$3.50 off $10.00 purchase at Ulta

Use this coupon to get $3.50 off a $10.00 purchase both in stores and online. When purchasing online use code: 75983. They have many items in their sale section for under $2.00.  I found eye pencils, nail polish, ponytail holders and more.  

Master Cleanse Day 4 and Day 5

Master Cleanse - Days 4 and 5

Day 4

This was a hard day for me. The sight of food and food smells really got to me mentally. I actually started to doubt if I could do this the full 10 days. To compound that I was hungry within an hour of drinking the lemonade. I was hungry pretty much all day. I was cold even though I had the heater set on 73 degrees, had on a thermal top, sweater and thick socks. I just was generally miserable today.

On a positive note I am able to get the whole salt water flush down without much difficulty. It helps not to think about it much and just drink it like it's part of the morning routine. I've discovered I can get to any one of the bathrooms in my house in 3.1 seconds. My skin has gotten a little oily and the white tongue is still with me. You're supposed to cleanse until your tongue turns a healthy pink again. We'll see about that...

Weight today: 132.8

Day 5

Another tough day. I am really happy to have reached the halfway point and I feel like quitting now would be a personal disappointment. I also have had a migraine headache all day which is taking a toll on me. I feel like my body is working internally to detox and so I'm a little fatigued today. Luckily I can just take it easy here at home. 

My skin is oily still and I'm sneezing a lot. Apparently that's normal as you detox. I'm determined to finish. Those are the only symptoms I'm noticing right now.  I'm happy to say I've lost 6 pounds.  

I'm thinking ahead to when I'm done and I really would like to change my eating habits.  After going through this to eliminate toxins I would like to commit to eating more fruits and vegetables and lean meats.  I didn't eat terribly but there is room for improvement.  I've been searching for new healthy recipes to cook for the family when I start eating solid foods again.

Weight today: 132.0

Free membership to Savings Angel

Now through March 15 you can get a free two week membership at Savings Angel.  Just use the code for readers of the Sensational Saver: BFB2788.   

If you are serious about couponing you need to check out Savings Angel.  I use it to do all of my coupon match-ups.  It provides a coupon match-up by store for pretty much everything in your store's weekly circular.  It's awesome.  You can also search by product if you run out of something and want to find the best deal on it.

The Love Dare - Day 25

I'm embarking on a 40 day journey called The Love Dare. Based on the book "The Love Dare" by Alex Kendrick. The book is based on biblical and Christian principles and takes you through 40 daily dares. The dares are done without your husband or wife's knowledge, they aren't to know you are doing this. These dares challenge you personally to take some action daily to improve your marriage. You can view all posts in this series here.

Link to Day 25

Love forgives

Dare

If there is anything you have not yet forgiven your spouse for do it.  Forgive.

Follow-up comments

There is one thing I have not yet forgiven my spouse for.  I'm not sure I am ready to forgive it because it's an issue in our lives that is still unresolved.  It's an ongoing issue that there is no closure for yet.  I know that building resentment is harmful to our relationship and to my health.  The best I can do is forgive him for his actions up to today and address future events as they arise.

How did you do today?

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.

Free Grapefruit Knife

You can get a free grapefruit knife when you buy a 3-pound bag of Florida grapefruit or a 54 oz. bottle of Florida grapefruit juice.  You can print the form here.  While there download and print a coupon for $1.00 off. 

Free Sample Quaker Oatmeal Squares

Head to Quaker on facebook.  Like them then click on the Free Sample tab to get a free sample of Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal.  This cereal looks good!

Master Cleanse Day 2 and 3

Day 2

Last night I steeped the Smooth Move tea for just 2 minutes to see if that would cut down on the cramping I had last night. It worked. I felt a little cramp this morning but nothing like before.

This morning I was dreading the salt water flush. I kept telling myself "It's just soup". That seemed to work better today because I was able to get about 3/4 of it down. Then I waited. I knew I was supposed to really need "to go". Nothing happened. My tummy was really gurgly all day but other than that nothing.

My body seems to be getting used to the Cayenne Pepper pills because I'm having far less heartburn now when I take them. That's great news because that was almost worse than the salt water flush. As for the lemonade, well I like it. I find it refreshing and look forward to drinking it. I've been a little hungry all day but not like I was expecting. Today's weight: 133.8

Day 3

I steeped my tea for two minutes again since that seemed to be just right for me to handle. I drank ALL of the salt water flush today. I am pretty proud of that actually. After about 45 minutes "IT" happened. Not that I'd been really looking forward to it, just expecting it. I mean this IS a cleanse. I won't bore you with any gory details other than to say everything seems to working as it is supposed to.

Something new today. I have the white tongue that you are supposed to get as you detox. Weird. It's hard to brush off and although I hate to put anything other than the lemonade and tea into my body right now I WILL be carrying mint gum when I go out. No reason to make others suffer my bad breath!

I'm having almost no heartburn now as my body adjusts to taking Cayenne Pepper on a regular basis. I get cold.  Apparently that happens as your metabolism slows down.  I also get REALLY hungry when it's time to have my lemonade, which is about every 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Today's weight: 132.2

My Master Cleanse - Day 1

My first day on the Master Cleanse was CHALLENGING.

I drank the smooth move tea about 11:00pm the evening before my scheduled start and went to bed at midnight. At 3:00am I woke up with cramps. I was able to get back to sleep fitfully between dreams of using the bathroom until 5:00am when the cramps were too bad for me to sleep any longer. I got up and immediately the pain got so intense I had to sit down and put my head down because I thought I was going to pass out. Luckily I didn't but then it began. A half hour in the bathroom. Enough said.

I went back to sleep for another hour or so. Woke up and prepared my salt water flush. I tried to think of it as broth, even drinking it out of soup mug. It helped a little. I was able to get about 1/2 of the 32 oz. down before I started to gag. I figured that was enough for one day. About an hour later it took effect and I was back in the bathroom. That was it for the day though.

Next I could have the lemonade. I was pleasantly surprised it was tasty! Yay. Finally something good. I took 1 500mg capsule of Cayenne Pepper with it. About 20 minutes later, another surprise. Heartburn. I hadn't expected that. It was really bad for about an hour. It happens every time with the Cayenne. I think that's worse than the salt water flush. I read on another site I was taking too much. It said the dose should be 500mg total for 2 glasses so I cut back to half a capsule with every drink. It doesn't take the hearburn away but it doesn't last as long either. I'm good with that.

My starting weight at the start of the Ease-In was 137.4. It was 135.2 on Day 1. I lost 2 pounds even before my official start day. I feel good though. I am just a little hungry and have good energy. I think I can do this!

If you are interested in the Master Cleanse here are a couple of websites you can check out; themastercleanse.org and themastercleanse.com

Next: Day 2

Rite Aid Deals 3/4/12

Rite Aid has a boatload of coupons in their circular this week making for some  good deals.  Here's what I was able to pick up today.

 

Softlips 1ct. $1.99

$3.00 +UP wyb 2
use $3.00/1 with ad coupon

Final Cost:   $2.02 money maker!

Kushyfoot Socks, Tights or Fast Flats
$3.00/1 with ad coupon
I found some nice organic socks for $4.29
Final Cost:$1.29

$6.29 Playtex toddler no-spill sippy cups
$4.00/1 with ad coupon
$2.00/1 Product Sign up for e-mails, coupon will come within 24 hours.
Final Cost: $.29 

$5.29 Sally Hansen Eye Lash Curler (Nail Clippers $3.99-$4.29)
$3.00/1 with ad coupon
$2 off $4 Beauty Tool Purchase All You Magazine (March)

Final Cost: Free to $1.29

$2.49 Aqua Net Hairspray
$2.00/1 with ad coupon
Final Cost: $.49

$4.79 Revlon Nail Enamel
$3.00/1 with ad coupon
Final Cost: $1.79

Kroger Deal of the Day

The Kroger Deal of the Day is $1.00 Yoplait 32 oz. tub of yogurt.  This is on sale this week for $1.99 so the coupon makes it just $.99.

The Love Dare - Day 24

I'm embarking on a 40 day journey called The Love Dare. Based on the book "The Love Dare" by Alex Kendrick. The book is based on biblical and Christian principles and takes you through 40 daily dares. The dares are done without your husband or wife's knowledge, they aren't to know you are doing this. These dares challenge you personally to take some action daily to improve your marriage. You can view all posts in this series here.

Link to Day 24

Love versus Lust

Dare

Remove every object of lust in your life and remove it.

Follow-up comments

The only thing I could think of when I considered today's dare is some of the reality television programs I watch.  There are a couple that are just trash but I get sucked into watching them when I see they're on.  I've decided to just quit watching them cold turkey.  They have no redeeming value.  They glamorize very bad behavior.  They are a time-killer.  Time that I could devote to my husband, children and home.  Done.

How did you do today?

My Master Cleanse

I really need to get back in shape before swimsuit season. I dare not put a swimsuit back on until I've lost a few lbs and lifted a few weights. I decided to kick start my diet and exercise program with a Master Cleanse.  Have you heard of it?

It's a bit controversial even though it's been around for 50 years.  It's meant to cleanse your body of built-up toxins but with the bonus side effect of weight loss.   People lose on average about 10 pounds on a ten day cleanse.  Of course some of that is water weight that will be put back on pretty quickly but since I'm going to follow that up with a 60-day diet and exercise plan I feel like it's a great way to get started.

Some people choose to 3-day ease-in to the Master Cleanse which is what I did.  On Day 1 you eat just fruits and vegetables. On Day 2 you eat smoothies, juices and broths.  On Day 3 you drink just organic orange juice.  I chose to do the ease-in since I've had no experience doing a cleanse before and I didn't want to shock my mind or body by jumping right into a cleanse.  The first 2 days were rough on me because I wasn't used to such a drastic diet change.  By Day 3 though I felt pretty good and really felt ready to start Day 1 of the Master Cleanse.

Regardless if you do the 3 day ease-in you will need to drink a glass of Smooth Move tea the night before you start the Master Cleanse.  This is available in the health food section of most grocery stores and at stores like Whole Foods or Trader Joes as are all the ingredients for the lemonade.

In the morning of the first day of the Master Cleanse you drink 32 oz. of salt water with 2 teaspoons of sea salt added.  Then wait.  The Smooth Move tea loosens and the salt water flushes.  Be forewarned you will need to be close to a bathroom.

After the salt water flush and numerous trips to the bathroom you then can have your Master Cleanse lemonade.  Here is the recipe:

Master Cleanse Recipe

2 Tablespoons of organic lemon or lime juice

2 Tablespoons of grade B organic Maple Syrup

1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper

     You can substitute half a 500mg Cayenne Pepper capsule by mouth if you don't like the spicy lemonade

8-10 oz. filtered, purified water

Mix and drink.  You should have at least half your body weight in ounces of lemonade.  You shouldn't make more than you'll drink in 8 hours because the lemons start to lose their potency and the Cayenne gets spicier.

Each glass has about 200 calories in it, enough that if you drink it every couple of hours you will be able to maintain your energy, although it's recommended that you don't exercise while on the cleanse.

So I officially am starting today.  Tomorrow I'll post a review of how my first day went.  Bottoms up!

Kroger Deal of the Day

The Deal of the Day at Kroger today is $1.00 any size, any variety of Juicy Juice.  The large bottles of Juicy Juice are on sale at Kroger this week for $2.49.  Your final cost after the coupon will be just $1.49.  Visit Kroger to download your coupon now.