Winter time was always heralded in with a family ritual when I was a kid. Every year, when the first southerly blew, we would close the windows for the season. We had those windows that wind in and out, and after years of shifting, swelling and warping, the windows no longer closed with ease, so one person stood outside, rugged up against the chill and pushed on the window, while the other wound it in. Around the house, each window in turn closed for the winter.

What are your fond memories of childhood?

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Christmas time also means Summer school holidays, nearly 50 consecutive days with the kids at home.

Entertaining kids can be expensive. Take just going to the movies for example. Tickets alone can cost a family around $50, add popcorn and drinks, you’re looking at closer to $80 just for a couple of hours entertainment.

I don’t believe kids need to be entertained 24/7. In fact I think it’s better if they’re not, that they have down time to use their imaginations and take responsibility for their own entertainment.

For me, Summer holidays meant riding bikes and playing ‘make-believe’. The skipping rope became a makeshift petrol pump tied to the back porch, the cubby was the shop where we it had empty cans and boxes to buy and we made our own paper money. Someone was the robber, someone was the cop someone was the shop assistant, someone was the petrol attendant… We built a ramp over the sewer access to jump over.

Summer used to mean running around under the sprinkler, trying to avoid the bindies.

It meant backyard cricket. Dad actually mowed a pitch in the lawn and we used the upturned trampoline as a wicket keeper.

And after I turned 14, Summer meant extra shifts at my casual job, keeping me busy and giving me extra cash to go to the movies with friends.

With our first born on the way, I’m no expert on entertaining kids, but I’ve scoured the net and my own childhood for free or nearly free kids activities that don’t involve the XBox.

What kind of things do you do with your kids over summer holidays?

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We know that plastics aren’t so healthy for us, but going without plastic in the home, particularly in the kitchen, is a bit impractical for most of us.

The Environmental Working Group has released its latest tip sheet helping us choose safer plastics for use around the home. If you’re wondering what I’m on about (plastics are safe, right?) the EWG briefly explains why plastics may be hazardous to our health.

Most plastic products are numbered (usually near the recycle symbol or on the bottom somewhere nondescript). As a quick guide, the EWG recommend staying away from plastics numbered 3 or 7 or labelled PVC or PC.

Plastics labelled 1, 2, 4 or 5 don’t contain the chemical bisphenol-A and are better choices than the ones above.

The tip sheet also include safe handling ideas like not microwaving plastic (even ‘microwave safe’ plastic) and not to let babies chew plastic products like the remote control.

Of course, the safest alternative is to use as little plastic as possible, and the tip sheet gives some alternatives to common plastic products around the home.

If you’re interested, check out the Environmental Working Group for a whole range of free downloadable guides on safe and environmentally friendly alternatives to common family purchases.

Photo by Hans & Carolyn

Finally getting out of the morning sickness phase and I’m finding that my clothes aren’t fitting already. I’ve been scouting around the internet for low cost maternity wear ideas, but I’m really not ready at all for maternity wear. A the moment I’m doing the old rubber band round the button trick, but that is only going to last so long.

If you have been down this road already – help! I would love to hear your ideas for low cost maternity wear. My budget at the moment is a shy above $0.

After doing some research, here are some low cost/ no cost options I found for maternity wear.

1. The Belly Band. This is like a ‘boob tube’ for your waist. It is supposed to help keep pants up when you can’t do up the buttons and zips (and hide the fact your duds are undone), and cover your belly and your plumber’s when your tops get too short. In other words it extends the life of your pre-preggers clothes (as long as you can still fit into them otherwise!) It also helps keep loose maternity wear from falling off.
2. Borrow maternity wear. If you’re lucky enough to know someone who has maternity wear lying around in the cupboard then borrowing it is a no cost alternative.
3. Buy second hand. This can be at charity stores or some specialty maternity wear stores that buy and sell second hand maternity clothes.
4. EBay. This is a popular suggestion. I’ve bought clothes off eBay before, but browsing through the maternity wear, I didn’t find it all that cheap. There seemed to be high demand for maternity wear and therefore more bids and higher costs (something to keep in mind for later!)
5. Buy Online. Depending on your budget and what you’re looking for, buying online can be cheaper. I found a nice pair of pants for $38AUD which I guess is reasonable (but beyond my current budget).
6. Raid hubby’s wardrobe. Particularly for the in between period where your clothes are too small and maternity wear is too big.
7. Buy bigger ‘normal’ clothes. Again for the in between period.

If you have any other ideas or you would like to share what you did for clothes during pregnancy, I would love you to share your thoughts in the comments section.