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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Best Damn Chicken and Waffles Casserole

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Chicken and waffles gets even better when it goes casserole! And with one sweet ingredient, you’ll be saying THIS IS the best damn chicken and waffles casserole. 

I remember the first time I heard about chicken and waffles I was like…what? That doesn’t sounds good? Why is everyone freaking out about chicken and waffles? 

…Then I had it. 

Then I understood. 


ChickenandWaffles
There’s something about the sweetness, the crunch, and the little bit of spice, sandwiched together into one perfect bite. 

Yep, I like it…

But to time the fresh golden fluffy waffles at the same time as hot fried chicken is a little difficult and way more time consuming than I’m willing to put forward (or at least have time to!) 

So in true #mamachallenge form, it was time to look to the world of semi-homemade and put it all together into one dish for a bigger dish of happiness.

Frozen waffles to the rescue! 

ChickenandWaffles

ChickenandWaffles
Cooking everything together into Chicken and Waffles Casserole not only makes it easier on making, but also serving! And since you can make this in advance, this casserole is ideal for big breakfast/brunch moment like Christmas or when you really want to make an impression. 

ChickenandWaffles

However, the impression really gets better when the chicken hits the tastebuds. One of our favorite chicken spots is hands down Chick-Fil-A. If you’ve had it, you know – it’s that good. There’s something about CFA and any drive by the eatery with lines of folks parked double-laned around the joint will verify – their chicken is THAT good. While I don’t know what makes it take like what dreams are made of, inspired by the sweetness of their chicken, we added powdered sugar to our breading, along with a little spice to cinch the deal on this chicken and waffles casserole. 

Oh man, it’s THAT GOOD.

ChickenandWaffles

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Best Damn Chicken and Waffles Casserole

★★

2 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Autumn Reo, mamachallenge.com
Print Recipe

Description

The best of both worlds come together for the Best Damn Chicken and Waffles.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 9 large eggs
  • 2 3/4 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 8 frozen waffles, cubed
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • Serve with maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and spray with the cooking spray.
  3. Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces.
  4. Mix together the flour, powdered sugar, chilli powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.
  5. Beat 3 eggs in a shallow bowl.
  6. Place the panko breadcrumbs into a third shallow bowl.
  7. Toss the chicken in the flour to coat, then dip into the egg, and then place in the panko, turning to coat. Place onto the prepared baking sheets and repeat with the rest of the chicken.
  8. Spray the chicken with the cooking spray then bake, turning the chicken over halfway through, for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Set aside.
  9. Grease an 8×13 inch baking dish.
  10. Add half of the cubed waffles in a single layer.
  11. Top with half of the chicken and 1/2 of the cheese then layer the remaining waffles and chicken and cheese.
  12. Whisk together 6 eggs, milk, salt and pepper in a medium bowl until combined.
  13. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the chicken and waffles.
  14. Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or refrigerate overnight and bake the next day.

Notes

  • If you really want crispy chicken quick, you can opt to deep fry the chicken instead of baking!

ChickenandWaffles

Eggs Benedict Casserole

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Eggs Benedict is quintessential brunch food. It’s delicate, it’s heavy, it’s creamy, and it’s oh. so. good. Then make Eggs Benedict Casserole and you’ll never go back. 

This with a glass of bubbles and this girl is oh.so.happy.

I don’t remember the first time I had eggs bennie, but I know I was young. When other kids were ordering pancakes, I’d put up my pinky and order the “eggs benedict, please.”

Eggs-Benedict-Casserole


I thought I was so fancy having the bennies.

However, it does take a little work to make perfectly poached eggs and of course, the hollandaise sauce.

If you need to make it for more than one, it almost takes away all the fun that brunch can bring.

Eggs-Benedict-Casserole

But when you make it in casserole form, you alleviate the work and even better, you can make it an advance.

Thus came the idea for eggs benedict casserole. Like eggs benedicts of today, you can add anything you want to it. Just stick with this basic recipe and modify as you see fit.

Just be careful not to make this and not invite anyone over – otherwise, you’ll eat it all yourself.

Eggs-Benedict-Casserole

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Eggs Benedict Casserole

  • Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • INGREDIENTSNutrition
  • SERVINGS 10UNITS US
  • 6 English muffins
  • 12 ounces Canadian bacon / ham
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups reduced-fat milk (or whole milk)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • cooking spray
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon paprika
  • Hollandaise Sauce
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (1 stick)
  • cayenne
  • salt

Instructions

  1. ut muffins into 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside. Cut Canadian bacon into 1/2-inch squares. Set aside. Whisk the eggs well in a 2-quart bowl. Whisk in milk and onion powder.
  2. Spray a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with cooking oil spray. Scatter half the Canadian bacon evenly in bottom of dish. Scatter muffin cubes on top of Canadian bacon. Top with the remaining Canadian bacon, scattering it evenly over the bread. Pour egg mixture over the casserole. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or at least 8 hours, to let bread absorb egg mixture.
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove casserole from refrigerator and uncover it. Lightly sprinkle the paprika evenly over the top. Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove dish from the oven, remove foil, return dish to the oven and continue to bake, uncovered, until the eggs are set and the bacon on top begins to crisp, about 20 minutes more. Remove the casserole from oven and let it stand 5 minutes before serving.
  4. While casserole bakes, make a hollandaise sauce.
  5. Whisk the egg yolks and lemon juice together until the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume. Place the bowl over a saucepan with lightly boiling water, the water should not touch the bottom of the bowl.
  6. Continue to whisk rapidly.
  7. Be careful not to let the eggs get too hot or they will scramble.
  8. Slowly drizzle in the melted butter and continue to whisk until the sauce is thickened and doubled in volume.
  9. Remove from heat, whisk in cayenne and salt.

Eggs Benedict Casserole

Make-Ahead-Holiday-Casseroles

Melt Away Fat Without the Workout

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Does your wish list include losing inches, but can’t find the time for the exercise? With BTL Vanquish ME you can literally melt away fat without the workout.

Thank you to BTL Aesthetics and Advanced Skin Fitness for showing how it’s possible to get inches off your problem areas with a few non-invasive treatments.

What do YOU want for Christmas? 

If Santa could figure out how I could go to bed Christmas Eve and wake up with a few inches off my belly, thighs or other choice areas, I’d be the happiest mama in the WORLD. 


Melt-Fat-Away-BTL
But we all know it’s all about work, time, and diligence to even begin to squeeze into those pre-baby jeans (I still have mine even though he’s 8 now!) 

Unfortunately time isn’t something parents have tons of, especially to spend on us. And as much as I’ve tried, you can’t create more time in the day. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of what you have and make it work for you. AND I’m not talking special meals, pills, or pixie dust. 

What if you could just melt away the muffin top or your post-pregnancy pooch? 

BTL

BTL Vanquish ME is the next generation fat-reducing device that simultaneously slims the abs, belly and love handles by an average of 2 inches in 4-6 treatment sessions with no pain or no downtime. Basically by using the power of a radio frequency energy (like a microwave), the device heats up your fat cells, destroying them, and then they are removed from the body through your normal processes.  AND it’s FDA cleared.

I have to admit the promise was big, but I still didn’t understand how it worked. Especially in regards to heat…I mean how hot was it gonna get? 

So off to Dallas’ own Advanced Skin Fitness to figure out how BTL Vanquish ME really worked. 

 Melt-Fat-Away-BTL

Wearing my best yoga pants (yep, comfortable, wear is requested), I was asked to lay down on the table and just relax. The technician rolled the BTL device over my stomach and flipped the switch. 

I flipped through a magazine and enjoyed a little me time, then after around :45 minutes, he rolled it off my belly, and I was out the door.

Melt-Fat-Away-BTL

That was it! 

Now of course, there was a lot more going on, but nothing was touching me or my belly. I felt the heat from the device – and it was very warm – but with the help of my technician, he made sure I was comfortable throughout the session. 

Melt-Fat-Away-BTL 

For six weeks, I visited Advanced Skin Fitness for my scheduled weekly visit to just spend a little me time, catching up on reading or even sneaking in a few minutes of sleep. (You can’t use your phone during the session which actually was a godsent – real relaxing!) 

Clinicals Show: Patients Lost One-Quarter Liquid Gallon of Fat, on Average with BTL Vanquish ME”

But of course what you really want to know – did it work? 

During my treatment, I was able to lose just under two inches from my waistline. AND that included a weeklong cruise (and you know those are full of food!) But otherwise, I kept to a healthy diet and minimal exercise. Now looking into the next year, BTL Vanquish ME is ideal to kick things into gear by undergoing treatment while managing a healthy diet and exercise.

Melt-Away-Fat-BTL 

Ready to trim, tighten, and tone with a little help from BTL Vanquish ME.

 

 

 

Holiday Help: What to do with the Kids During Holiday Break

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Now that the kids are out of school…what to do, what to do… Here are ideas on what to do with the kids to make the holidays special without all the work.

GaylordTexanHoliday

Go Elsa with Ice Skating

  • You can sign up for skating school at the Galleria Dallas Ice Rink for a three-day workshop on the ice around the tallest indoor Christmas tree. For only $42 – your child can have three days of skate lessons, skate rentals, free skating – December 19-21 and December 26-28.
  • Visit Panther Island ICE in Fort Worth for skating fun now – Jan. 16!
  • Gaylord Texan Lone Star Christmas also is featuring an ice skating rink outside as part of their ICE! Activities this year, so you can make a day of it in Grapevine.

Gaylord-Texan

Let’s Lego with Sci Tech Discovery Center

  • If you have a LEGO lover (ages 3-12), they’ll love seeing and learning about castles made with LEGOs and be able to make their own at the Castle Builder Exhibit at Sci-Tech Discovery Center in Frisco. 
  • They are also offering Winter Holiday Wonderland Camps and Maker Space Camps for opportunities for learning about winter activities. Choose 1 day or all 5 days. Grades 1st – 3rd and 4th – 6th. $75/day member $85 non/member. 
  • Check out MindStretchingFun.org for all the details.

Celebrate German-Style with Lebkuchen and Lace

  • Arlington goes big and the holidays are no exception! Head over to the 6th Annual Texas Christkindl Market now until Dec. 23. 
  • Saturday, December 17 the event hosts Vocal Majority singing at 4 PM. Next week you can bring the kids for extended Peppermint Park hours and slide down the Arctic Blast Tubing Run while getting your holiday shopping complete.

TexasChristkindlMarket

Reign them in with Reindeer

  • These are my favorite because they are also great gifts for the kids to give to grandma or grandpa or friends. Love this tutorial from Everyday Best.

Cider

Fun with Frosty: Snowman Crafts

  • Crafts don’t have to be complicated to be fun! Get in the spirit with these beautiful snowman crafts from Julie Measures.
  • With a trip to the Dollar Store or Michaels, you can create making fun crafts while spending time together.

Fox4

Visit mamachallenge.com for links to these recipes, ideas, giveaways and more!

Follow us on Facebook @mamachallenge, Twitter @mamachallenge, Pinterest @mamachallenge, and Instagram @autumnreo. 

 

 

 

Last Minute Holiday Shopping with Grapevine Mills

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Feel like an elf trying to get the holidays together before they’re over? With the help of Grapevine Mills you CAN mark off your last minute holiday shopping list – all in one place! 

Thanks to Grapevine Mills for this special collaboration to bring you the lowdown on how it needs to go down this holiday season!

I love Christmas, so I thought I’d never be working to the nth hour to get it done. 

Unfortunately, all the other stuff around this time of year made time to shop impossible! But with extended shopping hours (10 am – 10 pm), you can find a way to fit it all in, down to even pictures with Santa until Christmas Eve! 


LastMinuteShopping

Reserve Your Spot with Santa 

New this year to Grapevine Mills, you’ll find a whole new Santa’s World of Wishes in Center Court. With beautiful new decorations, Santa loves his new home away from the North Pole and you will too. However, what I love is the opportunity to skip the line to make the most of your few shopping days ’til Christmas with a new Santa by Appointment so you can reserve your spot! And as a part of a teachable moment, if you’re in the giving spirit (and we should all be), you can donate to Save the Children while you’re there and help other children in need! 

Santa at Grapevine Mills

Photo Credit: The Mills

Looking for a little more time with the big guy with your little guys? There are spots still available for Breakfast with Santa at Rainforest Cafe! Reservations for December 17, 18 & even December 23 can still be made – and include: 

  • Greet by Cha!Cha!
  • Breakfast Buffet
  • Fun Activities
  • Visit from Santa
  • Photo opportunity with Cha!Cha! and Santa
  • Raffles
  • Arts & Crafts

And then there was Shopping! 

With more than 180 stores and 1.6 million sq. ft., you have plenty of options for whomever is on your list! I actually remember when Grapevine Mills open and how exciting it was with all the cool entertainment, outlet retail and restaurants! Recently, the center underwent a multi-million dollar renovation to continue to make it a cool destination for the whole family in the middle of DFW! So if you haven’t been here, you definitely need to check out big changes as well as the small details that have revitalized the look of the center as well as the comfort to its guests! 

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Photo Credit: The Mills

Just a few of my favorites here: 

  • Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH
  • H&M
  • GameStop
  • Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop
  • Coach Factory
  • LOFT Factory Store
  • Disney Outlet
  • Jack and Jill 
  • Abercrombie & Fitch 
  • Helzberg Diamond Outlet
  • Ross Dress for Less
  • The Children’s Place Outlet
  • Oakley Vault

And those are just the highlights! I mean you really can find what you need and at the price point you need it for everyone on your list (hubs totally loves his Bass Pro Shop!) Get the full list of stores here and especially the deals you can only find at Grapevine Mills!

Grapevine-Mills-Mall-Kids

Still looking for ideas? Then join us December 16 at 3 pm for a special FACEBOOK LIVE! with Grapevine Mills! We’ll be sharing some of our favorite holiday finds and tips to how to get ready for the holidays! And you’ll be able to win $50 Simon Gift Card just for joining in. Visit Facebook.com/mamachallenge at 3 pm CST whereever you are – on your desktop, phone or tablet. Just consider us your holiday helpers! 

FacebookLastMinuteHolidayShoppingGrapevineMills

Looking for Holiday Fun

you bring the crew or are looking to ways to spend time together without driving all over DFW, then Grapevine Mills is your place. With AMC Grapevine Mills 30 with Dine-In Theatres, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, SEA LIFE Aquarium and Rainforest Cafe you have it all! And if you still need to get in your ice skating, holiday lights, and more, then just only a few miles away, you’ll find the Gaylord Texan Lonestar Christmas and the rest of the Christmas Capital of the World! 

SeaLifeSanta

Photo credit: SEA LIFE Aquarium

Now aren’t you ready to hit the ‘Mills for the holidays? 

 

Santa’s Cookie Ideas

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Cookies for Santa is a time-honored tradition, but what happens when the big guy gets tired of eating about a trillion of them in one night? So mix it up Christmas Eve with these Santa Cookie Ideas. 

Chocolate chip? Peanut Butter? Sugar? Oatmeal? 

What does Santa get under the tree at your house? 

SantaCookieIIdeas


With more than 132 million homes to visit on Christmas Eve, that’s a lot of cookies to eat. So give Santa a little something different with a few new Santa Cookie Ideas.

 

1. Up the ante on that chocolate chip cookie with the quintessential Dallas recipe for the Neiman Marcus Cookie.

Neiman-Marcus-Cookie

2. Looking for something the kids can make? Make your own little Frostys with Nutter Butters, candy and fruit snacks with these Snowman Cookies.

nutter butter snowmen

Brown Eyed Baker (http://www.browneyedbaker.com/nutter-butter-snowmen)

3. Does Santa have an allergy or need a pick me up for his late night? Go with No Cook, Gluten-Free Energy Balls.

4. Consider yourself a traditionalist but no time to make those beautiful sugar cookies? La Madeleine has beautiful cookie options in their Holiday French Market.

La Madeleine

5. Santa’s not the only one doing the work – don’t leave out the reindeer or the elves. Make snacks for them too with this easy Reindeer Mix.

Reindeerfood

Everyday Best (http://everydaybest.com/reindeer-food-recipe-and-free-printable/)

6. Sometimes it’s more than just the cookies. Teach kids to be the sweet ones by showing their gratitude with a thank you note with eggnog for a nice way to say thank you to Santa.

 

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

SpringfreeGiveaway

 

Hot Toys 2016
Holiday Hot Picks

 

MamaChallenge Holiday Hot Toys 2016

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I don’t know which one is more fun: being the kid that gets these gifts or the parents that get to play with ’em anyways. Our annual MamaChallenge Holiday Hot Toys 2016 is unveiled! 

This list is ever changing so come back often to get more ideas and to enter to win these great prizes! May contain affiliate links. 

Hot Toys2016

CHECK OUT OUR UNVEILING OF THE MAMACHALLENGE HOT TOY LIST



For those of you that asked: My ugly sweater is part of JCPenney’s Ugly Sweater collection. LOVE IT!

For the Family 

For the Littles 

For the Star Wars Fan 

Toys Gone Tech: Can’t believe what you can do now with a smartphone! 

For Under the Tree AKA “Santa Gifts”

There were so many, we had two segments!  

SPECIAL OFFER:

AND if you mention MAMACHALLENGE when you order your Springfree Trampoline they’ll give you a special $700 free gift package including accessories to make your new gaming mat that much more fun! 

GIVEAWAYS – WIN THIS!

Hello Kitty Car 2

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Springfree-Trampoline-Holiday

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Holiday Hot Picks Gift Ideas 2016

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Still working on starting finishing your holiday gift list? We’ve made it a #joyworthgiving with these Holiday Hot Picks Gift Ideas for Everyone at JCPenney.

MamaChallenge.com is thrilled to partner with JCPenney for this fun holiday collaboration. This post includes affiliate links. 

Bucket list #9…CHECK!

I’ve dreamed for a long, long time to have my “Oprah moment” by sharing with the world my “favorite things,” then flooding folks with presents and announcing “you get a card, you get a car, and you get a car!” 


Holiday-Hot-Picks-JCPenney

While I wasn’t giving away automobiles this weekend, I did, along with Rebekah of A Blissful Nest (beautiful home design/style blog), give away presents and unveil our Hot Holiday Picks at a special party inside JCPenney at Stonebriar Centre. We had your gift list covered for everyone from your spouse, kids, girlfriends, white elephant gift exchange, and of course, a few for you to stuff in your own stocking, too!
Holiday-Hot-Picks-JCPenney

One of picks to make the holidays sweeter was this fun “All the Jingle Ladies” top I sported from the JCPenney Ugly Christmas Sweater collection. Bling, bells and an added scarf make this one of my favorite holiday hot picks FOR ME! 

Holiday-Hot-Picks-JCPenney

Together we revealed each of our favorite gift recommendations for finding amazing gifts at JCPenney at any price point! Paired with some of the great incentives and promotions offers both online and instore like Customer Appreciation Days and JCPenney Bonus Cash, JCPenney is making the holidays a #JoyWorthGiving!

Holiday-Hot-Picks-JCPenney

For many of us, busy schedules and the added holiday stress, have really taken the joy out of the season of giving, making it really hard to find “that special thing to show you care.” JCPenney has made it much easier to be able to get just the right thing with “Gifts Under $15, $20, $50 and more” price points so you can stay in budget, while making your gift count and organizing things just for her, him or anyone. And for me, that’s exactly what the holidays are supposed to be – joyful and giving! 

So finally, here are my Holiday Hot Picks – all under $25! And many of these ideas could be used for anyone (since I’d love any of these things under the tree with my name on it!) 

Holiday Hot Picks

HOLIDAY HOT PICK: For the Teacher / Hostess Gift 

There’s nothing like a soft, blanket to wrap yourself in with a good book and a cup of cocoa during the holidays to make the world seem perfect! This Velvet Plush Throw from JCPenney Home™ (available in prints and solids) is the perfect gift for a teacher, a hostess, gift, your aunt, your girlfriend – actually everyone will love this. And your wallet will love it even more at this price (I’ve spotted this from $9.99 – $11.99!) 

HOLIDAY HOT PICK: For the Tweens / Teens 

I want this and so does my husband, so to say it’s for the Tweens/Teens just gives us an excuse! Everyone will want in on the action to upgrade that smartphone to a virtual reality! With several models available instore and online starting at just $14.99, this gift idea has been flying off the racks. But you can still get your hands on the Merge 360 Vr Headset as your tween/teen gets jetted to a far away dimension – from the comfort of your living room! (I gave this away to one of our lucky guests at our Stonebriar Holiday Hot Picks Party!) 

VR Set

HOLIDAY HOT PICK: For the Music Lover or Traveler

Do you have loved one that loves music or travels? Keep them connected without all the wires. These Wireless Headphones with microphone will make listening to music or watching movies on the plane way easier, more personalized (with pink, blue and black options) and much more comfortable. And with such an affordable price, you can get a pair for everyone! 

Headphones

HOLIDAY HOT PICK: For the Techie 

For under $30 and plug-and-play magic, your giftee can get caught up on all their favorite shows and find some new favorite movies with the ROKU Express Streaming Media Player 3700. It doesn’t get much easier to be access 350,000+ paid or free movies and TV episodes with no installation! This is a great gift idea for someone on a budget, who doesn’t want to mess with a cable bill, like a college student or a first-time apartment owner! 

Roku

HOLIDAY HOT PICK: White Elephant Exchange

No one should be without a Slow Cooker. One of my #mamachallenge must-haves to get food on the table with little to no work, the slow cooker is always a favorite for anyone who basically likes to eat! And for those that really love to cook, they will always appreciate a slow cooker to make some great dishes! There are several options for different size slow cookers at JCPenney, but this deal for the Cooks Slow Cooker at $12.99 now $9.99 make it too good to pass up!  

CooksSlowCooker

HOLIDAY HOT PICK: For Him

My hubs likes to keep it easy and light, so it doesn’t get much better than this Dockers Leather Magnetic Money Clip Front Pocket Wallet. Equipped with both a clip for cash and a few places to slide his ID, credit cards, and a few business cards, this is a staple item that any man of any age will appreciate! And with a nice presentation and a nice price of $11.99, you can’t go wrong! 

HOLIDAY HOT PICK: For Her / For You

From his wallet to yours, any woman with a smartphone will LOVE this! A huge hot list item apparently on everyone’s list (I’ve seen it sell out and restock a few times), the Liz Claiborne® Phone Charging Wallet comes with a built-in charging bank and in several colors and styles. You’ll (or the lucky lady who gets this gift) be able to charge your phone, keep your lipgloss and other essentials handy, all while looking accessorized on-the-run!  PhoneWallet

…And I couldn’t resist sharing this incredible find that is a huge #mamachallenge find: Elf on the Shelf Helper! 

ElfontheShelf
Forget trying to be creative and come up with fun new settings for your Elf on the Shelf. The ones you find online might give you a chuckle, but who has time to put together all that!?! The pressure is gone with The Elf on the Shelf® Scout Elves at Play Book – full of 10 props and 100+ how-tos to make it a cinch to keep the spirit of Christmas alive with just a few minutes to spare! 

Holiday-Hot-Picks-JCPenney

Running late on holiday time? No problem! You can run in store to catch many of these gifts or click online at JCP.com and with affordble 2-day shipping and even a 1-day express option, you can get your gifts all under in the tree or in the mail with time to spare! 

And that’s just another way JCPenney is making the holidays a #JoyWorthGiving! 

HotPicks

Put Down the Chocolate: Breaking down PMS

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When you’re young they say those hormones are ragin’, but midlife yours really can go crazy. We’re breaking down PMS and how your hormones affect you now especially when it comes to PMS even at the midlife mark. 

Thank you Douglas Laboratories for this post. I was selected for this opportunity by Douglas Laboratories and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

So many “fun” things happen when you’re older.

I won’t even begin to start the list, but your hormones definitely take a leading role on how your body works as you hit those milestone years (30s, 40s, and the rest of your years.)


Breaking-Down-PMS

While I’m sure you wish that you could just PAUSE all the talk about menopause, it’s a fact of life, just like the first time you heard the word period.

(Hey, it could be worse, we could be like ants. Now that’s crossing the line.)

Most of your life you’ve heard all kinds of excuses why hormones are messing with you – from your insatiable desire for chocolate during PMS to your complete lack of passion for sex – your hormones played a part.

But it’s not just below the belt where hormones affect you, it’s everywhere.

Our brain, bones, heart, skin and muscles all depend on healthy levels of sex hormones, thyroid hormones and adrenal hormones to function properly. These hormones work in synergy to support our mood, motivation and drive. Hormones allow us to adapt to the demands and stressors of life. Maintaining healthy and appropriately balanced hormones supports healthy aging, quality of life and helps make an active lifestyle easier to maintain. Healthy hormone levels also support healthy sexual function, body weight, sleep and blood sugar levels.

So yes, those pesky little hormones control most everything about you – from the way you act, the way you feel, the way you look and the way your body is performing.

80s Movie Pizza Party #BigPizzeriaTaste #PMedia #Ad

However, that doesn’t mean once you hit your 40s, it’s done. Even though when I was 12 I felt that my world had come crashing down when I found out I had “become a woman,” I learned with a little knowledge and a few tools, life wasn’t just worth living, it was pretty damn good, if I want it to be.

Now I hit 36 (yes, I said it), I thought that menopause was just around the corner. But not so fast. PMS is still alive and well.

DID YOU KNOW?

Florida Hospital Medical Center states that almost 85% of American women experience PMS and symptoms can sometimes get worse as patients age and approach menopause.

What Causes PMS

In my younger years, I knew PMS had hit about the time I felt like someone was beating on my nether regions, rolled up with a heating pad, ready to toss my cookies most of the day, and stuffing my face with chocolate and popcorn. The older I got the more it’s changed, but not without me learning it was a little more than a five-day hindrance. PMS, or pre-menstrual syndrome, symptoms fluctuate with a lot of things including:

  • Nutrient deficiencies particularly with calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, E and B6
  • Excess estrogen obtained from environmental factors like plastics and other chemical exposures
  • Stress
  • Blood sugar dysregulation
  • Level of thyroid hormones

But with a good diet, exercise and a little help on what your body is missing, you change a lot of those crazy things your body does right before Aunt Flow comes to visit.  

Making PMS Better

Eating a plant-based diet including broccoli, cabbage or brussels sprouts help support healthy detoxification. DIM, an important metabolite of indole-3-carbinol, promotes healthy estrogen metabolism and cell cycle activity.

So put down the chocolate – or at least eat one just bite, not the whole bar.

  • There is also scientific evidence that adding Vitamin D and Magnesium can support your cycle up and downs during the menstrual cycle that may help explain some features of PMS like cramping and bloating. 
  • Trials also support that Vitamin B, especially Vitamin B-6 can help to get your mood in check.
  • And Iron has also been linked to PMS as it supports the maintenance of healthy iron storage your cycling body needs (and I don’t mean SoulCycle)

Dole-mamachallenge

Taking birth control? PMS symptoms can also get out of whack due to folate interactions happening in your body, so getting just the right amount of this water-soluble B vitamin will help things out, as long as you don’t get too much (which can cause a whole new set of problems.)Folate is one of those really important things your body needs to help prevent birth defects, anemia, and keep your brain moving right along.  

So are you wonder how you’re going to get all those vitamins and minerals in to make PMS more tolerable?

Breakding-Down-PMS

In addition to diet (and exercise), Douglas Laboratories PMS Support can provide a combination of specific nutrients, including BioResponse DIM®, chasteberry extract, magnesium and B vitamins, specially formulated for support of normal premenstrual symptoms in healthy women. That chasteberry extract is pretty powerful stuff as it helps to balance out those crazy estrogen hormones over progesterone.

Basically, this stuff helps you to get your vitamins, minerals and other stuff your body needs to put your hormones in check and get Aunt Flow moving right along – without all the mess and mayhem she brings.

So as I hit my 36-year milestone, I’m figuring out the end as I know it isn’t just around the corner. This is where life gets good.

You just need a little boost.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Yule Love the Holidays with La Madeleine

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The holidays are the reason to make enjoying moments together a priority so yule love La Madeleine’s new Holiday French Market and brunch offerings. Sing along at#Falalalalalamadeleine.

I’m so proud to be a La Madeleine Holiday Ambassador to celebrate the joy of the season with you. 

I’m a gal that loves everything about brunch.

So of course brunch during the holidays is my jam (pun intended.)


La-Madeleine-Brunch

I can remember when I was pregnant with my first son, every Saturday I would get up and me and the big belly would waddle into La Madeleine and I would order a creamy florentine quiche (with the best crust), fresh fruit, a glass of milk and sit next to the crackling fireplace so I can just spend a little time with him (and do some baby planning.) 

It’s still one of those traditions with him I’ll cherish always. 

Now, thankfully that I can partake in a true brunch experience, La Madeleine has added several new things just in time for the holidays to make it easier to make those special moments happen – even if you don’t have the time! 

Catered or Take and Bake Country French Brunch

I love to make brunch casseroles but unfortunately, if you didn’t have the time to go to the grocery store, throw one together the night before and let it sit, it ain’t happening. With La Madeleine’s new Egg and Cheese Croissant Bake, you can choose sausage and bacon or spinach and either take it home ready to cook or order online and pick it up hot five hours later. You can also add a cheesy potato gratin casserole, freshly-baked mini croissants – butter, chocolate, almond, chocolate almond and blackberry cream cheese, and even a fresh-cut Fruit Salade if you have a big impression to make. 

La-Madeleine-Brunch

  • Catered sizes available for groups of 10, 20 and 30. Delivered hot and ready to serve in chafing dishes with serving utensils.
  • Take Home and Bake sizes available for groups of 4-6 and 8-10.

And who can forget crepes? That’s just one of the many reasons to go to La Madeleine. A thin pancake filled with everything and anything, crepes in the U.S. are considered almost a delicacies, although in French reality, they are much more common over the pond. Either way, many of us here, don’t try to master the crepe, but with the help of La Madeleine’s Executive Chef Susan Dederen, we share what it takes to take on the crepe. (And it’s not near as hard as any of us think it is!) 

Holiday French Market

But for most of us this season, the holidays are a month-long season of events, activities, and special moments that in reality get crunched with all the other stresses of our life. So to make holiday gift giving and to make the days a little brighter (and sweeter), the Holiday French Market was built. Inside each La cafe, you’ll find box sets featuring the world-famous tomato basil soupe already packaged perfectly for gift giving, along with bundled decorated Christmas Tree cookies, the legendary Linzer cookies, macaroons, macarons, fruit tartes and so much more! 

La Madeleine Holiday

This year we are featuring three takes on the traditional French Creme Brulee – Creme Brulee Cheesecake, Mini Gingerbread Creme Brulee Tarts and new individual Caramel Creme Brulee cups. C’est magnifique!

And don’t worry, if you were looking for those seasonal flavors too, you’ll find peppermint mocha, gingerbread, and cranberry orange in the Viennoiserie cases (now I’m getting fancy.) 

Bûche de Noël or The Yule Log

But the most famous French tradition at the holidays is definitely, the Bûche de Noël or The Yule Log. If you ever had it, you know that the moist vanilla sponge cake, chocolate mousse, and ganache, is a reason worth celebrating the holidays. If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat. But it’s not just the taste, there’s a lot more behind the story. 

Join me with Alex of Eat Style Dallas on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016 at 10:15 am on Mamachallenge’s Facebook to learn how to master the Bûche de Noël. We’ll be sharing this and much more (including gift cards from La Madeleine) to make this online holiday even more sweet! 

La-Madeleine-Facebook-Live

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