Helibores & Roses
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Remember when I said one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to learn something new every day?
Today (& tonight) I learned how to watermark my photos.
Dear God in heaven. If it had taken me any longer my watermark was going to be a”F$%^&*%#U”
You might notice that the watermarks vary in size…it’s still a work in progress
Suffice it to say that I’m now the proud owner of over 2,000 original photos with the word “SAMPLE” watermarked in big white letters in the centre of them (I went downstairs for dinner and the program decided to watermark my entire file 
A beautiful example of Murphy’s Law as never has my computer done anything that fast) and excuse moi for assuming that “SAMPLE” actually meant “sample“
annnywaay. Deeeep breath….
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As you can see I spent the morning doing something a little more relaxing …
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Alas, despite our insanely gorgeous weather lately, the rose bushes had to be cut back so these are just from Von’s but the Helibores are from my garden (you know I have to do at least one Helibore post a year!)
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When I was finished I gathered all my arrangements and put them in the light of the dining room.
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Quite honestly, you’d swear it was Spring in Santa Barbara right now.
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Helibores are also known as “The Christmas Rose” due to their blooming in late December thru January.
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They come in all sorts of different styles and colours ranging from white to a deep burgundy.
Some are quite frilly, others are Plane Janes like the one above, but I think they’re all beautiful.
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Helibores have a tendency to hang their heads and slouch so it’s a good idea to pair them with flowers with better posture.
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Naturally I thought of this Prada necklace as I was compiling
I’m so good at multi-tasking…
But now, I’m ready for bed. Excuse me if there are any mistakes in this post
My eyes are stinging like the tails of a thousand scorpions (I’m also a little dramatic)
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How was your day?!
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Oh, and P.S. If you’re signing up for email subscriptions, following Slim Paley on Facebook or Twitter, or even just leaving a comment, I’d love to know Where in The World YOU are!
WordPress used to provide this feature in their analytics but I guess that was too much fun for us bloggers so they stopped.
It’s the Discontinued Favourite Lipstick Syndrome
Global party over
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Citizen Slim
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Drum roll, if you please…
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A bit of a personal post today, but this was a big week for me, I needn’t tell you.
Well, actually, I do need to tell you as you’ll hardly be reading about it in the press-
I finally became a U.S. Citizen!
I drove all the way to downton (oops-someone has a certain TV show on the brain) downtown LA and passed my test with flying colours just before the Christmas holidays. They give you a CD with the 100 questions that might be asked in the test, which I listened to all the way there. Ask me any question about American Indians and old presidents.
Then I managed to steer clear of racketeering, drug dealing, gambling (unless you count EBAY) terrorist plotting and prostitution long enough to make it to the swearing-in ceremony held this week in Ponoma, CA.
Er, maybe that’s Pomona, CA. (Oh Hellooo-It wasn’t on the test)
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My friend was so sweet-she made me this adorable red, white & blue camellia just for my Big Day.
I almost wore Angelina Jolie’s red & white number from the Golden Globes-phew, dodged another bullet there…
Honestly, is she even from this planet? so beautiful
Alas, no blue. (tattoos don’t count)
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It was just me, and 3,497 other folks all lined up at a fairground.
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Yes, believe it or not, this is right outside the door you go in for the ceremony
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An Ellis Island of cell phones.
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The President tapped it out with all of us
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and I must admit, I got slightly verklempt(sp?) when they played the video of Lee Greenwood singing his “God Bless the U.S.A” song (especially the “and I’d gladly stand up” chorus)
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Driving home in the afterglow of achievement, 3 things occurred to me;
For the first time since my sons were born, the whole family will travel together with matching passports.
We will ALL be eligible to vote in the next election, 2 of us for the first time! (God, hope I don’t get any hanging chads or questions about Ponomona)
and lastly,
I can now qualify to be a contestant on “Survivor!” Watch out Creepy Russell!
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And just in case you were wondering…
The plastic flags they hand out ARE Made In The U.S.A.
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Cheers!
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Dreaming Under Mosquito Net
Credit unknown
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Sunrise, Africa
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Taschen
A cup of tea, some wonderful books and mosquito netting= Heaven
You have no idea how long I’ve been working on this post. You must understand what the mere glimpse of mosquito netting does to my heart rate in order to appreciate how much I adore these images, particularly the one above, which actually faded away to a mere ghost on my bulletin board. I like to imagine it was taken on a boat in India, so if you know otherwise, please don’t shatter my fantasy.
The photo above it, I snapped just as the sun was rising at the foot of our bed in Africa. I shot it in panorama, which unfortunately doesn’t fit on the blog.
It’s one of the best memories of the best holiday I’ve ever taken with my family.
Like the sweet scent of coconut oil, the scraping of palm fronds against a tin roof, the slow creak of an ancient ceiling fan,
the fine veil of mosquito netting sends me off to Blissville.
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Romantic in theory…
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A very happy Slim
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Calvin Cottar’s 1920′s Safari Camp, Africa
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Love the cloistered effect of the nets beneath the recessed arch
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and this grey & lavender combination is sublime
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another old favourite
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Mosquito netting in a guest bedroom in my home
(I think I’ve had more bats fly into my house than mosquitoes, but that’s another story)
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Don’t you just love when you come back to your room and your towel is a swan?!
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Leopard Hills, Kruger Park, Africa
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Baroness Fiona Thyssen-Bornemisza
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Coffee tastes better under mosquito netting
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Image Joseph Walsh
Ash and Organza silk “Enignum” Canopy Bed by Joseph Walsh
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Black mosquito netting- How very Tom Ford
I might have to try this somewhere…
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Battambang, Cambodia (I tie scarves around lights that are too bright 
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Me. Here. Now.
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Sabora, Africa
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My babies sleeping under the netting in Africa
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Hell, it works anywhere…
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I see some mosquito netting in my very near future…stay tuned
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Slumber in the Streets
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Have you noticed the plethora of pajamas worn as day and evening wear the past couple of seasons?
I know for some, it will never be acceptable-
a slippery slope as it were, to slovenly slothtitude (it’s in the Slim Paley dictionary )
Personally,
I couldn’t be happier
(save receiving an invitation to a formal affair stating “Uggs mandatory”)
I’ve always adored the pajama look
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(a little music to muse by; Dreamer by Super Tramp)
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Languorous
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Julian Schnabel
Louche
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Loose
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Everybody’s doing it…
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I’ve pulled out some of my old (and new) faves, including a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier silk kimono (to wear with my “vintage” Tom Ford crushed velvet trousers I rediscovered awhile back-I told you I was cleaning my closets!)
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I bought this Tommy Hilfiger number (Fall 2011) and have worn it everywhere but bed.
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Karlie Kloss
Add a silk flower or broach and poof! your slumberwear’s practically black tie ready
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Olatz pajama top Etro silk pajama pants
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“Nick & Nora Charles” & Asta of course
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Alberta Ferretti pants
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Ferragamo Resort 2012
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Ferragamo
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I’ve had this vintage men’s P.J. top since Lucy & Ricky were still together
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PS. note the size-hey, if I like something, I make it work
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The Row SS2012
Isabel Marant SS2012
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Alberta Ferretti
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and I couldn’t resist these new “Piamita“ sleepers, available at Barney’s.
These are SO going out at night-just not together.
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P.J. tops at Olatz NYC
(owned by the gorgeous wife of ‘Mr. Pajamas in the Street’ himself, Julian Schnabel)
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My ‘vintage’ 80′s Stubbs & Wootons making a repeat performance.
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Don’t forget your matching helmet in case you run into a nightmare
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Happy Weekend to All.
Relax, unwind, remember to review your resolutions and
raid your jammie drawer!
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Off to a Good Start…
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As we near the end of this first week of 2012, I’m sharing just a few photos I snapped in Santa Barbara where we’ve been blessed with some of the most incredible January weather I can recall in many years.
Almost guilt-ifying (but not quite )
I popped over the mountains to beautiful Ojai on Wednesday afternoon and on the drive home felt compelled to pull over to the side of the road and capture the moment.
I’m afraid I missed the best of the light, due to the driver behind me who was obviously neither a proponent of the “Slow Movement” or a person who appreciates spectacular natural lighting but I guess that’s life in the fast lane (see what I did there?)
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In addition to the spectacular vistas encountered on the pass between Santa Barbara and Ojai, the copious amount of avocados rolling around on the road at this time of year is almost comical.
I was mashing guacamole the entire way
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and lo & behold the ”Golden Arches” (Montecito Style) are out
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Meanwhile, the last batch of Trader Joe’s frozen chocolate croissants were devoured…
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(Sorry, but these just never get old for me. I mean look-they’re jockeying for position off the baking tray for goodness sake!)
This is the closest I will ever come to baking like Martha Stewart.
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source unknown
I grabbed nice long hugs before I sent my cubs back to school
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…I did not win the first Scrabble game of the year, despite a last minute “Qi” on a triple point letter square, but did manage to keep several New Year’s “Intentions” in tact, including pulling out my art supplies and reading a non-fiction book ( resolution #4; learn something new everyday and write it down).
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Although I didn’t get a yoga practice in, I intend to this weekend.
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from the book “Bitter with Baggage”
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Lastly, the second season of “Downton Abbey” starts on Sunday night- I can hardly wait!
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and this was the view from my desk most nights this first week in January.
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The world is indeed a wondrous place to live.
Slow down, look around and pick up the free avocados
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Thanks again for all your lovely comments on my New Year’s Post, I truly appreciate each and every one.
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Happy Weekend All!
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The New Year, Being 2012!!
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Happy New Year’s Eve Everyone!!
Pretend the clock says midnight please
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The ‘Best Laid Plans o’ Mice an Men’ finds me at home on New Year’s Eve with a sick husband and the Tragedy of a Totally Wasted Good Blow-dry.
No party for Mr. & Mrs. Slim Paley.
And so, my dear friends, we meet again on the precipice of another New Year together.
Yay!!
I raise my glass to you
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We’re getting along super well, aren’t we? Who knew?! OK, one or two readers cranky over the Angel thing, but what’s Christmas without a little dust-up?!
Truly, I’ve ‘met’ so many lovely people through Slim Paley (ps. wouldn’t you think after two years of writing this, spell check would stop suggesting “Palsy” as an alternative for Paley?? but, there I go, digressing already)
I know I’ve said it before but I’ll repeat myself;
I simply couldn’t have done it without you
I mean one could, hypothetically, be the blog that falls in the woods…
But somehow that singular act suits the noble tree much more than me.
I like company
Part of the pleasure of friendship comes from sharing the highs and lows of challenges, successes, failures and general “life lessons” we encounter on “The Journey” (definitely one of the most over-used words of 2011, right?)
Yes, we walk our own path, but celebrating and occasionally commiserating together helps to remind us that we converge more often than not.
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I realize that’s a ‘Very Special Oprah’ moment for me, but it’s true.
So I’m going to be completely forthright and admit that I totally sucked at keeping up my resolutions in 2011.
omg-HOPEless! but who cares, if I don’t?
Tomorrow is another year…
So here’s to that,
with some new and some re-cycled resolutions, in utterly random order because let’s get real; why would I want to start the New Year off organized? That would be way too much pressure.
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New Resolutions
1. Don’t put pressure on myself.
2. Wear sunscreen religiously.
3. Do at least 1 creative thing EVERY DAY and keep a list so I’m accountable.
Possible Creative Activities; paint, work on Younger Son’s scrapbooks ( he graduates high school this June and it’s his present), take photos, print my photos (there’s a concept!), garden, write, cook, invent new drink recipes.
4. Learn 1 new thing EVERY DAY. Again, keep list in an effort to stay accountable.
5. Take a little time out at least a few times a week to actually enjoy all the beautiful coffee table books I’ve acquired over the years and then donate all books that no longer speak to the place I’m at now.
8. This is also going to be my year for purging not just books, but all my drawers, cupboards & closets. After 19 years in this beautiful house, it’s time for a little residential lipo as it were.
9. Watch more movies. Dare I say for me they’re a bit like sex-takes some effort but then you think, actually, this is kind of fun. (my kids don’t read the blog)
10. Use my Clarsonic at least 2 or 3 times a week. I warned you the list was random.
11. Start running. Nah, just kidding. I did consider it though after watching “Mission Impossible 4″ the other night. Tom Cruise likes to run doesn’t he? and he does that locomotive thing with his arms crazy fast. I thought; hmmm, some upper arm work there-could be a good thing. But then my sister told me running is super bad for your joints so, phew…dodged a bullet there.
12. I WILL practice yoga more often.
I had a few more resolutions… In fact, I thought of so many good ones as I was trying to go to sleep last night, but poof! they’re gone. That does remind me that #13 is to get more sleep. I’m getting custom fitted ear plugs and staying off screens at least an hour before bedtime starting tomorrow. I went on a site for the earplugs and somehow managed to find cute pants. I’m telling you, I have a special talent.
14. Drink Green tea, but not at night.
15. Look for some changes on Slim Paley in 2012 too, although I guess that’s not really a resolution but it does get me up to 15, which is a good place to stop for now.
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I wish you multiple blessings in the New Year-good health, happiness, a grand adventure or two, laughter and the love of good friends and family.
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2012- Bring IT!
xoxo
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Oh wait! I almost forgot… remember my Toasted Marshmallow Martini from last week?
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Be Careful!!
Check this out; Click here
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Stumble It! 
