MOM HACKS ℠ | The Holidays!! (Ep. 4) by WhatsUpMoms
"Now I know what my mom feels when I open the presents she got me that took AGES to wrap beautifully and perfectly"

Life with toddlers is yelling” where is the marker cap! all day long for the rest of your life

Mum shares money-saving trick that quickly dries clothes in winter
It comes as the cost to run an average heat pump tumble dryer increases from £56 to £68 this month.
A mum has shared a money-saving hack that helps you dry your clothes quickly.

While many may opt for a tumble dryer, the woman has shared a trick that dries clothes more quickly while using less energy. It comes as consumer experts at Which? found that the cost to run an average heat pump tumble dryer will increase from £56 to £68 in October.
The mum took her trick to Facebook, sharing it in Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK with the trick receiving a lot of praise from savvy money-savers,
Her smart method involved using a plastic greenhouse, which she would use to dry her clothes during the cold winter months. She added that the £46 greenhouse was a worthwhile buy as she will use it to grow plants come Spring.

The mum shared photos of her hack and explained how it worked in the bargaining group. She wrote: "Thought I would share my clothes drying hack. Not for everyone but works for us. A £46 plastic greenhouse."
The woman then added: "We only have storage heaters so can't dry clothes on them either, come the spring I will use the greenhouse for its proper purpose and grow plants with my children."

As reported in the Sun, her post has racked up over 4,000 likes, and people seemed to be impressed. Many were quick to praise the idea and share feedback of their own.

One wrote: "This is a fantastic idea! I don't have a garden, but I do have an enclosed balcony that I dry washing on, usually with the aid of a dehumidifier.

*LIFESTYLE BySara TorresJacob Rawley
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/....lifestyle/money/mum-

Mum shares money-saving trick that quickly dries clothes in winter
It comes as the cost to run an average heat pump tumble dryer increases from £56 to £68 this month.
A mum has shared a money-saving hack that helps you dry your clothes quickly.

While many may opt for a tumble dryer, the woman has shared a trick that dries clothes more quickly while using less energy. It comes as consumer experts at Which? found that the cost to run an average heat pump tumble dryer will increase from £56 to £68 in October.
The mum took her trick to Facebook, sharing it in Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK with the trick receiving a lot of praise from savvy money-savers,
Her smart method involved using a plastic greenhouse, which she would use to dry her clothes during the cold winter months. She added that the £46 greenhouse was a worthwhile buy as she will use it to grow plants come Spring.

The mum shared photos of her hack and explained how it worked in the bargaining group. She wrote: "Thought I would share my clothes drying hack. Not for everyone but works for us. A £46 plastic greenhouse."
The woman then added: "We only have storage heaters so can't dry clothes on them either, come the spring I will use the greenhouse for its proper purpose and grow plants with my children."

As reported in the Sun, her post has racked up over 4,000 likes, and people seemed to be impressed. Many were quick to praise the idea and share feedback of their own.

One wrote: "This is a fantastic idea! I don't have a garden, but I do have an enclosed balcony that I dry washing on, usually with the aid of a dehumidifier.

*LIFESTYLE BySara TorresJacob Rawley
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/....lifestyle/money/mum-

Mum shares money-saving trick that quickly dries clothes in winter
It comes as the cost to run an average heat pump tumble dryer increases from £56 to £68 this month.
A mum has shared a money-saving hack that helps you dry your clothes quickly.

While many may opt for a tumble dryer, the woman has shared a trick that dries clothes more quickly while using less energy. It comes as consumer experts at Which? found that the cost to run an average heat pump tumble dryer will increase from £56 to £68 in October.
The mum took her trick to Facebook, sharing it in Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK with the trick receiving a lot of praise from savvy money-savers,
Her smart method involved using a plastic greenhouse, which she would use to dry her clothes during the cold winter months. She added that the £46 greenhouse was a worthwhile buy as she will use it to grow plants come Spring.

The mum shared photos of her hack and explained how it worked in the bargaining group. She wrote: "Thought I would share my clothes drying hack. Not for everyone but works for us. A £46 plastic greenhouse."
The woman then added: "We only have storage heaters so can't dry clothes on them either, come the spring I will use the greenhouse for its proper purpose and grow plants with my children."

As reported in the Sun, her post has racked up over 4,000 likes, and people seemed to be impressed. Many were quick to praise the idea and share feedback of their own.

One wrote: "This is a fantastic idea! I don't have a garden, but I do have an enclosed balcony that I dry washing on, usually with the aid of a dehumidifier.

*LIFESTYLE BySara TorresJacob Rawley
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/....lifestyle/money/mum-

Fruity skewers with yogurt dip
By Cassie Best.
Make these yummy fruit skewers with kids. The recipe guides children through the basics of using a knife to help them build confidence in key kitchen skills.
Ingredients
1 banana
strawberries
grapes
blueberries
natural yogurt
maple syrup
cinnamon
You’ll also need
chopping board
tea towel or kitchen paper (optional)
knife and optional straw
skewers
teaspoon
small bowl
Method
STEP 1
Step 1: lay a dampened tea towel underneath the board to stop it from slipping
If your chopping board doesn’t have anti-slip grips, lay a dampened tea towel or sheet of kitchen paper on the work surface, then place the board on top to stop it from slipping.

STEP 2
Step 2: slice the banana
Peel the banana – for little fingers, this is easiest to do from the bottom – then, holding the knife securely and with your hand in the claw position, slice the banana. You should get about 12 rounds.

STEP 3
Step 3
Remove the stalks from the strawberries. You can do this by cutting them off with the knife or pushing a straw up through the strawberry and into the stalk.

STEP 4
Step 4: slice the strawberries in half
With your hands in the bridge position, slice the strawberries in half: hold each strawberry between your thumb and fingers, then carefully cut in half from the pointy end to the stalk end.

STEP 5
Carefully push the banana slices, strawberry halves, grapes and blueberries onto the skewers
Carefully push the banana slices, strawberry halves, grapes and blueberries onto the skewers in any order you like – you can make a pattern or do this randomly.

STEP 6
Step 6: prepare the yogurt dip
For the dip, mix the yogurt and maple syrup together in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the cinnamon and serve with the fruit skewers.

Recipe tip
Mix it up

Food tastes best when it’s in season (that means it’s eaten at the same time as it naturally grows). In the summer, berries, peaches and nectarines are at their best. In late summer and autumn, you could try making the skewers with plums, apples and pears.

Don’t waste it

Did you know you can eat cooked banana peels? Simply soak the banana peels in water for a few hours, then remove any tough or blackened spots, chop and add to a veg curry for the final 10-15 mins.

If you've enjoyed this then take a look at the Kids' Kitchen hub for more recipes.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, May 2022

Lunchbox.
Super-salad wraps.
Ingredients
1 tortilla
2 tbsp hummus
1 lettuce leaf
¼ carrot , shredded or grated
4 cucumber sticks and/or 2 avocado slices
1 tbsp fresh tomato salsa or chopped tomatoes
handful grated cheddar
Method
STEP 1
Lay the tortilla out flat on a board, spread the hummus on the bottom third and put the lettuce on top. Arrange the carrot, cucumber and/or avocado in a bank on top of the lettuce and spoon the salsa on top. Sprinkle on the cheese.

STEP 2
Fold the bottom of the wrap up just over the filling, fold the sides in and then roll the wrap the rest of the way up. Cut in half or into pieces as shown. Either put straight into a lunchbox or if halved, wrap in wax paper first.

Kids' lunchbox recipes
Pack healthy bites and a few special treats for your little ones to keep them alert and full all day, from filling pasta salads to sweet, fruity treats.
Lunchbox pasta salad.
Ingredients
400g pasta
4-5 tbsp fresh pesto
1 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tbsp Greek yogurt
½ lemon , juiced
200g mixed cooked veg such as peas, green beans, courgette (chop the beans and courgette into pea-sized pieces)
100g cherry tomatoes , quartered
200g cooked chicken , ham, prawns, hard-boiled egg or cheese
Method
STEP 1
Cook the pasta in boiling water until it is al dente, so about 11 mins, but refer to the pack instructions. Drain and tip into a bowl. Stir in the pesto and leave to cool.

STEP 2
When the pasta is cool, stir through the mayo, yogurt, lemon juice and veg. Spoon into lunchboxes or on to pasta plates and put the cooked chicken or protein of your choice on top. Chill until ready to eat if intended for a packed lunch.

Birmingham UK, I run a Nature-based stay and play. It’s seasonally and sensory themed. Go and follow @_nature_cubs_ on Instagram for more info. We would love to have some new faces. First session runs Tuesday 1st November and is Bonfire night themed. You can contact me at Sarah.naturecubs@gmail.com