Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Rats
What I Wore: Rat Fan
1
6 years
Have you ever found an item of clothing that is just so perfect it could’ve been made with you in mind? Well for me, this t shirt is one of those items. I love rats, I love Batman, I love black clothing, so what better than a black ‘Rat Fan’, Batman-style t shirt?!
ratsratsrats Rat Fan T Shirt / Primark Long Black Cardigan / Blue Rags Black Ornate Embroidered Trousers / Dr Martens Lauren Boots
I bought this t shirt for £14.99 from an online store called ratsratsrats, which specialises in rat-themed clothing, accessories and gifts. I’ve ordered a couple of t shirts from them now and I’m always really impressed with the quality. The fabric is really soft and comfortable, the fit is great and the print is always high quality. I also like the length of ratsratsrats tees as they sit below the hip, which I prefer.
I teamed the t shirt with my favourite winter cardigan, and a pair of Blue Rags black embroidered trousers, which are so warm and comfy. They’re also patterned with a beautiful embroidery-style damask, which you can see clearer on the red pair I styled here. My Dr Martens Lauren Boots make an appearance too, of course.
This outfit is pretty much my go-to outfit for cosy, lazy weekend days, and is perfect for nipping out to the shops, or slouching around the house in.
Naomi x
Pumpkin, Pingu and Bramble
0A couple of weeks ago Charles and I added a few more members to our family – three more baby rats! We originally wanted two more to live with Mabel and Heather, as the intro between them and Miggley just wasn’t working, but when we found out that the breeder we use had three females left, we decided to get them all.
The three new girls are called Pumpkin, Pingu and Bramble, and they’re currently ten weeks old, and incredibly cute! Here they all are…
Pumpkin is an Agouti Berkshire and is a little feisty thing. She’s very confident and keeps play fighting with Mabel, which is always fun to watch.
Pingu (so-called because she’s black with a white belly!) is my little shy girl. She’s smaller than the other two, and quite timid, but she’s so loving. She reminds me a lot of Mog in her demeanour and appearance.
Bramble is an Agouti Hooded Dumbo – my first ever dumbo rat! Just look at those gorgeous ears. She’s feisty like Pumpkin, and also likes picking play fights with her big sisters.
The three new girls have the same dad as Mabel and Heather, which I think made the introduction process a lot easier. After a week of quarantine we let all the girls meet each other on neutral territory, and they got on straight away. Nobody showed any signs of aggression, and after two intros they were ready to live together!
Charles and I also invested in a Savic Royale Suite cage, which is a top-of-the-range piece of kit. It can fit about twelve rats, but we’re sticking to five for now, so they’re very lucky in terms of space! The five rats have now been living together since Monday, and we’ve had no trouble. In fact, they’re all like best of friends! Every morning I find them squished into one bed together asleep – so cute!
Naomi x
Introducing Heather and Mabel
0A couple of weeks ago I had to say goodbye to my beautiful heart rat Mog. She’d been suffering with a pituitary tumour for a little while, and though we tried every treatment available, it unfortunately got too much for her and she had to be put to sleep. I was absolutely heartbroken and I still miss her like mad, as does her sister Miggley, who was left alone.
Rats are very sociable animals and aren’t supposed to live singly, which left us with no choice but to get her some cagemates! After contacting many breeders all over the Midlands, I eventually managed to find two young females from Destiny Rats. After a week of waiting, last weekend we finally got to collect our new babies, and here they are…
Heather is a Russian Blue Berkshire, and Mabel is a Buff Berkshire, and they are both now nine weeks old, and so, so soft and cute! As they were handled from a very young age by the breeder and her family, they are both incredibly friendly and loving, and we get mobbed every time we go up to their cage.
We have only just started the introduction process with the two girls and Miggley, so they haven’t met properly yet, but they are very curious about each other from afar. They will gradually be introduced over the next couple of weeks, and eventually they will all be living together in one big cage. Hopefully they’ll all get along fine!
I plan on blogging about how the introduction goes, so check back soon for an update.
Naomi x
P.S. Miggley says “kmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm8ppppppppppppo[pyu”
What I Wore: Rat Face
4
6 years
The weather is finally starting to get warmer, which means my winter knits are gradually being replaced with t-shirts. I love to throw on a baggy t-shirt on a lazy sunny day, and a recent addition to my collection is this awesome rat face tee from Tam’s Treasures, which retails for £21.99.
The Mountain Big Face White Rat T-Shirt / Primark Dark Grey Skinny Jeans / Clarks Liberty Chorus Voice Shoes
There’s a somewhat ironic trend at the minute for big face animal t-shirts, and though I perhaps wouldn’t wear the clichéd wolf or tiger, this rat tee is just my thing. I adore rats and like to think that I’m on a little campaign to clear their name, and thanks to Tam’s I can now do so loud and proud! Also, the rat on this shirt looks just like my first rat, Crumble, which makes it that little bit more special.
The t-shirt is by an American brand called The Mountain, and is from their Big Face Animals Collection. It’s made from 100% cotton so is incredibly comfortable, and is prewashed and preshrunk so it’s already nice and soft and unlikely to shrink any further. The colour is a lot more earthy than I usually go for, but I actually quite like it, especially as it’s tie-dyed by hand with water based inks. It goes perfectly with my Liberty Chorus Voice shoes from Clarks! The quality of the screen print is also very good, and looks and feels like it will stay put for a good while.
And of course, here’s the obligatory photo with one of my rats, as is the norm with my rat-based fashion! This time, the model is Mog (excuse my odd face)…
Tam’s stocks a HUGE range of unisex t-shirts from The Mountain (over 600 designs I do believe), as well as gifts and greeting cards, so there’s something (or several) for everyone. As the shirts are made in America the sizing runs slightly larger than that in the UK and Europe, so it’s best to order down or check the measurements before ordering. I went for a small, which is the smallest adult size (about a 10-12), and it fits perfectly.
To browse the full range at Tam’s Treasures, click here. Delivery is free within the UK, and if you ‘like’ their Facebook page you can get an extra 10% off!
Which design would you choose?
Naomi x
*This Big Face White Rat T-Shirt was sent to me by Tam’s Treasures for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
The Furry Friend Tag
6It’s been quite a while since I last posted a tag post, but when I saw Claire had shared this Furry Friend Tag on her blog, I just had to do it. After all, I never pass up the chance to talk about my beloved ratties! Plus it means I get to add a few recent photos that I’ve been meaning to share with you all.
So, without further ado, here are my two female rats, who are now over one year old, and have lived with me for eleven months!
1. What are your pets’ names?
My two rats are called Miggley and Mog.
2. When did you get Miggley and Mog?
I got Miggley and Mog on 27th April 2013, when they were just seven weeks old.
3. What is something that Miggley and Mog do that annoys you?
I’ve had quite a few rats in my time and out of all of them, Miggley and Mog are definitely the most adventurous. Especially Miggley, who likes to escape onto the floor and hide under my bed! Her antics used to annoy me a little bit, but they don’t any more. I just think it’s cute… rats will be rats! But what does annoy me is when she fights with Mog. Rats love to play fight, but Miggley can get quite rough and aggressive and sometimes hurts her sister, so I have to separate them for a while 
4. What type of breeds are Miggley and Mog?
Miggley is a brown and white hooded rat, and Mog is a black silvered Berkshire, but she has rusted a bit over time so she now looks brown. Both have top ears, black eyes and standard coats.
5. Has Miggley or Mog ever had a near death experience?
No, I don’t think so – and I hope it stays that way!
6. Do Miggley and Mog know any tricks?
Both of them will chase paper and string, and they also know how to run an assault course around the living room. They even jump across the gap between the armchair and the sofa.
7. Do Miggley and Mog like to snuggle?
Miggley prefers to run around on the bed or the floor and get up to mischief, whilst Mog will happily sit inside my sleeve or cardigan. Both of them like to snuggle at night though, and they both sleep inside my dressing gown for a few hours before I go to bed.
8. Where did you get Miggley and Mog?
I wanted to buy from a reputable breeder but I couldn’t find one nearby, so I settled for a local independent pet shop instead. Luckily they are both healthy and have nice temperaments, but in the future I’ll definitely look again for a breeder. I hope to breed rats myself one day too.
9. Do Miggley and Mog get along with other rats?
Well they get along with each other, and they were housed with two other rats when I bought them, so yes. Once I have my own house I hope to get them a couple of friends.
10. Do Miggley and Mog get along with strangers?
Yes! They both love it when my family visit or there are new people in the house. They like to show off and perform their tricks, and will always accept fuss and treats from strangers.
11. How much do Miggley and Mog weigh?
I weighed them a few days ago and Miggley weighs 345g, and Mog weighs 330g. Mog used to weigh more than Miggley but she’s overtaken her now. They’re both a healthy weight though.
12. Do you ever dress Miggley and Mog up?
No, never.
13. Have Miggley and Mog ever tried to run away?
Whenever they’re on my bed they’re constantly trying to get onto the floor, especially Miggley, but I don’t think they’d ever genuinely run away. They don’t even escape when I leave their cage door open.
14. How did you come up with their names?
My dad used to tell me made up bedtime stories when I was a child about a frog called Miggley Mog. I have fond memories of those stories and wanted to carry on the name!
15. How much do Miggley and Mog mean to you on a scale of 1-10?
10! Without a doubt.
Feel free to carry on the tag if you wish! Please let me know if you do as I’d love to read about your lovely pets.
Naomi x
Mr Nutcase Personalised Phone Case
4
7 years
Earlier this week I received a very special item in the post from Mr Nutcase… A phone case for my Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, personalised with my favourite photo of my two gorgeous rats!
Mr Nutcase specialise in creating personalised cases for a wide range of mobile phones and tablets, and provide a really excellent service. The ordering process is simple – you just choose your device and the type of case you want, upload your photo(s), decide on the layout (you can use more than one photo), pay, and wait for it to be delivered! You can also choose from a range of set designs featuring some really great artwork. The whole process only took me a few minutes, and the case was dispatched the next day, and arrived the day after that, which isn’t bad considering postage is free.
For my particular phone there were two cases to choose from – a leather-style flip case for £19.95, and an ultra light weight slimline case for £14.95, which is the one I went for. The quality of the printing on the case is very high, and the picture is perfectly clear and evenly printed. The case itself is made of light, thin plastic, so it isn’t annoyingly chunky, and it’s also very durable and protects the phone well (trust me, I drop mine a lot), which is just what you want from a phone case really!
I love the fact that I can have my rats with me in some form at all times, and it’s always fun to have something a bit different and personal to you. If you want to design your own Mr Nutcase phone or tablet case, you can visit the site here.
Happy designing!
Naomi x
*This personalised phone case was sent to me by Mr Nutcase for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
What I Wore: Twice as Mice
7
7 years
Last week, whilst browsing vintage-inspired fashion website Beau Boutique, I spotted this gorgeous Sugarhill Boutique Mice Loves Dress in the sale for just £26, down from £56. Those who read my blog regularly will know that I’m crazy about rats, and the little cuties on the dress reminded me of my two babies, Miggley and Mog. Luckily, at the time it was still in stock in my size, and Hania of Beau Boutique very kindly sent me the dress to review. Thank you!
Beau Boutique Sugarhill Boutique Mice Loves Dress / Primark Black Tights / H&M Black Ankle Boots / Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in Revenge
My fiancé and I went out for a nice lunch yesterday, so I decided to give the dress its first outing. The dress, which is from Sugarhill Boutique’s AW13 collection, is made from a light, chiffon-like mulberry coloured fabric, and is fully lined with sheer sleeves. The fabric hangs and moves beautifully, and is so comfortable and flattering to wear.
The print is my favourite thing about the dress as it depicts two mice (or rats as I like to think) forming a love heart with their tails, and it covers the whole of the dress. At the back of the dress there’s a wide exposed zip that runs to just below the waist, which I really like, and there’s also a contrasting sheer black panel at the waist which gives it a bit of an edge.
In terms of sizing I’m usually an average size 12, but the dress is a 14/Large and fits well but is slightly roomy, so I’d say it’s fairly accurate to size, if not slightly small. Just make sure you check the size guide before ordering!
This dress has gone straight to the top of my favourites list. It’s so pretty and feminine, and detailed enough that it doesn’t even need any accessories to set it off, in my opinion. I just teamed it with black tights and ankle boots, and an oversized bag, and was ready to go! Oh and the important test… My rats also approve!
Beau Boutique stock a wide range of women’s clothing, inspired by celebrity and vintage style, including brands such as Ruby Rocks, Madam Rage, Motel and Voodoo Girl. The site has become my go-to place to look for dresses and clothes that you can’t find on the high street, and they offer free standard UK delivery which is always nice when ordering online! You can browse Beau Boutique’s collections here.
Naomi x
*This Sugarhill Boutique Mice Loves Dress was sent to me by Beau Boutique for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
