Will you have me?

After sitting for the last hour, re-reading my past in blog form... I've realized how un-amusing I've become since I quit blogging.

So much has changed:

My last name, my hair color, my address, my occupation.

I am no longer up-to-date with the latest things.

I barely paint my nails, I eat un-healthy as it comes, and this lady needs change.

I have a fun life, I really do. I just need that spark again!

Will you have me back?

Cheers to new beginnings!

xo

TC

When Life Feels Like A Circus

Hey guys!

Here is a re-post of a piece I wrote for a new blog I'm involved with for teen gals and their parents called Pearls 4 Girls! Take a read, then head over for more great reads! 

xoxo

LOVE y'all!

******************************************************************************

via

Life is hard.

 Messy, crazy, hectic. Hard.

And just when you can’t stand the thought of taking another step- you have one more thing added for you to balance.

You lock your keys in your car. You failed that test you studied all weekend for. Your crush breaks your heart. Your grandparent is dying. You break your arm right before your prom. You didn’t get accepted to your dream school. 

These, these are the cries of the everyday woman.

The woman trying to walk the tight-rope we all call life. (All while toting her over-stuffed Vera Bradley tote, corralling her hyperactive 3 year old, and trying to not spill her piping hot Starbucks cup on the only clean pair of slacks left in the closet.)

Life is hard.

We get it! So when does the circus end?

It may be tomorrow, or it may be next week, next month, next year.

But even then just remember…

No one can juggle your life like you.

Not many can even think to do what you do.

And yet, you are being watched in wonder.  They are waiting for you to fall.

Keep going friend. Because in the middle of it all, there you stand, juggling and looking beautiful as ever.

“God is within her, she will not fall.” – Psalm 46:5

post workout smoothie.

Let me start out by saying that I am by no means a professional, weight-loss extraordinaire, or a skinny girl.

I am a little fat girl just trying to lose some major weight for the big day learn a healthier lifestyle.

{via}

I've been working out almost everyday and I have been looooving this smoothie afterwards. 

It's full of protein and really fills me up!

Tori's Post-Workout Smoothie:

Ingredients:

1 cup of Organic Almond Milk

1 & 1/2 tablespoons of Peanut Butter (Crunchy or Creamy)

1 Banana

1 teaspoon of Organic Milled Flax Seed

1 pack of uncooked Instant Oats

1 hand-full of ice

Directions:

1. Blend your dry uncooked instant oats until they are a powder consistency.

2. Then add almond milk, peanut butter, banana (chop into "coins"), flax seed and blend.

3. After the ingredients are blended and creamy, add your ice.

4. You can enjoy now (but I usually stick mine in the freezer for a couple of minutes to get it nice and chilled. 

*Please feel free to add any other fruits or veggies you'd like! I have also added raspberries & spinach and it was good! I'm not a big fan of tons of veggies in my drinks yet, that's my next goal!*

pearls.4.girls

Y'all! It's here!

I've been bottled up for about a month (or three) wanting to tell the internet world about this.

and it's time!

I've been working with about 5 other ladies, one of which is a major blogger, Patty.

We've created a blog called Pearls 4 Girls- and it went live this week! 

Please go check it out!

For all of you teen girls, mothers, and people just looking for answers in life- this blog is for you!

We will be sharing life tips, makeup + hair tutorials, and much, much, more!

See ya there!

blog. facebook. twitter. 

I'm back!

How many times have I had to use that title... Just sayin'.... Let's not talk about it.

But yes, I'm back! 

After deleting my blog while having a mid-life crisis at the whopping age of 19, I thank God tonight for the "undelete" button!

Wowza. Where do I even begin.

How about here...

Is that an engagement ring, you ask?

Why yes! Yes it is!

Logan asked me to marry him during the Superbowl- Sorry about the power outage, he wanted to make it super special ;)

I'm working on some big things that I can't wait to tell you guys about!

Now tell me- where have y'all been? 

Coming up this week:

February Beauty Faves

OOTD 

Living Intentionally

Don't forget to follow me in the places that I tend to post more often...

Instagram: @torigjohnson

Twitter: @torigjohnson

xo,

T

that's how he came.

I'm back! And just in time for Christmas!
Is is just me... but I totally can't believe Christmas is tomorrow. It doesn't feel like time- I don't feel ready!

I wanted to share from Paige's blog. Another one of my absolute daily reads. I fell in love with the way she explained the true Christmas story. I could never have written this as well as she did:

"she was an unwed pregnant teenager

he was a simple carpenter.

he figured he’d honor her & go ahead and marry her

but divorce her quietly later.

she claimed she was a virgin

& that the Holy Spirit came upon her

& that she would deliver the savior.

the one they had waited long waited for to free her people.

no one believed her.
of course no one believed her.
what a scandal.

they thought their savior was to be a mighty warrior

that he would come to the golden power city Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was the holy city where the temple was located.

they sure weren’t expecting a baby…

in Bethlehem.

nothing good came from Bethlehem.

mary & joseph were traveling & realized she was soon to give birth.

it actually didn’t happen in a barn

it was a hollowed out indention in the mountain

where animals could hide for shelter.

there was yuck there, messy smelly animal yuck there.

it was not clean nor was it quiet.

it was dark and messy.

an angel shows up to shepherds.

shepherds were smelly & dirty & poor.

the shepherds were tending to the sheep

that incidentally were being raised and would be taken to Jerusalem

for sacrifice for people’s sin.

are you following this?

how amazing is that detail.

the first people that found out that their savior

promised about 400 years earlier

had been born

were the shepherds tending to the sheep

that were the sacrifice for sins.

yet HE was to be THE final sacrifice for sins.

i love that detail!!

the shepherds weren’t even allowed in the temple

yet

HE came to them.

not in a fancy church with perfect pews & a steeple

but

to them.

out in their filth & dirt.

on a dark night.

THE light came to them.

majesty in the mess.

that’s how He came."

Merry Christmas.

...

taking a break from blogging for a while.
i have no passion to write. only minor things here and there, quite not worth the time to actually type.
check my twitter: @torigjohnson

xoxo

if your 8 year old self met you, would they be proud?

inspiration.

somedays, we just need a little inspiration.

follow my new tumblr account.

cancelled.

That moment.

When you are (for once in your life existence) on time for class. You walk up to the door.

The lights are out. The door is shut. The seats are all empty.

Did you make a time mistake? You check the time. Nope.

You call your classmate to see where she is.

She answers, grogily. You ask her where she is.

And then she says it. And your heart stops beating.

There is so much more I could've done. Why didn't I remember?

Class was cancelled. And I am the idiot that forgot.

So now I'm trying to look busy in the library, but there is only so much a girl can do...

Enjoy my favorite song for the moment. I'll probably end up listening to it 10 more times before my next class begins.

Oh, and happy weekend!

november.

Today is the first day of November. I have a lot to be thankful for, and November is the month of thankful-ness... Right?

So on November 1st... at 1:47 in the morning...

I'm thankful for   warmth. true love. family. homecomings. old music and the memories it brings. happy tears. a good children's book. health. time to write + time to think. time in general. grace potter + the nocturnals. inspiration. creativity. a future.


What's really not to be thankful for?
I'm safe, I'm free, and I'm loved.

Goodnight, or good day...

lacking.

What is there to say?

I have no creativity in my being, now, what-so-ever.

All I have been for the last several days is a zombie that watches too much Netflix.

I recently started a new job as an assistant manager at a clothing store in the local mall. 

It is fun but very hard on the soles.

Sometimes I just need to write it out, plain & simple.

So that's what's up with me.

What's up with you?

xo

T

insta-lately.

It's so funny to me. When I'm the busiest, I have the habit of sitting down and having to paint my nails. I swear it soothes the soul. I've spent a lot of time with Logan and children's books lately, and I'm not mad about it one bit.  Also- it's turning into fall in East TN. And I'm not mad about that one either! 

That's it for today!

Have I told y'all lately that I love you. 

Thanks for reading. It makes me feel special.

xo

T

weekend mini-haul.

Hey y'all! I went shopping this weekend and picked up a couple of things from the beauty dept., so I thought I would share. So here's a mini-mini-did I say mini?-haul.

Revlon's Raven Red Nail Polish
As seen on my instagram...

Follow me! @torigjohnson

Perfect red for fall. Did you know that "Raven Red" has been around since 1945?!

Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract

This stuff stinks. I used it last night for the first time and my face smelled like Pine Sol! Gross! I'm going to try them again tonight, but I think they might be going back :(

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Liner in Empress

Speaking of going back... I'm a little on the fence with this product. I threw it on in Sephora, having no shadow on, and it make me look so awake! And it made my lashes look super long! But now that I've done it at home... It's not doing it for me...

Benefit Instant Brow Pencil in Light 

I'm new to filling in my brows but I really love the thick look. I can't wait to use this!

That's it! I'm off to clean my room and then to yoga class! :-)

xo

T

Stella & Dot Winter 2012.

The week is more than half way over! This time last week I was contemplating cutting my wrists with paperclips due to overload of coffee, homework, and flash cards. So to sit here, being able to blog, and not having homework- it's heaven.

I wanted to come to y'all today with the new Stella & Dot Winter collection! As you may or may not know, I'm a Stella & Dot stylist and I seriously love it. This jewelry is made for just about every style. I can't get enough!

Anywho- there is a new collection, like I said before. There is lot's of variety. And have you ever heard of Alice Temperly? Well she is a designer that has styled major people: Kate Middleton... Beyonce... Need I say more? Well she did a little collab with S&D and I'm mad for the results.

Here are some of my faves from the new stuff:

1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6

four things.

Four things, you ask? Well, it just seemed like a good number today.


1. I've really been digging into blog-world lately to find some new reads. I'm loving Katie and Mary, in particular. You should check them out!
2. I've also been trying to get back on my gym grind. And it really sucks! I'm thinking some new tunes will perk me up though.  Do y'all have any more suggestions? I'd love to not listen to just 3 songs for miles and miles... Comment below!
3. "Camp Your Face Off" last weekend was great! I absolutely stand in awe of how the Lord stirs in those kids lives. I feel so honored to even be a part of it. So so honored. And the view of the lake (pictured above)! Oh my goodness! Waking up to that was just a fresh breath of "God, You are good!"
4. I ordered these boots on impulse a couple weeks back. Best purchase in a while, I must say.


So what are y'all up to? Sorry about posting last week, or more the lack there of... School is kicking my booty! Comment and let me know what's up in your neck of the woods. I love hearing for you guys!

xo,

T

gameday fashion: go vols

sweater. jeans. bag. tassel necklace. spike bracelet. boots.

If I hadn't been such a big dummy, I would be going to the UT game tomorrow. And I would love to have created this little get-up to wear. Too bad I'm a dummy...

Happy weekend! I'm off to camp my face off.

Camp your face off, you ask? Why yes! Remember last year?

xo

T

monday night mani: skirting the issue.

Hey y'all! I was really inspired by Katie's blog to start sharing my nail polish wears. I don't know about y'all but I'm seriously obsessed with nail polish, so to me- this seems fascinating! Is it the same with normal people? Ha!

Anywho, tonight I painted my nails with one of Essie's new Fall 2012 polishes- Skirting the Issue. This is seriously the perfect wine color for fall. I love it because it's that perfect shade but it's not too vampy. I still look like I have a little color to my skin. I do have to say that I think it is a little more red than pictured above. I tried to capture a picture, but I couldn't get it right. But just trust me- you need this color.

Tell me know in the comments what y'all are sportin' on your fingertips! I'd love to know.

xo

T

Shop The Editorial.

I just wanted to let y'all know a little addition that I've added over the weekend. On the top bar you will see "Shop The Editorial", this is a place where I will be adding little pieces here and there from my closet for you guys to have a chance at before I auction them off on E-Bay. There are a couple things there right now! E-mail me if you see something you like!

ombre locks?

I loved the ombre in the summer, but didn't have the guts. But now that everyone is going darker for fall/winter, maybe I can build up enough courage. I like the more natural look, basically the exact opposite side of the spectrum from Khloe Kardashian. And although I love the artsy-fartsy pic above, it's not as natural as I'd like. I'm still looking for the perfect picture to speak volumes to me & my stylist. Wish me luck!

What do y'all think?

Is ombre stylish or just a fancy excuse for over-grown roots?

xo

-T