Your American Dream

What does the AMERICAN DREAM mean to you? Tell us and you have a chance to win $100 IKEA gift card!

I am very proud and excited to partner with Ikea and serve as one of their Brand Ambassadors!

The American dream…what exactly does that mean these days? It used to mean getting married, moving to the suburbs, buying a car, buying a house with white picket fence, having 2.5 children and so on and so forth. However, today that one-size fits all American dream has changed. My dream may not be your dream, and your dream may not be my dream – and that is 100% ok!

There are many amazing things about living in this country. I couldn’t possibly list them all! One of the best things is freedom of choice. This freedom allows us live our lives in the manner which represents us as an individual and determine what our American dream may be. However, after the recession of 2008, people started feeling that it is harder and harder to make their American dream a reality. Americans are finding that as the cost of living continually increases, the increased fear of retirement not becoming a reality and the fact that a college education doesn’t guarantee a comfortable living – changing the definition of a common American dream is not only a freedom, but a necessity.

According to an Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report sponsored by IKEA US, this “white picket fence” American dream which focuses on material possessions, has now transitioned into the dream of living life on one’s own terms. It is more about the quality of life experiences, the quality of life in general and spending time with family and friends.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with IKEA and learn about their new initiative to help everyone, in every home, get one step closer to their own American dream. At IKEA, I love that they focus on “all homes are created equal”. They are committed to producing well designed, quality, functional and affordable home furnishing that speak to the individuals wants, needs and wallet size. In addition, they are all about sustainability! I love that! Living more sustainably doesn’t have to cost a lot more money or take more than a little bit of effort! IKEA is committed to make living sustainably achievable for everyone!

While the cookie cutter American Dream has changed, the desire to have a home that you love and can live in happily with your family and friends, will never go away. IKEA is determined to continue providing products and services that can help make whatever your American Dream is your reality.

What is YOUR American dream? Share your American dream in the comments below and you could win one of two $100 IKEA gift cards (courtesy of IKEA) to put towards making your American dream a reality! (no purchase necessary. Must be a resident of the United States. Comments must be made by 10/21/16)

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from Princess Pinky Girl via email. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

This sweepstakes runs until 10/21/16.

Take a look at some of the inspiring ideas that IKEA has shared with us on creating a more efficient and sustainable home (see the whole SUSTAINABILITY GUIDE HERE):

When you are due for a new cook top, consider an induction cook top. It saves time and money with quicker boiling times

Keep drinking water chilled in the fridge – reduce the need to wait for cold tap water from a running faucet

Make sorting and recycling easy by providing easily accessible stations around the house

Plant an indoor herb garden – pick it when you need it means less waste and save money!

Use LED lightbulbs – they can last 25 times longer and uses 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs

Rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 500 times!

Disclosure – I am a Brand Ambassador for IKEA U.S. This is a sponsored post. IKEA is a registered trademark of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. and is used with permission. The views, ideas and opinions expressed here are my own.