Featured Holiday Posts Archives - mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents

Make a New Holiday Tradition with the Lights at Daystar

December 23, 2018 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Make a holiday tradition that you will all love with the lights at Daystar. Visit Santa, take photos at Christmas Town and experience the meaning of Christmas. #DaystarChristmas

Thanks to Daystar for the invitation and the opportunity to enjoy the lights with my family and not just taking the photos!

DFW is home to many amazing light displays. Each has its own unique experience and we love going back year after year to see what’s new and to visit our favorite parts. But this year we had the opportunity to add a beautiful new-to-us light display to the list – and it was just around the corner from our home at Daystar TV in Euless.

The lights at Daystar actually aren’t new – they started them in 2005 as a nice way to celebrate the season. But the beauty quickly caught on and this year the display grew two-fold with one million lights, in addition to adding Christmas Town, an area dedicated to entertaining children by bringing in their favorite holiday characters and a lighted tunnel entrance leading guests to a gazebo surrounded by toy soldiers. Children can also see a 6-foot tall Olaf joined by his two penguin friends, a lighted Thomas the Train, Santa’s workshop with elves, and a gingerbread house filled with gingerbread people.

We were able to park right at the displays and take a look around and visit each area at our own schedule while taking photos and singing along the way. The kids LOVED it and what I loved is it was just the right size – without lines, without traffic, and without any costs.

And when we left we had that warm and fuzzy feeling that you want at Christmas.

While the event’s activities are over, you can still check out the light displays until Jan. 6. Also please make sure to Save the Date for next year – it’s definitely on our short list for years to come. You’ll be able to experience the Living Nativity, visit with Santa and take a beautiful shot for your own Christmas cards. Each year more than 100,000 cars drive by the network’s international headquarters everyday, and by adding new additions like Christmas Town and pictures with Santa, hopefully more people in the community will come and enjoy the holiday fun as they spend quality time with family and friends this Christmas season.

About Daystar Television Network

Daystar Television Network is an award winning, faith-based network dedicated to spreading the Gospel 24 hours a day, seven days a week – all around the globe, through all media formats possible. The nonprofit reaches more than 109 million households in the United States and over 4.4 billion people worldwide. Daystar is the fastest growing faith-based television network in the world. For more information, visit daystar.com.

Make Ahead Holiday Brunch Ideas

December 20, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 2 Comments

Make Christmas memorable and don’t miss it making brunch when you can do it before! Here are our Make Ahead Holiday Brunch Ideas!

I love the feeling of waking up on Christmas Day with your loved ones and enjoying the fun of opening gifts in your PJs.

While you want the morning to be memorable, no one wants to get stuck in the kitchen creating the perfect Christmas breakfast.

So here’s a few tried and true make-ahead recipes I shared on Good Morning Texas that will make your any holiday morning easy, memorable and mouth-watering.

Make Ahead Holiday Brunch Ideas

Make Ahead Christmas Morning Casserole

Mini Spinach Quiches

Junior League of Arlington’s The Night Before Christmas Coffee Cake

Easy Mocha Punch

For more information about the Junior League of Arlington’s Holiday Magic, visit http://www.jlarlington.org.

Holiday Challenge: Holiday Picks for Her

December 18, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 9 Comments

The holidays are hard enough. Whether you shop JCPenney or its new upscale boutique “Jacques Penné,” take the JCPenney Holiday Challenge and rethink how easy you can get everything on your list.

Thanks to JCPenney for marking off the holiday checklist and sponsoring this post.

Have you finished your holiday shopping already? If so, then you can stop here.

For the rest of us (which I know is really most of us), one of the biggest challenges at the holidays is completing finding the time and the money to complete your ever-changing holiday must-buy list. #mamachallenge.

Trying to keep track of what everyone wants and needs gets to be overwhelming especially when you want to keep your gifting within your budget. And you get spread so thin trying to get it all done – and still see that smile on their face when they open it.

This season take the holiday challenge, #JCPchallenge, at JCPenney and beat your holiday budget. Get all you want for less than you think – from hot trending items and holiday must-haves to unexpected finds – all available in-store or online at great value.

JCPenney is helping to mark off your list no matter who you need to get something for, especially with its new Jacques Penné (JCPs upscale moniker). Opened in NYC for just two days, guests could experience JCPenney “with rose colored glasses” a beautifully curated holiday boutique decorated with a nod to JCPenney’s play on the penny with copper and penny decor. With Christmas trees and wreaths made of pennies, you can only believe it if you see it. It’s truly absolutely stunning! The pop-up was lined with specially selected upscale gifts designed in nine collections including picks from celebrity Nicole Richie.

Thankfully you can still visit and select your favorite finds in the the luxury online boutique until Jan. 7. Once you build your wish list in the virtual shop, the link will show where the item is find already on JCPenney.com.

Kinda genius, right?

That’s showing you how to rethink your JCPenney as the best place to shop for one-stop, affordable shopping for all things holiday this season.

And with JCPenney Reward opportunities, special offers for big savings like DEALS33, and much more, you can’t afford to not save at JCPenney. (Check online or in your circular for current discounts and promotions.)

Just take a look at some of my favorite holiday finds I picked after a online look at the Jacques Penne online boutique.

Funny enough I’m sure these are more like my want list for Christmas (hint, hint honey.)

JCPenney Holiday 2017 Picks

1/10 CT. T.W. Double Halo Diamond Stud Earrings in Sterling Silver

At just $25 (normally $124 so almost 75% off), these diamond studs will make any girl happy, at any age.

Project Runway Bomber Jacket

Designed on Project Runway, bring home your own piece from the runway with Project Runway from JCPenney. And this bomber is all about getting attention and at less than $40 that gets mine!

Worthington Bell Sleeve Lace Top

Dress it down, dress it up this Worthington Bell Sleeve Lace Top shows off the best of you for just $22 and is available in various colors.

Sephora Inside JCPenney Lash Party

A pick from Sephora Inside JCPenney is always a win, but with the limited edition holiday gift sets, you can’t go wrong – especially with this Last Party Sampler. With five sample size mascaras and one full size this set is must retailing at $74 for just $28.

Mixit Statement Necklace

Go bling or go home with this statement Mixit necklace that’s a showstopper for only 15!

Sassy Stemless “You Had Me at Merlot” & Gold Wine Opener

Under $10, toast to the holidays with this festive gold and black wine glass. A perfect party favor or way to make any event festive.

Be the hostess with the mostest style with this gold wine opener, the ideal complement to your sparkle glass.

Liz Claiborne Charging Wristlet

Any modern day girl needs this Liz Claiborne Charging Wristlet in her wardrobe. Keep it classy while you keep your smartphone charging up for those snappable moments.

North Pole Trading Co. Mermaid Sequin Pillow

Gold? Black? You can have it however you want it with this gorgeous North Pole Trading Co. Mermaid Sequin pillow (less than $20!) featured as part of the Jacques Penne boutique.

See how much I saved and I gave?

(Receipt photo)

With so much to offer, take the Holiday Challenge from JCPenney. Saving money and getting it all done, that’s #SoWorthIt, right!?!

Thank You for Everything Bagel {Printable}

December 14, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Looking for a quick way to say Thank You at work or a group or organization? Show your appreciation with this Thanks for Everything Bagel Printable + bagels for everyone.

Thanks to Einstein Bros. for this bringing us together + this sponsored post.

You should always be in the spirit of saying “thank you,” but the holidays are prime time for not just saying “I appreciate you,” but making a grand gesture to show it, too.

Unfortunately with so much other stuff to do during the holidays, you think about a lot of good things to do for good people but you just can’t get to it. You think, “maybe next time,” of course that’s after another year rolls by.

But it doesn’t have to be a big soiree or big extravagant gifts to get everyone together and to say thanks.

At my husband’s company, employee appreciation goes a long way but there’s not a lot of time to get the team together.

But one thing is definite that will make any office happy: free food. 🙂

So off to Einstein Bros. Bagels I went. Great for bringing friends, family and even colleagues together, Einstein Bros. Bagels offers a variety of options including a Baker’s Dozen Box (13 Bagels with 2 Shmears) and a Half Dozen Box (6 Bagels with 1 Shmear)!

How can you go wrong with these bagels choices:

Asiago
Blueberry
Chocolate Chip
Cinnamon Raisin
Cinnamon Sugar
Cranberry
Egg
Everything
French Toast
Garlic
9-Grain
Honey Whole Wheat
Onion
Plain
Poppy Seed
Potato
Pretzel
Pumpernickel
Pumpkin (Seasonal)
Sesame Seed
Apple Cinnamon
Cheddar Jalapeno
Cheesy Hash Brown
Green Chile
Power Protein
Pumpkin Walnut Crunch
Six Cheese
Snickerdoodle
Spinach Florentine

And Super Smears like:

Plain
Onion & Chive
Smoked Salmon
Blueberry
Honey Almond
Strawberry
Garden Veggie
Garlic & Herb
Jalapeño Salsa
Reduced Fat Plain
Maple

The bagels, along with this quick 5 x 7 printable “Thanks for Everything You Do” is a super easy way to show your appreciation even your team only has a few minutes to come together in the break room. Whether it’s Christmas, Labor Day, or Wednesday, you’ll definitely make an impression without having to much at all.

And if you can’t resist snacking before you get your Einstein Bros. to the office, snag your own with this $2 off coupon. (Personally it’s the egg sandwiches that make my mouth water.) Buy remember this coupon expires 12/31/17.

Print off yours by clicking below in two different versions and receive a PDF.

PDF / JPG

The Guys Guide to the Best Gifts for Guys

December 13, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 110 Comments

Want to know the secret of getting the right gift for the guy in your life? ASK HIM. So for this holiday gift guide, we solve this #mamachallenge for The Guy’s Guide to the Best Gifts for Guys courtesy of my guy, my husband.

Thanks to Academy Sports + Outdoors for making Christmas easy with one-stop affordable shopping and this sponsored post.

Every year around this time the inevitable question always arises: What do you want for Christmas?

It’s a thoughtful question because it means, “I want to give you a gift to show you love and appreciation and I want you to get something you want.”

But even worse some people don’t even both to ask and just assume they know what you want. That’s how I’ve ended up with a lot of pajamas and pullovers…and I have an ample supply.

Funny enough, most men, like myself, are not hard to please and are easy when it comes to Christmas shopping.

Want to know the secret?

Go to Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Put something in the basket.
Go Home, Wrap it (or not, we don’t care.)
Enjoy seeing his face when he opens it.

For me this place takes care of all my favorite things to do and interests and the fact that’s it’s always affordable with low prices makes it easy to give and gift.

The way my wife clicks on everything on Pinterest is how I feel about Academy. I can walk around the store and find all kinds of gifts ranging from hunting, camping, working out, cooking, fishing…whatever!. And if your man is anything like me, they are probably the same way, and you took the work out of it and now put a present under the tree.

But if you need us to narrow it down a little bit, here’s our Guide to the Best Gifts for Your Guy at Academy Sports + Outdoors.

The Guys Guide to the Best Gifts for Guys

Masterbuilt MES 130S 30 in Digital Electric Smoker with Window

If Santa wanted to leave me something under the tree, this is it. The Masterbuilt MES 130S 30 in Digital Electric Smoker with Window makes it easy to do some cooking, actually a lot of cooking. With an electric ignition and time, you can whip up 6 chickens, 2 turkeys, 4 racks of ribs or 4 pork butts all at one time. And it’s on wheels so it won’t be hard for Santa to roll this one in. This one is a win-win.

LEM Electric Meat Grinder

Every year I harvest quite a bit of meat while out hunting. One of the best and most popular ways to put deer and hog on the table is to grind it up and then freeze it to eat throughout the year.. This is step one to making chili, sausage, and burgers. I’ve been trying to perfect the perfect sausage recipe for several years while working from an attachment on my blender. Unfortunately, it takes hours to get through 10 lbs of sausage and there really aren’t a lot of options for changing up how you want the meat ground up, i.e. course for chili and super fine to crank out some homemade bologna.

With the LEM Electric Grinder you have a dedicated tool to get the job done. It comes with a couple of grinding plates and sausage stuffing tool right out of the box. I can look forward to a much more enjoyable experience processing the game I’ve taken when using the right tool for the job from a great brand.

Outdoor Gourmet Propane Fish Fry Cart Set

To me, when I think of holiday traditions I’d like to start, I’ve always thought the “Fried Fourth” has the double appeal of patriotic alliteration combined with the sweet siren’s call of a bubbling caldron of grease. Fried fish, calf fries, dove, shrimp, frog legs, steak fingers, chicken strips, and mounds and mounds of French fries. Everybody sits around all days getting stuffed on an assortment of fried foods just in time to watch a majestic fireworks show. It brings a tear to my eye and I get a little choked up dreaming about the “Fried Forth.”

But if I’m going to do that much frying, I need a rig that can handle some volume. The Outdoor Gourmet Propane Fish Fry Cart Set can do just that. Two burners, two pots, with three baskets can pump out a lot of golden fried goodness. Hopefully this is the year we can bring the “Fried Forth” to America’s heartland.

Wildgame Innovations Moonshine Hog and Varmint Feeder Light

One thing most any land owner can agree on is this, wild pigs are not your friends. They tear up everything they can and multiply about as fast as anything on earth. These are just some of the reasons to hunt pigs year-round. Not to mention pigs can be some pretty good eating too. One of the most efficient ways to manage these throngs of pork is to set them on a feeder and then light em up.

The Wildgame Innovations Moonshine Hog and Varmint Feeder Light can be set to activate on motion and produces a bright blue light while operating off of a 6 volt battery. Put this up on or around your feeder at night and then just wait for a passel of hogs to show up, then, you and your buddies can get to harvesting.

Do-All Outdoors Double Trap

Next on the list is the Do-All Outdoors Double Trap because one of my favorite activities is shooting clays. Shooting clay pigeons is a great way to stay tuned when bird season comes around and it’s great fun all by itself. For example, when the birds aren’t flying, it’s always nice to have a standby where everyone can get on the line and test their skill for a little game of Wolf Chase.

In addition, there’s no better way to start getting your kids used to hunt that to get them out in the country and start training. Spend some quality time as a family while learning basic hunting and shooting safety and technique. I’m already looking forward to hearing my son yell, “Pull!”

Magellan Outdoors Men’s Glacier Shield Jacket

Our family holiday tradition is going skiing. I love to ski and we try to go somewhere new every year. While it doesn’t often get real cold in Dallas, it is when we head to Colorado. The Magellan Outdoors Men’s Glacier Shield Jacket does you a solid for all the different weather conditions that are thrown are way. And this coat comes with a storage bag so you can pack it away when not in use.

YETI Roadie 20 Cooler

Repeat this: You can’t go wrong with a YETI. Especially when it’s the convenient YETI Roadie 20 Cooler. Whether he hunts, fishes, tailgates, boats, whatever…he’s got a reason for this convenient sized cooler that keeps everything cold for days (tested a million times over!) And for a limited time Academy Sports + Outdoors is giving a free $75 Academy Gift Card with the purchase of any YETI Hard-Sided Cooler.

Under Armour Men’s UA Storm Vortex Short

Now that winter has set in and holiday season is in full swing, it’s never too early to start thinking about that beach bod. Maybe I could say that with a straight face when I was younger, but as the years come on it’s less about looking great and more about staying healthy. Part of staying healthy is getting in regular workouts and when you’re working out you want to be comfortable. Under Armour has some incredibly comfortable clothes that will help you worry less and perform better.

This Under Armour Men’s UA Storm Vortex Short is vented to keep you cool and water resistant to keep you dry. They also have a pocket built in to keep the cell phone handy while cranking out the tunes to keep you moving. Under Armour is a great brand and they continue to hit the mark with these shorts.

FREE SHIPPING BANNER (AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME)

Nike Men’s Run Swift Running Shoes

If you’ve got the shorts on to work out, you’ve got to have something on your feet as well. When it comes to athletic footwear, Nike is the iconic brand that’s been around longer than I have and knows more about athletic footwear than anyone around. I’ve also been with Nike long enough to know what I like and these Nike Run Swift Running Shoes. These shoes are great on the pavement, the treadmill, or the gym floor. The look of the shoe is simple, lightweight and breathable and none too flashy.

Body Champ VKR Power Tower

I’ve been trying to finish a workout program for years now. It’s a pretty strenuous and demanding three-month program working out 6 days a week, which has a lot to do with why I’ve never finished. With the Body Champ VKR Power Tower you can not only do pull ups and chin ups, but can also do dips and leg raises. In addition, you don’t have to wonder if this thing is going to fall and send me crashing to the ground. This tower would be one more tool available to me to keep my “temple” in working order for a long time to come.

Huffy Men’s Alpine 26″ 18-Speed Mountain Bike

This Huffy Men’s Alpine 26″ 18-Speed Mountain Bike is the gift that keeps on giving. Our family has some land out in the country with some elevation to it and it’s perfect for an off the beaten path mountain bike. And riding this will definitely help get some great exercise while going on adventures with and without the family.

The second use is a little more clandestine. Every morning when I set out to go hunting I hop on the ATV and head down to the stand. I know you can hear that things for miles around. Now if I hope on my Huffy, I can peddle right by the stand and be as quiet as a mouse. When you only get to hunt a few weekends out of the season, you want to take advantage of every edge you have.

Mosaic 29 in Fuego Grande Fire Pit

You can never go wrong with a gift that the entire family can enjoy together. I can see us now, all sitting around the fire grilling steaks with potatoes and onions wrapped in foil sitting right in the middle of the Mosaic 29 in Fuego Grande Fire Pit. We’ll finish up the evening with a bunch of kids roasting marshmallows on sticks getting ready for s’mores. If you’re going to be outside with a group of folks you’ll want to take care of him. We can make all that happen with the Mosaic 29 in Fuego Grande Fire Pit. It’s got everything you need. It’ll help you cook up a mess of food and stay warm at the same time. That’s how I like family time well and like this too.

Happy Holidays to you from us!

Jingle Berry Juice

December 10, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 17 Comments

Put a little joy in your holiday with this Jingle Berry Juice punch the whole family can enjoy.

I have sincere fear of FOMO (yep, that’s fear of missing out.) And when it comes to the holidays I don’t want to miss out on ANYTHING.

Whether it’s the cookies, cakes, cocktails or whatever thing being served, I want to taste a bite of it. Especially at the holidays. It’s that one time of the year we don’t try to just make it good, we want to make it the BEST.

However, I don’t always want to indulge, but I do want to partake. Especially when it comes to drinks during the Christmas season, it’s normally loaded – on something extra creamy or extra adultlike with rum, whiskey, wine or champagne.

While this girl loves her bubbles, I wanted to make a special festive concoctions that the parents would love and the kids could also enjoy together. Remembering a trick from my maternity days, adding a sparkling water to any juice blend would give it just the “kick” to make it fun to enjoy when others around me may have had other bubbles in their glass.

Taking the opportunity to be festive and jolly – I picked up my new favorite DASANI Sparkling Water in Berry from Walmart along with raspberry sherbet, cranberry juice and orange juice to create Jingle Berry Juice. Just as much fun to say as it is to drink, everyone is able to get in the spirit without having any added spirits!

With no time needed to create this concoction, you can concentrate on the other things that make the holidays special – like spending time with your friends and loved ones. (And you’ll still pull off making yourself look like you worked on your shindig for days!)

Plus with zero calories, unsweetened, zero artificial colors, and caffeine-free, DASANI is the ideal mixer for the holidays – including brunch, girls’ night out, or a family get together. And in Lime, Berry, Lemon, Black Cherry 12-packs, everyone on your list, naughty or nice, will have their favorite flavor on hand.

Jingle Berry Juice

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Description

Put a little jingle in your juice! Celebrate the holidays with an easy holiday juice that the whole family can enjoy!

Ingredients

2 quarts of cranberry juice cocktail
6 cups raspberry sherbet, softened
2 cups orange juice
3 cans Dasani sparkling water, berry flavored
Optional – frozen sugared cranberries

Instructions

In a large container like a pitcher or punchbowl, combine the first 3 ingredients. Top with sparking water and serve.

Notes

This recipe is super for the holidays to drink for any time of the day!

Need more ideas to put more jingle in your holiday party menu?

Check out this Pinterest board – https://www.pinterest.com/thepinningmama/easy-party-drink-recipes – full of drink ideas sure to make you #1 elf this season!

Rum and Coke Cake Balls

December 5, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 20 Comments

Forget the fruitcake, these rum and coke cake balls are the way to ring in the season. This easy recipe can be made for giving (or keeping) with (and without) the spirits, but all the festive flavor.

This post is being sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I was growing up there were several dishes you knew to expect for the holidays.

Grammer’s stuffing
Granny’s pecan pie
Aunt Debbie’s corn casserole
Grandpa’s stash of chocolate candy in the special box at the top of his closet he tried to “hide”
And a huge box of Coca-Cola® to stay stocked all season long

There would also be lots of goodies like divinity, fudge, carefully decorated Christmas sugar cookies, etc. from the neighbors and friends that would get dropped by the house and remain on display for eating throughout the season.

And by no means did we ever ever, ever go without.

However, there was never fruit cake. Not once that I can remember. It was always that thing that they talked about as the “worst thing ever” – and for some reasons I wanted so bad to know what it was. But what we did have was the rum cake.

When you would pull off the cloche on the rum cake, the most amazing aroma would permeate every part of the room with a rich buttery, coconutty smell that would start at your nose and soon make its way to every part of your taste buds.

But I wasn’t allowed to eat it. That was for the adults. And since I wasn’t supposed to eat and my grandma seemed to love it so much, I didn’t understand why I wasn’t given the opportunity to enjoy something that was so good. It just didn’t seem right that I wouldn’t get to have some. So of course, being the me that I was, I was focused on getting a taste. And one day it happened. No one was looking and I went in for my bite. I still remember that taste. Hitting my tongue, it was better than what I could have imagined!

Later, when I got older, I would find out what that special something was. It was the same spirited concoction the adults would indulge in with their Coca-Cola®. As kids we would also be limited how many sodas we could have, but like that rum cake, it was something to savor, every drop of it from the moment you poured it over ice, until the last drop hit your mouth.

Now I’m the adult. And unfortunately many of those dishes aren’t around anymore just like the women that made them. But there are a few things we still do…but now with a twist.

There’s still chocolate…except now it’s stashed in MY closet.

There are lots of little delights already in the making…but now I’m the one that is making them for my friends and neighbors.

There’s always a stock-up on Coca-Cola® as part of my Sam’s Club run.

And while there’s still no fruit cake, there is rum cake…but with a twist.

Since rum cake and Coca-Cola® were limited as a kid I’ve retaliated with the ultimate Christmas recipe: Rum and Coca-Cola® Cake Balls! It’s like a rum cake and rum and Coca-Cola® in one little bite. But if you’re like me and now you’re the adult with a few kiddos running around, then you can still enjoy the rum and Coca-Cola® cake without any of the spirits by using the rum extract instead. (You can find it almost anywhere!) Just remember, that a little the Rum Extract goes a long way!)

These make the perfect gift for goodies for the holidays or as something to do as a family while you’re getting in the holiday spirit.

Nothing says the holidays better than Coca-Cola®!