magic pants + a photo a day

 

{red pants: dots | black shirt: target | white sweater: old navy | shoes: payless | necklace: borrowed}

I may only be twenty three years old, but red pants may have been the best thing to ever happen to me.

These magic pants instantly give me a mood boost and turn my occasional outfit frown upside down. (right side up? I confused myself...)

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If you follow me don't follow me (@missbekah) on Instagram (you're missing out..) I just wanted to share the January Photo A Day Challenge with you!  Each day in Jan, you share a picture that goes along with the theme! Here are my first three days:

Day One: ME

Day Two: Breakfast.(PS I didn't wake up until 12:30, y'all.  Don't judge)

 Day Three: Something You Adore

Day Four: Letterbox

and lastly Day Five (today): Something You Wore (yesterday)

It's not too late to play along! Use Instagram and the hashtag #janphotoaday for maximum funness.

coast to coast neutralblocking

I was not 100% sure about this top when I bought it.  I wanted to get a new outfit (already bending my in my goals) for the first day back to school, so I ran into TJ Maxx and fell in love with this Cable & Gauge neutralblocked (?!) tunic.  It definitely looked different on the hanger, but that's what I get for not trying it on in-store. The cherry on top of this tale of a Maxxinista? I only took one of the price tags off of it accidentally, so yeah, I spent 6.5 hours at work with a barcode on my back.

 {leggings and top: cable & gauge via TJMAXX | necklace: borrowed | boots: LB | scarf: gifted}

 One of the Eagle scouts at my school painted a huge mural of the United States of America beside the playground for his final project.  Pretty cool, huh?
First I was in Memphis, Tennessee...

THEN, I was in CALI baby! (Hey, Dani!)

comfy chic + needed inspiration

{jeans: rainbow | wedges: payless | princeton tee: target | sweater: i ♥ ronson (via jcpenney | shades: kate spade}

In all reality, today is my first day back to work.Christmas vacation is over. (boo, hiss) But in merry blogland we are going to continue believing that I'm still on break!I really wore this a few days back to get sushi lunch and manicures with one of my besties in town from VA (hey, jess!!).  I love the contrasting look of a comfy sweater and graphic tee with distressed skinny jeans and wedges.  There's a whole lotta juxtaposition-ing going on!
Did you have to return to the real world today, too? Bummer.

As part of my 2012 goals to grow creatively & harvest more inspiration...I studded the word "create" on the wall over my desk to bring inspiration to my workplace!!!!(do it yourself: I just wrote the word in pencil and used thumbtacks--TA DA!)

Misikko HANA Air Hair Dryer Review

If you have been around this little blog for any period of time, you may have noticed that I am a beauty fanatic as well.  I am always game to try a new trend, product, or styling device.  When Misikko.com asked me to review their premier hair dryer, the Hana Air, I was completely ready to accept the challenge.  It's rated as their best hair dryer and was voted the as the Premier Hair Dryer in 2010 and 2011! 

Preface: It is important to note that I have naturally curly, unruly hair and like (almost) every curly headed lady out there, I have always coveted sleek, silky straight locks.  I have long been searching for products and tools to make my hair that way for the longest time now.  The hair drying process used to be a mundane step that I loathed daily! Not anymore...  
First Impressions:  The packaging on on a product from Misikko.com makes you feel like a kid at summer camp getting a care package from Mom.  I mean, they go the extra mile to make you feel special!
Product: It's lightweight, it's sleek, and it's got a long cord. CHECK CHECK CHECK!I plugged in this baby and it blew me away, literally. The power and wattage is truly impressive.  It has many different settings from cool, warm, & hot.  This is honestly the first dryer I've owned that truly blew cool air when you wanted it.  I like to blast my locks with cool air after blowdrying and this dryer really did it!My hair felt softer and there was ZERO static.I can honestly say that the HANA air hair dryer passed every curly hair ---> straight hair item on the check list.Best of all, I was frizz free :)
(Pic on right: After using the dryer, very smooth hair with my natural wave)(Pic on left: after straightening, my hair has never been this sleek and smooth!)

Even for those not hair care obsessed (like me), this product will simplify your beauty routine and make you feel and look lovely!Check out the other amazing styling products available from Hana, I know I have my eye on the Hana Elite Ceramic Flat Iron.Check out Misikko.com and check out their wide variety of products (including CHI Hair Products!!!)

Want to have your product reviewed on Matters of Merrymaking?send me an email at mattersofmerrymaking(AT)gmail(DOT)com

2012 + good luck

I hope all my little chickens had the most amazing NYE last night!I drank champagne out of fancy flutes & wore my best sparkles (stay tuned for the full post for Bloggers Do It Better) surrounded by some of my favorite people.2012 is here to stay, and let's make it the best year yet!

Today we will have our traditional "Good Luck"New Year's Day meal of black eyed peas, greens, pork, & cornbread!And most importantly, I will cherish my last few hours of vacay and I may or not just wear my Snuggie :)

CHEERS to 2012!