July 2013, According to my iPhone...

Hi guys,
I can't believe how fast this year is going: we're already halfway through the summer, and it feels like it's only just started. And with all the events we've got planned for August, I just know that the second half is going to fly by too! Here's what July looked like:

This has been a busy month on the 'doing' front; Mike and I went to Crazy Bear for our anniversary (check out the gorgeous afternoon tea and the London bus reception!) I had an amazing spa day with my sister and my first post-baby night out (mmmm, cocktails!) and, with the addition of the new border, I've finally finished decorating Wilbur's bedroom: the first room in the house that's finally completely completed!

Wilbur has suddenly had a very fast development spurt. He crawls, he stands up and pulls himself up on the furniture, he has two teeth and he steals rice cakes whenever I leave them unattended! This morning I found his attempting to paint my wooden living room floor with a nail varnish - he's going to be such a handful!

So what about me? Well I've been wearing my new Miista sandals from Sarenza on an almost daily basis, shopping for hats for the two weddings we've got coming up, and I've refound my obsession with painting my nails! I'm now back to freelancing fulltime, which I'm loving, even though it's good fun juggling the work with looking after Wilbur! And other than that I've just been enjoying the new found sunshine with my family and friends.

What have you been up to this month? Has anyone got any really exciting plans coming up for August? I'd love to hear all about them!

Love Tor x

June 2013, According to my iPhone

Hi guys,
Wow the months are flying by! I can't believe it's already July - that means my baby is already 7 months old, it's summer holiday season, and we're closer to next Christmas than we are to last Christmas (Is that the earliest I've ever mentioned the dreaded 'C' word?!) So what have I been up to in June? Here's the months photo review...

This month I've been focusing on working on the house! We've painted the kitchen (bubblegum pink!) and this weekend we went to Ikea to buy new door knobs for the kitchen cabinets - we just need to paint those cabinets and replace the floor then the kitchen is finally finished! The best 'me' news of the month? My bunny shoes have arrived!


In a bid to get Mike more interested in eating salad I have made a sausage and egg salad this month- and it was delicious!! I also made homemade burgers with ice cream thick shakes, Cajun salmon with sweet potato wedges and eating out I had a great pizza at Frankie and Bennys and Chicken salad at M&S. I just love to cook! Would you guys be interested if I decided to share some of my recipes?

Wilbur gets cuter by the day (even if I do say so myself!)  This month he has been to the dinosaur park, visited the donkeys at the open farm, played in the ball pool, paddling pool, his brand new swing, and his appetite only gets bigger- I've never known a baby like food so much! Like mother, like son!!

Love Tor  xx

Dailywear: A nice day for a white Christening!

Hi guys,
Yesterday was Wilbur's Christening. Which of course meant that I had spent weeks choosing an outfit to wear for the occasion. I wanted to look smart (but not too smart). Conservative (but not too conservative). Feel fashionable, and be comfortable. Here's what I went for: The dress is from French Connection. I managed to get it in the sale for just £30. The shoes are Steve Madden via Sarenza. And although they're high, they were surprisingly comfortable (unfortunately, because it's been so long since I wore heels though, I did have a little wobble!) The suede handbag is from Hotter. I have no idea where I got the belt from! And believe it all not (because I don't think you can tell!) the jacket is from Primark: We were lucky with the weather, and it was so warm I took it off as soon as we left the Church.

And as for the white Christening mentioned in the header? Well here is my little man (now officially Wilbur George) wearing the Christening gown that I also wore to my Christening 29 years ago. And he wears it adorably!
What have you been doing with your bank holiday? Have you been up to anything exciting? After all the running around yesterday, we're planning on spending today on the beach with a picnic, doing very little!

Love Tor x

Home: Our house. In the middle of our street.

Hi guys,
Lots of people have asked if we're in our new house yet (I know I've done nothing but talk about it for a month). And the answer is yes! We moved in last week, and we've already unpacked most of the boxes, and started decorating and making our mark on the place.

Here's a quick shot of the palace I'll now be calling home, and our very first meal in the new living room. Enjoyed from Tupperware tubs and eaten whilst sat on the baby's play mat, but it still counts!

The last week has been a whirl of boxes, phone calls to utility companies, and furniture deliveries: hence my radio silence for much of last week. Our internet wasn't reconnected until last Thursday. But now normal blogging service has resumed, and I'm back with a vengeance!

I've posted lots more 'before' pictures of the house over on the Fabfrocks at Home blog. And I'll be updating it regularly with our DIY/Home decorating and shopping progress. So if you want to follow our journey, that's where to go!

Love Tor x

April 2013, According to my iPhone

Hi guys,
I can't believe April is nearly over already: and I've done almost nothing I had planned to do this month! We move house in three days and I still haven't fully packed a single room. Which means now is probably the right time to start panicking! Of course, rather than panic, I've decided to write a blog post instead. So here's what I've been up to this month, according to the photos I've taken on my iPhone:
- I popped into London for the day and had an amazing afternoon tea at Sketch with Jenny and Reena: cake will never taste the same again!
- I have become slightly addicted to the steak baguette from M&S food on the go. I limit myself to only having it once a month though: it's calorific!
- Operation salad continues in the effort to lose my baby weight. Although, to be honest, it feels like the harder I try the more weight I put on (Maybe that's the afternoon teas and the steak baguettes!)

-This month's 'doing' list is all about the new house: I've discovered Crown's Vintage paint range and I love it!
-We've also been enjoying the beach and the park: thank you warm weather, for finally arriving!

-I tried the Barry M Gelly nail varnish: It's so shiny and has real staying power. Highly recommended! I've rediscovered my obsession with painting my nails this month!
- I had my eyebrows tinted a shade darker than usual: I really can't decide if I like it or not!
- My new Missoni sunglasses from TKMaxx arrived! I love them, and was delighted they arrived just in time for all the warm weather we've been having.
- Shopping-wise, I've tried on a million (at least) dresses for Wilbur's christening next month: this one from French Connection is what I eventually chose.

-Wilbur and I have settled into a nice routine of groups and activities; covering himself in paint at creative play on a Tuesday is his favourite. And so much fun to clean off his clothes!
-In other Wilbur news this month, at the advice of our Health Visitor we have started feeding him. He's only been eating his purees for three days, and he's already worked out he gets it quicker if he holds the spoon himself: definitely my child!
-This month he also rolled over: proud mum alert!

What have you been up to this month? The big news for May is that we're moving into our own house: so exciting! Prepare for lots of interior shots in next month's round-up!

Love Tor x

March according to my iPhone

Hi guys,
Officially this post is coming a couple of days early, but as we're going away to my parents for Easter weekend, I thought I would share what we've been up to this March, according to my iPhone:
Yet again, most have my shopping has been for the new house this month - our current house is full of wallpaper samples- and if all goes well, we should move in on 30th April! But I have had a few things for myself too: I just can't resist a bargain! Our local La Senza has become a outlet store with 5 pairs of knickers for £5. There's nothing nicer than slipping your feet into new Converse (c/o Sarenza). And of course, the jumper I mentioned earlier in the week from the River Island sale.


I am becoming slightly obsessed with baking! My sister and nephew came to visit for the weekend earlier in the month and I made banana bread, cupcakes and a cherry bakewell tart for the occasion! And yesterday I tried my hand at Cadburys Creme Egg brownies. You can get the recipe from the crème egg Facebook page, and they're delicious! I've also been working on sewing again: these character cushions are presents for my nieces.

Wilbur is officially getting more and more adorable by the day! He's starting to try to roll over, reach for his favourite toys, and shove absolutely everything in his month. He's also my favourite little dress up doll: Watching him smile at me as I choose his tiny outfits every morning is one of the highlights of my day. And this month saw my first Mother's Day too - if the gift bag says I'm the most brilliant Mum in the whole wide world then it must be true!

What have you been up to this month? Anything exciting going on for you right now? I'd love to hear all about it!

Love Tor x

Daily wear: My new uniform

Hi guys,
Everyone has a daily uniform, whether you're given a prescribed work uniform or not. Your uniform is your go- to outfit for speed, comfort, style. You could be a jeans girl or a leggings girl. Always wear black, or only wear bright colours.  Most people wear a variation of that same outfit everyday. I know I do!
Jeans, Miss Selfridges. Blouse, River Island. Boots, Georgia Rose c/o Sarenza. Baby bag, Marc by Marc Jacobs. Watch, Marc by Marc Jacobs. Bracelets, See by Chloe.

It used to be that my go to uniform for work everyday was a black dress or black tunic and a funky jacket. I love a jacket! But since I've been staying at home with Wilbur my lifestyle has changed and my uniform has too! For going to baby groups, coffee mornings, walks in the park, my new uniform is this. Jeans, comfy boots, baby changing bag, and a pretty blouse. I'm looking forward to the day when my uniform goes back to being pretty dresses and heels (I really miss heels!) but for now I am embracing the jeans and blouse look. And I like it!

Am I right? Do you wear the same type of uniform outfit everyday? And if so, what's yours?

Love Tor x

Daily wear: Happy Mother's Day!

Hi guys,
Well, if you're in the UK today is Mother's Day: my first as a mummy! We were planning to spend the day by the beach in Cromer and eat fish and chips. Then it started snowing: plan scuppered. I can't believe it's snowing, when you consider that it was only Tuesday that the weather was so warm I left the house without my coat (Yes, I do have that British preoccupation with talking about the weather)

So instead we had lunch at home (steak and dauphinoise potatoes: yummy!) and then spend the afternoon trawling the local antique shops looking for treasure. Here's what I wore for the occasion:
Leopard Print coat, Next. Striped blouse, Primark. Jeans, Miss Selfridges. Boots, Topshop. Bag, Pucci via TK Maxx.

It's not very often I wear my hair up: I tend to use it as a safety blanket! And it's even less often I leave the house without make up, like I did today. But a clean face and simple pony tail are perfect for lazy Sundays. As is this outfit; jeans and blouses tend to be my uniform at the moment: so easy to throw on with minimal effort required, but they still look stylish and well put together.

Do you have a go-to weekend outfit or style that you wear over and over again? And what is it?

Oh and as a PS - Happy Mother's day to my lovely wonderful mum, who I know will be reading this!

Love Tor x

January according to my iPhone!

Hi guys,
I know it's now the middle of February, but I have only just gotten round to writing my round up of January - a sign that February so far has been a very busy month! January was a fairly quiet month, mostly characterised by sales shopping and getting the hang of this parenting lark. Here's the month in pictures, according to my iphone:
Mike and I have had an offer accepted on a house (Hurrah) and if all goes well, will be homeowners by Spring. So it's no surprise that a lot of my shopping has been for the home this month! I've also been inspired by pastels mixed with brighter colours, and had a great day out shopping at Westfield London. I can't wait to get down again and unleash myself with a major shopping spree!
Having a baby does funny things to your body: even though I'm below my pre-pregnancy weight, I still have a fat poochy little tummy: much bigger than before. And I hate it! So this month, I have mostly been eating an awful lot of salad. Luckily, I love salad and there's so many different things you can do with them they never get boring! Although I did ruin it all by having a trip to TGI Fridays - nom nom!! Wilbur has changed so much since I last shared pictures of him. It's amazing how quickly he's changing and growing up. He now laughs and smiles, plays with his toys (and loves hitting the animals on his jungle playmat). He's had his first trip to London (which as you can see, he wasn't too sure about), loves his weekly music class, and cried his way through his first set of vaccinations. My baby is no longer a newborn, and on his way to becoming a proper little boy!

Love Tor x

The cutest Christmas message (guaranteed!)

Merry Christmas guys!
I hope you all have a wonderful time and that Santa is fashionably good to you. I will be spending my Christmas with my two favourite guys, and can't wait to help Wilbur open his very first Christmas present. Next stop: the January sales! My second favourite thing about Christmas.... prepare for a month of sales reviews and shopping tips!

Lots of love,
Tor (And Mike. And of course, Wilbur!) xx