Brotherly Lovin'

Tonight I was fixing dinner and the boys were in their room playing together. Whitman would read his book to Waylon and show him the pictures and Waylon was looking up at him in awe of his big brother.  I was amazed at the intense amount of joy this simple show of love and enjoyment brought to my heart.  Then I began to realize that things won't always be this blissful.  As they grow up they are going to have their disagreements and fights, like all siblings do.  I realized how much the thought of this broke my heart.  

I then began to ponder my childhood and how it must have hurt my parents when we bickered and fought.  I guess I never realized how those moments must have hurt their heart too.  (Sorry mom and dad for hurting you.) It hit me that parents want their kids to enjoy each other.  Not just because they want well behaved children or for them to just stop trying to kill each other, but because it brings a super intense amount of joy to their hearts when siblings just love on each other. Also, nothing grieves their heart more than when their beloved children are fighting and trying to hurt one another.  In my head I've known this, but it wasn't until I saw my own boys playing together that I felt it. Feeling this is a whole different experience.

Since becoming a mother two and a half years ago I have learned a lot about how crazy Good is about His children.  I love my boys like crazy...like I could never imagine before I had them.  I'm not perfect (just ask Josh) so my love for them, while immense, is not perfect, but Gods love is perfect. To just imagine that God loves me more than I will every love my sons is overwhelming at times.  Tonight I glimpsed the sorrow it must bring Him when His children are not loving on one another, and the incredible joy He must feel when we do love each other as He would have us love.  Tonight I was challenged to continually bring my heavenly Father joy by loving my spiritual brothers and sisters in deed and truth.  And to be more intentional about loving my own brothers to bring my mom and dad more joy too! 

John 13:35

By this will all men know that your are my disciples, by your love for one another.

Razors

One thing I hate paying big bucks for is razors (can I get an amen)!  However, my husband and I both have sensitive skin and we need good razors or we break out.  When I started couponing I was excited about the possibilities of cheap razors, but even with coupons I still haven't found an abundance of great deals on high end razors. 

First, what is a good price?  Well, it just depends on what razor you buy.  For me, I look for at least four and preferably five blades and most of these are non-disposable.  Many times you can get the razor for a good price and then they stick it to you when you go to buy the refill cartridges.  However, if i can find a good blade for less than $2 I consider that a pretty good price.  Again, i realize you can buy razors cheaper, but most highend blades are about $3 or more.  Now, I'm even willing to pay two dollars for a whole razor and never buy the refills because some of the time that is what's cheaper.

This week at Walgreen's I got a decent price on some really nice razors and refill cartridges.  Hang on because there are about four levels of discounts to get your final price. 

**side note** What makes this a good deal for me is because I shop at Walgreen's every week and use their rewards system.  If you don't, then this is not a great deal for you.

Buy one Schick Hydro 5 groomer

But one Hydro 5 4ct cartridge refill

Together these are normally priced at $29! Yikes!

This week they are 25%off making them $10.49 & $11.24 each. So that brings us down to about $22.

At Walgreen's when you buy two you get 5000 points... Or $5.  Now we are at $17.

Right now at coupons.com there is a printable coupon for $7 off a groomer and refill cartridge.  Now we are down to $10! 

And finally to get it below the $2 each... Right now at Walgreen's you get 50 points for every dollar you spend in the beauty department when you scan the coupon in their weekly ad.  You get 1050 points for this purchase.

  Bringing your total to about $9 for five razor blades plus this razor has a nice trimmer on the end! You have to work a little bit for it, but I think this is a pretty good deal!

It will be about $16 out of pocket with tax and you'll have your 6050 points for next time.

Saturday Morning Krogering

Last week I didn't have a ton of interesting things on my Saturday trip, so I didn't do a post.  I did find some managers special bread items that I stocked up on and put in the freezer, but that was about it. 

This week I did have a couple really good/easy deals.  There is a downloadable coupon for 75¢ off Colgate toothpaste and toothbrush.  Pair this with the 10 for $10 toothbrush and toothpaste and you get them for a quarter each!  You can do it up to five times in a transaction.  Once you use it, the coupon will come off your card, so be sure to get five!  I was able to get the paste but they were sold out of the $1 brushes today.  The other deal I was excited about was with Red Baron Pizza.  These are on sale for $3.33 each and there a printable coupon or you can download one to you card for $1 off two making them $2.83!  My oldest loves these so this made me happy!

My Kroger right now has Cheerios Protein Cereal for $1/box.  There were coupons from the paper about three weeks so for $1 off one making them free! I'm glad I kept them!

Another thing I got today to help save some money was a $200 Home Depot gift card.  Right now you get 4x fuel points on gift cards.  Since the hubby is getting ready for a kitchen remodel, we will be spending this much and more at Home Depot anyway.   This will get us $1\gallon off on gas when paired with the 25¢ off from our Kroger credit card! 

Other great deals I got were some 69¢ Hawaiian dinner rolls, chicken breast cut into tenders for $1.99, and half gallons of milk for 99¢!  I also picked up some 99¢ raspberries (they were delicious) and had a Kroger coupon for a free dozen eggs!

Manager's Specials

I headed to the grocery store again early Saturday morning in hopes of finding some great manager special deals. Since the mega-sale is still going on its basically the same stuff as last week that's on sale and mostly toiletries.  I was not disappointed!  As I was walking past the deli this worker stopped me and told me she was putting out samples and to take whatever I wanted of this cart for free, and not to be shy about it.  Here's some of what I grabbed... And there was still a lot more left!

There were a bunch of meat and cheese trays, veggie trays, and yogurts with fruit.  I grabbed three of the trays and several yogurts (which made a great breakfast).  I'm going to put one of the meat and cheese trays in the freezer and take the other two to church tomorrow!  The early bird got the worm this time!

I also got 90¢ half gallon milk that went into the freezer!

A Gillette razor for $1.99 after digital coupon!

And since I needed a few disposable diapers I decided to get the Pampers that were $7.99 when you buy 5 things and then had coupons for $2 off the diapers and a coupon for free wipes when you buy a pack of diapers.  So about $6 for a package of diapers and wipes!  Not the best diaper deal but better than full price!

Pay Back

My friend's son is having his second birthday party this afternoon and it's officially time for some sweet revenge.  At Christmas we purchased some books and a small helicopter toy for him, because we were considerate.  What was Whitman given, you ask?  A TOY DRUM SET THAT PLAYS DIFFERENT PITCHES OF CATS SOUNDS!  Sorry, that type of treason cannot go unpunished.  Josh and I scoured Amazon for the loudest and must annoying toys we could find to bestow upon him for his birthday.  Here's what we found.

I don't get mad, I get even!  Happy birthday Aidan!

Walgreens Steal

So this has got to be my favorite  couponing trip thus far...  After register rewards and points I actually made about $0.20 and only had about $2.50 out of pocket!  Here's how I did it!

First Transaction I bought...

4- Revlon eye shadows $2.99 each BOGO 50% off
1- Got2b hair spray $3.99 get $1 register reward
2- Crest 3D White toothpaste or toothbrush 2 for $6 get $4 register reward

Coupons:
4- $2 off one Revlon eye makeup printable coupon
Clip the $1 off Revlon eye makeup coupon to your Walgreen's card (takes it off each one)
1- $2.50 off one Got2b hairspray from newspaper
2- 75¢ off crest toothbrush and toothpaste
Plus I used a $3 register reward I already had.
I paid $1.89 out of pocket and got a $4 and $1 register reward back.

Second transaction I bought...

1-Crystal light lemonade for $3 get one $3 RR
1- Got2b hairspray for $3.99 get $1 RR

Coupons used...
$4 RR from previous transaction
$2.50 off hairspray from newspaper

Paid $.73 out of pocket and got a $3 and $1RR back...

I paid $2.62 out of pocket got $2 more in RR than what I started with and earned 800 points between both transactions on the beauty products. Which means I came out with 18¢ and all these things!  Wow!

Weekly Kroger Trip

Here's the loot from my weekly Kroger trip minus the two gallons of milk that's in the frig!  This mega sale has a few pretty sweet deals!  Most of the best deals are on toiletries, so I stocked up!  I didn't buy many groceries this week because we just didn't need much.  The total came to $72 with $87 in savings... I'm actually a little disappointed in this because when I got home and looked at my receipt I saw that there was at least one $3 coupon that my cashier must have past over and there were some things that were all sold out that I couldn't get.  Overall though this is not too shabby! Here's a closer look at some of my favorite deals!

Gillette shave gel was $2.29 for a double pack and I had a coupon for $1 off, making it $1.29 for two bottles of shaving gel or 65¢ each!

These eye shadows were $1.54 each and I had a coupon for $3 off of 2. Making them 4¢each! Wow!  I also found some Cover Girl mascara on mangers special for $2.30 and I had a$1 off... Regular price was $9.69.

These pantene shampoo and conditioners are $2.69 each and there was a printable coupon for 4 off of two. Making them 69¢each plus free dry shampoo that came with them!

A couple other super easy deals that required only digital Kroger coupons were noxzema face wash that was $1.99 with the mega sale and then a digital coupon for $1.25 off. Making it about 75¢.  And Dove shampoo that was $2.17 with mega sale and digital coupon for $1.25. Making it about 90¢!