Swim Suit Search

In two month's time, I will find myself on a beach in the Caribbean.  What!  So it is time to take this swim suit search seriously.  Try saying that ten times fast!  I have always been a fan of the retro style maillot and I love the ruffles!  These are my top faves.  What styles are you reaching for this summer?  I wanted to find some fringed tops, but I will settle for the adorable fringed coverup!

Shop my finds here:

Graphic Print Suit

Eyelet Twist Bandeau

Ruffle Tankini

Beach Dress

Radiant Rays Halter

Tie Dye Coverup Dress

Nautical Dots Suit

Spotted some fab suits?  Let me know about them in the comments! Xo

Friday Favorites

one: i am so very excited for the 2nd annual FRIENDSGIVING at the house of my bffs!  all the good food, the great wine, and the best people.  the actual turkey day is normally reserved for family & food fights, so i am thrilled to kick back with my buds this weekend :)

two: my sister and i are gearing up to see catching fire this weekend, too.  apparently it is already out, but that shows you how much attention i pay to trailers... THEY GIVE THE WHOLE MOVIE AWAY!  I love my girl J-Law.

three:  like many of my fellow pinners, i am so intrigued by the idea of contouring!!! i did admit on twitter that i am slightly weary of the process, but i found this compact that has the two shades in one convenient package.  i want to get my hands on it to try it out. maybe, maybe.  do any of my little chickens contour? what are your favorite products?

four: it has been a hot minute since i updated you all on my netflix queue status... I know you guys were all waiting with bated breath to find out what show i am binging on this week.  HART OF DIXIE! i told my mom that i watched the first two episodes and that i thought she would like it... i talk back with her mere hours later to find out that girl binged half the first season.  (it runs in the fam!)  it really is super cute & i am super obsessed with jaime king.

five:  i put these ugg lynnea II on layaway at tj maxx a few weekends ago, and i am going to pick those beauties up on saturday.  they're beautiful and we are perfect for each other!  

have a merry weekend, xo.  

Wishful Shopping: Early Fall Edition

I came to the realization the other day that I add more items to my closet in the fall and winter months than the other two seasons combined!  Something about the relief of the sweltering heat being over makes me yearn for some chunky knits and funky wedge booties!  Being the smart and somewhat frugal merrymaker that I am... I snagged some boots (five pairs to be exact) on super sale from various stores at the end of spring. Now, I am making a vow to not purchase any more fall/winter footwear BUT these other items are sure making it hard to stick to my nonexistent shopping budget for September.

Orla Kiely Multi Headband | To keep the ears warm, the hair in check, & the cuteness present.  Perfect for the chillier football games!

ASOS Curve Pinafore Dress in Plaid Check | I love that plaid/tartan is ever present this season!  Something about me Scottish roots has me yearning for this dress!

J. Crew Jeweled Chandelier Sweatshirt | I love dressing up a casual thing!  Keep it cute and comfy, please!

Simply Be Fur Trim Cardigan Coat | Memphis weather spends a lot of time "in between" cool and cold, so a lighter coat option is a must!  I love the aztec print.

ASOS Faux Fur Lapel Collar |  I love the vintage feel of lapel collars and the cobalt blue color just adds extra oomph points!

What trends/items are on your must-have list as the fall creeps closer?

Do share!

All about DOTS

If you have been a reader of Matters of Merrymaking for any length of time, you know that trends and affordability go hand in hand when it comes to my daily style.  I frequent stores that sell pieces that are very on-trend and stores that sell more investment-type pieces.  One of my FAVORITE places to shop in Memphis, is DOTS.  See some of my all time favorites from Dots: these pants, the infamous purse, and my favorite shirt! It is kind of like Forever 21 in the aspect that it sells trendy pieces to a younger crowd, along with fun accessories and shoes.  Most items stay under $25!
DOTS contacted me to let me know they were opening TWO new stores in Memphis and I was thrilled!  They invited me to take a tour of a new store and check out some of the new pieces for Summer!I walked in and was blown away.  Divided by color and trend, the store makes it easy to find all that you need to add to your wardrobe for the summer months! And yes, I came home with some neon pink shorts!

I talked to the store manager (Hi, Olga!) about all of the amazing clothes and she kept coming back to the SPICY colors that are taking over the scene.  Also, the amazing amount of tribal prints and lace really stood out to me.  I can definitely get behind these trends for many seasons to come. 

 Crazy print, bright colors? That dress definitely came home with me.

Check out their website and see if you have a DOTS in your area, and go check them out.  You will not regret adding some trendy FUN pieces to your closet this summer.Thanks for having me DOTS! I had so much fun and we all know I will be back soon!XOXO, the merrymaker.



psThe eShakti giveaway ends tomorrow night at 12PM CST. Enter before it is too late, chickens!All opinions and photos shared are my own.  I was not compensated for this post, I am just a super fan.

wishful wednesday

wishful wednesday: the purchased editionIf you reference last week's wishful wednesday, you will see a range of high prices beauty wishes.This week you will see a full makeup bag and an empty checking account.Bad Bekah.
Oh well, I guess if I don't have any money I will just sit around at home looking pretty...PURCHASED:

TWIRL gift set found at TJ MAXX for $35, originally over $80/(Thanks to my sister for spying it!)

Makeup Brush Cleaner, Urban Decay Naked Palette (not Naked 2, but still fabulous!) and NARS lipstick in Heat Wave.Let's just say I am a huge fan of both!

My third and final splurge were these Nine West (Clara) boots, they were over 50% off and just had to come home with me.

Looks like I will be eating cans of soup and grilled cheese until pay day, but you bet I will be dolled up!What are you wishing for this Wednesday? In the mood for a splurge?? :)

merry holiday shopping tips

Holiday Shopping Tips by The Merrymaker

So, Happy December 1st my little chickens.  Can we believe it is already the last month of 2011?Crazy sauce.  As unprepared as I am for this bitter bitter cold, I am prepared to brave the wild world of holiday shopping.  I have a few tips I always abide by to get through the Yuletide shopping sprees getting the most for my money and finding perfect gifts for all my the little chickens on my list.
1. Make a list (EARLY!)A wise merrymaker should always have a genuine idea of what your chicken wants/loves/needs for Christmas.  Making an actual list helps you to prioritize and include everyone.  Don't forget to account for the Secret Santas either!  I shop early (March, anyone?) and I shop often for the holidays, because the best times for purchasing gifts are before the pre-holiday "sales"! Not to mention, the frugal merrymaker has more time to stretch the holiday budget this way!

2. Shop smart AND ONLINE!It may seem like an obvious choice in this day and age, BUT many people still trudge out to the department stores for a majority of their presents.  Shopping online not only gives you a greater selection (and variation) but your gifting research could save you buckets of quarters in the end!  I love shopping online because if you google your favorite store's promo codes, you stand a chance of greater savings than in-store.  Also, stay away from the credit cards, shopping early with cash is stress free!(Not So) Secret Merrymaker Tip:  Holidays often prompt stores to offer free shipping BUT if you're shopping early...many online stores have a "Ship To Store:  FREE" option.  I do this ALL THE TIME!  No matter the item, forking over the $7-10+ for shipping really irks me.
(Half time break! CHEERS!)

click for recipe, serious yumminess.
3.  Personal and homemade optionsTo save money, consider gifting the angels on your list with handmade gifts. Give from the heart! Take the iPad out of your online shopping car and make your own gifts.Your sister will love the sparkly shoe clips and your mom will cry tears of happiness with her handmade Christmas ornament from her grandkids. It really isn't about the price of the presents after all, is it?

4. Enjoy your family time!The best Christmas time at our house was the year we were gifted Catchphrase, and after that there was no stopping us!  I mean- what makes a better gift, than something the whole family can use together!?  If board games are not your style, the whole Harry Potter series is out on blu-ray :)

Thanks for reading up on my holiday tips.  After all, I want all of you to make it to 2012 in one piece.

what good days are made of

The best days start with Starbucks and end with dinner and sister sleepovers.That's a proven fact.

This dress is without a doubt on of my favorite fashion investments.  I love the cut, how it cuts at the waist, and the fact that I can layer with anything.  Good purchase, Bekah!

{dress: Michael Kors | scarf: rainbow | cardigan: LB | shoes: Payless }

And somewhere between the coffee and a now deflated bank account there was some of this:

Not bad for a Thursday.