Thursday, May 5, 2022

Thrifty Thursday for May

Hi there!  So it's been a minute.  My new job started picking up the last few months so it's been a lot of travel, a lot of work, all worth it.  (It's difficult but amazing.). At some point I'm hoping to work some thrift shopping into my trips all over the east coast (I was SO tempted to stop at a few in Tennessee while I was in one area for a lunch and gas break.)  I but for now it'll be during my off time at home.  

Love joggers.  Especially when the fabric is super soft and can be worn as pajama pants.  These are a little busy to wear outside the house, so these will make for some super comfy pajama pants.
Under Armour Downtown Joggers:  Originally $70, paid $10

The pattern was the first thing that caught my eye when I saw this on the rack. (See what I  did there?)  I did a little more research and found out the eyes are basically Hattie Stewart's signature.  I like them because they remind me of old Disney cartoons (like back when their shorts were in black and white) and the more recent Cuphead video game and cartoon series on Netflix.  Added bonus: The jacket is only about 3 years old so pretty recent!
Adidas x Hattie Stewart Jacket:  Originally $75, paid $15

Early on in the pandemic, a friend introduced me to Harvey's because they were selling cute masks in 3 packs and are known for their seatbelt bags (and anything Disney sells out pretty much immediately.)  So I came across this and knew it was special.  It felt super comfy but the thing was, it didn't have a price tag and the thrift store I frequent won't sell something if it doesn't have one.  I walked all over that store and begged at least half a dozen employees to please price it because I would buy it immediately.  It felt very ironic that it took a lot of effort on my part to make a price tag happen.
Harvey's Make It Happen Sweatshirt:  Originally $48, paid $4

So I can still say that I haven't bought any Lululemon in an actual Lululemon store. (But I've gotten REALLY close.) Everything I've found while thrifting has been in great shape (and if it isn't I don't buy it but that's pretty rare.) I've been tempted with buying a brand new pair of these pants (or through their like new trade in option where they resell products that people trade in) but I keep finding them while thrifting!
Lululemon Dance Studio Pants:  Originally $118, paid $7

Prana is one of my favorite clothing brands.  Most of their pants are super comfy and repel water and come in different inseams so they'll look good right off the rack.  Their tops don't necessarily repel water, but they are also SO comfy.  I  know it's a little late in the season for hoodies, but this one is light enough that I can still get some wear before the summer heat kicks in.
Prana Sunrise Hoodie:  Originally $89, paid $7

So, any good thrifting finds?  Or races coming up? I have a virtual 5k coming up this Sunday benefitting the charity &Mother and with the forecast calling for it to be day 3 of rain...I'm definitely doing it on the treadmill.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Thrifty Thursday for January

 Happy New Year!  (I can still say that almost 3 weeks in, right?  It's my first post of the year so I'm going with it.) Since Covid is still a thing and making me a little anxious about thrifting (or really going anywhere), this might be my last post for a minute.  Here's hoping I can go out again soon!  I miss it.

I'm not usually one for short shorts, but these make for great swim bottoms!  Especially since I'm planning on using my paddle board more this year they'll be perfect.
Oiselle Mac Roga Shorts:  Originally $56, paid $6

I don't have a lot of makeup, but these bags are great for organizing a big purse.  And of course the flamingo pattern doesn't hurt either.
Dabney Lee Makeup Bag:  Originally $26, paid $3

Did you know HydroFlasks are actually counterfeited?  One of the ways you can tell by looking at the bottom.

So in order to authenticate this one, I pulled out my phone and did a search for the model number (in the upper right between the "made in China" and "Hydroflask.com") and immediately the mug popped up on REI's website.  Since they are an authorized seller, I took that as a good sign of it being real.  Then once I got home, I found this Facebook post from Hydro Flask basically confirming that it was real.
16oz Hydro Flask Coffee Mug:  Originally $32.95, paid $2

I  feel like every post I say I'm a sucker for jogger pants.  Still true.  The zippered pockets on these felt like an added bonus to secure whatever I need to keep in my pockets.
Athleta Aspire Ankle Pants:  Originally $79, paid $4

Joggers with a top that can fold over like yoga pants?  Yes, please!  The fabric on these is a little thin, but the fold over top is always so comfortable that I had to get them.  Might be a minute before I can wear them though since it's just too cold.
Under Armour Sleek Harem Pants:  Originally $90, paid $15

So any good thrifting finds?  Any leads on good races coming up?  My spring race calendar is surprisingly empty so I'm definitely on the lookout to set some new running goals.

Friday, December 10, 2021

Thrifty Thursday for December

Continuing with the themed thrifty posts, this month's theme is:  Cozy! 

Since cutting off a good portion of my hair, I've been getting more scarves and neck gaiters as the temperatures drop.  I saw this merino wool buff and had to get it!  It was brand new with the tags on it, nice and thick so surely it'll help keep me warm as the temperatures start to drop even more.  And as an added bonus, it has a drawstring and small toggle on one side to help make it fit a little more comfortably.
Buff Merino Wool Neck Warmer:  Originally $29, paid $6

I  don't usually like to go for fast fashions when I'm thrifting because there's so much of it and it's usually not made very well.  But the tie dye on these joggers caught my eye, and then when I felt how soft they were I had to make an exception.
Old Navy Tie Dye Joggers:  Originally $35, paid $7

I don't usually like to post Christmas presents before I've given them to the recipient, but this find was so awesome I had to post it!  This is the Lightweight Better Fleece Sweater by Patagonia and it looks like a sweater on the outside but it's nice and fleecy on the inside.  And of course, it looks basically new!  
Patagonia Lightweight Better Fleece Sweater:  Originally $128, paid $28


Cozy to me also means curling up with a good book on a cold (maybe even snowy) day.  These are books I  have been passively looking for, and was so excited to find them for $3 each!
Stranger than FanFiction: Originally $9.48 (as of publishing), MSRP: $18.99, paid $3
Moxie:  Originally $23.99 (as of publishing), MSRP: $17.99, paid $3


Have you found anything good while thrifting this month?  Start the conversation in the comments below!

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Thrifty Thursday for November

 Sometimes I like to do a post with a theme.  This one is leggings!  I had SO many good leggings finds this month for brands that I've never tried before, and wanted a way to try them out without dropping $70+ on them.  I'll be honest, most of these brands I never thought I'd find in a thrift store since they're not super well known, but at a similar price point to Lululemon.  So here are some of the leggings I've found while out thrifting recently.


These first two are some of my favorites!  On the left we have a pair of older leggings by Oiselle called Go Joggings.  They're super simple with a small pocket on the back of the left hip that's perfect for a lip balm or small set of keys.  That's it.  On the right there is a pair of Fast and Free leggings by Lululemon.  These have a LOT of pockets--five around the back and coming up by the hips, and one on each leg.  And they're made with Nulux so they feel really lightweight.
Oiselle Go Joggings:  Originally $84, paid $4.70
Lululemon Fast and Free 7/8 Leggings:  Originally $128, paid $8

Free People has been making athletic wear for a few years now, but they've more recently started marketing their products to fitness instructors and social media influencers.  I've been curious about these, but with a price point similar to Lululemon, I wasn't exactly jumping at the chance to try them. (Especially having to deal with returns if they didn't work out.)  But at a thrift store price point?  Sure!  I'm curious to see how these work out.  The floral print is what caught my eye, and pockets on the sides of the legs made it even more tempting.
Free People Eden Movement Leggings:  Originally $98, paid $7

Outdoor Voices is fairly well known amongst Peloton members (they sold apparel with a Peloton logo when it was difficult for Peloton to keep up with demand for branded apparel) and this was the first time I  had seen a pair of leggings in person.  The price point is a little lower than Lululemon, but still somewhat difficult to justify the cost when I'm not sure how they'll work out.  But these leggings feel pretty solid (albeit a little snug.)
Outdoor Voices Springs 7/8 Leggings:  Originally $78, paid $8

I've found some CW-X leggings in the past, and they are usually a little iffy by the time I  get my hands on them.  Since generally the compression portions are pieces of fabric fused and stitched on and the logo is basically an iron-on there are little bits of thread sticking out all over, and the logo is peeling.  (Although to me, the peeling logo isn't a dealbreaker.) I got a good look at these and they're VERY different. These are seamless so all the pieces of fabric that contribute to the compression areas are literally sewn into the fabric so there's no way for it to fray, and since the logo is also sewn in it's not going to peel off.  I  figured they would be worth a shot and I was shocked when I saw the original price.
CW-X Stabilyx Revolution Tights:  Originally $200, paid $4


Have you found anything good while thrifting this month?  Start the conversation in the comments below!

Sunday, November 14, 2021

2021 Bay Bridge Run Race Recap

 This is my fifth time running this race, but the first time since the race has been taken on by completely new organizers.  (Here are my previous recaps:  2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) This race didn't happen in 2019 due to construction on the bridge and there were various issues with the organizers as well.  (Like how they were trying to sell the race after recently buying it, and there didn't seem to be any deals.) 

To be honest, I have a love hate relationship with this race.  I love the race itself because it's so straight forward.  What I don't love is all the logistics involved with it.  The packet pickup is always going to happen fairly smoothly since it's so straight forward, but the additional logistics of arriving early enough to get the bus in time to make your gun time is also a little stressful.  Then the race is kind of notorious for the bus drivers getting lost on the way back.  Since the race was taken on by new organizers with help from one of the original organizers I had high hopes that this race would be flawless.

Yeah, not so much.

I signed up for it the day registration opened in July, choosing it over the MCM10k (another favorite.)  I was genuinely surprised when they announced the race would be the same day since MCM is such a big draw for runners from all over the area.  This time around rather than being assigned a wave, you got to choose which one in 15 minute increments from 7am to 8:30am.  I signed up for the 7am wave to get it over with, and for once I would finally run with my wave!  (I have always been assigned a later wave and would get there super early and jump in on an earlier wave usually in the first half hour.) I also signed up with a local running group and we quickly had enough people sign up that we got a $15 refund (so essentially free parking) and tent in the finisher's area.

Race weekend arrived so quickly and for the first time in a long time, I had my husband come with me.  (Generally I have him stay home since it's so quick it's not worth both of us making the trip.) This time there was only one packet pickup day (on Saturday) and the crowd definitely reflected that.  

We got there around 11am (it opened at 10) and the line just to get in was obscenely long.  I was glad I  brought my husband with me this time because I was in line for an hour and a half!  (We saw one guy screaming at a volunteer over how long the wait was when he was almost to the front, which was a little frustrating to see since the volunteer had nothing to do with the line.) Then once we got to the front of the line, there were four pairs of volunteers for the 7am - 8am waves, and another 4 pairs for the 8am - 8:30am waves.  (Which also explains why one of the lines was longer than the other, but nobody said anything until we could see the line markers.) So I got my bib and parking pass there, and as usual walked to the other end of the stadium for my shirt (not all the way around like in previous years.)  Before that was the expo, which was simultaneously dense and sparse in terms of vendors.  The usuals were there: Race merchandise, Charm City Run brought in a few running brands like Altra, then there were some random vendors, then the t-shirt pickup and t-shirt exchange. Thanks to the general supply shortages, they were offering the race shirt in three different colors--grey, black or white. I had debated exchanging my shirt for a smaller size which I had asked for a month+ before when I found out the shirts ran big.  For some reason they left my original size on the bib but decided that I liked the color I originally received (white) better than what was left to exchange (black.)

After that, I realized we spent more time in line than it would take me to run the race.  No matter, it was done, and my husband and I went out to lunch at Red, Hot and Blue and I started hydrating.

Water, not a margarita.

That night for the first time in awhile, I laid out everything I would need for the next morning.  It was exciting to fill up my water bottles for my hydration vest, choosing what flavor of Picky bar to bring with me, what Goodrs I would wear, and of course the outfit!  It would be the warmest bridge run ever because it started out in the lower 50s, when usually it would be right around the first freeze of the season.  And since it was Halloween (and the race didn't allow costumes) I at least wanted to look festive!

I ended up choosing the Smooth Caffeinator Picky Bar (for a little kick of caffeine at the start) and the Radioactive Spectral Spectacles (this year's Halloween style from Goodr that glow in the dark!) I also packed a windbreaker and extra jacket into the main compartment of my hydration vest for after the race.

I ended up choosing a long sleeve flyout top, a lux tank top and lightweight tights from Oiselle.  Just enough to keep me warm and protected from the wind on the bridge!   (I don't think I've ever worn shorts or had my arms exposed for this one.) 

Getting to the race went pretty smoothly.  The drive was pretty easy and then the volunteers were in the parking lot directing everyone to open spaces.  Then there was a short walk to the buses where we passed through a security checkpoint to make sure everyone had a bib and nothing they weren't supposed to (the race has always specifically banned backpacks, selfie sticks and large flags.)  I got a seat on a bus right away and within a few minutes we were off to the start.

So excited to be back racing!

This time around, there were still ample portajohns but definitely a significantly smaller amount than in previous years.  (But still enough that there was little to no line.) I did all my usual pre-race rituals, then lined up at 6:50 for my wave to start.  Then 7am came and went.  And time kept passing with no explanation why.  Then at 7:10 we finally started walking to the start line.  Once again, continuing the streak of never starting with my assigned wave we finally started at 7:15am.  Not too big of a deal, but some of my pre-race rituals are time sensitive (like eating my Picky Bar exactly 30 minutes before the start time,  my inhaler 15-20 minutes before.) Then we all started running to a commercial on the radio.  Felt like another mistake on their part, but a minor frustration compared to having to wait 15 minutes  without any explanation why.

The nice thing about this race is the course cannot change so I knew exactly what to expect and when.  I wore my mask in the starting area, and until the crowd started to break up right when the incline begins during the second mile.  At that point I took my mask off and started to take in all the sights because the sun had started to rise over the bridge by that point and it was stunning as we all got closer to the top of the bridge.  


This reminded me why I keep coming back to this race.  How often do you get to see the sunrise over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and get to truly take it all in and enjoy it?  

After that I didn't take many pictures because I just went into this race wanting to truly enjoy my first big race back since Covid.  (I ran a 5k back in June, but it was only a few hundred people and really only attracted locals.) I also went in with the expectation of finishing.  I didn't stick to my training plan as closely as I should have since life got in the way.  And I was also reminded by how badly behaved some people can be during a race.  Remember how I mentioned that selfie sticks were banned?  For the first time I had to deal with someone who snuck one into the race, and it was a real killjoy to be stuck behind him for a few minutes at the start of the downhill while he tried to get the perfect picture.  Then there was a person stopping right in front of me during my walk breaks along the side just to get a picture.  And it was the same person every single time.  

After the downhill was done and I was on the side road by the country club, I was just ready to be done.  I always hate that part since everyone is squeezed down to one lane in the road until you make that next to last turn when it widens out to at least two lanes again.  Then there's another little downhill as you run over Route 50.  When I crossed the finish line, it wasn't my best time or my worst but I was happy to be done.  

Going through the finisher's chute I was reminded again of how disorganized the race has been in the past.  (One year they gave out moldy bagels!)  When we saw tables full of gatorade cups.  I finally looked into the cups and saw that one of them had animal crackers and grabbed a cup.  Apparently others had chocolate dipped animal crackers and some had trail mix too.  The volunteers also had placed full bags of the various snacks in front I guess to show what was in the cups, but people were grabbing entire bags as they walked past instead of a cup.  Another minor frustration.  I got my banana, a cup of animal crackers, some chips, water and medal.  

After talking with some running group friends, I walked around the finisher's festival and was relatively unimpressed.  The beer vendor was Budweiser (surprising considering how the organizer gets Dogfish Head for the Baltimore Running Festival which was just a few weeks prior) and Charm City Run was there again along with a race merchandise tent and some other food vendors.  Surprisingly the kettle corn vendor that I visited every year prior wasn't there this time, so I just headed over to the line for the bus. 

The straggler bus was creeping fairly close to the final walker.

Thankfully the bus driver was only lost for a few minutes, and unlike previous years I wasn't stressed to get home.  (Usually I'm refreshing twitter on my phone like crazy trying to see how the New York Marathon is going.)  Then I managed to be the driver's first stop so it was even more convenient.

Overall, this is a race Marylanders (or really anyone within a reasonable distance) should do at least once.  I fully acknowledge that the logistics with this race are difficult for many reasons.  But there were things that definitely needed improvement, especially if they go from the 10,000 participants they had this year to the "normal" average of range of 16,000 - 20,000 runners.  Two days of packet pickup would be a start so then almost 10,000 people aren't trying to get their packet in a 6 hour timeframe in a single day.  If there's a glaring mistake like starting late, just tell us!  We're understanding.  Just give us a heads up so any last minute preparations we take as runners can be altered as needed.  It felt like the organizers made a lot of rookie mistakes like having so few volunteers (which I fully acknowledge are extra hard to come by these days) but they're a big enough organizer that it shouldn't take a lot to find a group that is eager and willing to help! Get some of the students from the Naval Academy to come help.  (I can tell you from first hand experience they're amazing!)  Reach out to the organization that benefits from the race!  (Oh wait, there wasn't one!  Yet another gripe with this race's new organizers.)

All in all, I am such a completionist and hopeful that the race will be different for the better in subsequent years I will probably be back.

Have you run this race?  What did you think?  Would you run it again? 

Friday, October 15, 2021

Thrifty Thursday for October

 I  know this is a little late this month.  Truthfully, my backlog of finds to post has been quickly dwindling since I've been having a hard time finding anything worth purchasing (or even just to show off here.)  But here are some things I've found this month!

The old version of the Brooks Dash Half Zip is one of my favorite pieces.  It's lightweight but a kind of silky soft that the newer versions just doesn't have.  I had this exact half zip with a company logo embroidered on it, and once I no longer worked there it just felt strange to keep wearing it.  So when I  found this "blank" version in my size, I  had to jump on it!
Brooks Dash Half Zip:  Originally $70, paid $7

This one is a little different with the asymmetrical look, but super soft and kind of has an almost 80s off the shoulder look without actually being off the shoulder.
Athleta Threadlight Relaxed Tee:  Originally $54, paid $7

Shopping for jeans in a thrift shop is definitely a great way to try a bunch of different brands at one time, but unfortunately if you find the perfect pair it's SUPER hard to find them again.  I've somehow managed to find a couple solid pairs in the last month!
On the left is a pair of Lucky Brand Hayden Skinny Jeans: Originally $39.99 - 109.99, paid $4
On the right is a pair of Levi's 505 Straight Leg Jeans:  Originally $59.50, paid $5.60

Constantly Varied Gear is an interesting company to follow.  They have leggings that have lots of fun prints ranging from mermaid scales to all kinds of animal prints and skull variations.  Their leggings are fairly reasonably priced, squat proof and don't show sweat.  I have a race on Halloween morning this year, and I definitely plan on wearing these!
Constantly Varied Gear Leggings: Originally $50, Paid $2.50

If you grew up in the 90s, you probably know these books.  Each book is a collection of short (like one or two pages) stories that are definitely scary for kids, but some of them have funny endings to keep it from getting too dark.  I'm glad to have found these just in time for Halloween!
Scary Stories Books:  Currently $20.80 on Amazon, Paid $4.50 for the set

So those are my finds for the month!  Did you find anything good (or festive) this month?  Any good races coming up?  I have the Bay Bridge 10k on Halloween and I can't wait!  (Although fair warning: They aren't allowing costumes, hence the skull leggings!)

Friday, October 8, 2021

…But is it Real?

 Thrift stores are notorious for selling fake purses.  (I’ve come to terms with the fact that if I ever come across a real Louis Vuitton, I need to get a lottery ticket.) I‘ve gotten really good at authenticating vintage Coach (which I posted about several years ago) and Dooney and Bourke bags because they have such a following that there’s a lot of information from a simple Google search.  I have also come across a few Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs bags so I have some practice knowing what to look for in a real designer purse.  A few times, I’ve come across Longchamp purses and those are also pretty easy to authenticate (this website is VERY helpful!) But what about their other bags?  I came across this little backpack just sitting on top of a rack and paced the store trying to find any information that would help me figure out any information that would help in my search.


I managed to find a few listings for a similar bag, but with just one detail off from the one in my hands—some had different colored hardware, others had a plain canvas lining, but nothing that looked exactly like it.  The bag was $10, so I decided to take a chance and it would give me some extra practice authenticating.  It is a little beat up, but nothing that a little cleaning (and maybe a dab or leather dye here and there) can’t help.

Before I gave the store my money, there were a few little details that made me feel fairly confident.  For one, fake leather feels terrible.  It usually feels plasticky, doesn’t lay nicely, and sometimes it also smells pretty bad.  This had a nice feel to it, looked like a lot of pebbled leather bags and it also actually took some effort to get it to sit and stay up.  The stitching was also in good shape so each stitch has a fairly even length (in a line of stitching the stitches should all be the same—none should be longer or shorter than another one), and be in a nice flowing line so you can almost imagine someone took their time when sewing this bag.

The stitching on the strap is perfect!

Same by the zipper!

Now this is where the link for the tote authentication came in handy because most (if not all) Longchamp bags have that same iconic zipper pull of a circle with the jockey on a horse seeming to jump across.  

The G in Longchamp goes in ever so slightly on the circle pull, but what about at the bottom?  Usually a Longchamp bag has 1948, but this says “France” on one side, “Paris” on the other.  No worries—that checks out!  It’s just an older bag.  The zipper also has 45 on the metal piece that goes between the teeth on the zipper.  But what about the other hardware?  Not all the hardware is stamped with “Longchamp” which is actually a GOOD thing.  I’ve found with other designer purse knockoffs, the more a bag has the company’s name on the hardware, the more likely it’s a fake.  It’s almost like the people making the fake have something to prove.  Besides the zipper pulls, this bag only has Longchamp stamped on a rivet used to reinforce the strap attachment to the bag.

Another part that checks out!

The leather tag also checks out when compared to the other similar bags that I found.  The stamping on the leather piece is also consistent—the ring around the Longchamp logo has the same amount of pressure all the way around, same with the logo itself even though it’s lighter than the ring. (Same with the stamp on the very front of the bag, which you can see in the first picture.)  The lining also checks out because even though Longchamp mostly uses a plain canvas liner now, at one point they used a jacquard liner with the company name, the horse and either “Paris” or 1948.  (I suspect they may have stitched the word “Paris” because it was made in France.)

Many of the similar bags I found online also has this stamp underneath the leather piece.  The lack of a plastic tag inside is slightly concerning, but can also confirm that it’s an older bag. The stamp that appears on the top of the leather piece also shows underneath (it was hard to capture on camera.)

So at this point you know where I’m going with this—my fairly low stakes gamble paid off!  This bag is a Longchamp Veau Foulonne backpack.  (It took some serious searching to find the name, which also means it’s probably at least 10 years old.) What cinched it for me was also finding several bags that matched mine exactly on several resale websites, and one was on TheRealReal, which is a consignment website that specializes in designer pieces and authenticates everything that they sell.  

I also took some of my fashion knowledge into my confidence in saying this bag is real.  Longchamp is known for their Le Pliage nylon bags that come in multiple styles, sizes, strap lengths and colors.  There are plenty of fakes out there of that style because of their increasing popularity and price point for what is considered to be a higher end bag.  (And with a fantastic lifetime warranty.  As of this posting, if your Le Pliage tote has worn corners or if the stitching on the handle is coming apart, you can fill out a simple form, send it in and they’ll fix it and send it back free of charge!)  Anyways—counterfeiters are focusing their energy on the totes because that’s what people want right now.  Are they going to focus on a random backpack that didn’t seem to be in high demand when it’s in production?  Doubtful.  

Before writing this post, I took a poll on Instagram asking how many people think it’s real.  Here are the results:


Now to clean this cute backpack up and enjoy it!