Don't forget Valentine's Day.....

Hi guys,
It always amazes me just how many people forget Valentine's day each year - not because I think everyone should celebrate it, simply because it is shoved down our throats from every angle! Every advert on TV, every shop with hearts and flowers in the window, every second press release I've recieved for a month...You might not like it, or choose to celebrate it, but you certainly can't forget it!

I'm not big on Valentine's spending, and some of the press releases for suggested gifts I've received this year are, frankly, weird (coca cola baseball cape or extra thick welly socks, anyone?) but I have made little bags of goodies for my two lovely gentlemen: love heart sweets, gummy sweets, and cookie pops adorned with stereotypical love hearts popped into clear bags and tied up with a ribbon. Each bag cost around £1.50 to make and they'll be gone by Saturday lunchtime, but I just think this holiday, of all holidays, really shouldn't be about money and spending.

I hear a lot of people say that they don't believe in Valentine's day because they don't need one day to tell someone that they love them. Lucky them! I love Mike very much. But frankly, when you both have busy jobs and a toddler running around, an occasion that reminds you to take some time out from the seemingly endless stream of things to do and spend some time together is also very welcome.

I'll be spending my Valentine's Day at the cinema watching this season's most hotly anticipated new release which so far has received rave reviews.....you guessed it: Peppa Pig and The Golden Boots! Wilbur has been looking forward to it for weeks. But as I'll be watching it with my two favourite people in the whole world (and my two valentine's) I couldn't think of anything better!

Love Tor x

Valentine's Day Shoes from Sarenza

Hi guys,
If you didn't know that Valentine's day was a week today already then where have you been? It's like retailers are so desperate to keep the momentum of Christmas spending going, they've created a whole new holiday where you are guilted into spending big money on gifts! Whilst the concept of valentine's day then isn't one that I love, one thing I do love is shoes. So in what will be the final time I mention Valentine's day on the blog this year (I promise!) I present: red shoes!

Sarenza have launched a special Valentine's day hub over on the site. They believe that whether you’re single or in a couple, loved up or not at all, it’s shoes that should be getting your attention this Valentine’s Day! Now you know my attitude (Valentine's day, sh-malentine's day!) but I can't resist an excuse to look at pretty shoes. So here's my picks of the best from the hub:


1.Steve Madden gravityy shoes, £88.90
2. Jeffrey Campbell red suede lita boots, £120
3. Bordello red embellished heels, £140
4. Arian burgandy suede heels, £41.70
5.Steve Madden beasst shoes, £79.99
6. Menbarr red peep toue heels, £84.00

If you are going out for Valentine's day then it's probably the perfect excuse to buy yourself a new pair of shoes: not that I need much encouragement, whatever the occasion! What are you doing for Valentine's day? And what are you wearing? I'd love to know!

Love Tor

*I am a Sarenza brand ambassador

Valentine's Day gift ideas without the cheese...

Hi guys,
I'm not a big fan of Valentine's day - restaurants suddenly become disproportionately expensive, as do bunches of roses and bottles of champagnes. But I do like the idea of there being at least one day a year when you make the time to tell that someone special how important they are - whether you choose February 14th to do that is up to you! What I'm most opposed to about Valentine's day though is the cheese! Chaps in silk boxers with roses between there teeth? Proposing in restaurants whilst everyone applauds? It's definitely not me! So here is a quick Valentine's day gift guide with no cheese, heart print boxer shorts or red satin lingerie included!


1.Osprey heart print scarf, TK Maxx, £14.99
2. Molton Brown Gingerlily Hand cream, £10
3. 'Bee Mine' wildflower seeds, Not on the Highstreet, £3.49
4. Pencil set, Not on the Highstreet, £3.50
5. Personalised Alphabet handbag mirror, £5.95
6.. Ice cream earrings, Topshop, £8.50
7. All you need is love chocolates, Thorntons, £7

I don't think that saying 'I love you' should cost a fortune, and I for one certainly won't be shelling out (Wilbur and I are making red velvet cupcakes as our love token for his daddy) so none of the presents listed above will cost you more than £15: achievable no matter what your budget!

What will you be doing for Valentine's day? Do you have romantic plans, or will you be eating pizza on your sofa like me (hey, not having to cook is treat enough for me!)

Love Tor x

Happy Valentine's Day: Have a heart!

Hi guys,
Happy Valentine's Day! The most commercial day of the year so far, but admit it: you still feel smug if you got a card/present/romantic gesture, and disappointed if you didn't. I'm sitting firmly in the didn't camp today, and I had a pang of something not dissimilar to envy when a florist truck full of red roses and helium balloons whizzed past me this morning. So I thought I'd do a little virtual Valentine's shopping of my own instead!

Heart print is going to be on trend all summer long. I loved the black and white Miu Miu heart print, and picked up a replica version of the shirt in Primark last week. Yes Primark: My life is all glamour! So if your beloved decided not to buy you a present (or simply forgot, like mine) then why not buy yourself a little treat?

Lanvin heart charm bracelet, Net-a-porter, £230
Sweetheart jumper, Topshop, £49
Vivienne Westwood Melissa heels, c/o Sarenza, £143.70
Leopard print heart tee, River Island, £24.99
Bleeding heart sweatshirt, ASOS, £90
Heart print skinny jeans, River Island, £20
I love Me keyring, Accessorize, £5
Heart print hat, Accessorize, £6
Lulu Guinness dusky lips clutch, £245

What are you doing to celebrate Valentine's day? Are you going out tonight, and if so, what will you be wearing? Come on, make us all jealous with your romantic stories!

Love Tor xx

Valentine's Day: Romantic fun or waste of time?

Hi guys,
Someone in my office pointed out today that it is now exactly one month until Valentine's day. This was mentioned with excitement. For me, the news filled me with blah! I've never really cared very much for valentines day, regardless of whether i've been seeing someone or not. It feels weird to me that you have to set aside a day every year to remember to tell someone you love them: what a sad relationship that must be. And although i'm not the kind of gal to ever say no to a present (or two!) I don't like the idea that poor chaps are bullied into buying presents they can't afford by the media, otherwise 'they don't really love you'.

As this is (technically) my last Valentine's as a single girl though, I do intent to get dressed up and go for cocktails with some of my other single gals. I hope this is more of a reflection of how I feel about cocktails, not how I feel about Valentine's day. So I thought it would be fun to create the perfect shopping lists for Valentine's day, depending on whether you love it or hate it:

Love Valentines day:

Heart necklace: Molly Brown London, Heart embroidered dress: Topshop, Heart shoes: Vivienne Westwood at Melissa, Ruffle bolero: Topshop, Heart bag, Juicy Couture.

The heart embroidered dress, the ridiculously cute pink heart necklace, the candy pink and red colour palette: everything here screams 'I love Valentine's day' whilst also looking feminine and sexy. I especially love the ruffle bolero, and for me ruffles are the ultimate feminine and romantic statement. This would look great teamed with a sheer cream dress and towering gold heels.

Hate Valentines day:

Hate rings: ASOS, Leather trousers: Topshop, Love is the answer poncho:, Black platforms: River Island, Black cape dress: River Island,

The opposite of love is hate, and hate of course is a feeling of darkness, so for an anti-Valentine's day feel I went for lots of black rock-chick pieces, but with a feminine twist (mention of love on the Wildfox Tshirt, and that lovely pink heart necklace yet again) Anti-Valentine's day sentiment is fine, but anti-Valentine's anger is just scary: plus I can't resist including a bit of pink!

Where do you sit on the Valentines day scale? Do you get excited about another excuse for celebration, or just wish it would go away? And are you cursing me for mentioning it a whole month before it actually happens? (Sorry!)

Love, Tor xx