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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

5 Fun Things to Do in Los Cabos Mexico with Kids

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Think Mexico isn’t the best vacation for kids? Think again! There’s tons of things to do in Los Cabos Mexico and at the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort, which hosted just my son and me for a long weekend. It was such a fun learning experience for both of us! 

ThingstoDoKidsLosCabosMx
 
In October I celebrated my 33rd birthday by taking a trip to Mexico. Unlike previous trips I had taken to Mexico, including getting married there seven years ago, I wasn’t planning for lazy moments sipping banana-rum-somethings by the pool. This time I was taking my five-year-old with me as my traveling companion. 


 
While he’s been a great this year as we ventured to Disney World (his first airplane ride) and to the Texas Hill Country (his first road trip), this trip would require a passport and me as his sole guardian while we were out of the country. The pressure was definitely on as I wondered if he would even enjoy it and hopefully, being it my birthday, would I enjoy it, too!

I can definitely say from this happy face we both had a wonderful time. It took very little work on my end and within a few hours from an Artic-feeling Texas, we were soon walking on the beach enjoying the weather, the sand and the hospitality of Los Cabos. 


Here’s the highlight reel of what we did and definitely our recommendations for an adventure in Los Cabos, Mexico with a five-year-old. 
 
1. Enjoy a Special Dinner Together
Kicking off our first night in Cabo, we went for a “fancy” dinner at the beautiful Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort restaurant, Tomatoes. I love to experience different cuisines and considering we were on the coast, we went for a seafood dinner on the beach. And while it wasn’t a romantic dinner with my husband, my pint-sized version of him was the perfect gentleman as he sat a little taller than normal as he felt the ambience had changed from our normal Chick-Fil-A. 

There was no kids meal ordering though on this night. He was able to order off the adult menu and sipped his first Shirley Temple while I appreciated my margarita. There was something so cute about the two of us having “drinks” as we breathed in the ocean air and the sounds of the tide hitting the coarse sandy coast. It was about then the mariachi band came over and serenaded us with a fun and spirited song that my son couldn’t have been more excited about. I was never so happy to pull out pesos for that tip (too bad it was too dark for a picture, but the memory is worth a thousand words for us!) 

2. Explore the Water 
While I’m not a real sports enthusiast, I’m still of the mindset you should try everything once even if this mama didn’t have the know how. So one day Baja Outback picked us up at the Sheraton Hacienda and took care of everything! 

We were taken by van to a nearby beach with a safe surf and treated to a Cabo 4 Kids adventure complete with an afternoon of sandcastle building, boogie boarding, swimming, snorkeling and refreshments! All I had to do was watch, relax and take photos while my son had the time of his life doing everything he could imagine with a group of new friends! They brought EVERYTHING including life jackets, snorkels, boards and lunch! I couldn’t suggest this enough, especially if you have several kids you want to keep happy (and worn out for a little afternoon siesta.)



 
3. Appreciate the Culture 
My birthday coincides with the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) so during our trip we were able to see how how the Mexican culture celebrates. And to make it even more of a treat my son, who is a student at a bilingual school in the U.S., had learned about the holiday at school before he left, so he knew about the altars and could also practice his Spanish-speaking skills. 

Altar space at the Sheraton Hacienda

 
Altars along the Marina

Another friend of mine at OC Mom Blog actually got to Cabo a few days before us and took her kids Trick or Treating in Cabo, so we couldn’t recommend more spending time in a new country during a holiday! 

4. Kiss a Dolphin 
We could have spent our whole vacation at the Sheraton Hacienda with all the fun activities on the property, I wanted us to venture into the city before we left and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with the dolphins with Cabo Dolphins. 


I was able to schedule the experience with the hotel concierge and the van picked us up three hours later. The driver took us into town and while we picked up other passengers we had a little peek at the city and the other side of the ocean! About 45 minutes later we were dropped off at the Cabo Adventures headquarters to wait for our time to meet the dolphins.

I opted to not get in the water, so I could take photos from the deck a few steps away. The experience was about 30 minutes long and during that time my son was able to pet the dolphin, watch several tricks with the trainer and then snag a little kiss from the dolphin. 

 
5. Discover the Marina
Just outside of Cabo Dolphins is the beautiful marina in Los Cabos. Full of amazing yachts and azure waters, the marina area was a perfect way for us to get a little last bit of Mexico before we said adios to our Mexican expedition. We walked along the edge of the water, enjoyed a little helado (ice cream), scooped up a few souvenirs for the family and his classmates for show and tell, and tasted one last bowl of Mexican fare before boarding our car to the airport. 

Whether you go during the day or evening, there’s tons to do including great shopping, dining and just people watching. 


There’s something special about having a vacation with just one of your children alone. We spent lots of time talking about what he was experiencing, enjoying things together and just letting my inner kid have a chance to come out and have fun building sand castles and being silly. 

It felt good just to be without expectations. 

And while the facial I had at the hotel spa was amazing (we’ll talk about that soon), there was something so relaxing about just having fun with my son, especially in a beautiful and safe place as we stayed at the Sheraton Hacienda Los Cabos.
 

I can only hope as my kids get older and my two-year-old turns five, I can continue this tradition of enjoying my children on a one-on-one basis. If time doesn’t allow you the extravagance, consider just a date-night with your son and daughter to do something fun like the movies, a museum, bowling or just a nice dinner. You’ll never regret it and they will definitely have a special memory with you as well. 

 

7 Places to Go with the Kids Before Jan. 6

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* In some cases, I was provided complimentary admission to enjoy some of these attractions with my family for purposes of this review.* 

 Oh, Christmas. 

 It’s been fun. And short. And Mother Nature’s little ice fit didn’t help us any either. This was a quick holiday season. As quick as a clean baby’s diaper, it’s time to clean up and get ready for the next year; making it impossible to try to get out there and enjoy all the fun that DFW had to offer. 

And unfortunately, while the gifts area already opened and the new toys have made their home on the living room floor, most parents still have another week to keep the kids happy while they are at home from winter break. 

 Lucky us, right? 

 While I enjoy seeing their little faces and not rushing to get in the drop-off lane at school, I will admit trying to continue with all the excitement and energy of the holiday hoopla is hard. That’s why it’s good to schedule a few outings to keep the kiddos happy and mom to keep her sanity. So here are a few events in the Dallas-Fort Worth-area that still have a little holiday cheer that are worth fitting in before the school bell rings for the 2014.

Just make sure to check each website for schedules and pricing before heading out! 

 1. Six Flags Over Texas Holiday in the Park
There’s nothing like sipping hot chocolate in your official Six Flags refillable mug in front of the campfire before you get on the Shockwave to get turned upside down. While the teens may find that fun, you can find plenty of other fun activities for the little ones like The Frosty the Snowhill (with real snow sledding) or Looney Tunes Land. 

While many of the big holiday activities end Dec. 31 with the big finale, you can still plan to take the fam for a fun time sans water rides until Jan. 5. Just make sure to check the hours and the temperature.  While we bundled up, the kids in layers, mittens and hats, the kids were popsicles in a matter of a few hours so we had to go home. And when you are talking more than $50 a person for admission, you want to make sure you get your fun out of it! 


WEBSITE

 2. Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway 
We had a chance to enjoy this light display earlier this holiday and the kids really enjoyed it. While the lights were a nice way to get into the holiday mood while listening to Christmas music, the fun really kicked in after seeing the lights and getting to play in the snow. For my littlest it was her first time to feel snow so she loved walking around, putting it in her hands and throwing that first snow ball. For my five-year-old, he couldn’t get enough of the snowtubing! 


WEBSITE

 3. DALLAS CITYSCAPE at Galleria Dallas 
Looking to show the kids some Dallas landmarks without getting stuck in Dallas traffic? Then let them LEGO at DALLAS CITYSCAPE! The kids can take a look at some of the best Dallas landmarks scaled to size in the building block attraction that raises money ($5 for ages 2 and older) for the East Dallas Community Schools. While they are there they can also create their own creations at the building block station, which is a great incentive to get the kids to be good while you make a gift return! 

WEBSITE

5. The Trains at NorthPark 
For more than 25 years, The Trains at NorthPark have delighted kids and parents alike with more than 1,600 feet of track while taking a trip across the U.S. to see some of the best of America’s landmarks. Make sure to find all the buttons that allow you to create your own bit of magic as parts will move, figurines dance and more. While the White House is impressive, of course the best is the ode to the Texas State Fair and Big Tex. 

WEBSITE

 6. ICE! at the Gaylord Texan
While we didn’t have a chance to make it to this one this year, we heard we missed some great fun and are already planning our Santa Staycation for 2014. You can still come out and see the Nutcracker-themed ICE exhibit as well as get another opportunity to do a little indoor snowtubing (it’s still very cold, so don’t think you are getting away that easy!) If you’ve never been to ICE, I’d suggest you take a look at my tips for the best ICE experience!


WEBSITE

 7.  Snowland! at Great Wolf Lodge
Grapevine is known as the “Christmas Capital of the World,” so if you are looking for something different than the Gaylord, consider going across the street at Great Wolf Lodge. Besides the fact that you have a HEATED. WATER. PARK. that will keep the kids happy for hours, they have water-less games like MagiQuest and the new ShadowQuest interactive live action adventure game to keep them (and you) on your toes for hours!  

Chicken nuggets and pizza not up your alley for a vacation meal? Don’t worry, the LODGE Wood-Fired Grill gives you upscale options that are convenient for the whole family. From steaks, mini-desserts and signature sangria (my favorite), you too can feel you are having a break and not just escorting the kids on their vacation.  

 Plus right now you can get 20% off your stay until Jan. 5, so you still have a whole week to enjoy the fun or make a weekend of it even after school starts! 

 WEBSITE

 Now off to get that tree finally back into it’s box – we’ll maybe later…




Cheers to the Ho-Ho-Holiday with Mocktails and Cocktails {Recipes}

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Disclaimer: I was provided supplies in order to create these recipes.  


The holiday season is upon us! Be the “host or hostess with the mostest” with some perfectly festive cocktail recipes using flavored sparkling water like Cascade Ice that is calorie-free, sugar-free, sodium-free and gluten-free. This smarter option makes a great alternative to sugary mixes or colas that add unnecessary calories as well as fun way to celebrate the holiday for the whole family. 

Just for the kids, consider an Apple Cinnamon Sparkler! And for mama and daddy, try out this Candy Cane-tini and Pomegranate Punch! 

Cinnamon Apple Sparkler

4oz of Cascade Ice McIntosh Apple 
2oz of apple juice  
green apple wedge
cinnamon stick

Simply mix 4oz of Cascade Ice McIntosh Apple and 2oz of apple juice in a glass with ice. Add a green apple wedge and a cinnamon stick to complete the yummy drink.


Candy Cane-tini 

3oz of Cascade Ice Cranberry Pomegranate 
2oz of vodka 
Fresh lime juice 

Stir the contents in your shaker with a handful of ice and garnish with a skewer of cranberries or candy cane crumbs.


Pomegranate Punch 

4 parts Cascade Ice Pomegranate Berry 
Mint leaves 
Juice of 1 lime 
1 part club soda 

Pour Cascade Ice Pomegranate Berry over ice. Then, mix mint leaves, juice and club soda together. Combine with Cranberry Pomegranate and you’re ready to serve.


Cheers!


Gifts that Give Back: Reinventing Blocks, One Honduran at a Time with Tegu

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Disclaimer: I received product for purposes of this review. 

I always love the idea of giving a gift that not only gives your giftee something, but also can make a little impact in the world. Last year ‘s gifts that give featured some amazing ideas from World Vision Gift Catalog, Impact Foods, Fresh Cup of Hope and Cardraising. This holiday I found some amazing items that anyone would help you score big this season, but even more because you made are helping to make a big change in the world like Tegu Blocks. 

Do your kids love LEGOs? Well honestly what kid doesn’t? They allow kids to create whatever their imagination can dream up.  Much like that idea, Chris Haughey returned from Honduras with a vision to create a for-profit business that would have a transforming effect on the lives of Hondurans from start to finish (the full story of how Tegu is making changes can be found here.) So he created Tegu, the magnetic wooden block system that has no limitations for building. 

Nominated by the Toy Industry Association (TIA) for the prestigious 2014 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award, Tegu’s magnetic wooden blocks come together with their iconic “click-clack” sound, introducing a new spin on a classic toy that offers unmatched building possibilities in durable, safe, and natural materials.  Tegu encourages the types of unscripted, imaginative play that is now considered to be one of the best forms of learning by many childhood development experts.


But this season Tegu doesn’t end there on giving back, but they have introduced The Tegu Elf!


Since Black Friday, whether you are in need of a quick dinner fix during the holiday madness (he’ll send you a gift card to a local restaurant!), a little afternoon mocha to keep their motor running (Starbucks gift card is on the way!) or they are feeling inspired by a local charity (he makes soup kitchen donations as well), #TeguElf may just come to the rescue. Now until Dec. 23, The Tegu Elf will be granting wishes for a plethora of lucky folks in need of a holiday S.O.S. including just throwing in extra products into your order like a carrying case or the magnetic wheel set. 


Reach The Tegu Elf with your  holiday “S.O.S.” moment using #TeguElf on FB, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest; he will respond to requests randomly to help make the season brighter. 

And you can still order your Tegu sets now with a 20% discount with code LAST CHANCE20 (and possibly with even a few extra sets courtesy The Tegu Elf) at http://www.tegu.com!


Building a Better Tomorrow One Block at a Time,

10 Tips to Enjoy DFW’s Prairie Lights – NOW EXTENDED until Jan. 5, 2014

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Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post.


 Like a bad family Christmas movie, DFW’s most recent uninvited guest, ICEmaggedon, put a big kibosh on several holiday events, especially the light displays across the metroplex. Thankfully, many of these organizations, like Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie, have decided to keep their gates open a little longer this season to allow guests the opportunity to appreciate these annual holiday experiences that are sure to put you in the Christmas spirit OR light up your 2014 in a whole new way! 

Long one of my favorite of displays in DFW, Prairie Lights Powered by Gexa Energy in Grand Prairie is well worth the time and money! There is such much even beyond two miles of lit paths and four million lights, it’s a whole night of fun for the kid in all of us. The experience includes not only the drive-through display, but a Holiday Village with free rides, delicious holiday fare, a marketplace and of course, Santa. There’s even a special Holiday Magic theatrical show and a Walk-Through Forest (for an added cost), so you can keep the spirit of Christmas going all night long!


To ensure the best experience, there’s only two things you really need to remember: 
Allow Yourself Enough Time to Enjoy the Fun and 
Prepare Accordingly.

While you shouldn’t feel overwhelmed that you have to do anything at all, these are hopefully a few helpful tips to make you have the best experience ever at the Prairie Lights. 

10 Tips to Enjoy DFW’s Prairie Lights

1. Pick your day mindfully. The weekends are always full, so if possible, pick a Monday – Wednesday to attend (especially if you have kids), so you can keep the car moving in a comfortable pace.

2. Don’t plan to wait until one hour before it closes down to roll in the gate. We had only planned to drive through with the kids, but couldn’t help ourselves from stopping at the out-of-the-car experiences like the Carousel and the huge corn dogs (so good!) AND Since we didn’t pace ourselves, we didn’t get to see the best part of the event, the world’s longest tunnel of lights – because they did turn them off! It was our fault for waiting, so I’d suggest giving yourself at least 2 hours (maybe 3 on the weekend) to leisure enjoy the display, events and activities without missing anything!

3. Bring a blanket (or three). You will want to roll down the window and it gets cold even with the heater.

4. Sip and savor Christmas. Prepare a thermos of hot chocolate or roll up to the nearby Starbucks for hot chocolate (it makes everything better, I promise.)

5. Plan for the Potty. On the same note, you don’t want to have a potty break in the middle of the drive-through portion (you can’t get out of the car to stop once you are in line, so make sure that hot chocolate is a small one or you can hold it until you get to the Holiday Village!)

6. Make sure to grab those coats, scarves and mittens even if you don’t think you want to do the other events. You might change your mind and you don’t want to endure those winter winds without a little bundling capabilities (especially for the kids!)

7. Bring some extra dinero. With all the opportunities to enjoy the lights at the Holiday Village, funnel cakes and Santa pictures, you don’t want to come empty-ended and not able to participate. Even the biggest Grinchs want to get out of the car and get on the rides! 

8. Turn on the holiday music, even if you hate holiday music. It’s just part of the fun! And remember, this year’s holiday station is no longer KVIL, but now sister station, KLUV at 98.7 or turn on the Pandora!

9. Turn off your lights! The best way to enjoy the light display is to not have your view ruined by bright headlights in your face, so make sure to turn those off and just enjoy driving with the brake on without road rage.

10. Enjoy the time in the car. While normally I am not a fan of being stuck at less than 10 miles an our on a one-lane road, you can really do some great catch up time with the kids or your friend by just enjoying your time together without distractions! While I took some photos to share with you, it’s just best to let yourself be in the moment and enjoy the Prairie Lights!




Prairie Lights Powered by Gexa Energy 
Now until Jan. 5, 2014: Sunday – Thursday: 6 – 9 p.m./Friday – Saturday: 6 – 10 p.m.
Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve: 6 – 10 p.m.
Lynn Creek Park on Joe Pool Lake
5610 Lake Ridge Parkway
Grand Prairie, TX 75052

Admission for cars is $20 Monday-Thursday (non-holidays) and $30 Friday-Sunday and holidays. Tickets for Holiday Magic Live! are $5 for adults and $3 for children. For the Holiday Magic Lights Walk-Through Forest, adult tickets are $3 and $2 for  children. Save on combo tickets for both – $7 for adults, $4 for children. Carnival rides are free. There is a small charge for pictures made with Santa. VISA and MasterCard are accepted at the admission gate and in Holiday Village.

For more info on hours, admission prices and directions, please visit Prairie Lights on www.facebook.com/PrairieLights, http://twitter.com/PrairieLights, call 972-237-GLOW (4569) or go to www.prairielights.org. 

It’s Never Too Late to Enjoy the Holidays!

The Gift That Really Gives: Massage Envy {Giveaway}

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Disclaimer: I received complimentary services from Massage Envy to give me a moment to calm me down long enough to write this post. Keep that feeling all year long with a gift to yourself with a membership Massage Envy! 

 I’m feeling a bit on the “Grinchy” side this year. I admit it. 

Somewhere between having a short holiday season and the huge number of to-dos, I just can’t seem to get ahead – or any sleep. And the fact I’ve been sniffling and sneezing doesn’t make it any better, either. Then the thought of all the driving around to see family and friends just has me tired before I even get to the home stretch of Christmas. 

 I totally can hear “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch…” in the back of my head. 

 For me, like many other moms, the holiday crunch has my increased my level of stress and decreased my quality of sleep, which has me in knots. So it was time to take a breath and just not do anything – at least for an hour. That meant I needed a massage. 

Thankfully, I was able to make a quick call to a local Massage Envy (I visited the Colleyville location with some of the nicest staff) and find a time that worked perfectly for me and between all the other chaos to enjoy doing nothing. 


I was giddy to get the appointment and just have the chance to “turn it all off” and breathe. I disrobed and got under the cozy heated blanket.


Even Santa’s elves need a little down time, right?


After one whole hour, I felt like a new woman. I could even smile. 

It almost felt like that moment in The Grinch when his heart started to grow three sizes. 

“Maybe, just maybe, Christmas could mean a little bit more.” 

I instantly wanted to share this uber-happy moment of euphoria with everyone! 


 So this season, while you are finishing up your Christmas shopping (or actually starting for some of us,) consider Massage Envy to stuff those stockings! Right now at DFW ME clinics, they have an amazing deal for Buy 3 massages, get 1 free! (So that means you can get one for you, too!) Or make even better, you can buy yourself a membership and give yourself a monthly moment to take a breath and relieve tension throughout the year.



You can even print off your gift cards online and make them redeemable at any of the numerous locations in DFW or the U.S. It’s that easy to check off your list and make someone sublimely happy with just a click to massagenvy.com. 


Now the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the giveaway! After all that talk about massages, you know you want one. And the fine folks at Massage Envy DFW are offering one lucky Mama Challenge reader a FREE MASSAGE! Just enter my giveaway alone for a chance a relaxation.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make this Holiday a Little Less Stressful,

Bake and Thank with Peppermint Holiday Gift Ideas {TV}

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The holidays get everyone in the mood to bake and thank your neighbors, friends and family, especially ME!  I’m slightly obsessed with PEPPERMINT, so I’ve researched Pinterest and created some of my own favorite peppermint recipes for this year’s round of holiday giving!  I even found a how-to to create  tray serving tray made of peppermints to make and give goodies for the perfect holiday gift! 

Here are a few of the best recipes that feature Peppermint! 

 EASY PEPPERMINT FUDGE
Inspired by Sally’s Baking Addiction

 Ingredients

 3 cups white chocolate chips
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon peppermint extract 
8 crushed candy canes (2/3 – 3/4 cup)
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 Instructions

 Line 8×8 square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray lightly with cooking spray.

 Combine the white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until chips are melted. Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint extract and candy canes.

 Spread evenly into prepared baking pan. Top with chocolate chips and gently swirl them into the fudge with a knife. Top with a few more crushed candy cane pieces. Chill for 3 hours, then cut into squares. 

 PEPPERMINT TRUFFLES
Insprired by Your Cup of Cake 

 Ingredients

 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, melted
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
1/3 cup crushed candy canes (approximately 4-5 candy canes)

 Instructions 

 Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Either by microwave or over a double boiler, melt white chocolate chips. 

 Add white chocolate and peppermint extract to cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth and well combined.

 Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

 Spray hands with cooking spray. Then make small 1-inch balls with chocolate and roll in peppermint mixture. 

 Wanna see these babies in action? Check out my segment on WFAA Good Morning Texas! 

Other recipes featured on WFAA’s Good Morning Texas and more can be found on my Peppermint Pinterest page! 

I frequently feature recipes, products, and ideas on TV. Check out my past TV segments!

Bring Joy to the Holiday Table with Christmas Eve Lasagna {Recipe}

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This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Barilla, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #JoytotheTable  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.


During the holidays my family gets to do the HOLIDAY HOP – meaning we spend most of it traveling from one family’s home to another to celebrate Christmas. Since we are either in commute or opening gifts, there’s not a lot of spare time for me to cook up delicious favorites or even help create dinner with my family members at their homes. However, I don’t want to come empty handed, either. 

Easy to make, delicious to eat, there’s nothing better to freeze, quick to cook and good to travel than lasagna. Depending on my schedule I can plan to make it well in advance, freeze and then take out to bring where ever we are going so we are bringing some joy to the table! While you can enjoy Christmas Eve lasagna any day of the year, since the “main event” is normally on Christmas Day, we try to make things easy for everyone on Christmas Eve with a little taste of Italy. We serve lasagna, open up a bag of salad and throw a few loaves of garlic bread in the oven for a delicious meal that everyone loves. 

And of course, since it is Christmas, I couldn’t help but make it a true “Christmas Eve Lasagna” by adding a special kick with Spinach and Sun-dried Tomatoes on the inside and a little holiday decoration on the top with pepperoni and fresh basil leaves from the back yard!) 


While I consider lasagna to be easy to make, depending on your number of savory ingredients like a red sauce, pasta and my favorite, cheese, can take some time. Everyone in my family has a different spin on what makes the perfect lasagna, so in this recipe, I put them all together to create our Christmas Eve Lasagna. Since it takes more than an hour to set the ingredients up for layering the lasagna, I take a shortcut with Barilla’s All-Natural Marinara sauce and Barilla Oven-Ready Lasagne noodles (I get mine at Tom Thumb/Safeway stores). 

One of the best parts about lasagna is its versatility. You really can customize it with any ingredients you want to make it your own. And with the help of Barilla All-Natural Marinara sauce and Barilla Oven-Ready Lasagne noodles to cut down on the time of preparation, you can personalize your lasagna to suit your family’s preferences and diet needs. Just check out Barilla’s “The Art of Lasagna” for more recipes to inspire you to create new and exciting ways to enjoy lasagna! 

And right now, you can get $1 off the purchase of ONE (1) box of Barilla® Lasagne and ONE (1) Barilla® Sauce at your local Tom Thumb/Safeway store!



To make my boys happy when I make Christmas Eve Lasagna, I actually use three different meats with Pepperoni, Italian Sausage and Turkey Meatballs.  


Next taking a hint from Christmas’ color scheme, I created a “pesto” with spinach and sun-tried tomatoes, which also adds a little helping of veggies to the dish.  Then to ensure that the lasagna doesn’t get dry from the freezer, the car, to the oven and to the table, I use cottage cheese (shhh!) in place of the ricotta!

CHRISTMAS EVE LASAGNA

Ingredients
1 box Barilla Oven-Ready Lasagne
1 Jar Barilla Marinara Sauce (depending on your family’s preference use 2)
5 Italian sausage links (normally sold in a package)
1 package of Pepperoni (pre-sliced makes it easy and fun for the kids to help)
1 lb. Turkey Meat (85/20 works great, but any will do. Also, I used the Italian-seasoned meat to make it easier on me!)
1/2 onion, chopped
3-4 slices of bread (I used sandwich loaf) 
1/4 cup of milk
1 cup Parmesan Cheese (divided into 1/2 cup servings)
1/4 Italian bread crumbs
Italian seasonings (optional) 
1 bag of fresh Spinach 
7-8 Sun-dried Tomatoes (I used dried, but you could use store-bought in oil)
2-3 tablespoons of Olive Oil
1 container of Fat-Free Cottage Cheese
1 package of fresh Mozzarella Cheese, sliced
1 package of Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

Instructions

Make building your lasagna a snap but preparing all the layers in advance. 

1.  Meatballs (can be done ahead of time): 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a large bowl, tear bread into pieces and 1/4 cup of milk mixed together until it turns to a paste. Then add turkey meat, onions and seasonings and mix with your hands until it dry enough to form into 1/2 inch – 1 inch balls, but not so dry it doesn’t have any moisture. On a separate plate, roll each ball in parmesan cheese and bread crumb mixture.  

Place meatballs in a greased mini muffin pan for 30 minutes until browned. Once cooled, slice into halves. 

2. In a skillet, cook the Italian sausages (in their casings) until they are browned on all sizes. Allow them to cool and then slice them until into 1/4-1/2 inch circles. 

3.  To make the spinach pesto, combine a bag of fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in mixer until a fine paste. (If needed, add remaining olive oil to mixture if it seems to dry.) 

4. For cottage cheese layer, mix cottage cheese with parmesan cheese until a paste. 

[Now it’s time to build your lasagna!]

5. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. 

6. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. 

7. For the bottom layer, pour 1/2 the sauce into the pan and spread evenly. 

8. Top sauce with 3 sheets of  Oven-Ready Lasagne. (It’s ok if it doesn’t cover the whole pan, it will expand while cooking.) Spread cottage cheese mixture on top of noodles. Add sliced Italian sausage. 

9. Cover with three more sheet of the Oven-Ready Lasagne. Spread Spinach pesto across the noodles. Now layer slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and cover with meatball halves (you will have some left over to nibble!) 

10. Cover layer with three more sheets of Oven-Ready Lasagne. Then add pepperoni slices on top until covered. Add remaining sauce and spread over pepperonis. 

11. Then add shredded mozzarella cheese until covered. (Optional: For fun, I added a basil leaf and pepperoni to make it festive.) 

12. Cover pan with foil and place in the oven for 25 minutes. Then remove foil and continue to cook for 5-10 minutes until gold and bubly. 

13. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving! 

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 Barilla continues to bring joy to the table this month with their “30 Days of Joy” contest on Facebook. Each day you can discover tips, new recipes and have a chance to win amazing prizes like an espresso machine or a $1,500 gift card to Williams-Sonoma. You can enter everyday for the rest of the month, so make sure to set a reminder to head over to their Facebook daily. 

No matter what type of lasagna you make this Christmas or any day of the week, bring Joy to the Table with Barilla. 


Happy Holidays! 




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. 

5 Tips For the Best Holiday Party #CottonelleHoliday

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This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Cottonelle, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #CottonelleHoliday http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

 While the holidays are meant to be a time to spend with your family and friends, most of us (including me) work so hard to host the best get-togethers that we end up not enjoying anything (or anyone) at all! This holiday season make it a goal to throw a great party that’s not only easy, but is as entertaining for you as it is them by using my five simple Party-Perfect tips! 

1. Create a Theme That Ties it Together. 
From the moment you decide to throw a party, you should work around a theme. 

 Not only do your guests have an expectation of your party plan, but it makes your planning MUCH easier. From the invitation, music, food, and decor, a theme gives you a base to plan your party. However, don’t think you have to use your theme for every detail. And a theme doesn’t have to be complicated either; it could be as simple as blue and silver colors or Peppermint stripes. And remember, not everything has to be as perfect as that pin you put on your Pinterest board, but just enough to give you a little something to remember you (and your party) by! 

 To get your started, I’ve included a Pinterest board full of fun holiday themes to inspire you and to get the juices flowing!

Follow Autumn Reo {mamachallenge.com}’s board HOLIDAYS: Ideas on Pinterest. 

 2. Set the Mood with Music. 
Let your Siri or your computer do the work with either a preprogrammed music list or an online music service. 

 The music is important as it sets the tone for your party, but if you are playing DJ all night, it interrupts the mood and keeps you from your guests. I like the 60/40 rule when it comes to holiday parties with 60% of your all-time favorites (and appropriate) with a mix of 40% of holiday hits (you don’t want your party to sound like a discount store) for a personal touch. 


However, technology has made it even easier with online services like Pandora. Just type in whatever musician you would want to play at your party if money was no option (Harry Connick, Jr. anyone?) and then Pandora spits out a channel with a playlist that includes Harry, Buble and other similar artists with no repeats. (Just make sure to pay the $4.99 monthly fee to ditch the ads so you don’t have a commercial break during your big bubbly toast! You can always cancel it. ) 

 3. Presentation Goes a Long Way with Party Food. 
Food is often a favorite part of a party, but you don’t have to spend three days cooking to present a good spread. Just buy cute platters, muffin papers or small cups and voila, you have an instant presentation even Food Network will be proud of.

  • Order a few of your favorite things from your favorite eatery. Hit up your restaurant, grocery store or deli and have them whip up small versions to plate up at home. Zoe’s Kitchen, Eatzi’s and Olive Garden have several options available for order or even drop in!  
  • Make it a fun food event with a taco or ice cream bar. You only have one big ingredient and then everyone can make their plate exactly the way they want it! 
  • Consider a potluck and ask your guests to bring their favorite dish! Using electronic invitation program Evite or even just a personal Facebook Event Page allows you to post what you are bringing so you don’t have to worry about having duplicate dishes!) 
  • Go frozen! Make it easy by going to your local market or Super Target for all the baked apps you can find (everyone loves those quiches, puff pastry and flautas), throw them on a baking sheet and then 10 minutes later you have party food – now all you need to do is plate it pretty! 

4. Create a Cocktail, not a Bar. 
Being hospitable doesn’t make that you have to have tons of options available at your party. And like music, if you attempt to play bartender at your party mixing up everyone’s preferred cocktail, never get out of the kitchen (and go broke in the process). Mix up one signature cocktail for the party that maybe has a fun name that relates to your theme or has a festival feel and call it done. Then just have water, ginger ale and maybe coffee available for guests.  They don’t call it signature for nothin’ – one cocktail can really make your party memorable. 

However, you could always make it BYOB and tell your guests to bring a bottle of wine. That way you have wine available for guests as soon as the first one shows up at the door. Just make sure to have a few extra bottles on hand for that guest that “forgets” their offering. Nothing is worse than a party that runs out of refreshments just when the party gets going. 

 5.  Prettify the Potty! (Cottonelle Photo)
Yes, you heard me. When you invite 20+ friends over and then serve several servings of apps and drinks, it’s inevitable you also should plan for a least 1-3 trips per guest to the bathroom. That’s why this room should be included in the party plan just as much as what you are going to feed them! 

I like to make my bathroom clean and welcoming with a nice-smelling burning candle, a fresh decorative hand towel (or dry cloths) and stocked with lots of toilet paper. There’s nothing more embarrassing than to run out of TP while you are a guest at someone’s house, so have a few rolls of Triple Roll of Cottonelle (I bought my mine at one of my favorite shopping spots, Target) readily available in the bathroom. That way you don’t have to taken from the fun to go to get another roll (and it still fits on your stand TP holder.) 


And with Cottonelle’s Triple Roll, your toilet paper will last three times as long as that other stuff and the quality is much better, too! If you know everyone is going to have an experience in your bathroom, wouldn’t you want it to be the best one? 

Lucky for you, Cottonelle is helping you spread the cheer (and not the germs) this season with a special offer only from Target. 
[Click the box below to print off your own coupon!]

Now it’s time to get the party started! 


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