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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Save $ on B2S w/ JBF, Aug. 20 – Sept. 6 {Win a Gift card}

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Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by JBF Fort Worth.

If you know what the title says, then you are already a mom in the know.

If not and it looks more like some crazy stuff on a text message, then let me introduce you to your new best friend, JBF Fort Worth (that’s Just Between Friends!)

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Photo Credit: JBF FW Facebook

Considered Texas’ LARGEST children’s and maternity consignment sale, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 – Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 at Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Memorial Center – Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall. I’ve always been a big fan of these sales since you have the chance to get clothes at a huge discount, not to mention these items have already gotten a mom’s eye, so I’m able to find several outfits in my favorite styles!

My first time at JBF Fort Worth was when my daughter was born and I completely stocked her closet for winter and spring for less than $100. Now that I have a first-grader and my daughter just turned three, I have lots of clothes to sell, but no time to organize them for consignment.

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So I found the next best thing: Drop-N-Go Tagging and they do all the work for you!

First time parents can sign-up to shop early (registration for the First Time Parent Sale ends on August 28), as well as volunteering & consigning will get you an early pre-sale pass! More information on early shopping, check the website!

Family Fun Fest
In addition to the amazing deals with 1/2 off everything on Saturday, Sept. 6, the whole family is invited for fun activities at the FREE Family Fun Fest, 10 am and 2 pm.

Wall of Wishes Beneficiary

Each year JBF Fort Worth partners with a local organization to create the Wall of Wishes. This year’s beneficiary is NewDay Services! Much like an Angel Tree that you see during the holiday season, you will see a display items that are needed by an area non-profit group. The items on the Wall will be items that you can purchase right at JBF. You will make your purchases and then leave the items at JBF where the charity group will come pick up your generous donations at the end of the sale. What an easy way to help families in need!

NewDayServices

NEW Teacher Passes
Teachers, School Administrators, and Homeschoolers get Free Passes for JBF Fort Worth valid on Sunday, August 31, 2014 from 3 pm to 7 pm. Please email Joanie@JBFSale.com for more details.

They’ve also brought back the Frequent Shopper Card with savings when you come back and shop a 2nd day and spend the minimum amount!

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And to make it an even better deal, one reader will will $15 Gift Card to JBF FW!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now be nice and make sure you share this with another mom!

 

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by JBF Fort Worth.

Brio Celebrates National Lasagna Day

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When I think of comfort food, I think of Lasagna. 

There’s something so perfect about the delicious combination of meat, pasta and cheese layered together for the ideal bite each and everytime. Apparently I love lasagna A LOT since I’ve shared many recipes on mamachallenge.com including my Christmas Eve Lasagna and Spinach Lasagna Rollups. 


To celebrate National Lasagna Day on July 29, BRIO Tuscan Grille at Watters Creek in Allen will offer dishes of their famous Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno recipe at half-price.

Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno is a classic Northern Italian, oven-baked dish, layered with a three-cheese blend of Alfredo, Ricotta and Mozzarella, along with Bolognese meat sauce.


BRIO will offer a generously full-sized portion of lasagna for $9.08 at both lunch and dinner on July 29

And to celebrate National Lasagna Day in a BIG WAY, you can win a $200 Gift Card to Brio Tuscan Grille (DFW locations only!) (Winner will be announced on July 29!) 

Free & Low-Cost Summer Outdoor Movies Across DFW

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Going to the movies can be expensive with the whole family in tow. So take advantage of these outdoor movie opportunities this summer across DFW – from Addison, Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas, there are some great movies for the kids (and even date night option for some really recent films! 

Movies Under the Moon at The Shops at Park Lane
Movies Under the Moon is a fun, family-friendly event to see movies under the big sky at the big shopping center across from Northpark. Refreshments will be available for purchase, but don’t forget a blanket!

June 20 – BRAVE
June 27 – SPIDERMAN (Visitors with tall chairs will be asked to sit in the back.)


UTA Summer Movie Series
Opening up its campus to the community, UTA invites everyone to enjoy  movies outdoors with complimentary popcorn Thursdays this summer. While some of the shows are family-friendly, it may be a perfect opportunity to spend the money on the sitter and save on the movie and refreshments. Specifics about location can be found on the website. 

JUNE 19 – BAD WORDS
JUNE 26 – CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
JULY 10 – TRANSCENDENCE
JULY 17 – BRICK MANSIONS
JULY 24 – NEIGHBORS
JULY 31 – THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2
AUGUST 7 – MILLION DOLLAR ARM


Children’s Summer Series at Studio Movie Grill
The Children’s Summer Series at Studio Movie Grill, sponsored by Aquafina, offers a budget friendly entertainment option for families, summer camps, and weekday programs to escape the summer heat to watch $2 screenings of recent, popular, children’s films. With a new film every week Monday – Friday at 11 am there is plenty of family fun to be had!

JUNE 16 – 20 THE CROODS
JUNE 23 – 27 EPIC
JUNE 30 – JULY 4 TURBO
JULY 7 – 11 RIO
JULY 14 – 18 SHREK FOREVER AFTER
JULY 21 – 25 CHARLOTTES WEB
JULY 28 – AUGUST 1 KUNG FU PANDA 2
AUGUST 4 – 8 PUSS IN BOOTS
AUGUST 11 – 15 MADAGASCAR 3
AUGUST 18 – 22 RUGRATS Movie


Sunset Cinema at the Amon Carter Museum
Pack a picnic, grab some friends, and watch a movie on the lawn of the Amon Carter Museum on Thursdays in June & July. Lawn opens at 6 p.m. Lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers are welcome (lawn only). No glass bottles, alcohol, or pets please.No reservations are required.

JUNE 26 – TOY STORY
JULY 31 – CHICAGO

Cinema in the (Addison) Circle
Pack up your family, friends, and a blanket and enjoy some of your favorite adventure flicks under the Addison night sky! Cinema in the Circle offers free outdoor movies on a big screen every Saturday in August, right in the middle of Beckert Park!

AUGUST 2 – NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
AUGUST 9 – X-MEN
AUGUST 16 – JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
AUGUST 23 – BATMAN (1966)
AUGUST 30 – FANTASTIC 4
See you at the movies! 










Summer Camps for All Your LEGO Builders + Pilots-in-the-Making

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What I wouldn’t give to be a kid and go to summer camp! My son is already signed up for some of the coolest camps including outdoor adventure camp, cooking camp, karate camp and even golf camp. 

Then I found two more that sounded like so much fun, but he’s just not old enough. However, yours might be just be the right age, so I highly suggest getting registered ASAP! 

Kids who love LEGO will love summer camp at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth. Along with Sunny Delight, kids ages 6-11 will have a chance to further their love of LEGO bricks through interactive team builds where they get to work hand-in-hand with the model building team.  Additional activities include free play and team games in the attraction as well as a Sunny Delight snack break.  All kids will receive one FREE Annual Pass and special goody bag with t-shirt.

Sessions: 
Session 1:  Monday, June 23 – Thursday, June 26
Session 2:  Monday, July 14 – Thursday, July 17
Session 3:  Monday, July 21– Thursday, July 24
Session 4: Monday, August 4 – Thursday, August 7
Sunny D Summer Camp LEGO Camps
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth
3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, Texas 76051
Sessions run 8 a.m. to 11 a.m
Cost: $125 per camper
Take off This Summer at 2014 Eagle Aviation Camp
I still wish I could have gone to Space Camp growing up, but I’ve found the next best thing. Eagle Aviation Camp is a great opportunity for children to experience a one-of-a-kind adventure into the world of aviation. Fifth through 8th graders can experience the world of aviation through a week of tours of aviation facilities along with fun and educational activities. Kids will meet aviation professionals while sharing their perspectives and stories as they explore aviation. Did I mention flight simulators, too? 
One-week camp includes:
  • Transportation for field trips for flight themed attractions like birds at the Zoo.
  • Lunches (unless you have dietary issues)
  • Snacks (including Go Go squeeze!)
Just make sure to sign up now – registration deadline is MAY 24! 
Eagle Aviation Camp 2014

American Airlines C.R. Smith Flight Museum
4601 Highway 360, Fort Worth, TX 76155
June 9-13, June 16-20 & June 23-27/8 am – 4:30 p.m.
Students entering 5th – 8th grade)
$250 for CR Smith Museum Members/$300 for CR Smith Museum Non-Members
To register, visit http://crsmithmuseum.org/pdf/EagleCamp2014.pdf




Sweet! Buy dozen Tiff’s Treats for $4, Make a Dream Come True for Local Boy THIS SATURDAY

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When two of my favorite organizations, A Wish with Wings and Tiff’s Treats have partnered together to grant the wish of nine-year-old Viggo, a survivor of Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, to go to Disney World, I needed to do whatever I could to help!


Tiff’s Treats will hold a grand opening fundraiser at its newest location in DFW – its sixth in DFW and its first Las Colinas store — at 114 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 110, Irving, 75062 (intersection of 114 and O’Connor), on Saturday, April 26, 2014, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will raise funds for A Wish with Wings, which grants wishes to special little Texans with uncertain futures due to medical conditions. These funds will grant the wish of nine-year-old Viggo from Fort Worth, who loves Legos, Minecraft and the Beatles, and whose wish is to travel to Disney World this summer with his family, where he can focus on being a kid, instead of on the treatments he has had to endure for Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

On Saturday, April 26, celebrate the store’s opening and help raise funds for Viggo’s wish by purchasing up to six one-dozen boxes filled with one of Tiff’s Treats most irresistible flavors: chocolate chip, snickerdoodle or oatmeal raisin, for just $4 a box.  Proceeds up to $5,000 will be donated to A Wish with Wings. Sales at this event are cash only.  Viggo and his family will be there to share in the fun. It’s a flash grand opening event — and it’s all for a great cause!


Tiff’s Treats’ warm cookie concept normally requires a 30-minute notice for pick-up orders or one hour for delivery — however, for the grand opening fundraiser, no advance order is required, and customers can simply walk in to the new store and purchase hot cookies from 9 a.m. to noon.  This deal is valid only at the new Las Colinas Tiff’s Treats location.

As the delicious aroma of fresh-from-the-oven cookies and brownies fills the air at the new store, guests can enjoy festivities and chances to win prizes. Get there early: the first 10 people in line at the grand opening April 26 at 9 a.m. will win a $100 Tiff’s Treats gift card, while the next 10 will receive a $50 gift card, the next 10 will receive a $25 gift card and the next 10 will win a $10 gift card. Guests who purchase a box of cookies at the grand opening can also enter in a drawing to win free Tiff’s Treats cookies for a year! Anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy to the event to be donated to a Wish with Wings will also receive a $5 Tiff’s Treats gift card.


The mission of a Wish with Wings is to grant magical wishes to little Texans with life-threatening conditions. First chartered in 1982, this Texas-based non-profit has granted more than 1,200 wishes to children all over the Lone Star State with uncertain futures due to medical conditions. For more information on a Wish with Wings, visit the organization’s website at www.awishwithwings.com or call 817-469-9474. If you know of a child who is in need of a wish, please visit www.awishwithwings.com to get more information.

Tiff’s Treats in Las Colinas opens for regular business on Sunday, April 27. The new Las Colinas location can be reached at (972) 889-7700 or online at www.cookiedelivery.com.


Have a sweet week! 



Secrets to Saving Money on Kids’ Clothes

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Kids cost money. A lot of money. But we have BIG secrets to saving  money on kids’ clothes. 
 
I love to dress up my kids. Before my daughter was born, I bought her a Burberry onesie from Neimans…and I don’t even have any Burberry! While it was wonderful to get her something nice to celebrate her coming into this world – I knew there was no one that I was going to be able to keep up dressing either of my children in brand name clothing without winning the lottery OR finding a better solution that didn’t involve refinancing my house. 

Thankfully my mama taught me the value of consignment and my friends have taught me where to find the best deals! Just Between Friends is the largest children’s and maternity consignment sales event in Texas with 75,000 square feet of gently used children’s and maternity items for purchase at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

See all those clothes in the photos above? 
Those were all treasures from my consignment finds!
 
If you’ve been, I’m sure you know the benefit of attending the spring and fall sales to stock up on your kids’ wardrobes. If you haven’t had a chance, then I’m giving you the best reason to go with a chance to win a $15 gift card certificate! However, if it is your first time, I want to share some of the best tips for the best experience at JBF from some of my favorite bloggers who know all the ins and ours of consignment! 

5 Ways to Get the Best Deals at JBF from Terrell Family Fun
10 Tips for Shopping at Consignment Sales from Real Life Notes

So now that you are ready to save money, now here’s your mama challenge: how much merchandise can you purchase with a $15 gift card? Enter my giveaway now and get your chance to see how far $15 can go!


WIN a Stocking Full of Fort Worth’s Camp Bowie Christmas Goodies!

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If you live in Dallas/Fort Worth, Mother Nature has not been nice to our outdoor holiday events! Thankfully, Fort Worth’s 4th Annual Camp Bowie Christmas, Dec. 14 is still set to happen this weekend. 

If you haven’t made it out to this event, this is definitely one to check out – especially since it’s fun and free. And Santa’s there…with a reinsteer. (Yep, I said reinSTEER!) But that’s not all, folks. Just take a look at all the fun you’ll have in my last post (and to get a look at what happens when BEVO and RUDOLPH have an offspring…) 

To up the ante, several of the fine folks in the Camp Bowie District have put together a wonderful gift package here on mamachallenge.com for one lucky winner to entice you to come and get your photo with the REINSTEER with a stocking full of fantastic gifts from the following retailers:


And one of you fine folks can win it! 
Just let me know “How you’ll be spending your holidays this weekend?”
We’ll announce the winner on Friday, Dec. 13. 

[Since this giveaway is for Fort Worth-based businesses, I’m gonna limit our winners to only DFW folks (why else would you wanna win if you can’t redeem your gifts!) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I love getting to feel like Santa! 

 So have you been a good kid this year? Enter and see who ends up with the stocking full of goodies. 

Now What? Unique Family Fun Activities for After-Thanksgiving Dinner in DFW

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After you’ve hit Pumpkin Pie coma, dad has OD’d game and the kids have caught cabin fever, it’s time to get out of the house for a little post-Turkey Day time. 

 Here are a few unique ideas for family fun in Dallas that doesn’t take too much time or planning to get the holiday happiness flowing! 

Get to the Ice to Meet Missile Toes, the back-flipping, pyrotechnic ice-skating Santa at Galleria Dallas
Burn off those mashed potatoes by taking to the ice at the Galleria Dallas Ice Rink from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Galleria! And if you try real hard, you probably can even get a little shopping checked off your list, too! If you just can’t get out of the house on Thanksgiving then venture out on Friday at noon when Galleria Dallas debuts the first Macy’s Grand Tree Lighting Celebration of the season. World Champion and Olympic skater Kurt Browning joins cute local skaters and the legendary pyrotechnic Missile Toes countdown to the tree lighting on the ice for a 20-minute holiday extravaganza around the 95-foot-tall Christmas tree. Best of all this show is free!

Galleria Dallas has several holiday experiences for you to enjoy, so visit the full schedule at galleriadallas.com. (Disclaimer: #Client)
See the World’s Longest Light Tunnel at the Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie
We are super excited to load up the car, grab our hot chocolate and turn on Michael Buble for Christmas memories you’ll enjoy for years to come.  Read more about the Prairie Lights here…
Go Nuts at the Gaylord Texan ICE display of The Nutcracker
Our family loves the Gaylord Texan at the holidays because it’s like going to a little bit of Disney – but I can be home in just 20 minutes!  Last year we really enjoyed our experience (if you’ve never been to ICE check out my 7 tips to the Perfect Ice Experience here), but we are really excited to check out the new theme, The Nutcracker! Of course, little man is all about the tubing action and some mama fun making a gingerbread house with Gingy! 


Even if you aren’t a guest, you can enjoy the ICE exhibit! Hours vary for this experience, so make sure you check out the website for the specific schedule and price.
Nothing Says the Holidays than Snow with the Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway doesn’t do anything small and that definitely describes their holiday event, the Gift of Lights. The Snow Village at TMS features a tubing hill, snow ball gallery, and a snow play area – and finish the fun by making s’mores! Read more about the Gift of Lights…
And don’t forget to SAVE THE DATE for these upcoming holiday events later in December!

Holly Jolly Holidays Start Dec. 11 at the Grapevine LEGO MINILAND
Search for Santa in a scavenger hunt through MINILAND. You’re bound to find an old St. Nick, as there are 11 LEGO Santa’s hidden throughout the 1.5 million LEGO bricks in MINILAND. (Dec.  11 – 25)


Write and mail your letter to Santa while enjoying complimentary milk and cookies in the Café. (Wednesday, Dec.  11 and 18 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Milk and cookies served on Dec. 25 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

Build a LEGO ornament to hang on the LEGOLAND Discovery Center tree (with a minimum $1 donation to Merlin’s Magic Wand.) Plus, meet Bertie the mascot! (Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Admission is $19 for adults, $15 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for kids 2 and under. Also note, special holiday hours: Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Christmas noon to 6 p.m., New Years Eve 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and New Year’s Day 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To purchase special discounted tickets visit www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com/dallasfw.

Scuba Diving Santa takes the plunge at Sea Life Aquarium

While you are at MINILAND at Grapevine Mills, walk across the hall to the Sea Life Aquarium! This Santa doesn’t have fire coming out of his skates, but he does have an oxygen tank on his back. The Scuba Diving Santa takes the plunge to entertain you amongst the fish and sharks in SEA LIFE Aquarium Grapevine’s 145,000-gallon tank.  Scheduled dives occur at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec.  11 and 18 and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 21.


The kids will also be able write and mail a letter to Santa.  Letters can be written from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11 and 18 and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 21.

Admission is $19 for adults, $15 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for kids 2 and under.  To purchase special discounted tickets visit www.visitsealife.com/grapevine.  Please note the special holiday hours: Holiday Hours: Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Christmas noon to 6 p.m., New Years Eve 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and New Years Day 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Gobble, Gobble!





Kick it Up with Santa and his Reinsteer at the 4th Annual Camp Bowie Christmas, Dec. 14

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Cowtown becomes the North Pole for one day only on Saturday, Dec. 14 for the Camp Bowie Christmas! The whole family will enjoy a jolly-good time from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. with free, fun activities just for the holidays – especially when Santa and his Reinsteer make a special stop just for the event! 

Santa and his “Reinsteer” come to Camp Bowie Christmas on Dec. 14

Activities Include: 

  • Letters to Santa
  • Carnival games
  • Pony rides
  • Face painting
  • Holiday music
  • Balloon artist
  • Cake walk
The public is encouraged to bring a new toy donation for Toys for Tots to help spread holiday cheer. 


4th Annual Camp Bowie Christmas
Dec. 14, 2013, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. 
6323 block of Camp Bowie Blvd. 
Fort Worth, Texas 
Free



See you there!





Get Ahead of the Class for Back-to-School with $15 Giftcard from Just Between Friends Fort Worth!

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To-do Thursdays: 

Disclaimer: I was provided a gift card in exchange for writing this post. But my stories, my photos and my love of saving is all my own. 

I. cannot. believe. I. have. a. kindergardener. 

 (Give me a minute, a need to take a breather.) 

 That means it’s the start of 12 more years for him of back-to-school preparations – supplies, clothes, backpacks and getting back to a routine (that’s a lot to digest and even more to have to spend.) And of course, I’ve got a 2 year old little girl to go right behind him very soon!

Can you figure out which of these Ralph Lauren Polo items were consignment sale finds?
(All of them but the two on the left!) 


Thankfully, my mama taught me the value of a dollar, so since day one, I’ve been a huge fan of consignment sales to keep my kiddos dressed nice on our budget. I’ve even been told my daughter has the cutest clothes and most the time they are outfits I have purchased from a seasonal consignment sale. With just $100 I can get my kids suited up for a whole season plus a little more. And considering we like brand names, it’s a great way to stock up without paying full price! 

 While there are all kinds of consigment sales in Dallas-Fort Worth, the one that started it all was Just Between Friends and the one in Fort Worth is huge. They’ve things you wouldn’t even think you need, but the price is so good you buy it anyway. The upcoming JBF Fort Worth sale is August 31 – September 7, but goodness knows I need a reminder…

 Lucky for both of us, my friend/optimizer/tightwad Jill over at Real Life Notes has answered both our prayers with a handy calendar to keep us in line on DFW consigment sales this fall. (Isn’t she organized?)

 Since JBF is all about saving you money, they are making this year even sweeter by offering you a chance to win a $15 giftcard! That means you probably are getting $50-$60 worth of clothes for free just by entering.) 

So let’s get back-to-school this year with money already in our pocket! 

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