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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

To-Do Thursdays: Mayfest, Derby Days, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Kenny Chesney

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To-Do Thursdays:

If you haven’t felt the lovely brisk air outside yet, make sure you don’t forget your jacket – you’re gonna need it, especially with all the great events happening this weekend! 


Here’s my picks:

May 2 – 5: Starting today make Mayfest in Fort Worth part of your list this weekend (goes to support several great causes like the Junior League of Fort Worth!) 

May 4: Do it Derby Style for the Kentucky Derby at Lone Star Park (don’t forget your hat!) 

May 4: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on a grand scale with Cinco de Mayo in the City!

And remember, Mother’s Day is NEXT WEEKEND, so that means buy your gifts, send your cards and make those reservations, so you don’t forget! 

If mom is a big Kenny Chesney fan, Eric Church or Eli Young Band (like me!) then you should enter this contest on Not-So-Average Mama to win tickets to his May 11 concert at Cowboys Stadium! (She’ll love you for that!) 


Want-it Wednesday: Give Your Bedroom a Facelift

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Want-it Wednesdays:

Do you ever just feel like if you changed up the look of a room it would change everything? You would feel less stress and more together if your room, especially your bedroom, looked like it came straight from the Pottery Barn catalog or photos from Pinterest?

Yes, me too.

Actually I designed our bedroom and I still like it, but after seven years, it’s worn on me and a need a fresh breathe of air. Unfortunately, my pocketbook doesn’t need to see the light of day.


Thank goodness for giveaways.


Ready for your bedroom to go from weak to chic? Enter the UGallery / Crane & Canopy “Bedroom Makeover” Contest by May 6 for a chance to win a $250 credit to UGallery and a $250 credit to Crane & Canopy. That’s a combined $500 for new art, new bedding and a brand-new bedroom look!



UGallery is a unique online art gallery offering affordable art for sale from the nation’s most talented mid-career and emerging artists. UGallery’s team of art experts carefully select and curate each artist and piece that’s exhibited so that you can purchase artwork online with real confidence.
What UGallery does with art, Crane & Canopy does with bedding. They’re an innovative online home goods company, offering beautifully designed, high-quality bedding without the department store mark-up.
Enter the UGallery and Crane & Canopy contest to upgrade your bedroom and sleep in style!
Never to be one not prepared, I’ve prepicked my favorites in case I win or you win and want to donate your gift card to a friend in need (i.e. me.)

And while this one doesn’t match, I have to include this artist because her name is Autumn Rose. 
Acylic painting, “Scarlet” by Autumn Rose

I’d love to see what you’d pick out if you won! 

Remember to enter by May 6 for the UGallery / Crane & Canopy “Bedroom Makeover” Contest for a chance to win a $250 credit to UGallery and a $250 credit to Crane & Canopy. 

Get Your Sweet Tea Fix with with Half the Calories!

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Try-it Tuesdays:

 I received samples of Pure Via Stevia for the purposes of this review. However, all the comments here are my own. 

My family are proud southerners. We fall to our knees at the south of Paula Deen’s name, we LOVE some fried chicken and we relish in every gulp of sweet tea. I mean it IS the official drink of the south. 

Unfortunately, to make the perfect sweet tea, it takes a “wee bit of sugar” (imagine the sound of high-pitched exaggeration in my voice) to make it just right. And while I do appreciate staying to tradition, a little less sugar – especially in my children’s diet – wouldn’t hurt us at all. (Hey, even Paula has made some changes in her recipes, right?) 

So when a lovely box of Pure Via Stevia landed at my door, I’ll be honest, I wanted to put it in the pantry to rot with all the other “sweeteners” that were moments of good intentions that never really made the cut – simply because they didn’t taste good. But since it was being launched exclusively in Dallas, I thought hey, can’t hurt to give it a three-second try.  Especially since Pure Via Stevia actually has half the calories AND also offers it in raw turbinado sugar (that’s what they put in mojitos, people), so maybe you wouldn’t know the difference. 

Maybe it was possible this stuff could be really good. 

So I called in my biggest judge, my son. My four-year old has sniffed me out for every healthy move I’ve tried to make. When I made winter squash and blended into his mac and cheese, I thought I was a genius. Unfortunately he wouldn’t touch it – or any other mac and cheese – for three weeks. And any switch out for lowfat versions of his full-fat food items have been a total disaster, so I was ready to see his twinge, groan and ask what mama had done to his sweet tea. 


So I whipped up a pitcher of sweet tea and let him have it. 

Waiting…

Waiting…

“It’s good mama,” he said. “Can I have some more?” 

As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t get any better than that. You heard it from the mouth of babes! 

If you need the perfect recipe for sweet tea, then here’s Paula’s recipe. Just use the Pure Via Stevia instead of sugar! 

More About Pure Via Stevia
With only five calories per serving, Pure Via® Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar and Stevia Blend offers a lower calorie alternative for those with a sweet tooth to make foods and beverages taste naturally delicious. The blend is made from the pure sweet extract of the stevia plant and turbinado raw cane sugar, which comes from the first press of raw cane sugar.  

Pure Via® is an all-natural, zero-calorie sweetener this is made from Rebaudioside A (Reb A), the sweetest, best-tasting part of the stevia leaf. Reb A is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Handcrafted for coffee and tea, Pure Via® is available in 40- and 80ct. boxes and a 4-oz. jar for a suggested retail price of $2.49, $4.29 and $4.99 Pure Via® Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar and Stevia Blend is availableexclusively in Dallas, Texas, in 100-ct boxes for a suggested retail price of $2.98. Retail prices may vary. Each packet (100 per box) sweetens like one teaspoon of sugar. 

Discover more at www.purevia.com or facebook.com/PureViaUS


Mad Men Monday: Get Your Scoop on Last Night’s Episode with #MadMenMoms!

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Mad Men Monday:

 There’s something so perfectly timed with Mondays; first, Sunday night gives me a little moment to bask at Jon Hamm and second, to dish with my favorite Mad Men mom, Shannon with MilkandCuddles.com! 


 This week we take a look at this week’s installment of Mad Men – a milestone episode with a realistic look back at how a major historical moment impacted the times. 

So without spoiling it for you too much, kick back and see what we had to discuss on Mad Men Moms!


Make sure you check out my “cohort in crime” all things Mad Men over at MilkandCuddles! 


Hop on Over to IHOP for a Taste of the French with New Brioche French Toast

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Food Fridays:

 I received a gift card for the purposes of this review. However, all the opinions expressed here are my own. 

This Food Friday may actually be better titled as a “Food Saturday” morning as we’re talking breakfast. However, my family loves to eat breakfast anytime, so when the temperatures got cold this last week, we headed to one of our good ‘ole standby: IHOP! 


Oh how times have changed. When I used to go to IHOP it was late nights for studying or from hanging out with my friends. I’d drink on that endless coffee pot for hours and enjoy the comfort of my IHOP close to my dorm room. 

 Fast-forward a decade and a husband and kiddo later and I find myself again at IHOP. Except it’s 5 PM not 5 AM, the studying happening at the table is my son’s ABCs and the issues discussed involve birthday parties, school and other kiddo-centric topics. One thing does remain the same: me and the endless coffee pot. (Thanks for that IHOP.) 



However, there was another change on the menu this trip – a new offering for Brioche French Toast. Being that my son is obsessed with french toast and sausage (his request for breakfast every morning), I was sure that this was going to be a French-filled meal for him. Instead dad and I ordered it up the french toasts + add ons and he ordered his normal chocolate funny face (kids can’t resist a little chocolate chips and whip cream faces.)

These thick-cut slices of round brioche bread are soaked in a lightly-sweetened vanilla batter, grilled to a crispiness then topped with three toppings:

  • Bananas Foster Brioche French Toast comes with a New Orleans Foster’s sauce made with sliced bananas, caramelized in a buttery brown sugar glaze, and whipped topping.
  • Berry Berry Brioche French Toast layers blueberries and strawberry topping with a luscious dusting of powdered sugar and whipped topping.
  • Peaches & Cream Brioche French Toast combines sweetened sliced peaches, honey-roasted pecans and vanilla cream drizzle with a dollop of whipped topping.


 And of course, there’s the add-ons if you need a little more for breakfast. You can order the Brioche French Toast alone or with an IHOP Combo including two eggs, optional choice of crispy bacon, pork sausage links or a grilled ham slice, along with hash browns. (I mean that’s why you go to IHOP, right? All the other stuff you get?) 

 I will say that the Bananas Foster Brioche French Toast was really delicious and we all fought to finish the last bite. The Peaches and Cream was good and was a much lighter dish even with the pecans. Suprisingly, my peaches were served cold so I figured this will be a great dish on a really warm day rather than when I’m hankering for something rich and cozy. While we didn’t have a chance to try the Berry Berry version this go-around, it totally would be a great try next time we come in.

 I mean we’ve been coming for decades (really.) 


Don’t forget you can share your Brioche French Toast experience and win a IHOP for a year! Here’s how!

For more information or to find an IHOP restaurant near you, please visit www.ihop.com.  Follow IHOP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ihop.



This Weekend: Let the Kids Go Wild, Score with Food Trucks and Meet the Girls at the Barre

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To-Do Thursdays:

While the weather is still deciding what season it is going to be this April, this weekend we’ve got a packed schedule full of fun family activities that can fit whatever your palatte and budget. 

 Here’s a few of my picks for 4/26 – 4/28: 

The Ballpark in Arlington turns into the center of the food truck universe with the North Texas Food Truckin’ Fest on Friday and Saturday. Get our your elastic pants and…

 

Need to finish that crafty project, but still need a few things? Then bring the kiddos with you to Michaels for a $2 “Make-and-Take” project that they can put together while you shop for just $2. This week’s craft is…

 

Let the kids go wild for a little while for the special Re-opening of the New Play Place area at Galleria Dallas for a fun free event on Saturday. The Dallas Zoo, Texas Discovery Gardens, giveaways from…

 

And just for mama: 

 Get this Groupon, call the girls and begin changing your body with your 55-minute Pure Barre class in North Arlington. New to Pure Barre? Then try your first class free, but don’t miss this deal…

 
 

Love Her Locks with Lucky Little Lolly {Giveaway}

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Want-it Wednesdays:

It’s no secret I love that I had a little girl and that I love to dress her up! Unfortunately, she doesn’t love bows right now, but when she finally let’s me get my hands on her ringlets, she will have a serious inventory to select from! The one I’m most excited about it the one from the amazing hands of Lucky Little Lolly. 

Photo credit: http://www.renmorrisonphotography.com
Made by local Dallas part-time stay-at-home mom, part-time law office manager/associate lawyer and full-time creative, Ashley Thomann didn’t search out to create a hair accessory business. Like many moms, after she had her little girl, she began crafting bows to style her daughter’s hair. When she received countless comments on her clips and bows, she realized she was on to something. Thus, Lucky Little Lolly was born. 

Photo credit: http://www.renmorrisonphotography.com

But a bow doesn’t begin to describe the accessories Ashley has created. Honestly, each one is a little piece of art (just check out the LLL shop on Etsy) using luxurious fabrics and materials to create flowers, fascinators and now even adult couture accessories. And she continues to share her creative genius with moms like myself who might need a lesson (or two) on how to create a boutique bow, she’s loaded up a tutorial on her blog!  

But her kindness doesn’t end there! 


One lucky reader is going to win a $20 gift card to Lucky Little Lolly. (And unfortunately, it can’t be me, but I let you donate it to me if you want to!) 


5 Reasons Why You Should Try White Cloud Diapers

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Try-it Tuesdays:

 This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Diapers. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

When you have your second child, everything is different. You don’t feel compelled to read the baby books, ask every friend their recommendation or stalk the Internet trying to find the best choices for your child. Your first one was your “practice” and you’ve already spent the time, so you normally just go with whatever you did with the first one. I know when I had my second, there was no question of what brand I was going to use for her diapers.  Not necessarily because it was the best choice, but it’s just what we were familiar with. 

 So when I had the opportunity to try out a new brand of diapers called and then discuss the brand with some other moms, I thought it might be time to consider something different and it was way past time for a playdate. 


Taking advantage of the spring weather (and unfortunately a good bit of wind), we met at the park so we could keep the kids entertained while we did some diaper talk.  We fed the kids some snacks and did a little oohing and ahhing at how cute all our babies were and then got to business. 

The “business” included a few games (think baby shower fun) to get us all familiar with each other and White Cloud Diapers. I know I was reminded at how hard a baby has to work to take down a baby bottle in a little mom vs. mom contest. (I’d share that photo, but it just wasn’t a cute shot at all!) Then I had the chance to meet some new ladies who had driven more than three hours to be there for a our playdate. (That’s committment!) 

But admist all the fun, we also spent some time doing our “doodie” of checking out White Cloud Diapers. And since I’m all about sharing my “try-it out” on Tuesdays, I wanted to let you know what I learned!

5 Reasons Why You Should Try White Cloud Diapers: 

1. My daughter has sensitive skin, so I love that White Cloud Diapers are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free.

2. White Cloud diapers have a special ultra-absorbent inner core that wicks away moisture to help keep babies dry and comfortable and the stretchy sides have secure fit so no accidental leakage. (And no special wet surprise when you put your little one on your side!)

3. While my daughter is past the stage, I would have loved when she was in her early stage diapers to have a wetness indicator that changes color to let me know when the baby needs to be changed.


4. Don’t you get tired of Winnie the Pooh? I love that there are fun animal prints on the diaper so my daughter can point out the names of them as she learns them! 

5. Budget friendly is my favorite word and White Cloud Diapers are available around 30 percent cheaper than brand name diapers. (See for yourself!)

Diapering can be one of the biggest expenses in a family’s weekly budget and a great performing diaper is a must-have for parents. In order to make this affordable,  has reintroduced their premium line of White Cloud Diapers to address the needs of today’s busy parents.

White Cloud Diapers provide your baby the highest quality diaper with superior leakage protection, exceptional softness and great fit. White Cloud Diapers are available exclusively at Walmart, where you can find low prices everyday on all your family’s needs.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of #WhiteCloudDiapers.

Mad Men Moms 3: Undercover

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Actually this week’s episode of Mad Men Moms really isn’t so undercover as much as we are both in sunglasses on Sunday night at 10 p.m. because of a misfortunate case of pink eye. Since pink eye didn’t seem so sexy, we thought the sunglasses seemed a little more Mad Men, don’t ya think?

Anyhow, this week’s show was all about…



Watch this week’s Mad Men Moms for our take on last night’s Mad Men! 

But before you press play, make sure you have your cocktail ready. This week we are playing homage to the Cube Libre and it goes a little something like this: 

CUBE LIBRE

Ingredients
2 oz light rum
1 oz fresh lime juice and a lime slice/wheel
3 oz cola
ice

Instructions
Pour over ice, in order given, into a highball glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Now get ready and join us for Mad Men Moms!




Are you just now finding us? 

Then make sure you see our other episodes and follow my cohort & cohost, Shannon at MilkandCuddles.com

Episode 1
Episode 2


or you can always catch us on the Milk and Cuddles YouTube Channel.

Get Your Pass: How to Be a Chick-Fil-A VIP

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Food Fridays:

After THIS week, I wanted to share something that just made me smile. Food often does, so that’s why I write about it, take photos of it, talk about it and eat it often. 

This little adventure though was a little different than our normal trip to Chick-Fil-A. I wasn’t just a customer; I was a VIP. And best of all, you can be too! Here’s how: 
A girlfriend of mine handed me these “backstage” passes for an All-Access Tour of the local Chick-Fil-A. She said that her kiddos loved it and it was cool to see what CFA does  behind the “magic curtain.” So of course, I had to go. 

On our way out of town, we stopped at the Chick-Fil-A in Grapevine for lunch and our “tour.” Since my kids would eat CFA for every meal of the day, I knew they would love it too. We ordered our normal meal and showed them the pass. With a smile they told us to enjoy our meal and when we were done, they would be happy to escort us. 

Of course, that got me thinking about why I cared out the tour. Would I be as excited at just any fast-food joint. Not at all. But it was Chick-Fil-A and “I Love Chick-Fil-A.” And after my tour I was going to find out exactly why. 

First it was impertative we start with a little history lesson about how CFA became CFA. Then as we approached the kitchen door, we were asked to put on shoe covers so we wouldn’t spread germs and also slip on the floor in the kitchen. Unfortunately I was told is that I couldn’t take any shots of my backstage tour, so I don’t have any photos to share. But I will tell you that the 15-minute tour was worth it just to see the CFA logo drawn in sugar and to learn that CFA is the biggest customer of Sunkist Lemons. (It would have made the cutest photo!)

Then we took a gander at their side items, ingredients and what products they used to make many of their customer favorites, especially the kids meal items (which we purchase at least once a week) and score a free cookie coupon (the best chocolate chip cookies ever.) Next we were able to see the feature presentation, the cooking of that amazing chicken with the family recipe that has made CFA one of the most successful quick-service restaurants. As a finale, my son was able to create his own family-recipe ice cream cone from the machine (it’s not ice milk, people) and go to the play area to enjoy his dessert and a little play time with his sister. (Remember, when you’re four, this is all a pretty big deal.)


After our experience I just thought about how cool the experience was. And even more so, how it really made us even more fans of the food. So much so, I decided I needed to highlight just a few of the reasons 

WHY I LOVE CHICK-FIL-A 

1.  That chicken. OMG. My first CFA was not until college and only then did I understand why people stood in line for just a chicken sandwich.
2.  Chick-Fil-A sauce is the stuff that dreams are made out of (I only wish they sold it in a bottle!) 
3.  Drive through service that is friendly, quick and done with a smile – no matter which one I go to!
4.  Huge condiment spread. The Reos are condiment people so the fact that there is a station that’s neat and tidy and anticipates all my needs, I love. 
5.  Sticky placemats for the kids to keep them from eating off the table. (Had to be a mom that made that suggestion.) 
6.  Hello, another condiment!?! And ketchup reigns supreme for my husband. Plus, dip-accessible containers. (Why does anyone use those packets anymore?)
7.  My son’s favorite place to eat. I can always ensure I have a perfectly behaved son if I so much as dangle the idea of the “Cowplace” as a treat. (I’m not above incentive programs or bribery:) 
8.  Playground Sneaker Keeper to keep all the kids organized and hopefully, from coming home with the wrong ones. 
9.  Everyone loves the cow. I mean come on. That’s a gimme. 
10. Anything that makes my husband smile like this makes my “I Love List…” In this case, it was the ice cream. (Perfect to go with that cookie!)
11. Playground equipment that is INSIDE and allows for toddlers to play. Part of the reason CFA won me over is that I could take my 18-month old and she could play without falling down in the dirt or going beyond her means.
12. Those cookies are THAT good. So good that I ordered them for my son’s birthday party…too bad the kids didn’t eat them because the adults had already snagged them all. 

So you want to be a Chick-Fil-A VIP? Then all you have to do is ASK! Just give a call to your local CFA and see if they are doing the “All-Access Backstage Tour.” I know the Grapevine location said they invite everyone to be a VIP! And if you are a real CFA fan, they even do a 90-minute tour of the corporate office in Atlanta! 

They’ll leave the fryer on for you. 

Disclaimer: This was a nice family trip to Chick-Fil-A. It has nothing to do with any political, religious or other views, but just that my family likes to eat CFA. A lot. And that the Chick-Fil-A Sauce must have something addictive in it because I can’t get enough of that stuff. Ever. And I totally paid for every bit of what we ate and Chick-Fil-A had no idea I was going to blog about it either. So how’s that for honesty and transparency? 



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