Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Scarf tying tutorial #2 and pearl love.

If you have been around for awhile you know that I am crazy about scarves.
I stumbled upon a lacy one that has a vintage quality and is so pretty and feminine that it could be worn to a wedding and I couldn't wait to show you.
I found it at French Vanilla Home, a shop that I regularly frequent and it was surprisingly affordable.
(I will write a post on this shop later)

Many random lacy features and details make tying this one as effortless as can be.
This scarf practically ties itself!


Simply
place scarf in front of neck
take the two long ends
put them over your shoulders to the back cross them and bring them over opposite shoulders
then forward and tie loosely
what could be easier?


move and arrange those features that you want to see most
play with your scarf
have fun
be confident
never let doubts about your ability to wear a scarf stop you 

once you wear one a few times you'll be a pro!


this soft piece of cloth reminds me of a cloud


here the ornate bead like details are in front 
while the long lacy edges are in the back
can you imagine how this scarf could dress up a simple dress?


I won't need to wear pearls with this scarf but I will 
because I love how they look together
if you look at the photo you can see I have "big hair"
that photo was taken on one of our anniversaries
many years ago
in the '80's
we are on our way out for dinner.

I am wearing pearls 
as I have done for years
the pearls on the scarf were a Valentine's Day gift from Mr. HB several years ago
the pearls on my neck in the photo are a baroque opera length strand I picked up at the Antique Mall.

Mother and Father gave me pearl studs early on and I still have them and wear them often.
I'd love a pair of gum ball sized studs 
lovely daughter has some and they are her signature look so I hesitate because I feel that might just be wrong.

I really do not "need" any more pearls
I have plenty
as I do scarves...
but that doesn't stop me from looking

Duchesse has a firm grasp on pearls
visit her here.
She loves pearls and has done her research.
I love her pearl posts!

My question is...
what accessory do you most enjoy wearing?

(Perhaps you are a scarf and pearl girl like me.)

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Gardener's cottage inspiration and The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Janet from The Gardener's Cottage
inspires me
to make my life more healthy and beautiful
to redecorate and to have fun in the garden.

Her style, her thrift adventures, the way she decorates her cottage, the food that she chooses to eat
it's what makes me visit her as often as she posts.
I wish that she lived closer so that I could meet her in person.
Maybe someday...



Healthy yes and tasty too.



Take an avocado, mash it up
pop in on top of a skinny slice of bread
top it with tomato slices
a wee bit of pepper and salt
fast and easy
lunch is served!
(I used half an avocado)

Janet over at The Gardener's Cottage is excited about 


their site is very interesting, inspiring and informative.

The weekend had it's ups and downs
the sunshine was around for most of the weekend hooray!
Mr. HB and I pottered about outside in The Humble Bungalow garden.

Mr. HB's mom had a fall and she broke her hip
 many hours were spent in the emergency ward while they took x-rays
she'll be on bed rest for weeks while it heals
she lives in a facility that offers 24 hour care
so she will be well looked after.

Such a stressful day waiting, wondering, and worrying...
 it's difficult seeing someone you love in pain
and however well informed we are there is always the chance that this might not turn out well.

For now we can breathe a little easier...

On the menu tonight:
 organic free range chicken
carrots
squash
peas
mashed potatoes

I harvested some rhubarb this afternoon and made a crisp for dessert
which I'll serve with a dollop of coconut yogurt.


We discovered a fabulous red wine through our catering friend Julie
it's a Shiraz from Australia


 Skulls
not a very inspiring name but a great flavour.


the grass is green 
with all our rain we haven't needed to water it


the garlic is growing taller
the rhubarb thicker


a bit of whimsy
 bowling balls peek out from the plantings


the raised vegetable beds
sweet peas are planted at the back with lattice to climb up on


the clematis is glorious
everything looks so lovely in the sunshine

it was great to be out and not need a sweater or a jacket

We are both weary after a day of gardening but it's a healthy feeling
knowing that we worked hard and accomplished a lot.
I am going to sleep like a baby tonight!

How was your weekend?

Friday, May 4, 2012

Tulips two ways....

Lovely daughter came over and cooked Mr. HB and I
Thai prawns and coconut curry the other evening.
As usual it was splendiferous, tasty and such a pleasure not to have to cook on a weeknight.
(thank you lovely J!)

She wandered in after pausing at the porch
capturing a tulip moment...



She took this stunning image with her IPhone
 crisp
beautiful
soft
organic

I am thinking
this image would be so lovely
printed and framed and hung in our bungalow.


many petals make a great tulip


 IPhone version
taken today by the Hostess
frilly frothy
simple 
but not quite as exquisite
as lovely daughter's

two IPhones
two tulips
two ways
just
two days
apart...


 Native BC Dogwood in bloom.

Nature and beauty bring out the poetic
as they conspire to inspire 
me
 to put pen to paper 
and write...

thoughts
and
musings
of
life
plodding along
weaving
bouncing
hovering on the edge
brushing up against the sides of reality
negotiating a highway
steering a true course
forward
as it should be...


Lovely daughter and I are watching Real Housewives of Vancouver
far from our reality
it's a guilty pleasure
and we are fascinated by these women and their lifestyles
I can't keep wondering if the show is scripted or not
as they are not very kind to each other
I know very few women that behave in this way...

Are you watching and if so 
what do you think?

The weekend is nudging near
fingers crossed it will be a good one.

Tell me what you fabulous followers will be doing to amuse yourselves...
Hostess
XO

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

A womanly post...thinking in pink.

Getting the right fit
is so important.


Did you know that most women are wearing the wrong bra size?

I have had the luxury of shopping at a lovely boutique owned by a very skilled English lady Jackie,
who incidentally, insisted on measuring her clients every time they came in for new brassieres.
I scoffed at the idea as I shopped semi annually for bras, how could they change size in 6 months?
Who knew?
Thankfully I listened to her advice.

She has retired now and I miss the sumptuous selection and her expert service so much.
I may have vented about this here on my blog before...
like a dog with a bone I am not wanting to let it go!

It's frustrating to go to a department store, peruse the stock, take in a few at a time, try them on and then get dressed again and repeat the process several times before finding what works best.
There never seems to be a clerk about when I need one.
I am I the only one who finds this frustrating?

Jackie would eye you up after measuring you with her tape and she knew which bras would fit
and often the sizes would be slightly different than what you might expect based on the styles.
(not unlike a designer's sizing, each company has it's quirks)

Peg was Jackie's assistant and she was SO funny.
A woman of "a certain age" with a savvy sense of fashion and a figure quite like mine and a rapid rapier wit.
She once shocked me after she measured my chest with her tape
(which hung conveniently around her neck as if she was a tailor)
she placed both her "cupped hands" over my breasts
to determine my cup size. I kid you not.

It took me by surprise and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
I have told this story many times to my friends, but the weird thing is that she knew the cup size!

Living in a smallish town we have a few lingerie shops and I am hoping that someone will open a new one.
Vancouver is the closest city where one can find lovely the French lacy Chantelle's and the Italian engineered Prima Donna's, two of my favourite makers.
Good quality lingerie does not come cheap, they are investment pieces in my opinion.
When one spends a generous sum on staples like these, one needs to economize in other areas.

Do you ever order lingerie off the internet?


I picked this up the other day
at the small bookshop on The Avenue
apparently it inspired Julian Fellowes
to pen Downton Abbey.
The clerk Shirley, and I had a rousing and animated conversation about Downton Abbey.
We were both gushing about the series and have watched the episodes many times and never tire of them.

Are you a Downton Abbey fan?
I am mad for the series and can't wait for more.

You might like to read Julian's novels Snobs and Past Imperfect
both reside in a place of honour in my collection 
they are very rich and thoroughly entertaining.

To Marry an English Lord
"American Heiresses Take on Peerage"

"In 1895 nine American girls, including a Vanderbilt, LaRoche, Rogers, and Whitney married peers of the British realm-- among them, a duke, an earl, three barons, and a knight. It was the peak year of a social phenomenon that began in the Gilded Age after the American Civil War, and handed down the legacy of Anglomania, preppie, and the world of the television series Downton Abbey."

It has been added to the stack of books at my bedside table
so many fabulous books waiting...


Hermes share a shelf with future reads.


Bolder Breakfast Tea
(gift from Peg in Comox)
sipping and savouring this delicious blend 
while composing this post.

Thanks Peg!
I just realized there are two Pegs in my posts today.



Soft pink hydrangea blooms
subtle in the dim light
  of the Humble Bungalow dining room.


pretty in pink


This plant was under $20
 will bloom for many weeks 
before being replanted in the garden.

May brings many blooms to the garden
and with them come many weeds
and a lawn that runs riot.

Treat your self to some fresh flowers
or some pesky weeds if you prefer...
 a jar of sunny yellow dandelions are free
and ever so cheery.
XO
Hostess

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Join me over at The Rich Life (on a budget) today

Today I am over at The Rich Life (on a budget).
Adrienne has graciously offered to host a post on "How You Wear Your Favourite Scarf."



I have so many scarves that I could have sent many images but I settled on my black and white Hermes vintage style soft silk square...
please join me and the other ladies as we tie one on!

Hostess
XO