Friday, September 30, 2011

friday.favorites

Favorite Things about the Past Week:
-Being able to start my Young Life leader training.
-Praying every morning on my way to school about a youth retreat that Logs and I get to help with, this weekend.
-Being able to finish and turn in a paper that I've been stressing over.
-Playing the Ninja Pose game on Wednesday with the kids I babysit .
-The Trojans beating the Hurricanes last night! {Gotta love cross-town rivalry}

Favorite Lesson Learned this Past Week:
When you choose to hold a grudge, and not forgive, it only hurts you even more.

Favorite Surprise of the Week:
Gaining 7 new followers on Blogger and over 20 on Twitter!

Favorite Blog Post I Read this Week:
No More Apologies by Casey Wiegand

Favorite Encouraging Bible Verse I Read This Week:
"Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."
2 Corinthians 6:4-10



Wednesday, September 28, 2011

i'm.no.supergirl

I'm exhausted.
I'm constantly running. and, I'm constantly running late, at that.
Home to school. School to job 1. Job 1 to job 2. Job 2 back to school. School to home. Sleep for a couple hours, and repeat.

Times is really getting the best of me, or lack there of.
And just in time for the eerie holiday, I feel like a zombie. Eyes glassed over, and absolutely zero motivation.
I just want to climb to the top of a mountain and scream...
"I can't do all this anymore! I'm growing up and I've got more things that occupy my time."
I feel like I'm being tugged in too many directions.
And I know I'm the reason this is happening... I should've known this was too much.
Can I just not say no? Do they not understand I have a life? You just can't let anyone down, can ya, Tori?
I'm no supergirl. 
And I've got to lighten the load. or I'm going to drown.

This is me. Throwing a pity party? Maybe. Being real. Definitely.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

PinterestInspiration{ALittleSparkle}

I found this nail look on Pinterest and I've been drooling and dying to try it. So... tah-dah! Here it is! 
{It's embarrassing that I had to take 32 pictures and this is the best I've got... Nail photography is rough!}
Anyway, I used these 2, uber cheap, polishes: Rimmel 270 "Steel Grey" and Sinful Colors 923 "Queen of Beauty"
Of course, the picture doesn't do it justice, but trust me, it's fab! {If I do say so myself}


Monday, September 26, 2011

weekend.wrap-up//camping

This weekend, the boys {Logan, dad, and little brother #2, a.k.a. Trey} went camping in the Smokies! We went to a place that we've been going to for years. Nice bathrooms, heated pool, and right in the middle of Pigeon Forge- sounds like rough campin' life, doesn't it? Ha! Anyway, It was such a fun time just to be able to relax, play a little cornhole, love on Logan, and munch on sweets and junk food. Logy and I only went for a night, but that was definitely enough. Why is it that relaxing and doing absolutely nothing wears you plum out? Hmmm...
Isn't this the life? Good little set-up to keep the boys quiet :)


Friday, September 23, 2011

{fridayfavorites//fall}

Crisp morning air. Pumpkin carving. Chilly Friday night football games. Yummy new coffee concoctions. It's here! Today is the first official day of Fall- and I couldn't be more excited. I'm so ready for it to cool off for long enough to let me break out some cute autumn clothes. Thinking about messing with my hair again, why not... Change in season calls for change in hair style... right? :)
Here's some Fall dedicated favorites--

Favorite Smell:


Favorite Halloween Decor:

Favorite Accessory:

Favorite Fall TV addiction:

And... Favorite Autumn-colored inspired hair: (Potientially my new hair color- with a little more of a brownish tone... What do you think?)

Happy Fall, y'all!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

{a.to.z}

Age: 18
Bed size: King
Chore that you hate: Dusting... EW!
Dogs: A Cava-poo named Chewie
Essential start to your day: (it's a rather new habit but...) lighting a candle the moment I wake up to smell yummy-ness while I get ready.
Favorite color: current favorites are rust & mustard yellow
Gold or Silver: Gold
Height: 5'4
Instruments you play: I used to play the piano, but I can play a pretty mean masterpiece on a ka-zoo...
Job title: College student, babysitter, and blogger
Kids: Not for a while...
Live: East Tennessee
Mother’s name: Jane
Nicknames: Torrence & To-To
Overnight hospital stays: Never, praise the Lord.
Pet peeves: People who don't know what an "inside voice" is...
Quote from your current favorite song: "I just want to be the only girl, you love all your life."
Right or left handed: Right
Siblings: 2 brothers: Tyler & Trey
Time you wake up: If I had no alarm clock, I could sleep forever.
University attended: Carson Newman College, Go Eagles!
Vegetable you hate: Brussel Sprouts-- Yuck!
What makes you run late: Maybe the question should be... What doesn't make me run late... Tori Johnson is always late.
X-Rays you’ve had: None. Thank you, Lord.
Yummy food that you make: Peanut butter and marshmallow cream sandwiches.
Zoo animal: I love me a good elephant.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Finding.Truth

What is truth?
I've got a wonderful mother that has always shown me Jesus, and for that, I'm so blessed.
But after reading Madeline L'Engles' Story as the Seach for Truth in one of my classes, I'm astounded at how naive I've been for so many years with my faith.
"A lot of the world, including the Christian world (sometimes I think especially the Christian world), is hung up on literalism."
How right is she? How many times have you and I confused truth and fact? Are we so hung up on the literal meaning of every little thing, that we miss the truth God lies within the story for us? It never even crossed my mind-- but I've been belittling the wonderful stories of the Bible for fact, rather than searching for the real "truth" within them.

L'Engle points out parable that Jesus uses in the Bible of two men. The first man has a plank in his eye, yet, he criticizes a man with a speck of dust in his eye.
"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
This story is true. Does it always have to be factual? Are you and I supposed to think that the man truly has a plank in his eye?
The parable is to show us that our ugly hearts are always so unwilling to see our own colassal faults, and our eagerness to point out others.

I challenge you to search for truth this week, rather than fact.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

this moment.

when you realize that you're true friends aren't going anywhere. ever.

Monday, September 19, 2011

{d.i.y--rosette bib necklace}

Here's a fun little, and I mean littttle, d.i.y. in inspiration of this necklace I saw on Etsy. Of course, mine is no where as "chic". Just a cute bib necklace inspired by my college's school colors :)

You will need:
Fabric
Scissors
Hot glue gun
A chain or ribbon
Pearls, gems, or sequels {optional}

Let's get started...
-Start making fabric rosettes. You can make them small or large, thick or thin, and out of different fabrics. {Above is the step by step way to make these cute fabric roses.}

-Place your rosettes in the shape you want them to be on your necklace.
-Glue them to the a piece of felt {I suggest you match it to the necklace's colors.}
-Trim off the excess felt, to the point where you only have  felt behind your rosettes {From the front, no felt should be visable.}
-Add a ribbon or chain for around the neck, then glam it up with rhinestones or pearls {any way you do it... make it fab!}
-Last, but not least, pair it with a cute outfit and work that baby! {I made mine in my school colors-- can't wait to wear it to a football game!}

Thursday, September 15, 2011

{friday.favs}

this clutch:

this website:

this song:


this new guilty pleasure:

this thought:
"You is smart. You is kind. You is important."
-The Help


Happy weekend! What are you're plans?

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Color Crush: Rust

I was snooping around on one of the blogs I sponsor the other day and she had a great post about called Color Crush\\ Coral. She made me fall in love with the purple hue instantly, which I've never really been a fan of before. So I decided to do my own twist on her idea with a color I simply can't get enough of as of late, rust. This bronze-y orange hue is mega for fall. To say the least, I die.
Color Crush: Rust
Doesn't it just make you crave fall?

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

DIY// Yarn-Wrapped Letters

Lately I've been adding my own little space to the study in my house. I've been searching the internet for cute, inexpensive, ways to decorate. Of course, I love me a good DIY, so when I saw these cute yarn-wrapped letters over here, I just had to try them! Unlike Bailey, I did just my first initial... for now. 

Here's how:
The best part about it is that you just wrap that baby. There is no right or wrong. You can make it look messy and tangled by wrapping the yarn diagonally, or make it classic and clean by wrapping it tight and straight {the route I went}.
When you are finished, simply cut your string and tie it under your strands. {Do all of this in the back, of course}.
Then you are done! Look how pretty!
Here's what I did with mine--
I popped mine up against the wall and threaded an old picture of my mom. Super cute addition to my eclectic little office. 
Happy wrapping!

Monday, September 12, 2011

{weekend wrap-up}

sorry it's been kinda quiet in these parts lately. i've been participating in rush, studying for my first exams, and writing my first papers. here's what i've been up to when i'm not on campus...
trying an official top knot video tutorial over here.
tye-dying loads of shirts for brother's presidential campaign-- he won!
& dying the baby Chewie's bangs blue with the left-overs.
buying  fab polishs like this one. you can get it here.
and drinking on an uh-mazing new coffee concoction- salted caramel mocha. best drink everrrr.

i'm working on lots of new things for the blog. i can't wait for you guys to see. hope your week is starting off right! XOXO


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Storms.

I hate storms.
And this year has been the year of the storm.
It seems like every time you turn around there is a hurricane headed straight for you, a tornado threatening to destroy everything you own, or a lightning bolt just waiting to eat up your house.
I remember, as a child, my father was a storm freak. He would always know the exact number of miles the next storm was, and when we should take cover. To 6 year old me, I thought it was all just a game when my brothers and I had to go get our sneakers and gather in one of our basement closets. {Which honestly, probably wasn't needed every single time... We're in East TN, for crying out loud.}
But after I started getting older, I starting getting really really scared when storms approached, {even the dinky little ones} and to this day I'm scared of most storms.
I can't even begin to imagine what these people that have truly been effected by storms feel like...

Do you ever wonder why God let's tragedies, including these terrible storms, happen? I do, I won't even lie.
How can you not look at the faces left homeless or broken-hearted from the loss of a loved one and not wonder "Is He just not paying attention..."?

How can we find joy in the storms?
Storms in our relationships...
Storms in our confidence...
Storms blocking the clarity of which path we should take...
I'm not really sure of a permanent fix. But I am sure of one thing--
 When I am having the hardest time feeling lonely, feeling ugly, feeling heart-broken, or feeling like the world just hates me and everything I stand for- I seek God the most.
Do you think, perhaps, that sometimes it takes God nearly destroying our vain, selfish, "it's all about me" world to bring us back to Him?
Pathetic.
Humbling.
Think about it.



Tuesday, September 6, 2011

slow down.

All the hustle and bustle of fall has really been getting to me.
Hurrying to get ready. Hurrying to get to school. Hurrying to get a good seat in my next class. Hurrying to church. Hurrying to get home. Hurrying to finish up all those half-done blog posts. Hurrying to get to work. Hurrying to get my studying done. Hurrying to football games. Hurrying to get the girls I babysit from school. Hurrying to get home- to take Chewie out. Hurrying to snap some pictures wherever I am- for the blog.
Get it?
At the end of the day, I find myself- exhausted, still busy, and feeling very small. {and not in the fun "I lost 5 lbs." way...}

I'm only 18; yes, I know I have so much more life to go. But what happened to those 18 years?
Life is out there, happening, right now! What did I do to spend my little time here?
Did I spend it laughing and having fun? Did I make an impact on anyone? or did I waste it hurrying, rushing, and just simply just going through the motions?
God has called us to spread the good news. That is our main purpose. Not just to sit around, or to hurry.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
-Matthew 28:19

I don't regret my life. I've been blessed beyond belief and I have so much more than this ugly, selfish heart deserves.
So this year, with this time, I will...
count my blessings, like...
{the blessing of knowledge and drive that got me to graduation}
{the blessing of life long friendships rekindled}
{the blessing of another healthy, fun filled year of life}
{the blessing of a loving family}

and stop to point out the small things that make me happy, like....
{being able to let little girls know that their daddy, jesus, loves them tremendously through christian summer camps}
{and stopping in the apple store to take silly pictures}
{and being able to look back and remembering how happy I've always been}

This year- I refuse to hurry.
slow down. enjoy the moment.
you might just miss someone that needs you to see them.