I'm always a bit conflicted when faced with a book like Grace Saunders' The Fabulous Mum's Handbook. On the one hand I feel like it's going to be a load of rehashed magazine articles about "me time", not feeling guilty, and "just a bit of time management and you too can cook a 3 course meal/work a 40 hour week/ climb a mountain". On the other hand I, like a lot of mums, need all the help I can get.
The Fabulous Mum's Handbook does indeed contain chapters on me time, reclaiming intimacy with your other half (that's your partner, not your bottom half) and getting your fashion groove back. There are even some nice recipes (if rather labour-intensive - a recipe that begins "cut the pumpkin into really thick slices" is never going to wash with me).
Grace Saunders used to work on Elle magazine and you can tell. She's friendly, chatty and supportive, but occasionally drifts into talk of wafting around in floaty tops, dinner parties, glamorous shopping expeditions and other concepts that are completely alien to me.
Supported by Grace's own experiences and those of numerous other mums, plus a variety of "gurus" including nutritionist Jane Clarke, interior designer Amanda Smith and Little Angels' Dr Tanya Byron, this book is absolutely packed with useful information. I would have liked some photos or illustrations and for the text to be a bit more bite-sized (we harried mums have short attentions spans, you know) and it's all a little bit too fabulous for me, but it would certainly make a great pressie for a yummy mummy friend.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlan or The Shops by India Knight
