Sunset at the Quarterdeck Cottage
My friend Leslie, writer of the Hostess of the Humble Bungalow blog, is a warm, gracious, kind, and lovely lady who I met over the blogosphere several years ago, that I have been reading for years. Fun fact: she was one of the very first followers of A Well Styled Life and my earlier pursuits in knitting.
I love her blog, capturing snippets of her dreamy lifestyle – gardening in her home in Victoria on Vancouver Island, getaways to her pied a terre here on the Island. It was one of her posts that drew me to our vacation spot. And, it just so happens we are visiting at the same time this week, and were able to connect!
I was absolutely delighted when she and her husband invited us to join them for dinner and sunset on the deck of their cottage, with stunning views of the islands. After a long day exploring the island, visiting the little harbors, and walking the coastline with my family, I freshened up at our cottage.
My daughter Vanessa got a kick out of my velcro rollers and towel ensemble, which I explained is a generational beauty trick! Do you wear rollers? FYI – I swear by these velcro rollers. My ultra-fine, thinning hair needs all the help it can get and a few moments in these rollers while I shower, gives it some nice lift.
As always, you can click the red text for more info and to shop the items.
I must admit, for a woman who writes a style blog, I didn’t exactly pack enough clothes for this trip. Perhaps I expected to do more shopping than I did, or I didn’t anticipate as many evenings out that we enjoyed. But nevertheless, I was feeling a bit casual for the evening.
I wore the only dress I brought, comfy sandals, and my new belt to give the illusion of a waistline that I have been doing everything I can to obliterate on this vacation:) Hey, life is short and it’s to be enjoyed! This belt is what I discovered to replace the one I learned here, is now vintage.
My husband and daughter joined me as we wandered over to Leslie’s charming cottage. As expected, they are absolutely gracious hosts. 
Leslie served a lovely antipasto platter alongside a delicious rose from a charming boutique winery, followed by a delicious dinner. We sat visiting like old friends and watched the boats go by.
This view and deck remind me so much of our beloved home we had for so many years on Vancouver Island.
This is the second time I’ve met Leslie and we forgot to get a photo together this time as well!
We are off on another ferry ride this morning to spend a few days visiting my brothers. I can’t wait! I haven’t hugged them in far too long.
Thanks for reading ladies, and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Coming in late on this one but I love velcro rollers also – sometimes I put them right on my washed locks to add curl and other times I use them as a pick-me-up body boost with a little Elnett while I am preparing my makeup etc… and then just brush out and Voila parfait! They are so much healthier for my hair than the heat styling. Ever since our conversation before the pandemic I have let my hair go natural and I use Roux Fanci-full Temporary Color Rinse which has setting lotion in it – my hair never looked so healthy. It holds the curls from the rollers and it covers the grey enough to look natural. Thank you for the advice to stop bleaching my hair platinum and go more natural blonde – oh and the collagen – you are so smart – my nails and hair are growing like wildfire now that I am treating them better.
I’m going to look into that Roux rinse. It sounds like a great option with no commitment!
I think you are my long lost twin. I just turned 65 too and my straight, fine, thinning (blonde) hair loves velcro rollers, LOL. It looks like you had a fabulous vacation!
LOL. I’d be pretty flat without them these days:)
What a lovely time you must have had visiting your blogging friend. I may have to try those velcro rollers for my fine, thinning hair too. Enjoying your travelogue so much! I have to go back to the beginning post and make some notes. I would love to visit that area when it is safe/easier to do so. When you say you didn’t bring enough clothes for the trip, I’m surprised. I never would have guessed that with all the lovely combinations you’ve shared with us. Did it all fit into one suitcase??
I brought two large suitcases. I never usually do that much but because we were driving and I knew there would be climate changes I brought a lot.
What a beautiful place to vacation! That dress looks so great on you. I have a pixie right now but going to check out rollers for the top. I have stick straight hair and will try anything for some volume. Thanks for your ideas.
I read The Hostess from the Humble Bungalow blog and she is absolutely charming. Thanks for sharing your visit and lovely photos. And yes, I still use curlers sometimes and they do help.
Glad you had a great time in Vancouver.
Love the towel/Velcro rollers phono. You are so adorable.
I had those roller from beer can size down to tiny little ones.
My hair is curly and I always tried to straighten it. The rollers worked.
Need to start my collection again and see how the work on old curly, dyed blonde hair. 👩🏼🦱
I can click on your link and get to the blog but I can’t see anyway of signing up for an e-mail alert when she posts….am I missing something?
Try this link
What beautiful scenery! Enjoy it.
I tend to not like the type of dress you’re wearing but will have to re-asses. It looks just terrific on you. I hate to admit this, but I keep rollers in my car! It’s convenient b/c I don’t like hair spray, and I can put them in and have nice looking hair when I arrive. (I had to pledge to fam tha I would not put in while driving!) Thanks so much for the link: I used to get at CVS but can’t any longer.
You crack me up! Thanks for sharing
Jennifer I am so glad you are enjoying our beautiful Island, Victoria and Vancouver.
I got a kick out of you wearing your Velcro rollers and towel, not many people would do that.
You are a fun beautiful lady, I so enjoy your blog. Come back soon.
I hope to come back very soon. I could not love this place more
I LOVE my velcro rollers. I put them in after my shower if I did not wash my hair and my hair is still a bit damp, even with a shower cap. If I wash my hair I put in the velcro roller after I dry my hair and spray with hair spray and take out 20 min or so later. My hair is thinning and I don’t like to use a curling iron unless it is a state occasion! You can also put the velcro rollers in and put the hair dryer on them, med temp, then cool temp. Just a few Ideas. My family makes fun of me too. But I don’t care. I’m cool.
xoxo Rory! So good to hear from you!
I think I am one of the last women who is still using hot rollers. My hair is fine, and even when my hairdresser spends a lot of time blow-drying it (which I do not), it is still too flat for me. I’ve got it down to a routine. My hair is always going to be high maintenance, I am resigned to it. I did buy velco rollers to take on a river cruise (which was cancelled) because I don’t think you can take hot rollers on the boat. We are still planning to take the cruise next year (hopefully) so I had better learn to use them.
Hot rollers are awesome, but they fall out of my thin hair
i love my velco curlers my hair does not do well blow dry i have alway rolled my hair
i also love my velco curlers my hair does not do well blow dry i have alway rolled my hair
I’ve used those velcro rollers with great success to give my fine hair a lift, they help ttake some of the natural wave and curl out of my hair and give a smooth look. . I do dry my hair almost dry with a blow dryer, then apply the rollers….
Jennifer–
Would you advise about the Isabel Marant belt sizing, please? What size are you wearing? The size guide indicates there are 2 inches between sizes, and they measure tip to hole. But it’s hard for me to conceive what to order, taking into consideration the wrap factor.
I own a small and medium but prefer the medium. They run very small. That said, I don’t think they can be too long, but they can be too short so order larger than you think you will need
My hair was the same length and style as yours. I found the Velcro rollers were the only thing that helped to hold curl. I’d put them in, take my bath, apply makeup and then style my hair. But, it’s really fine and thinning, so I had it trimmed short yesterday. It’s more manageable now. I also knit. I wear my creations regularly.
I miss knitting so much…perhaps I can start again after I get these trigger fingers fixed
I love to knit and crochet. The yarns are so stunning now. There are several Canadian yarns that I love….Sweet Georgia from Vancouver, I believe, Handmaiden from Halifax and Acadia from Alberta. You should pick up a couple of skeins, Jennifer.
Your dress looked great and yes I wrap towels exactly that way and one around my hair like a turban. Velcro rollers are great for my hair on ocassion. You can’t sleep in them though. Ouch!
Now I am really jealous two of my “best friends” got together for drinks and dinner without me at the Quarterdeck Cottage! XO from a long time reader of both, A Well Styled Life and Hostess of the Humble Bungalow
Lol, We should all arrange a meet-up!