Deals, Steals, and Splurges

I wanted to share some of the great finds of this winter. There are always super sales and clearances after Christmas (though some of these were found before)... most of which I hide myself from for financial reasons. Shopping can too easily become a feel-good-quick-solution to the winter blues, so here I tread lightly. It's difficult for me not to get super worked up about a deal, so bear with me!

This "deal" recently came to my attention through a blog I follow, Natalie Creates. I was so super excited...new kitchen towels and pretty smelling soap? What more could a girl ask for? The deal was this: you order $20 in supplies from ePantry and receive a Mrs. Meyers cleaning kit for free. Mrs. Meyers hand soap is a luxury in our home that we use solely for "company", but I regularly use Mrs. Meyers all purpose cleaner for scrubbing the floor and diluting in a spray bottle to clean the toilet and other quick clean-ups. What I got:

Casabella 4 gallon storage caddy: $8.39
Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Cleaner: $7.99
Mrs. Meyers Dish Soap: $3.99
2 Mrs. Meyers hand soaps: $3.99 each, total $7.98
Tom's of Maine Botanically Bright Fluoride-free(!) Toothpaste: $5.99
Tom's of Maine children's fluoride-free toothpaste: $3.99
Grove Collaborative kitchen towels-2 pack: $15.95
Grove walnut and cellulose scrubber sponges: $5.50

With free shipping, the total I spent was $22.66 for $59.78 in products. That's $37.12 in free stuff! Woohoo! Unfortunately I got in on the tail end of this deal and it has since ended.

As cold as I've been this winter my slippers were wearing out, with literally a toe sticking out, and after watching Eli enjoy the fur-lined moccasin slippers I gave him for Christmas I decided my feet would benefit greatly with a pair. I found these Sueded Sherpa-Trim Moccasin slippers from Old Navy. Regularly $19.94, they are on clearance for $12.00. A 30% off code at the checkout reduced their price to $8.40. And my feet couldn't be happier.

This find made me jump like a little girl. (Did I just say that?) If you're an Austen fan and/or a book collector, this beautiful illustrated boxed set is a must-have. After saying that, this was both a deal and a splurge. It's available from Amazon here. Regularly $99.00, it's a steal at $40.00. And it includes Lady Susan.

We have a couple aspiring artists in our home, and I was hunting high and low for reasonably priced art supply kits for Christmas gifts. This one I had saved to an Amazon wish list, so was notified when it dropped from it's current price of $36.99 (with a list price of $49.99) down to $14.00. I snapped it up before the price went back up again for gifting sometime down the road. That is, if I remember I have it stashed! Aidan's art kit is identical, but the case is stained a darker wood color.

I get notified from Brad's Deals when certain companies are having crazy sales. After Christmas I found a king-sized microfiber comforter and a new polo shirt for Eli that's not black for $35.21 after tax and with free shipping. There is no way that particular comforter sells for $160.00 ("list prices" are usually wildly exaggerated in my opinion). It barely holds a candle to our current Woolrich microfiber duck-down comforter that is unfortunately nearing a decade old, but the new comforter will be a lighter alternative for the summer months and may help extend the life of the original.

This 15 inch St. Francis of Assisi bird feeder statue was a thrift store find for $9.99. I'm excited for him to grace a flower bed when the weather turns warmer.

This work lamp was a splurge, and bought with Christmas money, but will allow me to continue painting after the sun sets. The previous lighting situation was not conducive to neat work. Walmart, $24.98.

These aqua glass knobs and satin nickel drawer pulls are an attempt to complete a project. Amazon, $23.37 for all seven pieces.

Two years ago I found a nice used computer desk for $35, sans hardware, that has been hanging out in the garage ever since. It will take the place of the student-sized desk we've always used. The plan is to bring it inside, paint it black, and add the hardware this winter yet. (Say a prayer for me.) With the hardware here there's only my procrastination in the way. And apparently a couple gas cans, a ladder, a stroller, a bunch of bittersweet, and a table full of garage sale things. Oofda.

Aidan has been asking for roller skates for quite a while. New skates were not in our Christmas budget, however. Amazingly I found these not quite skates at a thrift store for $4.00....and they're exactly the right size! Apparently they no longer make them because I can't find them anywhere online. They should get him through this phase, at least.

Aidan was also in need of a new pair of shoes. Same thrift store, perfect-size Nikes in great condition: $4.00.

Again, same thrift store: a Columbia coat in Gavin's favorite color, the next size up: $7.00. I just hope the zipper life is longer than other Columbia coats we've had.

I found these statues of St. Joseph at the 11th hour (about 3 minutes before the doors closed, to be exact) at a flea market last year, both for $2.00. One is about 10 inches tall, the other about 6 inches.

I also found this Sick Call Crucifix set for $7.00 from the same vendor. Quite a deal considering I walked through the doors with only $10. Sick Call Sets are not very common anymore, but are an important sacramental for Catholics to have in their home. The front slides off, which sets into the base so it becomes a stand-up Crucifix, with the base holding candles, a holy water bottle, and cotton balls or a little piece of linen. It can be used as a little altar and aids a priest when he is summoned for a "sick call" or to administer the Last Rites. We had a Sick Call Crucifix already on our living room wall; this one went into our bedroom.

Update: An unplanned trip "to town" to replace a broken pair of glasses resulted in an unplanned trip to the thrift store in search of more big boys shoes because of unending growth spurts. I came across this gorgeous Last Supper in excellent condition, that looks so much like one my grandparents had. It's about 17"x30" in size. Some day I'll have the perfect dining room wall the hang it on! Thrift store, $25.00.

And because of the new stuff Christmas added to our already over-stuffed home, and because of the deals I've found, I am working on a post all about the purging I'm doing to compensate for this! I feel another garage sale in my future....