**I’ve got a killer deal for you from thredUP today, don’t miss it… but first, a story:)***
Did I ever tell you about how I found out I was pregnant with Brooke? I probably did back then but that was a long time ago;) I think I was already around 9ish weeks when my chest began hurting like crazy, I was having some weird migraines (hormonal changes!) and I noticed a few other signs. I had struggled with missing my periods for years before this and so I didn’t take missing a few periods as a sign that I could be pregnant plus I was on birth control. This is what made me think that I should take a pregnancy test. I was driving to the gym to meet my sister for a workout when I pulled over to Shopko to buy one of their cheap little tests and then I went straight to their restroom. Within minutes of even thinking pregnancy could be a possibility—> I found out I was pregnant. I sobbed for a solid 20 minutes in that bathroom I was so happy. It was like my whole brain went straight into mama mode. I had this overwhelming feeling come over my entire body that this little person was going to be my world. I had no idea what my road was going to be like up ahead of me over the next few years but I knew this baby of mine was going to make me the happiest. I went back home to tell my husband at the time, called my mom and then went STRAIGHT to the gym where I found my sister on the elliptical. I dragged her to the changing rooms in the locker room and told her I was pregnant and then we sat on the bench hugging and crying together. It made for one of the top 5 most special moments of my life.
Fast forward through months of pregnant running, teaching high school (where I would take a nap under my desk every day after school because pregnancy sure is tiring.. and so are teenagers;) and dreaming of what my little girl would be like. We had to move to California right before I was due and I jumped on a plane (my doctors okayed it that morning because I still had two weeks to go and I wasn’t showing any signs of going into labor) and when I got off the plane I started to have some small contractions. We didn’t have an apartment and were staying with people we had never met before. I didn’t have a doctor and all of our stuff was in the moving POD but 1.5 days later Brookie arrived. I felt fully content for the first time in my life when they first placed her on my chest. Goodness gracious, that time of living in California would have been crazy rough without her (between being extremely lonely and my marriage exploding) but I had my little sidekick that brought so much light into my world. I look at that time with Brooke during her first year of life fondly even though there was a lot of heartache in other areas of my life.
And she continues to be my light each day. The older she gets the more I realize how perfect the timing of Brooke coming into my life was. We have a whole life of adventure ahead of us. I have a feeling we will spend a lot of miles out on the trails together too:)
Call me silly but one of the 300 things I was excited for when I first found out Brooke was a girl was how stinkin’ cute little girls clothing is and I’m pretty sure (okay, I’m positive) I started buying her clothes the day I found out she was a girl. I have realized over the last 3ish years that kid clothing can be super pricey. These little ones grow like crazy. The clothes that we buy for them don’t fit for very long.
This is where thredUP comes in and it saves us big bucks on adorable kids clothes for Brooke (along with a ton of my workout tops lately… all of the ones in this post are from thredUP and I got them for super cheap). They are the best place to go for women’s and kids’ high-quality secondhand fashion—> they have everything from Madewell to Zara to Joie and everything is up to 90% off the original retail price. I LOVE the Kids Gap and Crew Cuts (J. Crew for kids) that they offer and I get a lot of Brooke’s stuff from there. In 2014, thredUP customers saved $62.5 million by shopping thredUP instead of retail! I love that I can find my favorite brands for Brooke for a fraction of the retail price.
I just jump online to their store, choose exactly what I want (they have so much merchandise and it is so easy to search according to brand/size/color). They deliver right to me in tissue paper with an enjoy sticker:)
I ordered a bunch of the Gap Fit tanks from thredUP because I am obsessed with the material on their workout tanks and this way I can get them WAY cheaper. Also, Brooke in this little hoodie is my favorite! PS a girl can never have too many workout outfits right? Please agree with me.
Her little face though and that little dress:)
I also found a lot of items at thredUP that have never been worn (they still have the tags on them like the adorable swimsuit below that Brooke will be wearing all summer) but they are still discounted big time!
And another favorite outfit from thredUP that Brooke is obsessed with because of all of the detailing on the cardigan. I was so excited to see what great condition everything was in… everything really does look brand new and I’m not breaking the bank on things that she will grow out of quickly anyways. ThredUP fits really nicely into our budget!
So, how do you feel about Brooke taking over Hungry Runner Girl as soon as she can type? Between her new running skills, sense of humor and love for sweets I think it would be quite an easy transition.
PS I can’t even begin to tell you how excited she was when she saw that she got a running tank from thredUP (this one was from Target and also brand new with tags for just a few dollars)!
The first 100 readers will get 40% off their entire order at thredUP! Go HERE and use the code HRG40 (first time shoppers and discount up to $50).
Parents reading—> I’d love to hear your stories! How was your pregnancy? Delivery? Give us as many or as little details as you would like:)
Do your kiddos/nieces/nephews/friends’ kids show any interest in running?
Speaking of summer… (the swimsuit above made me long for it) what are you most looking forward to about summer?
What are some of your money saving tips? Do you keep a pretty strict budget or is it always changing?
63 comments
Lisa @ Lisa the Vegetarian
Aww, that is such a touching story about how you found out you were pregnant! It’s so sweet that you got to spend that moment with your sister. Brooke looks like she loves running! How awesome would it be if she also turned into a marathoner when she gets older?
Kristina Running
That picture of you and Brooke running together is adorable! I hope it’s framed and up somewhere in your apartment!! :)
I’m most looking forward to longer days. I love when it stays light out later! Going to the office every day in winter is so annoying because it’s dark out before I leave!
Gretchen | Gretchruns
Oh my gosh..Brooke is so adorable in all these pictures! And I loved hearing the story of how you found out you were pregnant..so special.
I’ve been keeping a really strict budget lately to save up for a house, so I have lots of money saving tips! One that has really saved me a bunch is lowering my data plan to the bare minimum and turning of cellular data. I save about $50 a month and I spend a lot less time going through FB and Instagram! Win/Win!
Sarah @ SarahRuns26
I’m just hoping our summer isn’t crazy hot and windy! It’s hard to enjoy the outdoors when its unbearably hot! A few summers ago we had something like 60 straight days of 100+ degrees. Too hot!
I’m always looking for coupon codes when I shop online. There are so many of them out there, even for races, that you can almost always get things for less than retail!
Michele @paleorunningmomma
Too many pregnancy details since each of the 3 were different! Having 2 girls though I can totally relate to the strong emotions that come with having girls. They actually both show interest in running although it might just be because they’re so exposed to it. My 7 year old ran a 5k on Mother’s Day with me last year and this year I plan to run with both of them! Once my son is old enough I’m sure he’ll want to race us :)
Sally @ sweat out the small stuff
My boyfriends two daughters do Girls on The Run each spring. The younger one is competitive though which isn’t really part of the mission of girls on the run so we are working up a 10 year old friendly plan for her to get faster in her 5k. Right now she is st 28 minutes but is shooting for 26. I have a photo of me and the older one finishing a 5k last spring that makes me smile. It was one of the common interests that helped me form friendships with the girls. :)
Michelle
Brooke looks so happy in her running tank! Love your pregnancy story!
I keep a pretty strict budget because I’m trying to pay down my student loan debt. My favorite money saving tip is to ask myself whether the item I’m purchasing is something I need or just something I want. If it’s only a “want” could my money be better spent on something else?
Margaret @ youngandrungry
I had never heard of Thredup so thank you for sharing! I lived in Aspen, CO for a summer and fell in love with consignment shopping because the second home owners who lived there would just give their old designer clothes away after every season to make room for new ones and I absolutely reaped the benefits! I got so much Lululemon and designer jeans for absolutely nothing!
I loved reading the story of Brooke and your pregnancy I got chills! I just can’t wait for my sister to start having babies I’m going to make them into my little running nieces and nephews!
Cynthia
Thredup sounds pretty cool, may have to check it out! Brooke is super stylin’ in her outfits!
As far as saving money, I make my own coffee at home (sorry Starbucks!), meal plan (or attempt to..it does help a lot if you make time), and use my apartment’s gym instead of a normal gym (saving over $500 a year).
Jane @janerunswild
I can’t wait to run outside in the heat! Although once it gets hot, I am sure I’ll long for cooler days for running :) Love this post, Brooke is gorgeous! Love her little outfits. Have a great day!
Jenny
I’m looking forward to all things summer! I found out I was pregnant with my first because I’d missed a period but was only a couple days or maybe a week late. I went to the dentist (my dad is my dentist) to get my teeth cleaned. I’ve know the hygienist my whole life so She’s pretty comfortable asking things. She started cleaning and stopped and asked if I was because I was bleeding so much during the cleaning. I told her i was late but hadn’t taken a test yet. So I went home and took a test but we waited until Christmas to tell people. Because I also worked for my dad at the time, our hygienist was really good to keep that morning sickness away. She brought fresh fruit daily for me to eat so I could keep it secret.
Rachel
The pictures of Brooke running put the biggest smile on my face! She looks so happy! She definitely inherited her love of running from her mama!
I can’t wait to try out ThreadUp! With so many weddings this Summer, I needed some new inexpensive outfits, and this seems like the perfect place to start!
Tayna
My husband and I are dying over how cute Brooke is! I have a little girl who is 5 months old and I really want her to run with me someday, just like you and Brooke!
:)
Taylor
AHH! Those pictures of you and Brooke. She is such a doll!!!! ThreadUp seems like such a great deal! Can’t wait to check it out!! PS, I will totally keep reading if Brooke takes over the blog ;)… she should do a guest post! :)
Jill @ RunEatSnap
OMG this post is adorable. You and Brooke are just the cutest. I am so glad you have your little buddy!
Jessica
This post was the CUTEST thing. The photos of you and Brooke are precious.
Ellen @ Tale of Two Runs
Brooke is the cutest little girl I swear!!! Whenever I see he r smiling at pictures is brightening my day! I hope one day I have a little girl like brooke :)
As for money saving tips I only have one; Prioritize!! We are in a very tight budget right now and this is the only thing that makes us get through.
Also sorry to hear about your wedding :( I remember when mine “exploded”… it was pretty rough… But you are such a strong girl!! :D
Natalie
I used to teach high school, and I took a nap under my desk during my conference period once or twice–and I wasn’t even pregnant! It can be exhausting.
I am absolutely looking forward to pool time this summer and getting some color back to my skin. This pastiness needs to end!
Arthi
You guys are such a lovely little family! Can’t wait to see a pup in the mix!!
Things I’m looking forward to most about summer –
1.) Taking my dog to the dog beach
2.) Flip flops
3.) Being able to go for an early morning run and not have it be dark outside!
Suzy
Such a great story. She’s such a lucky girl to have you as a mama! So much love.
I had my first baby when I was 21 and my fourth when I was 37! There’s never a dull moment, and it’s such a full life. :0)
Hollie
That’s such a precious story about Brooke. You are the cutest family Janae and I’m glad you have each other. Those photos are adorable.
Chelsea@RunningWithaWhisk
Brooke is so cute! I love hearing about your adventures and I am sure she will be a Runner Girl just like her momma!
Emma @myfullfatlife
Adorable pics!!
To save money I try to buy things on sale as much as possible.
Kate
That last picture of Brooke steals my heart! That girl!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
This post was too cute! I just love it. I think Brooke taking over is a great idea! She already has got taking selfies down, blogging may be in her future sooner than you know!
Kim
Brooke is so cute!
Nina
Brooke has some great style. Maybe she’d like to do a running fashion blog in conjunction with your blog. ;)
I’m a very good sale shopper. I’m also good at repurposing what I already have. Rather than go shopping I’ll “shop” my closet. I workout at home and we generally only eat out once a week.
Mollie
I just love this post. I feel the same way about my daughter. Brooke is lucky to have such a great mama!!
I’ve been posting some money saving tips (with the help of my deal finding husband) on my blog, but my favorite is definitely discounted gift cards at giftcardgranny.com.
My friend actually told me I was pregnant. Seriously! We weren’t trying, and she asked when we were, so I joked that we hadn’t been being too careful. She was like, you’re pregnant. I don’t know how she could tell. A week later I got a positive pregnancy test! Haha
MaryM
Brooke is so cute in the running tank with such a big smile on her face. It is just priceless! Looking at her makes me want to get out and run. Awesome pregnancy story!
My family gave me this shirt from the Gap: http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1051334&vid=1&pid=178325002. I tried it yesterday and love it. We are already starting to get warm so it was nice to feel the air through the shirt.
Rebecca Jo
I am having an overdose on cuteness with these Brooke pictures!!!!
Sam
I’m trying to stick with eating at home as much as possible as a money-saving trick and meal planning a bit more. It’s not too intense at my house yet, but we at least try to have an idea of what we’re going to eat so the temptation of just going out to a restaurant doesn’t take over. Cute photos!
Becky @goodfortheswole
Oh my gosh – Brooke’s sweet little face in all of these pictures are adorable!!
I found out I was pregnant at like 3 1/2 weeks ha. I swear I felt different immediately and was taking pregnancy tests like crazy every day…but it was so early! I read the HcG hormone is highest in the morning, so I ran to the store and took a test in their restrooms…sure enough there was the faaaaaintest plus sign, but it was there!
Karrie
I love love love these pictures of Brooke! Thank you for sharing the story of how you found out you were pregnant! Such a special moment.
I wish my nephews were interested in running. They are still pretty young so I’ve got to time to grow on them!
I am looking forward to Watermelon, Popsicles, ice cream, and swimming!!!
To save more money, I usually cut down on eating out or getting any specialty coffee drinks. It usually depends on what stage of life I’m in. During college I was pretty strict and now that we are wedding planning, I’m pretty strict about spending money on frivolous things.
[email protected]
I love that story! I remember going for a run the day after after I found out I was pregnant and the sunset was so pink I just knew I was having a girl. I can’t wait until she and I can run together. Love this cool website! I can never say no to a good deal. Happy running!
Lauren
What an awesome story!! I have been following your blog for motivation back when I was training for the Jackson hole half marathon last year. I was on track for a sub 2 when I found out I was pregnant (maybe next time?lol) We found out on my husband’s birthday(2 days before the race) and just recently gave birth two weeks before my birthday.
I’m waiting for the green light from my dr to start running again. But I’m enjoying the time with my little guy while I wait. We hope he will enjoy running and being outdoors as much as we do ?
Your blog is inspiring! Thank you!!
Polly
I’m a new mom to an 8 week old so I loved reading this! Brooke is getting so big! I had a pretty easy pregnancy and didn’t have any painful symptoms. There are times when I miss feeling kicks and flutters in my belly but I also love that my baby boy is finally here with me. :)
Meredith @ the cookie chrunicles
Awe love that story! I still remember finding out I was pregnant! I took the test in the bathroom at my office. I was so shocked and had to get through the work day without saying a word! Feels like yesterday. But it was 13 years ago. Omg
Ally @ Homespun Runner
Brooke is just so cute. I can’t even! I wouldn’t mind if Brooke took over HRG ;) Rylee will be ONE in 30 days! My periods have never been regular due to endometriosis so I was not even thinking about periods, but realized I probably should take a pregnancy test since skipping one doesn’t usually happen they were just late. My husband is a wild land firefighter in the summer and he was out on a fire! I texted him that he should try and call me that night, he did and was so excited!
I’ve been browsing on ThredUp but never pulled the plug and purchased they have such cute stuff though!!!
B
Pregnancy the first time a breeze, I felt great and delivery as fast (4 hours), the second time great but I was on bedrest most of it and delivery was less than 40 minutes, this time oh man it is kicking my butt. Baby can be born anyday and I am still super early and on bedrest! What’s the saying about 3rd time being a charm, yay charm me into not wanting to do it again!
My girls LOVE to run. Currently we are doing gymnastics but plan on starting T-Ball this spring as well as maybe soccer (bc little kid soccer and baseball adorable).
We are longing for summer and trips to the beach:)
I never budgeted before but now with #3 on the way and two girls who adore shopping and dressing the same budgeting is starting to become a way of life. Sale, Ebates and perhaps we’ll giveThredUp a try too!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul
She’s such a cutie!!
Erika
Love all of these pictures of Brooke!! I’m really hoping my little girl develops a love for running, I got mine from my mom & fondly remember running often with her from very young and still run with her fairly often! I would love any tips you may have for running with a stroller? Im much more likely to get my runs in if Im running with baby, but still enjoy running without the stroller as well.
Erika
P.s. love hearing about your pregnancy! It’s such a special time in life and love when people share it with others!
The Silent Assassin
that last picture is actually inspiring!
Rachel @ Simply Rachel Nicole
I started reading your blog around the time that you had Brooke, and I absolutely loved reading all about her. And I love hearing the story again! Having my little girl changed my life for the better and now that I am pregnant with a little boy, I just feel even more blessed! :)
Katie
Your pregnancy story was so sweet :)
We knew I was pregnant right away because we had been battling through infertility and miscarriages for years, so the early part of my pregnancy was absolutely terrifying. We saw the doctor weekly and as we first saw, then heard a heartbeat it was the most beautiful thing ever, but given previous pregnancies my husband and I were so nervous and scared! It took me until about 25 weeks to realize that we were actually on the brink of having our sweet miracle baby enter our lives. He surprised us with an early arrival at just over 36 weeks. I remember getting settled into our hospital room while I was in labor and looking at my husband in tears when I saw the infant warmer in the room. I had to explain that I was crying because I never thought we would be in the hospital preparing for the delivery of our baby. I cannot believe that was already 8 months ago and that we have a healthy, happy baby boy who brings more joy than we ever could have imagined. I can’t wait to get him out in the jogging stroller running with me again once all the snow is gone here. I am most excited about spending our summer as a family of three! :)
Catie
Janae, I’ve been reading your blog for 4+ years now, and I have to say, you’ve never looked and sounded like a healthier version of yourself. It’s a joy to see how you’ve embraced motherhood amidst the realness and toughness of life. And life is really hard sometimes. Anyways, I just wanted to say hi and offer some words of support. Keep taking care of yourself- body, mind, and spirit- with some balance and grace for yourself.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Catie, THANK YOU so much for your sweet comment. It means the world to me. I hope you have a beautiful day and thanks for taking the time to write me today:)
Amanda @ Exploring Life & Things
That is so sweet reading about all of that! And those pictures of Brooke are the cutest thing ever :)
This summer I’m looking forward to running Ragnar and hopefully a trip to the west coast with my best friends!
Becky
Thanks for this website. I have never heard of it. I will definitely be looking into this!
Samantha Schroeder
Definitely going to be using that website to help with my budget! Running/workout gear can be so expensive but it is worth the extra cash because it works so much better. My mom works for a dentist and his wife gave me a bunch of lulu tanks and tops last year and it was better than christmas. My budget is figure out how much I have that I will allow myself to spend until payday and figure out how much I could spend each day and then remember that. If I do not spend anything one day and I want to go out to eat with a friend, I have a larger budget for a meal. I am slowly getting better at it and not splurging all too much!
Kay
I love this story and the photos of the two of you- too cute!
polly
Your daughter is too cute.
I was a bit older when I got pregnant….. kinda career first and then have baby, I was 37! I had AMA on front of my chart (advance maternal age) LOL!!!! Man, they ran every test imaginable on me due to my age! I had such an uneventful pregnancy. Worked all the way up to day before delivery. Did have a C-section because Dr. felt son was too large to pass through birth canal…. and my son was HUGE! 10.3 pounds and 22.25inches long. And, I did not have gestational diabetes(women with that always have big babies). I will never forget that day! The Dr. said, “You have a future football player!” Actually, he has thinned up and is tall!!!
He loves to run 5Ks– that is if it is a custom run or color run! LOL! He has ran 2 with me– well, it is a sprint real fast and then walk over and over… he is only 6, so, he does’t know how to pace himself yet! LOL! But it is so fun!!!!
On a side note….. My first marathon is Saturday…. starting to get nervous! You inspire me although I am not as speedy as you! :)
Sky
We have a pretty strict budget and have tried to pinpoint where we spend the most money. Apparently we really like to eat in our house because that is where most of our money goes. We found that buying in bulk and cooking all of our meals at home really saves a ton of money.
shelly
She is so stinking cute (especially running)!!
Lori
Although I always thought I wanted a girl, God knew what he was doing when he gave me two boys. My pregnancies were awesome. I think I was made to deliver babies (wide hips!). Cannot imagine what I would have spent on girls’ clothes!!!
I am a CPA and could not keep a budget to save my life. Thank goodness for my husband who keeps me in line. I really love shopping. My Lenten sacrifice this year was no shopping for myself.
My Summer will involve following my baby 15 year old around to his baseball tourneys. Now that I only have my youngest at home, I’m getting sentimental.
Anne
Such fun pictures!!
I need to work on budgeting – I like to spend :)
Random question… Brooke seems to be the best gift you could ever have, but do you have any idea why you got pregnant on birth control?
Bethany
We are expecting our first little one in April ( so close) and I love this! I actually ordered two pair of maternity pants from ThredUp and my total was only $15. Yay!
Angie N
My kids are grown, so I remember more about my grandkids’ birth! The latest was born on Christmas Day at 7:30 am. My daughter woke her other 4 kids up at 5:00 am so she could see them open their gifts before she had to go to the hospital. I’m sure that’s a first! Love your blog!
Kristen
I had a super high risk pregnancy and spent 3 months on strict bedrest (one of them in the hospital). It was hard but so worth it! My Girlie is my best girlfriend (don’t get me wrong, I’m totally the mama and we have Rules ’round here!) and one of my absolute favorite people to spend time with. She’s my miracle baby and will be my one and only kiddo.
Julie
Loved your story. Mine was very similar. My periods were never regular either so having missed one was def not a “sign” for me. However, when my boobs started to hurt like crazy, I was like, “This is not normal!” :P I had no idea it was a sign of pregnancy though until my sister-in-law mentioned it. I took a home pregnancy test on the sly & actually kept the results secret (even from my hubby!) until I could go to the dr. to have it verified the next day. No idea why I did that… I guess I was shocked (we weren’t trying either), but like you, I was also thrilled & had been wanting a baby for a long time. It was a cool little secret I held for 24 hrs. I remember my husband & I went out that night, & he was kind of annoyed that I wasn’t drinking w/ him. ;) I told him I thought I was coming down w/ a cold. The next night after getting it verified w/ the dr. I made him a special dinner of Baby back ribs, Baby snow peas, & Baby carrots w/ a glass of milk, of course! No, he didn’t get it… ;)
Melissa @ See Dav Run
Speaking of summer…I ordered like, five pairs of J. Crew shorts from ThredUp last week. They are my serious go-to. I can’t wait for shorts weather! Being bundled up every time I take the dog out is getting really old.
ashlee
I use ThredUp mostly for getting rid of items I can’t sell or get rid of. It’s a little money back and they donate what they don’t sell. There’s also Poshmark. A friend turned me onto them a few years ago and I’ve gotten a lot from it! You can sell and buy gently used and brand new items also, and negotiate prices. Brand new Sauconys for $40!! It’s a nice way to get rid of clothing too and make a little cash on the side.
Paula
I use ThredUp. The costumer service is awesome! I can’t say enough positive things about it! Emails are quickly and professionally answered. Any problems I’ve had were resolved within a day or two. I’ve returned items twice items and never had a problem. Over time, they have increased in price on some items, or at least my favorites (Lululemon to name one), but you can still find very good deals. I even found a steal on a pair of Hunter boots and sandals. They do offer discount codes, but it seems like those are coming less. You can also earn free shipping either through one single purchase or eventually if you spend so much over time you can earn it, at least for a limited time. The items are packaged well and never have some funky smell. I should state, I’ve only ever purchased from the site both through the website and through their app. I’ve also used purchased from Poshmark and Tradesy.