Post 1000 ~ GOLD and a GIVEAWAY!

Well I think we might be in for a wee celebration...on two counts.
This happens to be post number 1000 and I am a bit taken aback that it seems just so impossible.
I still remember the trepidation I felt when I finished my first blog post and pressed "publish."
Here's the other cause for celebration....it's a key and it's GOLD!

The Golden Key which signifies that I am a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers.

The key chain and the awards I have collected on this weight loss journey.

It's been quite the ride!

I was a little uncertain about my weigh in this week because we were out for a birthday celebration at a local Italian establishment that caters dinners.

13 people were gathered at the table for the multiple course meal and the wine flowed.

We started with a tomato herb and garlic bruschetta.

Prawns in white wine, butter and garlic.

Pasta with a sprinkle of Parmesan and basil leaves.

I only ate about a third of this as it is loaded in WW  points!

Sauteed peppers, zucchini, butter browned chicken breasts with a wine reduction.

I ate all the veggies and about half of the chicken breast.

Followed by a palate cleanser of simple salad with a vinaigrette dressing.

Dessert was a delicious chocolate mousse cake.

I had a small piece and ate every morsel!

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek."

~ Mario Andretti ~

With all this celebrating going on here in The Humble Bungalow...I think a giveaway is in order.

 I'd like to take this opportunity to honour the people who follow my blog.

To enter you must be a follower and you need to leave me a comment.

I am specifically looking for feedback on which post topics you most enjoy and if there is anything that you'd like me to write about, something perhaps that I have not covered in these 1000 posts.

I am not making any promises I am merely posing the question!

The giveaway consists of...

A wonderful novel...

Silk Road bath salts in Bliss....my personal favourite blend!

 Silk Road Velvet Potion chocolate tea which I sampled around Valentine's Day and think is quite lovely.

Please enter before midnight PST on Monday March 24th, 2014.

I'll choose one entry based on the comment and will post the name of the recipient sometime the following week.

Please keep reading The Humble Bungalow Blog and check back to see if you are the winner.

 You'll need to email me your mailing address so I can send the parcel on it's way!

Bonne Chance!

Nighty Night...sleep tight.

It's night time and all is quiet and calm in The Humble Bungalow kitchen.

Mr. HB and I have been watching House of Cards on Netflix and I am stunned by the evil and malice of Frances. 

He is the character that Kevin Spacey portrays so convincingly alongside his on screen wife Claire played by Robin Wright whose role is a nasty piece of work as well.

It is about as far away from delicious and addictive Downton Abbey as it can get but we sit riveted just the same.

I like the grittiness of the cinematography, the sepia tones playing against the blacks and white of the sets.

Robin's hair cut is very chic and she looks so attractive in her stylish wardrobe.

I do not know how she walks around in those high heeled shoes though...

meandering on a path in the park with her lover she walks with such grace that it looks effortless.

(a skill that I have never mastered!)

I have a routine at night...before getting myself ready for bed.

Do you?

I plump the pillows on the love seats.

Put all the dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on.

Wipe down all the granite counter tops and stove before turning out the lights.

I take off my make up and wash my face before applying a light layer of Sea Buck Thorn Salve.

Brush and floss my teeth and put some lip conditioner on before grabbing a bottle of Perrier.

If I wake up during the night I'll have a few sips so that I stay hydrated throughout the night.

I am a firm believer of drinking lots of water.

I think it helps in so many ways and keeps my skin clear.

Reading is not one of my regular night time routines unless I go to bed super early.

My mind gets over active when I read at night and I have a difficult time quieting it after I close my book.

Sleep is much deeper on the days when I walk vigorously and get plenty of fresh sea air.

On nights when I have had a busy or stressful day or had caffeine after 4 pm I need to practise Yogic breathing...

it works surprisingly well....no need to count sheep.

Alternatively view this You Tube Sleepy Time Yoga session.

Soft cotton sateen sheets, a feather pillow, and the goose down duvet all contribute to making my sleep as restorative experience as possible and I need at least 8 hours or I cannot function.

How are you sleeping at night?

What habits have you adopted to ensure that you enjoy a restful night of slumber?

Sweet dreams,

Hostess

Eleven Things....as requested...

Jen Lawrence of Dwell On These Things gave me a nod...and I am not one to shy away from a challenge even though it requires me to share 11 personal tidbits...

But before I go there I have been seriously distracted....tea at Mother's with my family today was sublime.
Tea, food, family, a cacaphony of conversation, and a charming child who had us all in the palm of her hands made for a fabulous afternoon. I came home with a renewed strength of family connection and a larger reading list!

I lit a candle to set the mood.

For me there is nothing like a scented candle to invite quiet contemplation.

I have my Town and Country magazine on the bedside table waiting...

Paris is very much on my radar...

I have been online checking out apartments and am trying to wrap my head around the cost.

I am saving money and will need to get creative as I am now retired and on a pension.

 I will need to be more frugal in order to save money as I do not want to be penny pinching in France.

OK 11 things about me...

I am afraid of spiders.

I cannot tell a lie...I have tried it never works!

My favourite colour is green.

Potatoes are my favourite all time food...I could eat them forever....possibly because of my Irish Roots.

I have NEVER pumped my own gas...hope I never have to cuz I have no idea how to do it in style!

Love diamonds and pearls...have only a few pieces of costume jewels and think I might be a bit of a snob because I rarely wear anything faux.

Have a passion for scarves...especially Hermes.

My nails are rarely polished because I garden and I am rather hard on them.

Tim Minchin's White Wine in the Sun makes me weep.

I brush and floss my teeth 4 or 5 times a day.

I could go on....

well I must as that is only 10 things!

Am addicted to Downton Abbey and House of Cards.

 I would like to invite any bloggers to join in and share 11 facts about themselves.

I do not want to single out any one in particular so please link your answers here and we can follow up on your response.

See you soon...

sweet dreams.

Hostess

XO

OOTD French Lessons

White tank top by Coldwater Creek

Grey Lord and Taylor cashmere V neck cardigan

g21 skinny jeans

black Mee Too ballet flats

English coin necklace

(thrifted costume jewelry)

I just finished reading this book, which I found quite by accident when I was at the public library.

 The subject has been carefully researched by the author and is very well written.

I would recommend it if you are at all interested in the elements of living with grace and style.

This old tote has come in handy for all my French textbooks, workbooks and dictionary.

I like to keep things all together so I find a tote is the perfect vessel for the job.

Once my homework is finished I pop everything right back inside and zip it up.

It's so easy to grab on my way out the door when I go to class.

The sun is shining down on us today and the birds are chirping.

The smell of fresh mown grass is in the air and the neighbours are outside pottering in their gardens.

Spring weather is so uplifting...and I cannot help dreaming of what Spring time in Paris might feel like!

Mother and I are hosting a tea for family in her condo.

We will be using her polished silver tea service, fine bone china and vintage linens.

She has ordered a chocolate torte from Pure Vanilla.

 I am making stuffed devilled eggs and arranging a fruit and petit sandwich tray.

Hope that you have some fun planned for your weekend!

Soup of the Gods and French Lessons...

It's been a busy few days here in The Humble Bungalow.
Janet from The Gardener's Cottage inspired me with her recent post.
She lives in the most beautiful cottage and her eye for detail in decor is sheer perfection.

Spring Cleaning has commenced and I have started with some really messy spaces...
kitchen drawers and the pantry cupboard.

The dry goods shelf of the pantry cupboard.

I washed the shelves and wiped the jars before rearranging the supplies.

I was surprised how many packages of half full pasta were lurking in the back of the cupboard.

It's good to have a regular clean out so you can keep on top of what you have on hand.

No need to buy what you already have!

I switched over my "junk" drawer and turned it into my spice drawer.

I got rid of most of the junk and so now it looks more like an office supply spot.

You can see why the spices were crowded as this drawer is tiny compared to the one that house the spices.

I cleaned out my make up tin and wiped all the containers and washed and air dried the brushes.

I am a minimalist when it comes to make up...

rather a maximalist when it comes to skin care but that is another post altogether!

I made the BEST mushroom soup that I have ever tasted!

It is so delicious that I used the word "orgasmic" when describing it to the girlfriend that gave me the book.

Soup Sisters Easy and Delish mushroom soup recipe can be viewed here.

Saute the onions, garlic and mushrooms.

Make the roux.

Simmer the soup a few minutes.

Serve.

Enjoy!

I have started taking French Lessons from Alliance Francaise.

I've 5 years of French under my belt but that was years ago, so I need to bring my skills up to speed in preparation for the trip to Paris next year.

There is a lot of homework in addition to the weekly lessons, so my blog posting will be taking a back seat for awhile until I catch up and feel more confident in class.

I would like to ask readers who have been to Paris for a favour.

I wonder if you might share some of the best things to see and do and also if any of you have apartment rental agencies or accommodation information.

 I would be most grateful.

Amities,

Hostess

XO