wishful wednesday

happy hump leap day!we have 366 days this year... meaning 24 more hours in our lives to devote to merrymaking!here are some things i am wishing for:
the most mature (and delicious) root beer float ever

this camper would inspire even ME to get out and go glamping!

this song always reminds me of the wedding planner! makes a great needlepoint too!

HOW COOL is this nail art? I can just imagine the color possibilites now!

I am literally counting down the days until this movie comes out.  I get ridiculously excited about horror movies... giddy, even.

The Beale Street Music Fest lineup was announced yesterday.  I am definitely going on Sunday to see Alison Krauss, The Civil Wars, and The Chris Robinson Brotherhood!

More importantly, my baby sister is on the poster this year!

Look for the blonde near the pink part of the guitar!

A star in the making, that one...

Enjoy the extra day this year, cheers!

it's beginning to look a lot like springtime...

 {dress: ross | sweater: i <3 ronson | boots: payless | belt: dots | necklace: crack in the walk}

It's amazing how picking up boots on super sale can completely turn your day around.Even after two cups of delicious coffee, I was having a case of the Mondays... until my lunch break when I met these babies over half off.  Can't wait to use them to transition from winter (bye bye sweaters) to spring (hello, maxi dresses).  Which is apparently what season we are being thrown in to... or at least that's what my allergies tell me.

Merry Monday Must-reads

Can you believe that it is Monday already? NOT FAIR!  Is it Spring Break yet?Hope you have the best Mon(not fun)day! :)Welcome to the Merry Monday must-reads, a stockpile a list of blog posts, DIYs, etsy shops, and "new to me" blogs that I just can't keep to myself. So gear up and get ready!Merry Monday Must-reads

A Beautiful Mess | Elsie shared a mah-jah DIY! A Hand Stamped DIY Pony Print Dress! (Someone get on this for me, now!) Unusual Form | Kara writes a pivotal post on how her shopping ban, keeping to the thrift stores, has her spoiled now!
Postagious | Ellie rocks it in blue and black (I am in serious need of a hot skirt like this!)
Feminine Bravery | Charlie styles the biggest belt she owns and I love everything about it! I think you'll agree she's the cutest thing ever.
The In-Between | Jess is giving away a handmade cowl scarf for reaching 50 followers! It's adorable, oh, and so is she.
Do you have a must-read you would like to see on this list next week? Email it to me, little chickens!

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY

FIVE things FRIDAY!(thank goodness)just a handful of things i am loving today:
this necklace

gorgeous and only $350

via

this showcan't wait for some drama!right now, i am rooting for clay aiken & lisa lampanelli

via

this beach
see you in 18 days, Jacksonville!

via

this typewriter duh... le chic.

via

this man
have you SEEN 50/50?

via


ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND & see you back for more merrymaking on Monday.

I will be celebrating my sister's 27th birthday with a 27 dresses party! We are all wearing old formal gowns & former bridesmaid dresses to dinner!

 It will be so fun, you know I am always down to dress up!

Enjoy your weekend!

Practically Perfect In Every Way...

{pants: LB | flats: payless | knit top: tj maxx | necklace: F21 | tank: target}

Today's post? Better late than never, little chickens.

New perfect necklace alert! Got this beauty at F21 yesterday and it's bright beads mixed with neutral beads are blowing my mind.  I'm also dying over my perfect new lipstick.  I definitely have found the one everyday lipstick, with the perfect amount of color without screaming too loud.  MISSON: ACCOMPLISHED! Oh, and because I love you here's a video:

I love the "Stuff _____ Say" series, here's Stuff Memphians Say.  It's totally worth a watch.I found in on Jennifer's blog, but here's the YouTube video:

To my fellow Memphians, my favorite parts: "No one knows how to drive on a road with lines on it, i miss libertyland, calipari isn't even human: he doesn't a soul, i was an extra in walk the line, and the TOP ONE: the dance floor lights up and they only play Michael Jackson."
And I have totally been to Graceland, duh.

Back To The Grind...

{day two: shoes: LB | dress as skirt: ross, top: tj maxx, purse: steve madden, beads: acquired legally & tastefully}

I'm baaaaaack!!!!

The day back to work after a short vacation is never easy, but coming back after Mardi Gras was a crash landing back in reality! I had so much fun & met a lot of nice people and enjoyed myself immensely.

I hope everyone had a lovely President's Day & Fat Tuesday.

Thanks again to Faye, Laura, & Dani for guest posting, you are the best little chickens!

Here are some sneaky peeks in to my whirlwind trip:

{crazy crowds on bourbon}

{our last night in the city}

{outfit day one: top: thrifted, dress as skirt: ross, boots: LB, tights: welovecolors, drink: delicious}

{crawfish pasta}

{SHARK ATTACK!!!!}

{Jackson Square}

{bloody mary & a (HUGE) muffaleta}

{on The Lords and Ladies of LeMoyne float}

{daiquiris, our first and last stop of the trip!)

Guest Post: The Daily Dani

Since I am letting the good times roll in New Orleans for a few days, I asked some of my closest blogging buddies to share a post with my little chickens.  Heeeeeeeere's Dani!
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Happy Mardi Gras, Chickens!

My name is Dani - nice to meet ya! I'm so excited to be here keeping y'all company while my B(logging)BFF Bekah is off enjoying herself and a few too many hurricane cocktails out in NOLA! Let me tell you a bit about myself before we continue...

I have my own little fashion blog, The Daily Dani! I post daily outfit photos, weekly blogger features, and the occasional celeb fashion update! I've been blogging for a little over a year, and I absolutely love it! Not only has it helped my style to evolve exponentially, but I've made some amazing friends - like Miss Bekah! - through the blogosphere!

I'm 25, I live in Orange County, CA, and I'm a preschool teacher! I love: seafoam green, Sex & The City, baby dinosaurs, Pinterest, The Beatles, anything Native American-inspired, and leopard print!

In honor of Fat Tuesday, I put together a little purple, green, and gold inspired outfit to wear over here in So Cal.

{Tunic, Scarf, & Watch: Nordstrom | Fleece-lined leggings: Anthropologie | Socks: Target | Boots: Hunter | Teal bracelet: Tory Burch | Gold bracelet: Boutique | Necklace: Vintage}

I threw in my green boots, purple scarf, & gold jewelry to keep in the Mardi Gras theme! I totally wish I was in New Orleans celebrating Fat Tuesday and the rest of the week with Bekah... So I'm pretending that I am! I've styled a few Mardi Gras-esque outfits that I will hopefully be lucky enough to inspire some future Louisiana looks!

Mardi Gras 2012 Bourbon St. Day Drinking by danicalifornia15 featuring slouchy sweaters

Let's all be honest... we know Bekah is enjoying some cocktails down on Bourbon St. right now, and I'm going to pretend I'm right there with her! I know the forecast down in New Orleans calls for some showers this week, so I thought a cozy cream sweater, a floral scarf, some plaid-lined boots, and a fantastic umbrella would be perfect for some bar crawling and parade watching!

Mardi Gras 2012 Team Spirit by danicalifornia15 featuring graphic hoodies

I, myself, happen to be a Colts fan, but I know Bekah loves herself some Saints football! I know football season is over, but I'm pretty sure it's never the wrong time of the year to show some support in New Orleans! Nothing like representing your team spirit with some sparkly Toms, simple jewelry, and a fun hair accessory! Who dat?!

Mardi Gras 2012 Evening Out by danicalifornia15 featuring a wrap bracelet

I'm sure a nice evening out for some delicious Cajun cuisine (followed by beignets, of course!) would definitely be on my Mardi Gras agenda! Continuing to keep in the classic Mardi Gras color scheme, I'd go for a feminine dress and shoes, with a harder-edge jacket, unique accessories, and glittering nails!

Mardi Gras 2012 Masquerade by danicalifornia15 featuring kenneth jay lane rings

I was recently informed that balls of all sorts are thrown during Mardi Gras! Now, I'm not exactly a masquerade ball princess, but it's fun to dream, isn't it? There's nothing like a classic cut dress in a great color combined with bold accessories to really make a formal look POP!

Please be sure to visit me over at The Daily Dani and say hi! For now, I'm off to live vicariously through Bekah, and maybe have a homemade hurricane of my own! ;)

Later, kittens!

Guest Post: The Blog of Worldy Delights

Since I am letting the good times roll in New Orleans for a few days, I asked some of my closest blogging buddies to share a post with my little chickens.  Heeeeeeeere's Laura!

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Hi Bekah's little chickens! I'm Laura from the blog of worldly delights filling in for the oh-so-lucky Bekah who gets to go have a ball of a time at Mardi Gras. While she's accumulating beads, I'm dreaming of the perfect outfit to wear I'd don if I were as lucky as she is!

Mardigras by delightedlaura featuring diamond jewelry

Ideally, my perf Mardi Gras outfit would be topless (I'm kidding, I'm kidding! or am I?) but in reality, I'd probably wear a loose-fitting top to hide all the Fat Tuesday morsels I'd have gobbled up. 

What's your Ideas Mardi Gras Outfit? 

Guest Post: Faye's Book

Since I am letting the good times roll in New Orleans for a few days, I asked some of my closest blogging buddies to share a post with my little chickens.  Heeeeeeeere's Faye!

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Hello lovely ladies! My name is Faye and I blog @ Faye'sbook (clever, right?)

I met lovely Bekah IRL when we stood near each other @ a Hanson concert. Also, I hate abbreviations like IRL. Anyway. Once we found each other in blog land, it was love at first post. On my part anyway. If you like it here @ Matters of Merrymaking, you should check me out! I mean, if you're into the complete opposite. No OOTD for me. Until Bekah takes me shopping, that is. My blog often features posts such as Miscellaneous Monday, Tuesday Tidbits, and Word Vomit Wednesday. By that, I mean...I'm totally random. And I like alliteration. But as my about me says -- I won't promise I will be profound, but I will promise I won't be boring.

You may be wondering why I'm here. Miss Merrymaker has gone down to the Big Easy to celebrate Mardi Gras. If she could have packed me in her suitcase, she would have had to make room for this loveliness, too.

Now isn't that a fabulous Mardi Gras outfit?

Actually, no. No it's not. How do I know? Because I've been. Proof:

It's February and that means it's cold. Bourbon Street is absolutely filthy and crowded. The best music and dancing is quite a long walk away (at the gay bars, of course). 

But wait. I'd totally still wear that outfit. Cause as long as you have a few hand grenades and a "huge ass beer to go", you'll be just fine.

Unless you fall down in this.

Have one for all of us, Bekah! Happy Mardi Gras!