A Colour Revolution...Shedding The Black

I have a confession to make.  I like to wear black.  No let me rephrase that. I LOVE to wear black.It makes me feel cool... powerful.... sexy... mysterious... and most importantly.... slim. Why slim is more important than powerful, cool and sexy is a mystery even to me.  But I have to be honest.  It is.

My winter wardrobe consists of sensible black winter boots and a stylish black Big City Tommy Hilfiger winter coat.  I wear dark rinse jeans and many of my sweaters and tee's are black. 

They go with my outerwear very nicely and I look,
well...

cool, powerful, sexy, mysterious and most importantly...slim.

This was taken during a lets take a picture of mom without her knowing recognizance mission by my middle daughter. 

I have absolutely no idea what a recognizance mission is, but it seemed appropriate in light of my "I'm planning to rob a bank" outfit below.

*notice too the nice slimming crop of the right hip, which was beyond the slimming scope of the slimming black outfit.  

I wanted to come clean, just in case you thought the willowy silhouette was a result of the thief-esque black ensemble.

I have to be honest.  Looking at this picture makes me a little depressed.  But I remembered that back in the days of my youth...

Whenever I saw women of other cultures such as Guatemala, Burma, Peru, Mexico and Nepal (just to name a few)  In images similar to the ones below, I realized they always looked so happy, as though they were celebrating life.

*In case you were wondering, no I did not travel to these locales,  I just lived in a home filled to the brim with National Geographic (Which is about a close as you can get without getting on a plane, I might add.)

And it made me wonder who taught us Black was beautiful?  Who the heck started the black is cool, powerful, sexy, mysterious, and most importantly...slim, myth?

image found here

Obviously these ladies didn't get the memo. They subscribe to the belief that black is boring my friends.  And they are, oh so right.

It is time to shed the drab and grab some colour. What could it hurt? 

Is this a phenomenon found just in my closet?  

Or has Queen Victoria's influence filtered down to the depths of your drawers too?

I am not in mourning, so why would I dress that way?

Inquiring Bungalow minds would like to know?

I say let's start a revolution!  

image found here

Their outfits are so bright and uplifting. How can you not feel happy wrapped in all that color?  

So I decided to break out of my black Bank Robber's Best and I gave it my best shot.

.

It was time to shed the black

... and step into the colour spectrum light.

Now if you'll excuse me, I know I have a fuschia ball cap around here somewhere along with some green fringe I could trim from a hawaiian skirt?  Or Is that too much of a good thing? 

Perhaps my fellow Northern Canadians may not be open to the the colour revolution I have planned.

I have tried this experiment once before, several years ago.  It didn't go very well.   For some reason, my enthusiasm for colour just didn't catch on.  I think I was ahead of my time.

Plus the girls forbade me to go out in public. 

Go Big Or Go Home has always been my motto! But Somehow they didn't think I had quite mastered the new look?  

But I think I'm ready this time, I've learned my lesson and I think I can reign in my enthusiasm.

Now, I beg of you, in the days ahead, please don't hate me because I'm colourful.

I'm still the same old Dana...just... a brighter version.  

Brrrring, Brrring

.... Excuse me.

Yes?  Yes this is the lady of the Bungalow.  

Vogue? Oh yes, I am familiar with Vogue. 

 mm..hmmm 

I think I may have seen a copy or two at the dentist's office.

You're planning a colour revolution series?  

You don't say?

Well you've come to the right place.  

Yes I might be interested... but... I was just wondering? 

Have any of your photographers ever done work for National Geographic?

Note:  It was very important to my teenage daughter that I explain that I did not leave the house in my ensemble above.  The very attractive pink/turquoise outfit was being worn for my youngest daughter's Princess Birthday Party, lest you thought her mother might be a bit of a quack...

   xo

Need Bifocals? Here's A Secret Sexy Alternative

It's official, I'm an old lady.
How do I know?  I have been losing my glasses.
Not just once in awhile throughout the week.
More like three times a day.

The hollering throughout the house goes something like this:

Does Anyone know where Mom's glasses are?
Can you help me find them?  BECAUSE I can't SEE them to find them?
Your Mother needs help!
AAARRRGH... Where is everyone?
Can't you see I'm disabled?

Becoming an old lady happened quite suddenly, and without my permission I might add.
In the past year my ability to focus up close through my glasses has disappeared.
No problem really, I read perfectly well without them.
Bifocal lenses?  Me? Don't be silly, I'm not an old lady.
I'll just take them off to... read a book, take a picture, take a nap, brush my teeth, make some tea,
and look in the mirror to check out my "squinty" wrinkles.

My glasses have feet.
I'm sure of it.

But this weekend I could no longer deny my old lady status.
No, I did not succumb to the dark side and order bifocal lenses,
instead I decided to try the more fashionable route, fashionable, at least in librarian circles

I bought a . . . chain.  A chain to keep my glasses close.
A funky, fun, beaded glass chain.

I am starting a new trend.
This chain is awesome. . . I am into chains.
Ha... old lady my foot!

This look is sexy, in that naughty old school marm sort of way.
I am happier than I have been in a very long time.
It has been three days, and I have not misplaced my glasses once.

My children once again answer me when I call.
My house is less messy, as I am now able to see it well enough to tidy, and best of all,
I think my "squinty" lines have already started to diminish.
Who knew this chain was the answer to so many of my life's frustrations?

Now... 

If I could only find my keys.

xoxo,

My Fast Shoes

How To Get Laundry Done Faster

I have found out something that could perhaps be revolutionary to the cleaning industry.  When one laces up a pair of runners (sneakers for you Americans out there) everything you do is faster... Everything.

You do laundry faster, because you feel the need to run up those stairs.  You empty the dishwasher faster, because somehow your feet are sending fast twitch messages to your arms and hands.  You clean the toilet quickly, well,  because you just want to get it over with.

I have noticed this phenomenon many times.  When I have to get something done quickly I know the first thing I need are my running shoes.  They feel good, they feel light,  they make me the Bionic Woman,  I loved the Bionic Woman.

Here are the magic shoes of which I write.  Aren't they Sexy?

I have no idea how I managed to get this shot, but I have to admit I'm quite proud of it.  Yet another magical power of the shoes.  They make you a faster finger presser which allows you to capture pictures you otherwise would have missed!  Plus my ankles look like ankles instead of cankles.  But that's a whole other post.

And here's another picture for no other reason than I am luuuvin my runners right now.  Enjoy.

By the way they are Asics (You can find them HERE) and are great for Sexy wide feet, and apparently they also magically make your ankles look slim.

Well, at least the left one anyway.

I'm A Cool Mom....

What I Wear Speaks For Itself

For some strange reason I had an epiphany in the kitchen, and it had nothing to do with preparing food. I realized as I was washing down the microwave, contemplating my shopping the day before (at Sears), that I have sunk into a deep dark and unending pit of mom clothes.

I want to be a cool in the worst way (I admit it, nothing has really changed since Junior High).  Out of the blue the thought "Cool moms must wear Converse!" came to me, and why not?  My fourteen year old has a pair in the closet.  We wear the same size.   I could pull it off couldn't I?  I could look like this...

 

(Except that I would have four of her legs, but I digress).

Or...would I look like a nerdy and embarrassing forty something mom trying to relive my youth?   I realized I probably needed to ask my 14, 10 and 7 year old fashionista daughters before I made any drastic internet purchases.

I am "with it" enough to realize there is definitely a fine line between "Cool" and trying too hard.   So while looking for the perfect pair of Converse runners, I came across this T-shirt. While I felt it spoke to me, I knew better than to trust my inner fashion voice and realized that the T-shirt below which can be found at  Zazzle.com  might be crossing that line.

Unfortunately I've never been one for subtleties.

-photo from zazzle.com website-

Perhaps this one is a little too grunge.  I wouldn't be able to pull it off without having to first consider a new hairdo which would likely involve washing my hair only once every four months or so... I'm guessing "dread locks" just wouldn't help me in attaining my "cool mom" quest.   Not to mention The Agronomist would leave me.

But after perusing a bit further there were a few other options that I think just might be the ticket. With a little less granola and more big city finesse, I'll never have to wonder if I'm a "cool mom" ever again.  I would wear this (click here),  with a pair of Ms. Aniston's grey Converse above, and enjoy the understated look of a "cool" mom, who just happens to wear the proclamation across her chest with pride.

I'm not insecure....not at all.