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The Aviators Every Girl Must Have: Oakley Feedback

September 29, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

I was provided a complimentary pair of Oakley sunglasses to find out personally why they were up for the mamachallenge. However, all the comments here are my own.

Some women do shoes. I do sunglasses.

At last count, I found five pairs in my car plus a pair each for the kids for a total of seven pairs. While I like them to look stylish, I use glasses to shield my eyes (I’m like a Gizmo and am not a fan of bright sun) and many days to act as a hairband for my mess of a mane.

I always have keep two different styles on hand: my favorites are my aviators, but since they get stuck in my hair I have a backup, the big black “Jackie-O” type of glasses when I need to keep my hair perfect and in place.

That was at least the rule until now when my brownies met the Oakley Feedback.

A beautiful pair of fitted sunnies with rose gold frames and tortoiseshell accents, the Feedback is a pretty hot pair of shades with UV protection of Plutonite® lens that filters out 100% of UVA / UVB / UVC rays, glare reduction and HD polarized technology. Pretty impressive as far as glasses go, but there is one feature that takes it way past awesome. Unlike other aviators, Oakley has made one more thing in my life easier with snag-free adjustable nosepads.

That means they don’t get caught in your hair. (Pause for the applause.)

And remember, these are Oakleys! I thought Oakleys were those sporty wraparound glasses for football players and fishermen. However, looking through the Oakley sunglass store at Northpark Center in Dallas, I found out how wrong was! There were tons of styles for men, women and even kids to choose from or even build a set at the store’s custom eyewear bar to create the perfect pair of sunglasses based on your needs and preferences.

While I could have found Christmas presents for everyone at Oakley that day including my own gift to self with those beautiful rose gold Oakley Feedback shades, there a few things to take into considering to find the perfect glasses for someone.

Five Things to Look for When Choosing Sunglasses

UV protection
Right Fit
Polarization
Impact Protection
The Right Lenses

And of course, there’s the ideal style for anyone who is into sports or in my case, has an active lifestyle – with running around with kids!

Oakley has seven stores in DFW and 168 in the U.S. Next time you are at Northpark Center, Stonebriar Center, Southlake Town Square, Parks at Arlington as well as outlets at Grapevine Mills, Allen Premium Outlets and Grand Prairie Outlets, go get your favorite new must-have aviators.

You’ll thank me later!

http://www.oakley.com

Mama-Daddy Date Night on a Dime {Giveaways}

September 19, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 27 Comments

Research reveals that over 90% of couples who go out on dates have increased relationship satisfaction.

However, when your schedule seems packed full of kid functions and other obligations, it’s hard to make it a priority to spend time doing something you enjoy vs. something you “have to do.” However, when you’re married, “you have to work at it.”

Taking right back to a “work concept,” organizational/business engenue Steven Covey referred to a marriage as an emotional bank account. If you don’t put in a deposit after awhile, you’ll be overdrawn – meaning: hurt, sad or much worse. unfortunately, in reality you don’t necessarily have to spend an arm and a leg to have fun, so we’ve got some great ideas for date night on a dime for moms and dads!

So make a point to make your relationship have value!

1. Put it on the calendar!
Just like doctor’s appointments and soccer practice, if it’s not on the calendar, it won’t happen!

2. Be creative with datenightnorthtexas.com.
What if you had loads of creative date ideas, plenty to talk about while on your date and even deals and discounts provided by local establishments to make it easier for you to get out of your rut and try something new – all in the palm of your hand?

3. Be frugal
Follow websites and blogs for contests and other fun ways to do things for free!

Recent newlywed Dallas Socials shares a long list of frugal fun dating ideas for couples!
Susie Drinks Dallas tells you the happy hours in town!
The Porch Dallas has a great list of less than 15 dates for less than $15.

DATE NIGHT IDEAS (AS SEEN ON WFAA GOOD MORNING TEXAS!)

Traditional Dinner Night Out

Use online app Tango Tab to learn about specials at your favorite restaurants
Enjoy special night like El Chico’s Fajita Tuesdays or III Forks’ Wine Down Wednesdays {Giveaway} featuring $15 for wine tastings and appetizers
YMCA Parents Night Out

Movie Night

Groupon for a $6 movie ticket to a movies like Studio Movie Grill OR any other specials available {Giveaway}
Pay-What-You-Can Dallas Theatre for each show for $1! Next show is Rocky Horror Picture Show!
This Side Up! Family Center: This is a one-of-a-kind non-profit which provides a safe, family- friendly environment while giving parents all the tools, skills and quality activities they need to move from surviving to thriving! We have received numerous awards and recognition as a new community non-profit bringing much-needed focus on family strengthening!

Hear the Music, Taste the Love

It’s fall festival time! Enjoy yourselves at any festival like the upcoming free Cultivate festival or any of the many festivals we have in the area for cheap admission and in many cases FREE!
Rather do something more low key? Go to a brewery or whiskey tour and enjoy a little education/tasting like at Deep Ellum Brewery in Dallas or Rahr & Sons Brewing Company {Giveaway} in FW where $10 gets a tour, three samplings includes a pint glass or there’s a few free tours with samples for purchase. Find comprehensive list of breweries and distilleries in DFW on Eater.com
Use Uber to safely get home and today all GMT watchers will get a FREE RIDE up to $20 credit with CODE: MAMACHALLENGE {Giveaway}

Get Your Workout On

Trade out with a friend for a few hours in the morning with a friend for a few hours of day fun!
Lululemon Yoga Classes, Klyde Warren Park or most workout places to try together like Pure Barre
Then brunch it cheap with a list of great deals from The Thrillist

Cultural

Shakespeare Dallas in the Park: Antony & Cleopatra (Fall 2014) – $10 admission to either Addison Circle Park or Samuell Grand Theatre –
Picnic at the park: bring your own food like this basket from The Grill on the Alley {Giveaway}
Dallas Theatre Center: Pay as you Go as low as a $1
Dallas Museum of Art as well as The Amon Carter Museum of American Art are both free (Giveaway)
Adventure Kids Playcare (also used with Groupon)

Make your own bucket list of places to eat and experience together!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spa Light, Spa Bright: Spa on the Square is Answer To Your Beauty Wishes

August 22, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

I was provided a unique opportunity to experience Spa on the Square and its amazing services and staff for a fun girls’ night out.

Most the time massages happen for me is either when one kid has knocked out a sciatic nerve and I can’t move it or some lovely sponsor has thanked me with a gift card. While I appreciate the later, they don’t happen near as much as I’d like to OR should have them. Actually when I met up with a few of my other writer friends at a fun “Girls Night Out” event at Spa on the Square in Southlake, I was kinda sad to hear how little most of them get massages or had even had a facial. Haircuts and highlights come pretty far in between too as exemplified by yours truly with her self-made “ombre” look that was nothing more than a faded highlight from over a year ago.

So needless to say, it was time. Way past time.

We spent the evening learning that there was a way to fit all the types of services – from facials, haircuts, massages, manicures and more with their EXPRESS SERVICES. We no longer could use the excuse we didn’t have the time to spend a half day treating ourselves, these services could be done over lunch in most cases (and with an Adventure Kids Daycare just down the street to drop-off a kiddo for a short time), there really were no excuses and there shouldn’t be guilt either.

My lovely gal pal blogger Arena of A Nerd’s Wife and Always Arena enjoys her microdermabrasion treatment.

It is important that mom feel good on the outside as she does the inside.

Remember a happy mom makes for a happy family, too!

And after a LONG conversation with this facial technician, I realized that there was so much that I do to get rid of my problem areas on my face (dark circles, freckles and leftover pregnancy face) that make me feel the need to slather on foundation (or spackle) as my husband likes to call it.) After just a few treatments, I could be actually shaving off time from my morning makeup routine and also regenerating my skin to help prevent wrinkles (those lovely things that have crept up on me after two kids.)

And massages, well those just aren’t for a little rubdown either! I actually found out they had a medical massage therapist on site who could help me get all those kinks, knots and leftover kid nerve issues back into shape. I have a feeling she’s going to be seeing a lot of me!

Jenn of Jenn’s RAQ takes a few minute to give her skin some attention.

However, that’s just the start of what a little time at Spa on the Square can do for you. (I mean you haven’t really seen Southlake women look bad, have you?)

Just take a look at their service list:

MedSpa

Spa

Salon

Spa on the Square
(817) 488.8848
1422 Main Street, Suite 263
Southlake, Texas 76092
http://www.spaonthesquaresouthlake.com

Top 10 Fall 2014 Must Haves for Women

July 22, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

I’d like to think I’m a fashionable girl…

Actually, I guess I’m not as fashionable as I just hope that Cosmo doesn’t profile me on the back page on “How not to Wear” with a big black Sharpie over my eyes.

While I may not look like a fashionista, I at least like to know if the skinny pant or the trouser look is in for the season. Being at least in the know is a preresquite of a Dallas dame to get her Big Hair license.

That’s why I was thankful that THE Mrs. Arlene Goldstein, VP of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction for Belk made a stop this week at Galleria Dallas to share a little fashion styling for Fall 2014 with the lowdown of the Women’s Most Wanted List for Fall. While she shared the list for the boys too, let’s be honest: it’s the list for the girls we really want to know, right?

What’s your favorite trend for fall 2014?

Great Deals, No Fuss, Lots of Parking at Grand Prairie Premium Outlets

June 23, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 2 Comments

Disclaimer: I received a lovely gift card to lure me away from my online shopping to experience Grand Prairie Premium Outlets. I’ve been back several times to shop on my own dime and spent even more! Take a look at what keeps me going again and again.

I’m a big fan of online shopping. I mean big fan. I click, I look, I click again and in a few days, it’s mine. And for the most part, I can send it back if it doesn’t work. So why would I go shopping at the mall?

We’ll honestly, it was totally as a challenge from the Grand Prairie Premium Outlets and considering this is mama challenge.com, I had to take it. That, and a reason to go shopping by myself without my children, is totally worth the opportunity to at least try to check out a nearby shopping center (like a stones throw away from home) that I never go to and see what it had to offer.

After I opened up the map, I realized this challenge might be fun. All my favorite shops, no kids and a little money to spend, I was ready to do something completely off the to-do list, go looking at handbags at Michael Kors. AHHH…

I was in love with them all and since I know the prices for MK bags like the back of my hand, I had found some great deals on handbags from this season. The green one caught my eye, but considering I was just starting, there was no reason I needed to blow my budget all in one spot…

Never one to ever pass up the holy trinity known as Gap, Banana Republic or Old Navy, I made b-line to the Banana Republic OUTLET (even better!)

Most of the styles that I saw looked just like the e-mail blast I was sent from BR that morning, so I was even more happy that the prices weren’t. Notice the nautical theme on the table? So summer 2014 and at 50% I could get on trend at half the cost!

Of course, a little trip to Gap OUTLET was also on the must-do list! I only spent $82 and look at what all I got…but even more impressive, was my savings – $95.99! Woo-hoo! And I still had money left!

And the savings don’t stop there! I highly suggest getting on the GPPO VIP Club and check out all the savings you can rack up like on the Promotions page, VIP coupon book and a whole lot of other amazing savings!

Best of all, I was so satisfied by my few hours of shopping and great wins, that I had only hit up a few stores and hadn’t even made it to my favorite kid shops like The Children’s Place and more! Another shopping trip for me and way better deals than I could find online!

I highly suggest you take a trip to Grand Prairie Premium Outlets (off 360 and 20) and check out the deals for yourself! All you have to lose is less money than shopping somewhere else!

Why Moms Feel Guilty About Vacation

June 20, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I needed a little time to take a breather – from everything.

Unfortunately time and money keep me from taking off for a week to unwind. And while I love my family dearly, vacation means a little time without them, too. I mean let’s be honest, while family vacations may be memorable and absolutely necessary…for moms, especially, there’s nothing very relaxing about them. Or at least the ones we’ve taken. Ask any mom after she’s doing laundry from a trip to Disney World or a weeklong road trip. I promise if she doesn’t say she needs a vacation from the vacation, then she’s lying.

And after putting everyone’s priorities above her own all the time everyday, is it so wrong to just remind yourself what it is that makes you happy without wondering if it makes everyone else happy? I mean every choice you normally make starts off with thinking about the rest of the family’s schedule, food preferences, sleep cycles and in our case, what’s going to create less of a fight.

But when you think about it, if all it takes is 24 hours for mom to be herself by herself to keep the sanity of the whole family at bay, then isn’t it worth it?

So off I go on my own vacation. Twenty-four whole hours to do anything I want, how I want, eat what I want, read what I want, do nothing if I want, without interruption (God willing.)

What to do, what to do, what to do.

Follow how mom spends her 24 vacation on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

You never know what will happen.

If you had 24 hours to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?

Enjoy yours!

Last week I made an amazing, yet very SAD discovery.

Mother Nature left a little mark on me in the form of a wrinkle.

I was looking in the rearview window and noticed it and of course, tried to wipe it away. Then after a few minutes I realized it wasn’t going away or could it?

So off I started on my search for the fountain of youth to find out what I could do today to make a difference now and hopefully tomorrow as well.

Starting from the inside out, here’s what I found can help or at least in the words of Cher, “If I could turn back time.”

WATER, WATER ALL AROUND

Water is the answer for almost everything and when it comes to skin there’s nothing better.

Think of a raisin…with water, your skin looks like a grape. Without it, it looks like a raisin. Which one do you want your skin to look like? Most people don’t even drink their recommended water intake. Roughly to find your water intake you want to multiply your weight by 2/3 or 67 percent. If you weight 100 pounds, you need 67 oz water. If you’re 200 pounds, you need around 130 oz. Of course, the environment, your exercise habits, alcoholic intake impacts your intake requirements. Just remember, you need about 2, 2 liters of water a day. Don’t like water or need a little help to drink more? Check out this post on “How to Get your H2O!

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Veggies and fruit aren’t just good for your diet, but for your skin, too. When it comes to our skin we want to be an ace – meaning we want to make sure we are getting our Vitamins A, C & E.

They contain antioxidants that fight off the free radicals, aka the environmental toxins that’s in the air, in what we eat, and all around us. They also fight off our cancer risk and have several healthy benefits.

TOMATOES contain the antioxidant LYCOPENE which helps your skin cells work at their optimal rate.

Eat at least 1/2 cup of cooked tomatoes a day.

BLUEBERRIES contain the antioxidant POLYPHENOLS, that helps to protect your skin and maintain elasticity and vibrancy. Plus polyphenols also help prevent memory problems.

Eat one or more 1/2-cup servings daily.

KALE contains the antioxidant LUTEIN to help prevent aging and contains iron.

Eat two or more 1/2-cup servings of kale or other greens a day.

RED PEPPERS contains the antioxidant BIOFLAVANOIDS to moisturize and heal the skin.

Eat two or more 1/2-cup servings a day of red peppers, carrots, beets, or similarly colored veggies.

PUT IT ON THICK

The cosmetic and beautycare makes up a multibillion dollar industry and it’s full of products that claim to turn back time. Whatever your price point you need to remember all skin care routines need to really consist of four steps:

1. Clean

2. Exfoliate

3. Moisturize

4. Protect

And you have to make sure to put on the sunscreen! I love SUPERGOOP – it’s sunscreen, anti-aging serum and moisturizer in one.

Some do and some don’t, but these products give you both instant and long-term results just like having a spa at home.

Exfoliate:

Clarisonic: Mia 2 $199

Cleans 6X Better than hands or Washcloth

Smoother more Radiant Skin

Can Be used with your favorite Cleanser

All skin types

Helps Reduce Pores and treat Acne Prone Skin

Various Brush Heads depending on Skin Needs

2 yr Mfg Warranty

Microdermabrasion:

PMD: Personal Microderm $179

Exfoliates while Leaving you with the appearance of Smoothier and more Radiant Skin

Evens Skin Tone

Helps Shrink Pores

Helps Smooth Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Lancer: MicroCurrent Power Boost $250

Helps Maintain a Firm, Refined and Luminous Complexion

/ReChargeable Battery

Easy for Travel

5 Minutes Instant Smoothness

Boost collagen, optimize cell function while renew and rejuvenate skin

LaPrairie: Essence of Skin Caviar $140

Helps Smooth Fine Lines and Wrinkles on the Upper and Lower Eye Lid

Can be used under Eyeshadow as a Primer

Smoothes Crows Feet

Caviar Extracts

Lancom: Visionnaire 1 Minute BLUR

Instant Skin Perfector

Smoothes Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Can be used with or Without makeup

Aides in longer foundation wear

Perricone MD “OVM” Anti Aging $165

OVM- highest Cosmetic Concentration of Retinol

Peptides

Anti-Aging – Helps Reduce Fine Lines and Wrinkles leaving with you with the appearance of youthful skin

Silky Slumber

Using a silk or satin pillow instead of a cotton pillow can help fight off sleep induced wrinkles and even keep your hair in check! The fibers in many of them have copper, which is a proven mineral to minimize aging skin. Since cotton absorb moisture, it not only wipes off that moisturizer you just put on, but takes out all the moisture you want your skin to keep while you sleep.

It’s Gonna Be a Bright, Sunshiny day

Want to appear you’ve taken off a few years before you leave for the day? Then wear brighter colors. While I have a closet full of black and it makes me feel thinner, the color actually causes a harsh contrast in the skin making your skin appear to be more dull and less vibrant. But adding color into your wardrobe, it appears you have a more youthful look. Even if it’s a necklace, cardigan or scarf, a small change can make a big difference in looking younger! Also by changing up those accessories to more trendier pieces, you can make that black dress you’ve been wearing for 10 years and your skin look runway ready.

Say goodbye to wrinkled skin!

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