French Fragrance from Grasse, a giveaway!

I recently wandered into my favourite shop and was smitten by the fresh crisp scent of Verbena.
There were soaps, scents and lotions in this line from Durance.
I bought one for myself and I thought it might be time to thank all my followers and host a giveaway
so I bought a second bottle for one of you.
Time to give back a little to you because your wonderful comments encourage me to keep blogging.

Eau de Toilette Verbena

The Verbena scented composition is lemony and green. 

It has been made by the perfumers of Durance in the pure tradition of Grasse.

100ml ~ 3.3fl.oz

If you'd like to enter 

you need to be a follower of The Hostess of the Humble Bungalow Blog

and I'd love to know what makes you feel chic.

I'll keep this open until September 4th

I'll draw a name on the 5th and come back and see if it's yours!

I'll need an email with your mailing address at that time so I can pop it in the post.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing about what makes you feel chic!

~ ~ ~

Hostess

Rose Bouquet...

The garden roses are still blooming, nurtured and encouraged by regular dead heading.
I've been toiling outdoors for the past few days, trimming the ragged edges of the lawn, dead heading the spent flowers and pulling weeds. It's a fine way to get some exercise, bending, stretching and reaching.
I have taken to wearing my Lululemon Yoga gear as it seems to afford the most freedom. Lululemon make a great hairband which I recently picked up at the local store. It's a wide band of cloth lined with some slip proof strips which keep my bob out of my eyes...something which used to annoy me no end.

Climbing Royal Sunset in glorious apricot

below the frothy subtle yellow petals of Jude the Obscure

and in fuchsia The McCartney rose. 

They look so pretty atop the Stickley lingerie chest.

One of my favourite vessels for flowers 

is this Finnish icy crystal vase circa 1970's.

Did you know that roses last longer if their stems are cut under water?

Use your sharpest knife or secateurs for a clean cut.

Lee Valley sell a great tool to sharpen secateurs...

it has an angled guide which makes it easy.

I sleep soundly and deeper when I have been out in the garden most of the day.

It was a scorcher on Saturday and I had to pop a shirt on so my shoulders would not burn.

The heat was so intense that we were able to sit outside before dinner with not a hint of a breeze from the ocean.

In our area so close to the sea that is unusual.

We can count on one hand days and nights that are hot and still.

My thoughts wandered to a little island north 

and hoped that the weather would be perfect for mater's family 

on the occasion of their son's wedding.

Hope that your week is off to a great start...

Hostess

XO

Vogue ~ The September Issue.

Vogue's September Issue is one I always buy.
It's chock full of the designer's Fall Forecast...
new trends, sumptuous wools, tweeds and autumn shades.

I took my issue on a wee jaunt to a local tea room and over a pot of tea I devoured the issue.

I nearly needed to order a second pot of tea as there is a lot packed into this issue.

What a bargain at $6.99

I spent a bit more on this Revlon tube of lippy

($10.50)

a new shade

called Pink Truffle.

I must re-watch Anna Wintour in the documentary The September Issue.

I love her signature necklaces 

how she is perfectly coiffed and clothed 

she comes across as a power house of an editor

a force to be reckoned with...

New for Fall

a nubby tweedy sweater to cozy up in.

Cheap as Chips

because it's made of acrylic 

which was on sale in a local store 

that is going out of business to make way for the Target store that is coming to town.

I also scooped a white tank top

and a pair of dark denim Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda jeans

I like how they fit and they come in Petite so I do not need to take them to the seamstress for hemming.

One outfit that retails for about $60

savvy enough to wear to school 

and more importantly all washable.

I'll be dressing this up with multiple strands of pearls.

I try to add luxe accessories when wearing something less expensive.

~ ~ ~

I'm off to don my gardening gloves and sunhat

and put on some gardening togs

there are weeds that need to be pulled and some serious dead heading to be done

the sun is shining and it's a glorious day in our neighbourhood.

Have a Fabulous weekend!

Faux Fur...

Mother and I went shopping together and I found a great piece for my wardrobe.
It's a bit of a departure from my usual choices, but with Mother cheering me on I thought why not?
It will be a warm layering piece that will fit quite nicely into my classic black, white, and grey basics.
The regular workhorses = dark bottoms and lighter toned tops.

this vest is so cozy

Gelco

I'll be wearing this vest several times a week.

With my dark denim jeans, black wool trousers, black skirt.

I have a dressy pewter crinkle skirt that I will "dress down" by pairing it with this vest.

Faux fur has come a long way,

I still recall the days of Orlon pile!
I owned a teal faux fur coat in the 60's...
Looking back it was rather disgusting, but I did feel like I was quite the fashionista when I put it on over a micro mini skirt and my over the knee go go boots, which were white shiny patent leather! To top that look off I donned a white felt floppy hat from London! Oh those were the days!

I inherited a fur jacket from the 1940's which I only wear when it snows and the temperatures dip to the minus degrees.
Aunt Tirzah obviously had no problems wearing fur as they were all the rage when she was young, and she had quite the assortment of stoles, jackets and coats.

I see lots of tourists in town wearing fur coats and wonder if it is cultural or if it indicates a certain status or class.

Check out these faux fur vests on Polyvore there's quite a wide variety of styles and shades...
perhaps there is one for your fall wardrobe.

What is your opinion on fur in fashion? 

Would you wear or buy new or vintage fur?

After reviewing what I have written I realize that this is a rather disjointed post...
apologies for jumping about!
I'll press publish all the same as I have windows to wash and errands to run.

Hope you'll come back soon.
Hostess

Menopause

Menopause has taught me a lot about myself, who I am and what really matters most.
I understand how women can change completely, become radical feminists, channel energies to spearhead causes,
wear wild clothes, get tattooed, and become very outspoken.
I have done none of these, I changed in other ways...

I suppose "empowered" is a term that might be linked with this stage of life.
A sense of self confidence, a healthy dose of self esteem,
and a feeling of calm after the hormonal storm of menopause.

My menopausal years were fraught with hot flashes and mood swings,
that only cold showers and vast amounts of chocolate could quell!
Those turbulent years of uncertainly, weight gain and many sleepless nights are now a thing of the past.
I am grateful that I have emerged relatively unscathed.
I have learned a thing or two...

I started paying closer attention to the food that I was fueling my body with...

and put in a vegetable patch started eating more fruits and vegetables in bright shades of colour.

Always the one taking care of others I used to be "too busy" to take care of myself.
I was the classic woman volunteer that could never say "NO."
Perhaps you've heard the expression "If you want something done ask a busy person"
that was me...
I was on the board of too many committee's.

When fatigue set in I cried for no reason.
I was downright cranky.
I had to figure things out for myself and it took awhile...
Slowly I pulled back from my committee duties and became more selective so that I could maintain a balance.

I discovered Yoga and learned to breathe properly, deeply and mindfully.
Books on the subject were read and I gleaned information and strategies for well being.

I learned that I could not control everything in my life...
I could only control my response to what happened in my life.

After a few years
the fog lifted and I felt well again.

I had energy, and felt a vibrancy that I had forgotten and thought I'd lost.
Clarity and Joy returned.
It was as if a wind had blown the cobwebs away...
I felt truly happy, grateful, excited, and interested in simply living.

I discovered that I needed to be outdoors surrounded by nature.

Walking and gardening are the best ways I know of to get fresh air and some exercise.

Mother Nature is a great healer.

I took up painting

a hobby just for me.

A creative outlet that brings me joy.

My roses are my muse and my Bliss.

They feed my soul.

I developed my personal style.

Less is better and classics suit me.

I have always gravitated to white tops and tees and jeans.

Pearls have multiplied strand by strand.

(the newest ones)

I am smitten with more rather than less.

Things have changed,
my children have grown up and moved out and created lives of their own.
I've become a grandmother and adore the lovely Miss Isla.

There's more time now to rest and recharge, even though I still work outside the home.
I have de-cluttered mentally and domestically and continue to streamline living in The Humble Bungalow.

I found that I love wearing scarves

and once every so often I'll treat myself to a new Hermes Silk Twill

or if luck is on my side I might find a nice scarf at a Thrift or Consignment Shoppe.

I didn't frequent spas until I hit menopause and then something went "click"
I gave myself "permission" to indulge!

Once every few months I'll have a facial or a massage and during sandal season, monthly pedicures.
I'd rather have pretty toes than a haute couture gown or a new designer bag.

There's a Spa tucked away in the tony Cadboro Bay Village area called Bliss.

It's off the beaten path, but in every way exceeds my expectations.

I have been going there for the past few years, 

their great service, good value and reasonable prices keep me coming back.

I do love to be pampered on occasion, especially during times of stress.

A little TLC goes a long way.

Hope that your week is full to the brim of good things.
Don't forget to take the time to enjoy the little things....

What has menopause taught you about yourself?
Have you changed?
What strategies did you use to navigate your way?
If you had any advice to give younger women what might that be?
I'm interested...
perhaps you've got some ideas that can help some of our sisters on their journey.

Thanks a bunch for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.
Hostess
XO