Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

It's the festive season!
I am nearly ready to host the family for our annual holiday feast.
I've got a few things left to get done...
so I am going to walk away from my laptop for a bit and put on my apron, roll up my sleeves and get busy in the kitchen.
Christmas music playing on the radio and all is calm...

I want to let you know how much I appreciate your comments and emails.
They connect me to you in a warm and fuzzy way and honestly they often are the highlight of my days.

The Bungalow is decorated in a simple green fashion...

The wee Charlie Brown tree

white lights and vintage ornaments.

Vintage wee pine cone baubles 

and glass garlands.

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Wishing you a Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

from

The Hostess of The Humble Bungalow

XO

Santa Baby!

Christmas came early to The Humble Bungalow.
Santa has delivered some pretty nice gifts with the Hostess in mind...
Thank you Santa!
Our renovation is almost finished and the rest is mostly decorating and reorganizing the storage areas.

This has been what I have been living like for about 2 weeks....

it's not our usual bathroom look.

Welcome to the new Humble Bungalow workhorses

LG steam machines

They are heavy duty so I can wash our duvets and covers instead of sending them out.

They are lined in stainless steel and are very quiet.

Nothing like my ancient ones which sounded like a 747 landing!

We are so pleased so be able to start putting things back in order.

We'll work at this over the holidays in between hosting Christmas dinner and attending a few social events.

When all is in place I'll do a post on the various improvements.

It's a very busy time for me as I am sure it is for many of you

 I have a few things left to purchase and wrap

and shop for all the food needed to put our annual Turkey dinner on the table.

So I must keep this post very brief

I need to pop by and check in with the blogs I follow as I have been offline for a couple of days.

Enjoy your weekend

Be calm and don't forget to smile.

Hostess

XO

The Cat in the Hat!

I've got a new hat (I'll show you later in this post)
which I wore when we went to see the Christmas lights at Butchart Gardens.
If you have never been to the Gardens it is a must see if you ever get to visit our fair city.

Butchart Gardens Christmas display December 2012

(picture courtesy of lovely daughter using her "fancy pants" camera)

(lovely daughter's image)

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the rest of the pictures are mine

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the lights are spectacular

there is also a carousel

and 

an ice skating rink

thousands of lights are wound around the trees

I particularly like the white ones

they look so crisp silhouetted against the dark night sky

The Twelve Days of Christmas are on display

here are the "Three French Hens"

you can see the Eiffel Tower in the back!

The Gardens have been open since the 1920's

please visit at any time of year you won't be disappointed 

there is a fabulous restaurant

The Blue Poppy

which has amazing high teas and delicious dinners.

It was a chilly weeknight evening 

but there was not a breath of wind and there was no rain so it was a perfect time to wander about

I wore my Lands End down coat, leather boots, leggings and my black Lands End cashmere sweater

I wore wool gloves and a new hat.

The hat has a feline flair...

it's an animal print

snow leopard perhaps?

in

soft wool and angora

cozy and warm

can you say MEOW?

The Cat is in The Hat!

Wearing my new hat 

with my 

wear them everyday 

diamond studs.

I embrace our festive Christmas traditions 

and am always on the look out for more meaningful ways to mark the holidays

with family and friends.

What are your Christmas or Holiday traditions?

Have they been passed on for generations or did they become tradition in recent years?

What is the silliest tradition that you have?

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Hope that you are keeping your cool this season

there are tempers flaring at every turn 

as evidenced by erratic drivers

cranky pushy people in line up

and

rude comments made by the stressed and impatient shoppers.

Let's try and be calm and collected shall we?

There is nothing attractive when losing one's manners in public!

If you need to vent...

try singing Christmas carols in the shower at the top of your lungs!

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Hostess

Standing in line...

I've found myself standing in line quite a bit lately.
It's a busy time of year at the post office, bakery and the small shops.

In the line up at the bakery an elderly gent was dressed so fine that I did a double take.
He had a grey wool coat which must have been cashmere and a jaunty plaid scarf red, black and white on a grey background. His black shoes were shined and smart. He had snow white hair and a sparkle in his eye.
He was very animated and chatted with the clerks as he bought a loaf of bread and some scones.

The woman behind him was overdressed in my opinion...she looked like she was trying too hard to impress.
She obviously had money as she was wearing designer duds head to toe.
Coach bag and shoes and a Burberry coat and scarf. She was in a hurry and was rather inpatient with the clerk which made others in line up roll their eyes. She bought quite a few pastries and sticky buns. When she turned around I could see how pretty she was...soft features and on her lips she wore a deep shade of crimson but she had an air of sadness about her, perhaps she was grieving.

The woman directly in front of me had 3 kids in tow, all in private school uniforms, jumping up and down like Jack rabbits. She was buying them after school treats. I thought she looked amazing...simple denim jeans, a red cardigan, her hair pulled back into a pony tail, huge pearl studs a simple wallet and her car keys. She looked too young to have children of this age.
(I wonder how she tends to her complexion, whatever she does it's working.)

I was next in line and having rather an "off day" I was tired and had not taken much care with my choice of clothes as I ran out the door before the bakery closed. I had on LuLu black capri length Yoga pants, a pair of teal Ben Simons, and my black puffy down coat, a grey scarf and my hair was a mass of tangles from the wind.
I'd even forgotten to put on lipstick...

Thinking to myself as I studied the customers while I waited ~
I wondered what ~ or if people even looked at me...
and if they did what would they be thinking!

I should have done what Mother would have...

which would be 

dress your best even if you are going down in the elevator to the lobby to pick up the post!

I am so glad I didn't let Mother see me that day!

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Take care

Do you strike up a conversation with strangers while waiting in line

or are you an observer?

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My heart is heavy after hearing about the massacre at Sandy Hook School in Connecticut.

It is all just too horrible to imagine...

question on my lips is why?

I'll never understand it.

BLINGLE ALL THE WAY!...

It's the festive season
a time to get dressed up and I'm opting for some major bling.
Pushing the fashion envelope just a wee bit in the spirit of FUN!
Glittering, sparkling and twinkling all the way...

silver shimmer

sparkles

the marriage of heather grey and silver

a pleasant palette

with a  twist

a top 

from the 

Gap

if this doesn't say BLING I don't know what does...

and that's not all...

lovely DIL and I both bought some chandelier earrings from Club Monaco

(we were shopping together at the Mall for gifts last weekend)

Hostess style faux fun

they will reflect the light when the candles are glowing

icy crystals

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I'm thinking of wearing these at Christmas and on New Years Eve.

In case you were thinking that's a major overdose of bling and have your hand poised to call The Fashion Police 

rest assured I would not do double duty

by wearing the top and the earrings at the same time.

What are you planning to wear for the holidays?

Have you got something in your closet or do you need to pick up a little something?

Will you be choosing classic or conservative

Bohemian or Chic?

I'm all ears

(and they are dressed up for the holidays!)

Hostess

XO

Signs of the Season

Decorating The Humble Bungalow...
is rather simple.

We never have gone overboard and I often wonder why.
I suppose keeping things simple and stress free is what's behind our minimalist philosophy.
I love seeing beautifully decorated homes at Christmas and often go on the annual Art Gallery fundraiser which showcases homes dressed to the nines.

We will have a live tree in the "Charlie Brown Style" and decorate it with vintage ornaments that we have collected over the past 40 years but that happens very close to Christmas Eve.

We tend to opt for natural flourishes rather than the artificial.

I will be purchasing some red twigs with red berries or rose hips to add to the greenery...

maybe some variegated holly but I haven't found an abundance of it in my travels yet.

My BFF told me of a new shop that has opened up and I am planning to pay them a visit this weekend.

Cones collected from the heritage trees in the cemetery after a gale force storm.

Poinsettia

Arts and Crafts Weller jardinere

The traditional wreath

hanging on the newly crafted door which is in the same style as the 100 year old one which delaminated.

As we are a designated heritage home we need to maintain in the original style all the exterior details.

I have used a plastic suction cup on the glass to hang it from as Mr. HB did not want to put any holes in the wood.

Chester broke off a stem from the poinsettia (!)

so I added it with some dusty miller and made a bathroom posy.

They don't look too naughty right now...

when we have the tree decorating I am sure that they will be up to their usual tricks!

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

Be Well, Be Kind and Be Lovely!

Hostess

XO

Partners in grime

                                               You asked to see more of the glove...

it's back

some are more easily amused than others...

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                                              I'd like to introduce you to The Scrub

It's a superb workhorse here in The Humble Bungalow

Bon Ami is an American made product

it translates from French and means "Good Friend"

first made in 1886

and it is a "green product"

which makes me feel good using it

plus there has never been a better friend in the Bungalow Kitchen

it's especially great at keeping the porcelain country farmhouse sink looking

 spic and span.

Tea stains and scratches are common enemies of the sink

Bon ami removes then in an instant with very little effort.

It's a good friend in the bathroom too!

~ I copied the following information right off the website ~

But kitchens and bathrooms have changed, and need an updated cleaner. Bon Ami Powder Cleanser is the answer. This formula starts with vegan, plant-based cleaning agents made from coconut and corn oils, then adds feldspar and the even softer abrasive, limestone. We add a little bit of soda ash and a touch of baking soda. The result is a natural, effective cleaner for modern surfaces.

Bon Ami Powder Cleanser is our most popular, general use powder.  It sports an updated yellow label, and can be found in most grocery stores, as well as online at BonAmi.net and EcoMom.com.

~ ~ ~

It costs a bit more than a chemical laden version cleaner

but it makes cleaning safer and greener for all of us who share the planet.

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The arsenal of tools that sit by the sink at the ready.

Don't thank me for this tip

thank the glove.

Hard working domestic help is hard to find!

I'm hanging up my gloves for the weekend

as all here is chaos 

with our renovation in the last stages of readiness

there is very little that I can do but get dressed and head to the mall and do some Christmas shopping

and I'll leave the Humble Bungalow in the hands (paws) of the experts!

Be Well, Be Kind and Be Lovely!

Generous and thoughtful...my BFF

My BFF is a generous and thoughtful woman.
She has a family, works part time outside her lovely home and attends most events that her grand children are involved in.
She regularly visits and grocery shops for her 95 year old Mother who lives on her own.
My BFF also helps her husband in his business, does payroll and book keeping for another friend and yet she always makes time for her friends.

You know what they say...
if you want something done ask a busy person well this is so true of Suzanne.

She popped over the other day with a card and a gift.

Her generous and giving spirit radiates from within and adds to her beauty.

So Suzanne I wanted to take a moment, a small tribute to you and all that you have done for those around you...
be it the fresh flowers that you bring into the office and make the reception a more welcoming place
or the timely phone calls when someone is having troubles, you are a great listener
a trusted friend who can keep secrets who has her feet firmly planted on the ground and can offer sage advice.

I've known you since we were about 8 years old which makes our friendship about half a century young!
Can you believe it?
Yet we do not NEED to see each other all the time to keep our friendship healthy and strong.
Mr HB knows when we get on the phone it might be 15 minutes or more like an hour!
We often share the same thoughts, have similar taste and have purchased identical garments unbeknownst to each other and have had to say are you going to wear that top (dress/ pants/ jacket/sweater) tonight 'cuz if you are I'll wear something different!

Our husbands get along too which is great!

Suzanne, I feel so blessed to have you in my life.

Thank you for the years of friendship and I hope that we get to grow into old age together!

Cheers!

In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. 

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. 

Khalil Gibran 

~ ~ ~ 

Hostess

XO

I've got a crush....

It's a season of discovery in so many areas...
thoughts of retirement, changes afloat and listening to my heart.

I have been faithful to the Avene line of creams and potions for quite sometime and have been satisfied by their performance until recently when my skin had some dry scaly patches appear. I am alarmed when my skin reacts to the weather or the indoor heat and when the products that I have come to rely on fail to perform.
I feel self conscious and my self esteem falters.
Most people notice your skin when they are looking at you.

So with this in mind when I shopped L'Occitane en Provence for some Christmas gifts I took advantage of their free samples. Introducing a new cream can be problematic when one has sensitive skin so I do not rush out and buy full size portions until I have tested them first.

Here's the new kid on the block and I have to admit I have a crush!

It's the new star in my arsenal of skin care products.

Immortelle

Divine Cream

interestingly there are 3 patents pending and the buzz about this cream

is positive

women my age cannot get enough of this stuff 

and they are not shy when raving about it

it would appear that L'Occitane en Provence has lassoed some youth inducing plant based serums

added vitamins and blended them together to create this divine cream.

Just reading the box is illuminating!

"Proven anti wrinkle efficiency"

Anti age spots effectiveness evaluated by clinical scoring on 32 women over 8 weeks."

~  reduction of intensity of dark spots 32% ~

Satisfaction tested on 50 women over 4 weeks:

~ the skin is revitalized (90%) ~

~ the skin is smoother  (94%) ~

~ the skin slackening is reduced (84%) ~

My skin feels plumper softer and more radiant.

If you are in the market for a new cream stop by the L'Occitane store or go online and read about the testimonials of women and get your hands on some free sample and see for yourself.

While it won't give you back your youth

it might just give your skin the boost it needs to reflect the beauty that is within.

For me it's an indulgence but one worth scrimping and saving for...

Hope that you are having a great week!

Hostess

XO

The Gospel According to Coco Chanel ~ a great read.

I powered through this book about Coco Chanel in one day.
Her life was quite different than I had imagined it would be...

She was a  powerful woman, a force to be reckoned with.
Strong, determined, driven,
She had a dynamic personality.
She was a master of her craft and had perfectionist tendencies and had high expectations from those that she employed.
This book is well written, informative and worth reading.

Did you know that Chanel No. 5 is the largest selling perfume?

 A bottle is sold almost every 55 seconds!

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The 2.55 Chanel classic quilted handbag was introduced to the world in February of 1955

(named after the launch date!)

a bag that is still in production and coveted by many.

Things Coco loved...

Pearls

camellias

tweedy jackets

simplicity

minimalist wardrobes

impeccable fit and tailoring

luxe fabrics

the LBD

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"Elegance is refusal."

Coco Chanel