March Favourites

Posted on March 25, 2016October 25, 2016 by Melissa Harrison

March is definitely going out like a lion around here. The past couple of weeks have been cold, wet and windy, with temperatures reminiscent of our mild February. After a winter that felt more like early spring, and a spring that is having trouble getting started, everyone is extra eager to see those first signs that spring is finally here to stay. Here are my favourite things for that time of year when the snowdrops are in bloom and the puddles have only just stopped freezing over.

1. Warm Accessories for Spring Layering

$March Favourites \\ Sophster-Toaster Blog$ ModCloth’s Not a Hare Out of Place Tights

2. Vintage Inspired Florals

$March Favourites \\ Sophster-Toaster Blog$

Red Thread’s Audrey Blouse in Garden

3. Vaguely Easter Themed Accessories I can Wear all Year

$March Favourites \\ Sophster-Toaster Blog$

Heather Buchanan’s Fried Egg on Toast Enamel Pin

4. Larmoni’s New Spring Dresses

$March Favourites \\ Sophster-Toaster Blog$

Larmoni’s Cupcake Lover Cute Retro Sundress

5. Plants I Can’t Kill

$March Favourites \\ Sophster-Toaster Blog$

Leikey’s Felted Cactus

Garden Party

Posted on April 15, 2015April 15, 2015 by Melissa Harrison

Last Saturday happened to be my husband’s birthday and the local college’s annual craft beer festival held to honour the teaching brewery’s graduation class. We spent the first day that was both warm and sunny outdoors sampling the students’ final assignment recipes, as well as some seasonal craft beer from local breweries.

Garden Brewers quickly became my new favourite. Their PiperAles, a smoked, black pepper amber ale, and Green-Thumb, an IPA with ginger, were unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before. My friends weren’t as into the ginger as I was – I think it was a bit too strong tasting for them – but I loved it; it tasted like an entire garden and filled me with nostalgia, the same way smelling tomato stalks and basil bushes together always reminds me of summers past.

I wore a new dress that I picked up at a spring sale back when it was still winter, layered with some stay-warm pieces.

$Early Spring Garden Party \\ Sophster-Toaster$

Dress: Gap // Top: H&M (old) // Tights: Target // Shoes: ModCloth // Hair Clip: so old, I think it’s vintage now

We came home and grilled some steaks that were gifted by a friend. My husband said he would “do mushrooms and onions” and we all had a good laugh. All-in-all, a very good day.

What I’m Working On This Week: 17/03/14

Posted on March 17, 2014March 17, 2014 by Melissa Harrison

I tried to embrace winter this year, even though I’ve always hated it. I thought it would be easy since I’m currently living somewhere warmer and less snowy than where I grew up, but then this year turned out to be the coldest, snowiest winter my landlord, who has been living in the area for 50+ years, can remember! With this terribly bleak and bitter winter, filled with snow storms and freezing rain, having followed a particularly brief and cool summer, I can’t remember a time I’ve been more anxious to see spring return.

Though spring hasn’t quite appeared in my part of the world yet (the husband had a snow day last week) this Thursday is technically the first day of spring. I will be marking the vernal equinox with the end of The Winter Clearance Sale and the introduction of the new shop and social media theme for spring. Come Thursday, the icy pastels of post-Christmas winter will be replaced by bright and vibrant colours for spring.

Continue reading →

What I’m Working On This Week: 03/03/14

Posted on March 3, 2014March 3, 2014 by Melissa Harrison

I feel like I spent all winter working on custom items. Now that I’ve gotten through most of them, and I’ve finished the last sample of the winter season, I can finally start thinking and looking forward to spring.

Continue reading →