Autumn Rose Reo

Easy Guide to Big Savings at Allen Premium Outlets {Giveaway}

August 8, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 93 Comments

Want how to get the most out of your back to school budget? We have your easy guide to big savings at the Allen Premium Outlets.

Thanks to Allen Premium Outlets for the savings and this sponsored post.

Mowing lawns. Babysitting. Doing extra chores.

Growing up, I saved up $100 all summer to buy my back-to-school clothes. Back to school time meant it was your opportunity to create “your style” for the next year.

Things haven’t changed much when it comes to making your mark at school, but that $100 doesn’t go quite as far as it used to and I don’t have the time to know all the ins and outs of savings, either.

But at the Allen Premium Outlets you don’t have to work at saving money because they make it easy! And this weekend aiming to help you make the most of your money for back to school! With this guide to savings at Allen Premium Outlets, you can really make your dollar stretch for the whole family!

1. GO: Texas’ Tax-Free Weekend, August 11-13.

We do it big in Texas and BTS shopping is no different. So Aug. 11-13, 2017, Texas retailers help us celebrate BIG savings during Tax-Free Weekend, a three-day span where sales tax isn’t added to most clothing, backpacks, footwear, supplies, etc. up to $100. That means you can save approximately 8% on every dollar you spend when you buy these items.

And Allen Premium Outlets sweetens the deal with extended hours during tax-free weekend.

Shop to You Drop with Extended Hours for Back to School at Allen Premium Outlets

Friday, August 11 – 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday, August 12 – 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday, August 13 – 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

* Department store hours may vary

2. Get Ready for the Deals.

The sales during Tax-Free Weekend make it pretty sweet to go shopping, especially since you don’t have to do anything but walk in and start shopping.

If possible, if there are a few stores you know you’re going to want to visit, then do a little homework to see the deals on the website. Just walking into Gymboree, we found out that EVERYTHING in the store was under $12.50! When we added their discount with the 25% VIP Club offer (see below, you have to learn about it), my kids went crazy…and I could let them! Plus when we checked out, I signed up for the Gymboree Rewards card to get reward dollars back (we were halfway there already) and received $50 in GymBucks (that’s $50 off a $100 purchase.)

Savings here today: $185.39 (My total would have been $321.29!)

Savings in the future: More than $55!

Savings in total: $240.39!

And check out this deal we found at The Children’s Place. $3.99 TEES!

3. Sign up for your favorite retailers emails.

If you don’t get emails from your favorite stores, you are losing money! I know it’s your email address you don’t want to share, so create another one just for your deals. I have one and that let’s me search easily before I shop to see which retailers have a good deal. For this trip, Gap Factory Store had a great deal on 40% off any purchase. So my husband picked up a few shorts and I picked up a cute shirt. That discount plus being rewarded for using my Gap Credit Card gave me another 10% off. Added together with the savings (and the in-store sale), we only spent $29 for a savings of over $90! (That was too easy, right?)

Don’t miss this deal either if you’re shopping this weekend – August 25.

Buy $150 worth of gift cards from any of the Gap brands, and you’ll get another $30 Simon Gift Card.

4. Be a Simon VIP.

This is an easy one – and best of all it works at all your favorite Simon mall locations. Sign up for the VIP Club for free and BAM – they are coupons already loaded and ready to go! I did this on the spot and was able to get to the coupons immediately to some of my favorites including Polo Ralph Lauren Children’s Factory Store for 20% off $100. All I had to do was show them the coupon and I got the savings.

Want to see how it broke down? It was $43.58 off what I thought I was going to spend that day. That was awesome.

5. Get Your Simon Passport to Savings!

When I arrived at Allen Premium Outlets, I didn’t know why all these people were in line at Customer Relations (in the food court.) But I quickly found out that occasionally I would also get to come pick up my Passport to Savings that included additional offers that were not included in my VIP coupons. There was a whole booklet of deals with several of my planned shopping destinations. And because some of the offers were so good, I actually went to check a few other stores I hadn’t planned (because saving makes me happy.)

Since my husband needed a few things (and so did I), we made a quick stop for the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store. The Passport to Savings had $25 off $200 so we now there we saved another $25!

It had been a while since I headed to Allen Premium Outlets, especially with online shopping being so easy, but with these deals it’s hard to just not want to save money! In total this trip alone I saved almost $250! And there are lots of new things happening at the APO too – I even saw a new Tory Burch store going in and lots of new parking being built!

Plus with all the deals I have already for my next shopping trip in addition to my Passport to Savings, we’ll be back to Allen Premium Outlets soon!

Want to make it more fun to shop?

Win $50 Gift Card to Allen Premium Outlets

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Step up Back to School Shopping with KidsShoes.com

August 2, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 9 Comments

Shoe shopping for the kids low on your to-do list? Step up your shopping game for back to school shoes with KidsShoes.com.

Thank you to KidsShoes.com for a lot of help checking off our back to school list and this sponsored post.

I’ve had the same size shoe for more than 15 years (well except during the last few month’s of my pregnancy with #1 and feet resembled small pigs.) So I wasn’t prepared that every 2-3 months I would be buying new shoes for my kids. And now with two, it’s a never-ending battle to keep them in shoes that fit, that work for school, that don’t hurt their feet and to keep up with them.

I feel like I’m always trying to keep them in a pair of shoes and for my little diva, she doesn’t just want shoes – she wants CUTE ones.

So this back to school season, I was adamant I would find one place to get what I needed for both of them and I wouldn’t spend anytime slaving away in some store, bent over trying on shoes and praying that they would fit, the kids would like them and they would kill my budget.

KidsShoes.com is just the right place to make us all happy when it comes to getting back-to-school shoe shopping done for both of them and with brands / styles they love. (I’d wear those Michael Kors shoes of hers and he loved these KidsShoes.com brand tennis shoes with easy velcro.)

For my daughter we have to find styles that she thinks are stylish (and look like her) but also meet the school requirements (she has to wear tennis shoes for P.E.) These Michael Kors tennis shoes do exactly that with the little bit of edge and bling that make her happy and the soles I need her to be in for school!) SCORE!

Actually the real score came when I found these Sydney Jordyn tennis shoes! These shoes said Taylor Rose with beautiful bling and rose designs all over the shoe so she feels like a superstar! I have to admit these shoes are precious and have laces and rubber soles to make the grade with her campus! Plus she couldn’t have been more excited that the heels were two different colors.

While finding styles my daughter LOVED was easy, it’s staying on top of my son’s shoe size that has grown to be a real pain. Thankfully, KidsShoes.com heard my cries and created an app that allows you to measure your kid’s foot without going to a store or having one of those crazy metal gauges.

Appropriately named “kidsizing,” this free app walks you through a quick, three-step process to get an accurate size of your child’s ever-growing foot. This way you can always accurately size your kids’ feet before your order a pair from KidsShoes.com.

With so many top styles, a free app for sizing, great prices, and easy shipping/returns why would you spend the tireless hours at the shoe store? KidsShoes.com has been our solution for saving time and sanity this back-to-school for looks they’ll love and a shopping experience you’ll love even more.

Get Away with a Weekend Getaway to the Hilton Anatole

July 14, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 58 Comments

ENTER TO WIN A WEEKEND AT THE HILTON ANATOLE

Watch our MAMACHALLENGE LIVE FOR MORE CHANCES TO ENTER.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONTEST RULES:

Contest open to only U.S. citizens, 18 years and older.

Guest room (for a stay Friday – Sunday between now and Labor Day, September 4, 2017) at the Hilton Anatole Dallas.
Complimentary resort fee (includes self-parking, two Starbucks coffees per day in Counter Offer, access to JadeWaters, etc.)
$100 resort credit good toward spa or hotel food and beverage

By entering this contest you also confirm your address to be added to the MamaChallenge.com Newsletter list. If you do not wish to be added to this list, email autumn@mamachallenge.com with the message to remove your address.

Favorite Sunscreens and Bug Sprays to Protect Your Family

July 13, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 12 Comments

School supplies may already be on the shelves, but our hottest temperatures are still yet to come! Protect your family with these must-haves for summer including our best bets for Sunscreens and Bug Sprays.

As featured on Good Morning Texas on 7/13/17.

Who made our list for the best, coolest and most multifunctional products to keep your family protected during these hot summer days? Take a look!

Favorite Sunscreens

How much sunscreen do you need?
You need to be putting about 1 ounce on per application (just for reference that’s around the size of a golf ball or shot glass.)

SUPER Sparkle Screen Water Resistant and Roll-on Glitter Sunscreen:
Made by two moms, this makes it fun to keep off the sun with sparkles and it’s also scented.
Find at glittertots.com and Walmart.

NO-AD Paraben Free Sunscreen Cream and Easy Glide-on Sticks:
It’s an oldie but a goodie that passes on the savings to you! Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation, now paraben-free and in several easy-to-apply products, it’s called NO-AD because since 1962, the brand doesn’t buy ads so they can give the customer the most inexpensive “no ad price.”
Find at Walgreens and Walmart.

Babyganics Sunscreen Spray:
Coming from the Babyganics line of natural, no chemical ingredients, this mineral-based sunscreen spray is water resistant and free of PABA, phthalates, parabens and nano-particles.
Find it at Walgreens and Target.

Ocean Potion Cream and Clear Zinc Oxide Face Potion:
A beloved brand by those that love the beach, this brand has what you need to have fun in the sun plus its orange-creme fragrance called “the scent of sunshine” makes it feel like you have the sun all around you. The Clear Zinc Oxide Face Potion goes on clear, keeping your pores clear and your face protected with SPF 45.
Find it at Walgreens and Walmart.

Jack Black Oil-Free Sun Guard:
What’s good enough for the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks (the brand you’ll find in both teams’ home stadiums) is good enough to keep your team protected, too. This award-winning brand is formulated for extreme conditions with a barrier of protection and stays on during intense physical activity in and out of the water helping to keep it out of your eyes!
Find at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora.com, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Bull FrogLand Sport™With Breathable Sweat TECH™ Quik Gel® SPF 50:
This is the one you want when you’re moving because it’s made with a special polymer to letting your skin breathe while keeping you from sweating off your sunscreen to keep you protected plus it’s paraben free.
Find at Walgreens and Walmart.

How often should you apply sunscreen?
You need to apply 15 minutes before going out and then reapply every 1.5-2 hours!

Best Bug Sprays

Bullfrog Mosquito Coast® Sunscreen Insect Repellent Continuous Spray SPF 30:
This is a combination sunscreen AND bug spray in one for the ultimate bottle you need when you head outdoors! It’s deet free, paraben free, PABA free, repels bugs for up to 8 hours, and lasts for 80 minutes in the sun AND comes in a spray!
Find at Walgreens and Walmart.

NATURAL BUG SPRAY RECIPE

Natural Bug Spray

Author: Autumn Reo, mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup Distilled water
1 cup Witch hazel or rubbing alcohol
3–4 TBSP dried herbs including peppermint, spearmint, citronella, lemongrass, lavender, etc. (use at least one mint.)
Optional: 4-5 cloves.)

Instructions

Boil water and herbs (in any combination from the above.)
Mix well, cover and let cool. (You must be patient!)
Strain herbs out and mix water with witch hazel.
Store in a spray bottle in a cool place.
Use as needed.

Notes

Added bonus: it smells great and is very refreshing to the skin.

Other Helpful Tips

Now’s the time to stock up before back to school! Hats, bathing suits including those with rash guards to protect their skin, and sunglasses are already on sale like 50 percent off) and some at clearance prices! Just check out these looks we found!

We have tons of giveaways happening right now to Academy Sports + Outdoors, Target, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and Market Street! Go here to make sure you enter!

3 Summer Styles in Seconds

July 12, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 13 Comments

Summer fun got you in overdrive? Look cool while it’s hot with these 3 Summer Styles in Seconds.

Thanks to Sephora inside JCPenney for this sizzling summer style collaboration.

Is it just me or does the summer break not seem like a break at all, but actually one long sweaty marathon divided up into several 5Ks where you always feel like you’re in a sprint from one place to another?

Yep, they actually should call it the summer bustle and hustle as we parents try to fit in vacation, work, summer camp, pool time, playdates, a few holidays and hopefully an opportunity to enjoy a little fun in the sun.

Throw in 90-100 degree temperatures with that non-stop schedule, there’s no time to look good and keep it, all day long.

With a little help and just a few seconds, you can create some hot hairstyles that will make you look so cool (and keep you cool) all day long. Plus you can also give your tresses the care they need from heat from heat, chlorine, and product damage.

Drybar is easily one of my favorite multitasking secrets when you need an incredible look that lasts when your to-dos look more like Santa’s Christmas toy list. But what’s even better is that the blowdry bar has created one of the best product lines that keeps hair looking great anytime. For me the DryBar Detox Dry Conditioner helps to tame my summer mane, making my hair silky, shiny, and more healthy. Best of all, you don’t even have to head to Drybar to get it. Just head to JCPenney and you’ll find Sephora inside JCPenney with all your favorite hair, makeup and beauty needs.

Now just add a bandana, rubberband or even a little coconut oil, and you’re ready to take on the day – or at least look hot when you’re trying to stay cool.

3 Summer Styles in Seconds

1. Sleek Pony

You can never go wrong with a slick back pony tail. Whether you’re going for something casual or fancy, this is the do for you. Plus it’s easy enough that you don’t really need any instruction or even a mirror at that.

After blasting your strands midlength to the ends with the Drybar Dry Conditioner, add a little volume by teasing at the crown.
Then secure the hair with an elastic ponytail holder.
Section off a small portion of hair from underneath the ponytail, wrap around the elastic band and tuck the ends with bobby pins.
Optionally, you can use a short scarf like this one, to tie around the pony to add a little color to your look.

2. Banded Bun

Consider this your princess do (all while keeping your crown tucked and off your neck.) Spray a little Drybar Dry Conditioner to smooth the strands.

Tie a bandana like one of these (it comes in a two-pack) at the nape of the neck (keeping it at the top of the hair.)
Next begin tucking the ends up around the bandana.
Last use a few bobby pins to tuck in the ends and secure.

3. Wet Look

Did you just get out of the pool and have to run to the next activity? Don’t try to wash and dry, just go for the wet look. If Kim K. can do it, you can too!

After a few squirts of Drybar Dry Conditioner, flat iron the strands.
Then volumize the roots of the front half of the hair with a comb by grabbing a section of hair and teasing the roots from behind the section.
To complete the “wet look,” add a tablespoon of coconut oil to the palms and add to the top and sides of the hair.

To finish your summer look for where ever you need to go, add a fitted white jacket over a bright tank and short shorts paired with cork espadrilles and you’re out the door!

GET THIS SUMMER LOOK AT JCPENNEY AND SEPHORA INSIDE JCPENNEY

When You Need a Vacation from Summer Vacation

July 11, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 108 Comments

Need a vacation from your summer vacation? When you need a getaway to get away, then get ready for your Passport to Summer.

Thanks to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen for sponsoring this getaway to get away.

Remember the days when you looked forward to vacation, spent a few minutes throwing a bathing suit, sandals and a cute sundress in a bag, grabbed a passport, and took off without a care in the world?

But when you’re a parent, you don’t normally get to go on vacation. You get to go on trips.

Trips include intense research, dozens of Pinterest boards of itineraries, early morning phone calls to claim one of the few spots available for breakfast with princesses, and a spreadsheet or a notebook to collect all the confirmation numbers to keep things straight.

Trips take weeks to organize and pack everything for everyone so they are prepared to have a good time after you’ve stayed up for hours carefully rolling each item in their suitcase.

Trips are when you act less like a parent and more like a drill sergeant to stay on top of all the plans you’ve made so that you don’t miss any fun – although you aren’t really have any.

Trips are when you finally get back home and realize that you are exhausted from your trip and would do anything for a vacation.

And vacations…you remember them, right? Sand, water, magazines, salty air, creamy drinks delivered by beautiful smiling cabana boys.

(Take a moment and just breathe that all in.)

After a recent trip, this mama needed a vacation in a bad way. But with only a few hours away from the kids, a flight was out of the question. So the best way to get away was to take a getaway to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.

Just in time for my sanity (and yours), you can visit Cheddar’s Passport to Summer and enjoy their taste of the tropics with hand-crafted cocktails and menu. And what are friends for but to order them all to find our favorites!

Head to Hawaiian with a Maui Margarita, a combo of half strawberry, half mango, with kiwi and a shot of DeKuyper Cactus Juice.

Salsa with the Presidente Sangria mixed with Beso Del Sol sangria, Presidente Brandy and sweet & sour shaken with strawberries, fresh lemons, limes and oranges. Or party down with the Cheddar’s Pina Colada puree, splash of sweet & sour, topped with Myers’s Original Dark rum and garnished with a toasted coconut rim and fresh pineapple wedge!

Top off your day with an Island Tiki with Captain Morgan, Malibu rums, tropical mango puree, pineapple juice, sweet & sour and Blue Curacao.

But if you really want to go full on vacay in a big way, then you order the legendary Cheddar’s Painkiller (there is a two-drink maximum on that one so it’s definitely a quick way to paradise.) Filled with Pusser’s rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice, toasted coconut rim, topped with nutmeg, you’ll figure out why it’s called a painkiller!

And when you tummy catches up with your taste buds, you can turn up the heat with the Sweet Heat Chicken and Shrimp or the Grilled Tilapia and Shrimp with Mango Salsa. (And you can feel much better eating this than some of the things you do end up eating on vacation.)

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has the menu for fun and the passport to summer, even if you only have an hour to take a vacation! Plus with such affordable prices, it’s way cheaper than a flight or hotel stay. And you don’t have to pack a thing.

WIn $50 Gift Card to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen:

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Grand Opening: NEW Academy Sports + Outdoors in Rockwall

July 7, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 115 Comments

Whether you’re headed to the lake, the driving range, the gym, or just the backyard, you’ll find what everyone needs at NEW Academy Sports + Outdoors in Rockwall, Texas!

Thanks to Academy Sports + Outdoors for getting families active and sponsoring this incredible giveaway!

Do you or someone in your family:

Hunt
Fish
Enjoy being in the water
Play golf or tennis
Go camping
Enjoy grilling
Go running
Play sports
Love the cowboys
Wear sunglasses?

Well I could have just kept going…but I think you get my drift! With 100 stores now in Texas, Academy knows when it comes to families being active and enjoying the outdoors, no one gets you geared up like Academy Sports + Outdoors. This Friday, July 7 you’re invited to join in all the fun with some amazing deals and some even more amazing giveaways! (But if you can’t make it in store on Friday, join us here to get your own sneak peek from your computer/smartphone and we’ll show you!)

Academy Sports + Outdoors is already known as your resource for everything your need on sports + outdoors, but during this special grand opening weekend in Rockwall, you’ll find some big buys just like this ECOXGEAR waterproof portable speaker (that charges everything but your car! LOL!) Just check out that price. But of course, that’s not all…

Got a fisherman or outdoorsman that needs to stay cool when he’s outdoors (my dad swears by Academy’s exclusive Magellan shirts). Buy one, get one 50% off!

We couldn’t live without our portable chairs for hanging out with friends, festivals, concerts and just hanging by the pool? Less than $5 for one and available in every color of the rainbow!

But it’s not just the best buys that make Academy THE destination for everything sports + outdoors, but also the opportunity to get everything you need whether you’re an amateur or a professional in one place. Plus you can get hands on the equipment you’d be buying! With so many golf courses in Rockwall, they make it easy to get in and out on the course in no time at all! And that’s just for starters!

I can’t believe we’re already talking back to school (we’re halfway there) but for those of us with kids in sports like baseball or are gearing up for two-a-days for football, Academy already has what you need. So beat the crowds and get what you need now!

Need a backpack? Of course you will! If they don’t have a backpack here you or kids want, they don’t make it!

Academy is always our go to for shoes! With a family of four, you can be buying a lot of shoes just to get you started for the new school year. Thankfully, Academy has tons of brands available for you to try on – and not just running shoes for the big kids.

I love Academy for its perfect prices for toddler shoes! They have great styles to fit your tod, but you can actually afford to keep up with those ever-changing sizes at prices that fit your budget and their feet!

But it’s not just the toddlers – I love to stock up on Sperrys for both my son and for my husband! We love the look and the style, so we know we can rely on Academy to have our favorite Sperry style without the crazy lines at the shoe store.

PRICE MATCH POLICY

Academy is so sure they’ll have the best price for what you’re looking for, if you find the same exact somewhere else (i.e. Amazon or another retailer) for a reduced priced, Academy will match it AND reduce it by 5% when you show them the ad or online price. Here’s the details on their best prices in Texas!

SHIP TO HOME

Is your shoe size out of stock? Don’t worry, the store will happily order it for you and have it shipped to your home, free of charge!

In Texas grilling is always in season, but the summer time is prime time for bringing out the grill! Whether you’re smoking it, grilling it or looking to update the outdoor kitchen, Academy has a top-notch selections that you can buy now and be at home flipping burgers in no time at all!

Just check out the best buy deals for some sizzling prices on some of the best equipment! (I’ve my eye on this Academy exclusive brand Outdoor Gourmet Kamado Ceramic Charcoal Grill for less than $600!)

And of course, with a lake just steps away from the front door of the new Rockwall Academy store, you better bet water sports and fishing is front of mind. Whether you’re just throwing out the first catch with your kiddo or looking to invest in some serious rod and reel time, you can try out what you want at Academy. And with team members always available to help you, come loaded with questions for them to help you make your best buy of your own. Don’t forget to get your license here too!

Now are you ready for the YETI? Come out for the festivities starting Friday at 8 AM!

Friday, July 7 – Grand Opening Activities

FREE EXCLUSIVE ACADEMY T‑SHIRT

Event starting at 8am: First 250 customers will receive a free Academy t–shirt. Limit 1 t–shirt per person. Size selection and color vary.

YETI LINE UP AND WIN

Event starting at 8am: FREE YETI Rambler for the first 100 customers with a wristband. Two lucky customers will win a YETI Hopper Two 20!

BE A STAR PHOTO BOOTH AND SPIN TO WIN

$500 Academy gift card
Masterbuilt 40″ Electric Smoker (Valued at $299.99.)
Fitbit Blaze Fitness Watch
Pelican Premium Apex 100 Angler 10′ Kayak
Columbia^® PFG Thermal Tote

ADDITIONAL EVENTS

FREE Jack Link’s jerky samples
Kids fish FREE in our Shakespeare catch tank from 10am – 4pm
Hourly $50 gift card giveaway from 1-3pm

Saturday, July 8 – Grand Opening Activities

FREE MYSTERY GIFT CARD

Event starting at 8am: Be one of the first 150 customers in line beginning at 8am to show that you like or follow Academy on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, or Snapchat and receive a FREE mystery gift card valued between $20 and $500. (ARV of all prizes is $4,870.)

KIDS FISH FREE, COURTESY OF SHAKESPEARE

Event starting at 10am: Make the catch! Kids fish FREE at our Shakespeare catch tank from 10 am-4 pm.

BE A STAR IN OUR PHOTO BOOTH AND SPIN TO WIN PRIZES

$500 Academy gift card
Masterbuilt 40″ Electric Smoker (Valued at $299.99.)
Fitbit Blaze Fitness Watch
Pelican Premium Apex 100 Angler 10′ Kayak
Columbia^® PFG Thermal Tote

ADDITIONAL EVENTS

The Carhartt Experience and FREE gift with a $50 or more Carhartt merchandise purchase from 10am – 4pm
Try on adidas for a Chance to WIN
FREE Brooks gift with Brooks shoe purchase
FREE Spalding Shoot-to-WIN game
Try on SKECHERS for a Chance to WIN a $50 Academy gift card
FREE Wolverine Enter to WIN
Hourly $50 gift card giveaway from 1-3pm

Get all the details about the Rockwall Grand Opening Celebration this weekend here.

Academy Sports + Outdoors

920 Steger Towne Rd.
Rockwall, TX 75032

Enter to win a $100 Gift Card to Academy Sports + Outdoors!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mama, You’re Fat: How The Big Fat Truth Changed My Life

July 5, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 19 Comments

Kids tell it like it is. Here’s How Changed My Life for the better. Be sure to check out The Big Fat Truth on Z Living Sundays at 8pm ET.

“Mama, you’re fat,” my little brown-eyed princess told me as she stood looking at my more than 35- less than 36-year old body getting dressed in the morning.

As she said it, my reflex was to whip my head around so fast to blurt out a few choices expletives I’m often known to use. That’s what I had done the last 30 years of my life, so why would I change now?

But this was my daughter, my baby girl that in many ways is a mirror image of my younger self.

I couldn’t just yell at her and be bitter and mad and all that other stuff. Not just because as a mom and it’s my job to explain things, but also because I knew everything that was about to happen between she and I was going to be mentally recorded FOREVER for us both.

And she was right. No more pretending or excuses.

“Yes, baby, I am,” I uttered. And in that millisecond, all the times I had dieted, lost weight, gained weight, and all the yo-yoing in between flashed before my eyes. So then, with all conviction and more promise that I had ever felt in my life, I responded accordingly, “but don’t worry baby, I’m working on being as healthy as possible.”

See it was looking at her, looking at me, and thinking one day I hoped to be around to look at my granddaughter just as my daughter was looking at me, that I knew that now was the beginning of the next chapter of my life. But not to go on a diet because I was getting married, or because I had a big event I wanted to look good for, or because I was going on vacation and I didn’t want to embarrass myself. But for real, forever change.

Nothing Good Ever Comes Easy

So instead of heading to work out or a diet plan, I went straight to the doctor. I had several friends that had the sleeve surgery and had AMAZING results. They looked amazing. They felt amazing and they couldn’t say better things about how amazing the sleeve had been for them. I did my research and spoke with people relentlessly. This time it seemed I had a choice that would make sense and make a lasting difference. I signed up, got my appointment and begin my pre-op diet of protein, broth and water. However, as I approached my surgery date something happened. Some would say anxiety but for me, it was much more than that. This was a sign that this wasn’t my path. So, I canceled the surgery. And began to make a new path.

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”

That was February and it’s now June. Has anything changed?

Oh yes – it’s changed. Have I lost 50 lbs? Not yet, but I will. So far I’ve lost over 15 inches and 2 dress sizes. But I don’t have a goal weight; I have a goal for life. I didn’t go on a diet; I changed what I ate and how I ate. I didn’t go workout everyday all day.

But I did get help from a trainer to start a lifestyle that was realistic for me.

I didn’t let those same voices get to me and make me feel bad about myself for not being “good enough.”

I am good enough.

Not just to be a mom, but to take care of both my family’s future and myself.

The Big Fat Truth

But I did go looking (and found) encouragement and support to keep me moving, even when I want to stop and eat something that takes me backwards. One of those places I love to find motivation is through others’ journeys, not towards weight loss but a healthier lifestyle. Z Living’s newest show, The Big Fat Truth, deals with the real reasons people struggle with weight, and gives them the tools and the optimism they need to transform their lives. Using problem-solving and motivational skills, award-winning producer JD Roth (author and reality-TV pioneer, championing “transformation television”) takes on the challenge to help save the lives of our greatest unsung heroes.

Watch The Big Fat Truth on Z Living, Sundays at 8 pm EST.

Through their journey, I’m able to navigate mine as well with the encouragement I need in a real way that works for me. The show even has its own FREE Big Fat 30 Day Challenge to help get watchers motivated just like the participants on the show. I plan to keep you updated on my progress and how my journey isn’t as much about “losing weight” (which is nice) but about making the real changes that will make a bigger difference in the rest of my life.

Fun Out of the Sun: Grapevine Mills

June 22, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 33 Comments

Looking for the coolest places for fun this summer? Here’s the scoop on the sale you can’t miss and the fun you’ll find for the whole family at Grapevine Mills. #ThePerfectBag

Thanks to Grapevine Mills for this collaboration and giving us the scoop on the fun this summer.

The moment school let out, Camp Mama took over.

It’s a hybrid of family fun activities, carpooling to camps all over the map, and me still trying to keep everything else rolling and going without losing my mind.

Shop, Drop, Repeat.

When’s the last time you were at Grapevine Mills?

It’s a crazy day, everyday.

I try to mix it up with a little something we can all enjoy…summertime doesn’t have to be just for the kids, right?

So when the hot Texas summer takes over, we’ve found refuge at Grapevine Mills.

Recently the center finalized a multi-million dollar renovation, with sleek new flooring, lighting, seating and special details to make your experience more comfortable whether you’re dropping in for an hour or hoofing it for the whole day of shop ’til you drop. Plus many new stores and unique entertainment destinations has made Grapevine Mills on the top of our go-to shortlist.

Speaking of shortlist, you have just until June 30 to head to Grapevine Mills for their Annual Handbag Sale. Considering I’m always on the hunt for a handbag (I’m totally a bag lady), this sale features already hugely discounted prices on the hottest trends from some of my favorites like Saks Fifth Avenue OFF FIFTH, Banana Republic Factory, Francesca’s, J.Crew Factory, Guess Factory, Nautica, Steve Madden, Vera Bradley Factory Outlet and many more!

// GUESS //

// BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY //

// STEVE MADDEN //

AND THERE’S MORE (in my best Price of Right voice!)

Win the Handbag of Your Dreams Sweepstakes – Two lucky shoppers will have the chance to ‘win the handbag of your dreams’ through a sweepstakes hosted on Grapevine Mills’ Facebook page. All you have to do is comment with which one you love the most! The winners will be selected at random and will receive a Simon American Express gift card valued at $500. (The winners have to be residents of Texas and have the ability to pick up from Grapevine Mills.)

// PLUS FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN WIN $100 SIMON GIFT CARD FROM MAMACHALLENGE.COM//

Handbag Pop Art Display – Shoppers can get interactive at the 5’-by-10’ pop art handbag display in front of Guest Services courtyard near Victoria’s Secret. It will make a great backdrop for photos and Grapevine Mills encourages shoppers to take and post photos at the display and of their handbag finds using #ThePerfectBag.

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Shopping can be fun for some, but not everyone! That’s where Grapevine Mills also makes it easy for you to entertain the whole family especially with some of the NEW destinations!

The Escape Game / Located near the Food Court
Opening just a month ago, you can now choose your escape! The Escape Game is perfect for large groups, girls’ night out, date night, or just a new way to mix it up your day. Rated #1 “Escape Room” On TripAdvisor’s National Rankings, you and your team are locked in a room and have one hour to complete a mission and escape. Escaping requires teamwork, quick thinking, determination and a sense of urgency!

Fieldhouse USA / Located at Entry 3 by Burlington Coat Factory
Build on your sports skills or discover a new one! Fieldhouse USA offers summer camps for basketball, volleyball and futsal camps through August 15 for children ages 5 and up with the emphasis on 100% participation and FUN! Camp Add-Ons are also available to give your child a full day of sports fun all week long.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre / Located at Entry 5 with SEA LIFE Aquarium and AMC Theaters
LEGOLAND Discovery Center is the ultimate indoor LEGO® experience full of amazing play, creativity and building fun designed for families with kids aged 3-10 years. Plus with Pirate Beach, its outdoor waterpark (included with your admission), you can let the kids play with 30 water gadgets, splash through a 2o-foot-tall, 50-gallon bucket of water, while you chill in the shade (or get a little sun!)

SEA LIFE Aquarium / Located at Entry 5 with LEGOLAND Discover Center and AMC Theaters
Take a fascinating journey from the coast to the ocean depths through 16 themed zones at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium. Get up close to thousands of amazing creatures and find out how it feels to touch a sea start and other creatures living in our interactive rockpool experience. With an amazing 360° ocean tunnel, 30 display tanks and thousands of sea creatures the aquarium is the perfect stop for family fun. (Plus it’s all in the A/C!)

Round One Bowling and Entertainment / Located at Entry 6 near the NIKE Factory Store
Whether it’s bowling, arcade games, karaoke, billiards, darts, ping pong or more, you’ll find it at Round One! At 80,000 square-foot game complex features a full bowling alley with 24 lanes that can accommodate up to 120 players, 2,603 square-feet dedicated to singing, and 12 tournament standard billiard tables can accommodate up to 48 players.

Don’t miss these guys at PUDDING ON SMILES! It will make you smile every time you lick your spoon!

AMC Theaters / West side of Grapevine Mills
Whether you’re looking for a comfortable spot to watch a movie or enjoy a full-on movie and a meal experience, AMC Theaters is perfect. Plus it’s close proximity to LEGOLAND Discover Center and SEA LIFE Aquarium, finish off the day with a movie (they’ll probably sleep on the way home.)

Mark your calendar and save the date for these great family movies this summer!

Despicable Me 3 – June 30
Spider-Man: Homecoming – July 7 – PG-13
The Emoji Movie – July 28
The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature – August 11

Want to win $100 Simon Gift Card to get your new handbag or try out one of these amazing destinations?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 New Reasons to Love Target Even More

June 20, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 184 Comments

Love Target? Of course you do! However, here’s 10 new reasons to love Target even more as they bring new changes with their recent renovations!

Thanks to Target for giving us a special look at the new changes and sponsoring this post.

Can you imagine a world without Target?

Even if you could, why would you want to?

There are few places I can think of that give me the convenience of getting a few groceries, filling my prescriptions, styling my home, and the opportunity to cruise quickly for something new (and out of budget) than Target. And let’s not even throw in the fact they meet you at the door with Starbucks. However, several Target stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth are going through a huge remodel to make Target even better (sounds like an oxymoron, right? But it is! We recently took a sneak peek at one of the newly remodeled Target stores and this is what we found.

10 Reasons to Love Target Even More

1. They’re making a big investment in DFW.

Target is investing more than $220 million to remodel 28 of 47 Target stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, the company’s largest remodel investment in a single market in 2017 (lucky for us!) All the remodeled stores will receive top-to-bottom overhauls, including a mix of design and functionality, taking a customized approach to each store location.

2. Almost There.

Twelve stores have already debuted their completed remodels and 16 remaining stores to be completed later this summer and fall! Customers will find modern design elements, including updated LED lighting, new paint, new floors and fixtures!

Already remodeled stores: Addison, Grapevine, Lake Worth, Weatherford, Fort Worth Central, North Dallas Coit Road, Mansfield, McKinney, Plano West, Watauga, and Frisco North.

Scheduled July Completions: Rockwall, Burleson, Waxahachie, and Euless

Scheduled August Completions: Love Field, Frisco, and Dallas North East

Scheduled October Completions: Medallion, North Richland Hills, Flower Mound, Mesquite, Hurst, Cityview, McKinney SW, Denton, Allen North, and Lewisville.

3. More Macchiatos.

Addison, Rockwall and Irving, you’re getting a big upgrade with new Starbucks are added to your Target stores. (Caffeine feeds the Target shopping machine!)

4. Real Inspiration Right in Front of You.

Forget just rows of racks. Target is giving guests an opportunity for more inspiration and style with new merchandise displays and mannequins throughout the store so you know exactly how that dress will look when it’s on a body!

5. Just for You!

Ever started shopping for clothes and found yourself looking at the teenage sizes (way off from what you need to be looking at?) Many other guests did too, so Target took the recommendation and now have create separate sections for teens, maternity, plus size, etc!

6. Grocery Goodness.

Taking a little inspiration from area farmers’ markets, Target has remodeled their grocery department with new wood-grain fixtures, updated floors, LED lighting, and products perfectly paired together to make a meal (everything you’ll need will be in one area and not spread out in different aisle for quick dinner making!) Plus many featured local products like Tupps Brewery.

7. More style, year-long.

Target is already considered a destination for style but they’ve added even better way to find style, year-round. Bathing suit season isn’t just June – August. Now you’ll be able to find suits throughout the year and in sizes for you (cup sizes will now count!) You’ll also find beloved brands like Cat & Jack kids clothes and baby brand Cloud Nine.

8. Quicker, Easier, and Better.

In a rush, no biggie with Target! They’ve added more self-checkout lanes for ease of guest check-out options including updates to the Order Pickup and Guest Service counter! You’ll now find a digitally connected experience with an updated Order Pickup counter and Ship from Store service, so you can get those Target.com orders even quicker! (And remember, there are already CVS / pharmacy there for that much more quick and easy shopping!)

9. One NEW App Solution.

Love couponing with Cartwheel but feel torn with having two apps to cover your Target needs? This fall you’ll find both apps combined together for one easy-to-use digital solution!

10. See if for yourself.

You may not need a reason to head to Target (you probably were on your way already), but we’re giving you a $100 Target gift card to see the changes for yourself!

NOW what’s your favorite thing about Target?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Want how to get the most out of your back to school budget? We have your easy guide to big savings at the Allen Premium Outlets.

1. GO: Texas’ Tax-Free Weekend, August 11-13.

2. Get Ready for the Deals.

<img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8378" src="https://www.mamachallenge.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/AllenPremiuimOutlets-1-of-9-e1502209723798-1.jpg" alt="Allen Premiuim Outlets" width="750" height="1000">

3. Sign up for your favorite retailers emails.

Don’t miss this deal either if you’re shopping this weekend – August 25.

Buy $150 worth of gift cards from any of the Gap brands, and you’ll get another $30 Simon Gift Card.

4. Be a Simon VIP.

5. Get Your Simon Passport to Savings!

Shoe shopping for the kids low on your to-do list? Step up your shopping game for back to school shoes with KidsShoes.com.

School supplies may already be on the shelves, but our hottest temperatures are still yet to come! Protect your family with these must-haves for summer including our best bets for Sunscreens and Bug Sprays.

Favorite Sunscreens

Best Bug Sprays <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-8275 size-full" src="http://www.mamachallenge.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Bug-Spray-e1499915261215.png" alt="Bug Spray" width="750" height="750">

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Other Helpful Tips

Summer fun got you in overdrive? Look cool while it’s hot with these 3 Summer Styles in Seconds.

3 Summer Styles in Seconds

1. Sleek Pony

2. Banded Bun

3. Wet Look

Need a vacation from your summer vacation? When you need a getaway to get away, then get ready for your Passport to Summer.

Whether you’re headed to the lake, the driving range, the gym, or just the backyard, you’ll find what everyone needs at NEW Academy Sports + Outdoors in Rockwall, Texas!

Now are you ready for the YETI? Come out for the festivities starting Friday at 8 AM!

Friday, July 7 – Grand Opening Activities

FREE EXCLUSIVE ACADEMY T‑SHIRT

YETI LINE UP AND WIN

BE A STAR PHOTO BOOTH AND SPIN TO WIN

ADDITIONAL EVENTS

Saturday, July 8 – Grand Opening Activities

FREE MYSTERY GIFT CARD

KIDS FISH FREE, COURTESY OF SHAKESPEARE

BE A STAR IN OUR PHOTO BOOTH AND SPIN TO WIN PRIZES

ADDITIONAL EVENTS

Kids tell it like it is. Here’s How Changed My Life for the better. Be sure to check out The Big Fat Truth on Z Living Sundays at 8pm ET.

Nothing Good Ever Comes Easy

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”

The Big Fat Truth

Looking for the coolest places for fun this summer? Here’s the scoop on the sale you can’t miss and the fun you’ll find for the whole family at Grapevine Mills. #ThePerfectBag

Shop, Drop, Repeat.

AND THERE’S MORE (in my best Price of Right voice!)

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Love Target? Of course you do! However, here’s 10 new reasons to love Target even more as they bring new changes with their recent renovations!

10 Reasons to Love Target Even More

1. They’re making a big investment in DFW.

2. Almost There.

3. More Macchiatos.

4. Real Inspiration Right in Front of You.

5. Just for You!

6. Grocery Goodness.

7. More style, year-long.

8. Quicker, Easier, and Better.

9. One NEW App Solution.

10. See if for yourself.

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