Okay… so a few more days to go before my forty days of sacrifice begin:  On the 22nd February through to the 5th April, I am totally and utterly, completely giving up Fat Birds.  From 9am on Feb 22nd, I will send every customer who orders a Ben the Bin,  a free DIY Fat Bird Making Kit too, and I shall continue with this generosity until midnight on April 5th 2012.  This is for several reasons, one is that I really need to make space for some chocolate eggs in my studio… it is nearly Easter after all.  And so this brings me nicely on to my main reason for making this gesture… Lent is nearly upon us, and I am giving up my Fat Birds ‘cos, well you’re supposed to give something up – and I chose them.  I also want everybody to reflect on all of the naughty times they have thrown rubbish away without recycling it first!  So, this is why Ben is involved… pink, blue and green Ben the Bins are made from 100% recycled plastic, and they encourage the re-use of carrier bags.  I bet you have loads of blue and white, and orange plastic bags screwed up in a cupboard in your kitchen, and how many of you actually take them back to the supermarket to re-use?  I am not preaching, I am fully aware that they are an environmental nasty and they are a hassle, hence why Ben is a great idea… even Theo and Deborah thought so on Dragons’ Den (series 5)… watch the video here: Max talks \’rubbish\’ on Dragons\’ Den

Anyway, I digress slightly, Fat Bird is a great family activity and it encourages kids to be eco-friendly and gets them thinking positively about the environment and wildlife, so I feel good about sending them out as gifts with every Ben the Bin order.  You can read more about Fat Bird here.  So basically in an egg shell, the best time to buy Ben is now, and the best time to recycle is always.

BORING BUT IMPORTANT STUFF FOLLOWS…

(This offer applies from 9am, for 40 days as of February 22nd 2012, and only one Fat Bird Kit is supplied as a gifted item per order/per household of Ben the Bin, the offer terminates at midnight on April 5th 2012)

If any press people want images or other Reestore stuff, then contact Jordan, my PR lass access@portalpr.net http://www.portalpr.net

…but have some good will too…  The festivities bring on lots of fun, food and frolics [not sure why I used that word – I don’t like it much] The point I’m trying to make, is that we all focus our attention on family and presents and dinner and drinks, work dos, and the like, but it’s not until New Year’s Day do we think of how to make ourselves a little bit better or a little bit nicer.  Well, this year my fine lasses and fellows, I bid you the task of being a better person before 2012 hits… there is still time to impress Father Christmas [yes, he is real, even as a concept, believe and he will come].  So here are some things to do before we stuff our bellies with turkey, Yule log and glug it all down with mug of mulled wine…

Feed the birds: I created the Fat Bird Kit because I want the birdies to be safe and nourished.  This is not a shameless plug for you to buy it – but it is a perfect stocking filler and it really is a good thing to use – and it’s cheep cheap [that was a great Christmas cracker joke! ;o)].  On a serious note – It really is getting colder and frostier, and this is the time our feathery friends need a little help finding food… so make them a fat cake and hang it on an outside as a festive treat.

Feed the squirrels: Whilst many people believe squirrels are like rats [they are a bit, a part from the big fluffy tail, and non-buck teeth] – and take a dislike to them, there is no harm in feeding them if you don’t mind them being in your garden.  Jordan, my PR lass told me ‘We have these two naughty squirrels that visit our garden and fight over the food – which isn’t even theirs – it’s the food we have put out for the birds.  So my husband and I roasted two bags of chestnuts and gave them to the squirrels…’ She did continue, but I switched off, ‘cos the rest of her story is pretty boring anyway!  Anyway if you feed the birds fat cakes then the squirrels can’t get to it, and if you want to help the squirrels put some nuts out for them – they don’t have to be roasted – they are really good at breaking the shells… it’s their job.

Hello hedgehogs: These spiky little balls with faces are garden friends, as they eat beetles, caterpillars and slugs.  They frequent lots of gardens so you won’t always see the same one.  If you do want to feed them, then put some meaty pet food on a dish.  Do not capture the hedgehogs or put them in a small space, just be nice to them.

Spare Change: Pop a few pence in the charity pots that are being jingled and jangled – think about how much we spend on presents each year and on food – a few pence to a good cause is really in keeping with the season of good will… so just do it and do it with a full happy giving heart!

Upcycle: Keep pretty wrapping papers to add detail to homemade cards or to make tags for presents, it is a fantastic way to re-use material – and alway ensure you recycle any papers not needed.

Recycle: Loads goes to waste during Christmas and New Year – and it is our responsibility to recycle … I am going to blog about this so look out for advice on doing it right.

Thoughtful E-cards: These are eco-friendly [save paper], fun, fast, and you don’t have to worry about postage costs or arrival times.  It is so important to be thoughtful and you can do this at Christmas without looking really sappy – as it is the season of will.  This is the one I emailed out to the lovely people in my life… from the Reestore team… [if you didn't get one, then please assume it was an error of the technical kind - and accept the one below as your personal thoughtful card from Max, (me) and all of the Reestore team ;o) HO HO HO]

Merry Christmas to One and All

On Saturday 29^th October 2011, whilst most people were preparing for the Halloween festivities, I was thinking of a childhood movie… Mary Poppins, and humming that song that Julie Andrew sings about the lady in the snow shaker … ‘Feed the birds…lala la’… Whilst the snow-shaker lady is a little scary [perfectly apt thought then for late October]… she does make a jolly good point!

I told my mates that it was ‘Feed the Birds Day’ – yet before I could explain further, they began to run around in a panic and even blew out our party plans – and when I asked ‘why?’, they replied in unison ‘We’ve got to go home and cook for our girlfriends.’ I shook my head with bemusement, and continued to tell them that ‘I was not referring to the female of our species as ‘birds’, but that I was talking about cute little animals with feathers and beaks, that tweet and chirp, and fly and stuff.’ – But by the time the utterances skipped off of my tongue, the lads had sprinted to their cars in a bid not to disappoint the ladies in their lives.

I, however, decided to put aside my feelings for any lady in my own life, [including my mum – 'sorry mother, but you do have a day in March dedicated to you don’t you?']. Instead I concentrated all of my affections towards my feathery friends that frequent my garden.  I reached for my Fat Bird, [it’s not a metaphor], it’s a fat cake making kit for the birdies.  In the winter birds have such trouble trying to find food, that it is our responsibility to help the poor little things to stay nourished.  This was my reason for designing the DIY fat cake making kit, and because it is a step closer to being good to the environment… after all it is very naughty [wagging finger from side to side naughty], to throw away cooking fat, to pour it down the sink or to bury it… yes, some people think if they shove it in a hole and pile a great mound of soil over it that it will disappear… WRONG!

Besides all of these things are a huge effort too, whereas making fat cakes with my kit is super duper easy peasy … all you have to do is… pour leftover cooking fat into the cute case [which has big sucker bird feet to keep it stable], add the provided seeds and refrigerate until set… hey presto, you have a fat cake.

REMEMBER: Fat balls/bars are essential for the survival of birds during winter.  Suet fat and beef fat and spare fat is fine to use, but fat from other cooking may harm the birds, due to consistency or too much salt…. YUK!

Max headed to The Rag Factory in London’s East End, last week, for the anticipated launch party of Imani Renae. Interior designer, Sharon James and Reestore’s very own Max, were super excited to reveal ‘Maxine‘, their design collaboration.  The traditional-modern furniture fusion boasts ornate claw feet, and contemporary cushions. which are inspired by Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn in the iconic movie Breakfast at Tiffanys.  Take a look at the upcycled bathtub for yourself, and for more of Max’s creations go to Reestore [Maxine's page].

Chaise simply GORGEOUS!

Maxine shines through the window of Imani Renae

Modern twist for Holly Golightly

“The latest celebrity owner of Ben the recycling bin, is none other than dance judge extraordinaire Arlene Phillips. We hear she is ‘totally and excessively eco’.  Two pink Ben the bins on their way Arlene – Happy recycling!”

A lovely write up in the Sunday Telegraph last weekend, check out the espadrilles… (Oh and the beautiful chaise!)

On my late dads three year anniversary I thought it fitting that we have recycled (excuse the pun) his old push bike and transformed it into our new carbon neutral delivery vehicle!

Coming to an event near you soon.

Hope you like it pop x

Welcome to my first blog, not entirely sure what i’m going to talk about but if nothing else it is a nice way to let off steam and have a rant!

Hope you are all liking the new website, big thank you to Luke and the team at POM design for putting up with my designer ways!

Coming soon…