Category Archives: Personal Style

Garden City

Garden City | Sophster-Toaster

I’ve never owned nice workout clothes before. I’ve always just worn an old/free t-shirt and what ever pants I found in the discount bin, of an already discount store, while admiring the cute outfits other people assembled for themselves.

Last year, I started learning how to play roller derby. I had to invest in the gear so I couldn’t afford to give up my old top and cheap bottoms look just yet – I also wanted to make sure I was going to stick with new routine. This spring, after a year of intense weekly workouts, full contact scrimmages and lots of seasonal outdoor skating in my flimsy rags, I finally bought myself some cute, matching, well-made activewear.

Garden City | Sophster-Toaster

I was immediately drawn to the colours of these matching leggings and sports bra and then completely charmed by the garden print. They aren’t team colours, but they’re my colours – and I just adore that they are on theme for my team’s name. I also love that they are made in North America and come in a slew of beautiful prints for when I’m ready to add to my collection.

All I can do for now is skate around my neighbourhood in these gorgeous new duds, but I am so looking forward to wearing them to practices and games.

Garden City | Sophster-Toaster Garden City | Sophster-Toaster Garden City | Sophster-Toaster Garden City | Sophster-Toaster Garden City | Sophster-Toaster Garden City | Sophster-Toaster Garden City | Sophster-Toaster

Glasses Warby Parker
Leggings & Sports Bra Pineapple Clothing*
Protective GearĀ Impala Rollerskates

*Use coupon code “melihar” at checkout or click this link to get 20% off your own new spring activewear from Pineapple Clothing!

All photos by Matt Harrison.

Workspace

Workspace | Sophster-Toaster

I’ve been working from home for years, so my space and routines were already set up when the rest of the world suddenly joined me. I had lots of time to work out the kinks of having my workspace within my home. From starting my business in a tiny apartment, to working out of a larger apartment, to now a house, I kept a few things constant throughout the years to help foster creativity, productivity and work/life balance. Here are my tips for working from home in the long term.

Workspace | Sophster-Toaster

Keep your workspaces and home spaces defined.

For me, my workspace is currently a whole room upstairs and a few shelves in the basement but, in the past, it has been just a corner of a bedroom. Keeping your work stuff in its own place, and not letting your personal things gather there either, will help you keep the spaces separate in your mind and help you avoid the stress of living at work.

Take breaks outside of your workspace.

If possible, avoid working, eating and entertaining yourself all in the same place. It’s easier to be productive at work, and relaxed at home if you can divide these places by activity.

Try to keep your home tidy.

It’s difficult to concentrate in a cluttered space and those chores that need doing will nag you in a whole different way when they’re all around you. It’s best to keep on top of things now so they can’t overwhelm you later.

Set a schedule and stick to it.

Get up at the same time, take lunch at the same time, stop working at the same time, everyday. If you have pets at home, this will also help them get onto an agreeable routine.

Get dressed.

I am my most creative in the morning, so I will frequently start working in my pajamas, but I always feel like my serious work day starts when I’m dressed, brushed and ready to meet the world.

Set goals for how much you want to get done in a day, in a week.

You know when you’re at work, and out of things to do – or out of inspiration – but can’t go home yet, so you just find busy work or distractions to pass the time? Those moments will happen at home too, but you’ll actually be able to do something useful with that time! If you have all your goals plotted out, you’ll know when you can take a break to catch up on home stuff or, conversely, when you really need to stop chasing those distractions.

Set boundaries with friends and family.

People will think that because you work from home, you are always available. Don’t be afraid to say no to random drop-ins or doing things outside of your job, outside of your scheduled working hours.

Workspace | Sophster-Toaster Workspace | Sophster-Toaster

Glasses Warby Parker
Shirt Sophster-Toaster
Jeans Angry Rabbit
Shoes Vans

All photos by me.

Shallot Hill

Shallot Hill | Sophster-Toaster

My husband grew up on a (relatively) small vegetable farm his father named Shallot Hill. My father-in-law maintained the farm while commuting a couple hours a day to teach screen printing and other skills to prisoners. When the prison closed, he went full time with his passion, started the lengthy process to go organic – before it was trendy – and tried to grow the best versions of the most interesting things he could find. He grew purple carrots, blue potatoes, red basil, strangely shaped squashes, and many other things that, growing up in a small town, I had never heard of before… like shallots. He became a trusted source for beautiful and weird local produce at every fancy restaurant in town, but was best known for his incredible garlic.

Every time we visit the farm, we load up on everything that’s in season, but especially garlic and shallots. We must have overdone it at Christmas, because we found a big bag of what my husband expertly and matter-of-factly called “seed garlic” in the basement last weekend. We couldn’t let such beautiful garlic go to waste, so we planted it on the next warm and sunny day.

Shallot Hill | Sophster-Toaster Shallot Hill | Sophster-Toaster Shallot Hill | Sophster-Toaster Shallot Hill | Sophster-Toaster Shallot Hill | Sophster-Toaster

Top Gale’s Vintage Clothing Collection
Jeans Angry Rabbit
Glasses Warby Parker

Shallot Hill | Sophster-Toaster

Photos by me and Matt Harrison.

Dressing for the Weather

Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster

We had a stormy morning followed by a gusty and unusually warm afternoon last Sunday. I threw on a light dress and cardigan combo, with a pin that arrived just in time to wear nowhere, and like many of my neighbours, took this opportunity to sit out on the front porch. The fresh air and gentle sunshine felt as good to me as I’m sure it did the flowers coming up in my garden.

Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster Dressing for the Weather | Sophster-Toaster

Sunglasses Warby Parker
Cardigan ModCloth
Pin Rapscallion

All photos by me.