Be Prepared!!

So as you may know I recently returned to work part time after 14 months of maternity leave.

I mentioned in a previous post, I think, that I’m just not feeling on top of things..it’s really hard to do meal planning, a weekly shop, cook healthy nutritious meals for me, Dan and Fred AND have healthy snacks for Fred, AND stay on top of the laundry AND have a clean, tidy house. AND find a way top actually spend quality time with my son on my days off.

Well, before I went back to work I got a cleaner. I don’t see it as a luxury AT ALL. See above for evidence of why.

Everything else is a bit of a struggle.
Fred’s been eating a lot of stuffed pasta, pasta with cream cheese and peas, fish fingers, pasta, fish fillets, pasta.
Yeah I know.

He also is a big snacker and I’ve just been keeping the Freddie Snack Cupboard stocked with various bought “baby” snacks like rice cakes, biscuits and fruit oat bars. The sugar content is pretty high even though they’re “baby” food.

Today I was inspired to change my ways and get on top of stuff. I filled a Tupperware in the fridge with washed fruit, another with cucumber sticks and made him 6 fish pies for his dinners.

I froze half of them and tomorrow I’ll make up 6 portions of vegetable Mac n cheese (yes I know it’s pasta again but it is mainly veg).

Now my plan is to make a daily snack box for Fred and always have a dinner pre planned for him for the days I don’t get home until late.

I even got this fun lunch box to put it all in so I can have it in the fridge and my mum or dad (who watch Fred when I’m at work) have it all to hand!

I want to keep this up I really really do.

And finally, for all you mamas, here’s a great, super healthy, super quick and easy fish pie recipe…

Combine fish pie mix with grated carrot and grated cheese. I don’t add any salt for Fred but I do put in some pepper. Put into one large oven proof dish or some smaller individual portion sized ones…

Boil or steam, then mash some sweet potatoes. Top the fish mix…bake in the oven for about 30 minutes for individual portions or 40 minutes for one big one.

I make these for Fred but it’s great for the whole family…we don’t all eat dinner together so I just make them up as “ready meals” for the kid.

How do you stay on top on being organised when you have to juggle the pressures of motherhood?

Je T’aime Jamie

This is a post about jeans! Although it could easily have been about Jamie Oliver so don’t worry if you feel stupid.

I love Jamie jeans from Topshop. If you’ve seen my instagram page and my 30 days of my capsule wardrobe, you’ll know they’re a staple for me.

I’ve actually worn them for years pre baby but it’s now, post baby that I see their real benefit…

They’re high waisted…this means my jiggly belly is corseted in. Also when sitting on the floor as much as I do..  Rolling around, general Tom foolery…arse and knickers don’t hang out..tops stay firmly tucked in.

They’re stretchy…aforementioned tom foolery is done in comfort.

They’re “ankle grazers”…their words not mine. As a total shorty, I find it hard to get jeans in the right length/waist ratio…because these are meant to be short they just come up the right length on me! (Try getting a waist 32 leg 28 in topshop it’s the fucking holy grail)

They’re only 40 quid but I’ll be honest I tear though them pretty fast so I’m on the look out for a more hardy brand that may cost more but will last longer…the problem with that obvs being that I don’t stay the same jeans size for long..but share your trusty go to jeans with me!

Anyway, here is a selection of friends and family who love Jamie jeans too just to highlight the range of their appeal.

Me! (I think they make my bum look good hence the bum shot)

Mother of two Tanya (aka my mum)

My baby free friend Hen

My friend Laura, mother to 4 month old baby Martha

And an action shot…check out the cool mittens

SPRING into my Capsule Wardrobe

I was going to try and feature everything in my spring wardrobe but that’s NUTS.
So I thought I’d feature some of the new bits I bought to update my capsule wardrobe for spring.
As you can see..spring for me equals YELLOW.

Jamie Topshop jeans, yellow cashmere Boden jumper, Boden Dolly dress, patterned H&M skirt, Zara black jacket,

The Zara isn’t actually new but it’s a top item for Spring.

Someone told me once that I shouldn’t wear yellow but I don’t know why…maybe I should get my colours done in Debenhams.

I think I’ve learned that I suit bold colours rather than pastels so I think this yellow Boden jumper is ok for me.

The Boden dress, I wear with a bright yellow necklace to break up the pale colours near my face and also the high neck so it’s not a sea of  boob.

I love it the H&M skirt..especially paired with the yellow jumper and this necklace from Zara.

And there you have it!