Merrymaking Gift Guide 2013

Tis the season, y'all!

Gift giving time is right around the corner.  If you're like me, as soon as Halloween passes, I start getting very excited to buy Christmas gifts for everyone on my list.  This year I decided to do something different and I started perusing Etsy for handmade gifts.  The possibilities are endless and there are options for everyone.  I partnered with a handful of Etsy shops to share some great gifts (and discount deals!!!) with my little chickens.

Coffee Before Talkie mug from 

WHOLEWIDEWORLD

Can you imagine a cuter mug for your morning cup of caffeinated gold?

I'm in love with all of the cups in Megan's shop, but this one was my super favorite because it is often my morning mantra.

Check out her other fab items here.

Matters of Merrymaking readers get 15% off with code: WILDWORLD

Sergeant Pepper Wooden Spoons from 

TREEHOUSE ILLUSTRATOR

Some of the most unique and whimsical gifts perfect for the fabulous person in your life who loves to cook!  Preparing holiday meals would be way more fun with John, Paul, George, and Ringo.  Kristin even has the Duck Dynasty boys for the duck call lovin' friends on your list.

Matters of Merrymaking readers get 10% off with code: MAKINGMERRY

Lit Handmade Recycled Wine Bottle Natural Soy Candle from LITSOYCANDLES

I love every single item in this shop! The packaging, the recycled bottle, and the AMAZING scent of this candle is everything!  Jordan and Taylor have many delicious spirited scents to choose from (I picked Chardonnay) including Riesling, Merlot, and Mimosa.  Perfect for the sommelier in your life or just for the girl who loves yummy candles!!!!

Matters of Merrymaking readers get free shipping-

Tell them Bekah sent you!

Latitude & Longitude Bracelet from

SHOPTHECOPPERFOX

One of my dearest and best friends moved away from Memphis to Atlanta, and this is the PERFECT gift to give her a little bit of home to see when she looks down on her wrist.  The coordinates of our favorite little city on a skinny brass cuff is personable AND fashionable. WIN WIN! Sarah also has necklaces & keychains available for personalization! Oh, and she can ship in gift packaging right to your gift reciepient! Faboosh!

Matters of Merrymaking readers get 10% off with code MERRYMAKING10!

Orange Amp Flask from 

RKGRACE

In Rebecca's shop, I found possible gift ideas for the hardest person to please on my list! There are tons of flask ideas in her shop.  From wedding parties and customized engraved options, the possibilities are endless.  My guitar loving father will adore this orange amp flask, I can't wait!  SO FUN!

Matters of Merrymaking readers get 10% off with HOLIDAY.

Paper Garland from 

ARTSDELIGHT

The off white paper garland really inspired me to get in the holiday spirit! I love the delicate look of the garland, I need to get my hands on some more of them.  Linsey has tons of colors to choose from and hand makes the sweet garlands with a variety of different sizes of circles and shapes!

Do What You Love print from

PEARLS AND PASTRIES

I want to plaster my walls with every single print from this shop.  Lauren has so many beautiful items, quotes, and SO MANY SEQUINS!  The quality is great and the prices are so affordable.  If prints aren't what you are looking for, make the seasons bright with these hangers!!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

This was me for most of last week.  I think it was a side effect of the flu shot I got the week before, but thankfully I am feeling merry once again.

I was rockin' out by the time the weekend rolled around. Braving the surprise of a super cold earrrrrrly Saturday morning, I went to tailgate and attend the Memphis Tigers football game.  We lost, but it was definitely FUN FUN! Sunday, I got to meet my new nephew puppy, Copper! Isn't he the CUTEST! I love him already. Perfect weather called for some lattes and the mall with my baby sister. I got a new dress and a new Mac lip pencil I am way too excited about.

Hope all of you guys had super great weekends!! Stay merry.

polka (dot) com

To my fabulous and super supportive little chickens:

As an early, almost three years of blogging present to my merry little self, I officially made Matters of Merrymaking its own little .com!  That's right, be sure to change any bookmarks!

The blogspot.com address will redirect here, however, so you'll always be able to find me.

Thanks again for reading and being wonderful! 

Love to you all. Xo, Bekah.

Three Things

Just a quick post for a rainy Tuesday morning. Three things on my mind.

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Breaking Bad I know, I know everyone and their great Aunt Sally has been talking about this show, chickie just won an Emmy, and it is all coming to a close this weekend.  I am a super late band wagon jumper.  It took me a year to finally have enough stamina to stick it out through the first few seasons, but now I am super obsessed.  I finished season 4 in twenty four (ahem, I'm not ashamed) hours.  If all goes as planned, this week will wrap up season 5 and I will marathon the beejezus out of the current season and experience the finale with the rest of the world.

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To Knit or Not To Knit I decided the other day, that every modern merrymaker needs a skill.  Since cooking is far away from ever being my forte... I thought a hobby would suffice.  I needed a break from my Candy Crush obsession and you can knit while you watch massive amounts of Netflix (see first paragraph!) I consulted my extremely multi-talented mother and asked her to teach me to knit. Really, it's genius.  I love the idea of making chunky knit scarves and ear warming headbands for everyone in the most lovely autumn shades!  It is the little things in life.   Stay tuned, it is going well... just slooooooowly.

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The Great Perfume Hunt I'm on a hunt for a new scent.  I just hate going in to department stores for one, because all of the smells are very overwhelming and often... headache inducing.  Do any of my little chickens have perfume suggestions?  I like more floral, light tones.  Maybe I should just bite the bullet and order the One Direction engineered parfum.  It is worth buying if it attracts Harry Styles. I'm kidding... kinda. Thanks for reading! :) Happy 2-for-1 margarita day!

And we'll never be royals...

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How ya goin, little chickens? Divine intervention, if you will, has provided me with some unexpected inspiration and I have done some fine tuning here at M of M!  New look, new header, new button, everything!  I (still) hope to get on a regular posting schedule.  I miss all of you!  You'd be surprised how time consuming eating Starbursts and watching Parks and Rec can truly be.  Til next time, stay merry.  PS: are you as obsessed with this song as I am?

Merry Mondays

The amount of selfies (hate the word, love the action) that I took this weekend should be illegal. But, I think it's okay to do it when you get new hair or new shoes, or whatever. Right!? Also, if you can't take them at Target... WHEN CAN YOU?

Daiquiris and watching the Memphis Grizzlies game downtown was so fun! Great crowd and fun surprise parades.

Memphis the musical was such a ball! We dressed up and had dinner at Bluefin on S. Main downtown then walked to the Orpheum. I am thrilled I got to see the show this time. I go back in a few weeks to see Rock of Ages.

Is it still a selfie if you include someone?!

Instagram overload at the Southern Hot Wing Festival along the banks of the Mississippi river! The weather is perfecto here right now so for once its not miserable to be outside enjoying adult beverages and good friends.

So I'm beginning this Monday even more exhausted than I was on Friday, but it was totally worth it. Four day week for me... Here we go!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Friday Favorites: Holiday Song Collection

It's so crazy how many holiday songs get stuck in your head when you are power shopping for some important gifts for your loved ones. I am kinda obsessed with Shazam-ing the new tunes and adding them to my holiday playlists. But... Lets not forget the importance of a classic. I want to share a few of my favorite holiday songs today and I want my dear dear merry chickens to share their favorites with me. I have been polling some of my friends lately --I think that someone's favorite Christmas time song says a lot about it. Who knows? Maybe I missed my calling as a music psychologist.  Anyway- here goes. Favorite classic/ALL TIME favorite:   Newly discovered favorite song (love her!) 

New release favorite: 

                                          

Just for fun: 

                                            

I hope you enjoyed listening to some/all of these! I hope they made your day merry. It is Friday after all... So go have the best weekend ever. My fam and I are having a panama cookie baking party (fueled with gin and tonic) and I am very very excited! And feel free to share your favorite Christmas songs with me!!! 

Merry Monday Must-reads

In case you missed it, I was rooting for the Giants yesterday! I am very happy happy today!Here are some must-reads I came across in the blogosphere over the weekend.   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-readsEnjoy!

one. Ruby Woo Loves You: Tierney is doing a budget series on how to build a classic wardrobe by saving a bit out of every paycheck for 5 paychecks! (She even specifies for all budgets!)
two. The Blog of Worldy Delights: Laura is trying to have more dressed up days, and I love how she styled her sequin top!
three. A Little Bit Of This: Kimmie is showing off her fabulously redecorated little girl's room. Love love love the striped walls.
four. Fabulous K: Kelly took a big step & quit Twitter.  She is reading my mind with her 'Simplify' post.Also, in this post she shares these amazing BJ shoes that are ONLY $69!
five. From The Mixed-Up Files: Rebekah shares a look in to the Jason Wu for Target collection.

Merry Monday Must-reads

Hi y'all! I hope everyone had an amazing and restful 3-day weekend.  Happy MLK Jr Day!Here are some must-reads I came across in the blogosphere this week.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-readsEnjoy! 

oomph | bex shows us that she really is the master of mixing animal prints.
bfrend on etsy | blogger monika hibbs makes fabulous bfrend bracelets on etsy & they're GORG!
think twice style | sarah is wearing my favorite color combo, red & purple.
style & pepper | my "new to me" blog find of the week, style & pepper. check it out!
fashion for giants | gracey shows us her favorite orange ensembles.  tangerine is the color to look for!
Do you have a must-read you would like to see on this list next week? Email it to me, little chickens!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN :)

That sign is my ABSOLUTE favorite. Totally encompasses my love of the holiday.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

my little chickens.

I hope you have the spookiest, most enjoyable 31st ever.

I won't be doing anything too crazy today, as I celebrated this past weekend.

We watched our favorite ghost shows (ghost adventures, anyone?), went to see our favorite cover band (SNOZberry) at a haunted (?) old brothel-turned-restaurant (earnestine and hazel's) in downtown Memphis, and had a great time in our costumes (i was a flapper, obvi)!  

It was definitely the most fun halloween I have had in a few years

aaaaaaaaaand:

NO INJURIES!

woohoo.

My BFF Carli and me before the show.

ON ME: dress: ASOS | shoes: nine west | fishnets: party city | headband, necklaces, boa: borrowed}

Laura, my sister-in-law, Carli and me

 George Michael and me, obviously.

Did you all have the most amazing Halloween everrrr?!

Hope so.

Enjoy tonight and if you are going trick or treating, y'all be careful :)

oh, and save me the reese's pumpkins- they're my favorite.

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: