.

I have been busy with my new exercises and daily walks.

It's surprising how fast the days pass by...

home keeping, cooking, gardening.

My tea and book breaks several times a day

I seem to be busier than usual.

I have almost forgotten about blogging.

Today I finally answered the questions from my last post in May.

Roses are so beautiful right now...

the branches and stems are having a hard time holding up all the blooms!

I go out most days for a few minutes with my secateurs and snip off spent blooms, remove the black spotted leaves and as a wee reward pick a few roses to bring inside.

My "Work Station."

Always 

at or near the sink.

The hard working tools at the ready...

The kitchen is the heart of our home.

Most of my time is spent in the kitchen prepping meals and cleaning up.

I sit at the trestle table to write my blog posts.

Darling daughter helped facilitate a purchase this week...

she has an Etsy shop and is always out and about looking for treasures.

I mentioned at least a year ago to her 

that I was wanting a vintage or antique gold watch chain...

I had seen some in a local second hand shop that were lovely but far too expensive.

Since having my surgery, a friend suggested that I buy myself a treat,

 to "mark" the hip replacement event.

It got me thinking and well the stars aligned and Jennifer found me an antique Albert Chain in 9ct rose gold...

(rose gold is perfect for a rose grower!!)

Thank you Jen

XO

Did you watch any of the Chelsea Garden Show coverage on You Tube?

My goodness it was fun...I can only imagine being there.

Our peonies put on a great showing this year.

Lovely frothy petals...we have 2 different peony plants.

I could not bring myself to pick any as they looked so stunning in the beds.

I just finished reading Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale.

It was definitely dystopian...

the book was well written (of course) 

it felt plausible, 

perhaps even possible considering the times that we are living in...

On Sunday I purchased the sequel The Testaments.

I'll read that after I read a few other books in my book stack.

What are you reading?

Well I had better close for now and get some dinner organized.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know how you are getting along.

In the meantime...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

BEST (recent) thrift shop find!!...(roses, sunscreen, walking post op hip surgery)

 

~ Lady Angela ~

Fragrant and Frothy 

Growing up the lattice next to the front porch.

I picked a large bloom for the bathroom.

I'm enjoying the thrifted antique platter that I found at Ross Bay Villa's Sale.

My skin is very sensitive to the sun and I have rosacea so I need to use sunscreen.

Eminence have great sunscreen options...

My current favourite is their radiant mineral lotion with Bakuchiol and Niacinamide.

This straw hat is a keeper...

Eddie Bauer and it must be 30 or more years old!

Funny thing happened when I was sitting on the deck at the cottage...

a swallow landed on my hat which was on my head

I was so surprised and the bird flew off pretty quick after I moved.

So every so often I find a great item at the thrift store...

In the winter

I found some great Burberry and Barbour plaid wool and cashmere scarves.

Once I found an Hermes silk scarf which I sold at a local consignment shop.

There are oodles of items that I've picked up for the house.

Mid century Moderne pieces as gifts for our adult kids.

The most exciting and recent find was a pair of leather loafers...

Loafers have been on my wish list for about 18 months.

Well was I ever surprised to find these...

Bling wasn't on my radar...

BUT

they are my size, very comfy and they are leather.

Have you ever heard of Sandro?

When I was in Paris in 2019 I discovered Sandro.

It's definitely a LUXE brand.

They are in immaculate condition.

At a bargain price and under $20.

It was a lucky find.

I am so excited about these shoes...

will be wearing them on repeat.

(doing a happy dance too)

Perhaps I need to "Moon Walk" like Michael Jackson?

~ Mount Baker seen from the shore ~

~ Old Truck on a Pender Island Farm ~

Walking continues to improve post op hip replacement.

My recent fall in the garden has set me back a few weeks.

The cane slipped on the gravel path when I was picking lily of the valley.

Hubby had to help me up and I must say it scared me.

And wouldn't you know...the side I fell on was the operative hip side.

I was in pain for a full week and am only now slowly getting back to my walks.

We've been watching Silent Witness on BBC

and Storied Spaces on Magnolia Network.

Am reading a book about the British Upper Class 

called Hunting Unicorns by Bella Pollen.

It's very entertaining.

So that's about it for today...

the sun is shining and I've been outside.

Hubby planted a new yellow rose where an old red rose was struggling.

We've had a few roses fail lately.

Not sure why but there's no need to be upset...

just zip out to the garden centre and grab a new one...

so many great varieties.

June is almost here and more roses will soon be blooming.

Bouquet from Mother's Day...

purchased from our local Pepper's Grocery Store.

Took the bouquet to our cottage on Pender and enjoyed a quiet week.

The Purple Martins are back and have babies in the nesting boxes at the Marina.

Saw two grey whales swim by the cottage, no orcas this time.

Met up with friends...had a pub meal out.

Found an arts and crafts pewter British candlestick at the thrift shop.

I've never had any pewter before this find.

I've got to put the kettle on and make a cup of tea and sit on the front porch with my book for a bit until it's time for me to make dinner.

Thank you for stopping by...

hope that you enjoyed this wee post.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~