Guilty as Charged.

Guilt. There's a word to get the heart pounding on a Tuesday morning (or afternoon)! We've all experienced it at one point or another, so I thought I'd do a post on some of the more common offences that some of us may have committed.

Offence 1: Adjusting the price of goods.

Image: agefotostock.com

Oh-kay. Please bear in mind that this is for the good of all mankind, and I'm NOT chasing after every man in Ireland with a brush full of tar, but I don't think that a large proportion of the male population would appreciate the actual price of girl things. You really, really don't need to know that that particular foundation was €25, or that that magazine was €7. You don't need to know the real price of the boots. This would make you sad. The way I see it, when I'm frantically stuffing random shopping bags into the one big Penneys one before I come into the house, I'm PROTECTING you. Which is good. I'm happy because I have a new nice thing, you're happy because you think you're living with the bargain queen. Double happiness! Yay!
Also, bear in mind that I have a speech prepared if you do happen to stumble onto a wayward receipt. It goes something like this: "But we didn't go on holidays and I don't buy expensive clothes every week and I don't go to the hairdressers every week and I don't get my nails done or facials or go out every weekend or go to the cinema a lot or go to gigs and they're lovely boots and I'd have them forever and shur it's really only the price of a good night out." This is true. Not lying, see? Protecting. PROTECTING.
Sentence: None. Just don't let it get out of hand. Secret shopping - Okay. Secret debt-up-to-your-eyes? Not Okay.

Offence 2: Attack of the Mummy.

Image: thehugginghome.com

I don't know if this is a Mammy thing, or just an Irish Mammy thing, or just a me thing. But I feel really, really guilty if I spend money on myself. Yes, I realise that you've just read through a paragraph which is basically about me treating myself, but believe me that doesn't happen often. If I had a tenner, I'd probably spend half on food and half on my son (the food issue is another kettle of fish altogether - I must have been in the famine in a former life because heaven help us - if we ran out of canned goods, the world would implode). Mammy guilt usually rears its ugly head in clothes shops - I usually get an attack of it in Penneys. I'll see something lovely that I'd like, then Mammy guilt appears and sits on my shoulder, ranting into my ear, saying things like "Well now. That's lovely, but you shouldn't really be spending that on yourself, should you? Why don't you go and have a look at the kid's section? You've nowhere to wear that anyway, the child could do with socks. Or that lovely cute t-shirt. Ah, go on, get him something." So straight to the kids section I go, convincing myself that he needs any more clothes. He doesn't. Same goes for spoiling yourself - I've stopped feeling guilty if I want to spend an hour blogging rather than being Suzy Homemaker. Suzy needs me-time too!
Sentence: A happy Mammy means a happy child.

Offence 3: I Don't Like Her Because You Do.

Image: liyanajane.blogspot.com

I'm going to use The X Factor as an example for this. The other night I was less than impressed when himself was banging on about how gorgeous Tulisa's eyes were, and I said something less than complimentary about her. Which was mean. And also not true. I do like her. I think she's nice, and pretty. So why couldn't I just suck it up and agree with him? She's hardly going to jump out of the telly á la The Ring and leap on him, is she?  I mean, I HAD just spent about four minutes ooh-ing and aah-ing over Gary Barlow. You think male pride is bad? Try being me. It's exhausting trying to be right all the time.
Sentence: Ladies are pretty. Men will look. Men are pretty. Women will look. You can't very well accuse someone of being a perv when you are a perv. Of sorts.


Offence 4: Letting Party You Overrule Sensible You.

Image: legaljuice.com

I don't know if this is more guilt, or embarrassment. I'm going to err on the side of mortifying. You're out for the night, having a laugh, having a few drinks, dancing, making instant best friends in the bathroom, talking utter scour, and then you do it. You have the BEST idea in the world. Every alarm bell in your head is ringing, the tiny voice voice of sober, sensible you, is somewhere in the back of your head, screaming "don't do it! It's not funny!". And then you do it. And it's HILARIOUS. Everyone laughs. You're the hottest thing since sliced bread. You're gas. You go home feeling delighted with yourself, until you turn on your laptop the following morning and read the only sentence guaranteed to send your heart crashing down to the tips of your stamped-on toes. "XXX tagged you in a picture." Ground. Open. Swallow. Now. Going out now is like being under bloody surveillance.
Sentence: It's alright to numb Sensible You, but for christ sake, don't kill her. Party You won't help you in the morning.


Offence 5: Not Taking a Compliment.

Image: brandflakesforbreakfast.com

I am completely incapable of taking a compliment, should the occasion arise. "You look lovely." "Ah, jaysus, I don't." "You do, I love your top." "This oul thing? I don't even like it." "You look great." " I don't. But you do." "Ah, god, no, I don't, I look desperate." I think we're all afraid that if we say "thanks", that everyone will think "Jaysus, ego on your wan, she thinks she's gorgeous now." LADIES!!! I've learned that the more you put yourself down, the more people will stop trying to build you up. Take this recent exchange between himself and I. "You look lovely." "I don't, I look huge." "You don't look huge, you're not huge." "I feel huge in these trousers." "Well change them then." "Do you think I should change them?" "I don't give a fuck what you do with them, I want to go." Fair enough.
Sentence: If you think you look nice, you look nice. And say thank you when you get a compliment!


Identify with any of the above?

S xx

I Wanna Be Famous!

This post was inspired by this tweet from Paddy Duffy:

My answer was that shows like the X-factor, American Idol, etc - all make me despair a little bit for the *cue old-woman phrase* youth of today. I've watched countless audition shows, watched countless young people line up for hours, full of nerves, to be judged by four people. FOUR. They put all hopes of future happiness onto this one audition - if it's good, they are ecstatic. If it's bad, they're heartbroken. They stand there, and let four other human beings determine if they're good enough to be judged by yet more people. It doesn't sound too attractive when you put it that way, does it? An awful lot of the applicants for shows like this are teenagers - the same kind of teenagers that fill their Tumblr with pictures like this:

Image: abandonletters.wordpress.com

Don't get me wrong. I understand the power of editing. I understand that basically, these shows aren't about changing the lives of ordinary people, they're about making money. They're entertainment. I understand that in the end, the most talented person usually wins out. I GET that. What I don't get, and haven't for a long time now, is the sheer amount of people who have one sole aim in life: To be famous.

Image: tumblr

I remember asking a friend's 6-year-old daughter* what she wanted to be when she grew up, and she said "Hannah Montana". A fictional character who has her own TV show and colossal catalogue of merchandise. Fair enough - you want to be a pop star. But what happens if you can't sing? What happens if you don't look the part? What happens if you don't get your big break? What are your alternatives? Is there ANYONE out there for young kids to look up to as role models? Take TV "stars", "reality" celebrities, and anyone in the music industry out of the equation, and who are you left with?

YouTube is another major influence in shaping the type of adults these young fame-hungry kids become. For every Justin Bieber, Alexis Jordan, or Christina Grimmie that gets discovered and signed, there are a thousand other young boys and girls sitting at home in their bedroom, posting videos of themselves singing or dancing, and being subjected to the most disgusting abuse by nameless, faceless trolls who seem to have one mission in life - to destroy the self-confidence of others. We've all seen it. What's their excuse? "You posted the video, you deserve what you get." I'm not pretending to be holier-than-thou here - we've all seen the odd video and thought - what the hell?! - I'm not talking about those ones. I'm talking about the ones where young teenagers are putting themselves out there in a bid to be the next big thing, and they're getting laughed at, mocked, bullied, cursed at, called every name under the sun, and left to read horrible, hateful comments that destroy their self-confidence and make them feel like crap. Hardly the desired effect.

Image: butterfly678.edu.glogster.com

What I want to ask today is, where are the positive role models for these kids? Those really bad singers, the really bad auditions that we all laugh at, where are their support systems? Who are these kids talking to? Or are they talking to anyone? You have to wonder why nobody tells the "bad auditionees" the truth. Or maybe they do - and the kids are just so determined to have fame and fortune that they don't want to hear it. Either way, it's a hard lesson to learn - to be told you're crap publicly, in front of millions, doesn't do much for someone's self esteem. I'd warrant a guess that a lot of these people are of the Internet generation - the ones who turn to websites rather than to their families and friends.

Here's where you come in. If you are a parent, an aunt, an uncle, a cousin, a sister, a brother, or a friend, and you know someone who "wants to be famous", then please - do all you can to be a good role model for that person. Teach them something you wish you'd been taught. If you are the one on the receiving end of the hate, then ask yourself - are you going to let someone hiding behind a ridiculous username on a screen dictate what you feel like? Don't stand for it. Report abusive comments, block abusive users, stand up for yourself and for what you believe in. If you're genuinely upset, worried or scared by something you read online, confide in someone. Don't go it alone.

Image: katie73.wordpress.com

I hate the thought that too many young people are crying themselves to sleep at night because their desire to be well-known and loved has resulted in teasing, taunting, mocking and bullying. If you see it happening, report it. It's time to take the internet back from the trolls, people. I can't believe I'm going to quote Dr. Phil, but here you go: "It takes a thousand 'atta boys' to make up for one 'you're no good' comment." Wouldn't it be nice if we could all throw around a few more 'atta boy's. 

And that, my friends, is my very longwinded (what's new), rambly, roundabout way of telling you how certain TV shows have changed the way I think about the world.

S xx

* When I asked my 7-year-old what he wanted to be, he said he didn't know. I asked him if he wanted to be famous and he replied "No way, that'd be crap. I'd have to sign loads of autographs. Too much writing." Atta boy.

Nail Art: Autumn Leaves

Hello!
Today I'm doing a nail art post, so please vacate the premises if you have no interest in it. I'm just warning you, because I've been told on more than one occasion that sometimes my blog is a little bit... girly! Shocking! This is one of those occasions.

Last week, I ordered a set of nail art brushes on eBay from China - they arrived today, and though they may not be top-quality merchandise, they're ideal for what I wanted. I got these, from THIS SELLER, for the grand total of €1.52 (free postage). The seller is having a sale at the minute, and it ends in 2 days, so move fast if you want to pick these babies up for that bargalicious price.

***click on the pictures for larger views***

The next step was to choose a design - thanks to the lovely  Lil on twitter, I settled for an Autumn/Fall design involving leaves. Once I had a vague idea of what design I wanted, I had to choose the colours from my stash. I'll throw in a messy pic of my stash (and my favourite Father Ted mug), because I know that nail polish peeps love to see polish collections.

The colours I chose for this particular... thing were these ones, names to follow:

L-R: Catrice "Lost in Mud", Chanel Graphite (from the giveaway I won on the lovely Cherry Sue's blog), Essence Multi Dimension "Spicy", Catrice no name, Catrice "Spiced Bronze", Catrice "Enter the Undergrowth" and Essence Metallics "Copper Rulez". I know that a few of these are limited edition, and it really annoys me when people do tutorials or swatches of limited edition stuff, but honestly you can use any copper/brown/orange/gold/green colours that you have. This is what I had, you use whatever you have! I used the Essence "Spicy" for the base coat.

It's a lovely polish on it's own - reminds me of melted galaxy bars. Galaxy....mmmmmm...........*ahem*. BUT. I don't know if it's the polish in general or just the bottle I got - but this was the runniest polish in the history of polishes. It turned out lovely in the end, but it was an effort to stop it from runnning off the brush. I've never had a problem with Essence polishes before, so it may just have been my bottle. Next, I got one of the little nail brushes and basically started splattering a few different colours on. I added a teeny bit of definition with the same polish I used for the base. I didn't want anything that screamed "look at me, I've got leaves on my nails" - instead I wanted a subtle autumny-feel and I think that's what I got.

What do you think? Yay or nay? I like it!

S xx

Mondegreens

Okay, let's just admit it. We've all done it. We've sung along to a particular song for years and years and then one day something happens that shakes your world to its very core. You realise that you'd been *gasp* singing the wrong words. I know, I know. It's hard to deal with. It's also embarrassing, especially if said (adopts Oprah voice) "lightbulb moment" happens during a karaoke session and you see the words on screen and shout (into the microphone) "THAT'S what she's saying?!!!". Which, of course, never happened...

Anyway, we've all been victims of an incident (or twenty) of lyrical trickery - who can forget Phoebe's infamous "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" in an episode of Friends? Which, incidentally, is a meme in it's own right, spawning merchandise like the T-shirt below. If you're too young to know who Tony Danza is, I feel envious and aged in equal amounts.

Image: teenormous.com

What I didn't know until a few years ago, was that these misheard lyrics have a name. And a pretty good one. They're called mondegreens. Isn't that a fantastic word? There are entire sites devoted to finding new mondegreens (I am in love with that word), so I thought I'd share with you some of mine, and some of the ones from around the web that made me laugh. I dont' know about you, but sometimes I find Tuesdays far more depressing than Mondays, so here's hoping this will cheer you up if you need it.

I used to have a list of these on my Bebo site (remember Bebo? The thing that everyone said would turn us all into self-obsessed brats with an addiction to the internet? Share the luv, people) and they still make me laugh after all this time.

Song: Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. 
Actual Lyrics: Islands in the Stream, that is what we are.
My Lyrics: Ireland's industry, that is what we are.

This made perfect sense to me for years. I couldn't realise why no Irish company had bought the rights to use it in an advertising campaign. Until I was about 14 and I saw it listed on a Kenny Rogers compilation. I still sing my lyrics to this day.

Song: Do They Know It's Christmas by Band Aid.
Actual Lyrics: The greatest gift they'll get this year is life.
My Lyrics: The greatest gift they'll get this year is flies.

I know, it's completely un-PC, but I honest to god thought this was a very un-PC hard-hitting lyric designed to make us all appreciate what we got for Christmas. Which I'm sure was the point of the song, right? Right...

Song: Forever in Blue Jeans by Neil Diamond.
Actual Lyrics: I'd much rather be forever in blue jeans.
My Lyrics: I'd much rather be Reverend Blue Jeans.

Still sing my lyrics for this one too. You know when you're so wrong that it doesn't even make sense to be right any more? I thought that Neil Diamond wanted to be like the king of the down-to-earth people. The Reverend of lads in blue jeans. And so it shall stay in my brain. Amen.

Song: Grenade by Bruno Mars.
Actual Lyrics: Throw my hand on a blade for ya.
My Lyrics: Throw my head on a plane for ya.

Though each are (in my humble opinion) equally stupid lyrics anyway, mine had me imagining that Bruno would be willing to hop on a plane at a minute's notice to be with this woman. Nope, he was willing to cut his hand. Okay, Bruno.

Song: Africa by Toto.
Actual Lyrics: It's gonna take alot to drag me away from you.
My Lyrics: They're gonna take the licence plate away from you.

Seriously. I just assumed that, considering the previous line "hurry boy, she's waiting there for you", that some lad was speeding really fast to get to his girl, hence the cops would pull him over and take his licence plate. See? Logic.

I'll finish this post with my top five mondegreens from amiright.com, kissthisguy.com and fx.worth1000.com, all of which are great for a giggle. Hope you get as much of a laugh out of them as I did! Oh, and also, thanks to my 7-year-old for his unintentional contribution, Jedward and Vanilla Ice - Ass, Ass Baby. I'll just leave that one there.

5: "Michelle" by The Beatles.
Actual Lyrics: Michelle, ma- belle, sont des mots qui vont trés bien ensemble.
Mondegreen: Michelle, my bell, Sunday monkey won't try piano songs.

Image: epicfunnypictures.com

4: "Hotel California" by The Eagles.
Actual Lyrics: She lit up her candle, and she showed me the way.
Mondegreen: She lit up her Ken doll, and she showed me the way.

Image: fx.worth1000.com

3: "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi.

Actual Lyrics: Tommy used to work on the docks.

Mondegreen: Tell me you still work on the dogs.

Image: thepetproductguru.com

2. "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr.

Actual Lyrics: Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!

Mondegreen: Who you gonna call? Those bastards!

Image: gamingbolt.com

1. "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback.

Actual Lyrics: 'Cause livin' with me must have damn near killed you.

Mondegreen: 'Cause Little Women must have damn near killed you.

Image: umershafqat.com

I also found this video on Youtube while searching for some of these - check it out, very funny!

Thanks for reading, 

S xx

Recipe: Pretend Pizza

Hey! Time for another recipe - this one isn't so much a recipe, as a guideline on how to throw a tasty pizza alternative together when you don't want all the badness of an actual Pizza. Pizza is one of the worst foods you can eat if you're watching your weight or trying to be healthy - it's loaded with crap. I came across the idea of using a wrap as a pizza base on a weight loss forum, and it seems that it's a well-known trick among dieters. There are many variations - here's mine.

You will Need: 

1 Tortilla Wrap

Passata

2 Slices of Salami

1 Slice of Ham

30g Reduced-Fat Cheddar Cheese

Onions, Mushrooms

I'll go through the ProPoints at the end for anyone who is following them.

Firstly, get your tortilla wrap and put it on a baking tray. The first time I did this, I didn't put it on the tray and then the whole lot collapsed when I went to put it in the oven. So, tray - very important! Then, you need to get a tablespoon of Passata and spoon it over the wrap. I got my Passata in Aldi, but you could use any brand. A tablespoon of left over pasta sauce does the same job, as do the Dolmio Stir-In pots. Ketchup does NOT work. 

Spread on a spoon or two of Passata.

Then, you need to grate 30g of Reduced-Fat Cheddar over the sauce.

I like to call this next stage the "throw on whatever's in the fridge" stage. It's entirely up to yourself as to what you use - I only used Salami because there was half a packet left over from something I made last week. You can get creative here and try lots of different combinations! For this one, I used ham, salami, mushrooms and one of the lovely onions I got from my Mum's garden on Sunday. Just wash your veg, chop everything up, and throw it on top of the cheese.

Put it in the oven at Gas Mark 5 (190c or 375f) and leave it in for about 10-12 minutes. Check it after 10 minutes though - everyone's oven is different, and burnt tortilla wrap is NOT pleasant. While you're waiting for it to cook, you can look out at the rain and rue the day you ever bought your garden furniture, because it's been horrible weather ever since. 

I actually remembered to take pictures of the final thing this time!! Yay!! So, that first picture way back up at the top there is what you should have by now. I had mine with some cherry tomatoes and some of Mum's lettuce (came home with a bag full of yummy veggies on Sunday, I am DEFINITELY having a proper garden next year).

Here are the ProPoint values for those of you who want them:

Tortilla Wrap: 4pp (the Discovery Mexico ones are only 3pp each, but I couldn't find them this week).

Passata: 0pp

30g Reduced-Fat Cheddar: 2pp 

Mushrooms, Onions: 0pp

1 slice of ham: 1pp

2 circles of salami: 2pp

Alright for 9pp, isn't it? And if you use the other wraps, it takes it down to 8pp. Leave out the salami, it's 6pp.  This is a really good option to go for if you're craving pizza, it has the whole pizza taste but none of the crap. 

Just a note on the cheese, ham and salami - these are the values for the brands I bought, make sure to check your own if you're using them.

Enjoy!!

S xx

A Guide For Girls.

I spent a few hours down at Mum's house yesterday, and as usual found myself rooting having a look around. I came across this little book, entitled "A Guide for Girls in the Journey of Life" by some German Reverend called Wetzel. Why a Reverend would be writing a guide for girls is beyond me, but I thought I'd give it a read anyway. It was published in 1898, so you can imagine the titbits of advice that it gives. I thought I'd share some with ye, because I got such a laugh from it.

Chapter One: A Woman's Brightest Jewel. (Or, Learn to Cook and Sew)

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This chapter contains all the information that a young girl needs in order to keep their men happy and well-fed. It states that girls who work in factories, or rich girls who have housemaids, are basically, bad wives. Because they have their own incomes, they can "buy style", and therefore "remain ignorant of all household occupations." This leads to a very bad start to marriage. "This state of things does not contribute to the happiness of married life, the husband, who had expected the atmosphere of his domestic life, to be always cloudless, grows irritable and contradictious; he goes to the public house, where you can always get what you want as long as you pay for it, leaving his young wife alone with her sodden potatoes and burnt meat to pity herself." Heaven forbid...

Chapter Two: The Savings Bank. (Or, Don't Spend Money)

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This is a chapter that tells girls to go out and collect little bits and bobs that other people have thrown out. It advocates mending rather than buying, and has a load of handy little tips to save produce and money. For example, "old bits of cloth and woollen rags are used in the making of blotting paper. Tobacco ashes are excellent ingredients in tooth powder. Sawdust is useful for the stuffing of dolls' bodies, packing glass and ice, and smoking of meat and fish". It also tells you not to buy anything on credit and to haggle for everything. Before you do buy, ask yourself "Can I do without this?". For example, "Can I do without this nail polish? Eh, no, I can't."

Chapter Three: The Blessing of Good Health. (Or, Don't get Sick or Fat)

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This chapter says that you should take care of your health so that you'll save money on medicines and treatments. This is the advice given to anyone who does fall ill (or have a 'monster' inside them):  "You must not eat more than three times a day; in the morning take a little broth with vegetables in it, in the middle of the day a sausage and greens, and in the evening greens and an egg. If you take more food than this, the monster will grow so big that he will press upon your liver, and you will need no more measuring from the tailor, but only from the undertaker." It also gives girls some fashion advice: "the head and neck should as a rule be lightly clothed, the chest, lower part of the body, and the feet kept warm. Tight lacing is a crime against the laws of health for which nature never fails to avenge herself terribly."

Chapter Four: Never Forget the Fourth Commandment. (Or, Respect your Elders)

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I had to google the Fourth Commandment, slap on the hand for the crap non-practising ex-Catholic please. Apparently, it's to "Remember the Sabbath day", but this chapter is banging on about having respect for your parents, so presumably he means the one about honouring your father and mother . Basically, it's saying that girls who "emancipate themselves from home-control and seek a lodging elsewhere, or pay their parents for their board, and then consider themselves free to do exactly what they please" will not get too far in life. This applies not just to your parents, but to anyone who is either older than you, or an authority figure.

Chapter Five: The Wedding Garment. (Or, Don't Have Sex, and Porn Will Kill You)

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I had to read this a few times to actually understand it, but basically he's saying that the best 'wedding garment' is a 'pure heart'. Or, don't have sex before marriage. He includes lots of little nuggets of advice including a whole list of things to make sure you "avoid occasions of danger", like "shun the company of bad men; Never allow anyone to be too free with you; never let anyone touch you in an objectionable way either in jest or affection". "You will do well to keep out of idle lovemaking; it is the source of countless sins, and is one of the chief causes of so many unhappy marriages." This chapter also tells the lovely heartwarming story of a fourteen year old girl who was found dead on her living room floor because she had read lots of worthless immoral and frivolous books and magazines and gotten so engrossed in them that she suffocated from the fumes of the coals in the stove. You should "ask your parish priest to lend you some books."

Chapter Six: Faithfulness in Little Things (Or, Timewasting Will Kill You Too)

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This chapter tells us lovely girls that basically, it's the little things that count. "How much time is often trifled away or wasted in chatter by girls? They do not seem to understand economizing time. Everything should be done at the right time and in the right order." You should "devote all your attention to what it is your duty to attend to, and never be idle for an instant. Idlness leads to illness, poverty, and basically everything else that's bad.

So, girls, have ye got all that? No sex, no porn, no timewasting, no shopping, no overeating, no indulging in basically anything, and make sure your men don't end up fecking off down the pub and leaving you with your "sodden spuds."

What would the girls say?

"Are ye WELL?"  Image

S xx

Tag: Get Your Freak on!

So, I saw this post over on A Pretty Obsession, and decided I'd give it a go. As usual, I won't be tagging anyone, so feel free to do your own if the mood takes you. I'd also like to add that weirdness is a relative term. Ahem.  Here we go! Oh, and:

Image: www.motifake.com

1. What is a nickname that only your family calls you?
I don't have a family nickname (or if I do, it's being said behind my back). Sometimes I bump into people that I knew years ago, and they still call me Shaz, which I HATE HATE HATE. It makes me sound like I should be wearing a Kappa trackie top and big gold creole earrings while wearing my hair in a topknot and puffing away on a Johnny Blue.

2. What's a weird habit of yours?
How much time have you got? Listaholic, OCD about the way things face in the press, Talking to myself, Practising conversations in my head, Twirling my hair into little knots, Picking at skin/nails/fingers, and I frequently do this (with the range though, not with the saucepan - like that makes it any less weird!):

Image: Not a clue, if you made this, tell me so I can
say thank you for being as weird as I am.

3. Do you have any weird phobias?

I can not abide ventriloquist dummies, mannequins, clowns, porcelain dolls, or anything along those lines. I wouldn't say I'm phobic about them, but my level of dislike for anything in that group is intense to say the least. I once knew a girl who collected porcelain dolls, and I couldn't stay in her room on my own. Honest to god, I felt like there was an army of little homicidal possessed maniacs watching me. 

Creepy little bitches.
Image: www.centuryofdolls.com

4. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you're alone?

The first thing I do when I'm alone is crank up the stereo. I adore music and I can't do my housework or walking without it - it's also the first thing I look for when I'm feeling in bad humour. Feeling angry? Belt out a few 80s classics and all is well with the world again! I don't think I have any "secret" songs - I'm a sucker for a good soundtrack, and I love The Wedding Singer, the Glee albums, and any Movie compilation albums. I must admit, I do have a fondness for Proud Mary (with the 'rolling'). 

Image: vacheadblog.com

5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?

The fact that people who make Facebook 'like' pages CAN NOT SPELL. Apart from that, and loads of other really stupid pedantic little things, I hate two-faced people, lies, homophobia and snobbery. And when someone uses something up without telling me and puts the empty pack back in the press/fridge. People should be jailed for doing that.

Image: snapshotsofstupidity

6. What's one of your nervous habits?

I can't actually think of any nervous habits? I tend to cross my legs and shake my foot a lot, and probably do that a lot more when I'm nervous, but I don't have any nervous tics. 

7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

I sleep on the inside of the bed. I can't sleep on the outside at all, I always feel like I'm going to fall out. I have to be beside the wall, with enough space between the bed and the wall to stick my foot out of the blanket and down the side of the bed. I also have to have a cold pillow or I can't sleep. Saying that, fill me with whiskey and I'd sleep on a harrow.

Gratuitous cute sleeping pic.
Image: diffanimals

8. What was your first stuffed animal and what was it's name?

Ah now here lads, we're going back a fair bit now!!! I can't remember that far back, but I do remember what my favourite stuffed animal was. His name was buttons and he was a brown teddy dressed in a train drivers uniform. My Mammy brought him home from Dublin for me once, and he was re-upholstered regularly.

9. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at Starbucks?

Never set foot in a Starbucks in my life, have neither the opportunity nor the desire to change this. I do like ye olde petrol station machine coffee once in a while. I ain't fussy.

Image: freakingscience

10. What's the beauty rule you preach...but never Actually practice?

"Always take your make-up off properly at night." How I wish I did this every night, but alas, I don't. I try, I really really do, but sometimes.... I just can't be arsed.

11. Which way do you face in the shower?

I face the wall, unless I'm washing my hair, then I face the door because I don't like the feeling of being trapped in a corner not being able to see. Perfectly logical - the bathroom is a dangerous place. See this post over on the brilliant 'Fascination with Fear' blog. 

12. Do you have any weird body skills?

I have double-jointed big toes, I can roll my tongue, cross my eyes, and that's about it. Nothing world-record worthy.

Does my bum look big in this? Ach, never mind, I'll
look myself.
Image: thechive.com

13. What's your favourite comfort food/food that's 'bad' but you love to eat it anyway?

Crisp sandwiches on fresh white bread with real butter and Tayto cheese and onion crisps. Sweet, sweet carbs.... I have to say, I'm loving it less often since I started this Weightwatchers craic, but it's still my go-to comfort food once in a blue moon.

14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?

Bollocks. 

15. Time to sleep - what are you ACTUALLY wearing?

Depends on both the temperature and the occasion, but normally I buy separate PJ bottoms and wear them with vest tops. 

Feel free to do your own post if you want, I had fun doing this one, knock yourselves out!

S xx