Girl’s Best Friend Skirt Remix

Girl's Best Friend Skirt Remix | Sophster-Toaster Blog

I’ve loved this skirt since I first made it a couple of years ago. The fabric is so light, the print is so cheerful and the colour is so perfect for spring! I love having this design in my booth at local markets because people’s reactions to it are always so joyful and genuine. They’re drawn to the colour and cut but then they look at it closely and see little corgis tied to colourful balloons and they just melt into a puddle of delighted squeals.

Last time I shot this skirt, I styled it for a typical dreary spring day. Today, I remixed it for one of those fabled warm and sunny spring days we have yet to experience here this year and asked my best friend to join me and show off some of her newest tricks!

Girl's Best Friend Skirt Remix | Sophster-Toaster Blog Girl's Best Friend Skirt Remix | Sophster-Toaster Blog Girl's Best Friend Skirt Remix | Sophster-Toaster Blog Girl's Best Friend Skirt Remix | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Skirt Sophster-Toaster
Top H&M
Shoes ModCloth
Earrings Claire’s
Necklace & Ring gift
Pepper’s Bandana Sophster-Toaster

Girl's Best Friend Skirt Remix | Sophster-Toaster Blog Girl's Best Friend Skirt Remix | Sophster-Toaster Blog Girl's Best Friend Skirt Remix | Sophster-Toaster Blog Girl's Best Friend Skirt Remix | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Photos by me and Matt Harrison.

New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes

New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster Blog

My one year anniversary with pescetarianism is coming up next month. I feel like I’ve really gotten the hang of what I can and can’t eat, how to order at restaurants, how to get the right ratio of macronutrients, and how to spot the sneaky sources of animal products over the past few months. I’ve been trying to extend my vegetarian values to all areas of my life, including what I wear and how I shop.

When I first committed to going pescetarian, I was very aware that I was turning down hamburgers, bacon and jello while sitting in leather sandals. I had to take some time and seriously consider how I felt about this hypocrisy. I ultimately decided that I would try my very best to avoid buying new items made with leather, or any product the required the slaughter of an animal, in the future but that I would continue wearing the pieces I already owned until they were worn out. It felt a little selfish, deciding to keep my favourite sandals, but I thought it felt more disrespectful to the animal to throw them away before their time, or donate them and have someone else do the same. My thoughts and feelings may change in the future but, for now, this is what I can live with.

New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster Blog New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster Blog New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster Blog New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster Blog New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster Blog New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Top H&M
Skirt Sophster-Toaster
Shoes thrifted
Necklace Emery & Opal / Craft Arts Market
Barrette Oh Hello Bug / Got it Made

New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster BlogNew Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster BlogNew Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes | Sophster-Toaster Blog

All photos by me.

Snow, Snow, Go Away

Snow, Snow, Go Away | Sophster-Toaster Blog

It feels like spring is taking forever to get going this year. We had one of the coolest, snowiest Marches in recent memory and so far, April hasn’t been much different. I’m dying to get my light and bright spring clothes out but the wet and frosty chill outside has me stuck in winter layers limbo. I’m so sick of sweaters and nylons, I’ve started pretending it’s time to go without around the house, staying warm with big cups of chamomile tea and daydreams of tulips and apple blossoms. I’m sure I’ll be opening the windows and packing up my winter boots, unable to remember just when the warm weather got here, before I know it, but right now, it feels like it’s been cold and stormy all my life.

Snow, Snow, Go Away | Sophster-Toaster Blog Snow, Snow, Go Away | Sophster-Toaster Blog Snow, Snow, Go Away | Sophster-Toaster Blog Snow, Snow, Go Away | Sophster-Toaster Blog Snow, Snow, Go Away | Sophster-Toaster Blog Snow, Snow, Go Away | Sophster-Toaster Blog Snow, Snow, Go Away | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Skirt ModCloth (similar)
Raglan Oast House Brewers
House Shoes Amazon
Hair Clips Shopper’s Drug Mart

All photos by me.

How I Roll: 1940s Waves

How I Roll: 1940s Waves | Sophster-Toaster Blog

My hair is naturally not quite straight, not quite curly. I let it air dry 99% of the time after applying some moisturizing oil. If I don’t brush it out after drying, and let the curls do their thing, I sometimes get a nice bunch of neat and tidy loose curls, but more often than not, what I get is some lovely toddler curls underneath with a frizzy mess on top. So I usually end up brushing them out into waves with a boar hair paddle brush and applying more moisture oil to keep everything in check. I’ve been growing my hair out, recently, into a sort-of Veronica Lake inspired style. To keep it healthy, I’ve cut back to only two washes a week and I’ve been saving heat styling for special occasions. To get my hair from mind-of-its-own waves to movie-star glamour waves without the damaging heat, I’ve been letting my hair dry in pin curls after most washes. Here’s the rolling pattern I use:

How I Roll: 1940s Waves | Sophster-Toaster Blog

I usually use this same roll pattern with pin-curl clips on damp, lightly moussed hair. Today I’m using hot rollers on second day hair that was simply combed and air dried for the sake of speed (aka tutorial magic).

Step one: brush out hair and part far to the side.

Step two: section hair on side without part from behind your ear to the part. Divide into 2-3 horizontal sections, depending on length and thickness, and roll hair inwards.

Step three: repeat on other side, dividing into 1-2 sections.

Step four: section hair, vertically, into four equal parts, parting down the centre and dividing each half in half again. On side with part, roll hair in 2-3 sections. I like to roll the bottom sections from here-on-out outwards instead of inwards for a bit of a flip at the bottom of my waves.

Step five: roll the back section of this side in 2-3 sections as well.

Step six: repeat on other side, using 3-4 sections for the front section, as you will have more hair gathered on this side, and 2-3 for the back.

Step seven: let hair dry/cool. Remove clips/rollers and give hair a gentle tousle to loosen up some volume at the roots. Brush curls out softly with a boar hair brush, trying to only pass each area once. Set with hair spray, if you like.

How I Roll: 1940s Waves | Sophster-Toaster Blog

This roll pattern also sets a nice foundation for half up, half down throw-back styles like a Zooey Deschanel beehive.

All photos by me.