October Favourites

The leaves are changing, the night air feels cool and the moon seems bigger and brighter. It’s October and things are starting to feel a little creepy. Here are my favourite things for the spookiest month:

1. A cute accessory for kitty

October Favourites | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Hello Harriet’s ‘Too Cute To Care’ Collar Tag

2. A kitty accessory for me

October Favourites | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Autumn Equinox’s Cat Ears Ring

3. Cozy new bed linens for longer nights spent in

October Favourites | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Xenotees’ Cat Nap Pillow Case Set

4. A Halloween serving board that isn’t too kitschy 

October Favourites | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Studio Orijin’s Cat Breadboard

5. An amazing cat fabric

Cat BluePrints

Amber Morgan Designs’ Cat BluePrints via Spoonflower

All images courtesy of vendors.

Rain or Shine

Rain or Shine | Sophster-Toaster Blog

We had every kind of fall weather yesterday. I woke up to a hazy, cool morning. Dressed for the day as the clouds gathered and the sky grew overcast. Sipped my tea through a thunderstorm. Worked while the strong, gusty wind stirred the clouds away. Then ran some business errands in the balmy early evening sunshine. This unpredictable weather seems to create a perfect pathetic fallacy with what’s going on with my skin lately.

Rain or Shine | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Nearing the end of my late twenties, I though I had finally figured out my unique skin type as the sometimes severe acne I had lived with since I was 11 started to clear. My complexion would experience good and bad days, but the bad days were getting fewer and farther between.

Having spent more than half of my life with bad skin, I don’t often let breakouts get me down or shake my confidence. The past few weeks, however, have created the perfect storm on my face. I did a big outdoor market with lots of dirt, sweat and stress, I started using a really good serum again after letting my routine lapse a few weeks and had to go through the purge again, and I got PMS pimples all at the same time. My face is such a mess that I’ve wanted to stay inside and hide until it heals. But this isn’t me, this isn’t what I do. Acne is normal. If I can go out, live my life, meet up with friends, do a photoshoot and not try to hide or cover up and just one young girl or boy sees that it’s nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about, I’ve done my good deed for the day.

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Sweater Old Navy
Skirt ModCloth
Rain Shoes ModCloth

All photos by me *in good light that makes my skin look way better*.

September Favourites

September is almost over and fall is finally here. The air is fresher and cooler, the fall rain is here and the leaves are just starting to hint at a change. It’s time to cozy up indoors with tea and soup. It’s September and here are my favourite things for my favourite month:

1. Subtly Sassy Accessories 

September Favourites | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Little Arrow’s FU Heart Earrings

2. Staying Home

September Favourites | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Stay Home Club’s Stay Home Club Long Sleeve Tee

3. Flashes of Fall Colour

Swinging Sixties Necklace

ModCloth’s Swinging Sixties Necklace

4. Comforting Art for a Cozy Bedroom

September Favourites | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Bubby and Bean’s There is Beauty in Simplicity Art Print

5. Layers of Light Fall Outerwear

September Favourites | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Larmoni’s 2o Colours Wool Beret

All photos courtesy of retailers. 

Basic Black

Basic Black | Sophster-Toaster Blog

I once wore this outfit out to a birthday dinner. I sat down across the table from my best friend and he immediate declared, “You look nice. You look how I imagine adults look.”

Basic Black | Sophster-Toaster Blog

I’ve never been able to decide if I love or hate this dress. The fit and quality aren’t anything special – I actually had to exchange the first one I brought home because it was sewn so poorly, and this one has its flaws, too – but I absolutely love the cut of the neckline. The basic black colour and high neckline offer a perfect blank slate for adding a detail or pop of colour when worn with a necklace or over a blouse with an interesting collar. Throwing on this dress with one good accessory makes it easy to look like a put together adult with minimal effort.

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Dress Gap
Shoes ModCloth
Necklace ModCloth

The pockets are pretty great, too.

All photos by me.