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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

When Your Little Baby Turns into a Big Boy (Happy Birthday Jackson!)

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Wow Mom Wednesday:

I would be remiss not to discuss probably the most life-changing moment in my life – the birth of my son – on his five-year-old birthday. 


It’s a huge milestone for our family, especially when we have had the reality that he might not have made it to this point five years ago. But thank goodness we have arrived at this moment and he is here in all his glory (including his new freckles courtesy of his mother.) 

 And while there are some cool moments I’ve been able to have in my 30+ years pre-children, it’s is the unexpected, overwhelming joy my children has given me that continues to remind me what is important. 



 See, I wasn’t one of those gals that even wanted kids. I was the girl that scowled when she had a kid bang the back of her seat on a plane and now of course, I’m the mom with the kid kicking the seat. I hated loud kids in restaurants. And messes, I deplored them. 

Now you know why I really named my blog “Mama Challenge,” right? 

Oh how things have changed. But for the better. (Although I still don’t like messes, loud kids or kicking your seat, but be reassured I have drink money ready to give you if you sit in front of us on the plane.) 

So while I can still think of the life I was going to lead, it doesn’t raise a candle to what my son cotinues to teach me everyday. From how to treat people, the importance of birthday parties, artistic masterpieces and even some Spanish, my kiddo is so awesome. 

 And I thought as the parent I was going to be the teacher… (Crazy girl.) 


 Recently on one of our little adventures together (even going to the grocery store is an adventure for the two of us), I couldn’t make a choice about a purchase. 

 “Jackson, which one should we get?” I asked my son. 

 He gently leaned over in the cart, grasped both side of my face sweetly and slowly said, “Mama, just trust me.” And then he gave me a kiss. 


All I can say whomever marries this boy is going to be the second most luckiest woman in the world. 

Happy Birthday, Jackson Benham Reo! 


Have a Blast This Independence Day at Horseshoe Bay Resort

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There’s something said for tradition, but there’s also said for doing something different – especially when it comes to seeing and experiencing new places. 
 
While trying to research a few quick, fun, family getaways, I was “lucky” to find Horseshoe Bay Resort in the heart of Texas Hill Country, on the shore of constant-level Lake LBJ.

 
Named a recipient of Trip Advisor’s 2013 Certificate of Excellence, this 7,000 acre resort offers a multitude of amenities including a full-service marina, spa, tennis, golf (like serious golfing here), fun activities such as banana-boat rides on the lake and 8 dining options all in one place. Basically, this place has something for everyone for your family. (Which is great when parents are looking to enjoy their vacation alongside the kids!) 

 
And right now, this one-of-a-kind resort is gearing up for their all-star Fourth of July weekend with their seventh annual Red, White & Blue BBQ, music, lakeside fun, land and boat parades, fire dancers. a concert by Fastlane (an Eagles Tribute Band) and amazing fireworks over the lake.  


And of course, that’s not all, folks! (Cue up the music!) 

Also during the fun-filled weekend, guests will stay busy with family-friendly activities including kids’ banana boat rides, guided fishing tours on Lake LBJ, rubber ducky races, scavenger hunts and more. For a complete list of activities available during the Fourth of July weekend, and throughout the summer, check out the Horseshoe Bay Resort Summer Activity Guide.


Thinking this might be just the plan for you? Here’s a great package that makes a getaway what it’s supposed to be – a way to getaway that’s easy to book and no planning to do! 

Patriotic Fourth of July Family Package
Starting at $429, the Patriotic Fourth of July Family Package includes:
  • Standard accommodations
  • Daily breakfast buffet at Lantana Grill
  • Seventh annual Red, White & Blue BBQ at Yacht Club or Lantana Grill on July 4
  • Fireworks display over Lake LBJ on July 4
  • Pool party on July 5
  • A performance by Fastlane on July 6
  • $100 in resort credit for two nights, $150 in resort credit for three nights
  • One Patriotic Fun Pack for children ages 3-12 ($70 retail value)
  • Complimentary sodas for children ages 3-12

Horseshoe Bay Resort
200 Hi Circle North
Horseshoe Bay, Texas 78557
Website

This post is also shared on Mom2MomDFW, a part of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.com. 


To-Do: Star Wars Miniland on Exhibit at LEGOLAND Discovery Center DFW

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To-Do Thursdays:

The summer is up and running and we’ve taken no breaks making the most of it.

 We’ve done Disney World already, so what could be left?

 A lot and we aren’t even leaving the Dallas/Fort Worth area this time!

 Here’s one worth putting on your summer to-do list:



Make sure you check out our experience on TodaysMama.com. 

Enjoy the Sweet Life with Quick Almond Joy Brownies #WhatsYourID

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Want-It Wednesday:

 This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.


The summer time brings a much-needed slower pace for moms. Well, not really, with all the activities and events planned from the moment the kids are out of school until the day they get back. However, it does give you a reason to enjoy some of the sweet things in life like brownies. 

One of our family favorites, I was looking to jazz up the baked chocolate concoction with something a little more fun, flavorful AND QUICK. But it’s too hot to sit in the kitchen for hours, so with the help of a brownie mix, some cupboard staples and my International Delight Almond Joy Creamer, I was able to whip up a dessert like our family favorite 7-Layered Bars, but this time was even better with Almond Joy Brownies. 

 QUICK ALMOND JOY BROWNIES

 Ingredients:
1 Box of Fudge Brownie Mix (I used Betty Crocker)
1 cup almonds (I used slivered, but you can use chopped)
1 cup chocolate chips 
1 cup flaked coconut 
1 cup of International Delight Almond Joy Creamer

Directions: 
Make brownies as instructed on the box, but opt for the cake-like brownie recipe.) 
Bake for about 15-18 minutes until the brownies are set, but not necessarily cooked. 
Take the brownies out of the oven and begin layering. First with the coconut and then the chocolate chips. 
Next add the creamer over the brownie mixture. 
Last add the almonds. 
Bake the brownies for 20-25 minutes at the same temperature or until the toppings look browned. 
Take out of the oven and allow to cool before cutting. 



TIP: 
Unlike chocolate chip cookies, these brownies get even better after some time out of the oven. We ended up putting these in the refrigerator for a day and when they came out again, I couldn’t get everyone to stop eating them. The added coolness gave it a little crunch and with the heat of summer, it was nice to bite into a cool brownie. Trust me, it’s worth the wait! 

 What’s Your ID? International Delight is looking for their most passionate flavor fans. Put your ID on the map to enter to win a Magical Trip, play games and discover more unexpected delight. Share your ID flavor at http://whatsyourid.com. 

 This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.


Travel Tuesdays: The Vacation Before the Vacation at The Westin Galleria Dallas

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Travel Tuesdays:

Sponsored: I received a comped a hotel room from The Westin Galleria Dallas for purposes of this review. However, the comments provided here are all my own. 

Yep, just in time for summer, I’ve some tips and recommendations for some great ways to enjoy traveling with and without the family!

 But this time it isn’t a family trip so I’m not talking my favorite the Gaylord Texan or Great Wolf Lodge. For this “trip” I just needed to get away with my honey – a little change of scenery can do a lot to make things feel like a getaway. So right before our BIG family vacation, we opted for an overnight at The Westin Galleria Dallas. 

 I’m already a fan of the Westin brand; being that some of my favorite moments in life: my first skiing adventure in Whistler and my wedding in Puerto Vallarta, were both spent at Westin properties. Now I was going to apply it to my own stomping grounds in Big D. 

 While I could tell you about all the cool things to do around the hotel like shop to you drop at more than 200 retailers in the attached Galleria Dallas (client) or skate on one of the best rinks in the country, but honestly, this was the unplanned trip – and that was the way it was going to stay. We just needed to relax, appreciate the fact that neither of us had to clean the room and wake up without one of our two little visitors asking us to turn on Mickey Mouse or snuggle with us. 

 These parents needed to sleep in peace. 

 When we got to the hotel, we received the full Westin brand experience with the beautiful fragrance of the lobby and the warmth from the staff. We quickly were checked in and went to our Corner Room Suite. And what a room it was. 



 High above the traffic and construction of North Dallas was our view overlooking all of it. It was so beautiful and peaceful. For me it was nice to enjoy it for what it was rather than the work and craziness than it normally presents me. Thankfully, there was a wonderful window seat to do just that. I took a moment to just appreciate the beauty. 

But curiosity had me wondering what other fun was waiting for us. Two bathrooms, two showers and the best bathtub I had seen in a long time. While I am not normally a bath taker, I could definitely be persuaded when the bathroom space looked like this. It was crisp, modern and just comfortable. Yep, this is what zen feels and looks like. 


 Moving on to just the aesthetics of the room, I couldn’t help but also appreciate the lines and patterns in the room. It wasn’t busy, but again, clean, crisp and just right for the OCD-kinda-gal I am. I couldn’t keep myself from even taking photos of the carpet, tile and cabinet space. 

As for the bed, they don’t call it the Heavenly Bed for nuthin’. I could only wish that the bed could squeeze into my bag, along with the shampoo, lotion, etc. that I had already stuffed into my case. But at least I slept like a log and awoke the next morning by my own accord or little nudge from my kids. It was blissful. 

 To finish off our quick stay, we started off our full day with brunch at The Second Floor, the upscale restaurant within the hotel. In ideal brunch form, I celebrated our successful evening stay with a mimosa and lots of coffee paired with a delicious spinach omelet. For the hubs, he chowded down on a little eggs and pork belly (oh, it was good.) While the service was a little slow, I can tell you, that morning everything was in the right tempo, so it worked with the pace – at least for while I was the hotel. 


 As I just perused the lunch/dinner menu, I was sad our stay would come to a close, but knew I’d be back for more. Not necessarily just for some peace and quiet, but perhaps a little pool time, a massage, a cheese plate and maybe a little retail therapy. (Right?)  

 Looking for a little more action? Try out the New Balance work out plan that allows you to “borrow” shoes and workout gear for only $5 so you have more room for new purchases.


 Or maybe just a little more of nothing. Sometimes that’s better than anything. 

 As you can tell I’m a huge fan of the hotel experience and I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a lot of nice hotels. The Westin Galleria Dallas is certainly one of them. 

Holy Banana Grahams! IHOP Launches Jelly Donut, Tiramisu and Banana Graham Nut Pancakes for 55th Anniversary

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Food Fridays:

It’s no secret I have thing for pancakes.  

Enough so I went on TV and whipped up several different kinds of them including Apple Pie Pancakes using my daughter’s GoGo Squeez from her lunchbox. They were quick and delish, but unfortunately even with my quick shortcuts I still don’t always have the time or the want to make those pancakes that make your mouth water. That’s why I was so excited to hear about these three new pancakes from IHOP!

IHOP® restaurants will be marking its 55th year of bringing guests “everything they love about breakfast” with an exciting new trio of signature pancakes: Jelly Donut, Tiramisu and Banana Graham. These tasty new treats will be available in participating IHOP restaurants beginning June 3 for a limited time through July 21. IHOP officially marks its 55th anniversary on July 7.

Jelly Donut Pancakes – Fluffy buttermilk pancakes filled with layers of luscious raspberry jelly then topped with glaze, more raspberry jelly and powdered sugar.



Tiramisu Pancakes – Buttermilk pancakes and sweet mocha cream topped with a drizzle of chocolate, whipped topping and a dusting of cocoa powder.




Banana Graham Nut Pancakes – Sliced fresh bananas grilled inside buttermilk pancakes layered with marshmallow cream, graham cracker crumbs and crushed honey-roasted pecans then topped with cinnamon cream cheese.

These three new delicious flavors are available starting at $4.99. Guests can purchase these flavors as yummy treats alone or as part of an IHOP Combo, which can include two eggs, done the way they like them, optional choice of crispy bacon, pork sausage links or a grilled ham slice, along with IHOP restaurants’ signature golden hash browns.

For more information or to find an IHOP restaurant near you, please visit www.IHOP.com.

Which one are you ready to bite into? 



Toast to Summer with Free Car Show for Dad, Acting Camp for Kids and White Wine for Moms

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To-Do Thursdays:

I can’t believe the summer is already in gear and it’s just June 6. Half our summer is scheduled and I’m still writing March on my documents! 

So rather than resist the change, embrace it with a little bit of something that everyone will love this season starting off with Dad!

Remember Father’s Day is near, so send him (or join him) on Saturday, June 8 for the Glory Days Classic Car Show in Fort Worth on Camp Bowie.

While school is out, the kids must play (and give mom a break!) So consider some a unique  day camp like this one for your budding actor or actresses in Addison. (Watch out Selena Gomez!) 

Mommy needs a little time to celebrate the summer too, so round up the girls or make a date for the Summer White Wine Festival at FnG Eats in Keller. Chef Bob Stephenson, whom I have the pleasure of working to promote his creative cuisine is offering a big deal for only $40 to sample six wines and several noshes sure to tickle your taste buds!) 

Salud to Summer!


Would You Donate Your Wedding to Charity? This DFW Couple Is.

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Wow Wednesdays:

I’ve been completely overwhelmed by the huge acts of charity and hospitality I’ve seen and experienced over the last few months.

Whether it’s been blood drives for disaster victims or volunteering to help others, it’s been beautiful to see mankind help each other in their time of need.


Recently I came across a local DFW man who announced he and his fiancee have turned their nuptials into a Charity Wedding to benefit St. Baldrick’s pediatric cancer research charity. Starting today, they are looking for sponsors and donations and already have Taco Cabana behind them to donate “Free Taco Cabana for a Year.” It’s an amazing and giving opportunity when normally people are willing to spend big money – and this big family just wants to give it to other kids in need.

You can learn more about their Charity Wedding on his blog, “Halftime Lessons.” They need all the support and awareness they can get, so as a wedding present do what you can to help!

Speaking of incredible charities, I can’t wait to share my son’s wish trip to Disney World made possible by A Wish with Wings – COMING SOON!


Travel This Summer with the 10 Best Family Cars For 2013

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Travel Tuesdays:

Just in time for the summer, Parents and Edmunds.comrevealed their list of 2013’s 10 Best Family Cars. For the sixth consecutive year, car experts from both organizations examined hundreds of vehicles to offer a list of best-in-class vehicles. “The Best Family Cars of 2013” appears in the July issue of Parents magazine, on newsstands June 11.

“With summer road trips on the horizon, we are thrilled to present this comprehensive list,” said Parents magazine Editor-in-Chief Dana Points. “Given the amount of time that American families spend in their car, we feel it’s important to highlight the safest, most affordable and family-friendliest that the industry has to offer.”

The panel of judges focused on safety; each car on the list excels in crash tests and comes equipped with at least six airbags, as well as electronic stability control. The judges also considered updated fuel-efficiency technology, in addition to next-generation dashboards that allow consumers to customize infotainment options on the go. In addition, The 10 Best Family Cars for 2013 includes several stylish rides that young parents will be proud to show off. 
The Chevy Traverse makes the list of the Top 10 of the Best Family Cars by Parents.com.
Photo credit: http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/traverse/
According to Parents and Edmunds.com, the 10 Best Family Cars of 2013 (including starting prices) are:

HYBRID
1. Toyota Prius C ($19,080)
BUDGET
2. Subaru Impreza ($17,895)
3.  Honda Civic ($18,165)
SEDANS
4.  Ford Fusion ($21,900)
5.  Honda Accord ($21,680)
CROSSOVERS
6. Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ($24,700)
7. Honda CR-V ($22,795)
SUVs
8. Chevrolet Traverse ($30,510)
9.  Nissan Pathfinder ($28,650)
MINIVAN
10. Toyota Sienna ($26,585)

To see more of the breakdown, check out the full story on Parents.com.



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