Bored with Winter

Posted on February 24, 2017February 23, 2017 by Melissa Harrison

I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for spring! We bought a house with front and back gardens that need a lot of work late last summer. We were able to do most of the cleaning up over the fall and winter and now I am exceptionally eager to get the gardens in shape for spring and summer.

I’m so tired of wearing pants, sweaters, socks, and winter dresses with lots of layers. I want so badly to pull my light and colourful summer dresses out of their winter storage and throw them on with sandals. Maybe that’s why my new Mint Macarons Skirt is an early spring dream.

I’m always itching to dress for spring at this time of year but it’s just not quite warm enough yet in Canada. That’s why my first new spring design is a heavier cotton skirt in the most classic of spring colours: mint. This skirt was made to be the first bit of spring in a late winter wardrobe.

Top Sophster-Toaster
Skirt Sophster-Toaster
Tights Target
Shoes ModCloth

All photos by me.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Macarons

Posted on February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 by Melissa Harrison

Chocolate Chip Cookie Macarons | Sophster-Toaster Blog

After years of making macarons, and still needing more practice, I stick with it because I love creating new flavours. Macarons can be tricky and time consuming to make, but they can take almost any flavouring imaginable and still come out lovely and delicious every time. They are one of my favourite foods to endlessly tinker with.

Today I made macarons inspired by my favourite cookie: chocolate chip. Macarons can be made in nearly every flavour, but they don’t take large chucks well – flavouring must be in either liquid or powder form – so I made a standard almond/ vanilla flavour cookie and garnished with cacao nibs. To add more chocolate flavour, I filled the cookies with dark chocolate ganache.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Macarons | Sophster-Toaster Blog

The combination turned out unbelievably well! Neither flavour overpowers the other. The garnish is cute and does a good job of letting you know what flavours to expect. They even taste a little bit like chocolate chip cookies while still holding on to that unique macaron sweetness. I made the mistake of having friends over before I had time to assemble the cookies. I had to beg them to “only eat the ugly ones” as they ravenously drizzled the still-warm ganache over the cookie halves and pounded back a dozen of them.

To make these chocolate chip cookie flavoured macarons, use your favourite recipes for plain vanilla macarons and dark chocolate (bitter) ganache. I used the recipes for Basic Macaron Batter and Bitter Ganache Filling from Hisako Ogita’s I Love Macarons. I also added a few pieces of cacao nibs to the top of each cookie before drying and baking.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Macarons | Sophster-Toaster Blog

All photos by me.

How To Care for Knits

Posted on January 20, 2017January 25, 2017 by Melissa Harrison

I went thrift shopping for second hand sweaters recently and was somewhat shocked to see just how poorly people were taking care of their knits. Many sweaters, no more than decade old, were falling apart while those made of similar materials from 20 and 30 years ago were holding up just fine. I had to turn down several cute sweaters that had clearly been washed and even dried (gasp) with the regular laundry and then hung up in the closet. These sweaters with pilled, stretched and distorted to within an inch of their lives. Luckily, I still found plenty of well cared for pieces to choose from.

I wasn’t always a good knit respecting person. When I was a teenager I threw my knits into the regular wash without thinking, but I always pulled them out to dry, sometimes flat, sometimes on the clothesline – though I’m sure my brother just tossed them in the dryer when he was on laundry duty. I only started folding my sweaters instead of hanging them a few months ago when I realized it was the best way to avoid stretched out sleeves and shoulder dents. Here’s what I’ve learned since coming to respect the wool, cotton and acrylic yarn of my sweaters, knee socks and knit tights.

How To Wash Knits

Sort your knits like you would your other laundry, into at least two different washes: lights and darks. This is especially important with knits as your lighter coloured items will pick up fuzz and pill in the darker colours with age.
Use a laundry detergent compatible with knits/delicates, I use Woolite for everything.
Wash on a gentle or wool setting (I wash my knits with my dresses and other delicates) with a low spin so your wool doesn’t get stretched.
Remove promptly before weird creases can set in.
Dry flat no matter what the care label says! Never hang a knit to dry. (I use a clotheshorse drying rack with a flat top.)

How To Store Knits

Once dry, fold up your knits and store them in a drawer or on a closet shelf with good air circulation. You can hang chalk in your closet to decrease humidity or cedar chips to help prevent moths.

Knits will take a little bit of damage every time you wash them, so try to wear them a few times before tossing them in the laundry basket. Follow these steps and your knits will look new for years!

Top H&M
Cardigan ModCloth
Skirt Sophster-Toaster
Tights Shopper’s Drug Mart
Shoes ModCloth
Necklace Craft Arts Market / Sweetheart Jewelry Box

All photos by me.

Morning Frost / Pretty Polly Heatsense Tights Review

Posted on January 18, 2017January 17, 2017 by Melissa Harrison

Morning Frost / Pretty Polly Heatsense Tights Review | Sophster-Toaster Blog

I’ve had my eye on these Pretty Polly extra thick winter tights since the weather first started turning cold. I’ve picked up a few of the brand’s tights and stockings at my local drug store and they’ve all become quick favourites. The high quality and cute, yet practical, designs are everything I’ve ever wanted in tights. When I saw the entire Pretty Polly rack at my local Shopper’s Drug Mart on clearance this past weekend, I quickly grabbed the last pair of 80 denier Heatsense tights.

These tights claim to be made with special yarn that helps retain body heat in the cold, on top of being luxuriously thick. I decided to test them out on a frosty January morning. Putting them on, I could tell they were unlike other tights. The fabric is very soft and heavy and has only a little less stretch than regular tights. They were almost too warm when I was running around the house all layered up after a hot shower. Stepping outside into the soft winter sun, I barely felt the cold. It was almost like wearing thin jeans. After about 45 minutes of walking around my neighbourhood and stopping by a local park on a frosty, just below zero (Celsius) morning, only my toes were cold. My legs were cozy and comfortably warm the entire time.

When it gets colder, I will probably layer these tights with boot socks or, because they are so thick and opaque, I could probably wear merino wool liner socks underneath and no one would know. I’ve heard tell of 200 denier fleece lined tights made by Pretty Polly. If I ever come across them, I would buy them in a heartbeat!

Morning Frost / Pretty Polly Heatsense Tights Review | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Dress ModCloth
Coat Old Navy
Hat ModCloth
Mittens Roots
Scarf H&M
Tights Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoes ModCloth
Camera Bag Amazon
Button Sparkle Collective

Morning Frost / Pretty Polly Heatsense Tights Review | Sophster-Toaster Blog

I sure hope they aren’t going to stop selling these tights because they are truly amazing. It’s nice to see them in person before buying but if they do stop offering them, the tights can still be found online through the Pretty Polly website.

All photos by me.