VLOG: IKEA Big Girl Room Reveal- $500 IKEA GIVEAWAY!

IKEA is my home away from home! ;)

A while back, through twitter, Jennifer of IKEA Pittsburgh

and I started talking about doing some sort of collaboration!

I met her one day and we chatted about doing a

room makeover for the girls' shared room..

and of course I wanted to get my readers

in on the IKEA goodness...

(GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!)

They are offering one of you a $500 shopping

spree to design your very own Kid's room!

This Giveaway is Sponsored by the IKEAPittsburgh Location.

If you are driving distance you can come on over and shop..

otherwise you can shop online and have everything shipped!

If you are lucky enough to be close by.. you get to meet with one of

their design experts to have them help you plan out your space.

I loved working with Larry on my girls' room!

Another thing I loved....

the Pick up and Delivery Service!

I was able to shop with the girls and pick out the accessories and small items..

then give them the list of the big stuff and they took care of it!

They arrived at my house the next morning. Awesome right?

(perfect service for mamas shopping solo with kids!)

Then the husband and I put everything together..

painted..and decorated the room!

Here's a look at our shopping trip..enjoy the video!

Maybe you'll spot something you'll want to get with your $500 ;)

Enter the Giveaway Below!

So excited to share the girls' shared room!

They absolutely love it.. it's their little hang out. :)

I wanted it to feel extra special for them with baby #3 on the way..

Sienna's favorite thing to do is re-arrange the books on the shelf..

Sophie loves to sit at the desk and draw, then put them on her magnetic board.

My favorite part is the chair..perfect for snuggles or book reading!

Here's a video of the big reveal!

See something you like from the video reveal or photos?!

Here's an Item List of what is in the space!

ROOM ITEM LIST:

Linens- VIEW

Table -VIEW

Little Chairs - VIEW

Mama's Chair - VIEW

Mattress - VIEW

Shelving Unit - VIEW

Bed Frame - VIEW

Wall Lamp over Desk - VIEW

Magnetic Board - VIEW

Pink & White Magnets - VIEW

Picture Ledge used for Books - VIEW

Wall Magazine Rack used for Drawing Paper - VIEW

Curtains - VIEW

Heart Rugs - VIEW

Sheet Set - VIEW

Flower Wall Lamp - VIEW

Shelving Unit Containers - VIEW

Strawberry Toy - VIEW

Matching Story Book - VIEW

Large Frame - VIEW

Medium Frame - VIEW

Small Frame - VIEW

Smaller Frame - VIEW

Wardrobes - VIEW

Pillow - VIEW

PAINT COLORS: Ultra Pure White & Pink Carnation

I have always wanted to do this paint treatment on a wall...

And now I totally have the stripe bug! (already painted 1 wall of vertical stripes in the office/playroom! ;)

TIP: After you tape off your lines.. paint over the area with the base color...

and thennnn the stripe color. Leaves your lines perfectly crisp!

 

(GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!)

HOW TO ENTER:

GOOD LUCK! 

YOU CAN ENTER UP TO 6 TIMES!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment for each entry

(with an e-mail if you don't have a google profile or blog)

1. Follow The Busy Budgeting Mama via Google Connect (top right sidebar)

2. Follow IKEAPittsburgh on Twitter

3. Like The Busy Budgeting Mama on Facebook

4. Follow The Busy Budgeting Mama via Twitter

@thebusybudgetingma

5. Tweet "I want to win a $500 Shopping Spree to @IkeaPittsburgh

on TheBusyBudgetingMama.com! http://bit.ly/S5p2N3 @busybudgetingma"

6. Post about the Giveaway 

(Facebook or Blog.. Just include Link in comment)

This Giveaway is only redeemable at the Pittsburgh Ikea Location.

The Giveaway will end on Friday, September 14th at noon.

A winner will be chosen via random.org

I will announce the winner on my blog the afternoon of September 14th.

The winner will be contacted via e-mail(if left)!

Thank you for entering and good luck!!

Again.. a big thanks to Ikea Pittsburgh for transforming my girls' room..

and offering one of you the chance to win a $500 shopping spree!

Enter away..and good luck!!

I have a 4 yr old! When did this happen?!

When I had sophia....her labor was incredible. I didn't break a sweat. Everything with my doctor's and my body just lined up perfectly! She came so fast. I smiled the whole time..and was kinda sad when it was over! It was seriously...incredible. The whole experience. I couldn't have asked for a better labor and delivery. I also gave chocolate bars packaged all cute to the nurses...

who in turn treated me like I was the queen of sheeba.

And Sophie was such a good baby. (rough sleep patches but overall good) 

I remember thinking how fragile she was!! It's funny how the second baby gets hoisted around so much more confidently. ;) I remember it took 2 of us to change diapers. the photo below just captures that first week of "OH MY GOSH! We have a baby! she is so tiny!!!"

I love these videos

from our old house. :)

Sophia's Dance Moves from Natalie lala on Vimeo.

Singing with Mama from Natalie lala on Vimeo.

We had a birthday breakfast in the playroom....

It was "SO EXCITINGGGGGG!!!!"

Blueberry Muffins with Fruit Salad and Orange Juice.

Macaroni and Cheese was requested for lunch. I can do that. ;)

She is such a beautiful little soul.

A total goof ball and star of her own show.

 

Hope you have a wonderful thursday.

I'm gonna go play dress up with these cuties.

Earlier I got to be..the QWEEN.

o ya. It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it.

Now I just need to teach them to bring me reallll tea and donuts

instead of fakes ones from their play kitchen...hmmmm..

Dollar Store DIY's - Some Party Details

I've realized that I love a challenge..

I feel like whenever I'm planning a party and I go to the dollar store, I'm on one of those design competition shows where they have to create something out

of only the items at a particular store..

my store of choice...the dollar tree.

o yes.

DIY cheapness is there just waiting for you!

This is a 2 and 4 yr old birthday party..not a wedding..

so little cheapo party touches like this work perfect.

CIRCUS TENT ROPE VASE

SUPPLIES:

1 Three pack of White Plastic Cups....Dollar Store

Rope.... (Dollar store has some regular and colored ones..

but I had already grabbed this at Hobby Lobby.)

Leftover Frog Tape

DIRECTIONS:

Hot glue rope to bottom of cup.. keep hot glueing spots and pressing rope to it..once you get a good base going you can wrap more and hot glue less. it's up to you. just make it feel sturdy..and keep pushing the rope down so that it stays close together.

I love the idea of using this rope throughout the party to signify the rope that holds up the circus tent... I also have touches of burlap. the color scheme all together is sooo cute. :)

Going to fill these little diy vases with some cute flowers like hydrangeas or sunflowers..

I have some similar looking rectangular woven baskets that I use in our bathroom shelving

that I'm also going to use to hold flowers. will just put 2 glasses

in their to hold the flowers..they'll be hidden anyways!

CIRCUS GAME

SUPPLIES:

1 Three pack of White Plastic Cups....Dollar Store

Leftover Frog Tape

DIRECTIONS:

Tape off the design you want. Use a box cuter to trip top of cup.

Spray paint. Peel off tape gently and done!

Going to put on cute little school desk I already have that I spray painted pink

and have a basket of yellow bean bags from my husband's bago game.

Sienna is going to LOVE this... today I caught her taking a toy...

saying "3..4..go" and throwing it across the room..

only to go pick it up, go back..and repeat.

this game is right up heir aisle.

Lots of fun details coming together for the girls' party this weekend!

And that oh so exciting post that starts

with IK and ends with EA is coming before the weekend as well..

stay tuned!

Baby Book - Weeks 25 & 27 Bump

Life has been a bit busy..I feel like this 2nd trimster is zooming by compared to

the superrrrrr slowwwww first trimester.

After my next doctor's appointment I start going every 2 weeks instead of 4!

When they told me that I was like...what?! already?!

It's funny how everyone likes to guess what we are having.

Random people will be like....."boy. you're having a boy."

I want to be like "YESSS now I can go buy all the boy stuff!" haha. ;)

People also keep asking what I think it is..

I'm pretty sure it's a baby. and either a boy or a girl. ;)

But seriously...I don't see how it could NOT be a boy..with how different I've felt..

but who knows! we might have another wild sienna on our hands.

her pregnancy was different than sophie.

BLANQI Mama

Did any of you have horribleeeee back pain?

I read that your uterus can be growing and pinching a nerve causing shooting pain if you sit in the same position for a long time..or hit it a certain way.

I've reached the point where if I over exert myself or sit still (so either way I lose haha) I get this intense pain shooting from my right backside down... It is seriously crazy..

I crawled to our bedroom last night because it hurt too much to walk..

my husband thought it was hilarious. and felt kinda bad.. :)

I think painting the entire play room during nap time, grocery shopping by myself with a 2 yr old, and running errands all day had something to do with the pain yesterday.... #nesting

Going to ask the doctor about it next appointment.

I have the usual restless leg pain at night..but that comes and goes.

Ohhhh pregnancy symptoms. Good thing God has this crazy way of making you forget all the pain and suffering you go through before and during childbirth..........haha.

BLANQI Mama

Major nesting going on.
I'm a busy bee kinda person even when not pregnant.
I think it gets amplified a bit when I'm expecting.... :)

I painted the girls' big girl room..... finishing up the details like
curtains and frames and arranging furniture today!
Photos tomorrow..hopefully can post mid week!
This reveal comes with exciting news for one of you!....
::suspense::

I also painted the play room during nap yesterday.
Hoping it doesn't end up like a fish tank....
we wanted something cheery and fresh feeling!
(I'll post about the space soon with paint colors etc..)

Sienna and I took a trip to Ikea yesterday too..
She fell asleep at 9:30 am on the way there....
a few sprinkles from a donut does the trick I suppose. ;)
Sophie went on a day trip with daddy so we had no rush..and had fun just the two of us!
Don't judge my "keep her happy in the cart" strategy.
This girl does anything for a chicken strip. haha.
I ended up getting a frame.. a white billy bookcase for my "office area"
(the other half of the long playroom) and some yellow napkins. :)

Happy sunday everyone!
Check back later this week for an
AWESOMELY EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT.

La-Z-Boy Grand Opening Party- My Favorite Finds

A few weeks ago La-Z-Boy contacted me about a grand

opening party of their new store in my area!

They asked me to host the event but I couldn't commit because

I thought I would be in atlanta still for my brother's wedding.

We ended up coming back a day early and ben and I got a

sitter last minute so we could make the party!

I'm glad it worked out to go.. because it was so fun!

I was really excited to see their new modern pieces...

This definitely isn't your grandfather's recliner store! I was so impressed.

Ben and I had fun.

Snapped a photo on the drive over..

Ben found the most AMAZINGLY comfortable chair.

Seriously. I didn't believe him till I sat down.

If you go to a La-Z-Boy....find this chair!

It wouldn't work in our main living space..but maybe for a boy's nursery.

I could nurse/live in that chair.

Ben also made fun of me and my owl obsession

as I photographed every owl I saw. haha.

Here's some of my favorite pieces that I spotted while walking through the new store.

I have always wanted a sectional for our family room.

I can picture me with a newborn...and sienna and sophie..andd ben..all on that first couch.

Because we know it's going to happen even with a tiny couch. :) #cuddlers.

 

One of the cool things is that they have in-store design experts..

and so many customization options! I like experts..and I like options.

I guess La-Z-Boy is returning to Pittsburgh after 5 years..this was the first of 3 new stores coming to the area. Their whole thing is that the shopping experience is as comfortable as it's famous furniture! I can see that..everyone was friendly and helpful while we looked around.

If you are in the area and want to get in on the grand opening goodness.......

From August 24th -September 17th they are offering a 25 Percent Off Discount!

We are doing a review on a piece from La-Z-Boy.. can't wait to share what we grabbed up!

Any product that has the tag line "Live life comfortably" will fit perfect in our house.

comfy is good. cute and comfy is even better! ;)

Details soon!

 We came home from the party to this.......

I MELTED.

Sophie snuggled sienna to sleep.

Sienna never wants to sleep.

 They gave us chocolate sofas as we left the party!

My kind of sofa.

Their party favor made 2 very happy toddlers the next day.

(And a happy mommy because it worked great as

a "eat everything on your plate because I have a silly surprise for you" bribery.)

They thought it was HILARIOUS.

They were sitting on a sofa....eating a chocolate sofa....

their day couldn't get any more awesome. #lifeofatoddler

Have a great weekend!

POPCORN Recipes & Gift Giving Ideas

I have been hunting down yummy homemade

popcorn recipes for the girls' Vintage Circus Party!

I have 5 or so large glass jars with lids (I put my flour..sugar..etc.. in them)

I'm going to fill them up with a variety of popcorn to choose from..

and use mini yellow popcorn boxes I bought from Oriental Trading.com

Here's a round-up of some yummy Popcorn Recipes for DIY gift giving!

1. Classic Homemade Popcorn via Simply Recipes

2. Pretty Pink Popcorn via erin cooks

3. White Chocolate Popcorn via scissors and spatulas

4. S'mores Popcorn via Nest of Posies

5. Snickers Popcorn via Six Sisters' Stuff

6. Herbed Garlic Parmesan Popcorn via Our Best Bites

7. Chocolate & Peanut Butter Popcorn via Brown Eyed Baker

8. Chocolate Caramel Popcorn via Not Your Mommas Cookie

Not throwing a circus party?? That's ok!

There are plenty of occasions to gift popcorn..

I worked up a few designs for inspiration!

I'm adding a new listing to my printables shop...POPCORN gift tags!

Choose your occasion..your colors..

add a personalized tag (love, _____) if you want..

and you have your own printable for your gift giving!