The tally of clothes

These days, it seems like the hardest thing is to not simply replace my entire wardrobe. My regular pants are getting too tight (even with the hair-rubber-band-loop-through-the-button-hole trick), but my maternity pants make me feel like I'm wearing a hefty bag from my waist down. Pants are still falling down, and I've hit several websites, finding stuff for my growing body, and I'm slowly building up my maternity wardrobe. Here's a running tally (and this is for my own curiosity as well), and how much I've paid for my wardrobe so far (including taxes/shipping where applicable):

• Black pants, Gap Maternity ($32, on sale)
• Jeans, Liz Lange for Target ($30)
• Black long-sleeved T, Motherhood ($12)
• Black short-sleeved T, Motherhood ($10)
• Red short-sleeved T, Motherhood ($10)
• Black empire waist dress, Motherhood ($42)
• Khaki shorts, Motherhood ($20)
  
• Black turtleneck, Old Navy ($20)
• Green cargo pants, Old Navy ($24)
• B/W/Red Flower halter top, Japanese Weekend ($25)
• Pastel Flower halter tunic, Japanese Weekend ($24)
• Black/Red print wrap dress, Japanese Weekend ($130)

So the grand total so far, for my growing wardrobe, is about $380. I also got some things yesterday from H&M, not from their maternity Mama line, but just their regular line - I may return some of them today, depending on what I find at in their Mama department. The wardrobe is definitely growing, and I'm trying to make sure that all the pieces can coordinate with one another, so that no one piece is a uni-tasker.

Foodwise this week - not that much to report from the week. Daytime diet wasn't that spectacular - I had my usual daily helpings of apples, Asian apple-pears, grapes, and yogurt. Lunches, most of them were purchased sandwiches. Dinner...Monday evening, I made scallion pancakes, which Hubby lent his help to roll out and to pan fry; with seafood soup (shrimp, fish, sea scallops, fish balls, scallions, and carrots). Tuesday, I didn't feel that hungry, after a late lunch of ham and cheese sandwich, so I helped myself to some great Kashi TLC crackers with cream cheese and cotswald from our local cheesemonger. Wednesday evening, I cooked up a quiche lorraine, with bacon, asparagus, and goat cheese (but used too much cream and not enough egg - too liquidy). Thursday, we had an evening event at Hubby and my previous firm, where they host an Art Night to showcase art from local artists, so we went, had some cheese and crackers, and also met up with my friend Jennifer, for art perusing and dinner at Bistro Francaise - I had an overly salty French onion soup and some escargot with butter and garlic. And last night, Friday night, pooped from the week - I enjoyed a helping of Hubby's wonderful PB&J on wheat bread.

This morning, at first anticipating rain from the forecast, but pleasantly surprised by the clear beautiful day outside, I took my usual walk down to the farmer's market to see what was available from the local farms. With the fall season coming into full swing, there wasn't much ware out there - more prepared foods than anything. I helped support the local high school with a purchase of a slice of apple pie (no worries to Hubby, since, gulp, he doesn't like apple pie - and he's supposedly the American, not me!); and then, with apple pie in spoon and hand, I moved on to other stands. I picked up some Asian apple pears, some Fuji apples, a red bell pepper, some small bartlett pears, and 2 loaves of prepared breads (raspberry swirl, and carrot loaf, yum!). The stands are thinning out from the height of the summer, but I am looking forward to setting some root vegetables into the ground this autumn, to see how well they'll fare during the colder months - so, I didn't really feel that sad that the growing season for most is coming to a close. On my walk home, I also stopped by our local bakery to pick up a baguette (addictive in this household, and I may start trying my hand at the French loaves at home again this fall).

So that brings me to now. After unloading my produce finds this morning, and hearing Hubby shuffling about (ah-ha! the bear wakes from his slumber!), I sliced up a couple of slices of the what raisin bread I had remaining from loaf I got from the market last weekend, and got ready to make some French toast. Mine, I like them plain - I know, most people will mix in spices and sugar into their egg mixture, but I like mine just plain. This way, the raisin bread gets to sing the song of its wonderful flavor, without getting overwhelmed by other ingredients.


French Toast (with raisin bread)
Dunk thick sliced raisin bread into a flat lipped pan with 2 whisked eggs - press to soak in the egg. Heat up the frying pan, and with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Bring the pan to medium heat, and lay on the egg-dunked slices of bread, one at a time. About 4 minutes each side, and I pressed on the top to make sure the egg did squish out where needed, so that it was cooked through. Brown on each side.


And that, with a glass of OJ, was it for this morning! Wonderful breakfast... well, yes, 2 parter, since I also had the slice of apple pie at the market... and then I finished the last of my hemming tasks. I finally got all my pants hemmed (you have to understand, some of these pants have been sitting around, unhemmed, for well over 6 months now), but I know I won't be able to wear them until after the pregnancy. But, at the least, they are done and ready. Whew!

OK, with apple and water in tow, I am off to check out H&M today, to see what they have downtown in their Mama line. Wish me luck!