gingham sweetheart

Asos dress, Rubi shoes, bag c/o Oasap, vintage sunglasses

The weather has been SO glorious lately! I've been loving the warm change, and so far we haven't had to deal with any horrid humidity -- I'm hoping this lasts until the end of Spring. Yesterday we spent the day out at a food festival and it was just wonderful. We had candy floss, nougat and sorbet, tasted local honey and preserves, snacked on strawberries, held some fluffy ducklings and even posed with a cow! If you follow me on instagram you would've seen the picture with the cutie :) If not, the photo is here and I think it's hilarious!

This week ahead is very hectic with school work and I'm anxious for it to be over already. On Tuesday I have a math exam and an english performance due and I should really be studying/ practising right now... but, no, I'm sitting here at my desk, writing up a blog post. Typical me! 

I hope you have a great week!

xx Maria

perfect two

 Vintage dress, bag c/o Oasap , Sportsgirl hat, Target cork wedges

I received this bag from Oasap on Monday and I just love it. It was my first ever sponsorship item and it's lovely. The leather is quite sturdy and it's a convenient size... perfect for carrying all of my essentials for day-to-day adventures. The only thing I was disappointed with was the quality of the metal. The zippers are very poorly made and tarnished. It's still a very usable bag though, and despite the metal quality, I think I will get a lot of use out of it! If you'd like to take a peak, you can here. 

I've been very busy lately, and stressed with school work, so this morning after my tennis lesson, I decided to spend the morning thrifting by myself. I picked up some really wonderful items: the dress I'm wearing in this post, a denim blouse, a high waisted retro denim skirt and a beautiful pink blouse with a collar. It all came in at $13, and I was very impressed! I then had a chai latte and headed home. I think it's important to balance out your life as a teenager... making sure that you are doing your school work as well as taking time out to do calming and enjoyable things. 

xx Maria

winter's song

These are a few snaps that were taken during Izzy and I's neighbourhood frolic a few weeks back. The ending of winter has been a little bitter-sweet for me. I'm going to miss the cosy nights in with a movie, howling wind outside and the crisp mornings but at the same time I'm really anticipating summer. We have already had a burst of warmth. Pretty swimsuits are adorning shops windows, ice cream and berry smoothies are more popular at work, and, wait for it, I saw mangoes today! 

Anyway, here is my first ever 'mixtape' or playlist as such. These are a few of the songs that I couldn't stop replaying over the last 3 months. Enjoy! 

1). Houdini - Foster The People (I'm surprised I haven't tired of this song yet... I've surely listened to it 100 times!)

2). All I Want - Sarah Blasko

3). Happy Pills - Norah Jones

4). Rain On Your Parade - Duffy

5). White Flag - Dido

6). Sunday Morning - Maroon 5

7). Lazarus - Porcupine Tree

8). Sister - The Black Keys

9). I'm Scared - Duffy

10). Breakeven - The Script

Guest post: Lauren of Someone Like You

Mint Lace Dress: Delia's.

Nude Oxfords, Mint Bracelet: Forever21.

Pink Satchel: Plato's Closet.

Hair Bow: Modcloth.

Ring: c/o Style Queen.

Hello sweet readers of Avenue M!

I'm Lauren, a brand new college student studying fashion and the bashful lady behind the blog Someone Like You.

I went to a small high school where everyone knew my name and I knew their names. I was recognized as 'the fashion girl' and had my own label, just as most of us do in high school. Coming to a college of 26,000 students though is a total turn around; one I certainly wasn't expecting.

People don't know your name here and they don't care to. If you wear a dress, you're not going to get compliments and people aren't going to fawn over you because there are 2,000 other girls wearing dresses. You may think you have distinct style, but it turns out...hundreds of other girls dress exactly like you.

It can be hard to find and recapture your identity in college. I've felt lost, insignificant, and like the things that make me, well...me, are gone. It's been hard, but I've realized a lot of things along the way.

No matter where you are. High school, college, the work place -- you're going to feel like you don't matter. You're going to feel small and insignificant and wonder if your opinions and your mark on the world will ever matter. But it's important to realize that you DO matter. You will make a difference. It may not be the same difference you made in another place. It may not be as significant, great, or noted. But it's there. Sometimes you just can't always see it.

Never lose yourself or give up on being yourself. Even though it might seem like there are 1,000 other you's--to simply put it; there isn't. There's only one Someone Like You.

Thank you for having me Maria!

With much love, Lauren.