the resourceful mum’s handbook

If you’re pregnant there’s some money out there with your name written all over it. There’s a new ‘health in pregnancy’ grant for mums-to-be due on or after 6 April. It’s a one-off payment of £190 and can be spent on anything from fruit and vegetables to nappies or a pram. The cash can be claimed from the 25th week of pregnancy. Be resourceful and go to direct.gov.uk/money4mum2be

Chickenpox

Rosie had really nasty chickenpox in January. She was covered. We found an oatmeal bath helped to soothe the itchiness. Using porridge oats, or something similar, either tie a muslin full of oats under the taps, or blend the oats into a powder and drop in water.

Rosie loves painting

Rosie did some painting today. Once it’s dry I’m going to use it to make cards from her. So I’ll just cut some sections out of the painting and fold them into a card. It’s handy to have these homemade cards in the drawer, saves having to buy or make something everytime you need one.

Alfie, Charlie, Leo, Rosie, Lauren and Molly

And this is a picture of Rosie and her friends at their joint first birthday party. (Kayla’s moved away, which is why she isn’t on the picture…) All six babies were born within six weeks of each other between November and December.

Alfie, Charlie, Kayla, Leo, Rosie, Lauren and Molly

This is a picture of Rosie and her friends, taken when they were three months old. We all met at our local NCT class and still meet every Friday afternoon. Lots of the advice, recipes and patterns in The Resourceful Mum’s Handbook, comes from these gatherings…

Lopsided rabbit and babygro

This is the homemade present I made for my friend Annabel and her new baby Daisy. The pattern for the lopsided rabbit soft toy is in the book. It’s very easy to make and could be handsewn if you don’t have a sewing machine. I then traced the shape of a rabbit’s head in the same material and zigzag-stitched it onto a plain, white babygro.

Rosie making muffins

Today, Rosie and I made blueberry muffins together, as her friends Olly, Dino, Ruby and Ellie were coming around for a playdate. It was really quick and easy, just 10 mins prep, 25 mins in the oven. Getting her involved made it messy but crucially kept her busy for about 30 minutes, even more as I got her to do the washing up afterwards.
Here’s the recipe, it’s one of Bill Grainger’s:

1/Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C and line 12 muffin cases with paper cases.
2/Cream together 120g unsalted butter with 225g caster sugar
3/Add two eggs one at a time and mix well
4/Then add one and a half tablespoons of vanilla essence, 170ml sour cream and mix well.
5/Then add 201g self-raising flour, one teaspoon salt and one and a quarter teaspoons baking powder
6/Mix until gently combined and fold in 150g of blueberries (tossed in flour first)
7/Spoon into cases
8/ Bake for 25 minutes

My new book is written, being crafted by copy editors as I type and will be available on Amazon and all good bookshops by early March next year. It’s all very exciting. I couldn’t have predicted the impending, (already with us) credit crunch but I think next year is going to be a time when we all need to become a little more resourceful and creative.

I’m going to use this blog to ensure my tips in the book are as up-to-date as possible and also to keep adding new advice, patterns and recipes as they occur to me. It would be wonderful if this space could become a hub for all those resourceful parents out there - so please do add any tips of your own.