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Getting it All Done: Multitasking 2.0

October 15, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Too busy to get it all done? Need an assistant or maybe three? Actually all you need is a computer or a smartphone. We call it multitasking 2.0 and it’s the new way to getting it all done.

Some links included in this post contain affiliate links.

Only have an hour to go grocery shopping, get ready for your big work event, and feed the kids before the sitter get here? Then remember you need a birthday gift for your kiddo’s friend at school and you still haven’t gotten anyone to feed the dog before you go out of town for the long weekend?

All in a day’s work for a parent and that was before 10 am…

Thankfully technology to the rescue with several new web-based services that make it easy to get whatever you need done with just a few clicks.

Getting it All Done: Multitasking 2.0

FOOD FAST AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Door Dash // Have food delivered from your favorite place delivered where you want.

I’ve used this one no less than 15 times in the last month. It’s an app/computer accessible site that allows you to order food from great places around you and delivery it to your door. It’s all paid via your account so no issues with tipping or paying, the app shows you exactly what time when to expect the delivery, how much it costs and from your favorite places (not just a few major chains!) I can get ChickFilA at my door, no sitting in line, for just $7.50 (yes, the costs are more than reasonable and totally up front.

Special Offer: Get $7 off your first order when you sign up through http://drd.sh/ldfoHQ/.

ALMOST EVERYTHING WITH AMAZON

Amazon Prime // Basically Amazon Prime was almost what started it all…immediate gratification of whatever you want, when you want (or at least with 2-day shipping. And now with Amazon Prime Now (and just this week with the debut of Amazon Fresh with fresh produce and local food), we can go on to the app on your phone and get things delivery in just an hour. It’s an amazing service with a flat rate so if you order often it’s worth its weight in gold.

Sign up: It’s free for the first month, so use and abuse your Amazon Prime and see why it’s that amazing (30 days free with this link)

Amazon Family // Also through Amazon, parents with babies can sign up with Amazon Moms to have basic necessities like diapers, wipes, formula, etc. sent on regular schedule and at special discounted cost. No more trips to the grocery store to pick up all the stuff in one cart with the baby in the other. And it grows with you so when the baby is 4 months the program will remind you it’s time to go to the next size before they send it to you.

Sign up: If you have young kiddos or are expecting and want to save 20% off diapers and more, sign up now for Amazon Prime.

Amazon Dash // Toilet paper, laundry soap, and paper towels at the touch of a button – a real button!

Sign up: Sign up, get your first Amazon Dash button for $5, and it goes towards your first purchase!

GROCERIES

Many of the grocers have the ability to get exactly what you want, bagged, and ready to bring to the back of your car on your desired day through their online service (that’s also just a few bucks but free to start.) You don’t have to even get out of the car!

Walmart Grocery // Special Offer for $10 off your first order with this link.

Kroger ClickList // Sign up!

And then there’s the one that brings it to your door with Shipt. It’s really been my lifesaver!

Shipt // SHIPT does all the work for you – you buy it, someone picks it up, and brings it to you!

Special Offer: Get $10 off when you sign up on your first shop with the code GOODDAY or using this link.

BEAUTY

These apps make it easy to look your best whereever, whenever! Just click your app or the online application to book your nails, hair or makeup done at home or whereever you need to be! At reasonable prices, everyone can afford to look like a million bucks with just a click!

Blown Away Dallas // Make up and Hair whereever you are, whenever you want it.

Currently, Blown Away is upgrading so try one of the other great services like BeGlammed and The Glam App (they do nails too!)

FOR THE DOG

Rover.com // Friends for Fido when you’re away.

Take care of your dog when you can’t! This online service allows pet lovers to schedule walks, feeding, a bath, just love time, whatever you need when you’re away. You are matched with a sitter that you choose and they come to your home as requested when you aren’t home to take care of Fido! I actually went on vacation this summer and knew Birddie was happy and at home – see for yourself!

Special Offer: $20 off first time you book with the link: http://bit.ly/RoverFox

DOCS ON THE GO

Family Health onCall (sm) // Family Health onCall from Children’s Health is making affordable housecalls for the whole family possible. Simply download our app, request a visit and rest. Our team of highly experienced, board-certified physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners will be there shortly. They’ll diagnose and treat you right in the comfort of your home, office or just about anywhere.

Sign up: Download the app and get signed up now.

PediaQ // On demand pediatric care.

Have a sick kiddo that needs to see the doc later at night? It’s that easy with PediaQ – now with This now, nationally recognized company based in DFW is making it possible with demand pediatric urgent care housecalls. Learn more about see for yourself!

RAMP UP YOUR MULTITASKING GAME

PICKUP // Instant Delivery service featuring Good Guy drivers with pickup trucks.

This Addison-based company has taken the world by storm. No need to rent or borrow a truck or move items on someone else’s schedule. PICKUP helps you move almost anything (big or small), when and where you want to move it. Think Uber for moving and operates off an app.

Sign Up: Get a quote

VRoom // Car shopping from home delivered to you!

Car shopping made easy because you can do it all from your couch…bed…or whereever. All the work is done for you – including bringing your car to the door. Here’s how it works and a special code here when you use Vroom!

Special Offer >>> $250 back when you use the code

Finding the Best Babysitter Checklist

October 9, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Finding the Best Babysitter for your child can be nerve-wrecking. Make it easy for them (and you) with this checklist.

Thanks to Sitting Made Simple Dallas for making sitting simple for parents.

All my friends had kids the same time as me, so when it came time for me to find a sitter, no one I knew had a kid the right “babysitting age.” So I had to do some homework – not just for a few names, but also making sure that I had the right sitter for our family, and then getting her used to our house, our routines, and our expectations.

That was work.

Of course, that was my first child. Any parent with more than one child will tell you your attitude will change when you have another child. You learn what’s important and what’s not plus the things you really need to worry about.

So get to the point with these tips for finding your babysitter like a pro.

Finding the Best Babysitter

Finding the Best Babysitting Candidates
Learning About the Sitter
Hiring the Babysitter – The Checklist

1. Finding the Best Babysitting Candidates

For me this was the hardest part…finding a few people that you didn’t know that would be ok to watch your kids while you weren’t there.

Ugh…no one seemed to fill that spot.

Ask your friends. However, after asking a few friends for their recommendations, I was able to find people that I didn’t know personally, but had great referrals of people that were experienced and trusted.

Search online services. There are several online services that can help you find candidates in your area. I’ve used a few that allowed me to find people in my local area. Many of them will also run criminal checks on the members, so then you can concentrate on the profile and learning more about your perfect match. Sitting Made Simple, a new service in Dallas, provides service to most of the North Texas area. Their criminal check includes a throughout process including:

A childcare background, with all references checked.
Possess and maintain a clean driving record.
Complete, pass and maintain a clean background check.
Certified in Infant & Child CPR

Local locations. For frequent babysitting services, a daycare might be able to accommodate your needs. For instance, you can find some churches, schools, and drop-in daycares include options for things like Mommy’s Day Out, short-term sitting, and even drop in daycare.

2. Learning about Your Sitter

Once you found a few candidates that seem to fit your needs, you can interview them.

However, a formal interview may not be exactly ideal when you’re looking at a sitter for next weekend or a referral from a friend. Additionally, many services have done the work for you – asking what the sitter his/her availability, what’s his/her experience with kids, and of course, his/her personality. Sitting Made Simple Dallas takes it a step further by doing that part for you, as well as a thorough personal interview with their staff, to make it that much more convenient for you!

Another reason that Sitting Made Simple makes it easy for you is the scheduling feature. You just post when you need a sitter and then you can select the sitter you want. And if there’s not a sitter immediately available for you to select, the service will find someone that will be able to babysit at your desired time. (Even better!)

3. Hiring the Babysitter – The Checklist

Once you think you’ve finally found a good sitter and booked, there’s the unique experience of the “first time.” This might be the first time they sit for you, the first time at the house, or even the first time you’ve ever met them! During this time, there’s one important thing to remember: you don’t need to show them everything about your house, break out the medical records, or give them a copy of your living will.

That’s overboard.

However, what you should do is to show them the house, at least the areas you expect them to stay in, and make sure to include the areas you don’t want them in while you’re gone. And you’ll want to have listed somewhere, some few basics, to make it easy to care for your child and in case of an emergency, have a few basics handy.

Information to have listed for your babysitter include:

Your address (in case they need to tell the pizza person or the ambulance where to come in case of an emergency)
Your contact information
Your kids information
Insurance information
Allergies
Emergency plans (fire route / tornado spot)
Emergency contact in case they can’t reach you
Routines:
- Bedtime
- Specific rules (TV channels they can watch, devices they can use, etc.)
- Other rules

Here’s a copy of these on this free Babysitting Family Fact Sheet printable available for download to make it easy for both of you!

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure to get a few different pieces of information from your sitter including an emergency contact for them, driver’s license number and license plate if the sitter will be driving the kids, and of course, their contact information, address, etc. (Just another reason to use SMS Dallas – the services has already collected this information for you!)

Good luck on your babysitting experience!

Another way to make it easy for you is with a free membership to Sitting Made Simple Dallas (expires 12/31/2016.) A $50 value, enter here to start your babysitting experience made simple.

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Smart Baby Monitor That Gets You Both Sleep

September 14, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 118 Comments

New baby or one on the way? Then you’re in the market for a baby monitor. Smart technology now allows you to watch your baby and see if they’re breathing, too, with the Owlet Baby Care. Here’s how it could have saved me weeks, months, and years of no sleep and given me the reassurance to get some sleep myself.

Thanks to Owlet for this collaboration and giveaway opportunity.

“Don’t let your baby cry.”

Said the doctor to my husband and I as I held my two-month old son. We were finally be who was finally being discharged from the hospital after having being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, having a shunt put into his heart to keep him alive and thankfully, his body being strong enough to manage breathing on his own. We had spent weeks watching monitors in his room show his oxygen levels, things beep, and thousands of cords plugged into our new little bundle of joy (that unfortunately was also causing a lot of tears heartache at the moment.)

“If he cries too much, his heart may get too overwhelmed, he’ll stop breathing,” continued the pediatric cardiologist. “So don’t let him cry or do anything that will cause him too much excitement. And always look at his color to see if he’s too blue.”

Talk about breaking in two new parents.

While we were so thankful to get to take our son home, the directions on how to take care of him were very different than the “let him cry it out” methods that had been shared from our friends, families and the prenatal books I had poured over for months.

The next several months, we wouldn’t sleep. Not even a wink.

Like any baby, if you put him down to sleep on your schedule, he would cry. If he was hungry, he would cry. If he happen to wake up and not realize that I wasn’t holding him any longer, he would cry.

At night, even when he was sleeping I’d lie awake, listening for the monitor all night, making sure I could hear (or see) him breathing and making sure if his little eyes popped open, I was there.

And, of course, in the few times I did manage to close my eyes, every time he began to shrill (or worst case I hadn’t heard him), I’d run up the stairs like a marathon, to console him.

If only I had a way to not just have a monitor to watch and hear him, but if there was something to wake me up just in case something happened. That little bit of comfort would have made a huge difference to two new parents not just learning to cope with a newborn, but two parents who needed to monitor their child’s breathing, not oxygenation and saturation rates at all time.

Eight years later, there is.

Meet, the Smart Baby Monitor, Owlet Baby Care.

The Owlet Baby Monitor is the first smart baby monitor of its kind that uses hospital technology—pulse oximetry—designed to alert you if your baby stops breathing. We’ve miniaturized this technology into a tiny, snuggly baby sock that your little one wears to bed. It’s totally wireless and connects via bluetooth to a base station and Wi-Fi to your smartphone. The product just launched to the public last October after more than two years of development and testing.

Of course, like anything, things can happen, especially when you’re putting it on a newborn baby that likes to discover their feet and use them often. However, when snugly placed on the baby’s left foot, it works well for many months to come as your baby continues to grow. (Just remember when you take off the sock to remove the monitor as well before throwing in the washing machine.)

Everyone knows that car seats are a MUST if a baby is in a car, but did you know that more babies pass away while sleeping at home than do in a car related accidents? According to the CDC in 2014, 3,500 babies passed away in 2014 while sleeping – more than 18x the number of babies who died in car accidents in the same year.

Just like the car seat, Owlet Baby Care believes that home health monitoring could be something comparable to reduce infant deaths.

And imagine how much more sleep we’d all get…all with the help of a sock.

You can purchase an Owlet online for $249 (comparable to many baby monitoring devices on the market.)

• Smart Sock Kit (sizes one through three)
• Sock Electronics
• Base Station and corresponding charging cords
• Exclusive access to the Owlet app (available for iPhone and Android users)

The Owlet Monitor GUARANTEES to give you peace of mind. If you are dissatisfied with your purchase of the Owlet Monitor within 45 days of purchase, then it send it back for a full refund.

WIN AN OWLET BABY CARE MONITOR
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10 Ways to Connect with Your Kids Today (and like it)

September 10, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 19 Comments

Parenting is hard. But sometimes you have to drop the adulting and just enjoy spending time together with your kids. Here are 10 ways to connect with your kids today that don’t require any creativity from you, but will make lots of memories for everyone.

Thank you to Main Event for this collaboration to remind us all that sometimes you need to just Head to Fun. #HeadforFun #EatBowlPlay

A few nights ago while I was working on the computer, my daughter asked sweetly, “can you play Barbies with me?”

I loved her up and repeated by normal response, “not right now, baby…mama’s working,” kissing her sweetly and sending her on her way.

After about a week of asking the same thing each time I was on the computer, she finally came up to me as she had been doing and screamed, “Are you ever gonna play with me? I am your daughter!” And proceeded to run away in a teary-eyed fit.

I was totally devastated. I mean doesn’t she know the reason I’m working on the computer is for her and her brother so we can have money to have nice things?

Then I realized…of course, she doesn’t know.

She’s not one of my clients, co-workers, or colleagues. She’s my kid.

What she knows is that mommy says she loves her and if she really loves her, she would want to spent time with her. Instead I’m always doing other stuff like being on the computer, the phone, or cleaning house – and not spending time with her.

While I’m all about responsibility, sometimes you just have to Head for Fun and do something that isn’t anything but just entertainment for entertainment’s sake.

I mean are we working to live or living to work?

While there are many activities you can arrange to do with them, I’ll be honest, planning is sometimes the hardest part. Where to go, what time are they open, where to park, what to eat, what to pack….you get it. The whole idea is that it’s supposed to be fun time and you went and made it hard. By the time you’ve created your plan for fun, it’s already lost the fun before it started.

However, at Main Event, everything is in one place and you don’t have to plan anything except “let’s go.” With more than 20 locations across the U.S., you always know at Main Event you can head for fun with their Eat. Bowl. Play. mentality, wherever you go!

So here are some ideas for spending time with your kids that you can do right now.

10 Ways to Play with Your Kids Today at Main Event

Score a Strike Bowling

Rock it, Win it or Shoot it with Video Games

Light it Up with Laser Tag

Make a Hole in One with Mini Golf

Belt Out Some Karaoke

Play some Pool

Share a plate of Fun Finger Foods – French Fries, Nachos, Tater Tots, oh my!

Get moving with Gravity Ropes and Rock Climbing

Have Fun! No matter what you do – talk, play, or eat, you’ll have a good time together!

Make it a Party! Make it a really big event at Main Event and bring friends and family when you need a destination for a birthday or family get together! They do it all for you!

From chef-inspired casual dining featuring American classics, a stand-alone La Bella’s Pizza Café and full bar, to more than 100 virtual and interactive games, state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag and more, there are so many ways to make memories today at Main Event.

Ready to head for fun? Visit the Main Event website for information about their FREE fun on October 10 for National Head for FUNday at all 27 locations nationwide. (And when it’s free, there should be nothing standing in your way!)

Anyone arriving between 8 a.m.-12 p.m. will be given one (1) free hour of bowling (shoes included). Additionally, each guest will receive a free $10 FUNCard valid on game play.
$5 Unlimited FUN – bowling, laser tag, billiards & more for just $5 per person/per activity from noon to close.

Go to MainEvent.com to find a Main Event Entertainment Center near you.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Main Event. The opinions and text are all mine.

Breaking the Myth of Financial Planning

August 30, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 7 Comments

Financial planning is the most important planning a parent can make. Thanks to brightpeak financial for making this important information easy to understand.

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with brightpeak financial^® and Latina Bloggers Connect.

As a child, the most important planning is what you’re picking to eat in the lunch line.

As a teenager, the most important planning is what to wear to the Prom.

As a young adult, the most important planning was how to pay or save for books and still get to go on a spring break trip.

As a parent, the most important planning is everything! From buying a new house, saving for college for your kids, paying off debt, taking care of your family if something were to happen; it all requires planning.

However, most of us think that financial planning for things like retirement or college comes only after everything else is paid. Unfortunately, it’s that kind of thinking that actually keeps us from ever making progress towards our financial future. I know that’s always been my mentality.

“When I take care of the (fill in the blank) then I will look into purchasing life insurance or paying off my student loans or whatever.”

That type of mentality is a myth and it’s what’s keeping us from being able to reach our financial goals. I don’t mean winning a million dollars or living in a mansion, but living a financially stable life.

The truth is: if you have income and you have expenses (we all do), then you need a plan.

brightpeak financial, a division of Thrivent Financial, recently launched to easily guide you through the first steps in creating a financial plan. With just three questions, the dashboard helps prioritize your financial planning goals and provides information you need to help you better understand what you need. Plus they even offer tools to immediately connect with a brightpeak team member to help you start making those positive changes.

rightpeak isn’t your average financial planning group, but a new organization that was specifically designed to help Christian adults and young families live with confidence and generosity through making financially sound decisions. brightpeak was made not-for-profit and the company doesn’t refer to anyone as a customer, but as a member of a group that is like-minded and feels faith, family, fulfillment and a little fun are the most important parts of life.

As I completed my own questionnaire, I was drawn to helpful tips that I could start NOW, like saving dollars at the grocery store and even commuting to work. There’s even a Simple Living 14-Day Challenge to easily help you make small changes to make a big difference. The Growing Your Family e-book also gives month-by-month breakdown of the things you should focus on to build your family’s financial strength.

In comparison to other financial planning organizations, brightpeak has you and your family in mind and they make it easy to make some of the most important choices for your family. No more complicated brochures with confusing lingo. With brightpeak you can understand and start making choices for your family today that will make for a brighter future tomorrow.

For more information about brightpeak, visit:

What is your priority for financial planning? A new house, retirement planning, money for school, to pay off debt?

This is a sponsored campaign written by me on behalf of brightpeak financial® and WeAllGrow Latina. The opinions and text are all mine.

Last-Minute Deal for Summer Camp at Sky Ranch

May 20, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

Feel like you’re the only parent who hasn’t figured out what you’re kids are going to be doing this summer? Don’t worry, you can still do summer camp at Sky Ranch with this special mamachallenge deal! [Partner]

Summer is a great time for the kids, but for many parents means putting together a complicated plan that offers the kids something fun to do and somewhere for them to go at least 9-5 , especially if you’re a working parent.

Photos provided by Sky Ranch

Dallas Fort Worth is full of amazing camps for any interest from Airplanes to Zoology, but deadlines for many of them may have already passed months ago…but actually many of them haven’t including Sky Ranch.

Sky Ranch in Van, Texas (yes, the one that kids have been raving about since 1955 and wrote the book on overnight camps) with outdoor fun including swimming, rappelling, horseback riding, zip lines, water slides, and more, is offering a special deal for MamaChallenge readers.

Get $100 one week at Sky Ranch in Van, Texas with CODE: 2016SCBlog

However, if your kids, like mine, aren’t quite ready for campfire s’mores and postcards from the parents, Sky Ranch now offers “Launch Camps” right here in DFW. Sky Ranch Launch Camp gives kids an extraordinary daycamp experience right in their neighborhood for kiddos (or parents) not quite ready for overnight camp. Designed for kids, kindergarten – 5^th grade, Sky Ranch Launch Campers enjoy five, fun-filled days of camp activities with suitable programs and positive encouragement from our caring and extensively trained counseling staff.

See? You can still win the “Best Parent of the Year Award” and keep your sanity this summer with Sky Ranch!

Launch Camp’s 2016 Locations:

Addison
Trinity Christian Academy
Addison, Texas
Session 3: June 13-17
Session 4: June 20-24

Allen
Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church
Allen, Texas
Session 10: August 1-5
Session 11: August 8-12

Argyle
Liberty Christian School
Argyle, Texas
Session 1: May 30 – June 3
Session 2: June 6-10

Arlington
The Oakridge School
Arlington, Texas
Session 2: June 6-10

Dallas
Good Shepherd Episcopal School
Dallas, Texas
Session 4: June 20-24
Session 9: July 25-29

Highland Park Presbyterian Church
Dallas, Texas
Session 10: August 1-5
Session 11: August 8-12

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal
Dallas, Texas
Session 7: July 11-15
Session 8: July 18-22

Fort Worth
All Saints Episcopal School
Fort Worth, Texas
Session 8: July 18-22

Southwest Christian School
Fort Worth, Texas
Session 3: June 13-17

Frisco
Legacy Christian Academy
Frisco, Texas
Session 5: June 27 – July 1
Session 6: July 4-8
Session 7: July 11-15

Grapevine
Grapevine Faith Christian School
Grapevine, Texas
Session 7: July 11-15

Keller
First Baptist Church Keller
Keller, Texas
Session 5: June 27 – July 1

McKinney
McKinney Christian Academy
McKinney, Texas
Session 2: June 6-10

Plano
Custer Road United Methodist Church
Plano, Texas
Session 3: June 13-17

Prestonwood Christian Academy
Plano, Texas
Session 8: July 18-22
Session 9: July 25-29

St. Andrew United Methodist Church
Plano, Texas
Session 5: June 27 – July 1

Prosper
Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church
Prosper, Texas
Session 4: June 20-24

Rockwall
Rockwall Presbyterian Church
Rockwall, Texas
Session 10: August 1-5

Southlake
The Clariden School
Southlake, Texas
Session 9: July 25-29

Don’t wait any longer – register your child for Launch Camp or Overnight Camp in Van, Texas, now!

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

Go Outside and Play: New Outdoor Interactive Digital Gaming System Gets Families Active

May 10, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 15 Comments

Is the fight with your kids over device time, not going outside or getting any exercise driving you crazy? The Springfree Trampoline featuring tgoma is your family’s best new friend. Autumn Reo of MamaChallenge.com has partnered with Springfree Trampoline to launch this innovative technology at Day of Play, May 14 and you can win a Springfree Trampoline featuring tgoma.

When I was growing up there were only two questions:

“When can I go outside and play?

“When do I need to be back?”

Unfortunately we know that’s not the case anymore for our children. Not only is safety an issue, but the kids would rather move their fingers on a device to watch other kids do something on YouTube or an imaginary game world than to actually move their own legs.

It’s a fight we have every day. EVERY DAY.

“Can I get on a device?” the kids ask.

Then I look up my head from my own device and say no (at least some of the time.)

It’s the biggest moment of “Do as I say, not as I do.” Especially when technology is what rules the world we live in and even the curriculum they work with daily.

But, what I really want them to say is “Can I go outside?” “Can I go ride my bike?”

Studies show kids are spending 60 hours per week consuming media and less than 60 minutes playing outside.

However, Springfree Trampoline featuring tgoma is giving parents hope with a new outdoor interactive digital gaming system that encourages kids (and families) to go outside and be active! Partnered with Springfree Trampoline’s patented safety design, tgoma incorporates specialized sensor technology that responds to the user’s own tablet when the jumper is activity.

Bottom line, the tgoma transforms the trampoline into a game so they kids want to move, learn and have fun with specialty games you download from iTunes and Google Play just for your tgoma.

My kids have had a weekend to explore tgoma and they are in love – not just with the fun of their Springfree Trampoline, but how much fun the games are to play.

Our kids have played more outside in the last two days than they have in the last two months,” my husband said this weekend.

That’s testimony for us enough to know that this technology works and it’s going to change how our family spends our time inside and out!

I’m excited to be able to invite you to a special event called Day of Play to give your family try the Springfree Trampoline with tgoma experience for yourselves! AND even better – one lucky family who attend this free special event will win a Springfree Trampoline with tgoma!

Isn’t that worth your time to enjoy some playtime with your family?

And of course, there’s the benefit of learning how we can make technology something the family can use in a positive way to get us all moving into a more healthy future!

Please RSVP to be enter to win and you must be present at the event as well!

The Real Moms’ Guide to Surviving the Grocery Store

April 25, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 17 Comments

Grocery Store +Family Dinners = #mamachallenge. The Real Moms’ Guide to Surviving the Grocery Store gives you a REAL strategy on how to get it done with the help of your smartphone. Thanks to Albertsons, there’s no need for notebooks, forms, or planning with the free just for U™ savings app. This is a sponsored post, but all comments here are all my own.

As a mom, and the planner of the family, I have good intentions of being organized.

I’ve shared the praises of meal planning.

I’ve demonstrated how to make a week’s worth of meals from one protein.

I’ve even found ways to make dinner more exciting for your kids by taking inspiration from their lunchbox.

But I’ll be honest: it doesn’t happen like that. And definitely not for our family.

With our crazy schedule, it seems like the start of marathon starts every day at 6 am and it’s a race all day until I a) hit the wall or b) fall asleep while snuggling my kids in their bed.

So when I go to the grocery store it normally is in a mad dash to grab just what I need and I’m definitely not saving any money with coupons (since they are sitting at home, but never get used.)

However, when Albertsons just debuted their new just for U™ app to Dallas-Fort Worth, things changed.

Now, as I’m running in any Albertsons store at a moment’s notice, the just for U™ app allows me to easily discover and use digital coupons and then when I get to the line, type in my phone number, and all my digital coupons and offers (savings of up to 20% off) are automatically taken off my total. No ads, no flyers, no clipping, no notebooks and no planning to save money. Johnny on the spot.

And on the weeks when I do have a little more time, I can also use the app to create my grocery list for when I have time to do “a big shopping” trip to restock everything!

Best of all, the more you use it, the better it gets! Since offers on the just for U™ app are based on the users’ purchase history and then organized in a digestible way, what you’ll see on your app are the things you buy and the offers that apply to you.

And that’s why it’s called just for U™ app!

To use the just for U™ app

Download the app for your iOS or the Android phone.
Tap “Sign Up Now” on the welcome screen.
Fill out the registration form and hit submit.
Select a nearby store you want to view offers for.
Add offers to your just for U account.
Use the list in store for an easy reminder.
Enter your phone number at checkout to redeem the offers.

For more information on the just for U™ app, visit justforu.com/app.

Thanks to Albertsons for partnering with mamachallenge.com for this #mamachallenge solved.

New Mamas Invited to BLOOM April 30

April 12, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Mamachallenge is excited to partner with Dallas Moms Blog for this special opportunity and giveaway! New and expecting mamas are invited to BLOOM April 30 for a half-day of fun, education, networking, and giveaways!

I don’t care how many books you read, how “ready” you think you are, or how many kids you babysat for growing up, or even how many kids you already have, when you’re in baby-planning or just-had-a-baby mode, there’s nothing like it.

I’ll be honest… I’ve never felt more dumb, happy, sad, and accomplished than when you’re baking up a bundle full of joy.

When it comes to learning opportunities, you take ’em when you get them. Why else do you think playdates exist (okay, besides the chance to chat with an adult or to possibly drink a little “juice” for yourself?)

Some of the best learning together and from each is at events with other people just like you which is why if you’re planning to have kids, preggo or just had a baby, we can’t recommend enough attending BLOOM on April 30.

Hosted by Dallas Moms Blog, the Dallas collaborative resource site by several super Dallas mamas, BLOOM is a half-day of fun with panel discussions, breakout classes, food/drinks, swag bag loaded with goodies in a really great bag, and five raffle tickets to use for giveaways for things you’re gonna really want!

>>>>> REGISTER FOR BLOOM, APRIL 30 <<<<<

You’ll have a chance to connect with businesses, services, and organizations that will help you to keep your sanity as a new parent. Ask questions, learn answers and best of all, meet with other parents (and parents to be) like you! This is a national event with over 40 fellow sister sites hosting the same event on the same day! Share this event with your friends in other cities by seeing who’s participating. Then, make sure to share the excitement by following along using #CMBNBloom16 and locally with #BloomDallas16.

Please Note: This event is geared towards new and expectant moms although spouses are welcome! Due to space constraints children UNDER one years old must be worn in a carrier or held as there is no room for strollers. Need to nurse? No problem! Attending moms will be provided with a space to nurse little ones during the event! Please remember this event is designed for new moms and expectant moms, so children over the age of one are requested to sit this one out and have you spend some time on you!)

Bloom: A Dallas Event for New & Expectant Moms
Dallas Moms Blog
Saturday, April 30, 2016
9:30am – noon
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, Texas 75219
$12
Get tickets

Wanna win tickets to BLOOM in Dallas, April 30?

We’re offering a pair of tickets (value $24) + 10 additional raffle tickets for giveaways!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make the Most of Your Sweetest Moments

March 5, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 120 Comments

This sweet look at life is brought to you by BASKIN-ROBBINS. No matter what life brings, make the most of your sweetest moments.

The other day while I was buying clothes for the kids, a little tear rolled down my check.

As I continued to thumb through the new size for my son, I kept looking at shirts and thinking, “there’s no way he can wear these!?? These are much to big for my little guy.” Except I knew I was wrong.

He is exactly THAT size.

As I stepped back at the rack, I realized at in the big room full of clothes consigned for the sale, that each of these rows of clothes weren’t just a room full of well-kept hand-me-downs. They were like little time capsules of each family’s experiences as a child experienced their first day of school, Christmas, a birthday – whatever – they had done it in that shirt. And now it was time for my kid to do the same.

I wasn’t sure if it was one of those hormonal mama moments or what, but all of a sudden, I realized that I looked like Gene Simmons with my mascara running down my face.

However, it was a good thing. I was getting my own little reminder of how quick they grow up.

Later when I ~~battled~~ sat in the carpool line to get them from school, I didn’t immediately take them up to start the everyday grind of snack, homework, dinner, bath, book and then bed.

Instead we went to Baskin-Robbins.

But today it wasn’t just ice cream either. We went for sweet goodness – all.the.way. We went for ice cream sandwiches.

Each of the kids bellied up to the bar to pick two warm cookies – chocolate chip, macadamia nut, chocolate chocolate chunk or peanut butter. Part of me wanted to order for them, but another mama moment made me see they didn’t need me to do that anymore.

They could make their own decisions…without my mama’s help.

Next pairing it with their favorite pick of ice cream. The girl quickly pointed to something pink, purple and filled with sprinkles. The boy, who thinks long and hard about each selected in life, landed on the newest BR flavor, Cookie Jar Mashup, Filled with OREO®, CHIPS AHOY!® and NUTTER BUTTER® cookie pieces with vanilla ice cream swirled with a chocolate ribbon. I gloated a little as I felt he had made just the choice I would have. (Points for mom for instilling good taste.)

Next came the toppings – one with more sprinkles the other one without. Last the slightly warm cookies sandwiched the ice cream together for two awesomely gooey treats.

Normally, I would have begun the freak out by requesting the cookies be put in a bowl and carefully asked them not to get their clothes dirty. Actually, I’m pretty sure I would have pulled out the placements I have in the car (yes, I do), but today, it was about just enjoying the simple things.

Like ice cream and cookies. And lots of love.

And man, it was a mess. Partly because it’s Texas and it’s already 75 degrees. And the other part because they’re kids and that’s what they do. They make big messes. BIG BIG MESS.

But somehow I didn’t care as we licked the remaining bite and ran to the bathroom to get it off our fingers, face, and my toe.

Today was about making the most of our sweetest moments.

And you should too.

Make time today to celebrate your sweetest moments. One lick at a time.

Enter now to create your sweetest moments with a giveaway for a Baskin-Robbins gift card for $31

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Baskin-Robbins’ NEW Warm Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches and Sundaes can be personalized with a guest’s choice of warm cookies, their favorite ice cream flavor and topping. The chewy, warmed to order cookie options include Dark Chocolate Chunk, Double Fudge, Peanut Butter Chocolate and White Chunk Macadamia Nut Cookies. Guests can choose their cookie and mix and match more than one type of cookie in their sandwich or sundae for the ultimate flavor experience.

Don’t miss this #MAMACHALLENGE MOMENT

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Our kids have played more outside in the last two days than they have in the last two months,” my husband said this weekend.

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New Mamas Invited to BLOOM April 30

>>>>> REGISTER FOR BLOOM, APRIL 30 <<<<<

Make the Most of Your Sweetest Moments

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