Thrifty Thursday

 First up this week:  An Athleta Pavitra tank top.  Originally $49, paid $6!

 Next is another Athleta find--Vata Shorts!  Originally $39, paid $6.
There isn't any sort of silicone in the leg seams so I plan on adding it in myself.  Seriously.  It works! (And I'm probably going to update it with how it looks and works once the silicone is applied and smoothed out with a piece of cardstock.  I'm currently waiting on a pair with smoothed out silicone to dry as I'm writing this.)

 Another North Face Eat My Dust Tank (love the pockets in the straps!)  Originally $55, paid $9.

I love finding clothing that fits with the original tags still attached!  These are Brooks PR Mesh Skort II with built-in shorts that have silicone on the leg seams:  Originally $52, paid $13.  (A little more than I usually pay for items at a thrift store, but I love Brooks products since they hold up well and these were brand new!  Still a great bargain.)

Lululemon Astro Waisted Capri Pants!  Originally $88, paid $7.

Another Lululemon find!!  This one's another running skirt with shorts built in, also with leg grippers.  (Figures that now that I've done the tutorial on how to add it in, I keep finding shorts with it already there.)  Originally $64, paid $6.

I'm shocked that I was able to find a grand finale this week.  Honestly.  The thrift store chain had a totally random half off sale earlier in the week so my expectations were low (okay until I started finding Lululemon and Athleta!)  But here we go...

Mizuno Wave Elixir 7 running shoes!  They fit pretty snuggly so I probably won't wear them to run, but I can wear them to work.  (For my job I help run race events so I'm outside and I can't wear sandals because of the lifting and equipment involved.)  These have a super breathable mesh upper so they may be the next best thing to wearing sandals!  Originally $120, paid $8.

Anybody racing this weekend?  It looks like the heat will be taking a short break!  If you're in Baltimore area, there's a $5 5k in Carroll Park in Baltimore at 8:30am on Sunday morning.  (There WILL be walk up registration available too!)  Anybody find anything good deals while out thrift shopping (or otherwise?)

Thrifty Thursday

Sorry this week's post is a little late--I've been crazy busy today and time just flew by!

Now for my finds for the week!

Up first is a zip up hoodie from Pink by Victoria's Secret! I really like this one because it's fairly subdued for the brand (no crazy colors or sparkles!)  Originally $50, paid $7

Shorts by Lucy:  Originally $48, paid $7

With summer heat in full swing and having a membership to a gym that doesn't have air conditioning, I need all the summer workout gear I can find!  Here's what the back looks like...

So dramatic! (And for some reason the second picture is more accurate color-wise.)  Love the cutouts and the built in bra feels super supportive and enough coverage that I can do planks and burpees without exposing too much.  Lululemon Turbo Tank:  Originally $52, paid $9.

And now for the grand finale....

A Coach Legacy Archival Two Tone Bucket Purse! This bag is based off of a design created by Bonnie Cashin, a designer who started working for Coach in the early 1960s and really began the launch of their line of handbags.  (I've sold a few bags to Coach for various projects.  I definitely recommend looking at their head leather restorer's blog post about her visit to the Coach archives from last year!)  Originally $428, paid $20!

Anybody find any good deals this week?  Target is having a great deal if you use their cartwheel app--20% off all clothing on clearance!  Anybody racing or have tips to beat the heat now that summer's in full swing?

Tutorial: How to Keep Shorts from Riding Up!

For as long as I can remember I've hated wearing shorts.  Why? The chub rub. I cannot wear most shorts without them crawling up, so running in them is pretty much out of the question.  Then I started going to boot camp in a warehouse that doesn't have the ac cranked up and I signed up for a couple races for later this summer.  So now, shorts aren't just an option:  They're very necessary.

But how to fix the eternal struggle with the hem crawling up after that first step? Enter the almighty Google.  A few websites had suggestions, and I decided the easiest way to go was this...

Clear silicone caulk.  Yes, the same stuff you use to seal cracks in windows and around tubs and showers.  It's weatherproof, so it should hold up to washing and drying (I wash my clothes in cold water and dry on low if I don't hang it to dry, so no worries there!)  And once it dries it's slightly rubbery providing just enough grip to stay down in the hardest workouts.

Just a note of caution:  Silicone caulk is a skin irritant until it has cured (or dried) which takes approximately 24 hours.  It also gives off some fumes so I recommend doing this in a ventilated area, and since one of those fumes is ammonia I also recommend doing this away from pets.  (Also because while I was working on this tutorial my cat decided to take a flying leap into my photo tent.  So I had to take a break to chase a cat to make sure he didn't get any silicone on him.)

Here's what you'll need:

-Clear silicone caulking, preferably in a squeeze tube. (This is about $4 at any hardware store along with the regular caulk you have to use with the gun, and one tube will be good for multiple applications.)

-A pants hanger that can twist around and a place to hang them 

-A cardboard box you can cut up

-Scrap paper, cardboard or fabric

-Shorts or running skirt that creeps up

-(Optional) Old credit card, piece of cardstock or another scrap piece of cardboard

Time:

10-15 Minutes (Active)

24+ Hours (Passive)

First test out your technique on a piece of scrap paper, cardboard or fabric so you can get a feel for how the silicone flows out of the tube.  (I definitely recommend doing this if the tube has already been opened since the silicone in the tip will have likely dried a little bit.)  I chose a piece of scrap fabric for testing.

I decided to just do a simple flat, linear application rather than a zig zag pattern.  The key is to press down to make sure the silicone can adhere to the fabric well.

Now you need the pair of offending shorts (or even a running skirt with built in shorts.)

Love these shorts, but in one step the gray shorts have completely disappeared behind the purple mesh.  Take them and flip them inside out like so

Now to cut up your cardboard box (I recommend starting with the flaps.)  Fit the pieces of cardboard to each of the legs so they can keep the fabric smooth and stretch it just a little, but not so much that the cardboard bends.  (This will also help flatten the silicone when you smooth it out.)  Now get your hanger. Preferably one that looks like this so you can have full access around your garment.

Now attach the hanger to the waistband of the shorts, hang them up and start applying.  (I hung them on the outside edge of my photo tent.)  I applied the silicone just below the hem, but I put on way too much (you'll see later.)  That being said, I recommend applying the silicone in as thin of a layer as possible ON the inside hem, using an old credit card or a piece of cardboard or cardstock to flatten the silicone and putting your hand underneath the fabric for extra support during application. The silicone grips the fabric well and is surprisingly stretchy so you should not have to worry about it breaking. As you go along flatten the silicone out using your tool of choice.

Soon it should look something like this (only flatter.)

Super simple! It took me maybe 10-15 minutes in total to apply the silicone to both legs of my shorts.  Now just be patient and let it sit for at least 24 hours to fully cure.

Next came my wear testing.  I wore them to my boot camp class that usually has us doing all kinds of jumping, running, lunges and various other vigorous exercises.  I still had to pull the shorts down (and up--the waistband could probably benefit from silicone too!) but significantly less often than before.  I considered the boot camp test a success.  Then I did a run test.  Three miles and again, minimal creeping!  However when lounging in them before my shower and during boot camp doing jumping jacks in front of a mirror I noticed this...

The line of silicone was totally noticeable to the point where the light color of the shorts made my thighs look like puffy marshmallows.  (So this is why you should flatten the silicone as much as possible AND apply it directly to the hem of the shorts.  It should make the silicone less obvious.)

Next test: Washing and drying.  Like I mentioned before, I normally wash all my clothes on cold and dry on low or hang dry.  The tag recommended washing in cold water and drying on low, so I washed them according to the instructions since that's also how I normally wash my clothes.  Here's how they looked afterwards...

Totally fine! It looks just the same as when I first applied the silicone!!!

So there you have it!!  The game changer because now you can wear almost any shorts in the store!  I haven't tried these with loose shorts, just compressive ones but I don't see why this wouldn't work on them as well.  (Anybody want to try and report back?)

Thrifty Thursday!

First find the week: A Moving Comfort Foxie Half Zip Jacket! Originally $98, paid $11

Columbia Cool It Down Shirt (It'll make for a great rash guard on the next beach trip!)  Originally $40, paid $7.

I know I've talked about these before.  Athleta's Be Free Knickers are amazing.  I absolutely love the pockets on either side for runs outside since between those and the usual zippered pocket on the back I can carry everything I need! Originally $59, paid $6

I use Nalgene bottles all the time, so I couldn't pass up a cute one! Originally $11, paid $2!

Now for this week's grand finale! 

A Marc Jacobs Classic Wingman Wristlet!  It has just enough room for a few cards, an id and cash along with a slot for my phone. Originally $148, paid $2!!!

I should be able to post my super special blog post soon.  I'm so excited about it, but I want to do one last test before publishing.  It's going to be awesome!

Anybody have any good finds this week? I know the weather has been really hot, but has anybody raced recently? 

Thrifty Thursday!

Another week of great finds despite the big sale on Monday for the 4th of July!  It was pretty picked over once again, but somehow luck was on my side and I found some amazing items.

I found another Mizuno Breath Thermo Quarter Zip Top!  (I wore my pink one that I found in March enough that I thought buying a second one was a good idea.) Originally $80, paid $6.

I saw this movie for the first time a few years ago and absolutely love it!  I watch it every time it comes on tv, and since we don't have cable...that makes things a little interesting.  (I usually time my treadmill runs around movies on the 25 days of Christmas movie marathon so I can watch it on my laptop while I run.)  Currently $8.46 on Amazon.com, paid $2.

My husband and I went to Discovery Cove on our Honeymoon and opted to get printouts of the pictures we had taken.  So when I came across this, I immediately grabbed it!  Originally: $24.99, paid:  $3.50

Now for this week's grand finale...

They look like regular, semi-boring Cole Haan suede wingtips, right?  Hmm...pink soles?

NIKE SOLES!!!

Cole Haan teamed up with Nike to create stylish but ridiculously comfortable shoes for the office. They make them in a few different styles like lace up oxfords, ballet flats, sandals and stylish sneakers.  This pair is called the Lunargrand Wingtip Oxford:  Originally $200, paid $7!!

My London Trip

For those of you not keeping up with me on social media (I suggest you do using the links to the right--I'm very active on Facebook and Instagram!) I recently returned from a trip to London seeing the local sites and of course, running.

We went on the Harry Potter Studio Tour....

Drank lots of tea....

Ate "contraband" chocolate (Kinder eggs are banned in the United States due to the small parts in the toy, despite it all being contained within a smaller egg.)

Saw a play (Matilda the musical), went on a bus tour around town, and went to a few museums.

It took me awhile to get comfortable enough with my surroundings to be able to go for a run.  (Okay, and I made the rookie mistake of wearing shoes that were comfortable but I hadn't broken in yet on a 2 mile walk on our first day to brunch.)  London and Soho (where we stayed) were very big areas and despite being a Washingtonian (okay and somewhat of a Baltimorean) the roads were very confusing to me.  This made it difficult for me to feel confident in being able to create my own route, follow it and be able to return home.  (Although I was able to go out with my Dad and brother-in-law, I'm faster than my father but slower than my BIL and I didn't want to slow up or make my Dad go faster than he's comfortable with.)

On our third day, my husband and I decided to go on a bus tour and while trying to find out where to go, we had a magical thing happen.  We were walking around minding our own business with only a general idea of where to go, when none other than Eddie Izzard ran past us!  (The comedian recently ran 27 marathons in 27 days in Africa for the sport relief fund.)  Since he was on a run, I didn't want to bother him but I was still in awe of our amazing celebrity sighting.  I wanted nothing more than to be able to run a few strides with him, but I was wearing my rain boots.  That convinced me that I needed to run in England at least once even if it wasn't with Eddie Izzard.

Later that day, I got word that there had been a tornado in our county.  (Seriously, I have the worst luck with weather when we go out of the country.  The first and second time we had derechos, and now this third time a tornado?!  COME ON!!!)  So the next morning a run was out of the question since I slept terribly and needed to find more information.  It turned out that the tornado had been on the ground to about 8-9 miles away from our house, but the debris field stretched all the way to less than half a mile to our home.  We got word from our petsitter later that morning that everything was fine, and when we got home we found out that we had only been without power for an hour or so.

Throughout the week I kept saying that I would go for a run tomorrow, I'd set my alarm and then roll over because I just wasn't feeling up to it.  So I essentially did a lot of carb loading--we had some awesome meals along with beer and naturally desserts and my mother, sister and I had tea one afternoon (more pastries, marshmallows, and delicious little sandwiches.) Then every time I would see somebody run-commuting (it's a thing) I would feel a little pang like my legs were saying "You know you should be doing that too, right?"

Finally we were down to our last night in town before flying out.  I decided since we had a light dinner I would go out afterwards....then I just had to have a glass of wine to celebrate! The sun doesn't set until after 9:30 this time of year, so it wouldn't be out of the question to run after dinner, but alcohol can dehydrate you and just generally do bad things on a run. So one final time I decided to set my alarm and was determined to pound some pavement. 

Then after my alarm went off I realized....I didn't know where to go or how to even get there.  After chatting with my husband he convinced me to pull on my running shoes and just get out there.  So I told Google maps I wanted to go to the aquarium since I knew it was about a mile and a half.  (I had a SIM card in my phone for the UK along with unlimited texts and 500mb of 3G data so I could get turn by turn updates on where to go.)  I then stepped outside and started my Garmin and Google told me where I needed to go.  (I had a general idea of how to get there, but had only done it once before so I wasn't confident.)  And when I got there it was oh so worth it, and naturally I kicked myself for not forcing myself out sooner.

I found this amazing painting on a telephone booth...

 Did my best Matilda pose in front of a line of phone booths...

And soon I had made it to my landmark. There were so many famous sights around the aquarium and since it was fairly early in the morning (around 7am) not many people were around so I got some great pictures.

"Look kids! Big Ben, Parlament!"

Got some great looks at the London Eye (with Big Ben in there too!)

Saw the Waterloo Bridge...

And naturally had to take a selfie on it too!  And I had to wear my lightning bolt Bondi Band during my only run in the land of Harry Potter! 

That run was exactly what I needed that whole week.  We spent a lot of time walking around London to get just about everywhere (except when we went to dinner a few times in Chelsea), but that just was not enough.  I needed that last exertion of energy before our 7 and a half hour flight to get back home.  Something about a run (or any exercise!) helps me so much before (or while) travelling.  It wasn't my best pace ever since I kept stopping to take pictures, but it still felt amazing.  I felt so triumphant coming back into the apartment and shocking everybody that I had gone out for a run all by myself.  (And then of course shoving a couple mini donuts in my mouth before hopping into the shower.)

I may not have gotten to do everything I wanted to do in London, but at least I got the most important thing out of the way:  A single, wonderful run.