August Update!

Lately I've been working quite a bit, but things are stating to quieten down now - people are away on holiday and saving for their children going back to school. So I've had some more time to myself, which is nice. And somewhat strange.

Since I've been off I've been able to spend more time with friends and family. I've been down at my parents house some more and it's made me realise I do miss them a lot more than I realise at times myself. It's polar opposite when I'm down visiting my parents; thrown back into little phone reception and no wifi. When I'm down there it's very relaxed compared to living in Belfast. I feel as if I'm always busy doing something up here, whereas it matters less when back in the country.

I've recently gotten some good news - my braces should be coming off in the beginning of October!
I cannot wait, I've wanted straight teeth ever since I was little, so not long to wait. Look out for an upcoming post on my experience of braces!

Still trying to de-clutter my wardrobe...easier said than done as I do have the hoarding tendencies of a squirrel with a nut...on a more positive note over the past few months I've been buying considerably less clothes-wise. Very pleasantly surprised by this...

I am now trying to vary the hair and beauty products I use by trying a few new things each month onward. I avoid trying new things such as beauty products because when I find a product I love I'll not look at anything else. However, variety is the spice of life and whatnot, so shall try more and have some fun with it along the way.

As for A/W 2013 fashion - I'm all sparkle-eyed about it. Lovely little items are slowly filtering into the shops. I have to say that I'm really excited for the upcoming season - lots of lovely tartan, grunge and cosy knitwear to look forward too!

I can't wait for the rest of this month and September, there's so much happening! In the meantime, follow my Twitter MittensFashion for instant updates on what's happening!

Mittens

xxx

Festival Fashion in Northern Ireland

Festival Fashion in Northern Ireland can be somewhat tricky to get right - you'll need something cool and preferably loose to wear, yet at the same time a coat or hoodie is a necessity due to the unpredictable weather. Many girls opt for hotpants with a crop top plus fake tan applied liberally; not my style to be frank.

I wore a pair of light blue, frayed Levi Shorts which I bought at the recent Lola's Vintage event and a pair of black tights from Primark. I teamed this with a orange scooped necked vest from Next and layered a grey linen t-shirt from New Look over the vest. I teamed this with pearl bracelets from New Look and necklaces from Dorothy Perkins. I wore the same pair of little brown boots that I wore last year to Tennent's Vital and the hat I was wearing I bought this year, on the day. Poncho was also bought on the day too but didn't end up needing it, thankfully...My bag is from Primark and had studs but I turned it inside out and was left with a plain denim bag.


This outfit was for Day 3 at Tennent's Vital!

What are your thoughts on fashion in festivals?

Helen's Bay, Crawfordsburn Beach, Stormont Park

The weather truly has been fantastic the past two weeks. Have taken full advantage of it and myself and Smidge have been out and about as much as possible. I'm usually not a fan of the sun; I usually tuck myself away in my bedroom and come out as pasty as ever - but not this time.

There's some lovely spots local to us or just a train journey away. For locality, Stormont Park is great. Really good for a walk, jog, or run if your feeling energetic. There is also a play park for children and picnic areas dotted around Stormont Park. Lots of wildlife about too - if you follow my Instagam - MittensFashion then you'll have had a sneak peak at what I've been upto!

We had a BBQ at Stormont Park and it was a great place to catch some sun in quiet surrounds.

Earlier in the week we went to Helen's Bay and Crawfordsburn Beach. A few stops on the train before the seaside town of Bangor, we got off at Helen's Bay. It's a lovely sand beach with great views and natural spots. We had a BBQ at Helen's Bay before setting off for a walk.

Helen's Bay is great to sunbathe if the weather is good and has a small picnic/BBQ area just past the beach.

There's a path that connects Helen's Bay to Crawfordsburn beach; a few miles walk but it's worth it! Gorgeous scenery and plenty of places to go rockpooling.

Was great to get away out of the city just for a day and was so relaxing! Must visit the beach more often...

Lola's Vintage Kilo Sale @ Love and Death

Due to the success of Lola's Vintage First Kilo Sale, the second  kilo sale was held on Saturday the 27th of July. Myself and Smidge popped in so I could have a rummage around. The alternative bar Love and Death was the fantastic setting for this event.





















The top floor of Love and Death was where the event was held and it truly was a great spot. Combined with the alternative decor and graffiti, it felt like an Aladdin's Cave full of treasures.


Each area of the room was sectioned off and all the clothes were all well laid out in separate rails and piles. This made it easier to find specific items.

The attention to detail and presentation was amazing; many various mannequins were used and everything that was displayed had been thought about.

The only downside was that when it was busy it was hard to move around and properly look at what was on offer.

I began rummaging immediately and soon had loads to try on. The majority of the pieces I picked out fitted great and were a definite buy. Winning! However, I was nearly overcharged when it came to paying, but mistakes can happen...

Overall, a pretty good experience and I came away with some really lovely pieces. I liked how there was music being played and how the bar got involved and made a special spiced punch just for the event.

I got items I can wear again and again and am so pleased with what I got! I even wore my Levi Denim Shorts to Tennent's Vital and they were perfect for it! Read the blog post - Festival Fashion...

Looking forward to their next event! Hope to get some lovely pieces for the next season...

The Love of BBQ

I've loved barbequed food for as long as I can remember; it reminds me of summer and is full of taste. Ever since Smidge and myself tried Bubbacue in Belfast City Centre (behind the M&S store) it's been one of my favourite places to go when I want a filling meal, full of flavour.

I enjoy many things about the Bubbacue experience. The staff are friendly, with a relaxed uniform and a great acceptance for visible piercings and tattoos in the workplace; adding to the alternative theme for a themed restaurant in Belfast.

The menu is simple, the portions huge and the price quite reasonable considering what you get. Platters are great for sharing - or if you've a good appetite, a good meal to try to attempt  eating by yourself. Platters come with a choice of two additional sides, check out the menu from their official website Bubbacue for more info.

On this occasion Smidge got a Beef Brisket Platter and I got a Spicy Sausage Platter (our usuals). The Beef Brisket truly is amazing and simply has to be tried! I opted for the Spicy Sausage and it was lovely - something I've got before and will get again. Smidge also got a Root Beer but I'm not a fan of these; they taste like a strange form of cough medicine to me...

For side dishes we opted for Skinny Fries and Mac n' Cheese. I'd recommend the Mac n' Cheese, it's very creamy with a crispy layer on top. As an extra side dish we also got 'Burnt Ends'. These are the pieces of meat which restaurants usually discard. It's beyond me why they do, these pieces are the most flavorful! I'd really recommend to get these, they are amazing!

The food was amazing and the service was quick and efficient. This made a happy Smidge...

Every time I've been to Bubbacue there's always a queue out the door, yet I don't mind waiting. I'd rather wait and go to a place I enjoy than go elsewhere and not enjoy the food as much when it comes to barbequed food.

It's one of my favourite places to eat in the city centre and I've always had a great experience there.
Next time I shall try one of their sandwiches...

Lola's Vintage Kilo Sale

The title of this post had 'Mittens' written all over it! The first vintage clothing kilo sale ever in Belfast on the 8th of June was a great event. Vintage Kilo Sales originated in Berlin and are becoming an increasingly popular way to buy clothing with fashion-conscious people looking for something different that won't break the bank.

A great concept for an event - a pic n' mix were you select items and pay per kilo. So you could buy 4/5 pieces for just £20. Or you could buy a selected outfit for £30. Winning! Plus you can have a rummage while looking, which is a plus in my books - I quite like a rummage!

I went to this event later in the day as Smidge and myself went to the Ulster Museum and Pizza Express for lunch with his younger brother. Unsure if the event was still going on by the time we'd had lunch, so I fired off a quick Tweet to their Twitter Page. Got an amazingly quick response saying that it was open to 6.30 p.m. It was only a bit after 5 so quickly made our way down to the Black Box in Cathedral Quarter of Belfast for the event.

First impressions were really good, there was music being played by a DJ which was a nice touch. The rails were all well spaced out so there was plenty of room for people to browse without being on top of eachother. I also liked how the clothes were categorised - a rail for shirts, a rail for skirts, a table of shorts; you get the idea.

There was also a girl doing gel nails for only £12 - unfortunately didn't have time but hope it will be there again. Shopping and nails in the same venue equals a happy camper!

I decided to have a wee rummage around and I found a gorgeous black satchel nestled in a suitcase full of different pieces. It has loads of pockets so will be great for uni when I go back. No over the shoulder strap but I'll make one myself.

I also spied a lovely red fitted A-line skirt. I wouldn't usually go for bright colours for skirts but loved this colour so thought I'd give it a go. Didn't try it on at time and was praying it would fit and lucky enough it does...Will be great with a sheer blouse or crisp white shirt.

A big plus of this event was that the rails were replenished throughout the day - no empty rails in sight or girls fighting at closing time over the last pair of vintage shorts. Another big plus was that unisex clothing was sold; I go to so many events and there is nothing for my Smidge...The girls who served me were all friendly and upbeat; service with a smile is so important to me!

Since this event was so successful there is another event soon by Lola's Vintage on the Saturday the 27th of July from 10am to 6.30pm in Love and Death in Belfast City centre, (near Victoria Square). Really looking forward to it and can't wait to grab some lovely vintage items! For event details click here for the Facebook Link Lola's Vintage Kilo Sale - July Event

Mittens July Update!

Hey Guys!

I'm writing on a beautiful summers day. The weather has been amazing lately for Northern Ireland; it's unusual to get two consecutive days of sunshine never mind a week and counting. A lot of people are running around with a red tint of sunburn to their skin yet I'm still as pasty as ever. I haven't actually been out that much, I've been working quite a bit and the most sun I've got has been on my feet! However with the bank holidays I intend to catch some sun, burn some burgers on a barbecue and eat gallons of ice-cream...

I did eventually get around to dying my hair; I now have a black/brown all over base with a red tinted gloss. Amazing shine from the red tint - it's just what I wanted!

Quite surprisingly I even volunteered for modelling for a local fashion show to help raise funds for a dog charity. It was real fun and it's done wonders for my confidence! Separate blog post to follow!

I've been somewhat absent from blogging lately, I decided to take a short break in June and focus more on starting my own business and working for myself. Nice to take a break too, I take time to write blog posts and proof-read until I am happy with it. Quality rather than quantity...

I also took a few days break down at my parents place. It's a completely different way of life in the country compared to the city - time just seems to slow down when at home. I guess it's one of the best places to go to relax since it is that rural. Although having no internet connection does be an annoyance and I do miss blogging while I'm away.

I've a few events in July and even more in August so keep tuned! For now I'm going to enjoy the weather...

Mittens 

xxx