tori's tales

16 February 2014

171 // Getting to know me 01

I have, very kindly across the year, been nominated on a few occasions in question/tag posts and, up until now, haven't responded - not because I haven't appreciated the nomination, no-siree - but because I'm not the question-thinker-upper kind and didn't want the 'chain' to break with me. However, after reading Dani's post, I decided I'd like to get involved (hopefully that counts?! It's important to me you all know I appreciate the time you put into the tag!) so, over this mini series, I'm going to be answering the most recent one's I've been tagged in, in the hope of y'all getting to know me a little bit better (and here's to keeping my fingers crossed that you enjoy the experience!)

Shall we begin? Today's edition comes courtesy of Ellen, who tagged me in her '30 Questions Tag' post (note: my font and layout may look a little different to usual, for which I apologise - I wrote the post in a doc first then transferred it to blogger, which is only when I realised I had no idea what font is used in my main text!):


I am wearing jeans, my new (and completely worn-to-death) black floral blouse, a black cardi, odd socks (always odd socks), a checked scarf and - most importantly - a sofa throw. Because it's that gosh-darnit cold!


Maximo Park's new album, Too Much Information. We are off to see them on March 11th and it'll be my first ever gig of theirs - quite special considering I've been listening to them for some five-or-so years (and because Nosebleed is one of my favourite songs ever. Do you reckon they'll do requests?!).


I think, prior to last Summer, my answer would have been a no (mainly because I equate the beach with boredom - I’m not one for lying in the sun!) but, since travelling the north of England, and around parts of Scotland, it's now a definite yes! I'm not much of a swimmer (although the weather was actually on our side and we had sun and warm days a lot of the time when we beach-visited) so my favourite things to do, when on the beach, is welly-walking, stone skimming, looking for crabs in rock-pools (it seems to be quite the art form!) and chatting with my boy in the fresh sea air!


A bagel from the pack I bought yesterday. Wait, that's bad, right? Saying food instead of, like, world peace. Crikey, I wouldn't make at all a decent pageant contestant.


That would be.........Amy, a friend from uni.


Just standard-ly pierced ears. I had mine done when I was ten (I think!). My ear-piercing journey began when we were flying (I think back home from a holiday, rather than to one? I’m not sure!) and I'd seen some earrings in the in-flight magazine that I wanted that were, typically, for pierced ears. Anyway, I'd pointed them out to my parents and the next thing I knew they arrived in my lap! I was so excited because I knew that meant a yes, you can get your ears done (i.e. stop bloody asking!).


Oh stores. Sigh. Topshop. There's just something about it that leaves me feeling full of wistfulness and longing when I enter it's doors. Other shops, I like. But Topshop? I love. Thus, that'll be it.


No idea, I don't really ever wear it! Well, I do, but only ever on my toes (because I smudge it instantly whenever it's on my finger nails. And then I take it all off again because I can't deal with one bad nail) and even then I go by the colour, not the brand.


I can't remember. Possibly, but it would have been way back when I was at school and my memory doesn't hold out past what I did yesterday (and even that's pushing it!).


If I had to choose - and let it be known it's a bloody tough choice because neither are something I wear! - it would be shorts. Skirts look uber weird on me thanks to their often entirely-unflattering cut.

Welly-walking Bamburgh beach

TWITTER 
(yes, it deserved capitals!)


Do people still say rofl? Even if not, it's what I'm doing it!


I want long. But sometimes I feel the greatest of pulls towards short. It's called indecisiveness and impatience! Oh, hang on, does this mean is my hair long or short? It's mid-way. Always mid-bloody-way!


Right now it's - 'Do what you feel in your heart to be right for you'll be criticised anyway'. 
It speaks so true of many-a-situation; we never can please everyone!


Cream, cream and more cream with a rather sumptuously-brown (said with great sarcasm) 'feature' wall. 
I would like to point out that we are in rented accommodation. Please don't judge me.


It entirely depends on the situation and who I'm with/what I've got to do. I don't find meeting and chatting to new people something that makes me nervous, which I think has come with age. However, in situations where I'm even just a little out of my comfort zone, I often fail to say one word. So, it all balances out!


That would be a catch-up text to Gemma!


I have! Two via social media, Twitter to be exact (are you getting why I love it so much now?!). 


I sleep with one, though it's often shared by the head of a certain boy, so I guess I really mean half. 
Yes, that's right, I sleep with half a pillow.


IRL, that would be the boy. IIL (I'm not sure if that's an actual abbreviation, but I'm just gonna go with it in the hope that I've created something meaningful if not) that would be.......Jess via Twitter!

The boy (and I) preparing to welly-walk the moody-look beach in St Andrews

One (though that's certainly enough, as I live in it as often as I can and, if I owned any more, they'd be all I'd bloody wear!). From the men's section in Primark.


Washing up. Cleaning. Researching a scary thing I'm doing tomorrow (this is when the 'not one word' thing may come into play!). Everything but what I'm doing right now.


Is this a thing? Should I be getting some sort of complex about my forever-dirty shoes? 
I have no idea, I've never thought about it before!


I absolutely 100% wouldn't change it. If you'd asked me half my lifetime ago I would have said I'd happily switch to any name from my own (mainly because people called me Vikki - yes, that spelling - back then, which I abhorred) but I've grown to love it. Plus, how often do we really ever use our own names? In a verbal sense, I mean? I hardly ever say Tori (or Victoria, which is what my name 'actually' is) out loud!


It definitely depends on the quantity, and in what capacity, but I think milk seems to be the entirely true, but incredibly boring, response. I eat it more than any other variety, I'd say.


'the inward parts of man's body; which inward parts, for the connexion they have with the brain,' - Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes (as if I'd read this for pleasure - it's a uni text!)


I don't, though that's mainly because I have too many other things to watch. However, if I did it would be something classic (one of my favourite ever films is Peter Pan) as I'm not really a fan of the newer stuff.


The boring-sounding, but fill-my-tummy-ing, butter on toast.


Can I count the boy? Because he reminds me of a puppy at times.....


By 'holiday' I'm assuming this means the American kind, so I think I'd have to go with Christmas, though I don't really have a preference!



13 February 2014

170 // One Year of Tori's Tales

Though the tweet says the 14th, my very first post on Tori's Tales went live one year ago today; February 13th 2013.  


Above is the very first photo I ever posted (from a previous trip the boy and I had taken to Nottingham, before moving here). 


Chloe's was the first ever comment I received. 


This was the first post I felt entirely comfortable publishing (and yes, that is right - it took 110 posts to find that perfect fit).


This post is (one of, I can't choose!) my favourite(s) ever. It took me forever to take photographs of my camera and I genuinely love them!


And this post is your favourite ever, i.e. my most well-received! (If my outfit posts are going to be the ones most commented on, you cheeky mares, then this means I'll need an entirely new wardrobe, asap!).

I could go on. To think that a year ago today I clicked 'publish' for the very first time boggles this brain of mine quite entirely. I feel like so much has changed since then, both regarding Tori's Tales and myself. It took me a long time to pluck up the courage to finally decide to put my words 'out there' but, boy, am I glad I did. Nothing beats the feeling of sitting down, writing, and subsequently 'publishing', a post; this is my only creative outlet and is, I think (and this thought sparked in me after reading Rosie's post), the passion I've long been waiting for in my life. I'm lucky that I have this space to call my own; a space I can pour my words into and feel a sense of pride in (and let it be known I'm not one to ever use the p-word) when I release said words into the blogosphere. Who knew writing could ever bring me so much pleasure?!


Of course, there's no way I could mention such a milestone without thanking all of you. If you can't see your face above, please do not think this means I don't care about your support - I DO. Very much so. I wouldn't be a year down the line without the encouragement, kind words, happy tweets, warm and wonderful emails and smiling faces that ALL of you have shared with me over the past 365 days. Thank you. 

Here's to many more years with you by my side. 


12 February 2014

169 // Tales of the Week


1 // Tavi Gevinson for Ruush 2 // Original not found, via tumblr 3 // Match, Plamen Stevanov 4 // Mi Armario en Ruinas - edited (poorly) by moi
I'm not sure where I was going with this header, I just fancied something a bit darker/bolder/moodier than usual. Something a little more striking, if you please (and here's hoping that is how it comes across). Plus, ya know, one can never have enough Tavi on one's blog (guys, that hair. She's making me want to chop mine off again, arrgh!).

I know I missed out on Tales of the Week last week (though I hope you saw this post, which offered up a few bits and bobs in it's place!) and, yes, I'm late with this edition, but - at long last - I'm excited to share these posts with you and hopefully you are excited about me doing so! May I suggest - to fully appreciate all that I am offering you (and by I, I mean everyone who wrote these posts!) - taking half an hour out of your day, grabbing a cuppa, popping your feet up and savouring the read!!

*As ever, one must note that all images shown belong to the blog from whence they came, and all credit belongs to the authors of these posts*

Monday 3rd
Hannah's polka dots had me green with envy


Tuesday 4th
Stacy shared swoon-worthy (Italian) imagery


Wednesday 5th
Rusty snapped some February shoots


Thursday 6th
Darling Magazine shared a guide to lifelong learning


Friday 7th
Emma took part in a Ray Ban campaign


Saturday 8th
Giulia pondered her Pieces


Sunday 9th
Jess shared what happiness is..


Monday 10th
Gemma made a mouse!!