A couple weeks ago I got this idea to dye my own fabric. So I researched and researched. Then I got all the materials.

Then the fun began.

This won't be a full blown tutorial just yet, but I do want to share some photos and tell what plant stuffs I used!

So far I have made red cabbage, onion skins, mint, turmeric, paprika, strawberries and blackberries. I forgot to take photos of the last four-so that will be in my next post!

I was very wary of onion skins. They didn't look so deep in colour, and I wasn't sure if they would actually get a colour or not.

They did! They made a lovely almost yellow ochre colour.

Next is red cabbage, which made purple! Surely it should be called purple cabbage. the colour came out almost immediately and just kept getting darker. Love.

Last is mint. This took a while for the colour to come out, and first went from a light green to a yellow colour. I like it, but it's subtle.

I'll have to take photos of the turmeric, paprika, strawberries, and blackberries and post it in part two. All four made awesome colours (especially the blackberries!!), I just forgot to take a photo!

The plan is to use these 'weaker dyes' as the water the next time I make dye, so they will get darker.

Let me know what you think!!

Happy Saturday.

Tory xx

Earth day is something that comes around each April 22nd, and I feel like no one knows what to do, except yell 'It's Earth Day!' Lets not be dramatic. 

Earth day was first founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson. A separate earth day was organised and launched by Denis Hayes in 1970. In 1990 it was made international and events were organised in 141 different nations. Many communities celebrate Earth Week, which focuses on numerous environmental issues for the entire week.

Lets get down to the nitty gritty, what can YOU do for Earth Day? 

Here's a list of things you can do to celebrate earth day, and some are cash free, score!

1. Plant a tree! Plant some flowers! Or just take care of the ones you already have.

2. Make a flower crown out of the flowers that have surely fallen from all this wind we have been having. Stressing the all.ready.fallen. part- it's earth day, don't go picking all the flowers. 

3. Teach your children a bit about Earth Day, why we celebrate it, and how they can help. Start the conversation!

4. Make an Earth with your kids from reclaimed materials you find around the house. Earth really not their thing? They can make flowers, leaves and trees as well. Hang them in their room when they are done! 

5. Help a local park to clean up the rubbish.

6. Pick up sticks around the lawn, or even your neighbours lawn! 

7. Turn off the lights and electronics you are not using around the house. This is not a huge thing, but its saving every, which is saving the earth right?

8. Wear a t-shirt with the Earth on it. Don't have one? Neither do I. Just wear green and blue I guess? 

9. Use loads of 'nature' emojis. You know, all those different kinds of leaves they have, and three separate earths, just in case you would like to be very specific about which earth you identify with. 

10. Get out in nature. Take a walk with your children, parents, dogs, or just by yourself. Appreciate the green of spring and thank the gods that winter is over! 

Can you think of any other ideas to help celebrate earth day? Add them in the comments below! 

Happy Earth Day! 

Tory xx

I wrote this yesterday (on an actual Monday) and then didn't know if wanted to post it or not. Here goes nothing. 

Back again for another I Heart Monday post and this week the struggle is real. 

Let's just air this all out.

My father-in-law has cancer. They tried treatment and it seems that it is not working for him. For some people it does. For him, it didn't. It's hard. It's hard to not be there. It's hard to watch my husband and his family go through it. It's hard to physically not be allowed to go there to be with them. It's hard to talk through whatsapp and not be able to give hugs. It's just all so hard.

I can imagine that it's even harder if you are the one who has cancer.

I feel like there are so many questions and not enough answers. 

Did you get to do everything you wanted to? Did you see everything you wanted to? Did you fill your life up with experiences instead of things? Did you tell everyone you love them, or you care, or just a simple thank you?

Which brings me back to I Heart Monday. Find the things you love in life. Even when life is hard. Experience everything that interests you. Investigate. Explore. Tell people that you love them, and if you can't do that then just be kind. Say thank you. Give hugs. Make the things you love 'present' in your life.

One of the ways I am doing this is to write in a book called 'One Line A Day'. The best part is, you can purchase it online for $10 (hello Amazon Prime). This is a five year journal in which you are meant to write 'one line a day'.

So much to love this last month-and so much to be thankful for. Not gunna lie though, sometimes it's hard to look at the 'good' in situations. Sometimes it's just too hard. Sometimes life seems to only hand you lemons and you just happened to run out of sugar to make lemonade.

Sometimes you just need to do the best you can do, and cut yourself some slack.

That's one of the reasons I have enjoyed doing 'I Heart Monday' posts. The above is also why I have not done them the past couple weeks. It's hard to be positive all the time when it seems like everything is always going wrong!

Snap out of it!!! Find some love in the little things. ❤️

ESSIE HAS SPRING COLOURS!!

If you know me then you know that one of my splurges is fingernail polish. I love painting my nails. Even though they don't last very long, that's ok because I love changing colours. I get bored having the same colour for too long.

The new Essie nail colours are absolutely lovely! I would wear each and every one of these, and they go with so many outfits. The greyish hue called 'Petal Pushers' is calling my name, and who doesn't love a good mint. Honestly. There is something for everyone in their spring line. Bright. Subtle. Chic. It's all there. Definitely going to be purchasing some of these in the future!

I finally got my first sale on etsy...to someone I didn't know! And then...I got my second sale on etsy to someone I didn't know!! And as of today...my third!

Honestly, the best feeling is making someone happy with items that you have made, by hand, by yourself. So amazing.

So far I have sold to people in Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska, Texas, Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, as well as the UK. So exciting!

Head over to the shop to see what's available. If you want something custom made-I can do that too!! Let me know!

Last but certainly not least.

MR. FREEZE!

I love ice cream. It's just delicious. Any kind really, I don't choose favourites. My family's ice cream obsession has gone so far that we say we need to go get 'water' and then go to Mr. Freeze for a quick ice cream fix. What happens when you are out of town you ask? Not to worry, there's always a Swiss Swirl or something similar. Like I said, I don't choose favourites.

I will, however, recommend the Sea Salt Turtle Sundae from Mr. Freeze. I always get it without nuts and whipped cream, but that's just me. It's so delicious and satisfies your sweet tooth and savoury cravings all at the same time. I know right!! Head on over and get one.

That's all for me for today!! I need to go get that nail polish!!

Lots of love,

Tory xx