I think I spent about $200-250 on clothes that night, and I came home with:

-2 pairs of pants
-2 pairs of capris or capri-like things
-2 skirts
-2 dresses
-1 sundress (that will not work without something over it, but should with)
-3-4 camis (because most of the dresses/tops/etc. will require them)
-1 sleeveless top
-1 extra black v-neck maternity t-shirt
-1 very nice summer-to-fall top
-1 cardigan

The maternity tee is, as far as I can recall, the only officially “maternity” item I bought!  That’s why I thought I might share some of the specifics of what I bought, and why they should work.  Hopefully it will help someone else think “outside the box.”  (By the way, the Miley Cyrus line at Wal-Mart also had some other really cute tops that would have worked nicely, but they didn’t fit an immediate need for me, so I didn’t want to buy them full-price.  If you have a shortage of maternity tops, you might want to check them out.)  These are not all my preferred cotton, but they all work well.

One of my favorite finds was this pair of black dress pants.  It was $15 at Wal-Mart.  The stretchy jersey makes the pants very comfortable, and the waistband is absolutely perfect for use as maternity pants.  (It looks just like some of the maternity styles.)  One caveat:  these are really snug through the hips and thighs, so you might want to go up a size from normal.  I can fit in the extra-smalls, but they’re a bit snug in that area to be decent without a really long shirt, and other reviewers have said the same.

The next best item is this skirt.  It has a very wide, gathered, very stretchy waistband, because it is designed so you can wear it as a skirt or you can pull it up higher and wear it as a tube dress.   I am pretty sure this will accommodate my growing waistline all the way through the ninth month of pregnancy.  This particular item was $20 at TJ Maxx.  Unfortunately, that means it is probably a discontinued item.  This general concept, however, is not especially unique, and similar skirts should be available elsewhere.

I did not find any workable shorts.  The only styles that looked like they would accommodate my growing belly were super-short.  I did, however, find a couple pairs of almost-shorts.  I got some stretchy No Boundaries capris at Wal-Mart.  (I had to buy a large to avoid skin-tightness, but they’re comfy and work great.)  I also bought a pair of these knickers from Target.

This tank, also from Target, will probably not last me a full nine months, but that’s okay.  The pintucks at the neckline allow the belly area to be a bit bigger than the upper portion, so it should accommodate a belly for a while – long enough to get through the hottest part of the year.  Another gorgeous shirt from Target should easily last through the summer and autumn.  (It seems to be unavailable on their website, but it’s sort of a tunic, gathered to a yoke, with ties in the back.  It’s trimmed with heavy cotton embroidered lace.)

When the weather turns cool, this cardigan will work even with a round belly.

I can’t seem to find online either of the dresses I got from Target.  The first not only has an empire waist, it’s a bit rounded, so it should fit beautifully over a round belly.  Unfortunately, the neckline is rather plunging, so it will require a camisole underneath.  (I found several at Wal-Mart, for $6 or less, from Miley Cyrus, Norma Kamali, and OP.)  This particular dress has kimono sleeves but is not the maxi dress currently on their site.  The second is sort of a shirtdress (but no buttons) made of jersey.  It will probably not last through to nine months, but will work for a while, for those who don’t mind something that hugs the belly a bit.

I also got a skirt with a very wide elastic waist.  (Not elasticized, just wide elastic.)  And the final item I bought will require the most work.  I found a pair of Phat boot-cut jeans, clearanced at Wal-Mart for $10.  I will cut the waistband area off and replace it with a wide elastic band.  (I haven’t wanted to do that up to this point because I didn’t want to spend $30+ on a pair of jeans to cut up.  But for $10, I’ll risk the possibility of messing it up.)

A few tips I learned from my purchases are to keep an eye out for:

• very wide elastic waists.  (Not elasticized, with non-stretchy fabric attached, but just plain elastic.)
• very wide waistbands made of very stretchy fabric.
• low-slung waistbands, especially those that are very stretchy or have drawstrings.  (With these low-slung waists, you have to check to make sure they will not fall down once you start walking around.)
• empire waists
• other top/dress styles that are somehow gathered through the bust area so that they are fuller below the bust
• dress styles that are stretchy enough to allow some leeway through the belly area (best for transition clothing, rather than full-nine-months clothing)
• bottoms that fit well everywhere except the belly and are inexpensive enough to risk cutting into them to add a belly panel or a wide elastic belly band
• jacket/sweater styles that are designed to not fasten in the front, or with a single button just below the bust (or thereabouts)

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Reduce, reuse, recycle – it’s the “environmental stewardship” trio. Reuse of various items is not only environmentally-friendly; it’s pocketbook friendly.  Unfortunately, most of us have a hard time knowing WHAT can be reused, and for what. The following ideas work for me, and hopefully will get your creative juices flowing.  Feel free to leave your own ideas in the comments!

• Tissue boxes: hold plastic grocery bags
• Parmesan cheese containers: make terrific shakers for baking soda, borax, etc.
• Syrup bottles: make dispensers for squirt-type cleaners, paint, etc.
• Plastic 3-lb. shortening cans: are the perfect size for holding hamburger patties in the freezer.
• Cotton fabric scraps: can be used for stuffing.
• Empty juice bottles: will hold water to keep around the house for watering plants, or to stock in a less-than-full freezer to help it work efficiently.
• Boxes of various sizes: can, of course, be used for storage. (Don’t overlook very small boxes. I have an offering-envelope box that serves me well by holding postage stamps.)
• Egg cartons: are useful as sorting trays, either for little children’s play, or as a means of organizing jewelry and other small items.
• Pringles cans: hold juice-can lids (the metal kind off of frozen juice concentrate) very neatly. The lids can be decorated to make matching games and stored inside the potato-chip cans.
• Bouillon jars: are a great size for storing homemade seasoning mixes (like taco seasoning).
• Film canisters: hold small craft supplies (beads, sequins, etc.) or coins.
• Spice jars: are good for beads, as well. If the beads are small enough and the holes (in the jar) are large enough, the beads can even be shaken out a few at a time.
• 5-quart ice cream buckets: are good for storing small amounts of whole grains. I store homemade powdered laundry detergent in one, as well.

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Total Pillow

The Total Pillow is unlike any other pillow you (or I) have ever seen.  Looking something like a cross between a doughnut and a flower, it is designed to be able to twist and bend into various shapes for different purposes.  Use it as lumbar support.  Lie on it (on your belly) on the floor.  Fold it in half and curve it around for a neck pillow.  Put it between your knees when sleeping on your side.  And, yes, you can lay your head on it, too.   It really is a brilliant idea.

Unfortunately, I have some difficulties with the execution.  There are a number of pictures on the package of ways this pillow can be configured, but I can’t figure out how to do most of them.  (Instructions would be a big help!)  Two other concerns are that the pillow is not washable and does not have a cover (minor detail) and that the filler is apparently extremely dangerous, so if the pillow should burst or tear it’s a serious problem (not-so-minor detail).

All in all, though, the Total Pillow has some definite merit.  I have used it as a neck support and, while it takes some getting used to for someone as small as I am, it is not too bulky to work well for this, even with my petite frame.  And it works great for supporting the lower back.  I occasionally find myself sleeping sitting upright in the corner of our couch to combat heartburn, etc.  This is generally not very easy on my back, but I found that the Total Pillow filled in the gap here beautifully.  Last time I sat and slept on the couch, I had no backache, because of the additional support provided by the Total Pillow.

Bottom line: I think the implementation could be improved by finding a safer filler and providing a (removable, washable) cover and instructions.  But the design is a good one, and it serves its purpose well.

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Total Pillow for this review.

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Here, Rehberg lacks a reasonable expectation of privacy in the phone and fax numbers he dialed. Once he voluntarily provided that information to BellSouth and Alltel (later Sprint), Rehberg lacked any further valid expectation that those third parties would not turn the information over to law enforcement officers. Absent a valid right of privacy, Rehberg cannot state a constitutional violation regarding the subpoenas for his phone and fax information.

Rehberg’s voluntary delivery of emails to third parties constituted a voluntary relinquishment of the right to privacy in that information. Rehberg does not allege Hodges and Paulk illegally searched his home computer for emails, but alleges Hodges and Paulk subpoenaed the emails directly from the third-party Internet service provider to which Rehberg transmitted the messages. Lacking a valid expectation of privacy in that email information, Rehberg fails to state a Fourth Amendment violation for the subpoenas for his Internet records.

What they are claiming is that we, as citizens, do not have a “reasonable expectation of privacy” when doing business with our service providers.  Or, in other words, we cannot, or should not, expect that when we make telephone calls or send emails – which the vast majority of us have no means of doing without accessing some sort of service provider – that who we call, who we email, or the content of those emails will remain between us, the people we contacted, and the companies providing the service.

Now, please note that the issue here is not whether law enforcement agents could, in some manner, access the information.  The issue is that they did not require a warrant. To my mind, this is a clear and obvious breach of Constitutional rights, because they would never have obtained the information directly from the defendant without a warrant.  But because of this fictional absence of “reasonable expectation of privacy,” they claim that there was no violation of Constitutional rights in obtaining this information without a warrant.

Well, I look at it this way: Would they let me access this guy’s telephone records or emails?  Of course not!  Why?  Because that’s his private information. Hmmm…sounds like a “reasonable expectation of privacy” to me.  If the information is such that we would not expect that “Joe Schmoe” off the street should be able to access it, then common sense would dictate that the average citizen has a “reasonable expectation of [the] privacy” of that information.

So what can we do?  Spread the word.  Let the government know that we know about this decision, and that we think their idea of a “reasonable expectation of privacy” in this matter is completely bogus and self-serving.  Let the telephone and internet companies know that we absolutely expect that our information will remain private (unless an appropriate warrant is issued which, hopefully, would not be an issue for any of my readers!).  In short, communicate that the court is out of touch with the will of the people and with the clear sense of the Constitution’s wording.  Anything but roll over and play dead!  We have to stay vigilant!

(The quotes above were obtained from http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=infco20100311081.  The case is Rehberg v. Paulk, and the decision was handed down by the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, on March 11, 2010.)

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As much as we might like to, there is just no way that we can afford to buy all organic.  Instead, we try to maximize our efforts by focusing on organic where it makes the greatest difference.  A great starting point is with the “dirty dozen.”  This is a list of the twelve fruits and vegetables that the USDA (I think it’s the USDA.) has determined are typically highest in pesticide residues.  Obviously, you’ll get some bang for your buck to go organic here!  On the other hand, there’s a list of fruits and vegetables that are lowest in pesticide residues – it really isn’t worth the money to go organic here (unless you truly can afford to buy all organic).  Take bananas, for instance.  They have such a thick peel that any pesticides pretty much don’t make it through to the fruit.  But organic bananas cost almost twice as much (sometimes they do cost twice as much) as conventional.  So, while I might buy organic if I’m feeding the banana to an infant, I’m otherwise not going to bother.

Heidi at My Paper Crane has put together a really cute pocket version of this list.  The cartoon fruits and vegetables may even help ingrain them in your memory so that you don’t need the card for long!

Download her dirty dozen list here.

Maximizing my buying power works for me!

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Titus 2 Homemaker’s Facebook Page

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What I’ve been up to in the meantime:

-I finished a craft swap a few months ago that I forgot to ever post about.  I’ll have to show you what I made in a future post.

-I’ve also signed up for several new craft swaps.  I haven’t really done any crafting for them yet, just planning (waiting ’til after the wedding!), but their deadlines are coming up in early August, so then I can show them off, too.  (I don’t want to show you all what I’m making until after my swap partners have received their goodies, in case they come over to check out my blog to get ideas for me.  Don’t want to spoil anything. )

-Hubby sat down with me the other night and we assessed last year’s schooling and looked toward next year.  He helped me sort out what Ariel needs to learn, and get a lot of our planning done.  the plan is in a rough state, so I need to polish it up a bit, but he was a huge help (and very patient as we did this for hours the other night and he got to bed late).

-My husband and I just sang in the annual talent show at our new church.  (We joined in…March, I think?)  This was the first that most of the church knew about certain skills/gifts/talents in each of us, so, as Michael says, “our secret’s out.” lol  (I can’t do much, but I can sing, which everyone now knows.  And he played and sang a song he wrote.  So now they know he can play and write, too.)  That could potentially make for some exciting – but maybe a little scary – times ahead.

-I am still plugging away at that mindfulness book.  Shannon asked what I thought of it, regarding it’s soundness as compared to Scripture.  I don’t know about all the specific exercises, necessarily, but I’m actually finding (so far) that most of the content is very in line with Scripture, if you read it in that context.  More will be coming on that in some specific posts.

-I’m in the midst of reviewing a couple of  books/products, and those reviews are coming over the next couple of weeks, as well.  (I think they’re both unique/unusual items, so I’m kind of excited about them.  I like getting to see things that aren’t just run-of-the-mill.)

Currently, we are praying that…

…the dresses for the wedding arrive in time.  All of them.  Eight bridesmaids’ dresses and a wedding gown.  They are slated to arrive (we hope) on Wednesday (tomorrow), and will all need to be hemmed (well, I’m not sure about the bridal gown) and pressed – and we hope they don’t need any alterations!

…my shoes arrive.  They, too, look (according to tracking) to be likely to arrive on Wednesday.  If they fit, that’s plenty of time.  But the style I ordered was not available locally (not even within several hours), so I couldn’t try them on.  If they arrive and they don’t fit, I could spend all day Thursday shoe shopping, which is not a pleasant prospect.

…the numbers work out right.  Not all of the RSVP’s were back in time for hiring a caterer, and we didn’t want to go way overboard on the “just in case,” so an educated guess was made on the remaining invites.

…the weather is good.  The wedding will be outside on Saturday evening, so it will be nicest if it’s not too hot, but not pouring down rain, either.  (We also have to drive several hours to get there, and our car doesn’t have working A/C, so we’re praying for not-too-hot weather for selfish reasons, as well!)

If you’re still reading, thanks for hanging in there – and pray I’ll find some energy very soon so I can be better about blogging again!

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Well, they’ve just come out with a new variety – Strawberry (It still has the old chocolate filling, but with strawberry added, as well.) – and are having a contest.  If you share your “Milano Moment” on their Facebook page, you can be entered to win a case of the new cookies.  I think a widget should show up below, that will let you click through to the page.  (If not, I goofed up the technical side of things.)  So take a break from the healthy, whole-foods diet and see about winning yourself a treat.   And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the coupon!

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A friend recently asked about the Women at Home University website.  (For those of you who are not familiar, WAHU is not an actual, degree-granting university, but a suggested list of resources for learning about a wide variety of home and family skills.)  When I went to look it back up, I discovered that the site is apparently defunct – but I was able to find it using one of my favorite fall-back tools: the internet archive.

It’s been around for long enough that I guess I figured everyone knew about it, but apparently not everyone does, so let me share this wonderful tool with you.   The internet archive is a project that seeks to archive every page on the internet.  (You can opt out if you object, but this is such an amazing public service that I can’t imagine why you would want to unless the content of your site is private or restricted in some way.  They don’t take credit for your content – just save a “snapshot” of it – and as far as I’m aware, they don’t make money off of it or anything.  It’s just like having a copy of an out-of-print book stored in a library.)  What this means is that when you mourn the loss of that great, informative site, you can take heart – you may still be able to scrounge up the information.

Head over to the internet archive at www.archive.org.  Type the address of the defunct website into the “wayback machine” search box, and see what comes up.  Chances are, there’s an archived copy of the page available.  Now, site functionality (forms and other interactive features) will not be available, and images are hit-or-miss.  But I think I’ve always found the basic information preserved intact.

(Go ahead and try it out.  Look up www.womenathomeuniversity.org.)  The internet archive definitely works for me!

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