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Oscar Party Ideas

March 10, 2023 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Watching the Oscars is fun, but hosting an Oscar Party to watch them is even better! Here are some easy tips we shared on Good Morning Texas to create your own award-winning party with little work and a lot of fun!

Prepare for Your Oscar Party

To set the mood for your Oscar-watching party, consider decorating your space with movie-themed decorations. You can hang up posters of the nominated films, set up a red carpet, and provide props for your guests to take photos with. Star decor and all things gold will set the scene easy! You can also order this Oscar award trophy of your own. If you really want to go the extra mile, you can ask your guests to dress in their Oscar-best and you can roll out the red carpet!

Let’s Play: Oscar Bingo

To make your Oscar-watching party more interactive, create a ballot or download this Oscar Bingo card for your guests to fill out. They can predict who they think will win in each category and the person with the most correct predictions or who “Bingo” of the night can win a prize like their own Oscar or a nice swag bag (just like the celebs take home!)

Set Up Viewing Areas

Make sure your guests have a comfortable place to watch the Oscars. Set up a few viewing areas with chairs, couches, and blankets. Consider providing a few different viewing options, such as a large TV, a projector, or a laptop.

Plan Your Oscar-Worthy Menu

No party is complete without food and drinks! Consider serving appetizers, snacks, and drinks that are movie-themed or inspired by the nominated films. We love using the names of the movies to theme the menu. Also adding gold to anything makes it extra special so you can use edible 24 gold leaf to add to your food or drinks. Edible glitter to a champagne glass will make your guests feel extra special!

Let the Awards Begin

Finally, remember that the most important part of hosting an Oscar-watching party is to have fun! Encourage your guests to dress up, take photos, and enjoy the show together.

By following these tips, you can host a fun and memorable Oscar-watching party that your guests will love.

Healthy Avocado Cappuccino Truffles

January 11, 2021 By Autumn Rose Reo 26 Comments

What’s better than truffles? Healthy truffles! With 5 ingredients you can make healthy avocado cappuccino truffles with a secret ingredient – AVOCADOS!

It doesn’t take much for me to stop for coffee…especially ICED COFFEE. However, when you’re trying to lose weight, you don’t give up those calories easily for coffee.

But with the new Skinny Cow Iced Coffee, you can have your coffee and eat it, too. However, who wants to eat cake by yourself? So I called some of my best gal pals over to catch up after the holidays for a fun and easy “Coffee Break” party to try the three Skinny Cow Iced Coffee flavors paired with my new recipe for healthy truffles!

While I love hosting a party with a good theme, I didn’t have much time for much creativity although I still wanted the get together to feel special. Nowadays it’s hard to have a time everyone can pause, even just for an hour, but it actually didn’t take much to create a “cafe-inspired table” with coffee filter flowers, a coffee candle and my healthy, five-ingredient cappuccino truffles.

Using some leftover recycled coffee filters, straws and some ground coffee, I easily made a nice tablescape with “coffee flowers.” I think they turned out adorable and the aroma of coffee each time I walked by was amazing for this coffee lover.

Skinny Cow has long been a favorite in our house for their ice cream sandwiches and other sweet treats, but now at only 120 calories for iced coffee, I don’t have to choose if I treat myself with an iced coffee. I can enjoy three flavors of Skinny Cow Iced Coffees: Creamy Cappuccino, Mocha Latte and Vanilla Latte.

No matter if it’s cold outside or a blazin’ 100 degrees, Skinny Cow Iced Coffee is perfect for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up! Each of the flavors featured the delicious flavor of coffee with a subtle hint of some of my favorite flavors. Since we were having an iced coffee tasting party, we each took turns enjoying each flavor starting with the Vanilla Latte, then Creamy Cappuccino and last the Mocha Latte. And just like my friends; we all liked a different one for different reasons!

While I really could enjoy my Skinny Cow Iced Coffee as a treat in itself, I wanted a little something for the party. But since we all are trying to eat healthier, I wanted to make something that was healthy and paired perfectly with coffee. An idea brewed: Cappuccino Truffles! Using a fun recipe I found online with one REALLY unique ingredient, I was able to make them quickly, easily and really healthy! And based on the reviews from my friends, this recipe is a real keeper! Did I mention it only had five ingredients, too?

Healthy Avocados Truffles

Print Recipe

Description

These healthy cappuccino truffles only have five ingredients – including avocado instead of butter or milk!

Ingredients

Scale

6 oz. chocolate (the darker you go the better)

1/3 cup mashed avocado (small avocado)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder

2 tablespoons cocoa powder, for rolling (optional)

Instructions

Combine the chocolate, vanilla and salt over a double boiler, and melt until completely smooth. (This can also be done in the microwave.)
Mash the avocado with a fork until no lumps are visible and then stir it into the melted chocolate mixture until smooth.
Place in the fridge to set for 20 minutes.
Once slightly firm, roll the chocolate into 12 balls and place them on a pan lined with parchment paper. (Don’t roll them in your hands for long or they will begin to melt.)
Place the 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and instant espresso powder in bowl and roll each truffle into the cocoa to coat.
Serve at room temperature, but need to be refrigerated to be stored.

Other ways you might enjoy your avocados!

Make Your Birthday a Main Event

June 24, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 31 Comments

Looking for a great birthday destination that makes it easy by taking care of all the details so you can have all the fun? With games, food, an event coordinator and a special party room, Main Event is the right place for your main event!

Thank you to Main Event for partnering with MamaChallenge so we could enjoy this milestone birthday without all the work! #FUNstigators

I love hosting birthday parties for my kids. We’d plan for months what was the theme, what would we do, what we would eat – I liked the whole process working with my kids to make it a special day for them and to be honest, for me, too! (And the fun we had!)

Unfortunately, there is this unofficial age that every kids approaches when they ask to have their birthday somewhere else. And even more unfortunately, there is a realistic parent that realizes that they don’t have the one iota of creativity, patience, or time to create a great birthday party.

This year was that year for us. My son wanted to have a Pac-Man birthday party and an opportunity to just hang out with his friends and have fun. Mom’s list of requirements was a little bit more picky, but it included a one-stop shop experience where the destination took care of everything and we just showed up for the party. And air conditioning…lots of air conditioning!

Main Event was exactly the right place for us. We wanted to do something out of the norm of all the other party locations and because Jackson wanted a Pac Man theme and I wanted a place that not only wasn’t too far to drive, but the parents could have just as much fun as the kids (no matter the age or experience level bowling!)

When I called to book the birthday – it was so easy because it all came in a package. I let them know the date, how many kids to expect (although that would change) and what kind of food/drink to serve. A pizza party is always a homerun, but even with two kids allergic to gluten (mine), they still had me covered with a gluten-free version (that was good!) They even provided an evite template for me to use to invite people to the party.

We also added a few fun platters to serve for the adults that were so good including wings, artichoke dip and even a fruit/cheese tray. The activities were all built in with an hour of bowling, 30 minutes for laser tag and a $5 Funcard for each kid to use in the arcade.

And everyone signed a Pin for Jackson as a souvenir of his “main event!”

Really – that easy. All I needed to bring was the cake (gluten free at that)! THAT’S ALL!

When we showed up for the party that day (just a few minutes before the party started), we met our event coordinator that managed our special day! While anyone knows I think I’m the hostess with the mostest (or at least try to be), she had me beat. She kept the party going the whole time from making sure the kids were having fun, the drinks were all full, and when it was time for the official party time, she kept that moving too. Even the parents were saying how great she was to take time to ensure all kids were engaged – even remembering each of their names. Her fun attitude and her over-the-top service made it where there was really nothing for me to do but have fun and take photos (something I never get to do as the mama.)

And the cost? A package like ours is considered The Extreme Event, but birthday package ranges from around $15-20 a person. Even if that seems high to you, when I did the math of the last five birthdays we’d done, it still was way cheaper. And they did the setup, food, and the cleanup.

Main Event Grapevine Birthday Party Packages

The Extreme Event – $19.95 per person+ tax

Minimum group of 10
One hour of bowling
One session of laser tag
A $5 FUNcard for each child
Souvenir Bowling Pin
A selection from our Party Menu
Must be 48″ tall to play

Power Up Party – $14.95 per person + tax

Minimum group of 10
One session of laser tag
A $5 FUNcard for each child
A selection from our Party Menu
Must be 48″ tall to play

The Big Blast – $14.95 per person + tax

Minimum group of 10
One hour of bowling
A $5 FUNcard for each child
A selection from our Party Menu

At the end of the day though, the birthday party is really for the kids, right? I heard things like “best birthday EVER” and “that was awesome mama” so I think it was a slam dunk or better said, a strike!

I admit, I’m a little sad that my yester-year birthday parties no longer hold rank as #1, but considering signing the check with a well-deserved tip and taking our gifts to the car was all I had to do, I didn’t cry for too long.

Create your birthday party at Main Event by calling even booking online at your preferred Main Event location.

Want to try out Main Event for yourself? Just answer this question below and you can win a $50 gift card to Main Event! Consider this our gift for our birthday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment

5 New Baby Shower Trends

April 15, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 17 Comments

Need an idea for a creative baby shower theme? These new baby shower trends show that cute doesn’t mean that it can’t be cool, too.

When it comes to baby showers, you fall into one of two camps: either you love a good cheesy baby shower – complete with gross baby games with dirty diapers and ahhhing over breast pumps – OR – you love celebrating your friends upcoming bundle of joy, but cringe at the thought of measuring bellies, tasting unlabeled baby food, or drinking your punch from a baby bottle.

I bet you know which one I fall into.

Thankfully, the idea of baby showers has grown up a little bit. And with it doesn’t mean you aren’t still doing something special for the mama (or daddy) to be, but doing it a way that’s more practical, fitting to the honoree or just more fun to attend for the rest of us.

1) Gender Neutral Shower: Book Building Party

Inspired by the Big O (by that I mean Oprah), the idea of this shower is much more progressive as it’s based on building a strong foundation of reading and building a library for the child that can grow with them in their childhood. Using simple decorations literally from the pages of favorite children’s books like Green Eggs and Ham and The Tales of Peter Rabbit, you can find low-cost books at garage sales and places like Half-Price Books. Food and drinks are also based on books themes is ideal for this gender neutral shower (think Goodnight Moon paired with Moon Pies.). Guests can be asked to contribute by bringing a book for the gift, adding a note on the invitation that books are requested instead of cards, and then escribing a special wish or motivational note inside the book from the giftee.

2) Sip and See: Milk and Cookies

Taking another idea from the TV, most notable Phaedra from the Real Housewives of Atlanta, a Sip and See is the perfect way to have everyone meet the baby at one time when the mama is ready. It’s a win-win since the mama gets to have enough time to look and feel her best after the baby is born. And since the guests don’t have to schedule or slot in a time, they just come by to meet the little one, give some hugs and kisses, and be on their merry little way. A Sip and See is less a party and more of a come-and-go affair, there’s less work to put it together (in theory.) For this Sip and See, we had each hostess bring a dozen cookies and offered several different milk options using retro milk bottles for an attractive, no maintenance table setting ideal for guests coming and going for several hours.

3) Couples Shower: BabyQ

One of my favorite new trends for baby showers is the couple’s shower. Why should only the mama take part in the festivities?

For a successful couple’s shower, you want a theme that is suitable for both men and women to celebrate without cringing. The BabyQ is a unique idea that combines the idea of a friendly backyard barbecue with friends with a nod to the fact that there will be a baby coming soon. Small, but thoughtful details for the food, drink and décor are what make this Couples Shower memorable. Think Baby Back Ribs, Mini-Me Sliders and having Dad’s Root Beer. For favors: We shared a set of s’mores as guests left to tie it all together with “Take S’more Love Home with You.” A takehome bottle of BBQ sauce with DIY chalk labels are also a great take home with a personalized, rustic look.

And don’t forget:

4) Sprinkle: For the Next Shower

It’s exactly what it sounds like – a smaller version of a shower for those mamas that are on baby #3 (4, 5, etc.) and just need something like diapers or an update of onesies or shoes. You can make it what you want, but a sprinkle is more about the thought that counts than the show you’re trying to create.

5) Gender Reveal Party

The Gender Reveal Party has fast become almost if not more important than the traditional baby shower. A fun way to celebrate the identity of the gender of the baby, the idea has grown from a simple idea like opening an envelope in front of friends to a formal cutting of the cake with everyone that came to the wedding reception. This one will continue to grow into a bigger tradition – especially as we continue to find new reasons to order a cake and send out an invite.

Looking for more unique baby shower ideas? Check out my Pinterest Board:

Follow mamachallenge.com’s board Cool Baby Shower Ideas on Pinterest.

And don’t miss BLOOM, April 30 for a half-day of fun, education, networking, and giveaways!

Celebrating Chinese New Year with Your Kids

February 5, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 31 Comments

Chinese New Year begins February 8, 2016. Share this ancient tradition in celebrating a year of hard work and a prosperous new year by creating these fun and easy activities with the kids.

Considered the most important Chinese holiday, Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, lasting around three weeks between January 21 to February 20. Based on a Chinese legend, Buddha requested all the animals to meet with him on on Chinese New Year. When 12 animals accepted the call, Buddha named a year after each of them, thus creating the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. This year, 2016, is considered the year of the monkey (as was 2004 and 1980), so the year and the people born during that same year are considered to possess certain traits.

While all of that may be much to explain to the kids, there are several easy ways to teach them key parts about Chinese New Year.

1.) Read it.

Share the legend of Chinese New Year including all the beauty of the “Spring festival,” dragon dances and more by sharing a story with authentic photos from China like this beautiful book from National Geographic Kids.

2.) Make It.

The Chinese create beautiful art in all shapes and sizes. From origami, fortune cookies, paper dragons, Chinese lanterns, and more – there are so many things you can create to recognize, appreciate and teach your kids about the Chinese culture and the Chinese New Year. Take a little time to learn a special craft together. Or you can do something a little easier like this kid-friendly “sushi,” made with lunch meat, cheese, and bread. This video shows you how!

3.) Eat It.

No time to make and do for holiday? No problem! P.F. Chang’s is celebrating Chinese New Year with a special celebration lasting the whole month beginning February 8.

Just like the ancient tradition of red envelopes, the eatery will be handing traditional Chinese red envelopes with free offers on trees around its restaurants. Five lucky winners will even open an envelope for free P.F. Chang’s for a year!

Also in the spirit of the holiday, you can also give to others with the special social promotion. Enjoy six signature items on its Chinese New Year menu and you share your wish for 2016 on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #PFChangswish, they’ll donate $1 (up to $100,000) to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The Long Life Noodles and Prawns ix full of flavor with spices and chiles.

P.F. Chang’s Chinese New Year menu features six signature menu that symbolically represent the luck of the new year, including:

Sichuan Chili Garlic Chicken
Hong Kong Style Sea Bass
Long Life Noodles & Prawns
Butternut Squash Dumplings
Mandarin Cake
Monkey Mule (a unique twist on the traditional Moscow Mule featuring Monkey Shoulder whisky and house-made ginger beer)

How are you planning to celebrate Chinese New Year?

Glamping, Texas Style

November 3, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 22 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FallGlamping #CollectiveBias

I’m not much of a camping kinda girl.

But glamping (i.e. glamorous camping) – that’s more my style.

I can enjoy Mother Nature much more when there’s I’m biting into a ooey-gooey s’more wrapped up in a soft, cashmere blanket in my own Pinterest-perfect oasis. For me that’s the only way to camp.

So for this glamping trip, we headed to Walmart to stock up on the essentials for our luxury trip to the outdoors. A go-to resource for camping, I found both the must-haves for camping as well as the beautiful “Texas” touches to really upgrade our trip the wild (or in this case a spot not too far from home, but just far enough to enjoy the stars).

Comfort and cute is the name of the game for glamping, so I grabbed a few items to really make it homey like LED battery candles, lanterns (on sale), a few flower arrangements (you can’t always be sure what you’ll find in the wild), a warm, lush white down-like comforter, and tons of pillows. A few necessities haves included large clear jars with a little burlap for giving it that rustic, shabby-chic look, an easy-to-put-up tent, a table and chairs, and of course, an air mattress is a must-have to have you waking up like a princess the next day.

My favorite find was this no-setup picnic table all-in-one that I found on Walmart.com and using their new unlimited shipping feature, Shipping Pass, was able to get it delivered to my door in just three days. (I’m a HUGE FAN of this new option and of course, the Walmart Site-to-Store option makes finding everything you need for glamping possible!)

Since the menu plays a huge part of creating the ideal glamping experience. I mean what’s the point of all the work of putting up a tent and all the beautiful details, if you don’t have something to look forward?

But the menu doesn’t need to be hard to make or take too long to have ready either.

Just like glamping, Freschetta® is about the details with a homemade taste using only premium ingredients and a fresh-baked crust that is made like fresh baked bread, so it’s like you made your own, but with no work and only 15-20 minutes over the grill! (And there’s a gluten-free and cheese only version, too to fit all your campers needs!) That’s why Freschetta® Brick Oven Pizza is a great go-to for camping; you can make it over the grill for the ideal meal that’ll have you finishing every bite especially with my Roasted Garlic Butter Sauce! And no camping or glamping experience is complete without s’mores, but we added our own unique twist with S’mores Donuts using Honey Maid Graham Crackers, Hershey’s Chocolate, and Kraft Marshmallows.

Setting the Scene

As the backdrop for our outdoor escape, I found this beautiful area surrounded by trees for a little privacy and super shade. A few fallen tree trunks also made for some additional seating especially to enjoy the nearby sound of the recently filled running stream just steps from the glamp site.

Designing the whole space only took 30 minutes! Starting with tent, I added a large outdoor patio rug to keep for keeping our “home away from home” also as clean as possible. Next using a pallet I had in the garage for the finishing piece, a laid up a headboard (you can normally find these at a large store or somewhere there is a lot of shipping, just ask if they’ll let you have one.) Then it was time for the air mattress, cozy comforter and a little mood lighting!

Lighting is key for making it the beautiful and comfortable space you’re little for when glamping. Using a bungee cord and this LED battery operated lantern (for just around $10), I created a bedroom chandelier for a little just-the-right lighting once the sun goes down. And a few LED battery operated candles (made of real wax) give the space ambiance without the fear of catching fire or burning out!

Pillows add all the punch for making a glamping space your creative own! While I was able to find adorable cow print pillows at Walmart, you can design your own, with any throw pillow and two handkerchiefs (or two large square pieces of material.) I just tied them at the corners and voilà, new pillows!

My treasure find at Walmart.com was this amazing pine wood rocking chair (on big sale) to really set the scene for this outdoor retreat. Paired with an outdoor side table and a few “candles,” this natural wood rocker is ideal for staying up for hours talking, reading a book, pondering life, or just enjoying sipping coffee the next morning after the first break of day after a super slumber.

For me, pretty doesn’t have to be complicated, so a little burlap made for an easy table runner, a few tall glass jars with candles, and a little twine for that detailed touch. I also made these bouquet of flowers by with several bunched up recycled coffee filters and inserting the ends into straws to use as the centerpiece for our dining decor.

Now that we finished the fab, it’s on to the food!

No need to make glamping hard, make sure to bring a cutting board and have either your own grill/fire pit available for the easiest and safest way of cooking up a mouthwatering meal that doesn’t have to take hours to create! First off, start your fire! Using self-starting charcoal (the briquettes already have lighter fluid on them), you can rock a fire ready to cook in just around 10 minutes using the grid-pattern technique. Lay out the charcoal one-by-one in a grid covering the whole grate/floor of your cooking device and then light the four briquettes at each corner with a large lighter! In seconds, you’ll have a fire roaring and be ready to go.

While Freschetta® Brick Oven Pizza is already good, we took it first-class by adding a roasted garlic butter sauce (with only two ingredients) for the golden touch! Garlic and butter always make everything better and this little trick can be done anytime (including in your oven at home) to make your meal really wow!

Roasted Garlic Butter Sauce

Taking a bulb of garlic, on the cutting board slice the stem just about 1/2 inch to expose the cloves. Place the garlic in the middle of double foil and making a little bowl around the bottom so you can add oil (olive or vegetable will work) directly to the garlic (about 2-3 tablespoons). Then close the garlic with the remaining foil ends to create a little “garlic” flower and add it directly to the fire source (I actually laid mine in the coals.)

Making Pizza on the Grill

While the garlic cooks in the fire, it’s a perfect time to get started on the pizza! To make the best grilled pizza over an open flame, all you’ll need is two pieces of foil to lay on the grate and Freschetta® Brick Oven Pizza. Remove everything from the pizza and place it frozen right over the foil. Now all you have to do is wait 15-20 minutes until the crust is browned and the cheese is melted!

While the pizza is cooling for a few minutes, also take out the garlic and allow it to cool slightly. Open the foil and you’ll find that the garlic smells like heaven and has “melted” into a paste-like creamy consistency! Using a towel or something to keep your hands from the heat, you’ll squeeze the garlic into a small bowl (about two tablespoons) along with the butter (about 3-4 tablespoons) and mix!

And that’s it for the sauce!

Now just dip your cut slices of pizza into the sauce to enjoy every bite from start to finish!

S’mores Donuts

Now you can’t forget the s’mores when you go camping or glamping – it’s like a rule! But sometimes you gotta change up the rules a little bit! So whether you eat these S’mores Donuts for breakfast or dessert, they’re going to knock your socks off with the right amount of marshmallow and chocolate inside the donut (made from canned biscuits) and of course, the crunch of the Honey Maid Graham Cracker for the finishing touch.

While making these little babies takes no time at all, the trick is getting the oil hot enough to “fry” the biscuits. I recommend putting your pot or dutch oven (another must for camping) with two-inches of vegetable oil over the fire while you’re cooking other items, so it’s ready when you are! You’ll know it’s the right temperate by testing it first by adding a small part of a biscuit to the oil to make sure it bubbles.

Now add one large marshmallow (I don’t recommend the jumbos though) and one small chocolate (Hershey’s miniatures are just the right size) and sandwich them between two raw biscuits, pinching the sides until it’s closed. Next add the biscuit to the oil until it’s golden (it won’t but just a few seconds depending on the temperature of the oil.) Using tongs, transfer the biscuit to a plate and quickly add add another chocolate (or drizzle just a little melted chocolate) and finish with graham cracker crumbs!

Now it’s ready to sink your teeth into! Like any s’more this donut can be a little messy, but it actually can last longer than traditional s’mores so you can munch on them into the night. However, they are best served warmed and eaten with your fingers for all the fun!

Now doesn’t this just say home sweet home?!? Little cleanup, little work and lots of good food with a fabulous place to call home – if only for a few hours!

Check out other ways to glamp and get your s’mores on with Freschetta and Honey Maid!

What’s your best camping/glamping tip?

Sweetest and Easiest Birthday How-To

September 14, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 2 Comments

Too busy to create a sweet birthday for your daughter? This party plan made it easy for me to create the Sweetest and Easiest Birthday for my little one that was one for the books!

I love to throw my kids birthday parties. Each year I set out to top the one before and then when I had the second kid, I now had two opportunities to show I was the hostess with the mostest…

Then life happened.

And my special superhuman party-throwing power ran out. I just couldn’t put my creative hat on or get my party-planning skills to work anymore. And it couldn’t happen at a worse time…my daughter’s fourth birthday.

Luckily a friend recommended a tea room nearby called A Moment in Time in Arlington that would handle everything for the perfect birthday experience from invitations to games, to favors and clean up. EVERYTHING.

I had only three tasks: pick a date, order the cupcakes, and show up.

And really, that was it. And I had nothing but compliments for the party…the one I didn’t plan. at. all.

Just take a look at the fun we had and I planned nothing!

But when all the fun was over from her big birthday, I felt bad that she didn’t have anything special to celebrate her actual birthday three days later.

However, we had our fill of cupcakes and since her birthday was mid-week, I wanted something that would last and still make that special impression that she got something delivered.

What a sweet way to say Happy Birthday to our special little girl! With cookies shaped like cupcakes she’s got the best of both! #cookiesbydesign #happybirthday

A photo posted by MamaChallenge.com | Autumn Reo (@autumnreo) on Aug 17, 2015 at 4:41pm PDT

With same day delivery, Cookies by Design was the ideal option for a birthday treat for the birthday girl. With fresh baked, hand-decorated cookie bouquets (individually wrapped, too!) and same-day delivery, Cookies by Design made it easy for me to do something special without really doing anything but click and wait – just a day at that!

I loved all the creative bouquet choices – especially the gluten-free options. Whether you need to send a thank you gift or just need a standout party centerpiece, Cookies by Design has just the right choice for you!

What’s your favorite go-to gift?

Birthday Party Hosting Toolkit

July 28, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 23 Comments

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Wet-Nap®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ConquerTheMess http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

I ~~like~~ LOVE to plan my kids’ birthday parties.

Diapers and potty training sucked, but I consider one of the perks of motherhood is that I can get to plan events that not only my kids can remember, but the adults actually enjoy, too!

Each birthday the kids and I brainstorm together what their birthday theme including the decor, food, and entertainment. While photos always show the end results with cake, centerpieces, etc., the event planner in me B.C. (before children) has one trick up her sleeve that may not be make it to the slideshow, but always makes it to the party…my Birthday Party Mess Toolkit.

From Mickey Mouse, Dinosaurs, The Little Mermaid, and our recent Golf Par-tee, mama always packs these items to ensure a successful birthday with easy cleanup where ever you are!

MamaChallenge.com Birthday Party Toolkit

1. Scissors

This will save you every time. From prepping birthday balloons or if a kid gets stuck on a piece of wood (it happened), you’ll feel like Batman will you pull these out of your utility belt.

2. Tape

Like scissors, you never know when you’ll need, but when you do, you’ll save the (birth)day. Many times decorations come down at the last minute and a big thing of duct tape will make you better than Handy Manny.

3. Twine

Twine or string end up with interesting uses, from hanging decorations to tying up that pinata, but at $1 buck a roll, you’ll be happy you sacrificed a George Washington.

4. Black Sharpie Pen

You should never leave your house without one of these. Ever. From putting a child’s name on a favor bag you didn’t know was coming or making a direction sign to find the party, a Sharpie is your saving grace.

5. First Aid Kit

This is a no-brainer; one kid will always need a band-aid, but make sure the bandages are the plain brown ones, unless you want to handout bandages like a birthday favor.

6. Bug Spray and Sunscreen

No matter what time of the year, you need to be prepared for both of these. Nothing is worse than a child that turns into a tomato because she’s blistered by the sun or bit from a bug.

7. Notepad and Pen

The writing down of the gifts is the last thing you remember to prepare for, so just make sure to keep a little notepad in your kit and you’ll never feel like you have to memorize gift wrap to gift ever again!

8. Charge Stick and Batteries

This is a new add to my kit, but is a MUST HAVE. One of those cheap battery backups will save you when your phone is dwindling on 10%. And batteries? If you don’t bring them, every gift you’ll get will have them and that’s no good – ever.

9. Wet-Naps

Every mom and dad will thank you for having Wet-Naps – all over the place. Safe to be used on face, hands and body, you’ll need for everything from crafting conundrums to cupcake cleanup. Just make picking up Wet-Naps as part of your regular run to Walmart with the eggs, milk and bread! (You’ll never not use ’em!)

10. Large plastic baggy/plastic grocery sack

Occasionally, you might have an accident (and when I say accident, I’m referring to a child that wets his pants ) or need to keep up with something special. A plastic bag is like that extra box of Girl Scout cookies that you don’t know why you bought them, but they always disappear.

Visit Walmart for all your Wet-Nap® needs: 110-Count Hands, Face, & Body Cleansing Wipes, 24-Count Packettes Antibacterial Hand Wipes and 40-Count Canister Antibacterial Hand Wipes.

DINOmite Dinosaur Party Ideas

July 6, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 15 Comments

Jurassic World roared into theaters this summer and continues to dominate box offices nationwide! You can bring the biggest hit of the summer home with these adorable dinosaur party ideas featuring toys, games, and treats from HABA USA featured on EyeOpenerTV/Aol.com Parenting!

BRING JURASSIC WORLD TO YOUR KID’S SANDBOX Digging Claw by HABA USA // $12.99

Wear it like a glove to take a bite out of the sand. Makes digging fun and easy!
Cool dino design
For ages 1+

3D BOARD GAME IS DINO-RIFIC FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Expedition Dino Game by HABA USA // $37.99

Armed with a hammer and chisel, players excavate petrified bones from the rocks, avoiding the dangerous dinos hiding there
Fantastic 3D game board
Includes 1 game board, 1 wooden character, 1 die, 1 hammer and 1 chisel
Recommended for ages 4+
Made in Germany

WHIP UP A BATCH OF TRIASSIC-ERA TREATS! Dinosaur Parade Silicone Chocolate Lollipops Mold by HABA USA // $11.99

Mold creates 6 different Dinosaur shaped chocolate treats in minutes
Set includes 2 child-safe recipes
Mold is easy to clean
For ages 4+

SWEETEN UP PREHISTORIC PARTIES AND PLAYDATES WITH A DINO CAKE! Dinosaur Silicone Cake Mold by HABA USA // $11.99

Cake mold shaped like adorable dino
Comes with 3 child-friendly baking recipes
Easy to clean mold
Ages 4+

FUN FOODS WITH DINOSAURS

Peanut Butter Cookies – Use the refrigerated dough and a toy dinosaur foot to make a cute fossil cookie. Hide them in brown sugar for a fun presentation and activity in one!

Dinosaur Dig Cups – Layer chocolate pudding and crumbled Oreo cookies for a dinoriffic snack. Top with gummy dinosaurs for the perfect topping.

Herbivore Cups – Not all dinosaurs ate meat and a little veggie never hurt your tiny T-Rex either! Place a few tablespoons of hummus with veggies for a healthy snack.
Dinosaur Sandwiches – Nothing magic here, but the help of a brontosaurus sandwich cutter, bread and your favorite lunch meat!

Dino Juice – Using a green juice or carbonated water like Sparking Ice Kiwi Strawberry like I used. Then go crazy with some whip cream for making your watering hole a little more fun!

FOR MORE DINO-MITE IDEAS

Follow Autumn {mamachallenge.com}’s board Dinosaur Party on Pinterest.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: 80s Night Pizza Party

May 11, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 23 Comments

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and TONY’S® Pizza, but all my opinions are my own. #PMedia #BigPizzeriaTaste
http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Finding time just for the girls is next to impossible…and that’s if it ever makes it on the books, right?

As moms we are so centered on making sure the rest of the family gets their perfect balance of learning and fun time with others, we normally sacrifice our own. But it’s not “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” when you reconnect with your friends, it’s also about your own personal wellbeing and setting a good example to your children that life isn’t just about working ALL THE TIME. However, a party doesn’t always have to look like it came off Pinterest. Sometimes you just have to put a date on the calendar, send out some texts and say “come on over!”

And that’s exactly what I did a few days ago when I found myself without a huge list of to-dos…I sent out a text and said let’s do it old-school and remember what it was like before Internet, kids and responsibilities and eating pizza was the purpose of the party: 80s Pizza Party!

With only a few hours to spare before the gals showed up, I went to Walmart to pick up a few key things for an 80s theme including TONY’S® Pizza (now 30% larger and with pizzeria taste!)

And one new item that I didn’t get to enjoy while I was growing up in the 80s – an adult beverage. Keeping up with the evening’s theme I grabbed two ingredients to make our own wine coolers – filling up the glass with a little rose and a splash of sparkling strawberry lemonade (less than $.64 at Walmart.)

While I knew the night would be full of fun and laughs, setting the tone for the evening I found the perfect set of 80s movies with greatest pizza moments of all time.

Mystic Pizza (where we all fell in love with Julia!)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Dazed and Confused
The Breakfast Club

Instead of drinking every time we hear a word, we’d eat pizza every time the stars in the movie did, too.

With the help of TONY’S® Pizza and Netflix, I had a fun party in less than 30 minutes. And for less than $3 per pizza, the whole party only cost about what it did for a pair of Keds, circa 1988. Now don’t wait for the special occasion, just send out some texts, download this coupon to save $.75 off any TWO Tony’s Pizza (now until 6/30/15 and while supplies last.)

Don’t you wish life was still as easy as a party with pizza, popcorn, pop and popular quotes?