Autumn Rose Reo

Not Just a SmartHome, it’s a SafeHome with Verizon

July 3, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 14 Comments

When mobile phones became a standard around a decade (or two ago), it was about being constantly connected even in an emergency. As we’ve progressed with technology, it’s not just our phone that is connected, it’s now the front door, the lamp, and now even your kids’ who can’t even operate a phone can be reached with the swipe of a button. It’s not just a SmartHome, it’s SafeHome with Verizon and their new array of safehome products.

Need to unlock the door for the technician, your friend who needed to borrow something while you’re at work or did you forget to lock the door? The Kwikset Kevo let’s you lock and unlock your door with the easy of your smartphone for assurance.

Kwikset Kevo – Venetian Bronze
$199.99 RIGHT NOW

Turn your compatible Apple® iOS or Android® 5.0 device into an electronic house key
Unlock a door with the simple touch of your hand when your smartphone is nearby
Send guests or family a temporary electronic key, so they can let themselves in

If you’re mornings are as crazy as mind, you’re still wondering if you turned off the coffee pot or your flatiron well into your workday – until now. Belkin’s WeMo Insight Switch gives you the capability to turn off and on the switch while you’re away, allows you to set a schedule when you want electronics to turn off and on, or even monitor the amount of energy you are using.

Belkin WeMo Insight Switch
$59.99

Turn home electronics on or off from your smartphone or tablet
See how much energy your home appliances are using
Create customized schedules, such as turning a lamp on at sunset

Wish you could see what’s happening at home when you’re traveling or even when you’re away from your hotel room? There are tons of options for security anywhere with the Canary Home Security system. Check in on home with your smartphone to see real time video with no installation or wires, but can also work with your automated security system for the ultimate anytime, anywhere safehome.

Canary Home Security – White
$249

Complete home security system in one device
Adapts to your home over time, sends notifications with HD video to your smartphone
No monthly fees or contracts needed; quick and easy set up

Even if your child doesn’t need their own mobile phone, you still need to reach them or at least know where they’re at. With GitzmoPal you can always call or find your child whereever they are and they can call up to two different numbers if they need to reach you. And with up to six numbers set to reach GitzmoPal, Grandma, the babysitter and even your sister can reach your child if necessary.

GitzmoPal by LG
$79.00 (with one year contract)

Make and receive calls with one button
Locate GizmoPal on a map from your smartphone
Water resistant, durable and fun to wear

Visit How to Better Step Up Your Home Security to a Safehome for more tips from Verizon.

Go Burgers, Go BBQ, Go Hickory

July 2, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

Without a doubt, when people come to visit Dallas, I am always asked “where do you go for good BBQ?”

In Texas, that’s a loaded question. There are many options, but if you throw in an Iron Chef, you know it’s gonna be good. But when you stack on a pile of burgers, craft cocktails and a cool patio at an upscale Texas roadhouse, then you got the ideal recipe for a killer BBQ joint. And did I mention a plate of pork done three ways? Yes, that just made it even better.

Appropriately coined Hickory, Chef Kent Rathbun has created the perfect pairing of burgers and bbq in a 6,500 square foot space on the Tollway in Plano. For those who can’t make up their mind what they are in the mood for (much like myself), I recently enjoyed the opportunity to sample several items from the menu at Hickory with Chef. Having him give the back story on the backbone of each dish gave a new level to each bite as well as the chance to try dishes I would have never ordered on my own.

Sides were pretty dang tasty too with comfort favorites with that funky twist you come to expect from any of Chef Rathbun’s concepts. With Granny Smith apple coleslaw, burnt end baked beans, salted baked potato salad, buttermilk onion rings, and waffle-cut Maytag blue cheese fries. And don’t worry, there’s a big plate of mac n cheese for you made in the skillet, so you know it’s good and hot. While I don’t care much for pickles, don’t miss your chance to crunch into any of the bread and butter or spicy dills…After snacking on these crispy-made cucumbers gone ripe, I may rethink my pickle problems.

As much as I enjoyed the meal, the real stand out for me as a beet and goat cheese salad. That’s right…until tonight I didn’t eat beets either, but when I took that first bite, the combination of beets and basil with the tanginess of goat cheese is exactly what summer is supposed to taste like. (And lucky for us, Chef Rathbun shares his recipe for this summer salad!)

Hickory’s Beet and Goat Cheese Salad by Chef Kent Rathbun

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

FOR THE DRESSING

½ cup buttermilk
½ cup sour cream
1 each lemon, juiced and zested
2 teaspoons cracked black pepper

FOR THE BEET OIL

2 ounces red beets, peeled
4 ounces olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt

FOR THE BASIL OIL

8 each basil leaves
8 each spinach leaves, washed
4 ounces olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt

FOR THE SALAD

4 pounds assorted baby beets, washed, roasted,
peeled and quartered
4 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt
6 ounces lemon buttermilk dressing , see recipe
12 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons purple micro basil,
4 ounces watercress, washed and dried
2 ounces beet oil, see recipe
2 ounces basil oil, see recipe

Instructions

FOR THE DRESSING:

In a mixing bowl mix buttermilk, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest and cracked black pepper. Set aside.

FOR THE BEET OIL:

In a blender, blend together beets, olive oil and kosher salt until smooth. Store in squeeze bottle.

FOR THE BASIL OIL:

In a blender, blend together basil leaves, spinach leaves, olive oil and kosher salt until smooth.

FOR THE SALAD:

In a mixing bowl mix assorted beets with olive oil and kosher salt and set aside.
Arrange the beets evenly on 8 salad plates. Using a spoon, drizzle the buttermilk dressing over the beets and around the plate.
Cut 1 1 1/2 ounce wheel of the herbed goat cheese log. Place in the center of the plate and garnish with purple micro basil.
In a small mixing bowl dress the watercress with a small amount of beet oil and basil oil.
Sprinkle the top of the salad with the watercress.
Finish the salad by garnishing the plates with small drops of beet and basil oil around the salad on the plate.
Serve.

While you won’t have room for dessert, but if you insist on finishing your meal with a sweet treat, you’ll have several unique options to let your taste buds roll in like the banana lemon tart and skillet cobbler. And white you enjoy every last morsel, you can all discuss how what you’ll eat the next time you need Hickory.

Hickory
8100 Dallas Parkway
Plano, Texas
website

Picking the Right Name for Your Business

June 29, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 17 Comments

When my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our first child, we spent weeks figuring out just the right name. We thought of all the scenarios of how people would receive him, how it would look on his college applications, on his business card, how it would sound coming out of my mouth when I yelled at him…needless to say we thought of everything possible that gave him that “je nai se qua” (AKA that something special) that would make his footprint on the world memorable when his name was used.

Naming and owning a business is a lot like naming and having a baby. It’s something you want so bad to be yours and you’ll work so hard to have it and while in the end it’s totally worth it, there is going to be a lot of tears, not a lot of sleep, and probably a lot of money spent to take care of it. So why would naming it be any different?

Also as part of mom duties and blog duties, I also double as a super agent in marketing, public relations, and social media consultant. I’m pretty lucky that I get to be a part of the growing up process of a business – no matter what age it’s at – and nuture it to the next stage. Also sounds a lot like rearing a child, there’s no such thing as ever being “done” with marketing a business; it just changes the stages it’s in.

Finding the Right Name for Your Business

Notice how close baby and business are even on Google!

But ironically enough many people don’t take the time to think of all the scenarios naming their business (and their website) and why you need to take in account so many different points of view before landing on just the right name for your ~~baby.~~..business.

Picking the Right Name for Your Business

1. Does it describe what you are? There is something for getting to the point of a name. Calling a company Bob’s Dog Sitting gets to the point of the business and leaves no room for wondering if just “Bob’s” is a dog sitting service or a bakery. It says what it is and thus acts like your own SEO (search engine optimization.) However, you have to think about the big brands and how they became household names. Does Apple, Starbucks or Tory Burch say what their business are in just their name? Nope, they built a brand based on going to the next step.

2. Create just the right recipe for uniqueness, but not too off the beaten path. Calling yourself “ABC Cleaning” might put you first in ABC order, it doesn’t exactly make your company standout. Conversely, if you use something so unique like “Obelowys” then the name is so unique that it doesn’t have the sticking power you want for building a successful brand. Just like a good song, if you can’t figure out the name of the song in the lyrics, you won’t necessarily go out and buy it later.

3. If you can’t pronounce it, spell it, or it doesn’t fit in a Twitter username, it’s not the right name. This is a pretty easy explanation. Remember that film that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck did together and began their long romance until it fizzled? The answer to that is my first point, but my second is that both the relationship and the movie went down in flames, but that much star power shouldn’t have put the movie on the list of one of the worst ever. The blame here went to its name “Gigli.” Most moviegoers and media didn’t know how to say it, so they didn’t go and see it. This same rule applies to your business name. If your potential customer constantly will misspell the name of your business or it’s so long the name won’t fit on social media, then you know it’s worth throwing back in the pond for another fist.

4. Do your homework! This is a huge one…you don’t want to create a name that 15 other people in your city have for a hair salon. You also don’t want to create a business name like let’s say “Apple.” and not expect to have lots of confusion – and if you’re not careful – lawsuits. Recently a restaurant in my neighborhood named their Italian restaurant the same name of a big celebrity chef’s eatery in NYC. When the big restaurant found out the new restaurant had used their copyrighted name, a cease and desist letter appeared in their mailbox. Too bad it was AFTER they had printed menus, secured their social media, and had an expensive sign mounted. That was a lot of money and resource time wasted that could have been avoided if they had done their homework on the front end.

5. The biggest and most important: Land it and immediately claim your website and your social media channels. While you’re developing the right name, you should also be checking at the same time if the website and social media channels are available. One company I worked with had done so much work to create just the perfect name and then found out no part of the name or even an acronym could be claimed.

[Tweet “People expect your company name is also how to find your company on the web and social media. “]

I’ve seen it happen so many times that a business works so hard for so long to come up with the right name only to find someone bought your .com several months before you. Thankfully, there are now more creative and memorable options than ever to find the right website domain by using a “not-com name” like .PIZZA, .FLORIST and .COFFEE (and many more!)

Speaking of food, Name.Kitchen, powered by Donuts, helps to make the process easier for your restaurant, cleaning business or law firm. Designed as a resource to help you create just the right recipe for your company’s name. Geared toward entrepreneurs (aka “business chefs”), Name.Kitchen offers tools and inspiration on cooking up that perfect identity with tons of apps to get your brainstorming going and then to Claim Your Name.

Still a little leery of going with a “not-com?”

See what other companies did creating their name and brand with the Name.Kitchen’s “I am.__” video series from real customers going through the same process of you to create your perfect baby…your business.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Name.Kitchen.

5 Must-Haves for Your Gym Bag

June 28, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 15 Comments

We’ve 5 must-haves for your gym bag – everything you need to make use of your time burning calories and staying fit.Motivation and time to get to the gym is the hard part; having everything you need to finish a successful workout in one place shouldn’t be.

The Right Bag: Fitmark Namaste Bag

You know it’s a good bag when you take it to the gym and you’re asked “where’d you get that?” With a place for your yoga mat, a separate bag for shoes, pockets for your wallet, keys, your water, and everything in between, this is the bag you’ve been looking for – even though you didn’t know it existed until now!

Right Water Bottle: Thermos Nissan Intak Hydration Water Bottle with Meter

The Thermos Nissan Intak Hydration Water Bottle with Meter is made from BPA free, impact- resistant, dishwasher durable Eastman Tritan copolyester. Ideal for water, iced tea, juices and sports drinks with 24-ounce capacity, it has a locking leak-proof lid with one-hand push-button operation. There’s a flip up loop for easy carrying; ergonomic design for comfortable usage. You can monitor your intake with the rotating intake meter- perfect if you are trying to get those eight glasses of water in everyday.

The Right Towel: Sports Towel

These sport towels are light, soft, compact, highly absorbent, resistant to odors and machine washable. They come in 9 different colors all with one purpose: Keep You Ahead. The elastic band attached makes them easy to fold and carry. You can take them with you anywhere… in your Backpack, Bag, Luggage and even your pockets.

The Right Headwear: Dri Sweat Edge Women’s Headband

This is the band you’ve been looking for…The Firstline Dri Sweat Headband keeps the hair and sweat off your face. Plus it doesn’t tangle your hair in the process or make you sweat more. Designed

Right Bra: Champion Women’s Great Divide Sports Bra
$23.34

Built to support you through high-intensity activities, the Champion® Women’s Great Divide Sports Bra offers the best fit and performance comfort. Double Dry™ technology wicks moisture and mesh panels deliver maximum ventilation to keep you cool. A contoured under-bust channel and wide bottom band ensure no-bounce security as well as a flattering shape. Power through your cardio sessions worry-free in the Great Divide bra.

And maybe there’s one more…

While technically it’s not actually in the bag, it should always be a part of your daily routine to being healthy…a Fitbit. It’s too easy to keep you on track with the Fitbit Charge, a high-performance wristband that shows your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed and active minutes AND even more importantly, monitors the sleep you aren’t getting (which is as equally important.)

Don’t miss any of these fun ways to fitness…

Choose Your Favorite DFW Fourth of July Event {Giveaway}

June 24, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 7 Comments

Depending on how you like to do Independence Day in DFW, you’ve got a lot of options! Whether you’re retro, rocker or just ready for fun, there’s the right place for you to salute the red, white and blue.

To find the right Independence Party for you, you need to look past location and price and more at the experience. Kinda like choosing a church, you need to find just the right place for you to share your praise. So we’ve put together a list of great Independence events in Dallas, Fort Worth and the places in between based on your personality.

Ready to put a Feather in Your Hat? Then get ready to call it macaroni at Red, White and Boom in McKinney
This is as Americana as it gets! Red, White and BOOM! kicks off Independence Day with a parade and classic car, truck and cycle show in Historic Downtown McKinney. Hollie Cavanagh, American Idol finalist and McKinney native, will also be on stage to provide live entertainment until Sounds of America, the fireworks show, takes over the airwaves and skyline.

Wanna be in the Limelight? Then be a star at Southlake’s Stars and Stripes
Hosted at Southlake’s Town Square, you can be a big dog in a big town with their special Star Experience. While the event is free, VIP allows you reserved seating, special parking, perfect viewing, table for four, preset appetizers and water for a cost. You’ll also be able to enjoy the rest of the activities you expect like bounce houses, face painting, music and a zipline? Not sure about where you’d put that except maybe to the always packed Apple store so you can get ahead of the line.

Aren’t much for Red, White and Blue because black is more your color? Then Fat Daddy’s Star-Spangled Patio Party in Manfield is your TNT.
Shake it “All Night Long” at Fat Daddy’s Star-Spangled Patio Party. With a new extended patio, prepare for a fun night of rockin’ fun complete with AC/DC tribute band “Back to Black.”

Feeling Nostalgic for Fried Food and a Ferris Wheel? Fair Park Fourth in Dallas will be your favorite flavor!
Held at Fair Park, you can spend the day reminiscing about all your State Fair memories while you walk around Fair Park. Enjoy live music from Razzmajazz Dixieland Band and at 7 p.m. and The Beatles tribute band A Hard Night’s Day, water features and access to rides, games and concessions within the State Fair of Texas Midway, starting at noon on July fourth. near the fireworks viewing area on the Midway.

Does Fort Worth by Way of Water Whet Your Whistle? Then Fort Worth’s Fourth has a tube waiting for you!
Fort Worth has a little bit of everything from pony rides, bounce houses water sliding, mini golf, ziplines and tubing at Panther Island! The event is free, but you can upgrade to better seating and close bathrooms, which I consider always to be worth the cost. And of course, there’s a big fireworks show that can’t be beat (I saw it last year from Willie Nelson’s Picnic and it was amazing – but see that note below.)

For those of you that always spent Fourth of July with Willie, I’m sad to report he’s left the building…Well actually he’s returned his annual Fourth of July Picnic to Austin, so you’ll need to get southbound 35 for that Texas country renegade roundup.

Do You Want the Best Show in the U.S.? Then belly up with half a million of your new best friends at Addison Kaboom Town!
This little city may be home to less than 20,000 people, for 30 years this nationally acclaimed event has brought more than half to this suburb known for its food and fun to Addison Circle Park for what is called one of the Best Fireworks Shows in the U.S. (and that’s bonafide). On July 3, warbirds take over the sky, military bands fill the park with music, and surrounding restaurants put on their own watch parties as everyone waits for the 30-second show that is also simulcasted on 100.3 Jack-FM.

Word from the Wise: From my own experience (this event is one I’m proud to promote professionally), the way to do this event is at one of the fun parties like Cantina Laredo with a steel drum band, The Quarter with karaoke, or TGI Friday’s with bands all day. But there’s a ton to choose from, so make sure to check the list and see if you need to make reservations so they have a spot for you!

And from the fine folks at Addison, we’ve got a $50 gift card for one lucky winner to TGI Friday’s to help you get festive as we count down to freedom!

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Best Gift for the Frozen Fan Who Has Everything

June 23, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 14 Comments

Got a little Princess or Prince to buy a gift for, but think they already have everything that could be frosted with snowflakes and include the song “Let it Go?” While a trip to Disney World or Land is always the top pick for any real Disney fan, sometimes that’s not in the budget or in the schedule.

However, you can now take children on an adventure with Anna, Elsa and everyone else at Disney in the new “Disney’s Frozen: You are My Best Friend” Put Me in the Story Personalized books.

Come explore Frozen’s wintry world of magic with everyone’s two favorite, fearless sisters! Pull your child closer and catch up with Anna and Elsa, the two best friends that a royal little one can have! Your child will be thrilled to discover that the sisters have invited them into the castle! Join the sisters on a journey to see just how fast a bond can grow and learn that the right companion can bring warmth to the wintriest kingdoms. Your child won’t want to let go of this personalized book with their name, photo and a special dedication message. This book can also be personalized with our special edition just for sisters!

Personalize this fantastic Frozen adventure with your child’s name, photo, and special message on the dedication page. Your little one will not want to let this book go!

And to celebrate the release of Anna and Elsa’s new book, you could also enter to win a magical family vacation to Orlando with Put Me In The Story’s Frozen Dream Vacation Sweepstakes! You can win a 3-Day/2-Night trip for a family of four to the most magical place in the world! Grand prize includes airfare, hotel accommodation, and theme park tickets! And when you enter, you can get 20% off your own Put Me in the Story Personalized Book!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See Rules http://bit.ly/1cl8taY. Ends 07/17/2015. One entry valid per day.

Other Frozen Fun on MamaChallenge.com Not To Miss

Perfect Recipes for Summer Sandwiches

June 22, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 30 Comments

Sandwiches were meant for summers.

While everyone has their favorite, the recipe for a perfect sandwich isn’t complicated. You just don’t need to have tons of ingredients or complicated processes…unless you want to.

What it really comes down to make the perfect summer sandwiches is the breads, the spreads and whatever stuff you want in between!

Breads

I love sandwiches because they give bread the opportunity to show off. But not all breads are made the same and choosing the right bread for your sandwich is imperative to create the perfect summer sandwich. If you have a sandwich with lots of heavy ingredients or ones with lots of produce (and moisture), you need a bread that is very crusty, meaty and can stand up to a BIG sandwich like a sourdough. However, sometimes you need more of bun than a loaf to handle the job, so you’ll want a kaiser roll. But sometimes it’s not the bread at all, but actually a wrap or flatbread that makes the best way to get that mass of goodness between your fingers into your mouth. I’m a huge fan of the bagel things, English muffins and even tortillas roll it up all the best.

Best breads for sandwiches:

Ciabatta
Sourdough
Foccacia
Baguettes
Whole Grains
Flatbreads

Spreads

My grandpa (Lord bless him) made the best sandwiches ever. What made them so amazing? I will never know especially since his ingredients weren’t anything different than turkey, wheat bread, cheese, lettuce, and tomato. However, what he did do was to make sure the mayonnaise or mustard always made it to the edges of the bread. This technique ensured each was as good as the rest.

And that’s what you want to do for your sandwich. Whether it’s a condiment out of a squeezable bottle or something a little fancier, you want to use just the right amount for the perfect summer sandwich and spread it just right. For me and for many, pesto makes everything better. Using a few fresh ingredients including the very seasonal basil, you can make a sandwich go from whoa to WOW with a small slather. While there are all kinds of different pesto varieties you can make (I’m a huge fan of cilantro pesto), all you really need is a little food processor to make a spread to use on your sandwich and later to spread on anything from poultry to produce (and everything in between.)

My go-to-recipe for pesto can be prepared in just a few minutes!

Perfect Basil Pesto

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups fresh basil, packed
4 cups pine nuts
2 garlic cloves
4 cups grated parmesan
1/8 cup
kosher salt and pepper

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients except the EVOO in a blender, mixer, etc. and blend on low until combined.
Slowly add the EVOO and blend until fully mixed.
Pesto will last one week in the fridge or 4-5 months in the fridge (use in ice cube trays for easy and quick use!)
Also great as gifts!

Here are some of the best pesto-perfect recipes!

Follow Autumn {mamachallenge.com}’s board Perfect Pesto Recipes on Pinterest.

The Stuff in Between

Anything can go into a sandwich. The summer provides ideal sandwich ingredients like tomatoes, several varieties of lettuce, and cherries? Well you probably haven’t had too many cherries in your sandwich, but the idea is that you need to rethink your sandwich ingredients. While I love a turkey sandwich, sometimes thinking outside of the bread for some really great ways to enjoy some of the season’s best bounty in a whole new way. For me a dessert sandwich was an innovative pairing especially with tart cherries, thinly sliced ham, creamy muenster cheese and the crunch of this rosemary garlic bread crusty bread. Sometimes I’ve even added a little-grilled romaine for another layer of crunch and earthy greens.

While I love simmering cherries with bourbon for a sweet (and southern-like) treat, sometimes you just don’t have the time. So use preserves from the fridge or in my case, I put those gifted jams to work that didn’t seem like the right fit for toast, but uniquely curated with the right bread, cheese and other goodies, make a sandwich that’s out of this world. I used this sour cherry jam (affiliate) from Stonewall Kitchen and it tasted good on this sandwich as well as these gluten-free black forest brownies.

So what do you think makes the best sandwich?

Corner Bakery Cafe is rolling out new breakfast, lunch, and dinner flatbread sandwiches, bursting with fresh ingredients and available nationwide. Designed to power guests through the morning, Breakfast Power Flats include options such as the Avocado & Spinach, Applewood Smoked Bacon and the new Ham & Spinach. New to the lunch and dinner menu are Grilled Flats: Southwest Chicken, Chicken Caesar, Caprese with fresh mozzarella and BBQ Pork – all under 330 calories.

Get excited! Corner Bakery Cafe unveils new flatbreads under 350 calories! #unflatevent

Posted by Mama Challenge on Thursday, June 18, 2015

More sandwich ideas? Check out what Chef Tim Love and I made with bagels!

Go Wild at Dallas Zoo Safari Nights {Giveaway}

June 19, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

Every thought hangin’ out at the zoo would be great after dark?

Saturday evenings are rockin’ at the Dallas Zoo this summer with the Safari Nights concert series! Featuring live music from songwriters and tribute bands, Safari Nights extended hours give you a chance to hang out with some of the Zoo’s wildest stars now until Aug. 1.

The concerts, which start at 7 p.m., will bring music to Texas’ largest zoo until 9 p.m. Food will be available for purchase, along with soft drinks, cold craft beer and wine.

Lion Keeper Talk: 5 p.m.
Elephant Keeper Talk: 6:00 p.m.
DinoSOAR, presented by Kimberly Clark: 6 p.m.
Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo Keeper Encounters: 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Wild Encounters Stage animal presentations: Every half-hour until 6 p.m.
Animal Adventures: 6:30 p.m.
Concerts: 7 p.m.
Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo and Travis & Zach’s Birds Landing open until 7:30 p.m.
Giraffe Feeding, Koala Walkabout, and Lorikeet Landing open until 8 p.m.
Giants of the Jurassic exhibit and T-Rex Express mini train open until dark!

The concert lineup, arranged through a partnership with The Kessler in Oak Cliff, includes:

June 20 – Trout Fishing in America (eclectic folk/rock): 102.9 NOW-FM Night
June 27 – The Killdares (Celtic rock)
July 4 – Live 80 (’80s tribute band): 730 KKDA-AM DKNet Radio Night
July 11 – A Hard Night’s Day (Beatles tribute band)
July 18 – Sara Hickman (Texas singer/songwriter): 102.9 NOW-FM Night
July 25 – FastLane (Eagles tribute band)
August 1 – The O’s (roots rock): 106.1 KISS-FM Night

Safari Nights is free with Zoo admission, which is $15 for ages 12-64; $12 for ages 3-11 and seniors; and free for children under 2 and members. Cabana rental packages are $175 for members, and $250 for non-members. Gates open on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and parking is $8 per vehicle (free for members).

Want to avoid traffic and not worry about driving? DART is the Zoo’s Official Transportation Provider; take the DART Red Line straight to our entrance for curbside service.

Make a day of it at the Dallas Zoo! Win four daily admission tickets to the Dallas Zoo from mamachallenge.com and pair them with your tickets to Safari Nights.

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Five Flip Flop Facts {Giveaway}

June 16, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 26 Comments

For Texans, we don’t just wear flip flops, we live in them.

We have summer flip flops and winter flip flops.

We have the crappy flip flops and fancy flip flops.

For me, I’ve been all of the world in my flips flops and have memories attached to each pair including my wedding flip flops (no, there not white.)

So it’s fitting that that on National Flip Flop Day, June 19, we take a moment to celebrate the all powerful flip flop.

1. The first flip flops date back to 4,000 B.C. in Egypt.

2. There are more than 22 references to sandals in the Bible.

3. The name for flip flop actually started as Jandels, for the word “Japanese Sandal” for its origins. Now learn how to say flip flop in more than 20 languages.

4. The world’s most expensive pair of flip flops will set you back $18,000.

5. Wearing flip flops can be hazardous on the feet, ankles and legs as well as harmful for posture and back health, but podiatrist-designed flip flops like Vionic Tide Sandals can hug the arch of the foot to give you the support you need to help realign the leg and posture. So basically, just like any pair of shoes, you still have to be smart about your flip flops just as you do your heels.

But let’s be honest, before you put on any pair of flip flops on your feet, you gotta have a good pedicure. There’s nothing worse than wearing a pair of flippies and then look down to see the cuticles and heels look like the Sedona desert. So Etre Bell, Northpark’s newest med spa is giving one lucky reader a mani/pedi package to make sure your toes look terrific before slipping on another pair of flip flops.

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Out of the Box Father’s Day Ideas {Giveaway}

June 16, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

STILL don’t have a Dad’s day gift? No problem! While I may have shown you had to wrap one last week, most of us are still trying to figure out what goes IN the box. So avoid it all together with these out of the box Father’s Day ideas!

For the Dad that Needs Some Me Time

Etre Belle, Northpark Mall’s newest medspa is offering a Father’s Day Special now through June 21 – The Dad’s Day Out deal includes a one hour massage, men’s haircut and men’s manicure for $169.

Located on the second floor between Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, Etre Bell is a luxury spa that offers medical cosmetic treatments in addition to traditional salon services and is headed by Medical Director Dr. Mary Caire. Aside from hair and nail services, the medspa offers cutting-edge cosmetic services including Cool Sculpting, SkinPen, Fraxel, injections, medical weight loss treatments and more.

For the Cheesy Dad

This Father’s Day, skip the tie and let the kids treat Dad to a special meal and a fun, interactive kitchen experience at Greenville Avenue Pizza Company. The Lowest Greenville restaurant known for its delicious pizzas, wings and salads is opening the kitchen to the little ones, and guiding them through the process of making Dad his favorite pizza.

The 30-minute lesson on Sunday from noon – 4 pm, will instruct kids on the art of perfect pizza making, as they create a pie with Dad’s preferred toppings. And then help him eat it, of course. The $35 experience will also include a chef’s hat and a magnet photo with everyone’s favorite pizza-related mascot, Munchie the Slice. It’s going to be a memorable and unique Father’s Day that’s fun for the whole family. Reservations are required reserve your spot, email gapco2007@gmail.com.

For the Dad Who Likes to Gamble, Race and Rock

Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie presents racing that rocks you with its popular Lone Star Music Series, now in its seventh consecutive season. Texas Country’s Josh Abbott Band perform live at North Texas’ favorite race track on Friday, June 19. The concert happens right after the last race, so take Dad for the afternoon for a little racing and end it with Josh Abbott Band!

Photo Credit: Josh Abbott Band Facebook

For the Sweetest Father

Does your dad have a sweet tooth? Then take him over the edge with Miss Naughty Brownies! So what makes these brownies naughty? We are talking not one, not two but three layers of indulgence, starting with a layer of cookie dough, then an Oreo layer and finally topped with Ooey, gooey, fudgy, chewy brownie layer. The best confirmation of the decadence of these little bits of goodness with the unique layer of your preferred flavors like the Tipsy Mama, P-nut Envy and Double Trouble.

Wanna win a six-pack box of Naughty Brownies? Give one to dad…or keep it for yourself!

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