VLOG: Smart Grocery Shopping Made Easier + $100 Visa Giveaway from SHOPPERK

I have to admit...I'm still perfecting the art of grocery shopping and meal planning.

And now with another baby in the mix, my time to spend on this task is limited.

I'm always getting bored with the meals I make and am wanting to find new recipes to try.

I usually end up looking through pinterest to see new recipes to try...

and then get distracted by DIY projects before I actually end up

adding those recipe's ingredients to my grocery list and checking for deals.

And don't even get me started on wanting to spend less at the grocery.

I know I'm not alone on that!

I couldn't resist this new company's proposal to be one of the first to have a look at their new App. SHOPPERK is all about making Smart Shopping Easier.

After using the Shopperk App I realized it makes finding recipes easier, with big yummy photos and search options... and offers big savings all in one place by showing you deals from stores in your area...on a bunch of items but also on the actual items on your grocery list from the recipes you chose! genius.

Here's a video I made to give you an idea of how it works!

ignore my dorkyness. Micah makes an appearance for about 3 seconds

before that teething wiggle worm wanted to go play.

I'm curious to see if you would use something like this!

If you are interested put your e-mail in and you'll be one of the first users.

$100 Visa Gift Card
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
The giveaway will end May 7th.
A winner will be chosen via random.org and e-mailed!
Put your e-mail below as an entry! Good luck!

Try ShopPerk for Yourself

                                                                           

Mother's Day Gift Ideas- Something I ordered for my mama + Free Stuff and Discount Codes! (Caroline G. Giveaway!!)

Mother's day is around the corner!

If you want to send me mail with chocolates(I could live off of take 5's)

you can e-mail me for my address.. ;)

I wanted to offer my readers some good deals to gift the special mothers in their life with!

A friend of mine Carrie, Owns an amazing shop called Caroline G.

Her jewelry designs have taken over the blog world.

(I'm wearing one of her pieces in my blog bio photo over there --->

I went to a blog conference this year and saw her stuff EVERYWHERE!

We had been talking about doing a giveaway for a while and

thought this was perfect timing!

She is offering TWO $50 Credits to shop all her jewelry!

She is ALSO offering a 50%OFF CODE
for ALL of her Jewelry!

CODE: busybudgetingmama50 (valid till 5/6/13)
----ENTER GIVEAWAY AT END OF POST-----

Amazing right?! 50 percent off........ Girls, she is hooking us up.

I think it's because she thought I was so sweet when we met at BLISSDOM.

I'm gonna go with that as the reason. ;)

I have a couple of her pieces and might be using the 50 percent off

myself to add to my jewelry collection.

They are classic pieces and well made. Love her statement necklaces.

I get compliments EVERY time I wear them. every single time.

people want to know where I got it. And that makes me fell nice since

I usually get ready quickly and with melt downs going on.........

I also wanted to share Cardstore.com is

offering free shipping right now.

I ordered cards from them for the

special mothers in my life.

Mother's day cards are $2.49 and

Use Code:CCF3425 for the free shipping!

(Their site says Offer is valid 4/25/13 - 5/6/13)

I designed this super easy and fast with kids running around at my feet.

LOVE how they turned out. You can have them ship directly from the site to your person...but I wanted to see them up close and in person so I clicked the option to have them stamped and addressed but sent to me first. The girls loved putting them in the mail box.

and I didn't have to search for stamps.

EASY process.. and I love their whole site's look... so cute!

Hope these give you ideas/motivation to bless your mamas!

And good luck to everyone entering the Caroline G. Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FREE PRINTABLE- Movie Themed Teacher Gift Tag

Most of my popular printables this time of year... are ones for teachers!

I sell a variety in my shop. But I thought it might be fun to offer a FREE one that I just created for a client. She planned a whole week to celebrate the teachers at their

school. It was a Hollywood Theme based off of one of the printables she saw in my shop already. LOVEDD IT! We need to celebrate our teachers more often.

I hope that this post inspires you to do the same at your school.

Even if it's just one of the days!

Here's the flyer we made up to put in all the teachers' boxes:

 Here's my free teacher printable for you!

Please Go make your teachers feel special!

FREE MOVIE THEME TEACHER TAG PRINTABLE-

Winner of a PICTURE PEFECT YEAR

(Ten tags on your printable PDF)

Click the above link to download the full page pdf. Print, cut and attach to a gift.

You could do a movie theatre gift card or a bag of popcorn/candy!

I also offer a customized one...

"Thanks for a PICTURE PERFECT Year! Love, _____"

One of my top teacher themed sellers. I add your text.

I also have a (write in your own name) immediate download version of that one too.

Here are some more of the tags my

client is gifting to her teachers each day!

Pair these tags with STARBURSTS for a cute gift!

Immediate Download - $5

(Ten tags on your printable PDF)

I think a single soda or a cute 6 pack of mini sodas

would be perfect with this tag!

IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD- $5

(Ten tags on your printable PDF)

These would be cute attached to a container or bag of popcorn!

You could make it fancy with white chocolate or

go real crazy by gifting a variety of flavors! ;)

IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD - $5

(Ten tags on your printable PDF)

I did a fun post on yummy popcorn recipes while

I was doing party prep for my girls' Vintage Circus Birthday Party

I originally created all of these for teacher gifts...

but they would be perfect for a Movie themed party,

movie night with friends or an Oscars Party!

My Sister's new line with Target: BUMPED by BLANQI- My Postpartum Miracle Worker!

This is it!!

The post I've been teasing you about for over a month!

Excited to finally share with you the new

BUMPED by BLANQI Line that my sister, Valerie,

and her best friend, Sabina, just launched exclusively at Target.com!

My sister and sabina are the founders of BLANQI and created a maternity support tank...

I loved my BLANQI..wore it all through my pregnancy with Micah.

Even documenting my growing bump in it each week.

But after I had him I always wished I had something similar to my BLANQI to help smooth me out and make me feel pretty! (I'm 5 months postpartum) I was not the only one!

Valerie and Sabina heard our plea and created not only a new maternity cami, but a Postpartum one..at a more affordable option to their original line. only $34.

It's for sale on Target.com. I'm wearing the Black Nursing Cami size S/M in these photos.
I also have the black M/L :) (Pants from Kohl's. Top from H&M. Shoes from Target)

Check out my video review below!

I decided to include the dorky outtakes. for your viewing pleasure. haha.

Visit Target.com to see their line!

So proud of my sister and Sabina.

BUMPED by BLANQI Postpartum Nursing Cami- Black or Ivory $34.99

BUMPED by BLANQI Maternity Support Cami - Black or Ivory $34.99

Couple key things about my BUMPED Cami:

1. It's a soft light material.. very breathable...tight enough to make you feel secure and slim..but not restricting. wicks away sweat.

2. The straps feel invisible! there are two thin soft straps on each side

and they don't dig into your shoulders at all... comfy.

that was one of the first things I noticed. so many times tanks that are made to smooth you out are too restricting especially in the straps and chest area. this one is under the bust for easy nursing so you don't even have to worry about being smooshed there.

3. It helps smooth me out as I work towards losing the baby weight. It is SO easy to give yourself a hard time about your body after you have a baby...having garments that help you feel good about yourself as you work towards your goal is important.

4. I found myself, even as I lost weight from nursing, still wearing baggy big clothes because of some bumps here or there.. but once I put my BUMPED cami

on I felt like I could wear those tighter fitting shirts again!

Like I said in the video, BLANQI asked me to find some great blogging mamas to try out the new line. I rounded up a great group of girls, both maternity and postpartum, and they will be sharing their video reviews every day for the next couple weeks! a couple a day! So you will be able to check out what they think about it..how they wear it.. AND enter their giveaways!

(A BUMPED by BLANQI Cami and Target Gift Card!)

 Lots of baby bumps and postpartum mamas out there...so go check them out.

I'll be linking them up all week on The Busy Budgeting Mama Facebook Page.

Follow me on Instagram if you don't already to see a pop up giveaway...

win one for you and a friend!

Thank you val and sabina for

looking out for us postpartum mamas.

Veritas Designs Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Giveaway

from Veritas Designs is....

Tamara M.

Congratulations and You'll be

getting an e-mail soon to arrange delivery!

Enjoy!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

And just because I know we all love free stuff.......

How does a $100 Visa Gift Card sound?! Stay tuned for that next week...

along with a fun Giveaway with Caroline G. on monday!! eek! so excited.

Her pieces have taken over the blog world. (I'm wearing one of hers in my bio photo.)

ANDDDD.. saturday I'm sharing about my sister's new line with target!

(BUMPED by BLANQI)

Video review and all the fun details tomorrow. :) stop on over!

Spice up your Snacking Ladies!

I'm a nursing mama. I like to snack.

But sometimes our pantry is a little boring.

I can only eat goldfish and animal crackers for so long before I start turning into a toddler.

Sometimes I'll feel brave and see some interesting organic snacks and after pondering in the aisle while wrangling the kids for way too long a period of time.. I buy it..only to realize it tastes like crunchy cardboard. Which only leaves me wishing I could have tested it before I spent money on it. I remember when I was in high school, going to costco with my mom.. and "grocery shopping" but mainly having fun eating the samples and getting rasberry smoothies. Samples are the best!

So when I discovered Goodies Co...It was just what I was wanting!

Subscribers to the Goodies Co. Taster’s Box receive a
monthly box of 5-8 snacks for $7/month. (I can do $7!) 

At Goodies, your opinion matters, and you get rewarded for it!

After you try your snacks, go back to the Goodies website and give a review of your box.

I'm excited for that step..It'll be like doing a fun little survey and getting points for it.

You can redeem the points for rewards and free Taster's Boxes!

*Goodies Co. currently only ships to the continental US.*

Typically, there is a waitlist to get an invitation, however Goodies Co. is

offering a code so you can skip the line and get right in.

Use Code BLOGVIP when requesting your invitation and you'll get your  invite

and Taster's Box right away!

Once you enter the code into the promo page, you will receive 2 emails from Goodies. The first will state you are in line for your invitation, the next will instantly tell you your invitation has arrived. This shows you how you skipped the line!

My kids love getting mail.

Every time the mail comes they ask if something is in there for them..

and I admit that sometimes, we'll get those random coupon packets and instead of going right into the trash we tell them it's for them. haha. genius parenting. I know.

They are going to FLIP when a box full of SNACKS arrives..

seriously.. toddler world officially rocked.

Jump the waiting list and subscribe to a service that

makes it easy and affordable to try new snacks,

or even different flavors of old favorites.

I'm excited to spice up my snacking.

or sweetennnn it up?? yes please. ;)

Are you a snacker? Sweet or Salty?

I was a snacker and had cravings when I was pregnant..

but I think I'm MORE hungry for a snack throughout the day now that I'm nursing.

Any other nursing mamas relate?

I think chasing my kiddos around is part of that too ;)

Thanks to Goodies Co. for sponsoring today's discussion

One of the things I love most about Ben...

One of the things I love most about my husband, Ben, is his passion for ministry.

Ever since I met him I have seen his desire to serve others and tell people about Christ.

Not only with words..but through his actions.

He has given his life to tell people about Christ's love for them.

He is a youth minister...and I think he has one of the most important jobs.

One of the greatest poverties is thinking you are not loved.

So many of our youth don't realize that they have a God that loves them...

that they are worthy of love.

He helps his teens form a relationship with God.. helps them to realize that prayer can be a simple conversation.. that they are capable of starting over to live for Him, taking it one day at a time.

You don't always see fruits from your ministry, but luckily we
have been able to see some amazing things happen over the years.
It's been challenging at times to be a ministry family..but mainly a blessing.

My husband comes from a family full of youth ministers.

His big brother started Dirty Vagabond Ministry.

Each year they run the Pittsburgh Marathon and fundraise for the ministry.

We are ten days away from the race!
Here's a video of Ben's brother bob and it talks about Dirty Vagabond Ministry.
Some of the stories of how this ministry has impacted the teens will blow you away.

Please consider donating to Dirty Vagabond Ministry.

Ben is running the half marathon for them and Like I said, you don't always see fruits from your ministry..but in moments like this, it is so inspiring and encouraging to see the community support you and join together.
I have an amazing readership... I have known this by the sweet comments I get each week...but especially when I wrote about grieving with shannon. You have blessed me in ways I never even thought.... by your prayers and support in e-mails....
by your donations to help shannon's children. I am seriously in awe of you guys.

Thank you for taking the time to watch the video.
It's important to my husband..and it's important to me!
One year we bought a bunch of baseball tickets for them so they could take the kids to a game. My husband always says if he wasn't a youth minister he would be a baseball player for the phillies ;) We have been able to see firsthand the amazing things happening through Dirty Vagabond. Please help their mission with these kids.
All of the money they fundraise goes directly to Dirty Vagabond.

DIY Faux Birch Cement Tube Dessert Stands (My Dessert Table DIY)

This has to be one of my favorite DIY Projects I've done!

From start to finish it was so fun creating these Faux Birch Stands!

I made them out of Cement Tubes... and used them as stands for my dessert table!

I had seen similar items to purchase...but I wanted a grouping and my budget was slim to none..so it was the perfect opportunity to do it myself!

Here's how I MADE them..and at the end of the post see how I USED them!

FAUX BIRCH STANDS SUPPLIES:

Cement Tube (Home Improvement Store)

Wood Glue (Home Improvement Store)

Liquitex Acrylic Gesso Paint (Craft Store)

Brown Acrylic Paint (Craft Store)

Toilet Paper

3 Paper Plates

Cardboard box (I always have some somewhere...

but you can get free ones from your dollar tree!

ask and you shall receive.. most of the time. ;)

Tools:

Little Paint Brush

2 Little Foam Brushs

Box Cutter

Pencil. OR crayon if you have kids and hide all sharp things like me.

STEPS:

--First things first...gather supplies. set up a work space.

--Take your cement tube roll that you awkwardly carried through the home improvement store while pushing a stroller and directing children.

and Figure out the heights of stands you want..I knew I wanted 5 different stands...

so I marked the tube accordingly.

--Get your handy man husband to use his muscled and cut the cement tube (it's a sturdy cardboard?) using the box cutter. make sure no fingers are lost. because a trip to the ER will only delay the fun painting part that is coming up...

and the losing a finger thing. that would be painful too.

--Next you need to create the tops of your stands.

Place your cut cement tube piece onto a piece of cardboard (I used part of a cardboard box I had) and trace with a crayon/pencil whatever

(wow just noticed how nasty that crayon looks below...

nice smoosh of play dough on it. lovely. only the best props for my blog photos. ;)

ANYWAYS.... trace it... then I'm pretty sure I just used the wood glue to attach the lid to the tube. I can't remember! But if that doesn't stick enough use regular glue...hot glue...

just GLUE it.

REPEAT. create all your little stands and if arrange how you think you might use them.. you can always trim them down a bit with the box cutters to get the right heights!

This is one of my favorite parts...

Now you need to get a paper plate..and squirt a little bit of the Acrylic Gesso Paint...

tear up a few shreds of toilet paper.. mix together with your foam brush.

keep adding and mixing till you get the right consistency.

Pretty gross looking and feeling... smoosh it against the sides of the tubing...

You are trying to create knots and texture for your faux birch!

The sloppier the better usually. don't do each knot the same.

Your kids watching you might think you are crazy AND awesome.

Next take another paper plate and squirt some of the Acrylic Gesso.

Paint your stands..and know your brush strokes add to the texture of your faux birch...

so play with that a little when you brush! have fun and cover completely.

**If you want, you could use caulk to fill in the edges around the lid...

or push in more of the paint. I didn't mind the texture!**

Let the white dry.

Next squirt a little of the brown acrylic paint onto a paper plate.

Use the tip of your foam brush to swipe on little brown lines...

At first I was nervous I was going to wreck it completely....but then I started getting the hang of it and it came together! Just take a step back, occasionally, and see what you think! add more or stop and let dry.

I wasn't patient enough to wait for it to dry...

I just was very careful didn't touch the sides while I painted the top.

I used my paper plate with the brown paint on it..and squirted a little of the white acrylic gesso paint and mixed to get the right color.

Then painted the tops of my faux birch stands. Done!

I first created these to add levels to my Dessert Table at my Girls' Storybook Princess Party.

On the map of Once Upon A Time Land, which we sent out in the POP-UP INVITE, I showed a Cookie Forest..so of course We HAD to have the stands be trees!! My girls loved it.

and we all devoured the cookies. (which they loved seeing mounded up at easy access ;)

Then I pulled them out again to add some levels to

my dessert table at our Monster Bash!

It was the perfect touch to our spooky kid friendly Halloween Party.

Would love to see how you use your DIY Faux Birch Stands!

Share withe me on Facebook or

Tag me if you post photos on Instagram @thebusybudgetingmama

My Team.

I am a pretty lucky mama.
I have a whole team of helpers with me at all times of the day.
They are my taste testers.. making sure whatever is on MY plate tastes good...
They're my trainers helping me get in shape...
(especially that 22+ pound chunk of cute baby.)
They are my beauty gurus that help me choose a lipstick by secretly sampling it on their face.

I get to go grocery shopping with a team up product samplers.

Sienna is known to use her teeth to rip into grocery items before I can stop her.

Sometimes she is like a puppy. no I take that back...

a lot of the times she is like a puppy.

They are my personal assistants..helping me choose home decor...

picking up things for me when I have a baby strapped to me and can't bend over...
(never mind they are the reasons WHY the things are on the aisle floor to begin with.)

Needless to say..EVEN with my fantastic team, I have my hands full!
Happily full.

But it makes me happy to see things like Visa's Prepaid Cards....
and their great videos showing you how to easily set them up.
 Visa Prepaid cards can help control your budget, so you have one less thing to worry about while you’re out with your little ones! And with features like direct deposit and safe online shopping, you spend less time organizing your finances
and more time with the people who matter.
I'll take making life easier and convenient anytime. 

I am blogging on behalf of Visa Prepaid and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa’s. Discover more at http://www.VisaPrepaid.com or view more Visa Prepaid videos at http://www.youtube.com/visaprepaid.