OOTD ~ Valentine's Day

What to wear for Valentines Day?
I opted for a pop of red...

Jeans ~ Vintage America

Shirt ~ Tommy Hilfiger

Shoes ~ Joesph Seibel

I love these jeans

they fit well and are super soft

the length is perfect for my short frame.

I have another pair of these, in a different style

they are getting really faded and worn in

I've worn them SO MUCH!

I felt like upping my game a bit and purchased a new pair.

The pearls that my husband gave me many years ago on Valentine's Day.

We walked to our local pub in the village for a date night dinner.

A lot of people had the same idea and it was incredibly LOUD.

Hard to hear above the laughter 

and

with what we considered shouting at the nearby tables...

(some had obviously imbibed a bit too much)

We watched as they made their way to the exit and hoped that they were not driving home impaired.

The food was delicious and we both enjoyed our meal.

It was a lovely treat not to cook dinner.

Ballet flats are comfy to walk in and look great with ankle length jeans.

I am going on Jamie Cat Callan's Paris Tour this coming September and I am so excited to see her again and meet all the other women on the tour.

We all had such fun last time in 2015.

She has a couple of spaces left if you are interested.

Rose Hip with a raindrop...

a pop of colour on a grey day.

I love good chocolate and Pender Island has a wonderful shop.

One can sit and have tea or coffee and a sweet treat.

I'm looking forward to Summer 

when I can use this vintage bag that I bought a few years ago on Ebay.

I must get some things accomplished today so I will close for now...

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~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wearing red lipstick in my current favourite shade.

Luscious rose hips...

XO

Monday Monday...

One of my cheap and cheerful French souvenirs 

a wee jar that held the most delicious yogurt.

I have popped a beeswax votive inside the jar

and 

 loving the subtle scent that emanates from the wax as it slowly melts.

I finished the book on Bunny Mellon...

her life certainly had its ups and downs 

Throughout Bunny maintained her poise and composure.

She found solace puttering in her garden and decorating many homes.

Her life was enriched by the many friendships that she cultivated...

Jackie Kennedy, Balenciaga, Givenchy to name a few.

 There were many delightful surprises as I flipped the pages.

I recommend this book...

Bunny had a strength of character

lots of energy

a zest for life

impeccable style

a lifelong passion for gardening

tasteful flair for homes and decorating

a collector of fine art and antiques

loyal to her staff 

Bunny loved being out in nature.

This story will resonate with me forever.

I don't usually keep books but this one is going to stay on my shelf.

It's a "keeper!"

New silky black camisole...

I love wearing this under my cashmere sweaters.

These two products are fabulous for dry skin...

the body wash is emollient and the scent is subtle.

The moisturizer is pure, light and silky.

Self care is so important.

It doesn't have to cost a lot of money.

Perhaps you can afford a full day at the Spa...

 (which would be fabulous!)

Or you may just take an extra 5 minutes here and there to treat yourself.

Speaking of treats...

Isla and I made some bath salts together last week.

The recipe is on my blog in a December post a "Hostess Gift."

I'm a bundled up in the Michelin Man puffer coat!

The weather this past weekend was marvelous...

we had some sunshine and it was such a welcome tonic after weeks of rain.

Following up on my post about the intermittent fasting...

I am enjoying the results.

I have lost a few pounds and feel way more energy!

It was difficult at first not eating breakfast and then 

only eating during the 8 hour "window"  

There are books and You Tube videos that discuss the health benefits of fasting

if you are interested.

I would love to hear your thoughts...

Please note: to comment on my blog you'll need to use a Google search engine as Safari will not work for some reason.

Hope your week is off to a good start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

New eating regime that the science community says is proven to work ~ it may surprise you!

It feels like January was a loooong month...
Snow followed by winds and torrential rains
we broke rainfall records!

A lot of time was spent indoors keeping dry...
maybe just a wee bit too much.

February is finally here and I am not unhappy putting January behind me!

My doctor recently reduced the dosage of my thyroid medication.
He advised me to increase my activity and reduce my food intake to avoid putting on weight, he went one step further and suggested that I lose 10 pounds.

In order to achieve this goal I am trying a new eating regime that has been proven by science to work...

CBC has a podcast on their website about it and the reporter who covered the story lost 30 pounds by simply changing the hours when she ate and the rest of the day she was "fasting."

So my day starts with coffee and I do not start eating until around noon and stop eating by 8pm. I've added larger portions of vegetables and small leaner amounts of protein. Carbs have been left off many of the meals that I have prepared although I will have a few of them over the course of the week.

Chicken thigh and salad

I did eat a second chicken thigh as they were small.

Broccoli and a thin breaded pork cutlet with mushrooms and gravy.

Chicken breast sauteed 

topped with lemon juice and capers 

roasted vegetables

beets.

Love making a pan of veggies to roast.

The flavours are so much more intense.

The recipe that follows is a winner!

"Gail's recipe"

She was an Australian exchange teacher 

 at James Bay Community School.

I make this dish regularly and think of her.

My doctor asked me not to weigh myself every day.

He said once a week is plenty

suggesting instead that I use my clothes as a guideline.

There is some extra space in my jeans 

which is promising

and 

the scale reflects that I have lost a few pounds!

It is encouraging 

despite the fact that I have not been out walking

 as much as I should...

I blame the weather.

The clouds parted for a brief time when we were on our walk.

That glimmer of sunshine put a bounce in my step!

The Hellebores are blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden!

I purchased this plant for Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver a few years ago...

love the rich deep dark shade of the bloom with the lime green stamens.

A local shop 

"The Root Cellar"

is a farm style market

with a wide variety of vegetables and food.

They also have a garden centre

 a floral department 

 I enjoy going there for some inspiration.

So that's next on my agenda...

Hope you enjoy your weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday ~ thoughts on light and bright pops of colour....

Good morning from The Humble Bungalow!

Its a gloomy day here in my neighbourhood 

so I am seeking 

comfort and inspiration via colour.

This gorgeous fuchsia pink Lewisia Cotyledon bloom elevates my spirit 

which I find necessary when the sun is not shining.

I don't suffer from SAD but I do crave brights when the skies are grey.

At a bridge lesson yesterday afternoon I felt like I was in way over my head!

It was an introduction to duplicate bridge 

with an emphasis on newer conventions of which there are MANY!

I had fun and plan to return 

it's good to flex my "grey cells!"

I took this photo over the weekend

we enjoyed an hour of bright sunshine before the clouds returned.

This pink orchid was a bargain at the market.

($20)

I love orchids as they bloom for a few months 

then rebloom again and again...

When you consider the cost of a bouquet of flowers

and 

compare that to the price of an orchid 

that will bring you colour many months each year

its a wise choice.

A rainbow of colours

refracted by the crystal

that hangs in our living room window.

"As far as we can discern, 

the sole purpose of human existence 

is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." 

~ Carl Jung ~

I treated myself to this book.

It has been on my want to read list since it was published.

"People are like stained - glass windows. 

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, 

but when the darkness sets in, 

their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."

~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross ~

We must press on and make our own light...

Glimpse of sunshine through the curtain of clouds.

Hooray for the snowdrops!

My afternoon tea ritual is better 

when sipped by candlelight...

 from a bone china teacup.

Embracing Daily rituals have been important.

 As I spend more time at home since retiring from my job.

These little habits are something that I look forward to...

sitting to knit or to read a book are what I consider "life's little luxuries."

Time is a gift to be honoured and cherished.

"My favorite things in life don't cost any money. 

It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time."

 ~ Steve Jobs ~

Ponder these thoughtful quotes as you move through your days...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Five things Friday

Five things Friday

Gorgeous wee daffodils that were a gift

they are especially cheerful on these rainy grey days.

Colour and flowers can make a big impact in elevating our flagging spirits.

I know I seek out bright pops of colour at this time of year.

Shopping the trends...

I went to the mall to check out the newest straight cut jeans.

I tried on several pairs but don't think they flatter my short frame.

Too heavy and make my legs look like tree trunks!

I much prefer the skinny silhouette which I find makes me look taller and slimmer. I hope that they will continue to be available as mine are all several years old and will need to be replaced at some point.

I don't usually follow the trends as I prefer a classic look 

with a touch of vintage

like this Coach bag 

which has many miles on it and some signs of wear

but it ticks all the boxes for me.

Quality, versatility, classic style and streamlined shape.

Did I mention that Vintage is a big fashion focus in Paris?

OOTD 

Eileen Fisher dark denim jeans

Timberland Tobacco coloured short boots

Large square silk hand rolled scarf

in a leopard pattern

Found at a local thrift shop for under $10

Love a bargain and it is in mint condition.

Citrine earrings made by my darling daughter they pair well with the scarf.

Eileen Fisher black vest.

This weekend we have several casual events planned...

I will make every effort to add a pop of colour and a touch of vintage to my basic outfit.

Do you LOVE vintage?

What is your best thrift shop find?

My best "score" 

 a pair of arts and crafts bookends 

copper with sterling silver inlay birds

($7.99)

I sold them so I could buy a strand of baroque pearls. 

 I literally ran across the street to a dealer who specialized in arts and crafts items 

(He purchased the bookends for $500.00)

then I skipped happily back across the street to snap up the pearls.

Hope that you have a fabulous weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~