Thrifty Thursday!

Some of you may know, Thursday is my day to go out thrifting and run other errands since I get out first thing in the morning.  Starting this week I'll show off my finds!!

Athleta Kickbooty Tech Stretch Pants!  ($10, originally $89)  They're fleece lined so I'm thinking they'll be good on cooler mornings, yoga or even just to lounge around the house.

New Balance Tank Tops!  ($7 each, originally $40) I'm planning on starting to wear obnoxiously bright tops to stand out at races this year.  My thinking is it'll help my husband spot me in the crowd from the sidelines a little easier!  Both are only a couple years old with a few pulls but they usually correct themselves when washed.

Camelbak M.U.L.E. hydration pak! (Paid $5, originally $80)  It didn't come with the reservoir but I don't mind since that would be kinda gross.  They currently go for about $30 on Amazon so buying just the bag is still a good deal.  From my research it looks like it's from the early 2000's, but it's still in great shape!

Jingle VoxBox

So as you've probably noticed from the lineup of badges on the right, I'm involved with a company called Influenster.  Essentially they send out boxes of various products that they think you would like in exchange for doing various tasks like visiting a company's facebook page, taking pictures of the product and posting it to instagram, creating pinterest boards and writing reviews for certain products.  My most recent box was the Jingle VoxBox.  I received all of these products for free, but the opinions are completely my own!

There was SO much good stuff in this little box.  Going clockwise, I got:  A coupon for free tater tots, Cetaphil moisturizing cream, a Spiderman IttyBitty, Biscoff Cookies (YUM!), NYC City Proof Eye Liner, KISS Last Adhesive, and KISS True Volume lashes and Pure Ice nail polish in Home Run.

Interested in trying Influenster?  Click here to join and start reviewing products to get to your first sample box!!

With the tater tots they wanted us to make "totchos" and share the recipe.  I went super simple with this and cooked them according to the package instructions and just sprinkled some Old Bay on them and they were fantastic!!  (But then again as somebody who was born and raised in the mid-Atlantic, Old Bay is good on pretty much anything.)  They were super quick to cook--just 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven.  They weren't very greasy at all and were nicely browned and crispy.  For more totchos recipes check out the Kraft Recipes Totchos Hub!

Cetaphil is one of those brands that is well known for those with sensitive skin.  It's super gentle, non fragranced, and pretty much anyone with skin problems can use it.  (I've had dermatologists recommend using it along with whatever latest skin creme they've prescribed.)  This time of year the skin on the back of my hands is super dry.  (Shoveling three days in a row for almost 3 hours in total did NOT help!)  Here are before and after pictures of the lotion's effects after just ONE use.
(lotion before and after picture)
This cream I sampled in particular is meant for those prone to eczema or just very dry skin.  The lotion is not at all greasy and my dry knuckles absorbed it very quickly.  Definitely a winner. 

IttyBittys are basically Hallmark's line small stuffed animals.  There are all kinds--Scooby Doo, Disney, Marvel Comics, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, Star Wars, and (my personal favorite) Rainbow Brite just to name a few.

If you enjoy cookies, you have to try these.  Seriously.  If you like Trader Joe's legendary Cookie Butter, you will LOVE these cookies.  They are very simply flavored (brown sugar and cinnamon) but sometimes simplicity is perfection.  One time my husband and I got them on a plane instead of pretzels and I was in heaven.  I ate my packet on the plane, then my husband's for a snack later since he's allergic to one of the ingredients.  It was such a simple way to make the plane ride a little more enjoyable.  

I'm not very big on makeup.  I only really wear it for special occasions like job interviews and weddings.  So needless to say, I'm still pretty much a novice when it comes to eyeliner.  (I'm good with foundation and concealer though!)  But this eyeliner--seriously, wow.  It was perfect for a beginner like me since I could quickly smudge away any stray marks to make the eyeliner look flawless.  I was able to put it on quickly and it cleaned off easily too!

Okay.  So remember that thing I said about being a novice when it comes to makeup?  Yeah.  The false lashes didn't work out quite so well.  (Possibly because I only had the patience to put ONE lash on because of how ridiculous I thought it looked.)  What I did was I dotted the adhesive along the lash then used the tip to spread it around so there was just enough adhesive.  Then I just tried to lay it on top of my eyelashes.  Part of my problem with false lashes is I just don't like the look of excess eyelashes, and I'm happy with the length of my own lashes.  (I get compliments fairly often on how long they are!)  If I'm putting on makeup, I'm fine with just putting on some mascara and moving on.

A photo posted by The Thrifty Runner (@thethriftyrunner) on Feb 6, 2016 at 11:53am PST

So the top of the picture is me without any eye makeup on.  The lower left corner is with the NYC City Proof Eyeliner, the lower right corner is with the false lash on just my right eye.  (A tip to getting off all that gunk:  Slather on eye makeup remover with a q-tip, then a cotton round to wipe it off!)

I may not be a fan of makeup, but I'm a sucker for a good nail polish.  This one from Pure Ice is fairly inexpensive, and the color (home run) is a lovely minty green.  I found that two coats was enough for my taste, but could probably use a third coat.  

January 2016 RunnerBox Review

There are lots of subscription boxes out there, but not many focused on athletes.  Enter:  RunnerBox!  (The company also has CycleBox and TriBox for cyclists and triathletes.)  Every two months for $20 plus shipping the company will send you a box of different products focused on your sport of choice.  Like other subscription boxes, they send you a mix of new and familiar products and usually they will also throw in a RunnerBox branded item.  (In the past I've gotten a star shaped plastic massager, lip balm, a neck gaiter, and a small workout towel.)  They also offer limited edition boxes for birthdays, holidays and for the upcoming race season.  I've been a subscriber for a little over a year now, and have had some great boxes.  One just ended up being a lifesaver because it had my favorite early morning pre-run snack (a honey stinger waffle) when I thought I was completely out of them!!

From November 2015

From November 2014

From May 2014

From January 2014 (My first box.  It was definitely a good start to the subscription!)

This is what I received in my January box just before Snowzilla hit.

When you first open the box, this is what you see.  The underside of the lid of every box has a different motivational quote.

When you open the tissue paper there is a card explaining each product along with where to buy it and the MSRP.  (The total value of this box was $31.50.)

Under the card there are all kinds of goodies!!

This box had Driv (a electrolyte supplement), Purely Elizabeth oatmeal (in cranberry pecan), Crispy Green's Crispy Fruit (freeze dried pears), Gnarly Whey (a protein supplement), Gnarly Hydrate (a hydration supplement), Peak Energy Mints (caffeinated mints with D-Ribose and B-Vitamins), Chuao (chocolate!), Clif Organic Energy Food (fuel that's made out of fruit), Detour Simple (protein bar), Garuka bar (an on the go snack bar), a RunnerBox embroidered fleece headband (always useful on cold runs!) and HEX Performance (a laundry detergent for athletic wear.)

I've tried chuao's chocolate before--it was great and for it to be combined with gingerbread?  Even better!  And I can always use a new fleece headband for cold weather runs.  (Errand running.  I'm a wimp when it comes to the cold!)

The pears were awesome.  Definitely an odd texture since it's freeze dried but a nice alternative to dried fruit with all that added sugar!  I haven't tried the Clif Organic Energy Food yet, but it's three of my favorite things so how could it be bad?

I'm actually trying to cut back on caffeine so I'm not sure if I'll use the mints.  (Each one has 100mg of caffeine, which is similar to a single cup of coffee.)  I'll probably use the laundry detergent, since it's supposed to be good for athletic wear.

I had to laugh when I pulled out the driv packets.  The little white piece of paper warns that the powder fizzes so you want to leave space at the top of your water bottle to allow plenty of space for fizzing.  I'm excited to try the Gnarley whey protein supplement since this is the first one I'll ever try that didn't require milk.  (This one asks to be mixed with water.)  The gnarly hydration supplement I'm planning on saving for later in my race training since it includes salt, which will be an easy way to replace it after a long, hot training run.

I'm also excited to try this oatmeal one morning for breakfast.  Most oatmeals are totally loaded with unnecessary sugars, so normally I avoid buying it.  One serving has only 20g of carbohydrates, where others have almost twice that (even Special K's oatmeal cups!)

So I forgot to take a closeup picture of the detour bar and the garukabar...oops.  The detour bar was delicious! The flavor was salted caramel cookie dough, and the caramel on top was nice and soft and the cookie dough portion was chewy like a lot of protein bars, but had a little bit of a crunch. I'm definitely curious about the garukabar.  It's a combination of cereal, nuts and berries and the proceeds from the sale of the bar go towards gorilla conservation. 

Overall, this was a pretty good Runnerbox!  Usually at least a couple items are hit or miss, but I found this one to be a little better than others.  It was a good mix of new and somewhat familiar items that weren't too far out of my comfort zone.

Redesign, Crystal City Twilighter 5k and Running While Grieving

So you may have noticed that I've done a little bit of a redesign!  (I personally love it--so bright, colorful and even easier to navigate with the tabs just under the header.)  Definitely look around since there's quite a few new things to see!

As I was listing races I've done in the past, I realized that I've never talked about the Crystal City Twilighter 5k that I ran in 2014.  The race was a little emotional for me, so I'll go into the backstory.

In June 2014, my grandmother that I would visit for at least 2 weeks every summer was in declining health.  We knew she was going to pass, and my family was basically on call.  I got the chance early in the month to visit her one last time and I wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world.  That entire month my running suffered because I was essentially grieving her impending death.  I was already feeling the weight of the depression and grief of a world without my grandmother (there were times where I would cry in the car if a sad song came on like Pompeii by Bastille) not feeling motivated to run was difficult too.  I posted on the running subreddit asking other runners what to do.  The best advice I received was essentially to rest when you need to, and run when you feel like it. 

Before my grandmother's health began to decline, my Dad and I signed up for the Freedom Four Miler.  It was a Pacers race and a short enough distance that there wouldn't be much training involved.  Then with my grandmother's impending death, the race was no longer an option.  Thankfully the race organizers were sympathetic and let us transfer our entries to the Crystal City Twilighter 5k.  Then the morning of the Freedom Four Miler, just two hours after my Dad and I would've finished the race I got the call I had been dreading for so long.  My grandmother passed peacefully surrounded by family. 

Fast forward to a month later.  Race day arrived and my parents, husband and I all head to the starting area in Crystal City.  It was my first night race and I remember it being very humid (it WAS July after all.)  The race course itself was interesting because it was completely paved but not totally lit up.  Some of the other runners had headlamps, and it helped while my eyes would adjust to the lower level of light.  The course itself was nice, but with the varying amount of light it could be a little treacherous due to potholes and trash along the course. (I remember kicking a large metal ring at one point and trying to aim it so it would get out of the way of other runners.) 

When I finished the race I jogged up a small hill to my Mom and husband and gave my husband and extra big hug because I wistfully thought of my grandmother as I crossed the finish line.  The post-race celebration was great and you could get a free post-race beer from one of the bars by the starting and finishing area.  My Dad and I decided against it and we headed home to hit the showers.

Overall, I would balk at running this race again but not because of anything Pacers did or didn't do.  For me, it just isn't a great time of year or day for a race.  The weather was very humid and that made running in it extra difficult.  Also I discovered that with running a race at 8:30PM instead of in the morning made it difficult to fall asleep that night.  The adrenaline was pumping for hours post-race and I remember tossing and turning most of the night and having trouble staying asleep.  I would still recommend any other race put on by Pacers, since they do a great job from the premium to the support throughout the entire race.

Authenticating: Coach!

In a normal week, I go thrift shopping at least once to buy vintage Coach bags to restore and use or resell them.  That being said, I see a lot of counterfeit merchandise.  I've been buying vintage Coach for about a year and a half now, so I feel like I have gotten authentication down to an art form because I'm to a point where with some bags I can tell it's fake without ever even touching it.  
Keep in mind, this is just a brief overview on authentication.  There is a LOT that goes into it, not just the points that I mention here.  These are some tips that have helped me in my hunt for Coach bags while thrift shopping.  Some of it is just practice in seeing what's real and what's fake.  I also recommend for specific authentication questions, visit the PurseBlog's Authentication Coach forum.
This post is pretty heavy on graphics, so if you're accessing this on a phone I apologize in advance.  Authentication is all about having a keen eye for details, and it's hard to just explain without pictures.

If the bag has a buckle, it should look like this:

This buckle is square and the edges are totally rounded.

Sometimes the buckle is rounded but flat backed, but other times there is a little bump where the buckle attaches to the bag.

If the buckle is flat like this:

or rectangular like this...

It's fake.
(This one is actually also a great example of 2 different tones of hardware too, which is also an indicator of a fake bag!)

Turnlocks are Coach's signature design closures for their bags.  They were first used by Bonnie Cashin in the 1960s and are still used in Coach products today with slight design modifications.  On vintage bags, the part that actually turns should be nice and rounded like this:

If the turnlock is kind of chunky or blocky looking like this:

It's fake.

Or even like this:

It's also fake.

The underside of the turnlock is also a good indicator of authenticity.  It should be flat and smooth like this:

Or like this:

This is from a briefcase and it should look EXACTLY like this.

But if it looks like this:

Or has grooves by the prongs from the front of the turnlock similar to this, it's fake.

There are also some easier ways to spot a fake.  For example, read the stamped creed inside the bag!  Sometimes there will be typos (grammatical and misspellings) and other times no creed at all.  There is a fair amount of variety to the creeds depending on the age of the bag itself.  The oldest bags simply have a tiny metal plate that says "Coach" or a little stamp that says it.  

The format of the serial numbers started at seven digits as XXX-XXXX then later moved to XXXX-XXX.  They have NEVER been shorter than that and since about the mid-2000's have only gotten longer.  Bags with short serial numbers (5 or 6 digits) are usually made in Korea, which is another giveaway a bag is fake.  So many fake Coach bags have come out of Korea that Coach will probably never actually do any bag manufacturing in that country.  Coach bags are/were however made in the United States, Costa Rica, Italy, China, Hungary, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.  Each area has a slightly different texture to the leather.  For example, the older United States bags are very thick and durable, while Costa Rican leather is slightly thinner and smooshy.  (Some collectors have a preference when shopping for vintage bags.)  Bags in Italy are typically pebbled leather, similar to Dooney handbags.  (More on authenticating Dooney in another post!)

Like I said before, this is just a quick overview on how to authenticate.  Hopefully it helps you in your search for a vintage (or new) Coach bag!  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment below.  I also recommend looking into the PurseForum's Coach authentication message board.  They have a lot of experts who spend their spare time authenticating bags and are awesome at it!  

Thrifting tips!

I figured it was about time for me to post some tips about thrift shopping.  It can be difficult, but with these tips it can be a little easier.

• Give yourself plenty of time.  Sometimes it takes a lot of digging to find the good stuff.  Some thrift stores will actually pull out the high ticket items and keep them separate from mass market brands with high product turnover (think: Old Navy, Hanes, Basic Editions, Faded Glory, Mossimo, etc.)  These brands are not necessarily made to last, and they crank out new items in several colors a few times a month so their main focus is getting product out the door.  Going through the massive racks of everything else is still worthwhile, because things do get misplaced. 

• Familiarize yourself with clothing brands you like in terms of logos and their placement.  This helps me find a lot of great clothing by Athleta, Lululemon, Patagonia, Lucky Brand Jeans, etc.  It helps get through clothing a LOT faster since you don't necessarily have to look around for a sewn in tag.  And it helps with authenticating items as well.  A lot of fake handbags and shoes end up in thrift stores.  (More on this in another blog post!)  

• Also keep in mind that some clothing brands are weird about tags.  Some companies like Under Armour and Lululemon make rip away tags so a lot of the time it can be hard to find the size of a shirt or pair of pants.  If this is the case, I recommend checking any pockets since some companies will even print the size there to avoid tags altogether.

• Just like real estate, location matters.  I live in an area with stores that I like, but can't necessarily justify spending a lot for it (like $100 for yoga pants.)  When I lived in Blacksburg, VA there was no way I was going to find the same brands that I find here in central Maryland.  While thrifting there I found obscure older items like a Degrassi VHS tape and 5.25'' disks.  And trash.  Seriously.  (That being said, I keep a large bottle of hand sanitizer in my car and a smaller one in my purse.)

Seriously?  Pasta sauce jars and somebody's used neti pot?  Gross!

• Learn when to move on.  I give thrift stores a couple chances to wow me, and if not I stop going there.  But I know where to go to if I'm looking for something specific (like vinyl records) but others I don't bother going to because I know it would take more effort than other stores.

• Get there soon after opening.  I go out thrift shopping one day a week and I get to the first place within the first half an hour of opening.  No matter the weather.  The only things that keep me away are federal and school holidays (because it is extra busy) and super bad weather where you shouldn't even think about leaving the house.
• Case in point:  Monday was Martin Luther King Day so the kids were out and it was a federal holiday so I didn't bother even thinking about going out.  Here in Maryland we're expecting our first BIG winter storm of the season on Friday.  So while everybody is out shopping for French toast supplies, I'll be out thrifting because I got all my grocery shopping done earlier in the week.

Do you have any tips on thrift shopping that I missed?  What are some of your favorite finds?

Wrapping up 2015!!

Since it's still early 2016, I thought it would be the perfect time to recap 3 races from 2015 I haven't talked about yet.  (Two of which I've signed up to run for a second time.)  I've figured out most of my race schedule for this year and I'm starting to get REALLY excited for what's in store race-wise.  I'm signed up for 6 long(ish) distance races--3 half marathons, 2 10 milers and a 12 miler!  (Along with some short races here and there too.)  But for now, the recaps!

St. Patrick's Day 5k
I ran this one with my parents and husband last year.  I had been fighting a cold all week and I learned my lesson:  If you have a respiratory illness, do NOT push yourself during a race.  We went out to eat at Family Meal for a late lunch afterwards, and I only ate half my sandwich.  I eat a LOT, especially post-race and this was totally unusual for me.  Once we got back home I showered, put on some sweats and slept off the cold for the rest of the afternoon.  
The race was a lot of fun despite fighting the cold.  It was a little crowded, but not horrible.  We arrived super early (about an hour before it was scheduled to start) so we got to see a lot of people leaving Sunday church services and watch final race preparations.  This race is actually small enough that I felt like we could've taken our time getting there.  There weren't any portajohns at the start, but there were a few restaurants that we could've used if needed. 
The race itself is mostly downhill for the first mile, then totally flat.  (Keep in mind though, this is a normally busy street so DEFINITELY look out for bumps and potholes!)  It mostly takes place around the Inner Harbor and goes down by Federal Hill and past the American Visionary Art Museum which is always fun to see.  It ends at Power Plant Live, similar to the Charles Street 12.  I've already signed up to do the B3 Challenge again this year, and this is the first race in the series.  (This race typically sells out, so if you're interested in running it sign up sooner rather than later!  Also, if you sign up for this one then decide to join the B3 you can just email the race organizers and they'll help you out.)
The premium was pretty nice--a bright green Brooks long sleeved tech shirt!  I still wear it every once in awhile.

Front of the St. Patrick's Day 5k shirt plus a reflective Brooks logo on the sleeve!

Back of the St Patrick's Day 5k shirt

Sole of the City 10k
I ran this one with my Dad (in a matter of speaking...We at least started  together.)  This second race in the B3 challenge race series starts and finishes at Fort McHenry Row, which is the home for Charm City Run's Baltimore location.  The race is fairly hilly, but nice.  It actually helped me figure out where to run around the Inner Harbor.  Some of the areas are fairly narrow but not too bad.  There are some parts that go through cobblestone so you have to be careful, but they keep these areas of the course to a minimum.  I found it to be fairly hilly until you got back to the Inner Harbor, which is pretty normal for Baltimore races in general.  (What a lot of people don't realize is that up from the harbor, Baltimore is VERY hilly.)  I loved running directly in front of the aquarium since I volunteer there in three different areas.  I got to high five one of the security guards I see regularly on my shifts, and later I found out that one of the people in an exhibit I help with was there cheering on everybody.
The post-race support was awesome.  Afterwards there were long rows of tables filled with sandwich wraps and other grab and go snacks like pretzels and granola bars.  The Greene Turtle (a chain of bars in Maryland) provided the runners with post-race beer.
I loved the premium for this race--an Under Armour Kaleidelogo hoodie.  It's fairly lightweight, and the logo for the race was embroidered on the back and a Charm City Run logo on the front.  It's one of the few premiums I wear regularly.

Race logo on the back of the hoodie

The front of the hoodie, showing the Charm City Run logo and Greene Turtle logo.  (The Greene Turtle is a Maryland chain of bars that sponsored the race and provided post-race beer!)

Cinco de Miler
This was my first trail race and I really enjoyed it!  If you've run the Across the Bay 10k, you've already been very close to where the race starts and finishes.  (It's basically on the other side of the office buildings by the finishing area for the 10k, which is actually a park!) The packet pickup was a breeze since it was at the Annapolis Charm City Run, and beforehand there was a free yoga class.  So I got up early, did some yoga, then got my shirt and bib.  (The logo is really cute--it's a great blue heron wearing a sombrero and holding maracas!)  

So cute!!

The race benefits the Midshore Conservancy and the post-race party was at the Jetty restaurant and dock bar.

This is probably one of the few races where you run on every possible terrain--you start on pavement, then a wooded dirt path, a field, a small wooden bridge and through sand!  I liked the challenge of changing my stride and really having to strategize about how to run on each terrain.  (I've run on all of the terrains before, but never all in the same course.)  
Afterwards, my husband and I drove over to the parking area for the park itself and spent part of the morning on the beach.  It was a lovely day for it too--sunny and just slightly warm.  The small beaches didn't have very many people on them, and we spent a few minutes sitting on a washed up log before we headed to DC to cheer on my Dad at his first marathon and stopped at Red, Hot and Blue just on the other side of the Bay bridge.