Autumn Rose Reo

4 Ingredient Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

July 1, 2021 By Autumn Rose Reo 11 Comments

Summertime means ice cream, but no one wants to spend the day making it! With just a few ingredients, you can make any kind of ice cream! We love this 4 Ingredient Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, but you can make it your way any day.

As shown on Good Morning Texas.

Isn’t it funny that moms spend all that time scoping out Pinterest and creating beautiful meals plans for the family – and don’t normally end up eating any of them?

With all the pick ups, drop offs, appointments, loads of laundry, and dishes, and making dinner for the family, there’s never really a time to sit down for a meal. It’s always on the way out the door, in the car, or after everyone has gone to sleep. Besides, when’s the last time you tried to eat meatloaf and vegetables with one hand while typing on the computer?

So I resort to snacks…thankfully none of them are shaped like fish or dinosaurs. And being that I want to try to make healthy decisions, but still want it to taste good, Fiber One Bars to the rescue. Whether I’m in need of some protein, a middle-of-the-day snack, or a sweet treat, there are several options with added fiber to keep my taste buds and digestive system in check. Having these buried in a bag, drawer, or the back of the pantry (away from my kids’ little fingers), has saved me many times from not just going hungry, but making sure I don’t head for something that I’ll regret again and again later.

When you bite into one, you never would think that you can get a box of something this good and for only around $3 a box at Walmart!

Full of fiber and flavor, Fiber One bars make a good choice for any time of the day (especially when you’re trying to get things done!)

Easy, No Churn 4 Ingredient Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

But with summer in full swing, there’s nothing better than a deliciously sweet bowl of dreamy creamy ice cream. So taking the best of both worlds of strawberry cheesecake and ice cream, here’s an easy recipe for 4 ingredient strawberry cheesecake ice cream that will have you looking forward to #snaccidents again and again. And with only 4 ingredients and almost no work (you don’t even need an ice cream maker.)

While you do use whipping cream for this summerific treat, choose a lowfat/nonfat condensed milk. Using strawberry pie filling also helps to make this ice cream next level, fresh or frozen strawberries can be substituted if you want to add more fruit and less sweetness. With just a few hours, in the freezer, your #snaccident can be transformed into a life-changing snack experience.

4 Ingredient Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Description

An easy recipe for strawberry cheesecake ice cream with four ingredients featuring Fiber One Bars.

Ingredients

Scale

1 1/2 cup whipping cream
1 can low fat condensed milk (14 oz)
1 cup strawberry pie filling, 1 half can
1–2 Fiber One Strawberry Cheesecake Bars, crumbled

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

Healthy Avocado Cappuccino Truffles

January 11, 2021 By Autumn Rose Reo 26 Comments

What’s better than truffles? Healthy truffles! With 5 ingredients you can make healthy avocado cappuccino truffles with a secret ingredient – AVOCADOS!

It doesn’t take much for me to stop for coffee…especially ICED COFFEE. However, when you’re trying to lose weight, you don’t give up those calories easily for coffee.

But with the new Skinny Cow Iced Coffee, you can have your coffee and eat it, too. However, who wants to eat cake by yourself? So I called some of my best gal pals over to catch up after the holidays for a fun and easy “Coffee Break” party to try the three Skinny Cow Iced Coffee flavors paired with my new recipe for healthy truffles!

While I love hosting a party with a good theme, I didn’t have much time for much creativity although I still wanted the get together to feel special. Nowadays it’s hard to have a time everyone can pause, even just for an hour, but it actually didn’t take much to create a “cafe-inspired table” with coffee filter flowers, a coffee candle and my healthy, five-ingredient cappuccino truffles.

Using some leftover recycled coffee filters, straws and some ground coffee, I easily made a nice tablescape with “coffee flowers.” I think they turned out adorable and the aroma of coffee each time I walked by was amazing for this coffee lover.

Skinny Cow has long been a favorite in our house for their ice cream sandwiches and other sweet treats, but now at only 120 calories for iced coffee, I don’t have to choose if I treat myself with an iced coffee. I can enjoy three flavors of Skinny Cow Iced Coffees: Creamy Cappuccino, Mocha Latte and Vanilla Latte.

No matter if it’s cold outside or a blazin’ 100 degrees, Skinny Cow Iced Coffee is perfect for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up! Each of the flavors featured the delicious flavor of coffee with a subtle hint of some of my favorite flavors. Since we were having an iced coffee tasting party, we each took turns enjoying each flavor starting with the Vanilla Latte, then Creamy Cappuccino and last the Mocha Latte. And just like my friends; we all liked a different one for different reasons!

While I really could enjoy my Skinny Cow Iced Coffee as a treat in itself, I wanted a little something for the party. But since we all are trying to eat healthier, I wanted to make something that was healthy and paired perfectly with coffee. An idea brewed: Cappuccino Truffles! Using a fun recipe I found online with one REALLY unique ingredient, I was able to make them quickly, easily and really healthy! And based on the reviews from my friends, this recipe is a real keeper! Did I mention it only had five ingredients, too?

Healthy Avocados Truffles

Print Recipe

Description

These healthy cappuccino truffles only have five ingredients – including avocado instead of butter or milk!

Ingredients

Scale

6 oz. chocolate (the darker you go the better)

1/3 cup mashed avocado (small avocado)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder

2 tablespoons cocoa powder, for rolling (optional)

Instructions

Combine the chocolate, vanilla and salt over a double boiler, and melt until completely smooth. (This can also be done in the microwave.)
Mash the avocado with a fork until no lumps are visible and then stir it into the melted chocolate mixture until smooth.
Place in the fridge to set for 20 minutes.
Once slightly firm, roll the chocolate into 12 balls and place them on a pan lined with parchment paper. (Don’t roll them in your hands for long or they will begin to melt.)
Place the 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and instant espresso powder in bowl and roll each truffle into the cocoa to coat.
Serve at room temperature, but need to be refrigerated to be stored.

Other ways you might enjoy your avocados!

Guide to SO.MUCH.CHRISTMAS. at the Gaylord Texan

December 15, 2020 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Have you been so busy you haven’t had time to do the Christmas stuff? Get in all the holiday fun with our guide to SO MUCH Christmas at the Gaylord Texan.

It’s ironic that the more at home we are, the less time it seems we have to do anything?

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like the days get longer and so does my to do list. So if you’re working hard to get in all in the Christmas – the music, the lights, the pictures, the fun, the movies – the everything – then book a stay at the Gaylord Texan now. Why? Because there’s SO.MUCH.FUN. (And SO.MANY.Photos to go through – exactly 421 in less than 24 hours!)

WHAT’S NEW AT THE GAYLORD TEXAN THIS YEAR

The Gaylord Texan is legendary for its ICE exhibit, but like 2020 has served up, it wasn’t possible this year. So Plan B opened up a few new experiences to add to their already long list of opportunities to make a stay in the Christmas Capital of Texas well even more Christmas…with I Love Christmas Movies! and Yuletide Bright! So just because things are a little different (they’ve made it fun and safe with all their activities!)

CHRISTMAS AT THE GAYLORD TEXAN ACTIVITIES WE DID

But before you go to the Gaylord Texan make sure to have a strategy.

There is really so much to do that you need to make sure you’ve bought all your tickets (this year it’s an online ticket office only.) And since everything is on a schedule, you’ll want to make the most of your time and your photos opportunities (because there’s a lot of them here.) Plus you’ll want to plan for some free time just to rest, especially if you have small kids. And most importantly, you’ll need to figure out food because with the current rules for restaurants, you can’t always just get a seat wherever you want, when you want during #2020 (so basically make sure to make a reservation for the must-haves like Zeppole or the Old Hickory Steakhouse by going to Open Table before your stay.)

Our 24-Hour Itinerary at the Gaylord Texan included:

Check In
You’ll want to take photos when you get there, handle parking, etc. so allow at least :30 minutes to an hour for this!
Build Your Own Snowman
We went in deep immediately with activities, so dress accordingly. It’s cold where all the activities are but you’ll be moving around a lot and you won’t want to deal with a lot of stuff. If you can ditch your purse, do it. You’ll need the jackets and gloves for snowman making.
Snow Tubing
This is our favorite go for the Fast Pass if you can!
Build a Bear Workshop
You will say you won’t do it and you will. Absolutely you have to! While the kids are in line, go get a yummy Christmas cocktail.
Yuletide Bright
This one is outside so this is where the jacket comes in handy!
Dinner and PJ time
To-Go from Zeppole for the win (pasta in our Pjs!) Then we walked around for some cute photos around the hotel! (Christmas card FTW.)

Next Morning

Checkout: We loaded up our stuff so we could leave after our activities with late check out.
I Love Christmas Movies!
We were so excited for this one, so we headed down early to make sure we’re in line (you have only a few people you are with and they are very careful with social distancing!)
FOOD!
At the end of the experience, be ready for Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and Cinnabon which made for a good breakfast without having to get into line at the Marketplace
More Pictures!

EVEN MORE MUST-DO EVENTS

We did a lot in 24 hours. A LOT! But if we had a little more time (like a full weekend), we had already made a list for “Next TIme.” For instance if we were able to go for Christmas Brunch either at Zeppole or Riverwalk Cantina, we totally would. I hope they’ll do this kind of brunch each weekend in December rather than just Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The menus look amazing and if we didn’t have some must-do family events of our own (SANTA), we would be there in a heartbeat!

Other events we wished we could’ve done included:

I Love Christmas Movies!
We did it once but the first time was to experience it, the next time will be for pictures
The Escape Room
My kids have begged to come back just for this and we live close, so we may be back before January)
Gingerbread Making
We’re aggressive Gingerbread making people. But if there’s a competition on this one, it’s on.
Christmas Craft Studio
The Elf on the Shelf Breakfast
Santa’s Snow Throw
Ice Skating
Mistle Toe Heist Scavenger Hunt

…And there’s still more!

Even if you aren’t bringing the kids, a weekend at the Gaylord Texan is still what the doctor ordered for #2020. A trip to the Relache Spa, dinner at Old Hickory Steakhouse and enjoying all the activities (with a few cocktails) is how to escape the chaos and get into the Christmas spirit.

So are you ready to make the most of Christmas? Then head to the Gaylord Texan, where the holidays are going even after Christmas!

Here’s how you can save some money so you can do even more while you’re there!

Look for specials online (they’re running right now.) And don’t forget this coupon code!

Holidays at the Hilton Anatole

November 29, 2020 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

Need an escape this Christmas? Why not the North Pole? Head to Santa and his village by way of Dallas for Holidays at the Hilton Anatole.

Our family needed an escape for the holidays and there’s no better place than the North Pole…but since travel isn’t on the list for us lately, we packed up our family Christmas pjs and headed to Dallas to the Hilton Anatole. We’ve always enjoyed years of their Breakfast with Santa. And while this year there’s no Peppermint Park, we were so excited Santa wasn’t just hosting his holiday breakfast, but he also added some fun new surprises like holiday decorated hotel rooms, s’mores by the fire, the North Pole Cafe and even a real reindeer!

Christmas at the Hilton Anatole

Breakfast at with Santa: Breakfast with Santa is served family-style at each table this year in the big ballroom and includes all the breakfast favorites like chocolate chip pancakes, assorted pastries, bacon and eggs, fruit, made-to-order breakfast tacos and omelets, and for the big kids – Mimosa and Bloody Mary carafes! During breakfast Santa visits with the children in a socially distanced format including the reading of a Texas-themed Christmas story and letters from the children in the audience mailed from the North Pole mailbox in the lobby. Santa’s sleigh will also be set up for photo opportunities!

Other Holiday Activities: Guests who book a Breakfast with Santa or Santa Suite Package can enjoy holiday themed activities the evening of check-in throughout the hotel for all ages including:

Photo opportunities with Santa and a live reindeer (we met Blitzen and he was my perfect holiday wish!)
North Pole Cafe offering Naughty and Nice Cocktails and lite-bites for adults and children
Tipsy Toes – A performing Christmas Tree on stilts
S’mores kits around the fire pit in the sculpture garden
Children will be able to write letters to Santa and mail them directly to the North Pole via the mailbox in the lobby
Evening movie night featuring holiday movies and popcorn
Holiday arts and craft stations and games

Room Packages and Reservations at the Hilton Anatole

Breakfast with Santa Package – Guests who book the Breakfast with Santa package will receive:

One standard guest room with 1 p.m. late check-out
Preferred seating at breakfast for two adults and two children with Santa on day of departure from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.(additional guest $17.99 Child and 39.99 Adult)
Plus holiday activities throughout the hotel the evening of check-in

Santa Suite Package – Guests who book the Santa Suite Package will receive:

One Santa-themed suite (guest room + parlor) including holiday décor and amenities with 1 p.m. late check-out
Meet-n-greet event with Santa and one of his live reindeer from 6-7 pm day of arrival including a family portrait
Preferred VIP table at breakfast for two adults and two children from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (additional guest $17.99 Child and 39.99 Adult)
Holiday activities throughout the hotel the evening of arrival

Breakfast with Santa Only – Individual event reservations will be available on a limited basis starting at $45 per person, and $20 for children under 10 and can be booked by calling 214-761-7536 or by email Jeffrey.Mikus@Hilton.com.

And one big thing to note: I couldn’t have felt safer. The rooms were sealed to let us know they had been cleaned just for us. EVERYONE had on a mask unless guests who were eating. And of course with a hotel as big as the Anatole, there was so much room for socially distancing. Best of all, Santa and his reindeer are outside for a memorable photo opp.

Also:

Christmas at the Anatole and Breakfast with Santa was designed with the new Hilton EventReady guidelines and protocols to make these events safe for all guests and team members.
Breakfast events will be held in a 28,000 square-foot ballroom where the hotel can socially distance about 100 family tables.
Tables are assigned to individual families, up to 10.

Ready to go? Breakfast events will be from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on:

Saturday, November 28
Sunday, November 29
Saturday, December 5
Sunday, December 6
Saturday, December 12
Sunday, December 13
Saturday, December 19
Sunday, December 20
Monday, December 21
Tuesday, December 22
Wednesday, December 23

For more information on Christmas at the Anatole and to book reservations, visit the Hilton Anatole website.

Turkey Cranberry Panini with Brie and Basil Mayo

November 20, 2020 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HolidaysWithSaraLee

Want a sandwich that will make you say thanks? Put those Thanksgiving leftovers to work with this Turkey Cranberry Panini with Brie and Basil Mayo.

I may be going on a limb here, but when it comes to Thanksgiving, it’s not the big feast that I’m looking forward to – it’s the leftovers. I love the part about getting together, the tablescape, and the smell of turkey roasting in the oven. But honestly, it’s when you’ve had the best day with family and friends being thankful and then quietly, after hours (like after everyone has gone to bed), pulling out all your favorites dishes from Thanksgiving to create the best.sandwich.ever. that really makes that day complete.

If you’ve ever seen Spanglish where Adam Sandler plays a chef and comes home after the longest day and makes the most perfect fried egg sandwich? Well it’s that moment when he takes a big exhale that you know exactly what I mean. It makes me relaxed just thinking about it.

There’s just something about a sandwich.

You know exactly that moment when you bite into that perfect sandwich…ahhhh.

But you know what else there is?

A sandwich that is made with good bread that takes it from wow to WHOA. Even better is a bread for me that has 8 grams of whole grains per 2 slice serving and is high in fiber……and has 45 calories per slice (serving size 2 slices 90 calories) and 6 grams of net carbs per slice (12 net carbs per 2 slice serving). Yes – that means it is Keto-friendly! Plus, with no artificial flavors, 0g trans fat, no high fructose corn syrup and a cholesterol-free food, this bread hits all the checkmarks!

Sara Lee ® Delightful™ White Made with Whole Grain Bread is what to be thankful for and Walmart for being the place to find it! Right now earn $.65 cash back on with Ibotta.

Click the image below to add it right to your Walmart Online Grocery cart.

Now we have the bread, it’s the other simple items you’ll find in your fridge after Thanksgiving that you need for what I call the perfect Thanksgiving sandwich:

Turkey (there’s always turkey to eat after dinner!)
Brie Cheese (leftover from that charcuterie board)
Cranberry Sauce (someone wanted it on the table right?)
Fresh Basil (leftover from the stuffing or dressing)
Mayonnaise (staple!)
And of course that Sara Lee ® Delightful™ White Made with Whole Grain Bread

Now the trick here is mayonnaise.

You could make the mayonnaise from scratch (which I highly suggest), or like me, when you’re enjoying this Turkey Day sandwich after hours, you want to make it quick and quiet (as possible.) So take the shortcut of making up the basil mayo by mixing mayonnaise with some basil leaves in the food processor. Then you slather that stuff on both sides of the bread! YES, both sides! So now you have flavor and you have the secret to making a golden, toasted sandwich. And if you happen to have some extra basil, add a few leaves to add some green to the sandwich, but this is just another option if you love basil as much as I do.

As for taking it to the next level as a panini, you don’t necessarily have to have a panini maker or panini press. You can just apply pressure to the bread with a wooden spatula while it cooks and think about all the things you’re thankful for. Then flip it over and repeat.

Turkey Cranberry Panini with Brie and Basil Mayo

Ingredients

2 slices, Sara Lee ® Delightful ™ White Made with Whole Grain Bread

Turkey, sliced (enough for your sandwich, either light or dark meat)

2-3 ounces Brie Cheese

Cranberry Sauce (1-2 tablespoons depending on your preference – I love it!)

¼ c. Fresh Basil, pureed

¼ c. Mayonnaise

Directions

First to create the Basil Mayonnaise, mix fresh basil and mayonnaise together until blended.

Then spread the mayonnaise mixture on both sides of the bread.

Next over medium heat, add both pieces of bread to the pan. Meanwhile on one side of the toast, add all the ingredients as you would starting with turkey, cheese, and cranberry sauce.

When both sides are golden, then add the top slice of bread to the other side to make it a sandwich. If you’re making a panini, this is when you will apply the press or use a wooden spatula to press the bread together. (It’s perfect when you see the cheese gets nice and melted.)

Now this is a sandwich to be thankful for!

Garlic and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms

November 20, 2020 By Autumn Rose Reo 30 Comments

The holidays may bring opportunities for fancy dinners and cocktail parties, but it’s the impromptu moments that sometimes mean the most like these easy Garlic and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms.

During the holidays, you always be prepared with a shortlist of simple and quick go-to recipes like these mushrooms stuffed with Boursin® cheese to earn you the reputation as the holiday hostess with the mostess – even if you didn’t put forth much effort!

I love that the holidays remind us to spending together. It’s so easy all year long to let everything get in the way, but at least between rolling out the first big orange pumpkin until the Big Ball drops on January 1, we try to make time to say hello, catch up and give that much-needed hug.

While you can’t always be ready with a fridge full of perfect appetizers ready to go, having a few staples around will make your guests think you’ve been slaving away for hours before they showed up! Check out the Walmart deli and produce areas for meats and cheeses like Boursin® to create a cheese plate and these Garlic and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms (that have less than five ingredients) paired with a good wine for a beautiful and delicious presentation to be proud to your own!

The feature of the Garlic and Herb stuffed mushrooms is creamy Boursin® cheese. Seasoned with garlic and fine herbs wrapped in its signature foil, it’s hard not to devour this rich, but airy cheese before it’s stuffed into the mushrooms (just remember to buy two – one to nibble, one to use for the recipe.)

Because there’s already the great flavor of herbs and garlic, the cheese doesn’t need anything extra added to the filling. However, I added a few leaves of fresh basil chopped finely to just add a little more color to the mixture, but in a fix, you don’t have to worry about herbs. Lastly, topped with shredded Parmesan cheese and baked in the oven, you’ll have a sinfully decadent bite-sized app in just about 25-30 minutes.

Now just be ready for the rich smell of garlic that will take over your kitchen…it’s heavenly!

For another quick app that will wow your gifts, make sure you always have veggies, breads and crackers around, especially during the holidays. You can present a serious spread by just pan frying a few slices of bread with butter then spreading a little Boursin® Monterey Jack & Spicy Pepper Cheese Dip on the top.

Or for a little healthier spin, stuff some of the creamy spread in celery sticks. Two apps in about two minutes (okay, maybe five), you’re ready to enjoy a little time to catch up with you eat up!

You can try other recipes with Boursin® on its holiday resource www.boursinpartytricks.com.

Garlic and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 25
Total Time: 35 minutes

Print Recipe

Description

A quick and easy yet impressive appetizer perfect for last-minute hospitality.

Ingredients

Scale

Cooking Spray
1 package whole mushrooms (white or portobellos)
1 package Boursin® cheese
2–3 basil leaves, chopped finely (optional)
2 tablespoon parmesan cheese, shredded

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Spray pan with cooking spray.
Remove mushrooms steps from the caps. Chop stems finely.
Combine chopped mushrooms, chopped basil and Boursin® cheese in a bowl until filly blended.
Add mixture to mushroom caps until full and rounded.
Place all the mushrooms in pan and then sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Bake mushrooms for 25-30 minutes until golden.
When done, remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes and serve!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 10
Calories: 97
Sugar: 0
Sodium: 158
Fat: 8
Saturated Fat: 5
Unsaturated Fat: 2
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 1
Protein: 6
Cholesterol: 25

Scents of the Holidays: Apple Cinnamon Cheer™ Cake

November 14, 2020 By Autumn Rose Reo 4 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GladeHolidayMood #Collective Bias #Ad

Depending on what time of the year you come to my house, there’s a delicious smell that takes you over as soon as you open the door.

At the holidays it’s the absolute best with aromas of fresh baked cookies right out of the oven or hot, simmering apple cider.

Unfortunately, I’m not normally hard at work in the kitchen, although I want you to think so.

However, there’s nothing better at this time of the year and to give you that warm and fuzzy feeling than a smell that reminds you of good memories with friends and family.

According to a recent study, the connection between the amygdala, which process emotions, and your olfactory glands will spark nostalgic experiences.

Remember when you hosted the cookie exchange with all your girlfriends and you bit into the best cookie ever?

Or the year you all spent hours making the gingerbread house, but ran out of the candy before you were done with the roof?

Then there was the time you spent hours decorating the tree to the sounds of Michael Buble until after midnight in your sweats?

While this time of the year is also the busiest with work, decorating the house for the holidays, and Christmas shopping and of course, Christmas cooking, you don’t need to be so entrenched that you don’t spend time enjoying the point of the season, spending it with loved ones.

So when someone drops by or you want to at least LOOK like you’ve been slaving for hours over the stove, here’s a super recipe that smells like Christmas, looks like Christmas and even tastes like Christmas. For me Christmas smells like a mix of juicy apples, spicy cinnamon and hints of vanilla.

Don’t you just wish you could taste it?

You can!

Apple Cinnamon Cheer™ Cake

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup apples (one kind or various), peeled, cored and diced
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar + 1 Tablespoon
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup butter, melted
1 cup pecans

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Sprinkle the baking soda and 1 Tbsp. sugar over the apples and set aside.
In a bowl, thoroughly blend the two sugars together.
Next, add the cinnamon, cloves, flour and pecans to make the sugar mixture.
Then stir in the eggs, vanilla, and butter.
Pour into a greased 13 X 9 pan and bake for 40 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
Serve with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce or by itself.

With Glade’s® Limited Edition Winter Collection, you can celebrate the season with these holiday fragrances that I found at Kroger. For my Apple Cinnamon Cheer™ Cake, I was inspired by Glade’s® Apple Cinnamon Cheer. Finally, with this recipe you can actually taste what Apple Cinnamon Cheer™ tastes like.

Available as candles, wax melts, premium aerosols and PlugIns®, you can have your winter fragrance how you want it, any way you want it throughout the season.

Sparkling Spruce™

Feel the snow crunch under your boots as you join your friends for the tree lighting in the town square. Hints of frosty pine and evergreen fragrance fill the air, along with a wonderful sense of anticipation.

Hints of: Green Pine Needle, Spruce, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Cedar Leaf, and Patchouli.

Merry Citrus Melody

The annual holiday pageant offers one of the season’s many highlights. Gather with friends and family to sing songs of good cheer and share the most cherished music of the season.

Hints of: Mandarin, Aldehyde Snowflakes, Clove, Golden Amber, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

Apple Cinnamon Cheer™

Fill your cup with holiday cheer! Cinnamon-kissed hot apple cider warms you, body and soul, as you take an exhilarating sled ride across new-fallen snow.

Hints of: Apple Cider, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Clove, Vanilla, Cream and Woods.

Frosted Cookie Party™

Delightfully decorated treats are the order of the day at the yearly cookie exchange. The air is rich with wholesome baked aromas, along with laughter and cheerful conversations with your closest friends.

Hints of: Vanilla Bean, Whipped Icing, Toasted Marshmallow, Layered Cake and Spice.

Gingerbread Jingle™

If there’s ever a time to indulge, it’s at the holiday bake sale. Everyone’s brought wonderful recipes of baked family favorites, and the sweet scent of gingerbread greets you at every turn.

Hints of: Candied Ginger, Nutmeg, Black Cardamom, Cinnamon, Marzipan, Hazelnut, Brown Sugar, Gingerbread and Warm Molasses.

Mocha & Chestnuts

The sights and sounds of the holiday market treat your senses to pure holiday magic. Take a stroll through snow-blanketed booths filled with handcrafted toys, fresh roasted chestnuts and chocolate creations.

Hints of: Mocha, Cardamom, Buttermilk, Caramel Toffee, Almond, Nutmeg, Gingerbread, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla, Cinnamon and Bread Pudding.

Hot Cocoa & Mint

A spin around the local ice rink becomes an afternoon of frosty family fun. And the perfect way to finish it off? Warm up to a mug of rich, hot cocoa with a delightful hint of mint.

Hints; Peppermint, Crisp Spearmint, Cocoa, Pine, Marshmallow, Dark Chocolate, Coconut, Sugar and Candy Cane.

Under the Mistletoe

One of the sweetest sensations of the season—snuggling up closely with your sweetheart. Steal a kiss under the mistletoe, as the scent of fresh berries treats you to an unforgettable holiday memory.

Hints of: Sugared Strawberries, Cherry, Pink Grapefruit, Cranberry, Raspberry and Garland Greens.

What Glade® Winter Collection fragrance sounds perfect for your holiday?

Say Yes to the Dress

October 26, 2020 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

It’s the Cinderella moment we all dream of: the moment you put on the perfect dress that everything else is perfect, too and when you Say Yes to the Dress.

Thanks to Mama Luma for a Say Yes to the Dress moment for her.

For some girls it’s the prom. Some girls it’s the wedding. But for many Hispanic girls it’s the quinceanera.

Growing up I wasn’t really immersed in any Hispanic cultural holidays and experiences, so I never celebrated this special day growing up. But I remember the first time I was invited to one, I realized this wasn’t just a party, this was truly a mark of a female’s womanhood. And while she might have a date, that this big event (sometimes more than a traditional wedding) was so momental because it was all about her and that statement was exemplified with her prolific dress.

Recently my daughter and I planned a morning at Dallas Arboretum to spend girl time walking the gardens and seeing the flowers in full fall bloom. Considered one of the best gardens in the world, the legendary Dallas Arboretum is a 66-acre dream garden dream nestled up to White Rock Lake and hosts hundreds of events annually. To say the least, it’s beyond stunning and plays backdrop to so many picturesque moments in the region.

But on this special day it wasn’t even as we stepped through the gates we were met with several beautiful girls who all were adorning quinceanera dresses. Taylor Tot couldn’t have been more over the moon. Later I found out the Arboretum was hosting a social distanced fashion show to allow young ladies who didn’t get to have their big day to still show off the “big dress.” And were they impressive. Vivid colors, sparkle everything, flowing trains, and ruffles galore.

So taken by the moment, Taylor and spent time studying what makes each dress so special. And of course observing each of them taking their own photos (most of them had professional photographers also in tow), we took time to for our own “photo shoot.” Taylor had gotten a beautiful dress from Mama Luma and had been holding on to the perfect moment to wear it. She had hoped for her birthday party or some upcoming party, but many of those moments didn’t end up happening in 2020. So we made a day for the dress and since dress was detailed with flowers it was an obvious choice to wear to the garden to properly “show off.”

Mama Luma is out of Santa Barbara and isn’t just your everyday dress company. The designer style is made for celebrating a young girl’s big moment – from birthdays, holidays and those other big picture moments. The thoughtful accessories that are designed as part of each look like jackets, hair bands and bows, and now even matching masks. All hand sewn with such attention to detail and the highest quality of fabric, a Mama Luma dress is all style and grace. I could tell from the moment I slid up the zipper, my little girl felt as special as she always should, when her little lips curled up and she tried to hide her excitement.

Every girl she have that moment – when everything feels perfect, on the inside and the out.

If I can just figure out how to make that happen for her everyday. But I hope it not just a gorgeous dress, but when she looks in the mirror…she feels good looking back at herself.

I’ll admit I don’t know if I’ve had that moment either. When I was married, we chose to go casual and being that we didn’t have much money, I didn’t see the point of a big dress, especially one that made people look at me. I bought my dress online from J. Crew off clearance (white summer dresses in the winter are cheap.) While I loved that special day and wouldn’t take it back, I regret not having a “dress moment,” when I could look at myself and say “perfect.” And more than anything I’ll miss the moment pulling the dress out to share my moment with her.

If there’s anything I’ve learned lately is never settle with just ordinary. Never settle with waiting for the right moment. And when it comes down to it, always get the dress.

About Mama Luma: Mama Luma was started by co-founders and former college roommates Kevin and Ata. Ata wanted to bring his mother’s designs to life in California and believed that by blending the natural beauty of Santa Barbara with the elegance of European tradition and Mediterranean prints, he could inspire a new wave of chic fashion into the younger generations on the West Coast. With the help of his resources in Istanbul, Turkey, he and Kevin diligently worked to bring these hand-sewn, high fashion masterpieces to the world.

Celebrating Day of the Dead with A Dia de Los Muertos Hershey Sugar Skull Candy Tray

October 2, 2020 By Autumn Rose Reo 6 Comments

Celebrate Day of the Dead by creating this Día de Muertos Hershey Sugar Skull Candy Tray to celebrate time together with this sweet treat.

This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and The Hershey Company. All opinions are mine alone. #HersheysSkull

Día de Muertos is one of my favorite times of the year. There is such beauty in the event including the cultural roots of honoring and memorializing family members who have passed with a celebration with other loved ones filled with color, prayer, and delicious foods.

After traveling to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico during Día de Muertos a few years ago, I really began to truly appreciate and understand the real meaning of the holiday which spans, November 1 – November 2. The entire community was engrossed in visiting each altar that contained photos and beautiful offerings and leaving gifts of pan de muerto and other treats.

So now each year our family makes it a point to spend the days together thinking of the memories of those that have left us. And if possible traveling to other cities that embrace Day of the Dead like Terlingua, Texas and last year, Dallas, Texas with a parade and festival, each unique and special in its own way. This is also important to me since my children often don’t have the opportunity to embrace their own Hispanic heritage and really to experience the strength in numbers and their culture.

This year we’ll be spending Día de Muertos at home and what a great way to enjoy the two day event with this Día de Muertos Hershey Sugar Skull Candy Tray filled with Hershey chocolates and assorted candies. Not only does it serve as a fun and festive treat to share, but gives us an opportunity to sit down together as a family as we prepare the tray and talk about our favorite memories of our loved ones, past and present.

Dia de Los Muertos Hershey Sugar Skull Candy Tray Tutorial

We bought all of the candy at our local HEB!

HELPFUL TIP: Using both wrapped and unwrapped candies allows any guests to easily grab a treat without taking away from your beautiful tray!

We hope you enjoyed making this Día de Muertos Hershey Sugar Skull Candy Tray as much as we did. We loved creating the design and choosing each piece of candy to bring the skull alive. The hardest part of this is eating it, so make sure to save a few pieces to enjoy along the way, too!

Cancer Free Texas: HPV and Cancer Prevention

September 29, 2020 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

HPV affects 8 out of 10 people. If you could prevent it or more health issues would you do it? Here’s what we learned about the HPV vaccine and cancer prevention.

This is made possible with support from the American Cancer Society. All opinions are my own.

Being a mom is hard, especially when making choices about your child’s health! It’s a game of balance: weighing the options—what they need, what they don’t, and how it will affect them in the long run.

When my son was born with a Congenital Heart Defect, I had to immediately make decisions that would affect him for his whole life, including surgeries, scars, and so much more.

I aged ten years in those three weeks.

Thankfully, now he’s 12, and like all parents, I’m faced with a whole new set of decisions to make for him about his health. While I know there are no guarantees, I’ll do whatever I can to ensure he has an opportunity to live his life as healthy as possible.

So when my pediatrician discussed with me that there is a way to help prevent six different types of cancer with the HPV vaccination, I wanted to know more.

According to the American Cancer Society:

It’s estimated 8 out of 10 people will get HPV at some point in their lives.
HPV isn’t just a “girl thing.” Every year in the U.S, 35,000 men and women are diagnosed with a cancer caused by HPV.
About 14 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV annually.
HPV has no treatment, but a vaccine can prevent it.
The HPV vaccination is considered most effective when given to kids ages 9 – 12.
While it’s not the answer for everything, the HPV vaccination is cancer prevention and can prevent an estimated 90% of HPV cancers.

As much as he’s already gone through, and all the other things in life I can’t plan for, this was one thing we could do to better his chances at avoiding so much more like HPV and cancer. So for us, it was the best decision for him, and soon it will be the best decision for my daughter.

Get the facts about HPV and cancer from the American Cancer Society.

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Summertime means ice cream, but no one wants to spend the day making it! With just a few ingredients, you can make any kind of ice cream! We love this 4 Ingredient Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, but you can make it your way any day.

Easy, No Churn 4 Ingredient Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

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Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

What’s better than truffles? Healthy truffles! With 5 ingredients you can make healthy avocado cappuccino truffles with a secret ingredient – AVOCADOS!

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Have you been so busy you haven’t had time to do the Christmas stuff? Get in all the holiday fun with our guide to SO MUCH Christmas at the Gaylord Texan.

WHAT’S NEW AT THE GAYLORD TEXAN THIS YEAR

CHRISTMAS AT THE GAYLORD TEXAN ACTIVITIES WE DID

EVEN MORE MUST-DO EVENTS

Need an escape this Christmas? Why not the North Pole? Head to Santa and his village by way of Dallas for Holidays at the Hilton Anatole.

Christmas at the Hilton Anatole

Room Packages and Reservations at the Hilton Anatole

Want a sandwich that will make you say thanks? Put those Thanksgiving leftovers to work with this Turkey Cranberry Panini with Brie and Basil Mayo.

Turkey Cranberry Panini with Brie and Basil Mayo

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The holidays may bring opportunities for fancy dinners and cocktail parties, but it’s the impromptu moments that sometimes mean the most like these easy Garlic and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms.

You can try other recipes with Boursin® on its holiday resource www.boursinpartytricks.com.

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It’s the Cinderella moment we all dream of: the moment you put on the perfect dress that everything else is perfect, too and when you Say Yes to the Dress.

Celebrate Day of the Dead by creating this Día de Muertos Hershey Sugar Skull Candy Tray to celebrate time together with this sweet treat.

HPV affects 8 out of 10 people. If you could prevent it or more health issues would you do it? Here’s what we learned about the HPV vaccine and cancer prevention.

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