Influenster

One other way I love to save money and try new products is to sign up for companies that send you products in exchange for your feedback.  A great one that I signed up for earlier this year is Influenster.  A few times a month they send out a "VoxBox" with various themes.  I got one shortly after joining that had a beach theme and came with samples of "Not Your Mother's Beach Babe" Shampoo and Conditioner, a coupon for a free Jamba Juice smoothie kit,  Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun Lotion, nail polish, and a pain reliever shot (like 5 hour energy, but with pain reliever).  I loved everything I received in my box (minus the pain reliever shot, since I can't take OTC pain relievers due to an allergy.)

A word of caution though:  It can take awhile to get a box.  (I think my situation was a fluke since I got in just before they sent out over 5,000 of these boxes!)  How can you get a box faster?  Give feedback on products you love, and answer other people's questions about products you've tried to earn badges.  Answer their "Snap" questions and take part in ANY campaign they offer.  For example, there was one campaign where they wanted you to write eBay guides.  If you wrote 3 of them on needed topics (which they gave everyone a list of), and boom:  You got $20 to spend on eBay and a guaranteed spot in an upcoming VoxBox. I used my gift card towards my most recent Coach rehab... (It was more than $20, but the gift card definitely took out some of the sting!)

Before

After--stains totally gone, and the leather looks amazing!
I also used a brass cleaner on the zipper and the handles.

 Currently there's a campaign where you have to create 3 eBay collections, and if you create all three to their specifications (which really aren't that hard) you'll get $10 to spend on eBay!  

To join, click the link below!!  I am apart of the Influenster Blogger Network, which means that I will be reviewing future boxes I receive.  It costs nothing to join and is a great way to get free products to try out!

Inaugural Hokie 5k

So by now I've probably mentioned that my husband and I are recent Maryland transplants.  Before moving here last year, we lived in Blacksburg Virginia for just shy of 7 years and moved there 4 months after the infamous Virginia Tech shootings.  Tech is a big deal in Southwest Virginia, especially Blacksburg.  All the big box stores (think Wal-mart, Target, Best Buy, PetSmart, etc.) sell something with a VT logo on it because it will sell.  Our house had a light switch plate that said "VT turns me on UVA turns me off."  (That was the very first thing to go when we moved in.)  All of that being said, the hokies have transferred over into races.  Last year was the very first hokie 5k and half marathon, and I am proud to say that I was one of the runners of their 5k.  The race managed to fit perfectly into my training schedule for my first half marathon and for when my husband and I were making trips to take care of our house, so I jumped at the chance to run in it.

The 5k was a wonderful race--definitely among some of my favorites, so I'm a little sad I have to miss this year's race.  (Since we sold our home there the trip down is a little more involved and besides--my husband and I have a race here in Maryland that day!)  The course  itself was very easy and a breeze since it started out slightly uphill but the rest of it was mostly downhill.  It started out in the industrial area of Blacksburg near their local airport and went along the edge of the airport and through neighborhoods.  The organizers sent off the half marathoners first, and then the 5k runners. The weather was perfect too since it was clear and chilly to begin with, but by the time I finished the temperature was very comfortable.  

Before the race, I was definitely feeling the pre-race jitters.

The race overall was pretty well organized, although there was one big problem.  Packet pickup was a breeze, and on race day the organizers kept the runners well informed of where we had to go and when.  The swag was really nice--a maroon running shirt with orange print with a huge hokie on it (naturally), an orange drawstring backpack with the race logo on it, and the bibs had everyone's names printed on them.  The name on my bib was a wonderful touch, since volunteers could cheer everyone on by name and to hear a random stranger yell "GO HOLLY!" towards the end felt amazing.

However, there was an issue with finding out official times after the race.  Apparently a woman couldn't run, so she gave her bib to a man.  (In general is a big no-no in racing.  Most organizers have a no-nonsense approach to this, will ban people for illegal bib transfers and have this written into the conditions that you have to sign in order to pay the registration fee.)  What ended up happening was this man was the fastest person in the woman's age group, so technically he won but was disqualified because the bib didn't match the person.  The organizers then had to review the video of everyone finishing to be sure they were who their bib said they were.  (Granted, they couldn't be totally sure but at least they would have a pretty good idea.)  It took them almost two weeks to release the official results all because of one person who did an illegal bib transfer.  I won't begrudge the organizers this, because I had my Garmin on me to give me a pretty good idea of my finishing time.

This race remains my best 5k time at 33:15, and I am still trying to get to a sub-30 5k over a year later.

Tapering

There are some words that strike fear into the hearts of runners and potentially their friends, family and significant other.  Surgery, physical therapy, DQ (disqualification), DNF (did not finish), and RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) just to name a few.  For me, the word taper put both my husband and I into a state of dread.  Tapering is when you dramatically cut back on your running in hope of penning up your energy for race day.  Typically people do this for long distance races--half marathons or more.  

I have been exercising consistently for almost 9 years now.  I started out at a women's gym three times a week to lose weight.  Then once I started grad school I quit the gym and started running since I could do it on my schedule.  That being said, being active is a big deal for me and an important habit for me.   Nervous?  Go for a run.  Anxious?  Go for a run.  Angry?  You get the idea.  So cutting back on running unleashes the beast, which is where it gets frustrating for both my husband and I.  To put it lightly, I go a little nuts because of all the pent up energy.  But I find there is a payoff come race day.  By the time they start the race I am ready to run, and my training and tapering has worked.

Runner's World has a great article about tapering that I highly recommend reading if you have the time!

Coach Restore #3

Typically when I go thrift shopping I look for a quick and easy Coach bag restore.  (The thrift stores I frequent usually have something.)  After lots of practice and a plethora of research I've gotten pretty good at authenticating on the spot but I always get a second opinion.  I came across this one last week and I practically recognized it right away.  It was a small bag called a dinky.  (Yes, the name made me giggle in the store once I realized what I had.)  It was in pretty good shape to begin with, so I figured it would be a quick turnaround.  

The corners were in good shape, so I figured all it would need was just a bath and some conditioning and it would be good to go.  I was mostly right.  This one had a little surprise--something spilled inside and sunk through the bag to the back of it.  I was surprised to find blue all over the paper towels I had shoved inside to help with the drying process and to reshape the bag.  And it somehow leaked out to the back of the bag.  Thankfully, all it took was a quick wipe with some vinegar and it was good as new!  I then focused on shining up the brass hardware, which required some elbow grease and patience.  (And a knife to help remove it from the bag.)  After that I just applied conditioner and shoved some newsprint inside to help it maintain its shape.  And ta-da! 

A brand new looking bag at a fraction of the cost!

Coach Restore #2

Restoring vintage Coach bags is probably one of the most satisfying and maddening hobbies out there.  (Okay, and it's also a little random.)  Sometimes you get a completely different bag compared to what you started with, and other times you can hardly tell a difference.  My second restore is one of those examples.  Coach names a lot of their bags, and this one is called "Willis."  This is a bag I paid $10 for, and found a navy blue version of it hanging up with it so I bought both.  (Brand new, this bag goes for $300!)

Here's what I started with.  Not too bad, right?

Here's what the finished product looks like, before shoving in newsprint to help it keep shape.

So this one is a perfect example of a really subtle result, but required a LOT of work.  The turnlock (in the center of the bag) is all shined up in the bottom picture, the corners of the bag are shiny again, and the places that the brass on the strap rubbed are much less noticeable.  I also had to glue the hangtag back together, which had a front and back to it but was an easy enough fix with some tacky glue.

This one ended up being an interesting case.  It reeked of cigarette smoke, so I threw it into a rubbermaid container with a small cup of baking soda and another of activated charcoal.  I must have gotten a little too over eager since I should have waited until it was totally dry.  Instead I waited until it was mostly dry.  Because a few days later the bag was covered in MOLD!  It was fuzzy inside and out, so I wiped it down with vinegar and propped it open on our deck for a few hours on a warm day.  (It's a natural way to kill off mold in this situation!)  It looked pretty good after the first application of vinegar and a sunbath, but I did a second one just to be sure.  
For me, a proper restore takes at least 3 days from start to finish depending on the size of the bag, how thick the leather is, how many pockets the bag has, and how much hardware is on the bag.  This one?  Two full weeks.  Needless to say, I took some time off after this project!

Fuel

Fueling up is a big deal for longer runs--for me, this is anything 10 miles and up.  On longer runs you lose electrolytes, sodium, and of course, water.  It's generally recommended that you don't drink more water than you're sweating, because it can lead to hyperhydration.  (Yup, it's a thing!  But it's hard to achieve.)  Also think about it logically:  You're burning more calories than you've probably taken in, and there can be a point where you hit "the wall."  This is where your mind and body agree and say "Nope. You're done."  Runners typically avoid hitting the wall by fueling correctly, and it can mean everything in a long distance race.

When learning how to "fuel correctly" it is really just a matter of trial and error.  Some people prefer gels, others chews.  For me, I tried just gummy bears first and it did not work well.  Next I tried sucking on chews or eating them with water and that does the trick for me.  It makes me feel like I'm having candy while running since it's a little sweet but helps with giving me a little boost of energy as well.  Meanwhile, my Dad and Brother in Law enjoy gels.    Some people like to have caffeine in their fuel, which can have some positive effects on your performance.  

>Like I said, it is a matter of trial and error.  This is one of the points where running gets gross.  Choose the wrong thing, and it can wreak havoc on your digestive tract during your run.  That being said, do NOT try new fuels on race day (or for that matter, a new restaurant the night before a race.)  When testing out what fuels work for you, I highly recommend either trying it on a treadmill so you know you're close to a bathroom, or an outdoor route where you will be close to restrooms.  Also, don't beat yourself up when you find a fuel that didn't work for you.  It will feel horrible.  You will get over it.  If you feel up for it, keep going but at a pace that you're comfortable with until the feeling passes.  

Running on a Budget

Like a lot of people, I am currently unemployed.  Fortunately my husband has a job that allows me to take my time to find the right job for me and the career path that I want.  This also means that I have to run on a budget, and unfortunately it's the kind of hobby that can get expensive really fast.  From races that I've run and researched in my area, a half marathon is around $100, a 5k is around $40, and a 10k can hover right around $50.  Running gear can also get dramatically expensive--getting running shoes at a running store are at least $100, running shirts at discount retailers like Target or TJ Maxx can run from $15-$20, and a decent pair of running tights are at least $25.  

I'm a self-proclaimed shopaholic, but within reason and I love a good deal.  Before I go into my tips on how to save some money on running gear, I will say I have not been compensated by most of these companies.  (There are a few that I have referral links for though, which I will note.)  This is research I have done myself over the two years I've been running.

• Stores like Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx and Marshall's are a GREAT place to find inexpensive name brand running gear.  I've been able to find a Brooks rain jacket for $25 (normally $85) because they discontinued the color, but not the style.  I also bought my husband a running outfit--shirt, shorts and socks for $45 when normally it would be at least double that in a running store.  
• Get on email lists!  Retailers like Moving Comfort, Nike and Athleta have sales a couple of times a year, and some will give you discounts for your birthday!  Athleta is always one of my go-to websites and stores when they have their extra discount sales after New Year's and mid-summer.  
• Some other retailers that have jumped on the inexpensive running gear band wagon include:  Target, Walmart, and Old Navy.
• Runningwarehouse.com is a great website that has free two day shipping and 90 day returns (although if you wear something, you can exchange it for the same product or get store credit.)  I definitely recommend going this route if you have already been fitted for running shoes and know what you like.
• Check out flash sale sites (that all offer referral credit for me by giving you these links) like RueLaLa, Hautelook and especially Left Lane Sports.  Flash sale sites work by having sales for a set amount of time, usually 2 or 3 days.  Left Lane is a little different because they have flash sales, but they also have everyday discounts on current and discontinued merchandise from big name retailers.  (They also focus on a wide range of sports, so not just running.)  I do recommend doing your research before actually buying from these sites, since sometimes they can still be overpriced compared to other retailers.
• Again, thrift stores are great too!  But know where your comfort level is for what you're willing to buy.  Some people might be creeped out by buying sports bras at a thrift store, me not so much but I draw the line at running tights.  Be sure to wash everything before you wear it out for a run, and even take a shower after you've tried on clothes at thrift stores.  You don't know where it's been!

What tips do you have on finding inexpensive running gear?  What are some good deals you've found?

Father's Day 8k

So, my race after the Jingle All the Way 8k was the Father's Day 8k which I naturally ran with my Dad.  The catch with this race was that my Dad and I did zero training, as it was the day after a 10 day trip to Italy.  So essentially, we carb loaded the entire time we were there.  And all the food was just as delicious as it was beautiful!  Case in point:

Pasta Carbonara, where the sauce is inside the ravioli!

I asked for cold coffee with nutella.  What came was essentially an ice cream sundae, for breakfast.

Needless to say, my Dad and I did more eating than running on the trip.  But there was a lot of walking and hiking.  We hiked up Mount Vesuvius...

That's Naples off in the distance

We walked around Rome, Sorrento and hiked all the way to the top of Capri.

All of Capri, while we were waiting for the funicular

Despite all the walking, hiking and carb loading my Dad and I both were dragging throughout the whole race.  It was humid, we were jetlagged and probably also dehydrated so we were just dragging along the whole course.  Besides that, the course was fun.  It was a gravelly path alongside the C&O Canal towpath in Georgetown.  You had to watch where you stepped, but that's to be expected with an unpaved trail.  The race was well organized, with packet pickup just before the race and parking less than a 5 minute walk from the starting and finishing area.  After finishing, we got Georgetown cupcakes which tasted amazing.  My Dad and I didn't have the best finishing time for the distance (1:07:08) but just finishing was enough for us!  

Another Running milestone in one week?!

One thing I love about being back in the DC/Baltimore area, is that I'm much closer to my parents.  (Before I was 4-5 hours away, so going to see them was always an ordeal.)  Just a quick 50 minute drive, and I'm back home.  One of the added bonuses, I get to go running with my Dad.  Right now he's training for his first half marathon in November.  Granted until this week my longest run was not too much further than a 5k, I bit the bullet when he said he has to run 7 miles.  "...yeah...sure I can do that!"  

My mind said yes, my body said no.  But for once, I wasn't upset about it.  I slogged through 6.35 miles at my slowest pace in ages--I averaged 14:02, when normally my first mile in races is between 9:30 and 10:00.  But I wasn't upset about it.  Why?  Because I was just happy to say that I ran over 6 miles today.  I ran a 10k because I wanted to, and for once my body was mostly cooperative.  It was a beautiful day--sunny, but the trail was shady.  Towards the end it felt warm, but had a cool breeze that felt wonderful.  In short, the perfect weather every runner hopes for when they lace up their shoes.  

It was just the kick in the pants I needed to get back outside for my runs after spending my entire summer on a treadmill.  I'm not sure why I stopped, probably because it was just easier to hop on a treadmill and go for a run rather than worry about routes and if I have everything I need.  Now my next goal is to work on making a route around my new neighborhood.  Thankfully it looks like the weather next week will be cooperative--woo hoo!

Thrift Shopping

Thrift shopping at times feels like a finely tuned skill.  You search for the racks trying to find that great buy or piece of clothing that fits perfectly.  You have to decide if you're willing to take a risk on electronics not working, or on a potential designer bag being fake.  But the payoff can be great.  (A designer sweater that retails for almost $100, practically new for $15?  Yes, please!)

I feel like thrift shops are still overcoming a stigma of being a place where people dump their worn out clothing and electronics to get a tax write-off rather than just throw it out.  Now I'm not going to lie--there are SOME things that even I refuse to buy in thrift stores because it just weirds me out.  (For example, underwear and swimsuits.)  If you're willing to look through the racks or luck out and find a REALLY good thrift store, they'll have done a lot of the work for you and only the good items make it out onto the floor.  Take my trip out yesterday for example:  They've started putting out coats and sweaters onto the floor.  Some of the sweaters were a little pilly, but in general they were all in good shape.  The coats were pretty much spotless and in most cases still poofy.  I got 2 name brand sweaters that either one would normally around $100 minimum, and paid $14 for both.  They are both in pristine condition, although they also break my rule of no hand wash only anything.  (Because let's face it.  Hand wash only = never getting washed.)

Don't worry folks, I plan on showing off my finds.  Like I've said before, the hubs and I recently moved and getting a full length mirror is on my to-do list.

Jingle All the Way 8k 2012

Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays.  For those of you who don't know, my name is Holly.  My birthday falls exactly 11 days after Christmas.  I start secretly watching Christmas specials about a week before Thanksgiving (shhh don't tell my husband) and have been known to start listening to Christmas music the week after Halloween (my other favorite holiday.)  So basically, if there's a mash up between running and my favorite holiday...I'm totally in!  Enter:  The Jingle All the Way 8k put on by Pacers Running every year.  

The race is usually the first or second Sunday in December.  Typically people wear costumes for the race that are naturally Christmas themed. (Unfortunately, the weather that year was not so Christmasy because it was drizzling and cold.) When I ran the race for the first time, my Dad and I started out wearing headbands but basically only for pictures.  (We were a little nervous about losing them so we handed them off to my Mom before we went to the corral.)  But I at least had some knee socks that were very Christmasy.  The  most memorable costumes were the group ones--there was one group of Santa and his reindeer where the reindeer were all linked together with rope.  Another was the nativity, where a couple was dressed as Mary and Joseph and pushed a baby in a stroller, and had friends as the three wisemen, two angels and the Christmas star.  

This same race had the most memorable runners that my Dad and I still like to talk about:  The juggler and the tuba player.  Yes.  There was somebody juggling and running 5 miles at the same time.  (He was also dressed like Santa!)  And another person playing the tuba while running--he started with Christmas carols, and at one point he definitely played the Imperial March from Star Wars.  And both of these people beat us.  Not our proudest moment to be honest, but at least we finished!  

Finally!

So this summer was crazy for me.  My job at an after school program ended Memorial day weekend, and for the entire month of June my family was dealing with the impending death of my Grandmother.  (Long story short, her health has been on the decline for years so this was not a surprise nor sudden.  Early June she was put into hospice care because she rejected treatment for kidney failure.  Since I wasn't working, I was able to see her one last time while she was still lucid which I will always treasure.  She died the morning of June 29th, and her funeral was two days later.)  The month of July the hubs and I worked on moving out of our apartment and into our house.  Thankfully August was slower, since it was all about settling into our home and routine.  

Then I got a running injury through a rookie mistake that I DEFINITELY knew better than to do.  It happened because I did not allow for a transition period with my new minimalist running shoes.  You're supposed to take it easy no matter how good the shoes feel and work yourself up to your normal mileage gradually.  What did I do?  Hit the ground running, wore them for every single run...and then I had no choice but to slow down.  I could barely walk pain free on flat ground let alone up and down stairs.  It wasn't until the pain was totally unbearable that I said "Okay, I'm listening!"  So I researched using the almighty Google and it was starting to sound like a labreal tear.  The fixes were words most runners dread:  Physical therapy, corticosteroid injections (directly into the hip), NSAIDs, and (worst of all) surgery.  It was then out of fear I turned to running message boards to consult other runners.  I liked my physical therapist that I visited last year for a couple of months for IT band syndrome, but I certainly didn't want to see her again.  Fortunately, it only ended up being bursitis which was a MUCH easier fix:  Rest, ice, and elevation.  After a couple of days I was back on my treadmill walking mostly pain free.  Within a week of the symptoms starting I was able to walk normally again and could perform my duties at my volunteer job. 

That being said, my running routine suffered.  I had been running 3-4 times per week, but with the news of my Grandmother getting ready to pass the grieving and depression set in.  Soon I was lucky to get onto the treadmill twice a week.  Yesterday, finally I felt like I have turned a corner in my running.  I run short intervals of about a minute each of running and walking.  I had been running for 45 minutes, but yesterday I finally ran for an entire hour.  Lately, I have been literally dragging myself onto the treadmill because I've been so discouraged.  Yesterday's run made me remember why I do it:  Because it's as awesome as everybody says.  And now I can't wait for today's run!

My First Race Ever!

I started running in April 2012 when I was in graduate school to get my masters in education, and wanted to stop going to a gym.  (I had been going to an all women's gym, but I was frustrated with the hours and the management to be quite honest.)  Soon afterwards, I was hooked and my husband and I invested in a treadmill.  My first race was the Roanoke Drumstick Dash that Thanksgiving (which started a tradition of running a race Thanksgiving morning.)  

It was a lot of fun, and it benefited the local rescue mission ministry.  The course itself went through downtown Roanoke, along some of the scenic parts including the local art museum and finished at Center in the Square.   I managed to finish the race in 35:42, which still isn't bad for me!
After the race, we were all ravenous since we only had a light breakfast before the race to avoid gastro distress.  My husband and I suggested we all go to Thelma's Chicken and Waffles (a Roanoke institution) and had one of the best meals ever leading into a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.  (We only managed to get back there once when we were in the process of moving out of our house in Blacksburg.)  
My next race?  Jingle all the Way 8k in Washington, D.C.

My First Coach Restore

I plan on at least attempting to alternate posts about running and thrift shopping as much as possible.  Since I went thrift shopping today, I'll start there.
I am crazy about thrift shopping.  I make it a point to go at least once a week to my favorite stores, usually on the days that they have huge sales (which happen three times a week, but since I can I avoid going on weekends.)  It started as trying to complete a "spice of life" pyrex set that the previous tenant of our old apartment left behind.  Then I started exploring a little bit further around the store.  And I discovered how amazing it is to go thrift shopping in a suburb!!  When we lived in Blacksburg, I was lucky to find an unopened box of 5.25'' disks (a little piece of my childhood), and a VHS of an old Degrassi special (oddly released on my 9th birthday!)  

Oh no.  Thrifting now is so much more amazing than that. I'm able to find designer purses more often than not, and I would say about half the time they're real.  (However, a lot of the time they are also trashed or aged.  So if you're not afraid of a little bit of work it's worth the effort!)  The first vintage Coach bag I found that I restored to its former glory was a Stewardess.  There are many ways to restore a Coach bag, but this is how I like to do it.

Before

After

The whole experience of my first restore (or "rehab") was a little nerve wracking, but totally worth it.  The process goes like this:  You dunk the bag in warm, soapy water.  (I used a mild dish soap.)  Yes.  You put a leather bag into water.  Essentially you're giving the leather a drink, since chances are it's very dried out like my bag was at first.  The water will have changed color when you take the bag back out.  Case in point...

ewwww

Then you dry off the bag as much as you can, and let it air dry the rest of the way.  I also stuffed paper towels and even an empty box from birchbox in there to help reshape the bag.  

Now the hardest part:  Waiting for it to dry!

Also note, this bag is NOT lined--it just nothing but leather and brass.  This makes the whole dunking process a lot easier and a lot less nerve wracking.  Once the bag has dried, you can clean the brass, and then condition and preserve the bag to help product all your hard work.  Keep in mind that this is a VERY brief tutorial, and it's different for every single bag.  Sometimes the bag is more stained than others, or more worn in some places.  I've learned a lot by reading some of the advice on the PurseBlog Forum specifically for Coach bags.  It is totally worth the wait and the work.  Once the leather conditioner was full absorbed into the bag, it gained an amazing, super soft (what some would describe as "buttery") texture that you expect from a Coach bag right off the shelf.  Rehabbing bags is very addictive.  Since this first rehab, I've been on the lookout for my next project bag.  

First post!

Hi everyone!  So every blog has to have a concept--this one is going to focus on my two favorite things:  Thrift shopping and Running!  
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But first, a little bit about me.

Quick overview of my past:  I grew up in Alexandria, VA, went to school at a small college in central Virginia, moved back home, met my husband and moved to Blacksburg, VA (go Hokies!), got married and went back to school for a second bachelor's degree and a master's degree.  Last year we moved to a Baltimore suburb for my husband's job, and this past July we moved into our new home.  <Currently, I'm a "domestic goddess" who has had a lot of different jobs over the years.  (They ranged from the usual retail jobs, to interning on a whale watch boat, a stagehand at an outdoor amphitheater, and working at a gym.)  At the moment, I'm a fur-mommy to two cats, and married to my fabulous, physicist husband.   Other than that, I volunteer at a local aquarium that has basically been my dream job for as long as I can remember.  I'm hoping eventually to get a paying job there, but in the meantime I'm having fun indulging in my two biggest hobbies--thrift shopping and running!   Being back in "civilization" I'm able to find a LOT of great stuff while I go out thrifting.  Usually I aim for vintage Coach bags--they're gorgeous leather bags that are really built to last.  It's really fun to restore them too, which is another one of my hobbies.  I currently carry around a mid 70s to 80s Coach Stewardess bag that I am absolutely in love with.  It was nice when I first found it, but after restoring the bag it turned out beautifully.  That first restore got me hooked.  I plan on writing a post about it, and my other amazing finds.