Daily wear: Completely dotty!

Today's outfit was a difficult one (though it looks fairly simple) because I needed to look smart (and warm in my cold office) for work, but nice enough to carry on to my sisters birthday dinner without going home to change.

Photographing my outfits seems to be something of a challenge lately too, as my head seems to blend in with the background wall. Still, we will persevere, and i'm sure i'll get the hang of my new camera eventually - it's not like i've already owned it for three months or anything!

So I am wearing a River Island dress (newish and a gift from the bf) with the usual boots - these knee high boots have become a staple this winter! The brooch came with the dress and usually I hate that, but kept this as I like the way it looks. I love the Star by Julien Macdonald (at Debenhams) charm necklace, which was from the Christmas gifty collection and (funnily enough) a Christmas gift. Each charm is different and there are some really unsual ones: I might try to photograph them individually at a later date. The ring is a cheapo from Primark.

To go out tonight I will just remove the long sleeved thermal black top and swap the boots for heels. I will also apply lashings of mascara (which i'm not wearing today, hence my stump lashes)

I have bought a disney princess cake, a badge and organised balloons at the restaurant - so what if she's turning 24, you only get one birthday a year! If I get time later this afternoon, i'm even going to make some party bags! I'm looking forward to it - hope you all have fun evenings too!

Love, Tor xx

Fabfrocks reviews: Aveeno handcream

Since I had my operation I have been extra fastidious about taking care of my hands; they were already covered in little nicks and scars from fencing as a teenager, and I rub bio oil into my op scar as often as I remember, then I use hand cream to keep them soft as babies.

The one i'm using at the minute is the Aveeno (http://www.aveeno.co.uk/) handcream with oatmeal. Luckily though it doesn't smell of oatmeal: it smells quite sweet! It forms what they call on the label a "protective glove" and basically this means that your hands stay soft and mosturised all day; even if you wash them (but not after a bath or shower!) .

The cream is recommended for dry hands (which I have) but I don't think i'm alone: who doesn't get dry hands in the winter?

This picture was supposed to show you the consistency: it's quite thick but pliable and rubs in fairly instantly. As you can tell I slather on loads, but you probably only really need half this much!

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I remember once being told that you can tell a "real lady" by her hands. I hope this isn't true because mine are a mess, but I do try to keep them as soft as I can; there's nothing worse than shaking hands with someone who has dry calloused palms, and i'd hate someone to think that about me!

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Love, Tor xx
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PS - Happy birthday to my 'lil sis: 24 today!! (Don't worry: I'm not going to go all sea of shoes on her and post lots of pictures of her as a kid!)

Lady Gaga at the Grammys

I don't usually write posts about what celebrities are wearing because usually it doesn't interest me, but over the last 12 months I have fallen slightly in love with Lady Gaga and her unique sense of style (evidence: my new hair) and none so much as I fell in love with her last night. She looked incredible:

Her performance outfit was a little too crotch-exposing for my personal tastes but this, to me, is perfection. It's a custom made Giorgio Armani Prive gown and the icy silver and lilacs gives the dress a space age/snow princess feel. I'm not a big fan of the yellow in the hair and I have no idea what she is holding in her hand, but those quirks are just Gaga: she has the most incredible sense of personal style and whether you love it or hate it, I think you have to admire it.

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I know this photo is going to be all over the bloggosphere today, but I couldn't resist throwing my opinion out there! I wonder if this means someone in the Independent will accuse us "awful bloggers" of being influenced by the lady gaga pr machines instead of those horrible designers and high street stores?

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Love, Tor xx

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PS - I'm going to see her at the end of the month and I can't wait!

PPS - Apologies for the slight "teenage girl" overtones of this piece!