5 weird things I do…

We all have those things we do that make others look twice, whilst we are totally oblivious. Be they phrases that have grown from a personal joke or a noise you make to show affection, our ‘weird’ things make us unique and I think they deserve celebrating.

Here are 5 things I do that are pretty strange….I hope you will share yours too…don’t leave me hanging!

#1 Random kissing noises to show affection

P is slaving away in the cave working (or watching Star Trek whilst battling 12 years olds on online games) and I’m in the kitchen or on the sofa making/blogging, completely focussed on our own tasks, but one of us will send a big smacking kiss noise to the other, to replied to by another big kiss noise.

Our little sign of affection to remind each other that we haven’t forgotten that the other exists.

#2 Leaving oven door open after I cook

This one stems from when I lived at university. Too tight to put on the heating, once I had cooked a meal I would leave the oven door open to help heat the room. This in the past has become an irritant for others who did not have to patience to ask questions, but thankfully P understands all aspects of my crazy. And our flat is always warm.

#3 Wiping my hands constantly between crisps/popcorn/chips

This something that has stemmed from childhood. I don’t like having dirty hands, so if I feel grains of salt or smears of butter on my fingers I just automatically wipe them on whatever is around. My girls accept that I cover myself in napkins when we eat out and P has learnt to hand me a set of chopsticks whilst we watch a film with popcorn whichstops me wiping half of it down the right leg of my trousers/skirt and looking like a complete trogg.

#4 Teeth

*Rolls top lip back and bares teeth in a bucktooth fashion*

This started off in my group of girls, as a tease to our gorgeous friend Luci who has the loveliest gnashers in the land, but now it has evolved into a sign of excitement between us all. When we get a good bargain on shoes, the teeth come out. When I type a text to one of them, the teeth come out. As we trogg between bars on a night out, the teeth are out. I often wonder what people in the street think when they see us licking our teeth…. then I remember I don’t care!

#5 I drink black tea.

It’s not normal apparently, but I don’t take milk in my tea. DON’T DILUTE MY TEA!

Right…fellow weirdos….share!

Sunday Saviours #34

Hello you gorgeous lot!

This week, I’ve been back at work after half term, complete with new ink. The kids noticed within 20 minutes on Monday morning, but most of colleagues didn’t notice till Friday. Children honestly see EVERYTHING, even if you try to hide the tattoo on your wrist. I like challenging their perceptions of people, and the fact I had gotten a new tattoo sparked a conversation with staff and children, who were shocked to hear who else had them!

Today, we went to our annual ‘First Barbecue of the Year’, a tradition that we have started with our friends. The last weekend in February, no matter the weather, is barbecue weekend. Last year, it rained and we left Tom out in the wet, but this year it was glorious sunshine, and it was actual bearably warm for a while. Hopefully we’ll have some piccies to show you later this week.

Now I’m home, in my jammies (we have to do the ceremonious ‘strip off and stuff in the washing machine’ when we get back from our feline owning friend’s house  – P is highly allergic) sat in fron of the tube with my feet up. Bliss.

So here are the links!

These look seriously yummy, and P would love them because they are bunny shaped.

I need all the help I can get for my holiday in August! Or maybe just a weekend away!

I LOVE Sophie’s skirt!

My new tattoo is based on a small Disney doodle, which reminds me to ask for help when I need it. I would love this necklace to add to my Disney craziness.

I saw this on Lori’s blog and I just fell in love with it. Somebody get me a wall outside!

I feel applause is required for the gorgeous Thrifty Mrs this week.

Bekuh (said like Becca) over at Secondhand Sundays just wrote everything my brain was thinking.

Can anyone translate this? Is it just gobbledy gook?

But the best thing about my Sunday? P has just handed me a cold roast beef and horseradish sandwich…HEAVEN.

Have a good evening all!

Making It – Liz @ The Blue Eyed Owl

Hello all!

Today I am featuring the wonderful Liz from Blue Eyed Owl.

The wonderful and talented Liz

Why and when did you first decide to open a shop/start a business?

 A couple of years ago, a mysterious stomach illness forced me to resign from teaching kindergarten. I was heartbroken at first but after I recovered, and adjusted to life at home, I realized it was a blessing in disguise. While I love teaching other people’s kids, I love spending quality time with my own daughter more.

I knew I needed to find something to do while she was as at school, and a way to earn a bit of money. I distracted myself with crafting and thrifting while I dreaded the thought of having to go back to work part time. Then it hit me, I can craft and thrift for a living! I turned my love of vintage and handmade into my new job and have never been happier with my “work.”

Why did you choose the name of your shop/business?

People are often confused with the name Blue Eyed Owl because I have brown eyes. I knew I wanted to incorporate my daughter into the name somehow since she is my inspiration and motivation for my efforts. She has beautiful big blue eyes and is wise beyond her years, plus I love owls!

Where did you first decide to start selling your products/service, and why did you decide on that method? 

 I began with (and still use) Etsy. I originally had 2 shops, one for handmade, and one for vintage. What a nightmare! I’m much happier with my current setup. I also sell at craft fairs and vintage markets, that’s where you make the big bucks! I had an antique booth for a while, but I was spread too thin.

Fabulous headband – click here to buy!

Where do you find that most of your buyers hear about you?

A majority of my sales are from random Etsy searches and market patrons. I growing number however are blog or social media followers.

What do you enjoy most about running your own shop/business?

 I love so many things about it but a big one is the flexibility in scheduling. I work a ton of hours, but I have control over it. I love being able to sleep in if I need to or work at midnight because I have an idea. My husband works from home too, so we get to spend a lot more time together.

What is the least enjoyable thing?

Well, I’m definitely not making as much money as before…lol! My overall happiness is much more important though.

What is your favourite item that you have in your shop right now?

There is a really pretty vintage glass apple in the shop right now that I love!

Click here to buy this gorgeous apple!

Is there anything you would do differently if you started the whole process again?

Probably not. I made a lot of mistakes, but I learned valuable lessons from every one.

Do you have any advice for those following in your footsteps?

Don’t be afraid to just dive right in and start. You learn much better by doing than by observing others. Change, adjust, and improve until you get everything the way you want! Oh, and network, network, network.

Wow Liz! Some fabulous advice. I love how you changed your hobby into a pay packet! So inspiring.

You can buy lots of lovely things from Liz’s shop, you can visit her blog, you can like her on facebook or chat to her on Twitter, whichever way you choose just be sure to show this lady some love!

P.S -  If you want get involved with my Making It feature, fling me an email on shinypigeon@hotmail.com. Would LOVE to hear from you! xoxox

What I Wore – Monkeying Around

I cannot lie. I love, repeat, LOVE my Jungle Jumper.

Just look at it. Its jumper with monkeys, tigers, snakes and toucans on it.

What is not to love? It was given to me (well…sort of stolen) by Mama Pigeon when she was doing her last wardrobe clearout and it hails from the late 80′s, early 90′s.

I wore it today to work (after obsessing about it all last night and then finally deciding it was the only thing I COULD wear tomorrow due to how fabulous it is) with my Peter Pan booties and came home with armfuls of compliments!

Have you got any ‘out there’ clothing that you just HAVE to wear?

Sponsor The Pigeon in March

Ok, it’s a little earlier than usual, but I have just remembered how short February actually is!

I have 6 spots open for some brand new sponsors, to join my current lovely sponsors! Come one, come all!

Did I mention that it is FREE?

Please check my ‘Sponsor Info’ page for more information.

Sunday Saviours #33

Hullo!

It is gorgeously sunny today here at the Nest, which makes me want to throw open the windows and get some fresh air in this place. This week has been half term for me and I spent 2 and a half days of it with my gorgeous girlfriends. P was very good and let me spend my Valentines with them, so for once we were all together.

We did a late sort of not Valentines day on Wednesday, where P cooked us Steak and we exchanged a list of 5 things that we love about each other. We don’t really celebrate Valentines, but it is nice to have a reminder to do something to help you as a couple. Next year, I might suggest our 5 highlights of the year as a couple. I enjoyed seeing the things that P loves about me so I can make sure I don’t push those things aside… one of his was my cooking… so on Friday I didn’t disappoint.

3 different types of cake occurred on Friday, as I baked up a storm whilst watching mass amounts of Disney. I am truly working through the back catalogue!

Yesterday, we had people over for dinner. It was my favourite kind of gathering, where people grab a dish, pile it up and try to find a seat. I really do enjoy having people round and feeding them…what can I say? I’m a feeder.

So that was my week! How was yours? Let me know after you’ve looked at some links!

I so want to make this blanket! It looks so cosy and warm. Perfect for the sofa.

Anybody else think that this soft toy storage is too cute?

I may have been tattooed a little bit on Monday…. so seeing these made me smile.

I made these on Friday (with a small recipe tweak), which were heartily eaten by all yesterday, with some actually begging for the recipe….here it is!

A Thrifty Mrs is truly a new favourite, I got lost on her blog for hours reading all her back posts!

With my wardrobe and floor and dressing table all littered with shoes…maybe I should make these?

I think these would be great stuffed with some yummy smelling stuff to make your drawers smell nice.

I have P saving coffee grounds to make this scrub I saw on Amy’s blog.

I loved this post on Kate’s blog about hobbies and how important they are.

Have a lovely Sunday everyone!

DVD storage – or – How to calm your control freak girlfriend

P is very good at keeping the lid on his control freak girlfriend. After realising we would not be buying a nest of our own for at least another 18 months, P took me on a little trip to Ikea to quell my worries and to try and make me feel better about being in our rented flat for a while longer.

We have a ridiculous amount of DVDs and they were starting to dominate our living space, so we decided that it was time to take action.

We bought 24 of these bad boys (well, 12 packs of 2) and I began the big DVD reorganise!

Our DVD’s are now tidied away into categories (Yes, we have a whole box labelled Arnie… P loves Schwarzenegger) and I feel so much better about our living room for it! We still have some of our collection on show, but just losing the majority of the coloured spine covers has made our room look so much bigger!

Does anyone else get serious satisfaction from things being tidy and organised? Please say it isn’t just me!

#2 / 35 in 365 – Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Image source and to purchase it – click here

For those who don’t know me in real life, very few of you will know that my real grown-up name is Rebecca, and even fewer of you will know that I was named after this novel.

I was bought a hardcover copy of the novel by my grandfather when I was born, and since the age of 14 I have read it at least once a year, drawing more and more from it every time. I love Daphne du Maurier’s writing, the way she evokes the scenes and fills out her characters. It transports me to the 20′s/30′s and all I want to do is drink tea and walk a spaniel.

I love how frustrated I get with the second Mrs De Winter, as she pushes on through the novel with her childlike shyness and that my namesake affects her so much despite her death 10 months earlier.

If you haven’t read this classic, I highly suggest it. It is truly my favourite book of all time, and not only because I was named after it.

Sunday Saviours #32

A bit late on posting tonight, but I am very excited because I am off to see my girls tomorrow morning! Eek!

P and I are postponing valentines until Wednesday, as it very rare for me to have all my lovely ladies in one place at one time. So things should be a little quiet here till Thursday!

So here are a few links!

I love the pebbles and bambam Valentines on this page.

There really are some ideas to steal here!

The idea behind my new tattoo design.

I love these…they used to do a Calamity Jane one that said ‘I figure if a girl wants to be a legend she should just go ahead and be one’… I love them.

I really enjoy how photos capture moments of pure excitement.

I need this treehouse in my life.

And as always…anything with a mustache makes me happy.

Making it – Celeste @ Ruby Key

Today, we have the gorgeous Celeste, who blogs over at Life as Twiggy, talking about her lovely little business, Ruby Key, where she sells handmade cards, tags and other paper-based yummies!

Why and when did you first decide to open a shop?

I opened my shop as a college student about two years ago. My graphic design courses at school opened a whole new window of creativity for me, and Ruby Key is my little virtual place where I can express that and continue doing what I love.

Why did you choose the name of your shop?

One of my first few times thrift shopping I came across an old key that inspired me to find the beauty in all things vintage. From there I continued to thrift and make several purchases of vintage items. I began to learn more about Etsy and had more interest in creating handmade paper goods. I also began to stumble across other bloggers who share similar interests as me. Everything seemed to come about after I came across the vintage key.Where did you first decide to start selling your products, and why did you decide on that method? 

When I first encountered Etsy I knew I wanted to be apart of it. It took some time for me to think about what I wanted to sell but as time went by, everything seemed to fall into place. I choose to begin my shop online because I felt like it was an excellent way to start. Etsy is a wonderful handmade community.

Some of Ruby Key’s beautiful stock – click the picture to head straight to buy!

Where do you find that most of your buyers hear about you?

At first it was only word of mouth, but I’m beginning to spread the word in different ways. I will be doing my first craft show this weekend, which is an excellent way to expose my shop, hand out my business cards, and hopefully sell some items What do you enjoy most about running your own shop?

I love the fact it reflects who I am and what I LOVE doing.What is the least enjoyable thing?

For me, I wish I could have personal interactions with each of my customers. After selling items I want to know more about my customers reaction and/or what they are using my items for.

What is your favourite item that you have in your shop right now?

Right now I’m loving my handmade valentine cards because it’s a mix of color and vintage. I love incorporating old book paper and machine sewn stitches.Is there anything you would do differently if you started the whole process again?

I’m still very new to my shop and take each day as a learning experience. The one thing I would change is keeping better track of all my expenses, even from day 1.

Gorgeous Valentines Garland @ Ruby Key! Click image to head to her Etsy shop!

Do you have any advice for those following in your footsteps?

Continue to do what you love! If you find happiness in what your doing, something good is bound to happen
Big thanks to Celeste for sharing her shop story. Some really great advice here! I have already collated all my receipts from day one…dreading my first tax return! If you want to know more about Celeste, her blog or her shop, feel free to link on the links below!

BLOG 

SHOP

TWITTER 

If you have a self-set up shop or business and would like to featured on ‘Making It’, drop me an email at shinypigeon@hotmail.co.uk.

Would LOVE to hear from you!