Category Archives: Music

Bedouin & Breakfast

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“I wish for all this to be marked on my body when I am dead. I believe in such cartography – to be marked by nature, not just to label ourselves on a map like the names of rich men and women on buildings. We are communal histories, communal books. We are not owned or monogamous in our taste or experience.” 
― Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient

Yes, that.

So we jumped at the opportunity to spend a sand-swept day and star-filled night in the wilds of the desert at the end our Moroccan adventure.

( it’s almost over…just 1 more post-after this one :) )

890A7354We departed from our hotel located in the outskirts of the city of Ouarzazete by helicopter

890A7365a 50 minute journey over epic scenery

L1020995which we loved…albeit ever vigilant for potential emergency landing spots (see it?!)

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890A7367Incredible to see how specks of verdant green popped up occasionally

L1030005and the lengths some people will go to to ‘unplug’

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rtwgdWhile it’s true that my friend and I did ever so slightly miss the presence of Ralph…

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and couldn’t help but give Omar a thought

or two…

Sand peopleThe hotel camp had us covered!

IMG_3554The tents were amazing

890A7386Crisp white sheets, hot water bottles and a private loo. You can just imagine my happiness.

890A7395More Happiness

(P.S. Gordon’s Gin people, please feel free to contact me for the photo :-) )

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890A7485‘The desert could not be claimed or owned—it was a piece of cloth carried by winds, never held down by stones’

from The English Patient.

L1150138Tagine served from a huge earthenware pot

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L1030076What we listened to under the canopy of a billion stars?

“Us & Them” from Dark Side of the Moon of course!

(click for mandatory listening please!)

and as I’ve learned through experience, there’s something quite magical about watching an old movie while tucked in a tent in the middle of nowhere, I brought my newest old favourite;

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“The Rains Came”

With no irony.

Screen Shot 2013-04-11 at 8.14.44 PMDawn in the desert

890A7438A peacefulness one can’t describe

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890A7489Strike a pose

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Bedouins_John_Singer_SargentJohn Singer Sargent’s Bedouins

890A7482Bedouin Breakfast

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a little sand kicking up??

IMG_3558 copyno problem for my ever resourceful, quick thinking friend who manages to eat breakfast, play DJ and start a new style trend at the same time.

890A7421“Ralph…Ralph…We’re here for you…”

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caf8fa84021816e56fcc2147dc7ce94d_viewThe John Singer Sargent exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum  is on now through July 28th

Our desert sojourn was organized by Maison Des Reves

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and have a splendid weekend!

xx

SP

~

“Let All The Children Boogie”

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Today I must wish David Bowie (My First Love) a very Happy 66th Birthday!

And with his birthday comes some very exciting news; the release of a single from his brand new album due out in March (his first in a decade)

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Hear it once and tell me if you don’t want to just keep replaying it again & again.

My love affair with David began when I was 14 yrs. old. The memories that flood back when I play Bowie (which I do on a regular basis, “Hunky Dory” being my all time favourite) are so achingly visceral I could still be sitting in my childhood bedroom. How sweet would that be sometimes?!

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Along with Marc Bolan and Robert Plant, David was always there for me throughout those (mortifyingly late) hormonally tempestuous times.

 Bolan was my escape to all the platformed 70′s glamour that I dreamed awaited me the moment I eventually bolted small town life.

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Robert Plant was, well, Robert Plant. 

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Honestly, this was going to be a quick post until I stumbled upon the Robert Plant Tumblr – wtf-reedonkoolus. Don’t even go there if you want to get anything done today.

Don’t look up Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour Tumblr either.

davidgilmour6Just saying.

david-bowie-young-americans-bigbut David… oh, where could I ever begin with David?

He was my boyfriend and my girlfriend. Emotionally ensconced in my heart and head, he was my soulmate and divine inspiration. While other girls imagined Carol King, Joni and Carly were reading their innermost thoughts, my friends were kooks, genies and spiders from Mars. Hey-I was 15. While teachers admonished, David’s lyrics ran through my mind;

“And if the homework brings you down then we’ll throw it in the fire and take the car downtown…”  yeess!

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When bodily bits didn’t sprout on schedule and pimples Vesuviously erupted at the most inopportune of times, David’s gaunt visage gazed reassuringly down at me (Plant-y looked slightly put off and I don’t think Marc cared a bit.) With his gorgeous bones, snaggle teeth (which sadly he fixed, for which I eventually forgave him ) and long skinny legs, my one dimensional poster hero brought me countless hours of unconditional happiness. My gawky, stick insect, over-bited, still-waiting-for everything-to happen-self pretended not to hear my parents incessant “Turn that music DOWN!!” as David and I fought the world together…while figuring out what we were going to wear.  

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My grief was deep the day Marc Bolan tragically died. So terribly young.

and I still love Robert Plant. He’s remained cool despite, let’s face it, having turned into the Cowardly Lion. (Honestly, I can’t even include his photo now after the young one above)

but Bowie,

ap-people-david-bowie-4_3_r560He’s still the real deal.

The new video is very odd. Of course and thank goodness.

“Where are We Now” available for download on iTunes now.


Try clicking on the arrow below if the above doesn’t work for you;


Thanks for the memories D.B.

LOVE YOU!

xoxo

*”Let All the Children Boogie” lyrics from “Starman” David Bowie.

~

CELEBRATE: Going For Gold

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I hope everyone has been enjoying a happy holiday season.

Finding some quiet time to tuck in with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate, or perhaps catching up on the latest movies? There are so many good ones this year.

As you can see I am back in Sun Valley where the evening landscape is very Seuss-ian. Whoville indeed!

 As we’re just one day away from saying au revoir to 2012, and ringing in a brand New Year I’m wondering;

Where are you and how will you celebrate?!

I send you off on this post with one of my all time favorite songs ; Strange Magic by ELO


IMG_8859A small slice of my friend’s stunning holiday table, one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen.

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Did 2012 zip past like a blur of light for you as it did for me?

890A5188Some green,gold & purples (except you can’t see the purple here so you must take me at my word) on my mantlepiece at home.

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I love this simple but dramatic idea for a New Year’s Eve table

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as well, this very chic champagne ‘bucket’ custom designed for  Ruinart champagne.

tumblr_m4s9vlnDGY1rvlgs5o1_500and if there’s one night of the year when you can really go for gold, it has to be New Year’s Eve, right?!

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Gustav Klimt

cover_xl_klimt_1211281027_id_569313BTW, if you are a fan of Gustav Klimt at all you must see this BIG,  brand new stunning edition by Taschen ($200) commemorating his 150th anniversary.

Screen Shot 2012-12-29 at 5.41.16 PMGold confetti champagne ‘flutes’  from “Indigo” via Canadian House & Home

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Screen Shot 2012-12-30 at 8.49.18 AMWhite & gold- so chic for entertaining, especially in winter.

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Bag by Kotur

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May your New Year be filled with the light of faeries

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and bodacious confection

cococover3Coco Rocha

Several gold stunners sure to attract their fair share of miners at any New Year’s soiree’

196258496232672663_xtg2m8f4_cTom Ford

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Karmen Pedaru

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Tom Ford

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Herve Van Der Straeten 24-karat gold plated cuff $630 via Netaporter.com

49047083413626501_gOFzyu9H_cKate stepped out in gold lame this season

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From the Burberry campaign

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890A5074An ornament on my tree

Screen Shot 2012-12-29 at 4.30.37 PMTory Burch evening clutch

Screen Shot 2012-12-30 at 8.40.51 AMLaduree

It’s all over too soon, isn’t it?

890A5504Golden light upon the midnight snow on my front porch, Sun Valley

Wishing each and every one of you, my wonderful & faithful readers, a safe & joyful New Year’s Eve and may your 2013 be chocked full of good health, happiness & humour.

Thanks so much for all your great comments and support over the years (!!)

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Now, let’s get this party started!!

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xoxox

WAIT!

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Vignette in Ralph Lauren, NYC by Slim Paley

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Hold on!

It simply can’t be Labour Day Weekend yet!

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To accompany your stroll

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Slim Paley photo

Poolside at The Coral Casino, Montecito, California.

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The weather in Santa Barbara is so GORGEOUS right now.

Hot.

Blue skies.

Nary a breeze.

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Eat your heart out down there in the S. of F. :)

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Fernanda Cameron for SIS magazine

Iriving & Fine top

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 I’ve hardly been to the beach

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There are still so many summer books to read (like, ALL of them :( )

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So many blue & white stripes yet to wear…

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Armani 2012

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Salvatore Ferragamo resort 2012

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Armani 2012

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photos to take…

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Footwear to consider…

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Accessories to splurge on

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Blue Rope Chairs from the “Melt Down” Series by Tom Price, U.K.  VIA

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Jean Paul Gaultier

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Slim Paley photo

and rooms to “phooff” up…

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The “Raoul Textiles” shop, Santa Barbara, CA

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Not to mention all the summer cocktails I was going to concoct…

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I’m just not READY.

I’m going to be like the party guest that won’t leave,

still banging on about summer & watermelons while every one else has moved on to pumpkins & cashmere

But isn’t that the beauty of writing my very own blog?

NO BOSS :)

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Cheers & Have a fabulous Holiday Weekend!

xoxo

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Cheerio to the Olympics

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Jamaica’s Usain Bolt

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Our family is really going to miss watching the Olympics together.

How about you??

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We viewed the opening night ceremonies under the stars in Greece.

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It was all good… after we found the English speaking channel.

Hard to follow intense hospital bed choreography without some sort of explanation.

Just sayin.

Caught the second week, though somewhat spottily, late nights in our hotel room at Le Bristol in Paris, albeit with a decidedly British perspective, courtesy of BBC 3.

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As  fans of Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe from the last summer Olympics, we enjoyed watching him as a commentator on the British coverage this year.

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Ian Thorpe and some other hunky British swimmer commentator.

Oh wait,

I might be wandering off track…

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At this point, I must cop to being a bit of a cheater when it came time to pick a team to root for.

As a newly minted American citizen

it was very easy to step up and root for all the charismatic Yanks

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Michael Phelps paving his very own yellow brick road.

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A little music for your viewing pleasure…

Click below


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Phelps

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Decathlon gold medal winner Ashton Eaton

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6′ 4″ Destinee Hooker

and the U.S. Women’s volleyball team had me on the edge of my seat (OK, my bed) and almost convinced I should start working out more.

But then I grabbed another chocolate croissant and got real.

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Are these women unbelievable??

Kerri & Misty

All I remember from playing high school volleyball are the blood blisters I’d get on the inside of my wrists if the ball so much as touched me.

Good thing it rarely happened.

Oh…the traumatic memories of never getting picked…

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Don’t even know what he did, but damn, those are some guns.

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And what’s not to love about a face like this?!

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Gabby Douglas

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Lolo Jones

fought through unfair press to finish 4th.

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However when the Brits were dong well, my old U.K. heritage kicked in with, well, Olympic speed.

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The Union Jack is in my blood, after all :)

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British Women’s Rowers rejoice.

I think of all the miserable, cold and rainy mornings they get up so early to practice for this moment

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It makes me want to mix up a Pimms and  go out for a good curry to celebrate.

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As for Oh Canada, another place I like to call home

I found myself quietly jumping up and down whenever we they got close to any medaling

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Rosie MacLennan wins Canada’s first (and only??) Gold medal for women’s trampoline.

Sadly, it was rather a poor showing for the Maple Leafers

but

they will be kicking derrieres and taking names in the next Winter Olympics people, so watch out eh?

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And then,

there were those athletes who it didn’t matter where they were from, you just wanted them to win

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Oscar Pistorius from South Africa

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One of my favourite moments

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The Jamaican sweep of the men’s 200m led by Usain Bolt

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David Rudisha of Africa breaks the World record for the men’s 800m

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Go Oscar

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Synchronised swimmers

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What was your favourite moment of the 2012 Olympics?!

Have they inspired you to get up and jangle the molecules a little more?

I’m thinking of rubbing some chalk onto my legs and ordering a fresh wheatgrass juice at “Blenders in the Grass” tomorrow

 to have people mistake me for an athlete.

It could happen.

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OK, maybe not.

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Will you watching the closing ceremonies Saturday?

We’ll be watching in the comfort of our home once again.

omg is my husband happy to have his own remote back in his hand.

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See you there!

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oh, and you can thank Anouchka and her comment for this late addition photo;

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Hugo Parisi

:)

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