As I sit here typing away about my purchases, the street outside seems unusually busy for a Sunday afternoon.  Everyone’s gotten into the spirit of trash and treasure.  No sooner has someone put their things out for collection then an eagle eyed passer by or van driver swoops in with a magpie’s eye for the jewels amongst the rubbish and tidily goes in for the kill.  In this way, half of what started on the street this morning has probably already found a new home.  It’s recycling at its best.

Unfortunately, I seem to lack that eye for the potential on our street’s verge and have to make do with purpose purchased items instead.

I’m a big fan of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collections of note cards.  There’s just enough variety in a box to not get bored of the design and they’re useful for any occasion.  I’ve been all Impressionist with my previous sets of cards and have gone for something a bit more modern this time round with Picasso in his Surrealist phase and a collection of Tiffany stained glass window designs.

The next bag waiting to be opened was from T2.  I’m a huge fan of their herbal tea bags and have just gotten into their dessert loose leaf teas.  How could I not get the Creme Brûlée on sight alone?  Terrific Toffee is that nougat studded tea I wrote about the other week.  I just need to make some time this week to enjoy a quite brew of either.

My shopping expeditions have netted me two new loyalty cards.  Just after having done a massive cull of them recently.  T2 have a new program for ‘Mad Hatters crazy for the kettle’ – that’s me in six words these days.  And I now have a Witchery card.  Which I never saw coming.  Over the last few years, as much as I’ve liked the look of their clothes, I’ve never found anything suitable for my lifestyle.  And then there was the time the heel of my Witchery sandals snapped off at our anniversary lunch at Tetsuya’s……

Thankfully, that’s now all water under the bridge.  At the time, I got a prompt full refund on the shoes and now I’ve found myself with a whole new wardrobe of their knitwear.  There is currently a 25% off store wide promotion and it was enough of a sweetener for me to return in store as part of my maternity wardrobe experiment.

For some strange reason, fashion designers don’t seem to think pregnant women feel the cold.  The etail sites are filled with radiant women dressing their bumps in wrap dresses, billowing tops and skinny jeans but there’s barely a jumper or solid cardigan to be found.  And the knits that are available are thin and pricy.

Knit – Witchery (assymetrical neckline and waist), ls T – Cotton On, bangles – House of Harlow 1960.  Bottom half was a pair of black skinnies from Next Direct.

So, I’ve decided to see if upsizing regular brands’ knitwear will see me through the winter.  I managed to find quite a few things at Witchery that fit my criteria: loose at the waist, suitable for wearing over dresses or leggings and with different necklines for variety.

At the moment, everything looks baggy on me but given the style of chunky knit, I don’t look too Olsen twin.  Only time will tell if I’ve guestimated how my dimensions will change over the winter.

Lots of readers also suggested buying longer line tops from the high street rather than making do with the limited choice in maternity lines (or trying to figure out how to wear a Belly Band before my time).  So I took this good advice and stocked up on these too.  This year, Witchery have both regular tops and ones that seem to be more a dress length.  I’ve tried both and will report back on how I go with them.

I’m still feeling a bit left out that I haven’t found any recycled treasure street side today.  So I’m going to channel my creativity into rejuvenating some leftovers from the freezer.  Have you noticed how delicious leftovers taste when reincarnated as a pie of some sort with butter puff pastry?  Well, I’m capitalising on this and making a chicken and vegetable curry pie for dinner tonight.  Somehow, the better part of a Woolworth’s rotisserie chicken is going to cross cultures and embrace a portion of vegetable korma.

The two will be helped along in their merger with this tub of cucumber and mint raita served on the side.  I also had a cup of cooked quinoa in the freezer so that went in as well.  I reheated the chicken, curry and quinoa on the stove top, thinning it out a little with chicken stock before arranging the mixture on one sheet of butter puff pastry.  People, butter in your pastry is key for a leftovers pie.  Key. This is not a time to be choosing Canola or going low fat.

I’ve made my pie free form because it’s Sunday night and blind baking a crust would be excessive.

But I did brush over my pie with an egg wash (1 beaten egg thinned out with a tablespoon of water).

Canola or low fat puff pastry wouldn’t give you this golden glow!

Or that flaky crunch as you cut the pie to serve or to eat.  Making over leftovers is a cinch with a couple of sheets of puff pastry.

Another early night for me, I’m afraid.  Busy week ahead.  I’ve hung tomorrow’s outfit on the bedroom door and I hope I’ve guestimated the weather correctly.