About Chantel Simmons
Our former Editorial Director firmly believes the rule, "if it's not pretty, what's the point?". And while she’s no longer updating on SweetLife, you can still find Chantel being crafty and updating pretty picks over on her SweetHome blog, Make-It Session.
Into Africa
the cherry on top canada
(Oct.29.09)
Some people are good packers.
I am not.
I like to feel as though I have every comfort of home when I'm away on vacation. Unfortunately, this means that I always bring the biggest suitcase I have, and then my husband is forced to lug it around when I can no longer lift it (into the back of taxis, up a flight of stairs at a quaint inn, onto the conveyor belt at the airport...).
For my upcoming trip to South Africa, I really really want the midsize suitcase in this line.
It's even thematic for our five-day safari in its name! (I guess it`s fashioned after a pink leopard?). But perhaps I will have to lug my own suitcase if I get this one. Still...it might be worth it.
Because we'll be scouting lions and hippos and elephants and doing lots of walking in Cape Town, we originally decided our holiday schema was going to be sporty chic. Until I realized. I just am not sporty chic. I don't wear sweatshirts in public unless I'm en route to the gym. So why would I suddenly start channelling my inner jock while on holiday? That's just not pretty. And so, although I bought these super cute shoes, I will not be packing them.
Instead, I'll be wearing these new blue flats. I'm a sucker for bows on my toes.
And they go perfectly with this oh-so-soft leather bag, which has an over-the-shoulder strap (in case I need to run from lions):
And in case it gets chilly at night, I picked up a scarf that has just a small square of leopard-print, as my nod to the animals of Africa.
As for books, I can hardly narrow it down to one, but because I don't want to lug around books that, 20 pages in, I decide I'm not interested in reading, I've had to do some pre-screening -- which basically means that I read the first chapter, and if I'm sufficiently enthralled, it makes the cut. Here's what's made the shortlist so far:
Now, if only I could figure out how to pack these items into the pink suitcase without my husband noticing until we're at the airport...
Thought that was sweet? You'll enjoy: