And so it begins... YouTube

I've decided to take the plunge and start filming videos alongside this blog.

I've been toying with this idea since I started writing this blog. I've always considered myself to be more of a sat at a keyboard writing person rather than sitting in front of a camera and chatting person. 

But...

I'm determined to try new things though and give it a try! Please bare with me while I get to grips with the recording on my camera, brand new for me, and just gain a little confidence!

Do you have a YouTube channel, because I'd love to check them all out!

xo Belley

Mini Waitrose Beauty Haul

This is definitely the plus side to grocery shopping with my Mother!

Waitrose is not usually the shop I go to for my beauty essentials but I did manage to pick up exactly what I needed at really good prices! 

Although these are not my favourite razors, they were half price and my sister really likes them, so I figured that it made sense to give them a try. 

I used this Clearasil cleanser when I just started to take care of my skin properly, I was maybe 12 or 13, and it did the trick for me. A couple of weeks ago I was staying at my Nana's for the weekend and in my mad panic to get my crap together I picked up the worst facial scrub I have ever used (post to come!). It broke me out in literally 5 minutes and in an attempt to get my face under control I borrowed some of my cousin's Clearasil. Low and behold, my skin was saved, so I really wanted to give it a try again since my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish is finished.

I had a trip to the dentist's today, boo! I have one tooth at the front of my lower jaw that recedes slightly, it's not all that noticeable, but it's a haven for plaque, so my dentist had to do that horrible metalic, scrape scrape scrape, thing with that evil looking device, and urgh I hate it! So she recommended these toothbrushes for me to use and I'll try them out tonight.

Company magazine is really not my favourite, I honestly don't like it, but I use it to decorate my bedroom, sooo....

This toner/makeup remover has been raved about on the blogosphere, but I could never find it in Boots or Superdrug, Tesco or Sainsburys. So when I saw it sitting innocently on the shelf I snapped it up quicker than anything. I'm really excited to try this out later!

What I actually needed, cotton buds and cotton pads, I totally forgot to pick up! Typical!

A quick note on my Barry M polish (here) I've found that they are already chipping, despite two coats and a top coat. I've come to the conclusion that maybe three coats would be better? But maybe I just can't force it to stay put! Any thoughts?

Can any of you guys resist the lure of innocently adding little bits and pieces into the shopping cart?

xo Belley

Key Lime Nails from Barry M

I have gained quite the collection of Barry M nail polishes recently.

As part of my Sunday evening ritual I always give my nails a good paint. This is my newest nail polish. I've heard a lot about the "Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paints" from Barry M, and this is my first purchase from the collection.

'Key Lime GNP14' is quite a beautiful shade if you ask me, and since Kermit the Frog is one of my dearest childhood friends, I like it very much. I used two coats. followed by Nails Inc.'s Kensington Cavair Topcoat to seal the colour in. I will let you know how well it fares against chipping.

I think the formula is very shiny, even without the topcoat and the texture rings true to every other Barry M nail polish. This is totally different to any other colour I own and I'll definitely pick up a couple more from this range, as I think they're good value and of a high quality, especially since they're under £5!

Hope you're all having a wonderful Sunday! Have you tried any polishes from this range?

xo Belley

5 Product Drugstore Summer Face

I've got to admit that this was a challenge for me!

Dirty mirror and proud!

I've been suffering from hay fever over the last couple of weeks so I've been trying to keep my make up as light and fresh as possible, I hate the feeling of foundation melting down my face, plus it makes me feel way more self-conscious than if I wasn't wearing any make up at all! I wore this look to meet up with some family friends for breakfast. I like it because I didn't feel as though I wasn't wearing any make up or too much for a casual occasion. I wanted to look put together and neat, I wish the same could be said for my hair, but I have honestly given up trying to tame it! It was also quick and simple to apply, around ten minutes, compared to my usual twenty-five, but I'm very slow!

In the order I applied them in:

1. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer [Medium 3]
2. Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil
3. Look Beauty Triple Hit [Cool Glam]
4. Derma Color Fixing Spray
5. Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara [Superjet Black]

Face

This look is all about looking as pulled together and neat as possible in this ridiculous amount of heat and humidity at the moment. I love this concealer! It's so great for covering dark circles and redness around my nose from the hay fever. It's also great for doubling up as a highlight, so I smudged it down towards my cheeks for a subtle amount of glow. I just wish that they had more colours available.

My Derma Fixing Spray had to be in this post. It's one of my daily essentials and replaces powder during the summer months. I like it because it reduces shine on the face without looking cakey or overdone. It holds make up in place all day long and it's so lightweight and cooling, freaking awesome product!

Finally I had to have some form of bronzer on my face. What would summer make up be without smothering yourself in shimmery goodness? I love this little baked eyeshadow quad. The blues are very pigmented, but honestly not really my colour for this kind of look. I bought this little trio purely for the gorgeous shimmery bronze. It's so versatile because it's quite sheer but very buildable, so it can easily be used on the eyes as well as face. I love the look that bronzer gives the face, warm and summery. I used a regular kabuki brush to apply it, but that doesn't count as a "product" right?

Eyes
Lashings and lashings of mascara. What could be better? Keeping the eyes simple and clean, because I can never be bothered with loads of eyeshadows during the day. When I have an extra 10 minutes, say, in the mornings then I might add one, maybe two eyeshadow colours maximum. So when I have very limited amount of products I can use I'm not going to include eyeshadow. So applying loads of mascara is a great way to add some drama to the look. I really like this mascara, it adds loads of pow and has a true kick, making my eyelashes look big and curly, I didn't even use eyelash curlers!

Lips
Again, keeping it really simply and clean. I really love this slightly tinted lipbalm. It lasts ages and feels nourishing and has a nice pinky, slightly berry tone to it. It does taste a little strange though.

Could you survive with 5 products?

xo Belley

My July Wishlist

I just started using Polyvore and it's so much fun! You can follow me here!

So whilst browsing and exploring this pretty awesome website I came across loads of lovely bits and pieces that I really want to grab, but alas my bank balance is already crying tears of copper pennies so maybe not just yet!

My July Wishlist by hey-there-belley

1. Vintage shirt --- storenvy.com
2. Forever 21 alligator hair clip --- forever21.com
3. Michael Kors leather wrap bracelet --- fashion.ebay.com
4. Fornash elephant bracelet --- simplysoles.com
5. Chinese Laundry platform pumps --- heels.com
6. Topshop Moto Green Crochet Hotpants --- pinterest.com
7. Alligator hair clip --- etsy.com
8. Edun stretch denim skinny jeans --- avenue32.com
9. Linda Farrow black cat eye glasses --- monamoore.com
10. Platform booties heels --- newlook.com
11. Topshop --- topshop.com
12. Turquoise Heart Ring --- pinterest.com
13. River Island lace cami --- riverisland.com
14. Nasty gal --- svpply.com

What have you been lusting after this past month month?

xo Belley

My Prom Experience

A few weeks ago we had our school prom to celebrate the official end of secondary school!!!

Credit for the photos

Dress and Shoes

Finding the 'perfect' prom dress was truly painful! Mum and I spent at least four separate weekends in different places searching for the perfect one. I varied in style from Ted Baker, Ghost and Coast. I really didn't know what I wanted. In the end we got one in Cambridge, I had an appointment at Addenbrooke's and since it's quite a trek for us we figured it made sense to make a day out of it.

I got this dress in a small boutique after nearly giving up and going home. It was quite the find and I am so happy with it still. It was a little bigger than any other dress that I'd tried, but at this point prom was only a couple of weeks away and we didn't have any time left.

The real problem I had with prom dresses was the sizing! Seriously they didn't seem to have any dresses left in the 6/8 sizes! It was so frustrating, but I can only blame myself for leaving it so late!

Well, the dress was fantastic quality and I loved it, I felt like a princess

Although you can't actually see the shoes in any of the pictures, they looked like this. I got my shoes weeks before the dress, and managed to break them in really well. They were comfy but I put them on around 6 o'clock and didn't get to take them off until gone 1 o'clock the following morning! That my friends is stamina! 

I picked these shoes because I will definitely wear them again and I think they're gorgeous, impulse buying at its best!

Hair and Make up

I did it all myself! I spent hours trawling through YouTube and blogposts, but in the end I improvised my hair from this YouTube video. Ok, so mine looks nothing like it, but that's where I got the inspiration! I also used some big glittery bobby pins I purchased from Claire's Accessories, to close off the little "doughnuts" so that I had some more sparkle.

I don't really think that the pictures really pick up the make up that well, but it took me bloody ages to complete! I focused on the eyes, with big false lashes and mainly nude eyeshadow. I attempted a smoky eye in grey, but it was a disaster. Thankfully I extensively practised my hair and make up beforehand so I knew exactly what I was doing.

Venue and Dates

The prom was held at a local converted barn venue. I've been there for meals and stuff many times and it's a truly fantastic spot. The inside of the barn was beautifully decorated and it was obvious how much effort had gone into all the preparation and I honestly think it was all worth it! We also had some great little extras, like a sweet buffet and a photobooth, that was so fun! We got to dress up in silly hats, wigs, glasses, etc. and pose in the booth in groups, plus we got a little strip to take away, totally free!

My secondary school was a girl's, hence the absence of any guys in the pics. Although everyone was entitled to bring a date if they wanted, we decided in our friendship group, that we wouldn't. We wanted the evening to be about our friendship and the end of an era! Besides I don't have a boyfriend and honestly thought it would be a bit awkward. One of my guy friends was like, "Oh I'll take the bullet and pretend to be your boyfriend for the evening." Yeah that didn't go down well, I don't think he'll suggest it again!

Music

These songs I will now always associate with prom!

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop feat. Wanz

Nicki Minaj - Super Bass

Tinie Tempah - Frisky feat. Labrinth

Everybody was up and dancing and just having a superb time! But these are a few that stand out in the haze of the dancing, that and my feet bloody killing afterwards!

Overall...

I think prom is a night that I will never forget, it was lovely. The next morning was so depressing, a huge anti-climax. Still it was a fantastic night to get dressed up, be with friends and have a bloody amazing time!

How did all your proms go? Don't be shy leave a comment!

xo Belley

First Ever Post

Welcome to my blog!

This is my latest venture for keeping me entertained during the extended summer holidays I'm currently enjoying. I've always loved reading over people's blogs but never really had one of my own, so here it is!!

xo Belley