Time to talk Christmas jumpers!

Hi guys,
The 12th December is officially Christmas jumper day: a new holiday concocted by Save the Children to raise money and get everyone in the holiday spirit. I love Christmas jumpers (I am the proud owner of three) and so any opportunity to wear one is fine by me. But what to choose? What was once a very niche market has exploded over the past couple of years and now you'll find Christmas jumpers literally everywhere. Whether you want something subtle, something cute, or something all-out Christmassy as hell, there IS the right Christmas jumper for you. Here are my picks of the very best you can buy right now:

Kissing robins jumper, £14, George @ Asda (Buy it here)
Red traditional jumper, £12, George @ Asda (Buy it here)
Christmas present jumper, £25, M&S Collection (Buy it here)
Green fairisle jumper, £40, Topshop (buy it here)
Seasons greetings jumper, £40, Topshop (buy it here)
Elf jumper, Florence and Fred, £18 (Buy it here)

I really like the Seasons Greetings jumper from Topshop which is super soft in the flesh and has really stylish looking sequinned embellishment. I also like that the background is such a neutral colour, meaning that you can wear it with anything: key if you like to wear Christmas jumpers for pretty much the whole of December like I do! I also like the wrapped present-style fine knit sweater from M&S, simply because I've never seen one like that before. The supermarket versions are all lovely if you're on a budget too (why would you spend alot of money on something you can only wear one month a year?)

Are you a big fan of the Christmas jumper, and will you be wearing yours throughout December? Or do you think Christmas jumpers are a throw back to the 1980s that should stay there?

Love Tor x

Beauty: The Benefit Christmas 2014 Advent Calendar

Hi guys,
I know it's only November, but it's time to start thinking about and (worse still!) talking about Christmas. All of my Christmas presents to be sent everywhich-way around the country to extended family are being distributed on the 30th November, meaning the usual December Christmas gift guides just come too late for me. I have to have shopped, wrapped and sent by then! I'm sure I'm not the only one that has to plan this early, so I thought I would get a head start on my Christmas posts this year!

First up, on my shopping list: an advent calendar. On Saturday we popped to Debenhams to collect my Benefit advent calendar, which I ordered at the beginning of October. The theme this year is the 'Candy Coated Countdown' and the contents are:

- 0.25 oz “That gal” brightening face primer
 - 0.25 oz the POREfessional pore minimizer
 - 0.08 oz Benetint cheek and lip stain in Rose
 - 0.08 oz High beam liquid highlighter
 - 0.08 oz Chachatint lip and cheek stain in Sheer Mango
 - 0.08 oz Posietint lip and cheek stain in Poppy Pink
 - 0.04 oz Stay flawless foundation primer
 - 0.1 oz They’re real! mascara
 - 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in Dandelion
 - 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in A-lister
 - 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in Fauxmance
 - 0.14 oz BADgal lash mascara
 - 0.08 oz Stay don’t stray concealer and eye shadow primer in Light/Medium
 - 0.1 oz Fakeup concealer in 02 Medium
 - 0.1 oz It’s potent! eye cream
 - 0.3 oz Total moisture facial cream
 - 0.08 oz Ooh la lift eye cream
 - 0.08 oz Watt’s up! highlighter
 - Beauty sticky notes
 - Doodle pad
 - Heart-shaped paperclips
 - Pinky, polka-dot hair tie
 - Elastic hair band with bow charm
 - Metallic silvery hair tie

Lots of lovely miniatures and a wonderful way to try the full range of Benefit products to help you decide which ones work (or don't work) for you and which ones you like best. I'm sure a better blogger would have opened it all up to show you what's inside, but I want to open mine each day of December in traditional advent calendar style and be surprised and delighted by each of my daily treats - I will post little updates as I open it throughout December though.

The calendar cost £60, but the goods inside rrp at £110, so it's a massive bargain really. Although it is a lot more expensive than the £2.99 chocolate calendar I usually munch on! These have sold out in most Debenhams stores, but there are still some available directly from the Benefit website. It sells out really fast each year though, so if you want one of the few that are left be quick: there are plenty selling on eBay for £120 already!

Have you started thinking about Christmas yet?

Love Tor x

Shoes: Baby, you're a firework!

Hi guys,
This is my absolute favourite time of the year. We welcomed dozens upon dozens of trick or treaters last night and are having a Halloween party for Wilbur and some of his friends this afternoon. There is a distinct chill in the air, everything is feeling a little bit Christmas-sy and we are going to two different fireworks displays this week. My shoe choice for the month is based on my excitement about the impending fireworks explosions: because these gorgeous sequin print Converse look just like they've been covered in fireworks!

I'm a huge Converse fan. Converse are my go-to casual shoe and when I'm not wearing my beloved ankle boots, I have Converse on my feet. I love these ones in particular because they're so unusual and because, if there is such a thing, they look like a dressy version of the classic Converse hi-top. Someone much cooler than I could definitely get away with wearing these as evening wear: I would like to wear them with skinny jeans and an oversized sweater for super-chic Sundays. I have my fingers on my mouse ready to order these. Are they the most practical Converse I've ever seen? Well, no. But who says that fashion has to be practical!? 

Want a pair of your own? These currently have 15% off, meaning you can pick them up for just £60.24.

Love Tor x

* Post written as part of a partnership with Spartoo shoes