Tag Archives: Tents

Red & White Stripes (part III)

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HAPPY JULY EVERYONE!!

I hope your weekend was grand.

It has been stunning here in Santa Barbara but my heart goes out to those in many other States right now suffering from storms, early heat-waves and dreadful fires.  Having lived in Santa Barbara for so many years, we know all too well the devastation of fire in our foothills and flames licking at our little town’s doorstep, so I’m especially thinking of those in Colorado right now.

Bless all the firefighters who work so bravely to keep us safe.

.and, uh…no rush, but any chance of a new calendar soon?!

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On a lighter note,

we’ve kicked “June Gloom” to the side like a tired old boyfriend and we’re starting off this month starry eyed and hell bent on enjoying warm-weather pleasures.

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I’m dusting off the popsicle maker

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and, as always,

deriving plenty of elevated Summertime Serotonin levels from delving into my “Red & White Stripes” file.

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Other than black & white stripes, it has to be my most favouritist combination, especially from May through September.

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Love it in the bedroom

(I won’t bore you with the photo of my son’s room again!)

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on the beach

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In my Picassos

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In my dreams of the Riviera 

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and beautiful vintage photographs

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While beach attire and attitude has most definitely changed over the decades…

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The appeal of red & white stripes has not.

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From my garden today, taken with Instagram.

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tents + stripes= 2 things that make my heart happy

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The perfect beach tote available at The Loaded Trunk  ( $64)

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Peppermint twist cake (sorry to have lost the credit for this talented person)

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A bold statement to be sure.

More my speed

On the porch filled with magazines, or pool side filled with towels,

or wine. Whatev’s

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I had a red & white striped tablecloth but I seem to have lost it.

No doubt it will turn up in November.

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Red Velvet cheesecake.

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Red Velvet flavoured VODKA.  You heard me.

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Red & white stripes work pretty much everywhere

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The Exotic

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Romantic

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Cozy

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 Playful 

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Certifiable.

Just trying to imagine the ‘dialogue’ with the neighbours…

Perhaps a lawn would soften the blow??

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On the sea

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At the lake.

Me. Here. Now.

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It just works.

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Not sure if I’ll have time to post again this week or not..

so just in case I don’t,

Wishing all the Yanks a terrific 4th of July.

Be safe. Be Joyful

and let’s keep the red stripes on fabrics and not on your skin.

Sunscreen People!

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PS. Still “pulling” my coconut oil :)

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Dreaming Under Mosquito Net

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Credit unknown

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Slim Paley photo

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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Slim Paley photo

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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Slim Paley photo

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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Slim Paley photo

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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Slim Paley Photo

My babies sleeping under the netting in Africa

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Slim Paley photo

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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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Can’t Quite Let Go of The Stripes…

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Slim Paley photo

From My Garden

 

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These candy-cane striped roses are growing like mad in my garden this year.  They don’t have much scent and even though the colours really go with nothing in my home,  I still love them because they make everyone smile!

Which is a good thing right now as we haven’t seen the sun in Santa Barbara since 1982.  OK, I might be channeling my mother and exaggerating just a bit, but seriously- enough with the gloomy skies already.  I don’t know what the temperature’s like in your part of the world  (unless you’re in NY of course. JEALOUS!!) and I know you might be slightly stripe-fatigued, having just finished the July 4th weekend and all,  but it was actually cold and rainy here today (and I got a driving violation) and this Red & White Stripe post made my day just a little bit brighter.  Hope it does the same for you :)

 

Some classic “White Stripes” Music to shop by;



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Cote Sud

I love a touch of red & white stripe in a room- so happy, so alive, so FRESH!

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Primrose London, UK

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Ashwan Caban by PeterSorrell.net

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Anouska Hempel

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Chanel Cruise 2010

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Sexy Clown?

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Oberto Gili photo

I could live in Oberto Gili’s photographs

His book 2003 book “Luxury of Space” is a classic.

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Sim Paley photo

Roman Pastries

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Vogue

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Slim Paley photo

From The Chelsea Flower Show

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Jean Paul Gaultier’s  “Classique Summer 2010″ Limited Edition

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Gap Varsity Sweater $49.50

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Pottery Barn (on SALE now!! in blue & white also)


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Red & white tents make me happy too

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Visconti & Co..

 

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Jason Loucas

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Sorry I have no credit for the photo but whoever did this room- LOVING

Love, Love, LOVE!

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Country Living

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Zastavki.com

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Tom’s

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Vogue

White Stripes Wife,  Red-head Karen Elson

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Mui Mui Cruise 2010

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Slim Paley Photo

Liberty London

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Slim Paley photo

My Little Man

Sorry- I couldn’t resist including this…maybe this is why I really love red & white stripes so much :)

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Gap $24.50

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Claggettwilson.com

So charming and American!  (oh-  The Gardener’s Cottage – This is for YOU!)

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Skonahemma

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Slim Paley photo

More buds coming!


And coming for Fall… Dior Couture 2010/11

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Carrera glasses (available on Net a Porter)

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Dear Powers That Be;

Do you see these sunglasses??  Did I mention it is July 7th and I am located in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA but today  I had to light the fire, wear a jacket and use my umbrella?!

Are you aware that you might possibly be OVERDOING it just a wee bit in NY and it might possibly be a good idea to spread the Climatic Love around a little?

No pressure…

Love,

Slim

(unless you’re the motorcycle cop who gave me the ticket- Hellloooo, Mr. No Sense of Humour – No love for you :( )

 

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Oh, and PS.  My Twitter page has been broken since Friday night- Anybody else having issues??

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THE BOLTER

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You didn’t know I collected Pith helmets did you?!

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The “Great Beauty” Lady Idina Sackville

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Well, there I go again…finishing a book that I really didn’t like very much.  And the worst part is, the longer I kept reading and not enjoying it, the more annoyed I’d get with myself which of course made it even worse.  Hate that!  I suppose I hung in there this time, despite my New Year resolution because The Bolter received such good reviews.  Much like “The Help”, I forged on, thinking something was going to redeem the book for me.  Anyway, here is The Bolter boiled down;

Exceptionally self-centered British hedonist, who scores way more attractive husbands than she rightly deserves (Hello, 5)  lives a life totally free from convention and the stifling stays of Edwardian society in the wilds of Africa at the expense of her two small boys she abandons back in England.  She builds a couple of beautiful houses, installs a mirror over her bed and sleeps with all the neighbours.  I can honestly say there was not a single thing I read about this woman that made her appealing or interesting to me in any way.  Alright, not completely true. She called the home she built in Kenya “Clouds”.  I love that.  That’s it.   In addition to Lady Sackville being rather a loathsome character, I have never seen “The Happy Valley Crowd” portrayed in a more boring light.  Trust me, that’s no easy feat!  Rent “White Mischief” and you’ll see what I’m talking about.   I hate to be negative, for there is probably no one more obsessed with the whole Edwardian-Colonial- British Empire- The Raj- “I say, where did I lay my pith helmet, Old Boy?” thing  than me, but in my humble opinion this book was a bit of an over-rated trifle.

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I knew this postcard would come in handy someday!

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The upside is I feel like such a good wife now, it’s time for some guilt-free shopping!

A little music for shopping ;  



Givenchy- Bergdorf Goodman

Botega Venetta Glasses

Dolce & Gabanna Fringed Safari goes BoHo bag

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The Leica Safari Edition and leather carrying case- nice!

Isabel Marant Spring 2010  For Tent Clubbing

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Available on Amazon

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Guiseppe Zanotti boot- perfect for evening safaris!

Gorgeous African beads


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A much more interesting book about  admirable  Women Adventurers

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Slim Paley photo

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Slim Paley Photo

Night falls in Tanzania

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Zip your tents!

Africa Redux

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Pretty much Heaven

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The sun rises over Africa, taken from the bedroom of our second destination

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100_1345Slim Paley photo

A slice of Heaven at the Samburu “Save the Elephants” camp run by Iain and Oria Douglas-Hamilton

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100_1288Slim Paley photo

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Posting that  amazing picture of my pilates trainer in Africa sparked my desire to look through the photos I took when our family went on safari a couple of years ago.  We visited Kenya and Tanzania, and stayed at 4 different camps, each unforgettable and spectacular in their own unique way.  My personal favourite was Cottar’s 1920′s Mara Safari Camp as it fulfilled my every fantasy of an African Safari Experience (read; pith helmets and gramophones- Meryl in that outfit she wears when she first steps off the train- you get the picture) We had the great pleasure of being hosted by Calvin Cottar himself, whose family goes back generations in Africa.  We also adored The Samburu Elephant Watch camp (our boy’s favourite) run by the amazing Iain and Oria Douglas- Hamilton in Kenya.  Such happy memories of our arrival in a thunderous downpour of rain; hot tea and biscuits swiftly served (and even more swiftly stolen by cheeky monkeys!) followed by a stunning sunset and suspenseful Jenga tournaments between our boys and Sambu warriors, with Oria and Iain cheering on. It was our very first day and our only rainstorm in Africa and we couldn’t have been more cozy nestled in the gorgeous colourful tents of Samburu.  Bliss- I want to go back right now!   One or two G & T’s and I might even try suspending myself off the roll bar of a jeep too!

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Slim Paley photo

A Very Special Day

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Stormy skies overhead

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The main tent at Calvin Cottar’s 1920′s Safari Camp

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Calvin Cottar’s camp tent

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The last spot on our itinerary was Singhita, another Colonial Lover’s dream destination;

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Singhita Camp, Tanzania

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Singhita Camp, Tanzania

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Singhita Camp, Tanzania

Now this is my kind of tent :)

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Calvin Cottar’s 1920′s camp

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100_1856Slim Paley photo (the loo in the tent at Singhita)

Best Porto Potty Ever??

Damn I love camping!!

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