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Three Steps To a Turkey Touchdown This Thanksgiving

October 26, 2021 By Autumn Rose Reo 5 Comments

Your first turkey dinner doesn’t need to be THAT hard. Make a turkey touchdown this Thanksgiving with these three steps I learned my first Thanksgiving!

I received a Jennie-O Turkey to help me test-run my first Thanksgiving. I’m sharing my experience here with you to show how easy it is!

Making Thanksgiving dinner seems to be a rite of passage that I had not passed — until this year. With scheduling issues making it impossible for a traditional Turkey Day dinner to be shared by my family, I decided not to just have the day come and go, but to go ahead and celebrate — a week in advance, and I would make it all. I mean the holidays are about spending a special time together not just on one pre-selected day right?

There was only one little problem with my plan – I had NEVER made a turkey or anything for Thanksgiving. That’s right. I had peeled, mashed and creamed up the potatoes and even warmed up the rolls, but the task of Thanksgiving had never fell on my shoulders. So I made it my goal not just to make a turkey, but a big spread complete with:

Bacon Dressing
Homemade rolls
Truffled Mashed Potatoes
Blue Cheese Bacon Brussel Sprouts
Brown Gravy
Spiced Cranberry Sauce
and Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Brittle

While the menu was fun to create, it was the fear of that turkey coming out a burnt mess that had me so scared to make! I’ve always heard all these horrible stories about making turkey, but I wanted it to be amazing!

So off to the store I went to get the ingredients for my Cilantro-Lime Turkey (a recipe I had found in my Better Homes and Gardens)!

1) First off, was to pick out my turkey. Oh there were LOTS of turkeys to choose from! Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the Jennie-O Oven ready turkey breast – they were sold out! However, the meat manager at my grocery store was able to find me one last turkey, so it was a good sign that the Jennie-O was in high demand.

2) Once I got this baby home, I was able to take it straight to the oven after a few special touches! Because it was a turkey breast, the weight of the turkey was less than full-size turkey, making my cooking time a little less than the big birds! And while I could have left it alone with no thawing or seasoning, I decided to add a special Texas touch with favorite seasoning Cilantro, the zesty flavor of lime and a simple marinade of cilantro and honey!

3) Then I popped it in the oven and 2.5 hours later – behold perfection. Well, almost. We still had to carve it and taste it for the official call.

<Yep, it was beautiful, it was delicious and juicy! SUCCESS!

please take a look here and many of the other delicious recipes in the November 2013 Better Homes and Gardens!

I can’t recommend the Jennie-O Oven Ready Turkey for your Thanksgiving! And IF you have any left overs then make sure you cook up this Turkey Tortilla Soup to savor it to the last drop!

Taking Time For You

November 3, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Feel guilty even saying the words? You shouldn’t. Taking time for you isn’t actually about just you, though. Even a moment away can actually make you better for them.

Thanks to Miniluxe for making me remember that taking#minimoment for a little pampering can make all the difference.

Being ON all the time is one of the hardest parts of being a mom.

And I mean that in more ways than one, although I technically have slept 8 hours…in three days. #sendmorecoffee

We’re the backbone of keeping the family moving, morning, noon and night. And then throw in a job (which we all know isn’t a 40 hour gig anymore, but another baby to take care of) and the other stuff like organizations, extracurricular activities, family obligations and more, there’s always something you’re supposed to be doing.

We’re a slave to the calendar and the clock.

Every day is like a marathon race all the time and there’s no breaks for water, snacks, a porta-potty stop, or a finish line.

Well even the best athletes have to stop sometime.

And experience proves that any break in the day, without an appointment time, will indelibly be filled by something else – something that someone else needs you to do for them.

So just like their practices, their tests, their work events, you should be filling that calendar for something for you.

Whatever it is…however long you have – five minutes or five hours…there should be an opportunity for taking time for you.

There I said it.

For me “my time” is getting my nails done.

I used to feel so extravagant about it, but having nice nails and toes is important to me and makes me feel good about me. And of course, it feels really damn good, too.

Once I actually went to get my nails done when I was pregnant and I tipped the lady another $25 just to rub my feet a little bit longer…then I woke up snoring in the chair. #truestory

But it only proves that it was just good for me to be off the grid, with no obligations, no responsibilities and no “mama!” moments.

Going to “get my nails done” whether its’ my hands or my toes, is a ritual experience. I love the process of walking into Miniluxe, having someone greet me with a smile and say, “What can I do for YOU?”

That alone is heaven.

I’m able to enjoy the comfort of my own little space with clean facilities free of toxins with team members that are skilled and friendly; ensure for one hour, I’m happy as I can be.

Of course, the glass of bubbles doesn’t hurt, either.

Then while I just sit there either catching up on my D Mag, chatting with a neighbor, or just closing my eyes, I’m allowed to not do anything.

It’s that moment, when you stop running, take a deep breath, and just be, that you mentally reset. Just like your iPhone when it just won’t work, screen gets stuck and you want to throw it across the room, sometimes all you need to do is hit the reset button and it’s back to normal.

Or at least you were able to take the breather, get back to your best, and get back to the race.

MiniLuxe is one of my favorite spots to take my time-out moment. With beautiful design, amazing customer service, and several options for my natural nail and waxing needs, they are THE example of clean methodologies and clean business. With all the colors you could imagine available and even three gel options and even vegan nail polish, you can feel good not just spending your #minimoments there, but what they are doing for your body too.

There are three MiniLuxe locations in DFW: Uptown Plaza, West Village and the Shops at Legacy – with more coming soon! visit miniluxe.com for more information.

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

Three Camera Must-Haves for a New Photographer

May 28, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 51 Comments

I achieved a big milestone a few months ago…I purchased a “big girl camera.”

AKA a DSLR, I finally made it a priority to purchase a camera that wasn’t something to be handy and quick, but instead had the capability to capture those beautiful, Pinterest-ready shots for the blog AND even click a few of the family for those perfect opportunities between Christmas and Easter family portraits. Since I had made the choice to make the purchase, I bought everything I THOUGHT I needed to be the best photographer in the world…or at least begin to try.

After the first full photo card and a long day of taking shots, I realized I needed not one, not two but MANY memory cards. One of the best tips I had heard from well-seasoned photographers is that you just keeping taking photos and eventually when you get back to your computer you’ll find that magic one that’s just the right angle, the right lighting and the right look for your perfect shot. But to do that you need lots of space on a card and you never want to get stuck when you’re just about to get that great shot and then you the “CARD FULL” come up. So bottom line, get big memory cards and many of them.

The other thing I learned was a must-have was a good camera strap. Sure, I had the one sent with the camera. But one hour after you have that hanging around your neck with your camera attached, you’ll feel exactly what I’m talking about. That uncomfortable and raw feeling of the not-so-soft strap. So consider one that’s cute, comfortable and so useful, like the straps from mod. Not only are there tons of designs to choose from, but you also can get this strap wrap attachment that allows you to insert additional photo cards, ID, money, batteries and more so it’s not in your pocket (or later lost on the ground.)

And the last thing was a lens-cap saver. That’s right…I needed something to help me keep up with my lens cap. I would put it in my pocket and then kneel down and it would roll out every time. Then I would scour the world, in grass, dirt, wherever, to find it. While it may seem kinda silly, a lens-cap saver saved me HUGE on keeping my camera lens clean of scratches and me from having to keep buying more each time I lost mine. Mod’s lens savers are adorable and have tons of personality…and why can’t you have fun while being functional?

Dallas-based mod is a mom-daughter company that I’m proud to say I worked with a few years ago when they just began their business. Now this USA-made business is not just online but distributed and sold in several stores you may *even have heard of *like Target, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Amazon. While I would love to tell you more, I think they both do a better job…

AND NOW YOU CAN HAVE ONE TOO! Thanks to mod we’re giving away a special bundle with a strap, lens saver, and drop-in pouch ($79.00 value).

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Worth the Stay: Sheraton Fort Worth Renovates Hotel

March 23, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

A few weeks ago DFW was plagued by Icemegedon. If you haven’t heard, here in Dallas we don’t do know how to deal with snow and ice, so if any precipitation falls, especially when it turns to ice, the world stops. Unfortunately tests don’t and the hubs had a biggie (his BAR exam), so we were forced to stay as close as possible to the testing center in Fort Worth. For him, the stay was a necessity, for us, we had a reason for a “getaway” even if we didn’t get to go too far from home (or the hotel), it was a change of scenery. And a heated indoor pool didn’t hurt either.

So off to the Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa we went. A long time hotel in downtown Fort Worth, I was excited to have a chance to check out its recent renovation and changes it would be making over the next few weeks. With a few days to spare indoors, we would be able to take a look around the hotel and take it for a test drive! (I mentioned the heated pool while it was snowing, right?)

Perfectly located only two VERY short blocks from the Fort Worth Convention Center, the Sheraton Fort Worth will soon be complete with renovations to:

Guest Rooms
Club Level Guest Rooms
Club Lounge
Lobby Bar
Lobby-level Perks breakfast and lunch bistro

The room was the ideal size for a family that had two kiddos that needed space to move around, an oversized couch and a table space for me to make snacks for the kids. For mom I had the work set-up to power through what I needed to take care of my work load. And then there was the uber comfortable couch that we could all fit on comfortably while we watch TV!

Somehow I was able to steal an hour to enjoy a one-hour massage from the Spa. The full-service salon provides everything a gal or guy could want to revive and recharge including nails, hair, facial and my needed solution, a much-needed massage from the spa director that goes down as one of my favorites ever. REALLY.

After feeling like a million bucks at the spa, the family sat down for dinner at the hotel. Met quickly by a very friendly waiter, we were seated. While the service was a little slow (we blamed the snow and probably a understaffed restaurant due to the ice), we had a hot dinner steps from our room. I was glad the menu including innovate entrees the adults enjoyed and the kids’ favorites well made and with lots of flavor. Had I have had a refrigerator, I’m pretty sure I would have made my leftovers a midnight snack.

Of course our favorite part of the stay had to be the heated pool, Warm and toasty, the kids were able to splash and play in the big pool and I was able to relax a little in the Jacuzzi.

Retreating from the cold means a hot spa for mama and warm water fun for the babies at the Sheraton Fort Worth! @sheratonhotels @visitfortworth #icemaggedon #comp #travelblogger

A photo posted by Mama Challenge (@autumnreo) on Feb 24, 2015 at 11:17am PST

What a way to enjoy a nice cold stay in Fort Worth! Next time we’ll try it when it’s sunny outside and see what other fun we can have staying at the Sheraton Fort Worth.

REMEMBER, Now until March 31, enter to win a Fort Worth Weekend Getaway with:

2-night stay at Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa
2 tickets to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth plus free entrance to the Kimbell Art Museum
A $100 gift certificate to dine at Cantina Laredo
A $100 gift certificate to Best Store Dirty Laundry Boutique

Sheraton Fort Worth
1701 Commerce Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Visit Website

Looking for fun with the kids while you’re in Fort Worth (and there’s not ice on the ground?) Here’s our family-friendly Fort Worth day trip ideas featured on the Visit Fort Worth blog.

BippityBoppityBoo! Disney Cinderella Collection Debuts at JCPenney

March 13, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 18 Comments

Beginning this Friday, March 14, princesses, young and old, will experience the magic of glass slippers and carriages, with the debut of Cinderella.

To celebrate the fairytale, JCPenney has partnered with Disney for a new Disney Collection. My little princess couldn’t have been more excited when the “fairy godmother” sent her a little package to get ready for the ball!

In celebration of the retail collaboration with JCPenney and Disney’s New Live-Action Film “Cinderella”, JCPenney has unveiled a new line for princesses everywhere!

Designed exclusively for JCPenney and sold in the enchanting Disney shop inside JCPenney, offers a variety of options to complete the transformation from little girl to princess. From sparkling tiaras, princess gowns, “glass” slippers and more… girls everywhere can make any moment magical and bring out their inner Cinderella.

All items are available for purchase now at JCPenney stores and all retail for under $55.

What’s your favorite Cinderella Moment?

Six Tips for Families at The Marvel Experience

January 23, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

Last week my super mama (AKA Gigi) flew into town for her birthday and to spend such much-needed time with the kiddos (and me.) We normally try to take the kids on some type of adventure so it was only fitting this time it was a REAL ADVENTURE at The Marvel Experience at Fair Park in Dallas.

I wasn’t sure what to expect at the traveling interactive show in Dallas, but images of Superman, Iron Man, The Green Hornet and the rest of the gang were a promise of a pretty good time!

From the moment we parked. there was excitement as you approach the domes that interconnected right up to the ticket area!

The Marvel Experience is an indoor event that occurs in several interactive, techno-enhanced domes linked together for separate activities you encounter as you complete your S.H.I.E.L.D. training.

After inputting our data to creating our credentials (they sent them by email) and putting on our arm bands, we were ready to go!

The first of the experience sets the stage like a comic book; what’s happening, who’s involved and what’s our mission as we go through The Marvel Experience. While there’s a lot happening with voices, lights, games and more, for younger kids they either will love the excitement or be a little timid as they assess what is going on.

Even if you don’t have any Marvel character background, you’ll still have a great time. And if you’re a comic-book junkie, you don’t want to miss this new-age way to enjoy your favorite superheroes. I’ll admit, my favorite time was the last dome – where you are part of a uber-cool interactive movie experience complete with moving chairs and motion so you are a part of the action!

Six Tips for Families at The Marvel Experience

Bring the following with you: $10 parking gives you close access to the entrance, so it’s worth it.

Make sure you’ve full tummies before you go or have money to purchase snacks. However, these are snacks – not a meal and nothing makes anything anything a poor time than when you are hungry!

To ensure crowd control, you will need to choose a specific entry time to purchase your tickets (if in advance.) I suggest the earlier the better if you have kids because even a streamlined experience getting through The Marvel Experience is at least 2.5 – 3 hour experience. Also, be strategic with your timing and don’t let nap time fall right in the middle of waiting-in-line times. (More than likely you’ll have lines for some of the more interactive games like climbing Spider Man’s Wall or Flying like Iron Man.)

Try not to bring any extras with you like a big bag, stroller, etc. It will make things easier for you to get around the rooms. Make sure to read the FAQs for more info on what to bring and what not to bring!

Grab a map/program. It will help you plan out what makes more sense for you and your family.

Be ready to have fun. This isn’t something you are just bringing the kids to do and you watch. It’s about getting into the fun yourself and seeing how technology is changing how we interact with the world and our favorite superheroes.

Now until Jan. 31. Visit The Marvel Experience for ticket info and more.

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!

Move Over Elf on a Shelf…Roaming Reindeers are Here! {Giveaway}

November 18, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 18 Comments

I was provided a complimentary copy for purposes of this review. However, my comments here are all my own. Affiliate link is included.

I could spend all night looking at those Elf on the Shelf ideas on Babies Rabies. Unfortunately, I can’t keep up the pace of the creative ideas on a daily basis or add one more thing to my “after the kids go to bed” list.

Thankfully, another mom felt the same pressure and gave us parents another alternative to the Elf.

Angela Meju’s Christmas keepsake and children’s book, Roaming Reindeer™, is a tale celebrating teamwork, good manners and the holiday season, and serves as a fresh, new Christmas tradition for families and classrooms around the country.

Roaming Reindeer™ is centered on Gus and Sam, two of Santa’s reindeer, who decide to help Santa by visiting little girls and boys to report back on who is naughty and who is nice.

When the pair realize there isn’t enough time to visit all of the children, they call on their friends for help. The reindeers are sent off in pairs of two and are assigned a home to visit. Reindeer 1 is in charge of going back to Santa to report naughty children while Reindeer 2 stays to keep watch.

The gift box set comes in a keepsake box which includes a Reindeer 1 and Reindeer 2. They stay in one place in the home together – until the kids are naughty, so Reindeer 1 leaves to give Santa a report. Children and siblings will keep a close eye to make sure their reindeer stay together until Christmas Eve, when they leave to help Santa deliver presents—until returning next year to keep watch! Retail cost is $34.95 and is available at Amazon.

Author Angela Meju is a nurse who currently lives in Austin with her husband and two children. She was inspired to write Roaming Reindeer™ to create her own Christmas tradition with her children, whose excitement and anticipation of Santa’s arrival grows every year.

Win your Roaming Reindeer Kit!

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Give Me Some S’more, Please {S’mores Recipes}

July 14, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: I was provided a Camper’s S’mores Grill from Coghlans for purposes of this review. However, all the comments and photos are my own.

Yesterday I was reminded of the fun my son and I had on our recent vacation at the JW Marriott San Antonio making smores together. There’s just something so wholesome and sweet about it. And of course, there’s the whole chocolate and marshmallow thing that just makes it good. So we we decided it was time to make them at home (and by that I mean not in the microwave like normal.)

However, I’m lazy and hoped we could just make these babies in one step. And that’s exactly what the Camper’s S’mores Grill does. Able to make three smores at a time, this paddle-shaped, chrome-plated steel grill let’s your put together your component pieces, take it straight to campfire or fireplace and then in no time, have a perfecly cooked s’more – in one step!

While a little Hershey’s, Honeymaid and Jetpuff s’more cannot be replaced, every once in a while you want to change it up a little. So here are a couple of ideas to changes up your recipe for s’mores.

PB& J S’mores
Graham Crackers
Berry Jam (your favorite)
Chocolate squares or Nutella spread
Peanut Butter

Elvis S’mores
Graham Crackers
Sliced Bananas
Chocolate squares
Peanut Butter

Rocky Road S’mores
Graham Crackers
Thinly sliced almonds
Chocolate squares
Peanut Butter

Do you have a favorite way you make your s’mores?

Five Must-Have Baby Products (that I wish I had when my kids were babies) {Giveaway}

April 14, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

When I had my first child, I never thought I would have another shower again. There was no way to keep him happy or quiet, so when someone would come for a short visit I would ask for 10 minutes to throw some water on my face. Then my mother-in-law got me a Bumbo.

Life changed after that for the better. I couldn’t believe that anyone could live without one.

That was about six years ago.

Now Bumbos are like a basic necessity on any baby registry.

So when I had the opportunity to visit Dallas Market Hall for PBJ: Play. Baby. Juvenile, a juried trade event for the most innovative gifts and gadgets across the baby and children’s industries!

It was like a wonderland of all the things that made you say “why didn’t I think of that?” So here’s the rundown of some of my favorite finds that could have made those early months so much easier!

Mixie Baby is the only self-contained 2-in-1 formula bottle, making feedings possible at any time. Formula and water are stored in separate compartments of the bottle. For feeding, simply press the button on the bottle’s bottom and shake to mix. Mixie is BPA, phthalate and PVC free and is dishwasher and microwave safe.

Can you imagine later at night being able to make that bottle with a click of the button? And it’s even compatible with Dr. Brown’s and BornFree nipples!

The Cup Catcher is a multi-use connector developed by a local Southlake couple to safety tether a sippy cup, bottle, or even your favorite toy to a car seat, highchair, stroller, wheelchair or shopping.

So instead of spending 10 times an hour picking up the cup off the floor while running through the grocery store or the mall, you could avoid bending over relentlessly!

Cuddlecloth® is an award-winning and patented instant release & hands free bath towel designed for baby’s safety, made for moms convenience. This patented, innovative and practical bath towel bib is made of 100% cotton terry spa velour, one of the largest, thickest towels for baby on the market.

Remember those first baths and you were so gently with your baby until it came time to pick him/her up with a towel, wondering if you were going to drop them? This is where this towel comes in handy. Just check out this graphic that shows you exactly why you want one of these instead of those terrycloth ducks that don’t have any purpose.

The Dream by Babyhome is a highly designed travel cot featuring a unique adjustable leg system that provides three different uses for the same product. Its aluminum structure gives it a modern, sophisticated look complemented by removable and washable fabric in a variety of colors. A foam mattress, a honeycomb breathable pad and a fitted sheet are included.

We had three pack ‘n plays; whether it was cheap or expensive we somehow either broke them or couldn’t get them put up without screaming an expletive. There’s no “set-up” for these and is light as a feather.

The Emotion also by Babyhome, stands out for its easy maneuverability, compact folding and lightweight. It is a highly popular stroller because of its attractive design and modern colors, while it is also one of the most functional and practical on the market. With the use of available car seat adapters, Emotion becomes a useful stroller from birth to 55 pounds.

And at the end of all my stroller envy! I mean I’ve had five strollers and now I’ve found one that hits everything from cost (approximately $300), durability, comfort and weight!

“What was your baby product you couldn’t live without?”

Answer that and you could win a Mixie Bottle Starter Set ($40!)

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Three Steps To a Turkey Touchdown This Thanksgiving

Your first turkey dinner doesn’t need to be THAT hard. Make a turkey touchdown this Thanksgiving with these three steps I learned my first Thanksgiving!

Taking Time For You

Feel guilty even saying the words? You shouldn’t. Taking time for you isn’t actually about just you, though. Even a moment away can actually make you better for them.

Three Camera Must-Haves for a New Photographer

Worth the Stay: Sheraton Fort Worth Renovates Hotel

BippityBoppityBoo! Disney Cinderella Collection Debuts at JCPenney

What’s your favorite Cinderella Moment?

Six Tips for Families at The Marvel Experience

Italian Night In Date Night

Move Over Elf on a Shelf…Roaming Reindeers are Here! {Giveaway}

Give Me Some S’more, Please {S’mores Recipes}

Five Must-Have Baby Products (that I wish I had when my kids were babies) {Giveaway}

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