Hey Mickey

The weather's still pretty awful here over in the south. Brilliant...

And that means boring, samey samey, comfortable and warm outfits.

Anyhow, into the outfit.

I wore this awesome Mickey Mouse jumper from Newlook to keep me warm... I had my eye on it just before Christmas but decided to hold off being someone who owns more jumpers than any other item of clothing. But, I got it shortly after Christmas anyway, I just couldn't resist. The best part? It should of cost me around £35 (a little steep for my taste) and I nabbed it for a teeny £13 in the sale. 

I also wore plain black jeggings and that's about it... I understand that this outfit's a little boring, but hey ho, boring weather = boring outfit, because lets face it, the things I'd love to wear won't exactly keep me warm and dry in this torrential weather.

And it's the return of the practical coat.

I wore my navy pea coat, again, but topped it off with this gooooorgeous beige and pink tartan scarf from H&M. I had it as a Christmas present off my mam purely because I instantly fell in love with it in store and just couldn't leave it behind. I then saw Esteé from Essie Button feature it in one of her videos, where she described it a 'blanket scarf' which is 100% correct. It is huuuuge!

Anyway, as always, I forget to put on shoes. I wore my pale, pastel pink Dr.Martens which I'm sure will feature on Buttons and Bows in the future so stay tuned folks.

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"The days are getting colder, have a warm heart"

It's extremely cold in Wales right now.

Who am I kidding? It's always cold in Wales...

I was going out for a meal and wanted to look cute, but also needed to dress well suited to the weather; painfully cold winds and torrential rain. I'm not even exaggerating!

I must admit, cream and burgundy are some of my favourite colours, especially in blocks.

I wore a plain burgundy skater skirt from River Island and paired it with this gorgeous cream blouse from New Look. The blouse is really pretty as it has a lace panel that stretched from the sleeve and all the way across the back. It's also quite oversized so I tucked it into the skirt to give me some shape. Just to tell you, the blouse is rather sheer so I put on a pale pink vest underneath, also from New Look.

Under the skirt, I wore black tights, cream frilly socks from Topshop and tan and tapestry brogues from good old New Look.

Simple, but so elegant. 

How gorgeous is this coat!!!!!

It's actually a deep navy, but it's coming across as a purpley colour, I don't know why and it makes me sad but hey ho.

I bought it before going to Paris in March, especially for the occasion obviously. I'm pretty sure that it's from Dorothy Perkins and cost me a grand total of £20 in the sale... Bargain!

As you can see, it's a pea coat made from a fluffy (ish) material with gorgeous pearl and silver buttons! It's the perfect length and also features a peter pan collar, which unfortunately, you cannot see.

Oh, and it's suuuuper warm and cosy :)

I love this outfit. When you break it down it's really simple, but it makes for a gorgeous, elegant look.

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The Resolutions- 1 Month On

I've never really been one to make New Years Resolutions, but this year I thought I'd give it ago...
So obviously, it's been a month into 2014 and I thought I'd let you all know about my resolutions and how I'm doing basically...

1) Look after yourself.
My first resolution was to look after myself. This includes looking after my skin and my insides.
I basically decided to start eating healthier and exercising more. To be 100% honest, I'm a healthy and active person anyway, I do around 3 hours dance training two, maybe three times a week and I eat good foods. However, I really just wanted to become healthier in myself. To do this, I've taken up 'latino fit' classes in my local sport centre. It's sort of a cross between body conditioning, dance, aerobics and weights all mashed into a one hour class. As you can probably tell, it's very intense. But I've already been feeling the benefits it! The classes are also really fun so I look forward to them every week.
As far as eating healthily goes, I think I've been doing pretty well. I definitely been eating less chocolate and sweets and my overall diet has been pretty good. One of my favourite new snacks is honey drizzled over apple, raspberries, strawberries and banana. mmmmm
So, the second half of my resolution was to look after my skin. I've just been very strict on myself to remove my makeup properly each night, treat my skin and give it what it needs. As well as this, I've been really focused on keeping my actual body nourished and healthy. Before, I'd moisturise my body occasionally, (about once a month if I could be bothered... bad, I know) but I've been moisturising it every night to keep it soft and lovely.
Overall, Resolution #1 has been going great! I can honestly say that I can already feel the benefits and I won't been slacking on this one any time soon.

2) Be more organised.
This is where it starts going downhill...
I basically decided that I would be more organised with school work and other stuff in general but it hasn't really gone well.
I still don't write things down in my planner or on a calendar. I get the things done, but often at last minute.
However, I have just organised my computer. I've sorted out all of my files,renamed about 500 different documents and songs,  deleted things I don't need and backed all of my work up. That's pretty organised in my book...
Yeah, so #2 hasn't gone the greatest so far, but I have another 11 months to improve...

3) Keep your bedroom tidy.
And this is where things hit rock bottom.
Let's just say, I'm currently sat on my bed surrounded by CD's, DVD'S, magazines and clothes...


And there you have it, my resolutions and how well (or terribly) I'm doing one month into a brand new year.
How are your resolutions going???

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Expensive Pink

In preparation for Valentines Day, I created a lovely soft pink smokey eye. It's great for the day and for the evening so you'll be set whenever.

If I had a Valentines date (uhhh... hint hint), then this is the look I'd wear. I've honestly fallen in love with it recently because it's just so pretty, shimmery and simple. Oh, and the pink really makes my blue eyes stand out :)

Starting out with my Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold, I apply a thin layer all over my eyelid, slightly into the crease and under my eye, leaving the very inner corner free of colour. Simple

I then used Expensive Pink by MAC and went over the pink base, so all over basically. This shade is so gorgeous! It leaves a really nice sheen and yeah, you neeeeed this in your makeup collection. 

Then, I took my bronze Rimmel eyeliner and used it to line my upper and lower lashline. I also created a little wing to make the look slightly more dramatic.

I quickly followed this with Urban Decays Faint eyeshadow to smudge out the line. I also blended this into the crease to add soft definition to the eye. 

Finally, I used Urban Decays Venus eyeshadow to highlight the inner corner, brow bone and very inner third of the lower lash line. 

To finish the look, I applied a few coats of mascara and also added some gold Collection glitter eyeliner. This just added a little glitz to the look without being too out there.

Finally, I used my Fit Me Concealer to clean up around the eye, just in case any eyeshadow dropped onto my cheeks. 

And there we have it, the finished look. As I said, I really love how pretty this combination is and I'll be wearing this around Valentines, even if I'm just out with my family. 

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Remember me?

It's been well over a month since my last post...
Basically, Christmas is quite an emotional time for me and it hasn't been easy this year especially. I'm not going to go into detail but I just needed a little time to myself.
As well as that, schools been pretty full on and if I'm honest, it's taken me a good few weeks to get settled in again.
I'm actually a little gutted as I had quite a few posts planned especially for Christmas and New Years, but obviously, due to some things, that didn't happen. Oh well...
So, basically, I've just needed time to get settled into things again and work out my routine for the new year.
Aaaand, I think I'm ready to get stuck in to my blog again. As you can probably tell, I've revamped Buttons and Bows a little so I'm pretty excited to begin blogging again.

Toodle pip.

Golden Glamour

8 days till Christmas. Holy moly has that come around fast!

Anyway, it's party season and so I thought I'd share my favourite looks for Christmas this year.

This first look uses all drug store products meaning it's super cheap!

Also, this look is beautiful on any eye colour as the gold really brings out the warmth and colour.

To make sure my shadow appears vibrant and stays all night, I primed my eyes. I used the Kiko Shadow Stick in 07 (a gorgeous foil gold) on the inner half of the eye and Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze on the outer half, making sure to keep the bottom lid clean of any product.

Next, I used the Collection Shadow Pencil in Hot Chocolate to create my desired shape. 

I continued the line from my bottom lash line up as if I was drawing on winged eyeliner. I then drew a straight line from the wing and continued it into my crease. This made a triangle shape and I lightly shaded this is with the same pencil. I then softened the line with a dense brush to make the shadow seamless.

Using a random matte brown shadow, I deepened my crease and continued to blend out the shadow stick to make the overall look really soft.

To create the gorgeous gold foil effect on the inner third of the eye, I used a combination of the L'oreal Colour Infallible Eyeshadow in Goldmine (A super pigmented, glossy, bright gold pigment) and the Collection Glam Crystals Eyeliner in Funk. I used my finger to press the gold shadow into the inner third of the eye and then topped it off with a layer of the gold liner. It honestly looks so beautiful and really catches the light, perfect for a Christmas Party. 

Finally, I curled my lashes and coated them with the Maybelline Falsies Mascara, my favourite, and then tidied up the look with my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer.

As you can see, I kept the bottom lash line completely free of any shadow or mascara. I really liked how this looked so I left it clean.

Don't forget, you can use any colour glitter you want; black, silver or even red! Also, you can add false lashes for a really glamorous look. I suggest fluttery, winged out lashes such as the Ardell Demi Wispies. 

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'Winter Skin'

I have just diagnosed myself with 'Winter Skin'.

Yes, that time of year where the skin freaks out eg. dry patches, spots and tight feeling skin.
Normally, I get this problem around January time when the air is icy cold. However, it's seemed to arrive early this year, which is strange as it hasn't felt so cold out this year.

Anyway, I thought I'd share my ways of solving the whole 'Winter Skin' thing.....
I do this whole process at least twice a week, but I cleanse every night and use my Simple moisturiser every night too.

First things first, I cleanse my skin to remove all my makeup, or if I'm not wearing any, just to prep my skin.
I like using the Simple Cleansing Lotion because it really nourishes my skin and seriously removes all my makeup!
I use half a sprout sized dollop (that's a very good description Eleri, wow thankyou myself) and massage it into my skin and then use a hot flannel, lay it over my face to steam and then wipe off the product in circular motions.

Next, I follow up with a moisturising face mask, or something to the same affect.
So, because of the dry area's and the little spots I've had recently, I haven't wanted to use a regular face mask just because I feel that they would irritate my skin more...
Instead, I've been using honey. That's right. Just honey. On my face.
Honey has so many positive benefits for the skin! First of all, it's super super moisturising! It has both antimicrobial and antioxidant properties meaning your skin is left feeling soft, moisturised and clean.
And... It also fights acne, wrinkles and premature ageing! You go honey!
Personally, I use a teaspoon dollop of honey and put it in the microwave for 7-10 seconds. This makes it really smooth and runny.
I then leave it in the bowl, untouched, for around 10 minutes. I find that this makes the honey form tiny little 'honey lumps' which means that the honey mask exfoliates as well as moisturises. I then massage the honey into my face and wait for 15-20 minutes.
Just a quick warning, it can get a little messy as the honey runs.
Once again, I use a hot flannel to massage the mask off.

I can honestly say that I can see a huge improvement in my skin after one use of the honey mask! My skin feels smoother, plumper and glows from within! I have also noticed that the redness of my spots has reduced over night. HONEY IS A MIRACLE WORKER!

I tend to go for Oilatum as a moisturiser substitute after using the honey mask.
It's specifically produced for dry skin and therefore is perfect for my skin right now. Wonderful!

Wow, I'm sorry that turned into such a long post.... I guess I have a lot to say about honey. oops

This routine has really improved my skin lately and although it's not back to it's previous state, it's definitely on it's way :)

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Christmas Nails!

Tis the season to be jolly and all that.

I love Christmas, it's definitely my favourite time of the year. So, to get into the true Christmas spirit, I jazzed up my nails and thought I'd share my designs with you :) And may I just add, the finished result it pretty darn cute....You're welcome. 

Yeah, you need alot....

I have a clear tray, to put polish on, a pulled crocodile clip to add detail and plenty of nail colours.

I used Ciaté Sand Dune (sparkly gold), a random Black polish, Under 18 (sparkly red), Be Happy (icy blue) and Pistache (grass green) all by Sinful Colors, Matt White by Barry M and a random top coat.

Obviously you don't need to use the same colours as me, or the same brands, so do whatever your heart desires. 

So, first things first, apply 2-3 coats of each polish. As you can see, I used the gold on my pinky finger, the sparkly red on my ring finger, the green on both my middle and second finger and finally the blue on my thumb. I obviously did this on both hands.

Look at this little guy chilling on my thumb! 
I started off by using the white polish to paint on two circles, the bottom one larger than the top.
I then dropped a little of the red polish onto my tray and used the crocodile clip to pick a little up. Basically, you just dot the colour between the two white circles to make a line. Then, make two smaller lines coming out and down. Voila, a scarf.
Next, I dropped the black polish on the tray and once again, used the clip to transfer it onto my nail. I placed two dots horizontally on the smallest circle to make eyes and two vertically on the biggest circle to make buttons.
Finally, I used the black to draw on a little hat. I drew a little slanted line and extended it upwards to create it. 
So cute!

The next design appears nicely on my middle finger. I personally think this is the easiest design.

I used the red polish and the crocodile clip to draw a little wonky triangle on the nail and finished it off with little white dots on the point and the bottom to represent the little fluffy stuff :) Easy peasy.

Just for a little more detail, I added some polka dots onto my ring finger.
I used the white polish and the clip to place on small dots. 
I started off with a line in the centre of my nails and then placed dots in between them, either side of that line... I hope that makes sense. And that's basically it, just fill your nail with dots and it's done :)

Finally, add a top coat and wait for your Christmas nails to dry :)

I really loved how it all turned out! It's actually all very simple and quick, believe me :)

Obviously, you can used different colours, put the designs on different nails and what not... just have fun and get into the Christmas spirit :)

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OOTD # 3 - Ace of Spades

There's nothing like a trip to the cinema on a cold rainy day...

I went for this bright orange dress from Missguided just to brighten up the day. It's lovely quality and it's only cost around £6!!! I'm planning on picking up a few more colours in a few different styles because they are just so lovely!

Because it was so cold, I wore tights underneath. These tights... I just cannot contain my love for them. They are covered in spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds and are basically just super cool. Again, these are from Missguided, super cheap and really good quality.

To keep my little toes warm, I wore my Dr.Marten Grace boots. Now, these are really expensive but definitely worth it!

Finally, I wore my Topshop leather jacket to keep me warm. Again, this was quite expensive but like the Dr.Martens, it's an investment piece that I wear all the time, so the price is definitely justifiable... Also, the price was great considering this is a great quality leather jacket with a lovely fur collar.

This is one of my favourite outfits as it looks really casual but is different from from the plain of jeans and t-shirt :)

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DIY Lip Scrub

I went on a little shopping the other day and ventured into lush. I've wanted the bubble gum lip scrub for a long time but I genuinely cannot bring myself to £5 for that little tub of flavoured sugar...

So, to save some money, I made my own. It is so simple and really effective.

Basically, you take a quarter tea spoon of honey and mix it with a quarter tea spoon of sugar. 

The sugar makes a great exfoliant where as the honey acts as a moisturiser. Honey contains antimicrobials and antioxidants which means that it really moisturises and leaves your lips feeling soft and smooth.

You can make as much or as little as you want and voila, done :)

I told you it was easy!

Once you have made the scrub, you literally just use your finger and rub it over your lips. Soft as a babies bottom...

To make sure my lips are nourished, I follow up with a lip balm. 

I do this two to three times a week, especially before I apply makeup if I'm planning on wearing a matte lipstick. No one wants cracked lips. 

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Hask Argan Oil ~Review~

My Hair Type- Very curly and quite dry.

Before I start, I'd just like to mention that I bought this little beauty for £2 in Primark, just keep that in mind...

This argan oil is amazing! I use a pea size amount on the ends of my hair and rub what ever's left throughout the remaining hair. It makes my hair so soft, shiny and manageable, but I don't use it every time I wash my hair because honestly, it makes it quite limp and greasy. I try to use it at least once a week and switch to a light leave in conditioner each wash between. This works really well for me so if you have similar hair, I'd give this a try. If you have very dry hair, I'd try using this every wash :)

The actual product is quite a thick liquid and because of this, it lasts ages. Also, it smells like oranges.... delicious!

So basically, this product is amazing. It keeps my hair healthy and makes it so manageable. It's easy to find and is extremely cheap. All of this equals happy Eleri and happy hair :)

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OOTD # 2 - last minute shopping

I went on a spur of the moment shopping trip with my mam and dad yesterday and this is what I wore, basically...
I wore this baby blue cropped jumper from Primark and a pair of mom jeans from Missguided. Oh, and the obvious shoe option was my navy converse. 
I actually think this is one of my favourite clothing items at the minute. It's such a gorgeous colour and the quality is amazing. 
And don't get me started on these jeans! Holy Moly! The material is so soft, they fit perfectly and they're such a steal at £24 compared to the Topshop Mom jeans.

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Friday Favourite # 1 - The Big Bang Theory

So, it's Friday, and I'm in a very good mood, and I felt like writing a blog post... so, I am.

This is pretty random, but I thought I'd share it with you anyway.

I was watching the newest 'The Big Bang Theory' episode earlier and suddenly it hit me... This show may be one of the best things created.
I cannot explain my love for this program. It's funny, smart and addictive.

I've been watching it for around 6 months now and I must say, I'm hooked.
I'm currently catching up with series 5 but also watching series 6 at the same time... THIS PROGRAM IS PHENOMENAL! I find it amazing how the creators are able to make the references to science funny and understandable. 

And despite his weird habits and annoying qualities.... I want a friend like Sheldon. There, I admit it.

So basically, if you haven't watched this wonderful program.... you should :)

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Avon Black Mineral Mask ~Review~

My Skin Type-  Combination to Oily, prone to spots around nose and on forehead... 

I've been using this mask for a while now and I can honestly say it's one of the best masks I've ever used, for my skin anyway...

It's a thick black mask, which actually scared me a bit, and when applied to the face, dries a blue-ish grey colour. Honestly, it is a little messy but isn't hard to clean up.

oh, and it smells looooovely :)

Avon claims that it "Leaves skin deeply cleansed, refreshed and matte, unblocks pores." and I 100% agree. 

I use a giant button sized amount all over my face, once or twice a week for 15 minutes and then massage it off with warm water. Immediately after using it, my face feels so smooth and clean and I also notice that any redness I have has been calmed.  

Also, due to the witch hazel, I find that my spots heal faster when I do use this mask. 

One thing that did strike me though is that it is quite a drying mask. For me, this isn't much of a problem as my skin is more on the oily side and therefore, it just mattifies my skin. So, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with dry skin as I think it would dry is out even more. However, I would recommend following it up with a moisturiser just to ensure that you don't leave your skin dehydrated :)

All in all, I think this mask is great if you have oily skin and prone to the odd spot or two.
It's cheap, cheerful and very effective.... I will definitely be repurchasing this mask. and that's saying something!

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OOTD # 1 - pub grub

I'm back...

This last month has been crazy! 
I've been so busy recently and it's taken me a few weeks to relax and recover, hence there being a lack of posts.
But don't worry, I have had time to plan a few posts for the next few months.

Anyway, my parents and I went out for food today. It was a spur of the moment thing so I had to throw an outfit together quickly but it still had to look good.

I went for this quilted t-shirt from Primark and tucked it in to a skirt from Newlook. I added tights to keep my legs warm and topped the outfit off with my Puma Suedes. 

I don't think you'll believe me when I tell you that the top and skirt came in a £12 combined. 

Both cost me only £6!!! Bargain.

I kept my makeup simple with lashings of mascara and a red lip.

I did try to take a serious picture to show you, but I got bored and well, this happened......

I cannot take myself seriously oh my

Now, don't lie, I know you do this too... 

I hope you like my new OOTD posts. Stay tuned for more :)

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