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Reconnect with Family Fun at Trinity Forest Adventure Park {Special Offer}

April 14, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Been thinking the fam needed to do something together, but the thought of another movie night or going to spend tons of money at an event to just get full of sugar while standing in line at the bouncehouses?

Instead find something fun to do that might ACTUALLY have your family become stronger? Happier? And reconnect?

The Trinity Forest Adventure Park is a combination of a canopy tour, challenge course and zip line in Dallas.

Photo Credit: Trinity Adventure Park Facebook Page

Trinity Forest Adventure Park is an aerial course that has six self-guided courses at three different elevations and four levels of difficulty. The courses become higher and gradually more difficult, and have 8-12 elements (obstacles) each. Each course varies in terms of elevation and the strenuousness of the challenges.

The courses consist of:

Military-style obstacles (cargo nets, wobble bridges, tight ropes, ladders, etc.)
Zip Lines where the participant is in control
Six Courses with varying degrees of difficulty

To participate, an individual must be:

6 years old AND at least 48” tall
Able to grasp a cable 60” above them while flat-footed
And LESS than 265 lbs.

No matter what your activity level, you and your family will have lots of fun working together, breaking a sweat and getting outdoors to do something unforgettable time and time again at Trinity Adventure Park.

Fine Print:
Trinity Forest Adventure Park Coupon. Receive 1 free, standard, full-price admission ticket w/purchase of An Adult standard, full-price admission ticket. Not valid w/any other offer/discount. Must follow directions on coupon (after claiming w/email address) to get the discount. Coupon expires 6/30/2015.
Coupon expires 6/30/15. Must follow directions on coupon to get the offer.

Start Your Family Dinner Project with Healthy Comfort Favorites {Recipe}

January 7, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 12 Comments

At the bar. Standing next to the fridge. In stages throughout the night.

Is this the way your family eats dinner?

With all those busy family schedules – work, school, play and all that in between – it keeps us from being what we are supposed to be – a family!

The Family Dinner Project seeks to help all of us to get back to the things that matter like food, fun and conversation at mealtime. A program led by Project Zero at Harvard, the FDP is full of recipes, conversation starters and research to back up the basic concept that a family meal is good for the spirit, brain and health of a family. Actually 15 years of research shows families that eat together experience:

Better academic performance
Higher self-esteem
Lower risk of substance abuse
Lower risk of teen pregnancy
Lower risk of depression
Lower likelihood of developing eating disorders
Lower rates of obesity

So now that you know that you know that dinner time together is a good thing – give them something they can’t resist at dinner…fried chicken and macaroni and cheese!

But since it is a new year and a new you and you want to help your whole family be healthier, here are a few twists we’ve made to make sure that dinner doesn’t just taste a-mazing, but is also healthy, too!

I’ve taken fried chicken to new heights with this gluten-free oven fried chicken that uses gluten-free cereal for a crispy crust. And don’t worry, I didn’t forget the sauce either! Paired with this copy-cat signature recipe from a certain chicken spot that has an affinity for cows, you will be making this recipe again and again – and finding new reasons to put this sauce on everything. Add a little (or a lot) gluten-free mac n cheese (with a little healthy twist of winter squash), you will love your time together – eating, talking and just being together.

Italian Night In Date Night

December 30, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 148 Comments

I love the holidays, but after all the hustle and bustle of traveling, eating grandma’s stuffing and sleeping in beds other than my own, there’s nothing better than coming home to enjoy the comforts of my own house in front of the TV watching a movie, enjoying a glass of vino while biting into the perfect meal. For our family, Italian cuisine is the one we all love so if you are trying to make us all happy, it has to have pasta, bread or cheese it in.

Too bad I’m not in the mood to cook for five hours to make marinara sauce, my famous lasagna or cut fresh noodles. However, a quick trip to the store and less than an hour in the oven, I can have the ideal Italian night in without the work. And you can too with Michael Angelo’s.

As a third-generation Italian-American family, company founder Michael Angelo (yes, that really is his name) and his mother Sara loved entertaining and felt that the most memorable evenings can be held around the dinner table while eating copious amounts of delicious food. In honor of these simple, yet satisfying dining occasions, Michael Angelo has created quick, yet delicious dinner options based on family recipes that can warmed up in your oven and to your table in less than an hour. And best of all, the meals are made of 100% natural ingredients with NO preservatives just like you’d expect homemade should be.

Even with the kids, we were able to enjoy a nice family evening playing Scopa, an Italian card game while nibbling on our antipasto platter I had made to start off the dinner’s events. We followed up with both the meaty lasagna and buttery shrimp scampi (the gal at the grocery store had almost demanded I buy it because it was so good) and then followed by an Italian sweetie of canoli. We paired our meal with a light Rioja and finished the evening watching a very apropos A Roman Holiday. The evening may not have been just like dinner in Rome, but it was close to it in my living room in Texas.

Want to enjoy your own “Roman Holiday” with Michael Angelo’s meals? You can with this incredible giveaway!

Voucher for 2 Michael Angelo’s Multi-Serve Entrees of your choice
$50 Walmart gift card to purchase side dishes, salad, dessert, or perhaps some Italian wine to accompany your Michael Angelo’s entrée
Ferrero Rocher Chocolates
Wine Bottle Opener & Charm Set
“Scopa: the Italian Card Game”
2 DVDs of Italian Classics – Roman Holiday and Under the Tuscan Sun – to enjoy after dinner

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jackson Gives Michael Angelo’s Two Thumbs Up!

Mama Challenge’s Top Holiday Hot Toy List 2014

December 4, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 47 Comments

Affiliate links included. This is not a sponsored post, but a carefully curated list of the best toys for your kiddos for 2014!

What to give, What to give…it’s a question only Santa has the real answer for.

Until now.

I’ve scoured the Earth (and the Internet) looking for the best toys for girls and boys of all ages to get for Christmas this year.

Six Months – 1 Year
Fisher-Price Little People Musical Preschool
There’s so much to do at The Little People Musical Preschool—and toddlers are the ones that make it happen! They can make ‘bubble-bubble’ sounds come from the aquarium, make the dino roar, the hamster treadmill squeak, or send Eddie and Mia–and even the teacher figure down the slide. And when kids head for the rug and press the buttons, the whole place comes to life with lots more sounds, phrases and songs! More than 35 sounds, phrases and songs!
$25

Age 6– 12 months
Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Bounce, Stride and Ride Elephant
The Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Bounce Stride and Ride Elephant Toy is an ideal tool to help aid your child through the beginning stages of development through active play. This toy features vibrant colors that your child is certain to love looking at. The Fisher-Price elephant will allow your young one to bounce up and down, giving entertainment through physical movement. The toy will help steady baby’s steps. This musical elephant will also allow riding foot-to-floor. This elephant will make a wonderful friend for your young one to play with for hours at a time. The Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Bounce Stride and Ride Elephant Toy will play lively music for your child to listen to.
This toy also offers colorful lights plus fun sounds and phrases. With its cute wobbly bumblebee, playtime is even more fun.
$50-$54

Age 2
My Custom Thomas and Friends Engine with Book
Exclusive to the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway website and catalog.
Is your little conductor energetic? Bashful? Or maybe he’s a little cheeky engine like Thomas? My Custom Engine gives him the opportunity to express his unique personality and join the world of Thomas with his very own customized engine and storybook— where he’s the featured hero! Choose your engine style, color and name and number
$35

Age 3+
Fisher-Price Thomas the Train – TrackMaster Avalanche Escape Set
Fast and powerful motorized engines that make for the most action-packed Thomas adventures of them all! In this play set watch as Thomas makes his way up a 30 degree incline before crossing an avalanche gap and racing down the other side. Redesigned TrackMaster engines feature enhanced power and performance, driving Thomas to greater speeds, taller heights and bigger adventures.
$64.99

Age 3-9
LeapFrog LeapPad3 Kids’ Learning Tablet
LeapPad3 is the high-performance, fun-packed Wi-Fi tablet that allows kids to learn and play in a way that’s just right for them. Access the most engaging learning library for kids’ tablets, with 1,000+ educator-approved games, apps, eBooks, videos and more. (Sold separately.)
With Wi-Fi and LeapSearch powered by Zui, children can explore kid-friendly web content that is 100% pre-screened and approved by learning experts. Features a lithium ion rechargeable battery, 4GB memory, parent controls, light-touch capacitive screen, two cameras and video recorders, and more.
$89.95

Age 3
The Happys
The Happy’s are an amazingly adorable and remarkably real line of interactive motorized plush pets! From doing tricks for Happy Treats to racing after their Chase & Play ball, The Happy’s really play with you! Just like real puppies and kittens, they love to spin, sit, pounce and play. Appealing to boys and girls, kids can even train The Happy’s to do more tricks with the interactive Happy Treats. The new, brightly colored Happy’s are in stores now and make the perfect gift for kids this holiday season!
$15-25

The Amazing Zhus
These mesmerizing mice have certainly cast their spell on kids of all ages and they’ve been performing their signature vanishing act on Walmart shelves everywhere. For their next trick, they’re going to be pulling some pretty amazing prizes out of their hats…holiday shopping sprees!
$25-$35

Age 3
Disney Frozen 2-in-1 Castle & Ice Palace Playset with Olaf
Inspired by the Disney film Frozen, this expandable 2-in-1, fashion doll play set opens to feature the beautiful manse in Arendelle that Anna calls home and the majestic ice palace Elsa resides in (dolls sold separately). Anna’s half of the play set is the perfect place for the loveable character to call home. Take the airy staircase upstairs where Anna can get ready at her vanity, complete with chair and perfume bottle. Elsa’s half features a massive room with her translucent blue “icy” throne, complete with a special spot to rest her scepter. Elsa stays beautiful with a vanity of her own, which doubles as a bed and has a beautiful printed blanket.
$119.99

Age 3
Bluebee Pals
Bluebee Pals is a huggable plush toy that sings, reads and answers phone calls. The advanced technology includes lip synchronization allowing the animal’s “mouth” to move while singing and reading your child’s favorite storybooks or learning apps. You can even surprise and entertain your family and friends when you use your Bluebee Pal as a wireless speaker phone! Bluebee Pals are available in 5 adorable characters: Leo the Lion, Lily the Lamb, Winston the Puppy, Riley the Zebra and Sammy the Bear. You can find Winston the Puppy at Toys ‘R Us this holiday season and the whole gang is available on www.bluebeepals.com.
$64.99

Age 3
Disney Princess Deluxe Talking Dolls
This Merida Deluxe Talking Doll Set will hit the bullseye with your Brave young princess. Twirl Merida’s hand to hear her recite lines from the movie. The set includes the three cubs plus her trusty bow and arrow and target. Characters available: Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Rapunzel (Tangled), Merida (Brave) and Tiana (Princess and The Frog).
$29.95

Age 3
Disney Store Star Wars Talking Action Figures
Lord Vader would like to have a word with you. The striking Sith has a Lightsaber in one hand and the other ready for a Force choke, so you may want to watch what you say around our fully articulated talking figure. Characters available: Boba Fett, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.
$29.95 (on sale for $20)

Age 4
Jada Toys Sofia and Walking Minimus R/C Vehicle
Explore the land with Disney’s Princess Sofia the First and her horse Minimus R/C. With you, Sofia and Minimus can do anything! Minimus’ wings flap as he walks
Fun audible dialog between Sophia and Minimus
$34.99

Age 4
Big Hero 6 Baymax Rocket Fist + Mask Combo
Put the power of Baymax in your hands with the Baymax Rocket Fist. Easy reloading and fun launching up to 10 feet in distance – and soft material on the fist makes it safe, and fun to play!
$19.99

Age 4
Big Hero 6 11″ Deluxe Flying Baymax with 4.5″ Hiro Action Figures
Large and in-charge, this massive Baymax is ready to fly into battle using all his great
weapons and features. Towering at 11” inches with a soaring 18-inch wingspan, the Deluxe Flying Baymax features 20 points of articulation, multiple lights, sounds and other fun features such as a launching rocket fist. Baymax comes with a 4.5” Hiro Hamada figure, which when attached to Baymax’s back unlocks additional flying sounds that vary.
$59.99

Age 5
Barbie Endless Curls Doll
Barbie® always delivers the very best in hair play and this year is no exception. With three different types of no-heat curling tools (two irons and a set of traditional rollers) girls can easily create countless styling possibilities, transforming Barbie® doll’s hair without heat or water
$24.99

Age 5
Deluxe Light Up Flutterbye Fairy
A WALMART ‘CHOSEN BY KIDS’ TOY! Flutterbye Fairies can really fly and now they even light up the sky! The Deluxe Light Up Flutterbye Fairy Doll magic is brighter than ever before with rainbow lights that shine as she soars. Just give your Flutterbye a gentle whirl to see rainbow lights and skirts that twirl! By pressing the button on her decorative base, she will magically lift off into fairy flight. Guide the flutterbye fairy toy rainbow movement as she floats just inches over the palm of your hand. If you raise your hand gently, she will fly higher. Lower your hand and she will follow your lead. Your Flutterbye Fairy’s beautiful dress is surrounded by a colorful aura of rainbow light. Delight in the Deluxe Light Up Flutterbye Fairy Doll magical glow as she glides around your room! Only Flutterbye Fairies can bring the magical experience of real fairy flight to life!
$39.97 (on sale for $25.00 online)

Age 5
Zoomer Dino
Control him if you can! Boomer is the incredible Zoomer Dino Toy that only you can tame! With real dinosaur movements, sounds and incredible dino-sense abilities, Dino can detect when you’re nearby and interacting with him. But watch out! Just like a real Dino he can get angry, spin around, chomp and roar! Using True Balance Technology, Boomer perfectly balances on two wheels as he roams freely, exploring your home. Use your hands or the included controller to tame his Dino nature and build your friendship. But, don’t make him mad by pulling his tail! He doesn’t like it! He might even let out dino-sized burps and farts! Become a true dino master and control him if you can with Zoomer Dino!
$79.88

Age 5-12
Orbeez Body Spa
Need a little ‘me’ time? Just imagine what it’s like to sit in a luxurious room chair full of the soothing softness of Orbeez! It’s an Orbeez fantasy come true! Ahh… sink into the calming comfort of the Orbeez Body Spa and recharge! The perfect holiday gift for young girls, the sophisticated Body Spa chair comes with 6,000 comforting Orbeez and a vibration device help her relax and melt the day away! Use the chair anytime, and add the Orbeez for a special spa touch!
$49.99

Age 6
Uncle Milton Jedi Telescope Star Wars Science Kit
Kids can tap into their mystical energies with the Jedi Telescope, a 2– in-1 telescope with a Star Wars image viewer. The Jedi Telescope provides kids the opportunity to see the Star Wars planets up close AND use the telescope to see real stars and planets in their own night sky! The Jedi Telescope operates like a real telescope and features built-images of Star Wars planets. The Jedi Telescope includes educational material about planets and spacecraft in Star Wars and the real world.
$29.99

Age 8
American Girl Isabelle “Girl of the Year”
Meet Isabelle, our Girl of the Year! She’s an inspired dancer who discovers her own way to shine. The 18″ Isabelle doll has sparkling hazel eyes that open and close, and long blond hair styled in double-twists for dance class. Your girl can even add a pop of color with special pink-tipped highlights that she can attach to Isabelle’s hair! Share the wonder of the holidays! From November 24, 2014 to December 18, 2014, for every American Girl doll purchased, American Girl will donate one 18-inch doll to Children’s Hospital Association.
$120

Age 8
Hot Wheels Street Hawk Remote Control Flying Car
Expand your little one’s toy collection with this Orange/Blue Hot Wheels Street Hawk Remote-Control Flying Car. Kids can live the thrill of seeing it take to the skies and fly with this versatile unit. The Hot Wheels remote-control car offers a cool combination of on-ground R/C performance, including proportional ground steering, and the aerial performance of a plane. It is durable and lightweight, allowing it to perform impressive aerial maneuvers and fly up to 150′ in the air. The two-in-one flying car toy promises enough action to keep your child excited and interested. Flying car toy can soar up to 150′ in the air!
$50

Age 8
SpruKits Halo The Master Chief Action Figure Model Kit, Level 2
SprüKits, the new poseable action figure model kits require NO no glue, scissors or paint. SprüKits are designed with the most advanced injection molding technology available, parts snap together without glue, paint or scissors, as is typically expected in a model kit. For beginners to those seeking an intense challenge, three different levels offer construction play for all skills with increased complexity and build time, delivering a larger figure with sharper details, increased articulation and poseability. From
Batman, Superman, and the Joker, in total there are 13 characters from DC Comics, Microsoft’s Halo® and TV Tokyo’s mega hit LBX franchise.
$19.99

Age 8
Make Your Case – Case Maker
Create and design two real cell phone cases or design one of the four ready-made cases to match every mood and outfit! How does it work? Simple. Push the plunger into the Case Maker and fill your mold with your chosen color. Once the mold has set, you can bling a selfie, decorate your pet or favorite musician’s picture or more. Compatible with iPod Touch 5, iPhone 4/4s, iPod Touch 5/5c/5s and Samsung S3/4. Also comes with gems, stickers and design sheets.
$24

Ages 6+
Skyalanders Trap Team Starter Pack for XboxOne, $54.99

Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel Superheroes Starter Pack for PS4, $74.99

GameStop is THE PLACE to help holiday shoppers find and purchase their favorite gaming and tech items affordably and simply.
This season GameStop has deals for the gift-givers and gamers alike, from new consoles to your favorite tech items.

They also have deals on games of all kinds and for all systems for EVERYONE in the family. You can save as much as $30 on some titles! And you know what’s really hot this year? Games that feature interactive figures like Skylanders, Disney Infinity and Nintendo’s just released amiibo (uh-mee-boh). GameStop has deals on them all. And because we know that shoppers want to stretch their dollars – GameStop has a buyback program, a PowerUp Rewards credit card and a layaway option. They can match your buys with your budget and give you the best shopping experience.

You can check out the GameStop Holiday Hub for more information about deals and products.

And for the gamesters:

Ages 10+
Jenga Giant Wood Stacking Game
The classic Jenga game, but MUCH BIGGER and can stack to over 3 feet high. Sturdy box for easy storage and transport.
$110

Ages 8+
Rummikub
The original fast-moving, family-fun tile game. Each player starts with 14 tiles displaying a number ranging from 1 to 13 in four colors. Tiles must be placed on the table in sets of either “Groups” or “Runs” Be the first player to eliminate all the tiles from your rack to win!
$17.99

Ages 4+
Barbecue Party Game
It’s Barbecue Party, the game that decides who will be grill master or dinner disaster! Choose your card to see what you get to put on the grill for dinner, but watch out! This temperamental grill may jump, causing all the food to fall off. The winner is the first player to get 3 items off the grill before the food takes a spill. 2 or more players.
$24.99

Ages 4+
Jumping Jack Game
Kids will jump for joy when they meet Jumping Jack, the world’s cutest bunny! Spin the spinner to see how many carrots you get to pick from Jack’s bunny hill, but don’t make him jump! If Jumping Jack jumps out of his hole on your turn, be sure to catch him. If he’s not caught, then whoever has the most carrots wins the game. 2-4 players.
$24.99

Ages 7+
Wordsearch
The race is on with Wordsearch! The game is played on a uniquely designed circular board that rotates as you search for new words. The first player to find the selected word marks it with colored tiles. With twists and turns that allow you to remove words found by your competitors, this fast paced game will have you searching for the win! Game includes 20 different word search puzzles and is good for years of fun.
$24.99

Ages 4+
Wordsearch Junior Game
Wordsearch Junior is the sequel to the popular Wordsearch! game. The Junior version teaches kids reading, spelling, matching and sportsmanship while providing hours of exciting fun! With three different learning levels, children as young as age 4 can join in the fun by matching patterns and can then move up to words with picture hints, while older children can play with word-only clues. Game includes 6 matching pattern puzzles, 6 picture hint puzzles and 6 word-only puzzles for years of learning and fun.
$24.99

Ages 3+
Elf on The Shelf Hide and Seek Game
The Elf on the Shelf is hidden but the music that you hear will help you find him. Someone hides Elf and then everyone tries to find him! The first player that does, gets to put a gift in their sleigh and the first player to get 3 gifts in their sleigh wins!
$14.99

All Ages
Springfree Trampoline
Considered the “World’s Safest Trampoline, Springfree’s one-of-a-kind design eliminates 90 percent of the impact areas on traditional trampolines by replacing the springs, frame and rigid enclosure with fiber-glass rods, a soft-edge, and flexible enclosure. Springfree was created by an engineer and father of three, Dr. Keith Alexander, following 14 years of injury prevention research. With 10 minutes of jumping on the trampoline equivalent to a 30 minute run, so it’s a fun way for the whole family to enjoy exercise. At Springfree they’ll take care of everything from delivery to installation and with three locations with Plano, Frisco and NOW Southlake, they’ll make Christmas a cinch!
$1,449

But where’ giving one away to one lucky person!

(Winner must live in the DFW delivery area for installation OR pick item up from one of three DFW SpringFree locations.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Easy Ways to Teach Kids to be Giving and Grateful

November 22, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 25 Comments

At this time of the year we are reminded to give thanks for the good things in our lives. It’s also a great time to teach kids to be giving and grateful.

Here are a number of ideas this holiday as well as throughout the year to teach kids to give back. Many of these suggestions don’t require a lot of work, are fun and can help create an even stronger bond as a family unit.

Start the Conversation

Teaching the basics of giving with Saving and Giving Jars
The premise is simple: have two jars – one designated for saving and the other for giving. Depending on your child’s allowance or age, you can have them allocate a certain amount of money each time they put money in the jar. For example $1 means 90 cents for saving and then 10 cents for giving.

Santa Letters
Writing Santa letters makes a great way to talk about giving to kids less fortunate than your own. I have a great free printable for Santa letters you can print off and start the conversation today.

Make a Thankful Tree
With two kids under the age of 7, it seems like they wouldn’t be able to understand that not everyone lives in a home with a family and served three meals every day. But by asking them what things they are grateful for can be a great conversation starter. This tree is easy to put together and I’ve seen several versions of them – some are drawn on paper, some are painted with handprints, but for this one, we gather sticks from outdoors and talked about what we were thankful for. When I explained that some kids don’t have their favorite named toy or even a mama, they begin to ask questions and are primed for talking about the importance of giving back.

“I am Thankful…”at Galleria Dallas
“I AM THANKFUL FOR…” PRESENTED BY THE EURASIAN ASSOCIATION OF DFW
Level 2, Martin Lawrence Galleries
The exhibit displays the meaning of Thanksgiving among children of different cultures, with works grouped in different age categories: Under 5 years, 5-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-14 years, and 15-18 years.
Opens today – Dec. 7

http://www.galleriadallas.com

No Matter their Age, Kids Can Help to Give

Crafting for Good

Crafts are actually a great way to help children learn about giving. For instance, they can create a place mats or a centerpiece to put in with your Pantry Box for Metrocrest Services. On the website they provide a list of what they need and you can purchase them, put in the placemats and they will stock them in their pantry or during the holidays, they will pack them with the holiday food deliveries. If you prefer, you can actually attend a Family Night and for an hour the organization will do a family craft for 30 minutes and the family can stock the pantry with donated goods.

http://www.metrocrestservices.org

Collecting Everyday Goods

Toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste – these are all things we take for granted. But at the Arlington Life Shelter, individuals and families that don’t have anywhere to live are provided these basics necessities to help them sleep somewhere warm and receive a warm meal while getting the skills they needs to get back out there. They always post their current needs list online and on their billboard, so you can have the kids put together the box and on your designated day, make the drop off.

http://arlingtonlifeshelter.org

Be on Their Level

Adopt an Angel and Toys for Tots
A tradition for many families and organizations at the holiday, you can get in the sprit of giving on a level kids can really understand since you are giving to kids in your child’s age range. You can find Adopt an Angel trees in shopping centers throughout DFW, but some families are so busy they can’t get to the tree! So they’ve made it easy and you now can adopt a kid online, make your purchase and then drop of them off at a designated locations. And Toys for Tots, which FOX 4 is a sponsor of, is a phenomenal organization led by the US Marines. The process gives your kids a hands-on opportunity to buy the gifts they want for the age they want and then drop them off for distribution.

http://dfwangeltree.org

http://dfwtoysfortots.org

Host a Giving Party
Instead of having guests to a holiday party or for your child’s birthday party, ask guests to bring gifts to give to a charity your child chooses. For instance, you could hold a PJ Party and ask guests to give blankets or teddy bears. Many organizations need both of those for patients at children’s hospitals like Children’s Health. Once year we asked for socks for teens and they were given to kids in the hospital so they had something fun to keep their feet warm and are fun!

Teaching Good Means Being Good

Be a Good Example of Giving
Remember kids learn by watching so be a good example. December 2 is #Giving Tuesday, a global initiative to raise money for nonprofits #GivingTuesday is a global giving campaign.Your generous donations will not only allow us to continue fulfilling wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses and provide them an experience of a lifetime at Give Kids The World, but they will also count twice! An anonymous donor will match every donation made on #GivingTuesday, up to $20,000.

www.gktw.org/givingtuesday (This donation page will only be accessible on December 2nd and will be open for 24 hours. )

Credit 101: 5 Things To Teach Your Teen About Credit

November 12, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 20 Comments

When did you get your first credit card?

For me I felt it was my first step into adult hood when I opened my first Old Navy Card my freshmen year of college.

My credit limit? $200.

Thankfully, I still have it, but not without a few mishaps and learning lessons along the way. Considering your credit is like your own pass to owning a house, a car or almost anything at all, I was excited to learn even more about my credit from this sponsorship with

Honestly looking back at high school (or even college), classes like Home Economics (which many schools don’t even offer anymore) should be a requirement for EVERYONE. Training on creating a budget, understanding your credit, and even buying your own home should be something we all learn. But we don’t and the irony is, no matter how good at sports, band or science we are, we all should know at least the basics to live.

But in speaking with almost everyone I know, the moment they were 18, they opened up a credit card. And then another. And maybe even another one before things all went downhill. Then they spent the next 7-10 years fixing their bad credit and building up their score so finally they might be able to buy a house, get a good job and plan for the future.

So honestly, these five facts aren’t just for teens, but for most of us. These are good reminders that a good credit score makes a huge difference in your lifestyle for decades to come so you should learn how to take care of it the right way.

1. Credit is not free money.

Credit is a good thing, if you treat it right. And it can be the end of you, if you don’t follow the rules. Credit is more like a loan with a really high repayment rate. And if you don’t repay it when you say you are going to, the companies that gave you that piece of plastic are going to make things difficult for you. They will hunt you down and tell everyone you know or that will make a difference in your life you don’t pay things as agreed and it will be much worse than being benched from a game.

[Tweet “47% of employers use credit checks when making a hiring decision #MyCreditKarma #Ad”]

2. Get a copy of your credit report.

By law, everyone is entitled to one free report at least once a year. Thankfully gives you much more than that – for free. While it is your responsibility to manage your credit, that doesn’t mean you have to do it all by yourselfoffers free credit monitoring and notifies you of any significant changes on your credit report around the clock.

[Tweet “33% of Americans have never checked their credit report #MyCreditKarma #Ad”]

Credit monitoring is a service that tracks your credit report on a daily basis and notifies you of any significant changes on your report. Since the credit monitoring service will notify you any time a new account is opened in their name, many consumers use credit monitoring as a means of preventing identity theft. In addition, credit monitoring can help prevent errors from credit reports. Mostly notably, credit monitoring will notify you of derogatory reports such as a delinquencies from a creditor.

3. Learn to read your credit report.

I admit at first look a credit report looks like a lot like a lot of graphs, numbers and words that either you don’t understand or make it too hard to find the stuff you should be paying attention to. But it’s important to read it and understand what it says.

That big three digit number? That’s your credit score. You want your credit score to be at least 720, which is considered good by many creditors. Some aim higher than that.

4. Make a plan for change.

Sometimes you made the blunder and didn’t make a payment (or 10), but sometimes it’s just a matter of “cleaning house” with the credit agencies. Things happen. Unfortunately, if your credit has been compromised from a data breach or stolen card, you definitely need to stay on top of reporting what is yours and what isn’t yours. If you have something on your credit report you want to change, can help you find the right solution to fix your issue. Whether it’s a late bill from years ago, they will help you with a solution tailored to you.

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5. Make a plan for the future.

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Credit Karma™.

Christmas Hot List: Disney’s Big Hero 6

November 10, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: I was provided with some of the Big Hero 6 for purposes of this review. However, comments here are all my own. Affiliate links included.

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be sad if our Frozen DVD would stop working for just a day or two.

I’ve been trying for a couple of months to get a break (after the Frozen-themed birthday party and no Halloween), so thankfully Disney released another movie for us to get excited about with Big Hero 6.

Inspired by the Marvel comic book, the movie follows Hiro and his inflatable robot Baymax build their own gang so they can take onaa kabuki-masked villain. Featured voices in the film include Damon Wayans Jr., Maya Rudolph, and Ryan Potter.

While we didn’t make it out for opening weekend, I counted their request at more than 10 times to go.

So until then we watched the trailer…also about 10 times.

Taking them to the movies wasn’t really on the to-do list, but they weren’t about to be put off by another home viewing of Frozen.

But toys can be a good distraction.

Big Hero 6 Baymax Rocket Fist and Mask Role Play Combo Pack

Retail $20.99

Of course, every little boy wants another mask, especially when it has a flying fist. Thankfully this one is soft and styrofoam lined.

Big Hero 6 11″ Deluxe Flying Baymax with 4.5″ Hiro Action Figures

Retail $37.99

Baymax flies, makes noise and more. You’ll hate this toy, but your kids will LOVE it.

These will be on the hot list for holiday especially for the boys, so better to snag these up when you find them.

Remember Frozen toys about six months ago?

Picking the Right Dance Class with The Little Gym

November 6, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Thanks to The Little Gym for inviting me to experience the fun of The Little Gym with complimentary sessions. However, I’m now a paying customer and couldn’t endorse them more. Except to have a Starbucks inside:)

This year has been one of learning lessons for our family. Especially in terms of our kids’ education.

Our mindset is that adding an extracurricular activity to the mix is key to creating well-rounded people. I’m not talking about booking their schedules from morning to night, but giving them something that allows them to grow, exposes them to a hobby or sport, creates discipline and allows them to socialize with others. While the focus for the last few months has been on big brother going to first grade, it was time to give little sister something she could have of her own.

My little Rose is always moving to the rhythm, so I thought dance would be right up her alley. But at the ripe age of three, you have to wonder if that’s too young to really “learn” something and most of all, would she even care. Not to mention if I would be “wasting my money.”

After research and recommendations from friends, I felt that putting in her an intensive program to start (read no Dance Moms here) was totally the wrong approach. We needed a program that would let her show her own inclination towards tap, ballet and even better, gymnastics. And best of all, something that wasn’t going to break the bank or sign us up for life.

The Introductory Experience at The Little Gym allows parents to select a multi-week experience that allows their children to sample several different The Little Gym programs. Offered at a significantly reduced cost (on average 25% off), children build their skills through its Three-Dimensional Learning approach:

“Get Moving” for flexibility and coordination
“Brain Boost” for listening and decision making, and
“Citizen Kid” for teamwork and leadership.

Instructors focus on individual learning and accomplishments, rather than competition, allowing every child to feel challenged and successful. The Little Gym offers parent-child classes, to gymnastics and sports skills classes for children ages 3 and up.

Looking at the list of offers we chose the Jazzy Bugs class, a program for 3 – 5 year-olds that breaks down ballet, tap and gymnastics into three, 15-minute intervals.

So with a small investment in shoes and leotards (which I purchased at Payless Shoes, Walmart and a Just Between Friends consignment sale), we were in business and ready to try this thing.

I’ll admit: our first class my baby girl wasn’t Ginger Rogers. Honestly, she was SO far from it. She didn’t listen to the teach and actually ended up starting out the window and playing with a little girl instead of paying attention. I was absolutely mortified. (I was already planning our escape at this point.)

Funny enough no one else seemed to be.

Thankfully, another mom let me know that at the ripe age of 3, they all did that. She insisted she was doing fine and to make sure to keep coming.

So we did.

After four classes of seeing her learn to shuffle, tumble and pirouette through a window, I can say we signed up for the full program! Just like the other moms insisted, she got better. She listens. She smiles. And she dances (well as much as this 3-year-old can.)

As for the teachers, I can’t recommend them more! The patience they have is extraordinary and each one knows how to engage with the class as well as each child on a personal basis. Mr. Bobby, the gymnastics teacher, is now one of my daughter’s favorite people as he allows her to have a good time, but knows how to reign her in.

And on top of all that, The Little Gym offers birthday parties and Parents’ Survival Night (date night!) as well, so they can become a real part of your kiddo’s like for many years to come!

If you want to track our progress, join me on Instagram! To start your own journey to fun at The Little Gym, visit their website or check it out at the your closest location to learn more.

Top Makeup Tips To Teach Your Teen {Giveaway}

October 15, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 4 Comments

Looking at several little girls apply their lip gloss and nail polish at our Princess Spa Party got me reminiscent about the early years of learning about makeup. Like many other girls I learned from my friends and the pages of Seventeen, Cosmo and more. Sad to say that I’m still learning as an adult how to properly apply makeup and match the right products to my skin.

If I had just had some training for that then, I might actually have a clue now…

Actually there is.

Blushington Makeup & Beauty Lounge, your destination for beauty services and makeup application, offers three tips for tweens/teens (and a great reminder for moms) to ensure their make up look is spot on for the right look for their age.

Always stay age appropriate! A heavy smokey eye at age 15 is not okay for school, no matter what is seen on the red carpet.
Skip the foundation and go for a tinted moisturizer instead. If your skin is prone to acne, opt for a heavier concealer as an alternative.
To keep skin feeling fresh, always remove makeup at the end of the day! Sleeping in makeup can cause clogged pores and irritation.

Blushington also offers teen and tween makeup classes for $50 per person. The classes are aimed to help teens with age-appropriate makeup choices and give them techniques that will boost confidence and cover blemishes — without looking overdone. Blushington recently started carrying the BeautyBlender sponge applicator, which is a great tool to use on teens.

BeautyBlender Sponge Affiliate Link

Blushington is also offering one lucky reader a ticket to a Teen/Tween Makeup Class at the Dallas Blushington location!

What a great gift for that special teen or tween in your life!

To enter, just complete the form below and answer the question:

“What’s your favorite makeup tip?”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Choose the Best Day Care for Your Family with the Three Es

October 14, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

I received a thank you gift basket for providing my experience and knowledge of TLC Schools. However, all the comments and opinions are my own.

While I may office from home, my schedule requires designated “work time” and flexibility to meet with clients on a moment’s notice. So before my daughter was born, I researched for months to find the right day care that met my family’s needs and my child could prosper and grow throughout the almost 50 hours a week that she would be there.

Thankfully, I was relieved three years ago we found a home at TLC Schools, a locally owned and operated school system with three locations in Plano and Arlington. Voted “Best in Child Care” by LIVING Magazine in 2014, TLC Schools provide everything (and more) I was looking for with a focus on the three Es: Education, Environment and what I like to refer to as all the Extras you won’t often find at other day care facilities. While finding the right day care isn’t easy, but using the three Es from my experience, you can streamline your process while also choosing the perfect fit for your family.

1. ENVIRONMENT

First and foremost, while education is VERY important, you really should find a school or day care that has the right balance for your child’s need of learning, nurturing and fun.

From around three months old, the biggest factor that won me over at TLC Schools was how “safe” I felt leaving my bundle of joy with them each day. No matter what member of the staff I may pass in the hall, everyone shares with me the details of my daughter’s day including what funny thing she said at lunch or the big milestones she might have experienced throughout her school day. This means a lot to me not only because the staff is able to share these big moments with me and make me a part of them, but also because I know that they are taking care of her with watchful eyes as well as hearts. Use of individual door codes for entry and a well-watched check-in and check-out system also increase the safety of the day care for my child. However, I know sometimes you might need more…

[Tweet “Want to check in on your tot at day care without leaving your desk? @TLCSchoolsDFW make it possible with live cameras from WatchMeGrow.com. #Besttheycanbe”]

Just by taking a look around a day care facility, you can see if the staff is creative with the kids. Beyond the colorful walls and furniture at TLC, every season the school is decorated from top to bottom with fun themes including in the classrooms. The doors, walls and even the ceilings make it a fun place for the kids to enjoy as they sing, hear stories or even celebrate the holidays with class parties!

When looking at day care facilities, ask to see their menu plans and what modifications are available if your child is on a special diet. Quite possibly one of my daughter’s favorite parts about TLC is the food. Healthy snacks, breakfast and lunch are prepared daily for the kids, served and eaten in the classroom. One of our hardest challenges at home had been getting my daughter to eat her vegetables, but thankfully through the assistance and patience of her TLC teacher, she not only eats her vegetables, but enjoys them, too!

2. Education

No matter the age of your child, learning is happening in everything that they do, say and observe – especially at day care. When selecting a day care, ask what types of activities the kids are doing, what concepts they are learning and even for the younger kids what book or song they sang that day! At TLC, education is based on the age group of each child using the HighReach Curriculum for Infants/Toddlers and for the older children they use the ABeka Curriculum, a recognized development approach for their learning platforms. Additionally, computers classes, music classes, language classes (sign language and Spanish) are offered to help children not to just learn the basics, but increase their learning spectrum, as well as having fun while they learn.

[Tweet “Learn the 3 Es for Choosing the Best Day Care for Your Family on @mamachallenge. @TLCSchoolsDFW #BesttheyCanBe “]

And education at the day care shouldn’t just stop at the kids! When speaking with a potential day care, make sure to ask questions about the teachers’ education levels. At TLC for instance, all of the teachers are requested to obtain their degree (if they don’t have one already) while completing continuing education classes, and maintaining CPR and first-aid certifications.

3. Extras

At many day cares you probably think of the “extras” as all the “other” things you have to pay for in addition to your tuition. However, you want to select a facility that provides options that you didn’t even know you needed, but help to round out the ideal experience for your child.

For instance at TLC Schools, in addition to regular day care, the facilities offer:

Kindergarten (at select locations)
After-school programs for school-age kid with included bus pick-up
Summer camp with weekly field trips
Extracurricular activities on site like gymnastics or karate classes
Drop-in day care for those days public school might be closed, but you still need care for your children.

Another great “extra” I didn’t even know I needed was the included diaper + wipes bundle for your little one with your tuition. While you have the option to bring your own supplies, it makes it so much easier (and cheaper) to not have to remember all that “stuff” in the diaper bag!

Interested in learning more about TLC Schools DFW?

Stop by the open house at TLC’s Hedgcoxe location in Plano on Thursday, Oct. 9 or the Democracy location in Plano on Thursday, Oct. 23. If you can’t make it to open house, request a one-on-one tour by calling your preferred TLC School location.

To learn more about TLC Schools DFW, visit them online, on Facebook or Twitter.

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