Friday Five: Reds

I am just loving red right now, maybe it's the season?

Normally you wouldn't catch me in anything red really... but after I found this adorable red sweater dress at H&M last week, I have been dying to drizzle my wardrobe in some scarlet

I'll post pics of my new dress next week, I'm wearing it to our Christmas party this Saturday, stay tuned...

There are so many luscious red treats out there right now, and in all price ranges

I am loving this simple red dress from H&M below, it's only $14.95 - I think it would be just perfect paired with black leggings, flats and layered with a scarf for a comfortable day out

When I think of red nail polish, Chanel instantly comes to my mind

I bought my first red nail polish back in college by Chanel and just wish I could find that same shade again, it was like a deep blood red and looked so cute on short sporty nails

Nothing says a warm and welcome Christmas like red poinsettias on the front porch

I cannot remember a year my Mother didn't have at least four on our porch, they are so beautiful and full

Everyone loves a good pair of  Hunter's, in this case, how fun would a bright red pair be? 

Mine are forest green, I'm sort of wishing I had gotten red now!

I mean too much red can be seen as over-doing it, but honestly I can't tell you enough how great red really looks on people

Can't wait to show you my new red dress find, I am loving it!

Until then!

Happy Weekend!

xo,
Tori

H&M dress , $16 / Hunter vintage boots / Burberry Cashmere Scarf / Chanel nailpolish / Poinsettias For Christmas, Worldwide Delivery

Monogrammed Gift Ideas

As I'm sure you all most know, I am s l i g h t l y monogrammed obsessed, always have

I think monogrammed gifts are always the best gifts since a lot of people don't think to buy them for themselves 

I just LOVE all of these fun things below, some of them have been on my wish list for eons

I want to order that pillow below for our guest bedroom, I love the border, it would match our Greek key headboard in there perfectly

If you love monograms as much as I do, here is a list of my absolute favorite places to shop fr monogrammed gifts:

My Favorite Monogram Shops:

1. Tote Bags - L.L.Bean for their famous durable boat n totes

2. Baby and Home Gifts - The Pink Giraffe

3. Sweaters and Pajamas - J.Crew's Monogram Shop

EMH found this awesome iPhone case on Etsy I think we're both dying for, how cute is it?

More than anything though I have dreamed of having a monogrammed Tiffany bracelet in 14k gold that I could add charms onto throughout life, like a wedding locket charm with Brad's picture inside and our wedding date engraved in it, my birthstone (diamond:) charm, a baby booty with monogram and birthday for babies down the road, a cross for my faith, and maybe some charms for my favorite hobbies?

Brad are you reading this???...

Anyway, I could totally envision the monogram canvases in a nursery, I think they are too sweet for words

Anyway, if you are again stumped like some on gifts, don't forget you can always turn to a monogram - just give yourself time!
And next time you order something for yourself, be sure to check for a monogramming option, many places offer it!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far!

xoxo,

Monogram bangle bracelet / Tech accessory / Open-Top Boat and Tote Bag: L.L.Bean Boat and Totes 

Just a Little Christmas Fun for You!

See, I promised I would wait until after Thanksgiving to post anything about Christmas!

I love the Christmas song Mele Kalikimaka by Jadon Lavik, enjoy!

This Weekend

I had most of last week off from being sick and then the holiday, therefore having lots of time on my hands...

Saturday we hunted sun up to sun down, it was a beautiful blue bird (not a cloud in the sky) day - so no birds really:(

Although no birds, a nice day spent with my Dad

On the way home we stopped by The Bass Pro Shops - HOLY MOLEY outdoor goods!

I had never been to a Bass Pro Shops and was absolutely blown away by this place, have you ever been?

Two stories of everything outdoor you can imagine: boats, atv's, fishing rods, camping gear, shotguns, hunting gear in every camo you can imagine, bows, they even had a two story waterfall fully stocked with trout at the bottom - insane!

The store setting was quite eye appealing, avid outdoorsmen/women could literally spend the entire day there browsing!

I picked up a few things like a new camo backpack for the field, a camo face mask, a new new choke for my new shotgun!

My awesome hubs let me pick out a new rifle for Christmas, I ended up getting a Remington 1187 Sportsman and cannot wait to pick it up once my application gets cleared!

I had been hunting the last few seasons with my Dad's Remington 870 12 gauge - let's just say that sure knocked me off my feet for far too long!

Anyway, enough of that!

Maddie girl as the sun was rising over Los Banos, CA at Backwater Hunting Club

  Instead of braving the stores on Black Friday, I spent my day in napping, decorating and prepping for mine and Carrie's Christmas party

I took down my Autumn wreath (below) that I made in October: reed wreath with silk leaves, pin-tail feathers from my first bird of the season, faux berries and a burlap bow and S monogram letter I made from cardboard and burlap

Out with the old

In with the new!

As always, hand me a bottle of anything gold and it is OVER!

I went to town as always, and glittered me some pinecones for my $5 wreath my wonderful Mom dropped off for me

Apparently if you got there early enough on Friday morning, Home Depot was selling plain wreaths, garland and poinsettias for only $5.00 each!

My Mom brought me two poinsettias and this wreath I decked out with my homemade glitter pinecones and the recycled bow I made for my Autumn wreath, not too shabby!

I may hot-glue some pomegranates and a bigger bow on later...

I saw this on Pinterest the other day and thought it would be fun to hang JOY from out garland

Image - HERE

I just cut out these simple letters using my scale for measuring and a straight edge, an xacto knife and good ole Elmer's Glue... so fun and literally took 20 minutes...

Overall my time off was well spent!

We also celebrated EMH passing the state Bar - congratulations to her! (wish I had some photos, darn it!)

Thanksgiving was extra special this year, my first with BRS there the entire time, I got to play sous chef with Dad, I met my parents new neighbors, and enjoyed a magnificent feast!

Thanksgiving is still, my favorite holiday ever, and I am so thankful for my friends and family I get to spend it with

I hope yours was as wonderful and warm, Happy Holidays!

With Love,

Tori

Giving Thanks

On a number of occasions, be it birthdays, Mother's/Father's Day, Christmas, etc. I am reminded of how thankful I really am for the life God has given me - it is when I remember the most
I haven't posted a "Pause" Post in some time, but for those of you who do not know what that is, they are posts where I take a photo of a place I have stopped, thought, prayed and have felt so thankful for what I have and who I am
Must remember to do that again, for me this blog is like a journal of my last year, and I love that part of it!

But there is nothing more special in the world to me than remember this at Thanksgiving

I have SO much to be thankful for besides a table full of plenty, but for my health, happiness, friends, family and the solid roof over my head

I am thankful for...

Parents like these magnificent two:

Great friends like these ladies:

A HUGE family like this:

Grandmother's like these two:

A best friend as special as her:

Sweet pea pups like these two:

Loving cousins like this:

And certainly last, but not least, my incredible, loyal, amazing husband:

Not to be a huge brat but there are so many other crazy and materialistic things I am thankful for:

Take this, I am thankful for my awesome clients who let me add a brown, white and pink sofa in their kitchen

This awesome umbrella that has kept me dry in some torrential rains:

 Available at Nordstrom - HERE

(random, I know - but I loathe rain on my face)

The ability to be in control of a remodel like this:

My super affordable hair and body care line that make my day:

$3.99/each at Trader Joe's - It will NEVER let you down!

My iPad, I live on this at night:

(can you say hello! Pinterest?)

Available - HERE

So, not sure how I ended up here, but thanks!

Thank you to my friends and readers who make this worth while

Thanks Mom and Dad for bringing me to this good green Earth

Thank you to my awesome Doctor who has been a saint lately

Thank you to my employer, William for the great job the past three years

Thank you to my sister, for raising four kids

Thank you God for this good green Earth mentioned above:)

Thank you to my best friends for being my escape from reality sometimes 

Thank you to my husband who loves me unconditionally and provides this wonderful life for us

Thank you to my family who make me laugh so hard I tend to lose control

Thank you good green Earth for providing the canvas I call the garden in addition to free therapy

Thank you to my country where I am free, have clean water and a safe place to call home

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Tori

Throwback Thursday

Prepare yourself for a photo heavy post of some pictures of the hubs and I...

Feeling sentimental today!

Hope you are having a great week!

xo,
Tori

Brad the Boy Scout and Tori the Fisherman?  

 
Tori (and Carrie) graduating pre-school and Brad the running back in High School

Tori and family at the annual sand castle contest

Brad and sister, so sweet!

Tori and Jobina, my favorite Cabbage Patch on Easter Sunday, she still sits on my shelf

Tori and Fuzzy in her buck teeth stage and Bradley as cute as can be!

Brad darling as ever and Tori admiring Dad's hunt!

Mom and Victoria day one and Brad and siblings at Church

Dad and Victoria at baptism and Bradley Blue Eyes as sweet as can be!

Tori and Carrie and ethnic Barbie? Brad, brother and Grandpa 

Batman (Brad) and brother Robin then Tori and her rock star legs on Halloween

Tori torturing or playing doctor with sweet Mandy Cat

Brad and sister at the happiest place on Earth

 
Brad's head shot from trying out for the Mickey Mouse Club and Tori with Mom and Dad

Brad the college rugby player

 

Tori and her Elizabeth's Halloween in College

Holiday Gift Ideas for Friends

It has always been super easy for me to shop for close friends, to me the closer you are the easier it is

Take this for an example, I spend my entire days chatting with my best friend on gmail chat, this is the perfect chance to keep a mental (and typed thanks to Gmail) log of a BBF's wants/needs/wishes

In case you don't have this opportunity like I do do have lunch or chat sessions with your closest gal pals and dudes, then this is a little FYI on good gifts for them for the holidays:

For the new homeowners or renters

They come in all shapes and sizes and are a perfect catch all for the front door or office or for a coffee table, I just love the acrylic white!

$24.00 - $69.00

From West Elm - HERE

For the Wine Club folks, you have to have a Vinturi

$39.99

Available at Cost Plus - HERE

I know every couple years I have to replace my key chains/fob's and know I love getting new ones
These are some fun affordable options for anyone
With Smather's and Branson (lab key fob below) you can choose from a ton of options, pets, flags, whales and flowers

Clockwise:
Factory Tassel Key Chain by J.Crew Outlet- HERE
Heart Key by C. Wonder - HERE
Wristlet Key Fob Chain in Aviary at Etsy - HERE
Retriever Needlepoint Key Chain by Smathers and Branson - HERE

For the music enthusiast this funky uke would be too fun
$29.95

Available online at Paper Source - HERE

For the baker or serious homemaker, everyone should have a Madeleine Pan!

Pair this with a cute note card with your favorite Madeline recipe (or mine below;)

$6.99

Available - HERE

Perfect Madeleine's:
1. Melt 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter and let cool on side
2. Beat 2 eggs and a dash of salt on high until it peaks (turns a buttery yellow and is nice and fluffy)
3. Continue beating and add 1/3 cup of sugar but at 2 tbsp at a time to mixture for 20 minutes
4. Fold in 2 cups of flour but at 2 tbsp at a time
5. Fold in butter
6. Fold in shredded lemon (as much as you want, I think 1/2 lemon peel is great)
7. Fill Madeleine pans 3/4 full
8. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes

A custom stamper from Paper Source is a great gift idea for anyone
Who deosn't love handwritten correspondece 
You just purchase the stamper and they get in contact with Paper Source for the customization
$39.99

Available at Paper Source - HERE

For the apartment dwelling stylish friend, nothing is better than getting them some fun accents to brighten up their space, just be sure to get their colours right!
$27.99

Available - HERE

Or a cozy monogrammed throw?

$45.00 

Available - HERE

For the jet setter
A travel scale to keep those extra add on costs
I know my parents are infamous for bringing an additional bag to bring home gifts in

Available at Paper-Source - HERE

And maybe a fun and bright passport case to flaunt?

Available at J.Crew - HERE

What also helps, is to think about something you or they really want, but just wouldn't a.) think to buy, or b.) a frivolous item where cost was a factor
I also think of colour! What fun way can you bring a pop of colour into someones life!

I hope your holidays season is merry and bright, and I promise this will be the last of my holiday posts until after Thanksgiving!

In the meantime, how are y'all doing out there?
It's cold here (finally) and I got to wear my poncho today, it's the small things!

xo,
Tori