TRANSITION (+ A WHITE PLUM GIVEAWAY!)

outfit 1:

white plum blouse, c/o (20% off with code MERRICKSART)

similar jeans

similar boots here and here (25% off at SHOPBOP with code FAMILY25)

petunia pickle bottom bag, c/o

urban outfitters sunglasses

outfit 2:

white plum sweater, c/o (20% off with code MERRICKSART)

similar button up (or dress version)

dittos jeans, c/o

sam edelman booties

petunia pickle bottom bag, c/o

urban outfitters sunglasses

PHOTOS BY JANA LAURENE

During those transitional months, when the weather is changing from hot to cold or vice versa, it's important to have a few transitional pieces -- ones that work for warm and cold days, and can also work in your closet during most of the year. 

I teamed up with White Plum today to bring you two outfits that are perfect for those transitional days, AND to give away $100 to their darling shop! The Pacifica Embroidered Blouse is one I could wear ALL summer long with shorts and sandals, but is perfect with boots and a jacket as the weather cools down.  

And the Archer Oversized Sweater? You guys, I want to live in this thing. It's that perfect cozy sweater you can bundle up in during the cooler mornings and evenings, and then wrap around your waist for a laid back (and less hot) look during the day. 

Enter to win $100 to White Plum through the rafflecopter widget below, or, if you can't wait, use code MERRICKSART to get 20% off your purchase until 10/24! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



And if you're looking for more great transitional pieces, be sure to check out SHOPBOP right now, because today is the last day of the 25% off sale! Click the images below to shop my favorites, and use code FAMILY25 at checkout for 25% off your order (Sale ends TONIGHT!)

HOMEMADE HALLOWEEN: DIY DISNEY PRINCESS HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

To finish off my week of Homemade Halloween costumes, I'm super excited to show you the three adult costumes I made this year. I'm really not into dressing up for Halloween now that I have kids, but coming up with, sewing, and styling these Disney Princess costumes was SO much fun that I just might do this every year.

Plus, when I teamed up with Sara from Tell, Love, and Chocolate to throw a Halloween costume party last night, I had three costumes to choose from!

(you can see pictures from the party over on my instagram!)

Tutorials for all three princesses are over on SheKnows -- hop over and check them out! 

Oh, and a huge thanks to Leanne for being my Elsa model ;) 

TASSEL CHANDELIER TUTORIAL

Last week, Sara, from Tell Love and Chocolate, and I hosted a Halloween party. We'll share a full recap of the party later this week, but today we've teamed up with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store to bring you a super cool Halloween tutorial of a project we did for the party -- a Tassel Chandelier!

Sara came up with this super cool idea and it looked amazing hanging above our long table under the twinkle lights.

My favorite thing about this project is that it's so customizable -- try different sizes of branches, or different sizes, colors, and numbers of tassels to make your chandelier completely unique. Also, they're a gorgeous fixture for above your table, like we did for our party, but you could also mount it above your fireplace, on your door in place of a wreath, on your wall, or above a door...the possibilities are practically endless!

Click through to find the super easy tutorial!

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A SPOOKTACULAR SOIREE + 5 TIPS FOR A PERFECT HALLOWEEN PARTY

invitations via minted

find the tutorial for the tassel chandelier right here

find the tutorial for my painted pumpkins right here

napkins made by sara

 where's my little mermaid rock when I need it? 

(find the tutorial for my DIY mermaid costume right here)

the hostesses with the mostestes ;)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA WALK

Back in July, Sara, from Tell Love and Chocolate, and I hosted a backyard dinner party with some of our friends. After all the work we put into it, we swore we wouldn't host another one for a long time, but then Halloween started rolling around and we couldn't let the chance for a Halloween party pass us by, so the idea for our Spooktacular Soiree was born. I haven't been to a real Halloween party since I was a freshman in high school (and many of my friends were the same), so it was an absolute BLAST to dress up in costume and spend a night with friends.

With more than a week left til Halloween, there's still tons of time to throw a little party with your friends, so in addition to all the party ideas in the photos above, here's Five Tips for an Easy and Perfect Halloween Party you can throw together this weekend!

And check out more great holiday party ideas over on Jo-Ann's project hub, or search the hashtag #DIYforHalloween!



1. Go Potluck Style. With all the invitations, decor, set up, and stresses that come with being a party hostess, the last thing you want to worry about is feeding everyone. Make it easy on yourself and pass out dinner assignments with the invitations. We asked guests to bring "Halloween or Fall Themed Dishes," and we ended up with the most creative, delicious, and festive food!

2. Make Costumes Mandatory. When we threw the floral affair party over the summer, we everyone dress in all white, and this time we asked everyone to wear their Halloween costume. Having everyone dressed up makes the party feel cohesive and creates an ambiance that shouldn't be missed! Plus, it's fun to see everyone's creativity in their costumes -- we had some girls go all out!

3. Make a Photobooth. If you're all dressed up in costumes, give your friends a chance to show them off! Plus, who doesn't love a photobooth? We hung a fun spiderweb backdrop, and then set up the camera on the tripod and used a remote and the timer and let everyone go to town!

4. Have at least one activity. We didn't get any pictures of it, but we had a donut eating contest -- you know, where the donuts hang from string and you have to eat them with your hands behind your back? Having some kind of fun activity gets people laughing, having fun, and breaks up the party a bit so you're not just sitting and eating dinner the entire time. (At our Floral Affair we had everyone make their own floral crowns!)

5. Don't forget the music! Music is everything at parties -- it completely sets the mood and keeps any awkward silences at bay. We chose the Halloween Party Pandora Station and it was perfect. A good mix of spooky and festive tunes, and even a few jams that had everyone out of their chairs and dancing!

 Now go throw a Halloween party!!

A huge thanks to Minted for the gorgeous invitations, and to Caravan Shoppe for the perfect photo backdrop! 

This post was created in partnership with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores

MID WEEK STEALS: OLD NAVY'S 20TH BIRTHDAY SALE

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9

Did you guys know that Old Navy turns 20 this month? Well they're celebrating with a big fat sale, and right now they have a ton of good stuff, all up to 60% off! So for my Mid Week Steals today I'm sharing a few of my favorites above, and even more in the widget below. I mean, those burgundy cords? And those gold loafers?? (I tried them on the other day in the store and they are so cute). Also, who doesn't need a good turtleneck for fall, or a cute pair of sneaks? Get shopping already!

And don't forget -- it's free shipping on orders of $50 or more, and always free returns, so go snag yourself a few new things for Fall!

DIY FRIDAY: PLEATED FIT + FLARE DRESS TUTORIAL

dress made by me, similar here, here, and here (25% off with code HAPPY)

dolce vita shoes

lulu's clutch, sold out -- similar clutch here and here

urban outfitters sunglasses 

michael kors watch

stella and dot bracelet, c/o 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANA LAURENE 

This dress has seriously been the longest time coming. I started it back in May and then didn't touch it for the entire summer. Finally, a month ago, I busted it out and finished it in one night, photographed it that week, aaaand then I had a million other projects lined up for DIY Friday so it's tutorial kept getting pushed back. But here we are. Finally. You guys, go make this dress right now -- it's THE BEST.

It's one of those dresses that is not only flattering on nearly every body type, it's also great for dressing up and dressing down, and it's perfect for all seasons. This is how I wore it during the summer (and a casual summer version here and here), but during the Fall it's great with a scarf, jacket, and booties, and during the winter it would look amazing with tights and a colorful wool coat. 

click through to find the tutorial!

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