pretty phone case giveaway! *closed*

Happy November everyone! (One of my favourite months solely because it's the preparation month before Christmas, yay!).Why not celebrate with a giveaway? Iconemesis has kindly offered to give away an iphone case of your choice (for either the third or fourth generation iphone). I received a case earlier in the year and they are incredibly cute and excellent quality :) Plus, there's a huge variety of colours and designs to choose from... the Fifi Lapin cases above are a few of my favourites. 

To enter: 

Like Iconemesis on Facebook here

Like Avenue M on Facebook here

Leave a comment below with contact details 

Bonus entries (leave a separate comment for each one)

Follow Avenue M on GFC or Bloglovin

Follow me on Pinterest,
Tumblr or Instagram

Follow Iconemesis on Twitter

This giveaway is now closed! 

This giveaway is international, so everyone can enter! It closes on the 15th of November. When the winner has been drawn I will send Iconemesis an email with your email and your favourite phone case and they'll send it to you ♥

DIY house & home

I've been busily collecting DIY room ideas more than usual lately as we are moving house in mid-December. I'm very happy and excited as we are moving to a much bigger space to accommodate my large (and frequently visiting) family. My room will also be a bit bigger too so I'l have room for a new bed and a white rolling clothes rack (something I've been wanting for a while now).
These are a few collages of images I've found inspiring. I love the idea of storing toiletries and makeup on tiered plates. I think it would also look very lovely if  had a pretty basket next to the clothes rack full of teen vogue, wrapping paper and artificial flowers (just like the picture above).

This is a great way to recycle old tea cups from the op-shop or from the china cabinet and give them a new life and usage. I'd love to be able to store my jewellery this way. It's not too girlie and not too edgy -- the perfect balance! The tutorial for this project can be found on Emily's beautiful blog, Yesterday's Sweetheart. 

I've seen plenty of the wooden inspirational block words in my friends rooms... but they always seemed a little plain for me. I love colour and patterns, and covering them with maps is such an awesome idea! I'd also love to make this BFF embroidery set from Scathingly Brilliant to represent Izzy and I's friendship. It's such and adorable idea. Last but not least, who wouldn't want to pull back there curtains with a pretty teacup?

How have you guys made your room unique? Have you got any cool ideas to share? I'd love to hear them! ♥

credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (not sure for this one!)

frankie, retro prints and dotted cookies

1. Lilac and gold dotted nails against pretty retro car print skirt (find it here for only $14!) 2. Relaxing reading for a gloriously sunny Saturday (incomplete without tea!) 3. Outfit for a trip to a fancy cafe

4. Makin' a yummy smoothie to help cool down during the unpredictable current Australian weather 5. Cupcake heaven at a baby shower! 6. Dotted cookies and chai lattes at a beautiful cafe 

7. Izzy and I prior to video filming a few weeks ago 8. Cleaning and organising my wardrobe (you should have seen it before-hand (bomb sight)) 9. Mirror pics are #chictothenextlev and #totesamaze (watch this, now!!) with Izzy!

10. Magical lamp post fromNarnia (just kidding, I wish Narnia existed!) 11 & 12. Slightly obsessed with pretty nails in case you couldn't already tell ;) 

 13. Gorgeous artificial flower arrangement 14. Marie Antionette mints from Paree! 15. Practising the winged eyeliner... I'm getting better, yay!

If you'd like, you can follow me on instagram: @avenuemaria
♥♥♥

midsummer it would seem (sunday snaps)

Being a little creative with liquid eyeliner, curves on Photoshop and flowing silhouettes | Painting my nails in pretty shades with cheap (but wonderful quality) polishes | Still a little in awe about the cover of Frankie 50th issue, still can't figure out how they managed such a realistic embroidery emboss 

Today was another sweltering day and I had no choice but to spend most of it lying under the fan and listening to Plan B. Transitional seasons are meant to ease you into the next season, but instead BAM! we're hit with a summer heatwave. It's not that bad though as it's the perfect excuse for making fruit ice smoothies and swimming. How's the weather where you are? Not too unbearable I hope!

This weekend has been mighty relaxing so far. Yesterday I went op-shopping with my friend, Ruby, and we bought a few things at the local thrift stores. I purchased a cute blue satchel and some makeup and she got the cutest vintage denim vest, skirt and grey top. We then had a lovely morning tea and discussed the latest happenings.
Well, I better skootch, math homework is beckoning (wish me luck with the first question)!