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mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents | Dallas Blog

Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

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Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice {Recipe}

September 22, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

Pumpkin tastes great but it’s the combination of pumpkin pie spice that makes it amazing! This recipe is easy to make and you’ll have it ready for all your pumpkin dishes all season long!


PumpkinPieSpice

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Pumpkin Pie Spice


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Ingredients

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  • 4 tablespoons cinnamon
  • 4 teaspoons nutmeg
  • 4 teaspoons allspice
  • 4 teaspoons cloves
  • 4 teaspoons ginger

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine all the spices and stir together. Store them al in a airtight container and use as needed.

Did you make this recipe?

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Homemade Pumpkin Pie Filling {Recipe}

September 22, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

PumpkinPiefilling

 

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Homemade Pumpkin Pie Filling {Recipe}


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Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup homemade pumpkin puree
  • 3/4 sugar (brown or white sugar. You could also use agave)
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

  1. Blend pumpkin puree, sugar pumpkin pie spice until smooth.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @mamachallenge on Instagram and hashtag it #mamachallenge

Uncle Julio’s Sizzles with 7 New Fajita Entrees + Perfect Peach Margarita

August 27, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

I received a complimentary dining experience at Uncle Julio’s for purposes of this review, however, the comments here are all my own.

UncleJulios

When you live in Texas, your opportunity to eat Mexican food – or better yet, Tex-Mex are almost on every corner. However, to find GOOD Mexican and Tex-Mex the whole family can enjoy that not’s not just another version of meat, cheese and tortilla, but something delicious and unique is few and very far between. I’ve have a short list of the places we frequent as a family and the probable entrees we will order. Fajitas for my hubs, tacos for the kids and I’m normally the wild card, but I lean towards seafood almost always.  However, for tonight’s dinner plan, we wanted to mix it up, but know we would have a good dinner – which means we all ate our food, no one cried and we would want to come back the next time.


Peachmargarita

Always known for good food, good service and a good atmosphere, we were excited to try out Uncle Julio’s and their new menu featuring fajitas with several seafood options! Since the idea hit all the buzz words to make mom AND dad happy, we sat to peruse the menu to make some choices. Considering it was July, a cold margarita was definitely at the top of the list, but not just your normal lime, agave & tequila type. Our server made a recommendation that since this Uncle Julio’s Grapevine location was the site for trying out new items, we would really enjoy a fresh peach margarita. Quickly two were put in front of us as we took to our first sip and learned exactly what summer would taste like if it had a flavor. Just as quickly, we ordered another round, however, it wasn’t just because the cool refreshment was just what the doctor ordered, but because my mouth was flaming hot from the Three-Pepper Guacamole.

Shrimpfajitas

As the kids continued to play with their tortilla dough (a great way for kids to pass the time – just ask your waiter), mom and dad caught up on their day as we narrowed down our options.

I’m not good with choices, so it was hard to pick just one from these:

  • Shrimp al Pastor, seared shrimp with pineapple and a mango habanero sauce;
  • Grilled Red Snapper with chipotle crema and sweet sautéed peppers; and
  • Spicy Seared Rare Ahi Tuna, which is pan-seared and served with soy ginger sauce.

All seafood fajitas are served on a bed of julienned zucchini and yellow squash with mango-jicama slaw and a choice of homemade flour tortillas, crisp Bibb lettuce wraps or corn tortillas.

shrimp

For my hubs, he had a lot more to consider:

  • Three new fajita combinations — one even includes grilled King Crab! — give you a variety of options on one plate.
  • The Plato Vallarta features grilled King Crab legs, served alongside Uncle Julio’s signature chicken and beef fajitas.
  • The Coronado combines two Mexican food loves: crispy beef tacos with Uncle Julio’s chicken and beef fajitas.
  • The Laredo takes a Mexican food favorite and turns it on its side, with two stacked beef enchiladas, presented in mouth-watering layers of high-quality tortillas, beef and cheese, served with fresh chicken and beef fajitas.

All combination fajitas come complemented by fresh guacamole, sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo, Mexican rice, frijoles a la charra, sautéed peppers and onions, and fresh-from-the-oven homemade tortillas.

And then there was the Filet Mignon Fajitas. Served with homemade creamy sunrise sauce along with handpicked peppers, and onions chopped by hand and sautéed to bring out their delicious flavor, these fajitas are served with guacamole prepared to order with fresh, hand-picked Haas avocados, sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo, Mexican rice, frijoles a la charra and homemade flour tortillas.

Filetmignon

While both dishes had lots of food; there wasn’t so much that we didn’t both enjoy most of our dishes – thankfully without buttoning our pants. And with the best server, we were so happy with everything. I was still sipping my margarita and nibbling on the peach bits in the bottom of  the glass. We were both just blissfully happy (which doesn’t happen normally when you have two little people at the table, too!)

Sopapilla

And while we could have gotten up from the table and been completely happy with the fajitas, the margaritas and the guacamole, the server’s recommendation for sopapillas seemed like the icing on the cake – especially when they were perfectly bite sized for the kids. Warm, cinnamon, sugar and honey was too hard to resist and mom and dad dove in as soon as the plate hit the table.

UJOutdoor

Since are experience at Uncle Julio’s in Grapevine, I’m almost positive we’ve told everyone around us about how good our dinner was and that we were planning to go back very soon. With so many other fajita options to try as well as the other dishes we couldn’t help to ogle like Bacon Guacamole and a weekend brunch, we plan to be back very soon. And as for our Mexican food shortlist, you’ll find Uncle Julio’s at the top of ours.

Uncle Julio’s
1301 William D Tate Ave, Grapevine, TX 76051
682.223.9965
Website

 

Three Healthy Back-to-School Recipes in Three Minutes

August 25, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

Today is a big day for our family! We have a first grader! Isn’t he adorable?

Not only does that mean he’s getting older, but that mama has a whole new set of challenges to get a healthy breakfast on the table in the mornings, tasty lunches that my kid will want to eat and have nutritious dinner made for my family – and that’s EVERYDAY!


B2School

So I shared some of my shortcuts today on GOOD MORNING TEXAS that hopefully can make it a little bit easier for all of us, especially on this first day BACK-TO-SCHOOL!

Breakfast 

Who doesn’t like donuts for breakfast?!? However, these are made with applesauce and tons of other healthy stuff that make it good to eat donuts! Did I also mention they are Paleo and Gluten-free, too!

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Healthy Honey Donuts (Paleo & Gluten Free)


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Ingredients

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  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup of applesauce (I prefer apple-cinnamon Go Go squeeZ)
  • 1/ cup melted coconut oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 1 cup quinoa flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp honey to dip or drizzle on donut

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat donut pan with melted coconut oil.
  2. Add bananas and applesauce to food processor and blend into smooth
  3. Pour into a large mixing bowl and add coconut oil, vanilla, egg and honey and whisk until egg is combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine flours, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and mix until incorporated.
  5. Pour dry ingredients unto wet and mix thoroughly.
  6. Pour batter into donut pan.
  7. Bake for approx. 20-25 minutes, until dough bounces back after being pressed.
  8. Cool for about 5 minutes in pan, then remove to a cooling rack.
  9. When donuts have cooled slightly, add drizzled honey or dip donuts in honey while warm.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @mamachallenge on Instagram and hashtag it #mamachallenge

Lunch

Lunch doesn’t have to be that hard to make it fun to eat and healthy, too! Have fun making it and ask the kids to help you, too! Here’s a few recipe for ham & cheese sushi, make-your-own “lunchables” and a whole lot of mutitasking tips that will make you “Mom of the Year” without a lot of time, money or work!

3 Must-Do Tips to Get Back-to-School Ready

Easy & Quick Back-to-School COOL Lunch Ideas

GGS

Dinner

And last, but not least – it’s dinner time! Probably the hardest meal for any family since so much can happen to affect getting it done! So rather than resort to a drive-through or something frozen, consider the fabulous rotisserie chicken!  Like the answer to my dreams, the rotisserie chicken is healthy, cheap and can be made into everything! Just check out this Pinterest Board and you can have rotisserie chicken on the menu weekly and never repeat a recipe!

 Follow Autumn Reo {mamachallenge.com}’s board Rotisserie Chicken Recipes on Pinterest.

For all the other days? Emeals! (Affiliate link included.)

EMeals subscription-based service gives you a week’s worth of grocery shopping for your diet plan on a budget and the recipes so you aren’t busy figuring things out. Dave Ramsey recommends this and so do other budget savvy websites. Right now you can get 20% of any eMeals Meal Plan with the code SCHOOL!

Back to School. Save 20% with code SCHOOL

Save 20% with code SCHOOL

Raisin Treats for All of Us to Eat {Giveaway}

August 23, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 2 Comments

#LoveYourRaisins5#ad

With summer almost behind us, it was time to get back into “school” mode. Thankfully a visit from the was the perfect opportunity to talk back-to-school lunch ideas and innovative snacks using nature’s own sweet snack, raisins!

LoveYourRaisins


California Raisins are a natural, healthy and convenient food that is perfect for back-to-school/after-school snacking. With sweetness kissed-by-the-sun that is pure with zero fat, no cholesterol and packed with fiber, potassium and iron, raisins are some of the most economical and wholesome ways to enjoy fruit!

#LoveYourRaisins#ad

With a natural sweetness with no added sugar, their delicious taste is ideal for tons of recipes like this Honey Nut Raisin Snack Mix! And you’ll find tons more of great ideas on the

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California Raisins’ Honey Nut Raisin Snack Mix


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Ingredients

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  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 cups brown crispy rice cereal
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 cup rolled gluten-free oats
  • 2 cups California raisins
  • 1/2 cup California golden raisins

Instructions

  1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add honey, almond butter and cinnamon and bring to a full boil. Let boil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in cereal, almonds and oats. Spread 1-inch thick on a baking sheet then separate into 1-inch clusters. Let cool completely then stir in raisins. Store in an airtight container.
  2. For crunchy clusters, spread cooked mixture 1-inch thick on prepared baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir to form clusters and let cool completely. Stir in raisins.
  3. * Recipe courtesy of California Raisins on CaRaisins.org.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @mamachallenge on Instagram and hashtag it #mamachallenge

California-Raisins-Sweet-Naturally-Logo-1-610x175

Just in time for back-to-school, you can win a prize pack from California Raisins with a plushie, lunch container, and other fun ways to enjoy raisins by answering this very easy question:

Tracking PixelWhat’s your favorite way to eat raisins? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf California Raisins.

Chili’s® at Home Heats Up the Frozen Food Aisle

August 21, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 9 Comments

Many thanks to Bellisio Foods for sponsoring this post about Chili’s® Grill & Bar frozen meals at home.

There are days that seem I have meals handled and then the days that deserve going out to eat. And now there is a new option from Bellisio Foods when it’s just not in mom to make dinner or going out to eat, but the rest of the family is still hankering for some of their restaurant favorites (at home!) Thankfully, you now find Chili’s® Grill & Bar as single-serve entrees and multi-serve meals made for adventurous taste buds on a flavor mission in your freezer section.

IMG_0120


Chili’s® Grill & Bar new line of frozen foods delivers the bold, southwestern flavors with entrées like Pepper Jack Mac ‘N’ Cheese and Chicken Fajita Rice Bowl. And with my kids, we couldn’t resist the Bacon Mac ‘N’ Cheese and Seasoned Chicken Bites with Honey Chipotle Sauce. For mom and dad the Chicken Fajita Rice Bowl and the Chicken Bacon Ranch caught our eye and taste buds.

IMG_0133

And all mom had to do when take it out of the freezer, to the microwave and in about three minutes it was on our plates, straight to our bellies!

Available at major retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Food Lion, H-E-B, Meijer, Giant Eagle, Schnucks and more, I was able to score a coupon for a free Chili’s® Grill & Bar single entrée from Kroger on their smartphone app, so keep your eyes peeled for other possible offers.

IMG_0137

SINGLE-SERVE ENTRÉES
1. Bacon Mac ‘N’ Cheese
2. Cajun-Style Chicken Alfredo
3. Cheesy Chicken Pasta Florentine
4. Chicken Bacon Ranch
5. Chicken Fajita Rice Bowl
6. Island Chicken & Rice
7. Mango Chicken with Rice
8. Pepper Jack Mac ‘N’ Cheese

MULTI-SERVE MEALS
1. Bacon Mac ‘N’ Cheese
2. Chicken Bacon Ranch
3. Chicken Fajita Rice
4. Nacho Potatoes with Beef & Bacon
5. Seasoned Chicken Bites with Honey Chipotle Sauce

Now you can have your favorite restaurant foods from at your fingertips with Chili’s® Grill & Bar frozen meals at home.

3 Must-Do Tips to Get Back-to-School Ready {Giveaway}

August 16, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Summer’s been great, but  I’ll admit part of me is excited for school to start. However, before that first bell rings, the kids (and you) need to get a jump start on getting ready for the school year. Here’s three tips I shared on Fox Good Day Saturday that every family needs to know to get your year off to a great start! (And a giveaway, too!)

3 Tips

Practice Makes Perfect 


Practice and get back into a routine now until school starts with setting alarms for waking up and going to bed.

Here’s the adorable clock I got for my first-grader in efforts to making waking up fun (He loves to sleep!)

Get Organized

Get a way to organize your family!  I use with my smartphone and Google Calendars to organize all of our schedules. Or you can use an app like Cozi if you prefer! But some prefer it to be written down,  so make a central location where everyone can see the calendar.

Make a Family Book and keep it updated! This has all the things you need from menus, basic phone numbers, policies, baby sitter instructions, etc.

Follow Autumn Reo {mamachallenge.com}’s board Back to School on Pinterest.

Think Smarter (not harder) when it comes to Meals

Breakfast:

Try to make a few items in advance to make a healthy breakfast a cinch. I like muffins and pancakes because they freeze well and best of all you can “sneak” in extra nutrition like one of these Go Go squeeZ pouches give you almost a full serving of fruit and used instead of sugar.

Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

 Lunch:

Make them the night before! And make them fun & healthy without spending much time! My kids LOVE ready-made meals like Lunchables, but by making your own, you can make them healthy and save money. You can make your own pizza crusts in advance and with items that you have make a great and healthy meal your kid will want to eat.
Also you’ll want to multitask – use squeeze pouches for ice packs and then they’ll have them to eat in advance. Make sure you check out these other great tips on lunches from my recent visit to The Broadcast!

GGS

 Click here to find out how! 

Dinner: 

A little planning will go a long way, but sometimes that doesn’t happen with all the other stuff! I use emeals and it’s a plan that emails you the meal plan, recipes and shopping list so it takes all the work in being advance. Recommended by Dave Ramsey, emeals subscription-based service gives you a week’s worth of grocery shopping for your diet plan on a budget and the recipes so you aren’t busy figuring things out. Right now you can get 20% of any eMeals Meal Plan with the code SCHOOL!

Also make sure you think about items that can make one night and then use the leftovers later like roast for tacos or BBQ sandwiches. Or a rotisserie chicken makes the world go round! From chicken, pizza, stirfry, tortilla soup and more! (Sounds like another blog post!)

Back to School. Save 20% with code SCHOOL

Save 20% with code SCHOOL

Hatch Chile and Chorizo Breakfast Pie

August 15, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Want to spice up your brunch game? This Hatch Chile and Chorizo Breakfast Pie is the answer! And make it in advance for the win! 

If you live in the south (especially in Texas or New Mexico), Hatch Chile time is like football season. It may not have a Hallmark card made in its honor, but by golly we celebrate it, give praise and make lots of food based in its honor.

MarketStreetChiles


If you’ve never had the privilege to partake in enjoying hatch chilies, I’m about to give you a reason to book a plane to your nearest Market Street to load up on this lovely little pepper that’s available for a short time in August/September.  It’s got cheese, eggs, chorizo, tortillas and a whole lotta love. And it’s SOOO good you’ll make it for breakfast and still be craving more of it at dinner (although it won’t make it past lunch time!)

However, I thought we’d do things Alton Brown style (my ultimate foodie crush) and take a look at when, how and what made the hatch chile “hatch” into such a phenomenon.

Let’s take a trip to where it all started. In a most appropriately named town in New Mexico called Hatch. Similar to the fact you can only call champagne if it comes from the region of France otherwise you have to call it sparkling wine, Hatch chiles are technically only grow in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico. And while I can go on about how Christopher Columbus is also a part of the pepper story and how space ships enter the picture, we have some Hatch Chile & Chorizo Breakfast Pie to eat.

But first, other than taste, do peppers have any real nutritional value?

HatchChilePepper

Photo from Market Street Facebook Page

According to the official Hatch Chile Festival website, there are a lot of “capsational” reasons to enjoy chiles:

  • One fresh medium-sized green chile pod has as much Vitamin C as six oranges.
  • One teaspoon of dried red chile powder has the daily requirements of Vitamin A.
  • Hot chile peppers burn calories by triggering a thermodynamic burn in the body, which speeds up the metabolism.
  • Teas & lozenges are made with chile peppers for the treatment of a sore throat.
  • Capsaicinoids, the chemical that make chile peppers hot, are used in muscle patches for sore and aching muscles.
  • Chile peppers are relatives of tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants, all belonging to the nightshade family.
  • The color extracted from very red chile pepper pods, oleoresin, is used in everything from lipstick to processed meats.
  • There are 26 known species of chile pepper, five of which are domesticated.

Adapted from the New Mexico Chile Institutes’ “Chile Pepper Facts”

But you want to know the best reason to eat ’em? It’s because everything taste better with hatch peppers. And I’ve taken all the best parts of a Mexican breakfast along and added a little hatch for a perfect breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner meal (we actually ate this as a snack and it didn’t make it to a meal it was so good!)

Hatch Chile Chorizo Breakfast Pie

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Hatch Chile & Chorizo Breakfast Pie


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Ingredients

Scale
  • 5–6 Hatch chiles, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped (you can get them roasted at Market Street)
  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small tomato, diced
  • 6 ounces pork chorizo, casing removed
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
  • 4–5 corn tortillas
  • 1 cup shredded cheese, Mexican Style Cheese Mix

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Heat a skillet on medium heat and add oil.
  3. Sauté onion and garlic, until softened.
  4. Add tomatoes and chorizo and cook until completely cooked (chorizo doesn’t brown though so don’t overcook.) Now add the hatch peppers to saute just a little bit.
  5. In a bowl whisk the eggs and then add the milk, salt, pepper, paprika, and chipotle powder.
  6. Now taking an iron skillet, add a little butter or oil then cover the bottom of the skillet with the tortillas. I let them overlap a little to make a thin “crust” on the bottom of the pan. Next add the eggs, then the meat and last cover with cheese.
  7. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @mamachallenge on Instagram and hashtag it #mamachallenge

Once you have your first hatch experience, you’ll be ready to hatch everything! ST find more recipes on the Market Street Hatch Chile Fest Pinterest board! And if you do make anything, make sure to tag it #HatchChileFest and it might end up on the board too!

What do you think Hatch Chiles would be good with? 

Easy & Quick Back-to-School COOL Lunch Ideas

August 12, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: Affiliate links may be included. 

BTS

I’m sure you’ve all seen Pinterest and these incredible lunch bento boxes. They’re cute, but let’s face it, most parents don’t have the time for that. No matter how cute it is. However, there is some science to making food attractive – it’s all about the presentation, right? I shared my tips with the gals at The Broadcast. 


Must Haves for Fun Lunches

  • Muffin Tins: Make your own Bento boxes
  • Cookie Cutters: Easy way to make everything fun when it’s shaped!
  • Duct Tape: Make your own cool lunch box and then take it off for another one!
  • Note cards/jokes: Make them in advance or find premade ones on Pinterest to download and have ready

Meal Multitasking

  • Banana: Use them to write notes on the outside of the peel! Double-duty.
  • Bread: Use them for roll ups or “sushi” by using a rolling a pin to smash a slice of bread thin. Next add meat, cheese and carrots and pickles and then roll up. Using a knife you can cut them like sushi rolls.
  • Pretzels: Use stick pretzels like shish k-bobs and use your favorite meats, cheeses, etc.
  • Go Go squeeZ: Put the pouch in the freezer to use like an ice pack all day and then be ready to each at lunch!

My favorite timesaver is to MAKE YOUR KIDS HELP YOU! It’s a great time to be together, teach your kids about nutrition and get things done quicker!

And of course, lunch isn’t the only job that deserves a shortcut. Dinner can be crazy busy without planning, but I don’t even have the time for that! Thank goodness for eMeals.

EMeals subscription-based service gives you a week’s worth of grocery shopping for your diet plan on a budget and the recipes so you aren’t busy figuring things out. Dave Ramsey recommends this and so do other budget savvy websites. Right now you can get 20% of any eMeals Meal Plan with the code SCHOOL!

Back to School. Save 20% with code SCHOOL

Save 20% with code SCHOOL

Experience a Sip of Home with Gold Peak Coffee

August 11, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

Coffee time.  It’s not just a part of my morning routine.

When I look back at some of my most important moments – from business meetings, to catching up with friends, to the perfect ending to the the perfect meal, coffee has been a part of my memories. So when Georgia Coffee recently became  and expanded its offerings across the US, I was more than happy to experience another good moment!

Gold Peak Coffee #ad


However, I think my favorite coffee moment happens every Sunday. While the rest of my family sleeps in, I take the opportunity to just enjoy me time – with my brown furry blanket wrapped around me on the couch with a hot cup of coffee and a little CBS Sunday Morning. There’s just something wonderful about the quietness of our home, the sound of coffee dripping as it percolates and then the smell of the liquid gold right before I take that first sip. No matter how crazy the week has been, for that moment with my coffee is perfection. Just thinking about it I can smell the aroma.

Gold Peak Coffee Outdoors #sponsored

That’s why I always take advantage of the opportunity to order a cup of  at whatever meal I’m enjoying. Even with the craziest of days, one cup of hot Gold Peak Coffee gives me that same “Sunday Morning” feeling of home and helps me to start or end the day with that warm, comforting feeling of home.

HomeisWheretheCoffeeIs#ad

It’s kinda like my brown furry blanket and makes me feel all good on the inside.

To get your own “sip of home,” click on the locator where you can find Gold Peak Coffee.  Available in light roast, dark roast, decaf and sustainable organic blends and made with 100% of the highest quality Arabica beans in every cup of Gold Peak Coffee, there’s the perfect taste just for you.

HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR COFFEE?

Gold Peak Coffee Logo #ad

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf Gold Peak Coffee. All opinions and commentary are my own.

Follow Autumn Reo {mamachallenge.com}’s board Coffee on Pinterest.

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Click Here (takes less than one minute): 
https://www.txpta.org/take-action

Tomorrow, March 11, the Texas House Committee on Public Education will hear HB 3. Let’s make it clear: Public money demands public accountability!

Texans have rejected vouchers since 1957—yet lawmakers are once again pushing them through with SB 2 and HB 3.

💰 Vouchers drain public school resources.
📉 They don’t improve student achievement.
❌ They aren’t about "parent choice"—private schools choose their students.
🏫 Texas parents already have school choice.

Governor Abbott is making vouchers a priority, but Texans are pushing back. Lawmakers are feeling the heat from voters who refuse to let public schools be undermined.

📲 Take 1 minute to make your voice heard NOW!

📷Jackson and Taylor are 2 of the 5.5 million reasons why Texas must keep public dollars in public schools. I was a product of public schools and had an amazing experience in a rural community with some of the best teachers. Change needs to happen, but taking away resources like these from schools is not especially when they ste already underfunded and our teachers’ morale is at an all time low. Communities work better together not when you separate them further apart. 

#studentsrworthit
#txptarally25
❣️…Pressing pause (for while)… Forgot wha ❣️…Pressing pause (for while)…

Forgot what it feels like to RELAX? The Sanford House Inn & Spa is ready to help you “Leave Your Worries Behind” with packages to treat yourself (or someone else) this Valentine’s Day! 

You “Can’t Help Falling in Love” with multiple options including a Hot-Stone Massage, Facials, Spa Manicure + Pedicure, Blowouts, Foot Reflexology and even lunch (with wine!

Just take a look at my face - I was able to “turn it off” (for a little while) and when I left my dry winter skin was just glowing - plus I learned how to make it stay that way from my very  knowledgeable esthetician! 

If you haven’t tried this gem in the middle of Arlington, you’re missing out! The Spa is just part of experience with its 12-room Inn and acclaimed 506 Restaurant (don’t sleep on the brunch), @thesanfordhouse is your little piece of heaven in the middle of downtown!

Think it’s only a little dream? It will be if you don’t make an appointment or nudge your loved one this is what you NEED for Valentine’s Day! (But don’t worry you can still get a great experience anytime!)

Link is in my stories for full list of Valentine’s Day packages! 

📍506 N. Center Street, Arlington, Texas
(Less than 1 mile from @attstadium)

#valentines #dfw #ArlingtonTx #sanfordhouse
Texas Bucket List ✔️= Johnson City Lights Thi Texas Bucket List ✔️= Johnson City Lights

This is the last weekend of the “Christmas lights you can see from space” from the twinkliest town in Texas, @visitjctx!

You have until Sunday…and while you’re there you should hit up @halterranchtx, my other new favorite.

#gofredtx #fredericksburgtx @visitfredtx @visitfredericksburgtx
FLASH GIVEAWAY: Just because Santa’s left the st FLASH GIVEAWAY: Just because Santa’s left the station doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate a Classic Christmas (and we have the keys!)

@ClassicChristmas has been extended until Sunday, Jan. 5, so if you haven’t been enjoy this VIP experience with ice skating and snow tubing! 

Giveaway includes 4 Tickets to Classic Christmas + 4 Premium pass upgrades plus: 
🎟️ Exclusive Express Lane entry to popular activities 
🎟️ $10 merch credit at the Classic Christmas Gift Shop  
🎟️ Coca-Cola Beverage

To enter:   
⭐️ Like this post  
⭐️ Comment what’s your favorite Christmas song 
⭐️ Tag a friend who would love the chance to come
⭐️ Share this story as an extra chance to win!

The giveaway is open now through December 30 at 11:59 pm and you’ll have December 31 - January 5, 2025 to enjoy the fun! Winner will be contacted by DM so profile must be public.  (Giveaway is not associate with Instagram/META.) 

#classicchristmas #cocacola #Arlingtontx #ArlingtonTexas #cocacola @enchantdallas #dfw #dfwevents #mamachallenge #dfwinfluencer #dallasinfluencer
WHERE TO CHRISTMAS IN DFW // Trinity Falls Tour of WHERE TO CHRISTMAS IN DFW // Trinity Falls Tour of Trees

 🎄 Tour of Trees at Trinity Falls in McKinney
 🗓️ Now through Dec. 15 (so hurry up!) 

Know what’s better than touring homes? Touring homes with beautifully decorated Christmas trees! 

@trinityfallstx has brought both worlds together by inviting the public to explore their model homes with professionally- styled trees by @absholidaydecor at the 5th Annual Tour of Trees. While you marvel at the homes and the trees, take your photos in front of the trees for a chance to win $500 Amazon gift card.  

TIP: Don’t miss the tree collaboration with #RHOD @dandrasimmons - it’s “beeutiful!” 🐝 

This event is FREE, but registration is required. (Link is in stories or DM “Tree” for the link.)

 #touroftrees #trinityfalls #trinityfallstx #mckinney #mckinneytx #mckinneytexas
WHERE TO CHRISTMAS IN DFW WITH TEENS - Dallas Zoo WHERE TO CHRISTMAS IN DFW WITH TEENS - Dallas Zoo Lights

🌲 Dallas Zoo
🗓️ Now - January 4 

Wonder what the @dallaszoo is like after dark? Once Upon a Wild Light comes alive with more than two million lights, 5:30 pm - 9 pm each night through January (so you can do this one with your family during the holiday break!) 

While many of the animals sleep, DinoLumia and DinoVision: a Jurassic adventure comes out to play, along with tons of holiday light photo opps and winter fun experiences. Enjoy catching up through self-guided, self-paced walk-through and spend time together while taking photos, which is ideal if you don’t like the holiday overload! And don’t sleep on Santa here, as he has a certain twinkle in his eye the kids always seem to like to catch up with (mom was even able to get a shot.) 

And for the even bigger kids over 21, Dallas Zoo: After Dark, goes wild on Thursday, Dec. 12, 6-9 PM with eats, treats and holiday drinks,live music, and games and other ways to get you in the holiday spirit! 

 @DallasZoo @ReliantEnergy #dallas #dallasholiday #dfwevents #dallaszoolights #holidays #zoo #dallastexas #mamachallenge
WHERE TO CHRISTMAS IN DFW WITH TEENS // Classic Ch WHERE TO CHRISTMAS IN DFW WITH TEENS // Classic Christmas 

🌲 Coca Cola Classic Christmas - Choctaw Stadium in Arlington  
🗓️ Now through Dec. 29

Growing up @cocacola made the holidays magic, so when Coca Cola Classic rolled down the road, we had to go peek! Partnering with @enchantchristmas, the experience is part lights, part photo opps and for my kids mostly FOOD and overall a lot of fun - all washed down with (of course, a Coca Cola!) 

What was also great was a little walk through memory lane with Coke Christmas moments throughout the years - cue the polar bears and 18 wheeler!

Experience: 
🎅Market Square (definitely hit up the t-shirts - reading each one is half the fun)
🎅 Snow Tubing (always our favorite)Ice Skating (truth: we don’t skate, but it’s perfect people watching) 
🎅 Interactive Light up Dance Floor
🎅 @cinemark Theatre with holiday movies 
🎅 Coca-Cola Lounge - 21+ Cocktail experience (looked great to go with the girls)
🎅 Santa Landing

And of course, the Eatery! Eyes (and mouths) got big here with featured food from State Fair of Tex winners like The Drowning Tacos (SO GOOD we then ordered the Birria Tacos, too all cooked onsite and with all the sauce!) 

It’s the real thing!

#ClassicChristmas #ChoctawStadium #ArlingtonTx #CocaCola #Dallas #DFWEvents #DFWHoliday #DFWInfluencers
WHERE TO CHRISTMAS IN DFW WITH TEENS // Prairie Li WHERE TO CHRISTMAS IN DFW WITH TEENS // Prairie Lights

🎄 Prairie Lights, Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie 
🗓️ Now through Dec. 31 (NYE) at 6 pm 

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without @prairielights- with a packed car with blankets, Santa hats, hot cocoa and coffee, and blasting holiday music while we sing them even louder.  

A stunning two-mile drive through light park complete with a midway stop - The Holiday Village with carnival rides, amazing bites (corndogs, funnel cakes and more, oh my!) And this year we were surprised with a new light tunnel, reimagined walk-through forest and new displays, great photo opps, gifts, visit with Santa, a lighted strollable forest.  It’s perfectly timed for food, fun and a little time on foot! 

PRO TIP: Go early, get tickets in advance and spring for the fast pass on the weekends and prime holiday times. And enjoy it and don’t try to rush it - enjoy it! That includes entry and the experience (so bathroom before you go, but thankfully there’s one at The Holiday Village and you get the corn dog.) 

#GoGrandGP @grandfungp #GrandFunGP #dfwinfluencer #Dallas #grandprairie #prairielights #dfw
Mariah may be singing “it’s time,” but there Mariah may be singing “it’s time,” but there are still some ways to give a little love to Thanksgiving with a little DIY (hello old pumpkins!) from Mama Challenge! 

So excited to see my friends over at Good Day Fox 4 today for this fun segment!
Peardon My Reach - this one’s on repeat. 🍐 # Peardon My Reach - this one’s on repeat. 🍐 
#nationalcoffeeday 

#cinncinati #kentucky #newport #coffee #fall
Arlington makes Taco Tuesday even better by celebr Arlington makes Taco Tuesday even better by celebrating all month long with its #SaveTheTacos campaign, now - September 30.

Try and vote for “Best Taco in Arlington” from 12 participants:

🌮 Fiesta Fusion Shrimp Taco at Boiling Tails Co.

🌮 The Hunter Taco at Cut & Bourbon

🌮 El Jefe at Grounds and Gold
 
🌮 Jamaican Me Crazy at M’Jays House of Smoke

🌮 Champiqueso at Papaya Mexican Grill

🌮 What the Falafel at Prince Lebanese Grill

🌮 He’s Just a Po Boy at R Bar and Grill 

🌮 Celestial Pork Belly Taco at Rocketbelly
 
🌮 House Special Barbacoa at Tic-Taco
 
🌮 The Chicken of Wall “Street” at TJ’s Catfish & Wings & BBQ

🌮 Baja Shrimp Taco with Mango Salsa at Tom’s Burgers & Grill
 
🌮 Wanna Taco ‘Bout It at Zack’s Bistro

We can tell you which one is our favorite, but take away all the fun to find your favorite! 

(Link to Vote in Stories!)

#ArlingtonTX #TacoTuesday #SavetheTacos
Always great to see a few guys who work together l Always great to see a few guys who work together like each other, too.

It’s even better when they’re Texas Rangers and  we’re celebrating Hall of Famer Adrían Beltré!
And just like that…11th grade and 7th grade (and And just like that…11th grade and 7th grade (and then they drove off!)
Follow the “red light” to this one-of-a-kind e Follow the “red light” to this one-of-a-kind experience in DFW. 🚨 

Named after Bangkok’s legendary road of entertainment of all kinds (Sukhumvit Soi 11), it seems fitting this newly imagined destination would find its home in Arlington’s Entertainment District. Anchoring the NEW @loewsarlington, @soycowboytx (also from @bbbutchers / @berghospitality) recently swung open the curtain this summer with an opening that made heads turn at every corner of this 12,000 sq. ft. of sexy space - with 3 unique bars, patio, viewable kitchen and dining room. 

To call it a “Pan Asian restaurant” doesn’t do it justice with its rich menu of fresh sushi, dim sum, caviar, truffle, lobster, waygu (all things you don’t find in the home of the margarita machine and ballpark nachos.) And if you’re looking for entertainment, just take a peek into the expansive kitchen and watch your rolls or omakase be made. The cocktail menu is just as extravagant with everything from mezcal to Japanese whisky, you’re eyes will be just as happy as your lips upon your first sip. 

While we experienced live music, fashion show and more as part of the opening, the cool smoke installation and the people-watching is definitely just part of the menu at Soy Cowboy you’ll have to explore. 

Food Nerd Note: SoyCowboy is on the upcoming @dfwrestaurantweek menu for just $39, so it’s a steal to take your own trip on a budget. (Make your reservation.)

Chon mean (or what we hope is Cheers in in Thai!)
NEWS ALERT: Dallas Food Nerd is now on TV! 📺 ( NEWS ALERT: Dallas Food Nerd is now on TV! 📺 
(Well today at least.)

Normally we’re always behind the smartphone camera, today we stepped out in front of the TV screen! The lovely folks at the new morning show Morning on Merit Street @morningonmeritstreet invited DFN for a little “roundtable” discussion about dining trends with our own Food Nerd @autumnreo / @mamachallenge and Bill Trevino of @craftandvinerestaurant CraftandVine along with hosts @dominiquesachse and @fanchonstinger for a little dishin’ on dining!

(If you’re able to take a look online, keep watching to see our new friend Pearl 🐶 and friends from @sweetpearlsicecream share their incredibly sweet story with @hungreehannah!) 

✔️ And just like we shared on the show, we want to know what you think! What do you think about Table Limits on reservations? Yes restaurants should have them or no way?
Round #2: Now he’s off for CIT at YMCA Camp Grad Round #2: Now he’s off for CIT at YMCA Camp Grady Spruce! It’s hard to separate them, but we’re excited he’s so happy to be ready for this adventure!
July 4th kicked a week early! 🎆 Love when the n July 4th kicked a week early! 🎆 Love when the neighborhood shines!
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