aztec fridays

Hi there, my chickens.

I am coming to you live from the alley between Costco & Ashley Furniture Home Store.What can I say, I like to live on the edge.

{dress as skirt: ross | tribal top: dots | green belt: torrid | shoes: target | arms party: MK and dots}

A little afterthought on my day: I played it too safe with jewelry and felt accessory deprived once I got to work.  I need to wear my green belt more. I love my new tribal top, and I can't wait to wear it whenever I don't have to make it appropriate for el worko.  Yeah, that'll be fun.  You'll never guess what is wrong with these pictures?  Did you notice? Yep, one of my shoes broke.  I don't know when.  No one told me.  I didn't notice until seeing this:

BUMMER!

My past 24 hrs:

Eating this lunch...

 Jamming out to this song...

 While wearing these shoes to walk off said pasta...

 Going with my baby sister to pick up her beloved car after they fixed it post-accident.

Her little car makes her happy. She's cute.

And this guy is always pretty awesome to have around:

HAPPY FRIDAY! Here's to house parties, pizza lunches, and skinny girl margaritas.

Oh, and be sure to take this moment to enter the *MY MEMORIES* giveaway, if you haven't!

ENTER HERE

It closes SUNDAY at midnight!

Dots & Stripes

Stripes and Dots.

Dots and Stripes.

Skirt refashioned from this dress: I wore HERE but permanently refashioned it last night so it is a skirt forever.

I really loved this outfit today. But, I think it was the good hair day that was the cherry on top.

MY! This week has flown by, it's already Thursday, chickens.  I mentioned on Twitter that I am seriously considering a FULL MONTH (October) of a SHOPPING BAN for myself.  Anyone want to be my sponsor?  I probably won't wake you up from sleep with urgent calls for the TJ Maxx clearance section.... Probably.

The thing is... I just need to take it easy because I don't think I really NEED any more clothes right now.

I am going to focus on refashioning items I already have for the upcoming season--like this dress!

  Easier said than done, howevs.

The one exception to said ban would be anything Halloween costume related... that's gotta happen.

I love Halloween, but I hate pumpkin pie.

Go figure.

{striped dress: old navy | polka dot skirt: refashioned rainbow dress | shoes: payless | belt:necklace: dots}

drink, get dressed, and be merry

It's a good motto. eh?

Check out that earring action shot, dears.  That's talent at it's most accidental.

{dress: ross | belt: torrid | boots: nine west | cardigan: target | earrings: turkoyz | bracelets: gift | watch: MK}

Close up of the boots, post-twirl! Hi, lovelies! Happy humpty hump day!I went out at lunch and took these pictures, and I think the lighting is A LOT better! My eyes are still shadowed and squinty because it was sunny sunny! I'll take it over yesterday, but work with me here, as most of my daylight hours are spent molding the lives of preschoolers! ANYWAY!Welcome to all for stopping by and enjoying some merrymaking. I am hooking up with one of my new favorite bloggers Rachel @ Distinct.Style.Innovation. today is *Wear It Wednesday*Today's topic is How to wear FALL BOOTS! And I'll be honest with you, my chickens, I woke up today and was like "I don't care what you and your bow-tie say: Joey Sulipeck, I AM wearing boots today!!!!!!!!"So I did. I showed him.
Other than rebelling against the local meteorologist, I did some fancy nail stuff:No need in a play by play- steps laid out in front of you, thanks to my new fave app: Diptic.

Last, but not least, I partook (is that a word?) in a new beverage experiment. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this hard cider.  I tried Apple and Peach. TOO yummy!

Merrymaking overload! Hope you have a great day, little chickens.PS giveaway ends at the end of the week, so if you haven't entered, check it out and ENTER before it is too late :)Click that button:

white washed (wo)menswear

How are you doing this early morning?

I am a little washed out, out of focus, & overexposed.

But hey, it's only Tuesday...

I love reaching for black skinny pants and a WBD, kinda like the casual tuxedo.

Throw in a striped cardigan, that I am pretty sure two relatives of mine wanted to steal off my back... and you've got a parfait of practical, femme menswear.

But enough about me...

{pants: gap | button down: vintage | sweater: thrifted | leopard flats: payless}

I'm feeling pretty girlie lately... last night I watched Dancing with the Stars (who are you rooting for? I can't make up my mind between Carson and David), 2 Broke Girls (the blonde makes me laugh so stinkin' hard), and Tia & Tamera (long time fan, can't deny it) all whilst playing with my huge pile of free goodies, sample & full size, from Ulta!

If you don't have an Ulta near you... it's like a drugstore and Sephora had a beautiful love childI just went in for eyeshadow and polish remover- I came out with a cosmetic bag full of girlie goodness.

Pile on the left, I bought... the right: free swag.

It's okay to have a completely girlie squeal over that stuff, right?Now, maybe we can do something about this hair....

Accent Vlog

While perusing another fashion/lifestyle blog... I came across the most ingenious idea!

Below, you will find my ACCENT VLOG!

So, basically, you video yourself saying a variety of words to show how you say them!

Also- you answer some questions.  Being from the South, I am very interested in hearing how some of y'all may say these words so I hope you post a vlog too!

SUPER sexy thumbnail pic, huh? OHH YEAHHHH.
So with NO a little pressure, I would LOVE to see videos from Dani, Sarah B, Kimberly, Bex, Savannah, Jill & Elle. But if you would also like to share with me, leave me a link in comment below, my little chickens.Here are the rules:

Accent VLOG

Directions are as follows: 

The instructions are to say these words: 

Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught 

And answer these questions: 

What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house? 

What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball? 

What is the bubbly carbonated drink called? 

What do you call gym shoes? 

What do you say to address a group of people? 

What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs? 

What do you call your grandparents? 

What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket? 

What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining? 

What is the thing you use to change the TV channel?

And if you are a blogger looking for some great software to make KICKASS headers, like mine, you should enter my *My Memories* digital software download giveaway here:

Sunday Crafternoons

Something about cooler weather and approaching holidays make me yearn for creating and crafting.I was in search for a new desk, a small one, just for my laptop and crafts.Nothing crazy.Enter: One $15.00 desk from the thrift store:BEFORE:

HELLO, possibilities!
Next step was choosing paint and talking my sister in to helping me pick a color. Easy peasy.

AFTER:

I have not bought new drawer pulls yet! Waiting to use my coupon at Michael's Arts and Crafts :)

We chose Valspar Brillant Gold spray paint! Aaaaand I love it. It's so shiny against my gray walls.

The pennant banner was another craft done the same day using paint samples.  You know- the ones you grab to see what color you would like on your walls.  I put it in an old frame that used to hold a mirror, but this was waaaay more fun to look at! Then, I used the left over paint samples to make this colorful art piece.

"Be Merry"

Now, I have the best creative space to work in!

All for under $30!

Have you guys been up to any great projects lately?Share them with me!Have a great Sunday, my little chickens.

festival fun

These pics are from this past Saturday, where we wandered around midtown with jumbo strawberry margaritas (YUM!) and enjoyed handmade crafts & the sunshine.  Maybe, a little too much because my poor shoulders are still pink.  And don't let these photos fool you... it was completely awkward (see next photo, awkward face) posing in front of the oncoming crowds.  My sister made a fabulous photog howevs. Thanks Ems.

{jeans and top: LB | sandals: nine west | purse: ross | watch: Michael Kors | bracelet: mother's}

In case you missed it- I am hosting my first ever giveaway!

Enter here :)

Thanks! And have a fabulous day!

paper doll project 4.0

I sure do love to dress, but I also love to style others.  So the annual Paper Doll Project was not to be missed.  I have had amazing partners every time, and this time was NO different.  I was teamed up with the darlin' Miss Hannah, from An Old Story, who was just sweet as she could be.

I wanted to style this DKNY lace stop, previously seen here.

She paired it with this thrifted blazer, skirt, and necklace for some color.

LOVE IT!

{blazer: thrifted | skirt: torrid | lace top: DKNY | necklace: dots | shoes: nine west}

Go see Hannah's blog, An Old Story, to see how I dressed HER!You'll have to excuse the major foggage in these pictures, it was crazy and creepy out this morning.Be sure to check out the other ladies who participated this time in the project!


And you should check out my giveaway, little chickens.

{{My Memories Suite GIVEAWAY}}

OH, YES! You read that title correctly.  Matters of Merrymaking is pleased as punch to present...A giveaway of gargantuan girth... One lucky reader will win their very own My Memories SuiteWith the downloadable digital scrapbooking software, you can customize your own fun and creative way to share your memories.  The scrapbook software (a $39.97 value!) works flawlessly on a Mac or PC with a variety of design tools to build entire albums.  I had a lovely crafternoon making these jewels below with My Memories Suite:

So many holiday and travel layout possibilities options for saving and cherishing your photos.

And for my fellow blogger gals out there, I made my new header using the My Memories software!

If you want to get started on your digital scrapbooking now, head on over to MyMemories.com and use this special promo code (STMMMS25352) that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!)Here's how you enter the giveaway:Mandatory Entry:--Be a follower of Matters of Merrymaking through Google Friend Connect. (Hit the 'Join This Site' button on the top right)--Visit MyMemories.com and share with me your favorite digital layout or paper pack and leave a comment below telling me all about it.
Extra Entries:--Follow My Memories Suite (@mymemoriessuite). (one entry)--Follow me (@missbekah) on the Twitter. (one entry)--Be a follower of  the My Memories Blog. (one entry)--Tweet or blog about this fabulous giveaway and leave me a link in a comment on this post. (one entry for tweeting, one for blogging)Feel free to use this: I just entered to win a @MyMemoriesSuite digital scrap-booking software on @missbekah's blog! http://goo.gl/an6pJ
That is  SIX possible entries to win this crazy awesome software.Best of luck and happy cropping to you, my little chickens.
Giveaway is closed.