Sponsored Video: Simply Being Myself

Hi guys,
It's not often I see a video for an advertising campaign and really relate to it, so I was surprised to really relate to the latest video from Simply Be. Its honest and heart warming, and its message to be true to who you are is both real and sincere:

Being true to yourself is what the Simply Be brand is all about, and it gives me the perfect opportunity to get all schmaltzy and sentimental about who I am, and how the people I love got me here. When I'm down or having a bad day it is being all these things to all these people that gets me through it:

I am a mum. I'm a dress size bigger and my tummy is significantly more wobbly, but having Wilbur is the best decision I ever made. Loving him is a whole different kind of love, unlike any other, and there's no bad day he can't immediately fix simply by smiling at me, or giving me one of his sloppy kisses which are at least 90% spit!
I am a wife. What can I say about my handsome husband? He drives me crazier and makes me happier than anyone else in the world (usually at the same time). He's a great dad, and a great man, and I'm phenomenally lucky to have him, and lucky that he loves me unconditionally: even on the days when I forget to brush my hair!
I am a daughter. I have hands down the best parents in the world, bar none. There's not a problem they can't fix, a hole they can't mend, a disaster they can't rectify. They're almost superhumanly amazing: it's awe inspiring (especially now I'm a parent myself). Their love and their patience never ends.
I am a sister. I am so lucky to have two sisters that I talk to every single day and that are like my best friends. They make me howl with laughter, and (occasional) want to give them a good slap. I don't know how I'd cope without them. I was doubly blessed when Amie ended up having the same dress and shoe size as me so I can borrow here stuff whenever I like!
I am a friend. Moving cities when we were pregnant was a massive upheaval but it has helped us discover who our good friends (new and old) really are and to cherish them all the more.

It makes me feel all Christmassy and good-cheer-y to remember how lucky I am to have all these awesome people, who all help to make me me! And when I have to buy a new party frock (because last year's is a little too snug) or I'm up all night and so tired I can't think straight I know that these are the wonderful people that will get me through. Let's face it: What better Christmas present could you want than that?

What blessings will you be counting this Christmas?

Love Tor x

*This is a sponsored post for Simply Be

The perfect Christmas day outfits for the whole family

Hi guys,
I normally resist writing about Christmas in November (believe me, you'll have enough of my Christmas posts to last a lifetime in December!) but I'm being beaten down by all the festive spirit everywhere and I just can't resist: The high street Christmas lights have been lit, Starbucks have their red cups out, and more importantly, I have seen the Coke Christmas ad on TV. Holidays are coming, my friends!

In honour of this, I started thinking about what I want myself and my boys to be wearing on Christmas day. This will be our first Christmas as a family of three (In fact, if he comes on time the boy will be less than a month old) so my usual laissez faire attitude to Christmas dressing is out of the window and instead been replaced by Christmas jumpers, cozy Santa accessories, and an unholy amount of red! Here are my picks from Next.co.uk of what I would like us to be wearing when the big day arrives:


Red skinny trousers, £26: Sparkle green sweater, £42: Nude and wine block platform shoes, £60: Colour block metal link belt, £12: Berry feather earrings, £7.50: Expandable bracelet, £12.


Straight leg burgandy chino, £20: Suede desert boots, £48: Burgandy patterned crew neck jumper, £30: Burgandy check scarf, £13: Black and orange leather strap watch, £30: Tan leather belt, £20.


I love santa suit, £11: Christmas bibs (2 pack), £4.50: Reindeer teddy bear, £9: Christmas pudding hat, £6: Knitted reindeer booties, £5.50

Of course in reality, Mike will wear his usual blue jeans and black Tshirt combo (it's tried and tested!) and I will wear something with an elasticated waist to make room for as much Christmas dinner as possible: but a girl can dream!! What do you wear on Christmas day? In my family's household we don't take off our PJs, but hubby's family get dressed up, so that will be a new experience for me this year!

Lovely blogger Northern Mum is collaborating with Next to giveaway a £500 voucher to the blogger who best styles a Christmas look for their family from the new season Next collection. The above is my entry to the competition - wish me luck!! 

Love Tor xx

Christmas: Lovely luxuries

Hi guys,

Well, Christmas is sadly over, although I'm not ready to hide the Quality Street tin just yet! I've had a fantastic Christmas. For me, Christmas is all about little luxuries. Having Harrods cheese instead of the usual Cathedral City (thanks Mum!), eating your body weight in yummy chocolates, wearing my favourite perfumes everyday (am I the only one that normally has a cheaper everyday perfume?), and having calorie laden snacks whenever you want them, guilt free!

Speaking of luxuries, I have received some seriously luxurious gifts:

I was treated to a new Steve Madden cover for my ipad, the Marc Jacobs watch I added to my Christmas gift list (the hints work!), two perfume gift sets, some gorgeous candles, Betsey Johnson pajamas and slippers, a new leather filofax (I couldn't live without mine), a Vivienne Westwood purse, a Lanvin pen, and much much more.

And the biggest luxury of all this Christmas? Taking time out without focusing on work, to just spend with my family. Especially the smallest member of all: meet little Bertie, who's just 7 weeks old! I am one very proud aunt!

I know I'm biased, but that is one seriously beautiful baby boy!

So, what did you get up to for Christmas? And did Santa bring you everything you wanted?

Love Tor xx

Etsy obsession of the week: Mysilverpie

The etsy obsession comes a little late this week and I was going to give it a miss, but when I stumbled across these family necklaces from my silver pie in a relaxing trawl across the site last night (it's fast becoming one of my favourites!) I knew I had to share! My boss has one of these necklaces with the names of her children on it, which is why the listing caught my attention, and I realised what a sweet way it was to honour your family whilst still being fashion conscious: much better than the seemingly obligatory mum/kids name tattoos!

Mysilverpie makes bracelets, necklaces and even rings which can have names or any other words you choose added to them. All the pieces are handcrafted from silver in the sellers home studio. Each piece is made especially for you once you place your order, so you can have whatever words or names you like, no matter how unusual! My mum will only wear gold jewellery (because she has very sensitive skin) which is a shame, because this would be a perfect present for a mummy and something really thoughtful to give a friend who's just had a baby (am I the only one that seems to have a lot of those lately!?)

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The Topshop sale starts today and a quick peek at the website shows massive discounts on some really pretty stuff: I'm heading down there this afternoon to have a proper look, and obviously I will be taking my camera with me to share the best bits with you guys!

Love, Tor xx

Sneak peek: Wish Upon a Star Boutique

As I think I have mentioned in previous posts, myself excluded, I come from an incredibly crafty family. My sister always makes homemade cards for every occasion and my nan can knit almost anything. But noone is more crafty, or talented than my mum. Which is why i'm delighted to announce that we have finally persuaded her to start her own business selling a variety of homemade wedding crafts.

Mum will be selling silk flowers for the whole wedding party (I especially love the fairy wands and headbands for the flower girls), individually made favour boxes, hand stitched ring cushions: if you need it for a wedding she can make it, and (in my opinion, without bias) it's all so beautiful it takes your breath away.
Whilst the website and wedding fair schedule is finalised, here is a sneak peek of just some of the beautiful things she creates:
The silk flowers my mum buys are so realistic that its hard to tell the difference, and I think it turns what is an expensive waste that would die in five days into a perfect momento of your special day that you can keep forever: either as a dressing up tool for a wannabe-fairy bridemaid or a table centrepiece for the bride.
I'm sure she'll tell me shes not ready for me to post this but i'm just so so proud of her I wanted to share. I'll let you all know when the online shop is launched. She's even thinking of setting up her own blog too! In the meantime if you have a wedding coming up and you'd like to be put in touch with my mum, just drop me a line.

Love, Tor xx

A little festive interlude

Hi Guys,

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Sorry party dress week has gotten off to such a shaky start- I will definitely rectify that this afternoon! On Tuesday night my mum came to town for the day (she left last night) and i've been so busy having fun with her and my sisters that I haven't had time to post!

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Before we went to have a wonderfully decedant afternoon tea (i'm ashamed to say that I ate 2 clotted cream laden scones and 3 cakes!) we took mum to Harrods to buy us Christmas presents (shameless!) to buy her a hamper from the foodhall -a pre-Christmas gift from me, and to check out the Christmas wonderland on the second floor. That is what this post is about.

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If you ever have an hour to spare and want to start feeling festive then I suggest you visit Harrod's winter wonderland. It's beautiful, luxurious and extravagent. Decorations and trinkets hang as far as the eye can see and you can marvel over the beautifully decorated trees and the contents of the £300 box of crackers. For enthusiasts like myself, there is even a full stand of hello kitty tree decorations. At this time of year, it really is one of my favourite places to be:

*The 2 youngsters are my sisters - you've seen them before. The beautiful lady in the pink is my Mum - I know i'm a bit biased, but she really is the best a girl could ask for!

What you can't see if the massive bags i'm carrying - only I would be stupid enough to buy a giant hamper and a huge perfume gift set at the start of a shopping trip!

My next party dress post will come to you in a couple of hours! Sorry again for the delay, but i'm sure it will be worth it!

Love, Tor x