Growing up with older siblings meant I was exposed to the music that accompanied their angsty teenage years. As I grew older, I found that more and more of these songs had crept their way into my own playlists, until they were all I listened to. Fall Out Boy and Red Hot Chili Peppers were two of these bands that marked both my childhood and teen years, so there was no way I was going to turn down seeing them LIVE at Tennent's Vital! I'm a tad late writing this post, but I really want to share my experience seeing as I had such an unforgettable time - so here's how my day at Tennent's Vital panned out!

Although we were quite loose with our time management, we still arrived early enough to beat the crowd. This was the first concert that I attended without devising a strategic master plan on how to get up front. I was surprisingly laid back about the whole thing, and all I wanted to do was to sit around with some snacks and listen to my favourite oldies.
We kicked off our day by scoping out the area. We spent about half an hour stupidly wondering what drink they were serving (obvs Tennent's), what food was cookin' (THERE WAS EDDIE ROCKETS) and we had a good gawk at the band tees. Now up until this point, I was convinced I'd come to this whole shindig mainly for the Chilies - but then I saw Fall Out Boy's BLOOM tour range and that was it. I thought back to how much I used to overplay their songs, especially their 'Save Rock and Roll' album, which came out during my Leaving Cert days. I needed one.

After spending half an hour deliberating over t-shirts, we popped on over to the small crowd that was forming around Dublin-based band, Otherkin. We decided to hang on for Labrinth's performance (which was great), but we did question why he was there in the midst of all the rockers. Finally, we saw Cage the Elephant! I will admit, I was too lazy to give them a listen before the gig, but I was pleasantly surprised, they had some decent tunes! 

And then we waited. By this stage, we somehow magically made it to the barrier without even trying, and quite the crowd had formed behind us. I was so excited for Fall Out Boy, the anticipation nearly killed me.


It was surreal. They played allll of their greatest hits, old and new. I didn't realise I loved them THAT much until they were right there, performing in front of me and I felt about 15 again. They sounded identical live and honestly, I would have been happy listening to them all night. I was a little disappointed that they didn't play 'Where Did The Party Go', but considering they were a supporting act, they did manage to squeeze in most of my faves, so I can't really complain!

I've been listening to them non-stop since the concert, so next time they come to Ireland I am 100% going. OH, and I'm 99% sure I can see Adam's big head in the selfie they posted on twitter, so I'm assuming the black haired girl beside him is me? Yipeeee selfie with Fall Out Boy! 



Red Hot Chili Peppers came out a little while later. We'd spent hooours waiting at the barrier, but as soon as 9pm hit, a tsunami of people showed up. They were literally all over us, so we had no other option but to get the hell out of there. We were pretty peeved that we gave up our spots like that but honestly, I've never been that squished and squashed at a concert before. It worked out perfectly though - I got my usual bacon and cheese chips from the Eddie Rockets food stall and listened to The Chilies rocking all of their greatest hits. 

I didn't get many great snaps of them performing, but our view actually turned out better from afar! I thought, and I saw a few other people saying over social media, that Anthony was a bit off key, but what can you expect from a band that have been going this long I suppose! I was relieved most of their performance consisted of their older songs, because I wasn't that into their new album. I guess I could have predicted that though, seeing as there were fans of all ages at the gig, which made for a great atmosphere!


Here are the most valuable tips I've learned at Tennent's Vital, which I will definitely keep in mind for my next festival!

1. Don't get too caught up on where you are in the crowd. Being further back and seeing the whole band perform is often better than being close but struggling to see over someone's shoulder. Don't let giving up your spot close to the barrier, or not getting into the pit ruin your night!
2. Wear whatever you want, but be sensible when it comes to shoes. I wore my super old and decrepit creepers because they're the comfiest shoes I own that I didn't mind sacrificing. 
3. Go with trustworthy friends. If you're feeling faint in the crowd or drink too much, you're going to need some trustworthy people there to make sure you're alright. I don't mean babysitting - just look out for each other! 

All in all, we were super lucky with how the day worked out (even without my usual master plan). We were extremely fortunate with the weather - it was sunny for the most part and we only got 5 minutes of rain towards the end of the night! Eddie Rocket's was there, FOB and the Chilies were there. Adam was there - it was an amazing night! Thank you Tennent's Vital!

I am in love with greeting cards. They're like small documentations of huge milestones or occasions in your life. Even just a plain card with the words 'best wishes' across the front can remind you of who was there to support you in your final exams, to celebrate your new job, or the friend that couldn't make it to your 21st Birthday party but was thoughtful enough to get you something anyway.

I have the 'Thank You' card from my sister's hen party weekend on my bookshelf, the card I fell in love with from the Design Museum in London that Adam bought for me when I wasn't looking is on my dressing table, and I have a huge stack of 'Happy Birthdays', 'best of luck' and 'congratulations' cards neatly piled up in a box under my bed.

Surrounding yourself with colours, patterns and quirky designs undoubtedly makes people happier and I guess in a way, pinning a cute graphic card to your cork board is similar to hanging a painting up in your house, just on a smaller and more personal scale. (unless someone you know did this painting for you, in which case, you are lucky to have such a GREAT friend!!!)

I've recently had to buy a whole stack of cards seeing as eeeeeeveryone's birthday lands in summer. I usually make my immediate family their birthday cards, but after looking at some super funky prints online, I knew I'd find suitable cards for everyone. So I'm REALLY happy with my purchases and I know that when we celebrate during our annual 'Family Birthdays Weekend',  I'm going to begrudge handing these over.

At the time, I didn't realise that these 6 cards came from just 3 brands, so it's probably best I talk about them brand by brand! Or you can just look at how pretty they are like I've been doing for the past week.

Noi (£2.75 each)

Candles should be the number one choice on all gift guides. It doesn't matter who you're buying for, candles always make for a very personal present. They come in pretty much any shape and size, and thanks to scented candles, I can now smell cakes in my own home without having to bake any. I think that once you've considered all of this, along with the colours and packaging, you really can't go wrong! 

One of my all time favourite shops to go to when I'm on the hunt for candles, stationary, homewares and all things right with the world, Oliver Bonas, recently opened in Belfast. I literally visit this store every single time I go to London, so I don't think anyone will ever understand the sheer joy and excitement I felt being able to pop into my fave shop, minus the plane journey.


My mum's birthday was coming up, which is why I'm banging on about gifts all of a sudden. She adores candles, to the point where she already had half of one burned before I could even get some decent photos! I picked the the trio set because I always go for variety rather than choosing one and getting it all wrong. Plus, it meant she could place them around the house (something which she did end up doing). 

The baby blue coloured packaging indicated that the candles would have a really natural, fresh, floral scent. These were also complimented by a zesty note coming from the citrus scents of lime and pomelo. The candle holders were really simple which is totally my thing. Although I like really dainty things, I don't want anything too flamboyant, and I think Oliver Bonas does a good job at keeping things stylish but minimal.

Indian Pomelo, Elderflower & Lime, Bluebell & Hyacinth

The candles each have an 18 hour burning life, which is pretty decent considering their size. We've had Indian Pomelo burning a few times, and it's safe to say that they are long lasting. So as a candle hoarder, if these were mine, I wouldn't be too worried about not having time to to savour the scent.

Also if you're thinking of burning all three together, the scents really compliment each other. You can get a good idea just as you open the box at how well they work together. Personally, I would rather burn them separately just to get my money's worth. I'd probably save them for a Friday night bath or when I'm feeling a bit frustrated and need to chill with a book, but it's totally up to you!

So both my mum and I were super happy with this gift. They were originally £22.50 but they're on sale now for £15, so go get 'em before they're all gone!

Last Friday evening as I was scrolling through my twitter feed, I discovered that Victoria Square's 'Dining in the Dome' experience was making a comeback! I'd heard a tonne about this event last time it took place, but I couldn't make it down to Belfast in time. Fortunately for me, it just so happened that I was heading up on the Sunday, so I checked out the details and thought I'd give it a go!

At £70 for two people, it was a last minute expense, but if you break it down, at £35 each for two people who rarely drink, I think it's quite justifiable (although I could probably justify anything). ANYWAY, YO! Sushi was on Sunday night's agenda, so that was us sold. 

I often pop into YO! Sushi, grab a plate or two from the belt and off I go. Their sushi is fresh, the conveyor belt is convenient as you don't need to sit there analysing the menu - you can just take a plate, munch, pay and go. It's also a very modern sushi joint, with funky menus which feature snippets from Japanese pop culture and fashion along with J-pop music videos playing on the TVs, it's a lot more fun than the traditional wooden chairs etc. 



This time though, we weren't dining in the restaurant. We went for a unique YO! Sushi experience in Victoria Square's dome. From the dome, you can see Belfast's whole skyline, including the Harland and Wolff cranes and the Albert Clock. The panoramic view of the city was breathtaking, like being in a helicopter but we were lucky enough to gaze down at the city with sushi. The dome was decorated with fairy lights, greenery and rose gold furniture, and because there were so few people there, it felt very intimate. 

They kicked off the evening with a crash course in sushi rolling, where we stood around the head chef and watched him demonstrate how he prepares popular sushi rolls & nigiri. We were then allowed to give it a go ourselves and of course, eat them! 
It was a brilliant way to start off the event. I was a tad tense that we'd have to engage in some awkward ice breakers, but it wasn't that kind of situation at all. I loved how interactive and informational it was. I think sushi is one of those things people are fascinated by, such as how to make it and what to put in inside. I've attempted it many times before but I picked up some great tips.