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Posts tagged Rat
25th Birthday Haul
1On Valentine’s Day I turned 25, and though I felt unwell (for the third birthday in a row!), I had a great day. Charles treated me to a lovely breakfast in bed of Belgian chocolate waffles, hot tea, and fresh orange juice. We then went for a long walk around Bradgate Park with my family, and had lunch at a tea room, and in the evening we had a pizza party with amazing chocolate birthday cake!
I was lucky enough to receive lots of cards, a few Highcross and Amazon vouchers from friends and family, and some gorgeous gifts, so I thought I’d do a little haul post to show you some of what I got.
My mum gifted me this watch, and it’s absolutely stunning. I love the marcasite detail and I’ve been wearing it every day since I got it.
My two main presents from Charles were these Kate Bush themed necklaces. The first one is from her official website, and features lyrics from one of my favourite songs, Cloudbusting. I actually saw this when I went to see Kate in London last year, but couldn’t afford it at the time. I really wasn’t expecting to get it for my birthday, so was so happy when I opened it! The second necklace is made of silver and was personalised just for me. I love it.
Charles also got me this awesome Game of Thrones t shirt. I can’t wait to style it for an outfit post in the coming weeks!
My dad gave me a few bits for the house, my favourite of which is the Moroccan lamp. It’s made of metal and is lined with purple fabric, and gives off a lovely ambient glow. It now takes pride of place on my living room fireplace.
Much to my delight I get quite a few books every year, and this year was no different. Charles gave me ‘A First Book of Nature’, and ‘An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth’ by my space hero, Chris Hadfield. The rat training book was from an old school friend, and my sister gave me ‘Wreck This Journal’ and ‘The Pocket Scavenger’, both by Keri Smith. I can’t wait to start filling them in!
All of the above were parts of gifts from my old school friends, who I celebrated with last night at my favourite restaurant. There was a definite rat theme to their gifts this year!
And of course, no birthday haul would be complete without an abundance of chocolate!
Last but not least, my talented mum made me this super cute heart wreath. She crocheted the flowers herself, and decorated them with buttons. This now adorns my bedroom door and it looks right at home.
Naomi x
Woodland Decor
2
6 years
As my regular readers will know, a few months ago my fiancé and I moved in together. Since then I’ve slowly been trying to make the house look more like a home, and though it isn’t yet complete (working full-time means very little time to nest!), we’re almost there. As such, I thought it was about time I showed you some of our decor, starting with the living room.
When we moved in the house had been freshly decorated with light brown and white paintwork, and a beige carpet throughout. Neutral tones aren’t usually my thing, but they were easy to work with when it came to adding colour. The living room has been brightened with purple throws, cushions and curtains, and an ambient orange lamp, but it’s the little extras that make it even more homely.
I’ve always liked small mammals and woodland creatures, and the current trend for such wildlife has meant I’ve managed to pick up some lovely pieces. Here are a few of my favourites…
Comfy Cow
I don’t usually like having an abundance of cushions everywhere, but that all changed when I found these awesome animal photo cushions in Asda, for £7 each. There were several different animals to choose from, but I went for the squirrel, as they’re one of my favourite animals, and the Highland cow, as it reminds me of a lovely time spent in the Scottish countryside a few years ago. These take pride of place on my sofa, and as you can see Miggley approves!
Time for Tea
One thing I struggled to find was a nice set of coasters, and then when I was about to give up, I came across these gorgeous Sass & Belle Wooden Owl Coasters from Flamingo Gifts. There are six coasters in the set (much better than the typical four you usually get!), and they come in a handy stand to prevent clutter when not being used. The quality and design of the coasters is fantastic, and they look great on my coffee table.
The Abode Mouse & Field Mug is also from Flamingo Gifts, and it caught my eye as soon as I saw it as the little grey mouse reminds me of my Russian Blue rat, Heather. I prefer a mug to a cup (it holds more tea!), and this is the perfect size for my morning brew. The simple but eye-catching geometric design is by artist Luzelle van der Westhuizen, and is a good fit for my natural theme. It would also make a nice present as it comes in a gift box, and costs an affordable £8.50.
By the Fire
My fireplace features a lot of owls, with the main attraction being this owl clock. My mum gifted this to me when we first moved in, and I love how it matches the wooden coasters above.
Another of my favourite owls is this lovely felted piece that I bought from a street market in Edinburgh in the summer, during the Fringe. It took me a while to find the right place for it, but it now has a home at the side of the fireplace.
I have two of each of these hares and mice. I have a thing for hares, and I bought these in Glastonbury about ten years ago whilst on a camping trip. They’re special to me, and it’s nice to finally have them on show in my own home! The mice are actually a salt and pepper set, but I have them on display as ornaments as they remind me of my heart rat Mog (RIP). Aren’t they cute?
The Rat & The Hare
These rat and hare sculptures were Christmas gifts from my dad, and they’re incredibly beautiful. They’re by Norfolk-based artist Tracy Whinray, and are wonderfully textured with such expressive little faces. I think they look great in front of the wooden pentagram, handmade by my step-dad.
What do you think of my woodland theme?
Naomi x
*The Wooden Owl Coaster Set and Abode Mouse & Field Mug were sent to me for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
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
7 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.*
My Week on Instagram #4
0I had a really busy five days at work last week so didn’t have much time to Instagram anything that interesting, but here are a few photos anyway, mostly taken in the evenings after work! As you can see, I tried to put aside some time to relax and pamper myself a bit.
Imperial Leather Foamburst, reviewed here / Bad Apple Nail Varnish in Anna / Relaxing evening with a good book and a mince pie / Friday night chocolate soufflé treat / Uno, Chocolate Orange and Miggley rat / My dad’s new, beautiful Leopard Gecko – Gex
If you’d like to follow me on Instagram and see more of my photos, my username is bewitchery_. If you’re on Instagram too, please comment on this post with your username as I’m always looking for new accounts to follow, especially fashion and beauty ones!
Naomi x
My Week on Instagram #3
1Last week I forgot to write a My Week on Instagram post, so this edit features my favourite Instagram photos from the last two weeks.
Mog eating biscuits in her hammock / AngelEye jacket, styled here / Miggley sleeping in my dressing gown / Leicester Christmas lights switch on / Pink orchid I found in the street / Queens of the Stone Age live at the NIA, 21/11/13 / Leicester Vegan Fair / Jennifer Hope waistcoat, styled here / Making the Christmas pudding
If you’d like to follow me on Instagram and see more of my photos, my username is bewitchery_. Please comment on this post with your usernames too as I’m always looking for new accounts to follow, especially fashion and beauty ones!
Naomi x
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