Maternity clothes - eco chic on a budget

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Just discovered you're pregnant, and need to refresh your wardrobe?

The obvious thing about maternity clothes is that you'll only need them for a few months, so it doesn't make sense to spend loads of money.

Even better, wearing pre-loved clothes means you can consider yourself 'eco' and 'chic'.
Try these ideas for free or cheap maternity clothes, you might even strike lucky with some stylish or designer maternity wear. Good luck!

1. Friends
Ask friends who’ve had babies recently, or are a few months more pregnant than you, if they've got any clothes you can borrow or have. Chances are they’ll be only too pleased to pass them on.

2. Affordable Maternity
Great online store for affordable, and designer, maternity wear. They sell ex chainstore surplus, or last season's stock, at around one third of the original price. Includes petite maternity wear and clothes for plus size maternity clothes. Visit Affordable Maternity.

3. Experiment
Try regular clothes in styles you might not usually consider, eg wrap around dresses, stretchy tshirts, leggings, etc. For some inspiration, check popular maternity styles from JoJo Maman Bebe then look for similar when you're out hunting for bargains.

4. Charity shops
OK it’s obvious, but maybe you need to try some new or larger shops to find maternity wear. Find shops near your home or work with this charity shop locator.

5. Accesorise
No, not the shop. Add jewellery, scarves, etc, to distract from the fact you might have a limited range of clothes!

6. NCT sales
Besides maternity wear, you‘ll find all sorts of other useful baby stuff. Find your nearest NCT sale.

7. Ebay
Nuff said. Take a look and pick up some bargains.

8. Adapt
Adapt what you can of your existing clothes. Move buttons so that your trousers or jackets last a bit longer, let out seams if you're handy with a sewing machine, or try one of these adjustable trouser extenders.

9. Freecycle & Freegle
Yep, my old favourite. Post a message, and watch the offers flood into your inbox. Check out Freecycle or Freegle.

10. NetmumsFind clothes either on the ‘the ‘Nearly New’ boards, or if you’re lucky, the ‘Free’ boards. Visit Netmums.

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Crafty gifts & homeware - April offers

Those crafty people over at FromBritainWithLove.com have come up trumps with 2 great offers for April.

Get 20% off at The Green Gables by quoting FBWL20 at checkout - paper bunting (see pic above), art prints, handmade gifts using local and recycled materials with a vintage feel and a lot of love.

Get 15% off at Ochre & Ochre by quoting FBWL at checkout - organic and natural homeware,  including fine linens, kitchen textiles and hand made gifts.

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Up to 80% discounts from Ethical Superstore

Ethical Superstore is having a clearance sale with some amazing discounts. All sorts - fashion, organic groceries, green cleaning products, gadgets, jewellery and baby/child products - take a look.

Definitely worth stocking up for birthday (or even Christmas?) presents!

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20% discount! Cool organic clothes for busy mums

Need comfy clothes for your yoga or Zumba class, or just for wearing at home, but feel your tracky bottoms have seen better days? Asquith London is offering Green Mummy readers an exclusive 20% discount from its new spring range of stylish bamboo and organic cotton lifestyle/sportswear.

Alice Asquith set up the company back in 2002, and now sells her outfits, tops and trousers  everywhere from the 5 star Mandarin Oriental hotel chain to exclusive pilates boutiques.

Prices start from £25 (before discount), so treating yourself won't break the bank.

To get your exclusive 20% discount, simply type GREEN20 in the promotional code box when you order at www.asquithlondon.com

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Pegs, pegs, pegs

Can't get enough of them. I first got a pack when I got my own place years ago, thanks to mum, always one for practical gifts! For years, I used them just for hanging out the clothes (no tumble drier bills). Then a lightbulb moment! I realised I could use them for clipping all sorts of food bags.

So now, everything from pasta, coffee and cereal, to peas in the freezer, means food keeps better and longer so less waste.

Such a humble little thing, but sometimes it's the little things that can make life that bit easier.

Came across these cool recycled pegs by Ecoforce, who have a bucketload of ideas for what you can do with pegs. Submit your own suggestions and they'll publish them. You can buy them in high street supermarkets too. Take a look at their picture gallery - who said pegs can't be stunning?

Image: Ecoforce

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'Parlour Games for Modern Families' - Fun without TV?

Just in time, found a book for an xmas present. My husband will be under the impression it's for him, but really it's to unleash my own inner child....

First I must come clean. I am not the biggest fan of family board games. The husband's family love them, and this has only highlighted quite how much I detest the likes of Monopoly (or Monotony as I call it).

But I can see the benefits of games generally - especially for developing kids' skills - fair play, basic literacy and maths, etc. And more importantly, having fun without TV or computer games, but with people instead! How retro.

So an article about 'Parlour Games for Modern Families' in The Guardian last week might end up making a bit of an impact on my family's down time. I have been persuaded to give games another go. Take a look yourself.

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Mumsnet - Ethical living

Just a quick one. Can't believe I've not discovered this part of the Mumsnet Forum before.  A whole section with threads on everything from ethical pants to natural hair dyes. Grab a coffee and join in! http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/ethical_living

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Save cash and save the planet?

Time for Green Mummy to start thinking about New Year resolutions - and I've settled on one that doesn't involve any hard work on my part!

I've decided to buy all books in future - for myself, L or for presents - from charity shops and charities, wherever possible. For extra 'green brownie' points, the Friends of the Earth Shop looks like the best bet - they sell their own publications (printed on 100% post consumer waste using vegetable inks) plus their recommended choices from other publishers. For children's fiction, I reckon Barefoot Books have some gorgeous looking titles too. Now, all I need to do is decide which of my old books to donate to the charity shop to make room on the shelves...

[Pic: Friends of the Earth)

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