May 25, 2013

New wardrobe

So, I couldn't help myself this morning. I kept thinking about the garage sale yesterday--how many clothes I bought, but also how many more I didn't buy. I bought mostly bottoms yesterday (jeans, capris), so I wanted to go back and maybe get some tops.

The kids really wanted to go to a garage sale, so at around 9:00, we headed out. When we got there, I was glad to see that she still had a lot of her clothes there. I went though all of the tops, and ended up buying another $40 worth of stuff.

When I got home and tried it all on (everything fit, and and I love it all!), I piled everything together for a picture of what I got for $98:


31 tops
6 pairs of jeans
8 pairs of capris/cropped pants
1 pair of black dress pants
2 dresses

I seriously have an entire new wardrobe! I went through my closet and took out a bunch of stuff to donate, and then put all my new stuff in. It's so fun to have all these "new" clothes.

A few people asked how I find good deals like this--the key is to go EARLY to the sales. If it starts at 8:00, get there at 7:45. If the sale starts Friday, but you can't go until Saturday, chances are it will be pretty picked over. You can look for garage sales advertised in the newspaper, because sometimes they list whether they have clothing and/or what sizes.

Also, I'm not going to lie, it's gotten easier to find good stuff now that I've lost weight. When I was a size 24, it was really rare to find nice clothes in that size. There are times I go to sales and don't find a single thing; but when I do, like at this sale, it's totally worth it!


I wasn't sure if I was going to run today. Normally, Saturday is a rest day, but since I'm going for 100 Activity PointsPlus this week, it would be really hard to get in 14 ish PP today without a run. My kids went over to my parents' house when we got home from the garage sales, so I ate lunch and then decided I'd go run five miles or so at an easy pace.

It ended up being a bad run. I went out a little less than three miles, then turned around to head home. at about mile four, I passed an unleashed German Shepherd. I'd seen it a couple of times before--once, it scared the crap out of me, barking like crazy and walking toward me, but the last time I saw it, it just stood there watching me, motionless.

There was a mail truck right across the street, so I ran on the other side of it, shielding myself from the dog in case it came at me, but the dog just stood there like a statue. A few houses down, there was an unleashed bulldog, but the owners were out and the dog was sleeping, so I wasn't too nervous. I just kept thinking, "A few more houses to go, and then I'm in the clear!" because there is a huge stretch of about a mile without any houses (and therefore, less chance of an unleashed dog).

At the very last house before the empty stretch, I saw an unleashed Husky. I froze and watched, trying to figure out what to do. There wasn't anyone outside, and I had never seen that dog there before, so I didn't think it belonged there. The dog spotted me, and watched me for a minute, then started walking toward me. I turned around and started walking the other way, trying not to panic.

I kept looking over my shoulder, and the dog started running at me, so I started running away from it (the opposite direction that I had been headed to get home). I know, dogs can't chase you if you don't run, but I was terrified and just wanted to get away from it. I decided to just run to a house and knock on a door, ask to use their phone, and call my parents for a ride home.

I ran up the driveway of the first house, the dog closing in on me, and there was a woman in her garden. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but I was gasping as I told her a dog was chasing me. She looked at the dog and said she knew who it belonged to. The dog ran up the driveway, and she stooped to pet it. I was trying to hard not to cry, because she probably thought I was mentally unstable or something from how scared I was! She said that I could go ahead and keep running, and she'd take care of the dog.

After that, my run was ruined. I couldn't get my heart rate to slow down, and I had exhausted myself from all the adrenaline. I ended up finishing out six miles.



Tonight, Jerry and I were invited to a get-together at our friends' house. They actually live really close to us, so I think we'll walk over there. They're going to grill out, and asked us to bring a dish to pass. I'm thinking a fruit salad (or fruit kabobs), for a couple of reasons: 1) It's 0 PointsPlus, so I can fill up on it; 2) Produce is "allowed" in our no-grocery-shopping-in-May challenge. We're still going strong with it, but I am SO excited to go grocery shopping again!

Oh, and that reminds me... yesterday, when I ate a bite of my chocolate peanut butter ice cream, I realized that I had forgotten that I challenged myself to give up peanut butter for six weeks! But I still enjoyed the ice cream, and as long as peanut butter doesn't become a problem again, I'm okay with ending the challenge early. ;)

I've been doing really well this week with my eating and my activity. I've earned 57 PP at the moment (probably 61 by the time this post goes live tonight). So I'm definitely on track for 100! I've kept my eating really consistent, too, so I hope that by my weigh in on Wednesday, I'll be back down to 133 ish.

21 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry about your dog encounters! I know they can be horribly frightening!! I have big dogs, but if I'm out running and a big dog is loose, let alone chases after me, I panic too.

    My husband and son go to many gun shows in Oklahoma area, and bought me an extendable baton to take on my runs. They're small when closed, but if needed, you swing it out, and it's a solid steel baton and would be very helpful in keeping a dog at bay if need be.

    I don't know if they have gun shows where you live, but if not, you can buy these online at Amazon for about $20. Here's what they look like.

    http://www.amazon.com/Fury-FP12123-Mtech/dp/B002LOALYS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1369531005&sr=8-3&keywords=extendable+baton

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  2. Ugh dog owners can be the worst when they don't leash their dogs! Dogs can be so vicious and a huge distraction. I don't blame you at all for being terrified! I don't know what the laws are in your state but it might be possible to report unleashed dogs so that the owners get a warning that they need to control their dogs.

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  3. Michelle FrostMay 25, 2013

    WOW you really lucked out at that garage sale! I bet it feels so good to be able to buy that much for that little of money. That Express dress you got was so cute too!

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  4. Awesome finds at the garage sale! Love when stuff like that happens!
    Sarah
    www.thinfluenced.com

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  5. AnonymousMay 25, 2013

    Dogs and running are the worst!! I have been scared several times and its no fun! Glad you are ok!!

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  6. AnonymousMay 25, 2013

    sorry about the dogs. I had a bad encounter with a pack of dogs about five years ago--ended up with about 100 stitches and was nearly much worse. But in my encounter with law enforcement peeps in the course of that, they all suggested running with spray--I guess it's pepper spray. I just clip it to the back of my pants

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  7. I thought I was crazy for thinking 'wait, that's peanut butter!" when I saw your instagram post! Glad I'm not crazy! ;)

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  8. AnonymousMay 25, 2013

    Dogs. I remember those days. For me, I found the trick was to NOT look them in the eye. No matter how scared I was. Generally, if I "avoided" them that way, they wouldn't go on the offensive. But I know it's really hard when it seems like every dog out there is ready to chase you down. Unfortunately, the running does trigger them.

    The garage sale finds sound awesome though! It's great to hear that you found so much great stuff all at one sale!.

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  9. Way to score at that garage sale, that is impressive!

    I am not really scared of dogs, but I am completely annoyed about the ones that harass me during a run, so I can sympathize. My last run seemed like a never ending obstacle course of annoying, poorly trained dogs. Dogs on leashes barking/lunging at me as I passed, dogs in backyards barking at the top of their lungs the entire time I ran by their yard, etc.

    I love dogs too! But people need to train their freaking dogs. I wanted tazer a bunch of them...

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  10. AnonymousMay 26, 2013

    Not a big dog fan, much less unleashed ones while I am running. I feel your pain.

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  11. AnonymousMay 26, 2013

    A lot of dogs have collars that won't let them go past a certain point, my dog isn't on a leash but has a collar and it beeps when she gets too close to her border, and then gets a shock if she keeps going. But when I hear her bark I still call her in and rarely leave her out when we aren't home. On my walks/ runs it seems everyone's dogs have those round here.

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  12. We see unleashed dogs all the time in my neighborhood. When I go with my boys I always keep an umbrella in our stroller so I can beat the snot out of one if they attack.

    I LOVE your garage sale score. Seriously there is nothing better than a good deal on clothes. And you know, it's totally green because you are recycling their clothes. It's a win!!

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  13. I am sooo scared of loose dogs! I started carrying pepper spray when I go out on a bike ride or walk/jog. Thankfully I haven't had to use it, but I'm still very nervous about the possibility of coming across an unleashed dog.

    Congrats on the great garage sale finds!

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  14. I am scared of loose dogs when biking because they charge and chase - so scary!

    Score on those clothes! I love thrift shopping. I am always looking for a deal at garage sales, usually furniture that I can repurpose.

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  15. You did awesome with your garage sale finds!

    I wish I lived closer to you, I could help you with your fear of loose dogs. I could help you to learn their body language and intentions, and what to do if you are confronted by a dog with bad intentions. Because, knowledge is power :)

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  16. Ugh. I hate unleashed dogs probably more than anything on my runs. I would be scared to death to if that were me in your shoes.

    Nice score on the garage sale!!

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  17. Congrats on the new clothes!! It feels so good to get new things!

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  18. AnonymousMay 27, 2013

    I know it's scary but never run AWAY from a dog. Stay on your path, walk normally and talk to him in a low voice, without making eye contact. Most likely he will back away from you (or in the worst case come and sniff you but it is highly unlikely) and you just keep walking. If you run he will think you are prey and will surely chase you. Sorry you had a bad experience.

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  19. I want new clothes so bad! :( it's been a long time since I've bought a bunch of new clothes. I will have to start going to yardsales too :)

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  20. Do you ever carry pepper spray? I just started trying to run with my dog and he's really nervous about other dogs (he had one run at him once and fought with it). I'm kind of thinking of carrying a little piece of pvc pipe or pepper spray just in case.

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  21. Oh and all those new clothes are awesome! I need to hit some garage sales. I used to be an addict (and sold things on ebay) but I haven't went in years.

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