Mumtopia: Get Festive with the Ice Factor and MIAMI lifestyle

Make It and Mend It, aka MIAMI, is a way of life conjured up by Clare Flynn, Hilary Brufell, Anne Caborn and Clare O'Brien in their book of the same name. The core belief behind this approach to life is that human beings were designed (or evolved - Ed) to make things. "It is," say Flynn et al, "wired into our DNA. Yet all those years of the consumer society have caused many of us to lose this capacity and some of us have never even experienced the joy of making something."?

Making Good
If you have never had a bash at growing vegetables, making a Valentine's card or repairing clothes, you are missing out. Being creative and making things is good for us in so many ways. Not only is MIAMI better for the planet and better for your friends and family (who will soon find themselves on the receiving end of top notch handmade gifts), "it builds our self-esteem," says Brufell, "helps us feel more capable and in control, reduces depression and generally lifts the spirits." My own experience bears witness to this. Whether you choose to knit a draught excluder, make salt dough decorations or concoct your own mincemeat this Winter, you will save money and feel happier and more fulfilled.

Think Outside the Bin
I also applaud the authors' philosophy of "thinking outside the bin" - coming up with ideas to re-use, re-fashion or re-define things we might otherwise throw away. Old sweatshirts, as they suggest, most definitely could be turned into a patchwork quilt or a hot water bottle cover, but I'm not so sure many of us have an ?"old fire grate" knocking about just waiting to become "a garden herb planter."
Festive spirit
Make It and Mend It?(?14.24, David and Charles) contains over thirty ideas to make, bake, sew and grow, and is split into seasons, which means you can adopt the MIAMI way of life all through the year. I thought I knew all there was to know about avoiding food waste, but the top tips for cooking with leftovers was very helpful, and despite my general avoidance of all things Christmassy, even I am tempted to make my own festive foliage wreath this year. I have always known that a wire coat hanger comes in to it somewhere, but the instructions and photos included in this book are so clear and encouraging that it would feel rude not to give at least a couple of Winter projects a try.?


Ice Factor Giveaway
If you?re feeling festive, you might like to know that York?s most popular Christmas attraction, the award-winning outdoor ice rink, The Ice Factor is now open for the festive season at York Designer Outlet.?The creation of an ice rink is beyond MOST people's skills, I imagine, no matter how much they buy in to the MIAMI way of life, so Mumtopia has one Family Package for the Ice Factor to give away.? The Family Package is for: 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children, and is worth ?33. Tickets will be redeemable at a date and time of the winner's choice. For more details about Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland at York Designer Outlet, click?here?a Rafflecopter giveawaySkate under the stars on the 900sqm real ice rink complete with a giant 30ft-high Christmas tree in the centre of the rink, and bordered by an illuminated forest with log cabins and reindeer, a skate hire marquee, a public viewing area and the heated Ice Bar and Caf?.

To enhance the visitor experience, an authentic funfair will sit alongside the ice offering rides for all ages, including children?s rides and games stalls.?Food and drink will be served throughout the day at the rinkside Ice Bar and Caf?, offering a range of hot and cold food using locally-sourced produce, and a large choice of wines, spirits, beers, soft drinks and winter warmers such as mulled wine, Sloe Gin or hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream.

Source: http://mumtopia.blogspot.com/2012/11/get-festive-with-ice-factor-and-miami.html

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