Thrift shopping...OOTD

The Thrift Shops have been so good to me lately...

This freshly purchased vintage leather bag is coming home.

I have posted about how I have been lusting after the Mulberry Amberley bag.

 The Oxblood leather is sumptuous

the details are simple 

classic and stylish.

I have been slow...

hesitating to make a move 

for several reasons...

there is no store here in Victoria or Vancouver 

where I can see and try on it on

the price point is higher than what I usually spend

so I have been re-evaluating

so when I saw this vintage bag 

which is made with embossed leather

about the same size

with a flap and similar interior compartments

I decided to give it a try.

OOTD

The new Ralph Lauren denim shirt 

with my skinny NYDJ jeans

Clark flats

Casual dressing making the rounds at the thrift shops 

paired with a silk scarf tied at the neck.

This shirt will get plenty of outings...

I am considering wearing it with:

 a boiled wool grey skirt and pearls

black skinny Calvin Klein knit pants

white denim NYDJ jeans

Ralph Lauren pull on denim pants

black leggings and a black Barbour quilted vest

Not sure why I have not had a denim or chambray shirt in my wardrobe for so many years...

I feel like I have been missing out on a major workhorse in ones repertoire!

I also found a lighter blue Tencel shirt with similar features...

am wearing it today with black leggings.

Feeling such gratitude for so many reasons...

friends, family, grandchildren, a roof over our head, our cozy home, the cats, flowers in our garden, the veggies that Mr. HB so lovingly cultivates and grows,

I vow NEVER EVER to take life for granted.

It's a beautiful rainy morning

one of the first Fall days.

Hope you have a fabulous week!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Inspired by Janet at The Gardener's Cottage

Janet writes the beautiful blog The Gardener's Cottage from Redlands California.
I've been an avid reader and follower for many years and every time I see her new post pop up I get excited! I know that I am in for a treat!

There are many reasons that her blog is a favourite of mine...
from the charming cottage that she and her husband Larry have lovingly restored, to her exquisitely curated furnishings and home decor,
the tasty recipes,
her beautiful garden and oasis of calm,
and of course her refined and honest personal style...
Janet's is a "must read blog" in my humble opinion!

Janet has recently redesigned her blog...
and she has been posting more frequently which thrills me no end!

Janet posted about an outfit that we probably already own here..
I do own jeans...but did not have the shirt.

It's been on my radar ever since I read this post and I must admit that I have been obsessing about finding the right shirt...

I discovered after trying on several styles that I need an extra large size.
The buttons and snaps were gaping at the chest and everywhere else
the shirts would fit, so finding "The One" proved to be a challenge...
but I do love a challenge!!

Yesterday I found a shirt that fits and flatters.

It's by Ralph Lauren and in a Petite size

and it was on sale!

It has pearl snap details.

Which made me think of my bubble gum pearl necklace.

Pearls and denim 

perfect paired

with my skinny NYDJ jeans.

A new look for this Hostess thanks to Janet at The Gardener's Cottage.

How's your week going?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

New dress...

The black bamboo dress that I donated left a void in my closet that begged to be filled. A few empty hangers are now languishing in our closet...

That bamboo "understated" black dress was the one that I wore to many events...
from my retirement celebration...to the theatre, dinners out, Christmas, a staff party, a funeral, bridge luncheons, date nights....

I knew that I needed to find a replacement dress
but I had no idea that I would find one so quickly.

The dress I found is patterned and has body and weight so it hangs well.

I plan to wear black or grey tights with it and depending on the event either my new Chelsea Boots or black shoes.

 For a dressier look I can opt for sheer charcoal hose and black kitten heels

and add a vintage brooch for some pizazz.

Hard to capture this well as the fitting room is so tiny.

(I also am wearing my NYDJ boyfriend jeans underneath!)

You can see the jeans underneath 

but I was in a hurry 

as I was meeting up with my DIL and the grandchildren for a lunch date!

pockets come in handy

sleeve detail

Made by Masai and purchased at a consignment shop in Oak Bay.

Not everything I own has to be new.

New Clark's Chelsea Boots

I'll be wearing these most days every week for the forseeable future.

It has been a wee bit of a shopping frenzy lately...

not my usual habit but I have been fortunate to find some of the things that I need to replace the tired and worn out pieces that I have purged from my closet.

I've been very lucky at the thrift shops too...

several new key pieces have been found at bargain basement prices.

I'll post more on these soon.

Have you found anything on your list for Fall and Winter?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

September is a great time to curate one's closet.

September is a time of change...

the summer season is slipping away
fall is in the air
fresh starts, new beginnings
and a burst of colour in the foliage of the trees.

A great time to start some projects,
take a class,
shop for accessories,
clean out the closet
declutter the pantry
get rid of expired medications
polish boots, shoes and handbags.

Take stock of what is hanging in the closet...
what clothes get worn, what clothes do not feel right when worn.
Time to "observe trends" that may be in the magazines, on blogs, in the shops.
Can you rework what you have in your closet?
How about pairing separates in a fresh new way?

Perhaps it is time for re-evaluating one's personal style
how our current lifestyle might affect the clothes that we keep
those that we may donate, consign or hand down...

What new things could thrill or inject energy to what we have and love?
Vintage pieces?
Classics?
Boho?
What "speaks" to your inner muse?

Can you kick it up a notch?
Is it a genuine representation of your personal style?
Does it feel real or do you feel like you are wearing a "costume."

Shop at the charity and consignment shops for a splash of colour,
find something a bit unusual...a scarf, a belt, a bag are great pieces that don't have to break the budget and are ways to add a punch of colour or texture or style.
Have fun!

The least expensive accessory that I purchased so far this season is a lipstick.

L'Oreal trio...

The new kid on the block is #315 True Red

It is the first red that I have purchased since I was in Paris.

It will be fun wearing this shade with my crisp white shirt and jeans.

I have a lot of black and grey garments and this pop of colour will brighten up my pale complexion.

I've received numerous compliments on the Rose 31 scent by Le Labo.

Layering products makes a fragrance last longer so I phoned Nordstrom and ordered the Rose 31 lotion yesterday.

Wearing a new scent and a red lipstick is giving me a psychological boost.

Have you found anything new and exciting for the new season?

Une Femme has some new lipstick shades 

coincidentally I was working on this post when I read her blog post!

Great minds think alike!

The WW regime is really paying off...

almost 10 pounds down.

I am not hungry and have been pleased with how my clothes are fitting.

More energy and better sleep patterns have been wonderful side effects.

My skin has started to glow...

I think it must be all the water that I am drinking 

plus the variety of colourful vegetables and fruits on the menu...

less red meat 

a bit of fish, lean free range chicken and organic eggs.

What are you reading right now?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Grandchildren ~ Play time and memories...

There's nothing quite as special as time with the grandchildren...
their seemingly endless energy, unbridled enthusiasm and love of spontaneity is part of what I love so much when we are together.

These precious hours never fail to put a smile on my face and time passes so quickly that I always snap a few photos to preserve these special moments.

Gyro Park Octopus

children can climb inside the head and slide down the arms of the octopus.

A glorious September afternoon for a some playtime at the park.

Henry loved the zip line!

(you can see it on the right of the image)

Cadborosaurus

The mythical sea creature that has been seen over the years

swimming in Cadboro Bay.

(like the Loch Ness Monster)

Peek a boo!

GRRRR!

Our darling Mira loves to play like the big kids.

She climbs up the steep steps of the slide and then delights in sliding down.

Henry sitting on the fin of a blue whale.

Dallas Road Beach

the waterfront staircase and turret painted by Victoria's artist in residence.

A driftwood hut

a great spot for the grandchildren to explore and use their imagination.

Pirates?

Buried Treasure?

Isla had fun playing inside the structure and after playing inside we hunkered down and got serious about digging for beach glass!

Our September weather has been mild and sunny which makes it easy to get out and have fun in the afternoons and on the weekends when Isla is not at school.

I remember start of the school years as a young student...

new pencils and fresh pink erasers

clean scribblers

pots of glue

new shoes

white socks

 new skirts and blouses

gym strip

a lunch kit

all the things that I needed to make a great start to the school year.

So many years ago...

but the memories are still fresh.

And now it's Isla's turn to experience 

the newness of her books

the fresh pencils

clean pink erasers

a new pencil box

a backpack

Time to forge memories of her own which she'll keep for years to come.

My goodness but time passes quickly...

At the age of 62

looking back...

I have countless memories and experiences

enough to fill up many many books!

Feeling so grateful that I am able to share such lovely days with my family.

September is fresh with newness and I am starting a few new projects of my own.

How about you?

Have you got something new on your radar?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~