More thoughts on building my wardrobe and meet my new white jeans!

Do you like to get a bargain or intentionally buy things that you need on sale?
If you are on a budget like I am you may search for many weeks to find the right item at a price that you can justify.
Recently I found some new pieces at Value Village or as we commonly refer to it here as "The "VV Boutique."

If you have been following my weight loss journey for awhile you'll recall that I have had to rebuild my wardrobe almost entirely from scratch.
I have pretty much finished replacing the basics for fall and winter and am thinking ahead now to spring and summer.

I have rebuilt my wardrobe for under $1,000.00 which is no small sum when one considers that I am retired but
this includes dressy evening and special occasion wear, everyday casuals, tops, sweaters, lingerie and outerwear.
I opted for quality cashmere's and name brand basics that would mix and match with each other so that I could get the most bang for my buck.

It took me over an hour to scour the racks at VV and like Sheila taught me I looked at all the size ranges.
Sunday is a great day to explore VV at your leisure because there is free parking on the street.

Two new sweaters were found and at such a budget friendly price they were great value for the money...
the first one retails for $100-120 in our local shops.

It is made of cotton in black and has a lovely shawl collar detail.

I'll wear this as a light layer over a tank top or tee.

Or a jacket in the warmer weather.

Are you familiar with the Pure Hand Knit brand?

They make fun sweaters in a variety of styles and bright colours in 100% cotton.

The sweaters are hand knit by women in Thailand...4500 women are behind this company busy knitting.

I can almost hear the collective click of their needles....it is music to my ears.

Lands' End deep V neck cardigan in an angora and wool blend.

Soft and cozy.

I can wear this with my dressy black pants or skirt for evening.

Pop it on with a tank top or tee and my favourite jeans.

I have a white pair of Club Monaco pants (also thrifted for $6.00) which when paired with this cardigan and several strands of pearls like Coco Chanel will be on the dressy side of casual.

White Jeans are a new and exciting discovery!

I love them.

I know many women love bright coloured and pastel jeans but I have never hopped on that bandwagon.

Club Monaco garments are well made and neatly finished.

I blanch a wee bit at the regular price of their garments but I do love to go into their stores and browse.

I get some great ideas of how to mix and match simple pieces and accessorize them to create a polished outfit.

Never underestimate the power of an accessory.

They are easy to find at reasonable prices and it is the best way to personalize your signature look.

If you are loathe to go into thrift or consignment shops try art gallery gift shops, local ethnic stores or antique markets...ebay and Etsy have thousands of great pieces just waiting for the right buyer.

Pearls are wonderful and these days I think the larger gum ball sizes are more fun than the smaller ones...

a little bit of whimsy can make me feel younger!

Massed in a grouping of several strands like Coco Chanel I get more mileage out of them.

I wear fragrance most days now that I am not at school.

(the cats don't seem to mind)

Mitsouko makes me feel very grown up and sophisticated.

NEVER spray it on your pearls or the nacre will dissolve and your pearls will be ruined.

I wish that I had a large mirror with great lighting here in The Humble Bungalow so that I wouldn't need to sneak around taking pictures in the fitting rooms!

It is freezing cold here in Victoria.

I am bundled up wearing cashmere sox and several cashmere sweaters hunkered down indoors.

I walked to the Yoga Studio this morning for a gentle Hatha class instead of walking 5K in minus 4 degree temperatures.

Thank goodness that we have heat and power so that we can keep the freeze at bay and make pots of tea.

The resident hummingbirds are sipping iced sugar water today and they are not straying too far from the feeder.

I think they must be storing up their energy for the cold night ahead.

Snow flurries are in the forecast!

Blue Jeans...a desert island wardrobe MUST!

Have you got a favourite pair of jeans?
Are you fond of denim? Did you know it was first made in France?

Many many pairs of jeans have been in my wardrobe since I was a teen.
First there were Levis, and Lees, Wranglers, and GWG's...
and many other brands whose names I cannot recall.
There were the dressier "grown up jeans" from Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, and DKNY.

Jeans are such a basic that I think they deserve a place of honour.
I wear jeans most days now that I have retired.
I have 4 pairs of jeans and 1 pair of black dress pants in my winter wardrobe....does that tell you something?
Well my lifestyle has changed as well as my wardrobe...dressy events are few and far between and I don't need to dress for work anymore.

In the past 5 years I have fallen hard for jeans from The Gap and it is quite possibly that they make an ankle version for height challenged women like myself.
I have never been very successful finding a tailor who is adept at shortening jeans.
I like how they look straight from the factory...or if they are only a bit too long I'll turn them up and wear them cuffed with booties, ballet flats or loafers.

Enter the boyfriend jeans for which I am smitten...seriously I love them!
I don't think I am too old for them at least that's what I say to myself when I see all those  younger women wearing them in the street.
Sadly I have parted with those wonderfully soft Vera Wang jeans ~ post weight loss they were far too baggy and would slip down over my hips. Not being the rapper type of dresser they HAD to go. I hope they have made some woman very happy!

I bought a pair of boyfriend jeans from the Gap in a smaller size when I started to lose weight.
That was months ago, early in my weight loss journey and they they were my first purchase.
Then they got too big so it was off to the donation bag...then a thrifted pair in a size 10 and they are long gone too to join their larger cousins.

Enter the new jean...
the sexy boyfriend jean and they fit.
Does that make me a 6?
(I don't think so, more like an 8)

in dark denim, not too distressed, no rips or tears

Here is how I am styling them today...

white Lands' End tank top

navy Lands' End cashmere sweater

chunky bubble gum pearls

spotty sox

Timberland booties

OOTD 

Mother, Sister and I are off for a stroll on the Esplanade

and we'll be having dinner together.

Sis is making a kale salad and I am thinking of a sockeye salmon fillet.

"I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes."

~ Yves Saint Laurent ~

~ ~ ~

What brand of jeans are you fond of wearing?

Would they make your desert island list?

How many pairs of jeans do you own?

(Our darling daughter once calculated that she had 22 pairs of jeans in her closet!)

Enjoy your week.

Pussy Willows, Primulas et Poulet

On the heels of the boggers Tea, my previous post, which I hope you have read...
I am dreaming of pussy willows.

Pussy Willows are blooming...
since I was a little girl I have always loved them.

I went to Thorn and Thistle in search of something to cheer up our Humble Bungalow.
One can always find something of great beauty in this wee flower shop.

Outside they have a stand with seasonal flowers and greenery...and lo and behold bunches of pussy willows.
I ventured inside and spied some cheery hyacinths, roses, and floral arrangements.
The decor has a Valentine's theme...red garlands, red roses, and candy hearts with messages of love.
Satisfied with my choice, they were wrapped up in brown paper and tied it with black twine.

The short willow branches were getting lost inside the tall vase so I popped them in this wee elephant vase.

I have two arrangements for the price of one.

One sits in the dining room and the other on the plate rail in the family room.

Primulas signal that Spring is on the way.

Our Humble Bungalow porch is not complete without a few of these plants.

Tradition dictates that we dress up winter in a bright manner.

Sunny Yellow and Brilliant Cobalt Blue.

Every year I find myself challenged to choose the plants.

So many colours...and they are all so lovely and bright.

It takes me many minutes and I group the plants together and stand back as I consider the options.

Our local garden shop had a one day special.

 Primulas were $1.00 each which was quite a saving as they are usually priced at $2.50!

Not bad for a $5.00 investment and when they finish blooming on the porch I plant them in the garden.

le Poulet

I am shocked at the price of a free range chicken.

This little roaster was almost $13.00 and it is so small that it fits on a dinner plate with room to spare.

It will be our dinner tonight.

Leftovers for lunch tomorrow and soup stock when there is nothing much left on the carcass.

I am serving it with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy.

What about that Super Bowl?

Did you see it?

The Seattle Sea Hawks were amazing!

I don't usually watch football but after all it is the biggest game of the season.

Did you hear that Philip Seymour Hoffman died in NY city from an apparent drug overdose?

he was only 46 years old...what a shame.

I thought that he gave so many brilliant performances in films.

I loved him in Capote.

I'm going to pour myself a glass of wine now and watch the post game highlights.

Seattle is abuzz with glee.

The chicken smells great and we will be dining in a few short minutes.

Cheers

Blogger's Tea...OOTD

A few local bloggers met for tea this weekend at The White Heather Tea Room in Oak Bay.
It's been a month in the works so we have had lots of time to get excited about our meet up.
Our meet up was a highlight for me, a perfect start to the month.

Sipping tea is so soothing. I find that it has such a restorative effect.
There have been many chaotic and dramatic moments in my life where things have gone awry and the first thing I reach for is the kettle and the teapot. They are truly my life preservers.

When we have visitors stop by The Humble Bungalow I usually head to the kitchen to put the kettle on.

Taking tea seems like a natural place to start when meeting friends...
it sets a relaxed tone and encourages reflection and conversation.
Do you know anyone who doesn't love a Tea Party?

The White Heather Tea Room has a variety of pretty patterned bone china teacups.

I love how they set their tables with linen cloths and napkins.

It's a popular spot for a cuppa so you will need a reservation.

There are lots of different tasty tea blends on the menu.

Three "afternoon set teas" are available.

The Grand Muckle Tea which is vast, 

The Not So Wee Tea which is large and The Wee Tea which was perfect for us!

(three of us are on Weight Watchers!)

from left to right

Hostess of The Humble Bungalow

Sheila of Ephemera

H author of Pondside

Lorrie of Fabric Paper Thread

"The Wee Tea"

egg salad sandwich roll, devilled ham roll, scone with chicken salad, fruit slices, 

a butter tart wedge, lemon poppy seed cake and a piece of shortbread.

Sheila

Pondside author H 

Lorrie

We spent a leisurely couple of hours nibbling delicious sandwiches and sweets while drinking our tea.
It was so much fun to get together...I can't wait to do it again.
We had lots to chat about...blogging, grandchildren, fashion, food, family and travel.
You can imagine four women with lots in common that it was hard to get a word in edgewise!
Many pictures were taken, after all we are bloggers and we do love to capture life moments on film.
We all brought cameras!

After tea we walked up to the consignment shop nearby to have a browse...
the shop had lots of lovely things for sale.
One item that really caught my eye was a fabulous vintage Dior full length fur coat for $1700.00!

OOTD

Bellissima ponte knit trousers, white Coldwater Creek tank top,

Betty Barclay long sweater, Amalfi shoes

with my Kate Spade quilted bag.

I opted for Pearls as the ruffles on the sweater did not allow much room for a scarf.

I hope that you will pop over and visit the other bloggers if you don't know them already.

It will be fun to get together again and we hope that a few more  bloggers will join us next time.

If you blog or know of any bloggers in the Victoria or Vancouver Island area that you'd like to introduce please leave me a comment and their link below.

Be Kind and Be Well.

Hostess

Weight loss thoughts...

I've had a few emails recently asking for some tips on how I lost weight and I have been thinking of what to say and wondering if I am the right person to ask as I am not an expert on the subject.
After all I went to the "experts on weight loss" after years of trying many diets.

I am happy that I did because this week I weighed in at half a pound under my goal weight.
I start maintenance for 6 weeks and if all goes well I'll get the golden key and can be a lifetime member of WW.

Weight Loss Thoughts...

You have to REALLY WANT to lose weight. You need to commit wholeheartedly if you want to succeed.
When my doctor told me that I HAD to lose AT LEAST 10 pounds for my high blood pressure or else!
He mentioned that my chronic hip pain was because I was carrying too much weight and it was putting too much stress and pressure on the joints.  (No pain sounded quite attractive.)

Do some research on the science behind how one loses weight.
Get informed on the options and look at all your options.
Weigh the pros and the cons and ask yourself what works for you. If you are super disciplined you can probably do it by yourself, if on the other hand you need help being accountable and benefit from support and encouragement like Weight Watchers offer perhaps you'll be more successful if you join.

I chose Weight Watchers because I had read so many success stories from women just like me who lost weight and it changed their lives. I asked myself if a 300 pound woman can lose 150 pounds then why can't I can lose 30-35?

Eating plans (diets) that you start and then give up simply don't work.
You need to make a permanent lifestyle change or you will gain it all back when you start eating "normally" again.
I like the support that the meetings offer and the weekly weigh in keeps me on track and accountable.
The scales at WW are more accurate than many on the market and they record ounces as well as pounds.
I only recently bought s scale because I knew that I would be attending fewer meeting once I hit my goal.
(I opted for a digital model that measures both pounds and ounces)

Homemade soup made with fresh veggies and low sodium vegetable broth helps to fill me up.

I frequently will enjoy two bowls of soup.

Exercise... I know that I am personally not a fan of gyms and as much as I dislike sweating I HAD to do something.
I also wanted to do it on the cheap so I took up walking.
I started slow at 20 minutes a day and have worked up to an hour most days and 2 hours twice a week.
It was surprising to me how easy it was to add distance and the IPhone app Walk Meter is the best investment to motivate and record the routes and walking times. It also records the calories used!

Clean out your cupboards and fridge and get rid of everything that tempts you to overeat or binge on.
For me it was potato chips and cheeses.

Stock a few things in the fridge that you can heat up in a hurry for times when you are hungry and tired.
Those are the times when you are weak and might just grab something high in fat and calories.

Leftover soup is great in the fridge or freezer if you have a microwave.

Janet's Carrot Soup is quick and easy to make and I have memorized her recipe.

Salsa is tasty and very low in points I eat it on everything from scrambled eggs to fish. 

Stock your fridge with LOTS of fresh fruit and a variety of vegetables.
If you eat meat buy only the leanest cuts and remove any skin or fat before cooking.
Use vegetable stock or water instead of oil when sauteing
Try to eat at least 2 dinners a week that are meatless....more is better if you can do it.

Sit down to eat at the table and make your table look pretty.
Use nice dishes and cutlery, a tablecloth or place mats and napkins.
Enjoy your Perrier or water in a crystal flute.
Try adding a candle or some fresh flowers.

Eat with intention...savour the flavours and do not get distracted by the TV, telephone or your computer!
Slow down your eating...put your knife and fork down periodically.
If you have a spouse, partner or roommate this is a great time to strike up a conversation...
you can pretend you are on a date!

Use bright colourful vegetables and think of it as "art on a plate."
It is more satisfying if it is visually appealing.
You are feeding your soul as well as your stomach.

Allow yourself a few small treats each week so that you do not feel deprived because that's when you'll get discouraged and throw in the towel.
Celebrate your successes and accept your failures ~ get right "back on track" after a slip up.

Drink lots of water!
I opted for Perrier and buy it by the case. If you like tap water add a slice of lemon or lime and serve it in a pretty glass. If you like it cold buy a beautiful jug and fill it with slices of lemons and limes and keep in in the fridge so it's handy.

For snacks opt for fresh fruit...add a bit of protein.
A bit of yogurt, a tablespoon of peanut butter, a wedge or two of Laughing Cow Cheese.

I keep sliced carrots, celery and peppers in a bag for when the munchies strike...I will use a tablespoon of Lighthouse lite Dilly Dip as a dip and it takes awhile to chew through a handful of veggies so by the time I am finished I feel satisfied.

I love balsamic vinegar on steamed veggies.

Baby Bok Choy steamed in water topped with balsamic vinegar.

Baked trout marinated in lemon juice, herbs and garlic.

Sweet potato wedges oven baked with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper.

When dining out look for things that are steamed over fried and things that are not cooked in cheesy or creamy sauces and stay clear of the bread basket!
I avoided dinners out for several months because I just didn't trust myself to behave!
Lunch was easy because I would order a salad with some protein and ask for the dressing on the side...dip the tines of your fork in the dressing with each bite and when you have finished your salad look and see how much remains...and think about all the calories (points) that you've saved!

If you are going out to an event like a buffet or cocktail party it is a good idea to have a low calorie healthy snack before you leave home.
This works for me I do not arrive utterly ravenous and then I want to eat handfuls of salty nuts and naughty high fat appetizers!

You might like to get in the habit of keeping a sensible snack in your purse for emergencies.
Keeping the blood sugar levels in check is important or you might feel light headed and shaky.

It might sound silly but brushing my teeth regularly helps me keep my mind off food.

I am sure that I am forgetting some things...
so now it's your turn to share a few of your tips.

We can support each other by sharing what works as it might be just the thing that helps another woman who is on the same journey.

Think healthy thoughts and get positive about your future.
I wish you success.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow blog.

I am grateful that you spent some time here.

I hope you have enjoyed this post that was written as a response to several emails.

Should you like to suggest a topic for a future post please email me.

I'm looking forward to meeting up with a few bloggers for tea this weekend.

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.

Hostess