My Christmas wishlist from Notonthehighstreet.com

Hi guys,
I am completely in love with notonthehighstreet.com: Its my go-to website when I'm looking for a present, or something quirky and unusual for myself. It brings together all of those boutique independent brands I love in one convenient, easy-to-search place.

So when I started thinking about a Christmas wishlist for myself, I knew it would be my first stop! Here's what I will be hoping to find in my stocking when the big day arrives. And because I wanted to look at stocking filler prices, everything I've picked costs less than £25:




Rob Ryan initial tote bags for Alphabet Bags, £16, Clicky link
Four teatime cupcakes in jars, G Desserts, £14.40, Clicky link 
Wish I was there make up purse, Rosie's Armoire, £24, Clicky link
Sandcastle bowls - blue, yellow, or white, Caroline McGrath, £25, Clicky link
Personalised leather hoops bracelets, Soremi, £22, Clicky link

Have you started thinking about what you want in your Christmas stocking yet? And the scarier question, have you started your shopping? I've done some of mine but the panic is no doubt going to start shortly: there's not long to go!

Love Tor xx

PS - Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaway: there is a great selection of little prizes to be won!! 

All I want for Christmas is everything!

Hi guys,
I was going to put together a comprehensive Christmas gift guide, full of fabulous ideas for all those awkward people in your life. But picking presents for awkward people is, well, awkward, even for someone who shops as often as I do! So I decided instead to create the perfect Christmas gift guide for, erm, me!

I'm not sure how useful this will be if you still have Christmas shopping to do, but why not take a break and look at all of the pretty things instead? Oh, and if you need a present for a chubby fashion blogger with an animal obsession, here are my ideas:

Marc by Marc Jacobs watch, £250
Bunny jumper, Topshop, £38
Candy canes, M&S, 99p
Oh Lola 30ml, Debenhams, £33
Bunny ears ring, ASOS, £8
Vivienne Westwood bag, £290
HP Envy laptop, £1199
Disney couture "Believing is just the beginning" bracelet,£39
Leather skater skirt, Oasis, £95

I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of year. And actually that has nothing to do with the gifts, although they are an added bonus! I like spending time with my family, overindulging, and having the excuse to unwind and relax.

What will you be asking the chubby man in the red for this year? And I'm also interested to know if the recession has curbed your spending, or made you get a little more creative with presents?

Love Tor xx

PS - The winner of the Tesco Christmas dress competition is SamanthaB - Congratulations!!! Please email me to claim your prize!

Christmas wishlist: Stella McCarney hat

Today's Christmas wishlist item is in honour of the snow falling over almost the whole country, leaving everyone with the day off chirpy and everyone who had to trudge into work (like me!) a bit grumpy. It's also in honour of Stella McCartney, who announced the birth of her fourth child today: it's a Stella McCartney hat.

I love it's slouchy oversized shape and its subtle leopard print. I like grey as an alternative to black in the winter (where it's black coats and hats everywhere you turn) so this would be a nice wearable alternative that you could still wear everyday. It costs £155 from Net-a-porter.

Love, Tor xx

Christmas wishlist: French Connection coat

Hi guys,

In honour of my lovely new coat (which I picked up yesterday from the French Connection outlet and am completely in love with!) today's wishlist item is this fab coat from French Connection.

I love it's 80s style shape and slight bat wing sleeves. Personally, i'm too heavy busted to wear a double breasted coat, but on someone smaller up top, I think this coat would look amazing: it's a versatile piece that would look rock-chicky teamed with jeans and ankle boots, but really sleek over a little black dress.

At £190 it definitely isn't the cheapest coat on the highstreet, but it is a great shape and classic colour that means it will last you winter after winter: after a couple of heavy snows the cost-per-wear of this coat means it will practically pay for itself!

Love, Tor xx

Christmas wishlist: Union Jack tea cosy

When I think of Christmas, or any other special present-buying occasion, the delights of etsy are never far from my mind. So when I saw this gorgeous Union Jack tea cosy, I knew it would have to make it on the list: my house is full of this kind of kitsch, and it's patriotic to boot! Some may say it's a little tacky - I say it's cool.

With the Royal Wedding never far from anyone's lips I predict this kind of thing will be really popular this Christmas, and a great thing to have as a conversation piece when the wedding does finally arrive next year. And besides, what's more English than a nice cup of tea?
This is from lovely Etsy seller, Diane Tubb Designs and comes in at $25 (approx £16)

Merry Christmas!
Love, Tor xx

Previous wishlist items:
Topshop beaded collar
Sam Edelman boots

Christmas wishlist: Sam Edelman boots

See shoes, want shoes, lust! Today's wishlist item is these Sam Edelman boots. They're exclusively available in Harvey Nichols (and on their website) and these babies have just about every detail a rock chick boot could feature: a concealed heel, zip fastenings, contrasting quilted leather panel with buckle fastenings and a branded sole.
They come in at £176.

Merry Christmas!
Love, Tor xx

Previous wishlist items:
Topshop beaded collar

Christmas wishlist: Topshop beaded collar

Hi guys,
Now that we're just a month away from Christmas, and everyone is starting to feel festive, I thought I would bring you an extra mini-blog post every day (as well as my usual rambling ones!) The extra post will be a suggestion for your Christmas wishlist, which will probably be something I saw and fell in love with, and put on my Christmas wishlist! Either way, it will be a Christmas wishlist, and it will feature things that are fashion-y, cool, and because i'm putting it together, some stuff that is just plain weird!

Today on the list is this cream antique embellished collar from Topshop: it is one of the five "online exclusives" pieces Topshop just added to their site, and as soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be mine! Apparently numbers are limited, and some of the other five pieces already have sizes sold out, so if you're fancying this, send it to your santas and their elves sooner rather than later. It costs £32, which is expensive for Topshop jewellery, but when you consider how it will change the look of all the tops and dresses in your wardrobe, it's definitely worth it!

Merry Christmas!
Love, Tor xx