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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Can a little dab of Nutella do-ya?

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Ever had one of those days that everything was so perfectly aligned that it HAD to be right. That was today for me. I wasn’t really even thinking about my next mamachallenge would be, however, the stars seemed to line up and tell me – chocolate was a good idea today. I’m sure most of you are thinking, first, “when is chocolate not a good idea?” and second, “do you really need a challenge to eat it?”, but let me explain.

I had received a lovely box of Nutella to sample. Not that I really needed any convincing of that, but that idea of being challenged to eat Nutella for a quick breakfast option seemed like something I could easily achieve (sometimes it’s the little things, right?) Anyhow, I started off making my son a waffle with a little spread of Nutella and a side of strawberries. It took about 2 minutes to be the mom of the world, so I was happy.

A few hours later while watching the news, recently released findings from the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that “individuals who consumed chocolate more frequently had a lower BMI than those who consumed it less often.” At that moment, I had another reminder of that jar of Nutella sitting in the cabinet. Although I know that the report probably was talking about Nutella in the study, all of sudden Nutella was on the brain. B-A-D. So practicing a little discipline, I pulled out one single strawberry dabbed a little of the hazelnut-cocoa confection on it in efforts to rid myself of the craving (and besides, one bite wasn’t going to kill me, right?)

Wrong. The Nutella took over. Well, the craving for Nutella increased. Of course, rather than just to throw it away (who would do that?), I decided the best way to part ways was just to use it up – quickly. After a few minutes on Google, I found thousands of recipes using my now adversary. I could make anything from goat-cheese Nutella grilled cheese to a delicious mole sauce. But being the good wife I am, I decided it was best to go for something that could be shared – Nutella Brownies.

There were thousands of those recipes, but it was the one from Bakingandboys.com that made the cut because it was only 5 ingredients + the Nutella. In 30 minutes, I had delicious, gooey, and perfect brownies. Best of all, the foil kept me from another dirty dish.

And did that nip the Nutella craving in the bud? I’ve eaten 1 1/2 brownies and it’s not even dinner yet…perhaps it is time for my “only eat vegetables for 5 days challenge.”

This review also was published on ModernMom.com at http://www.modernmom.com/blogs/autumn-reo/can-just-a-little-dab-of-nutella-be-enough.

SOS: Save our socks with ToeBlooms!

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>As a mom of a two kids, I’ve been through A LOT of socks. I mean a lot. It seems every time I purchased a box of diapers, I was also replenishing a supply of new socks. Thankfully, with a boy a pair of plain ole white socks wasn’t a huge concern, just an inconvenience. However, with a little princess now of eight months, white crews don’t cut it. I buy socks to match each outfit (yes, you know if you have a girl you also buy hair accessories and sometimes even blankets, too.) Unfortunately, after about six months trying to keep up with those cute socks was getting to be a real pain. Really. My son, who saw my frustration, told me that he was going to “get the sock monster” for eating all of Taylor’s socks!

Now with the spring approaching, socks seem to be less a real need to keep her toes warm, but more of an accessory with her cute outfits. However, even though I have several pairs of adorable shoes given to her as gifts, shoes aren’t as practical or advised until around the age of one. So what’s a mom to do?

TOE BLOOMS, I found, was my answer.

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com
Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com 
Let me start – they aren’t the cheapest little things at around $23, but neither are all those bows and headbands I’ve been buying either. However, they are the cutest little “sock wraps” with bright colors and designs featuring big, beautiful flowers. And when your daughter’s name is rose, you can imagine that many of her outfits, accessories (and even her room) are all decked out with roses, so I was hooked instantly.

Toe Blooms are a must-have for moms tired of coming home with just one of baby’s shoes! This adorable line of stylish baby footwear stays on by wrapping securely around baby’s sweet feet and can be worn with or without socks (so she’s got her summer shoe wear too!) To get your pair, you can get them online on their cute website, www.toeblooms.com. (Be careful though, they have handbands to match!)

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com 

****DISCLAIMER: I was provided a sample of ToeBlooms to try for myself. However, the claims made here and my review is all my own. *** 

A Diaper That Does it All – Diaperpods

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No matter how prepared of a parent you are, every mother has been in one of those embarrassing moments… The one where your little one has left you a present and it seems to not only make a mess when you open it, but up his or her backside and maybe even the blanket and on your shirt. Even worse, it seems even when you feel like you get a handle on it, clean/change everything in sight and squirt on the sanitizer, the evidence of their little “package” still seems to lurk everywhere you smell.



The other day when I got a pretty package in the mail from a company called Diaperpods, I wasn’t sure what I was opening. However, when I pulled out the instruction sheet, I found out it was a diaper with its own special package inside – a bag. I still wasn’t sure exactly how great this little guy was though until I put it to the test. In exactly one of the moments that could have been disastrous, all I had to do was break open the seal, pull open the bag, slide in the diaper and voila! A self-contained diaper mess all tied up in a little blue bag that actually smelled good. What a perfect diaper to use when you’re out of the house, especially like a public event or a friend’s house you don’t want to leave something like this behind. Actually, my pediatrician asks that we don’t leave a messy diaper in the trash in the office, so this would be the perfect solution!

But before you run to the store to get your package of Diaperpods, I have some bad news: you can’t buy these…yet. You can vote for them to “Get on the Shelf” at Walmart. Open for voting until April 3, it takes 1 click to tell the buyers at Walmart you want to make your life easier. Here’s the link to vote: http://getontheshelf.com/product/546/Diaperpods. Remember to do it now – voting ends April 3. 

****DISCLAIMER: I was provided a sample of Diaperpods to try out and to learn how they work. However, the claims made here and my review is all my own. *** 

Find a Baby Camera That Goes and Grows With You

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With two kids, I have had experience with all types of baby products that work (and don’t work) for my family. I remember with my first born I was set on having a nice, wooden high-chair that could become a furniture piece that could grow old with our family. I spent a lot of money on it and while it does look pretty, it’s the $25 plastic high chair that was our saving grace.

One good purchase that lasted for both kids though has been my trusty camera monitor. Being a mom you know that there are times you just need to see your baby to feel like it’s okay to go back to sleep. Unfortunately, a monitor next to my bed isn’t the only place I want a camera but in other places like in the kitchen when I am cooking or the laundry room. Even more so I could even be able to peek on her when I am not home and other people are watching her…So I was back to the drawing board to find something that did what my camera did and more.

Then coincidently, I found exactly what I was looking for. A local company called ourbabycamera.com seemed to have merged my need for a baby camera monitor with my handy, dandy most-loved IPhone. How awesome is that…and even better my family could utilize it anytime they signed on.


My interest was piqued, so installation, here we come!

While the product had a reasonably sized instruction manual, it wasn’t necessary since it was pretty easy to hook up. I went online to the website and went through the process using their quick run through. After an hour or so, I had made the connection and downloaded one of four different apps to use on my IPhone (this is an additional cost from $2.99 – 19.99) and then I was up and going. Better yet, I wasn’t just up and going, I was able to have a secure look at my child and also allow only those I wanted to “check in” on my baby girl!



I figured out this camera wasn’t just a baby camera, but was the camera that grows with your kids. While I still have a few years to worry about curfews, the app even allows you to set up a function to email you when your kid walks through the door! (Basically, there’s no need to wait up because it will email you with a time when they come through the door. And if I had a babysitter I wanted to check in on, I had that too. GENIUS!
Now there’s one more way to stay connected with your smartphone, tablet and (even) your old school PC or Mac!

If you are interested in learning more about this camera ourbabycamera.com will be at the Dallas Kids Expo, March 24 at Dallas Market Hall. Word is ourbabycamera.com will be offering a special on the camera with installation if you want to pick up yours immediately! While you are there, also make plans to bring the kids for Bob the Builder, bounce houses and other fun entertainment. Mom and dad can also learn about other local DFW resources including other baby products like this. Tickets are $12 at the door and kids 12 and under get in free with a jar of peanut butter for the North Texas Food Bank. For more information about the Dallas Kids Expo, check out their website at www.dallaskidsexpo.com.

***Ourbabycamera.com supplied the camera and mounting equipment for this review. The purchase of the app for my IPhone as well as my reviews are all my own.

Organize the Chaos

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Spring brings out the organizing bug in me. However, if you asked my husband and he would say I’m a freak about it all the time, but truly my intentions are good. I just want to run a well-oiled machine/household. Over the last few days I had begun my list of things I needed to purchase to be more organized when I was received a special invitation to get a sneak peak at the NEW Container Store in Arlington. I really couldn’t get more excited except that profits from sales during Grand Opening Weekend would benefit the local Junior League of Arlington, so it was a done deal that I was going to RSVP to this event. Oh what I didn’t know I was getting myself into.

During our tour of the new store during the blogger preview, I figured I could just bring in my list and mentally start shopping for those few things I needed. However, our hostess with the mostess pointed out a few things that honestly I didn’t know existed (like a special hook for basketballs, footballs, etc.). Needless to say my list was getting longer as I walked through the store. I couldn’t believe what all I ended up with in my basket and when I got home with my new goodies (both from my purchases and a nice bag of samples from Container Store), I was practically giddy.

So here’s your disclaimer now: If you want to see some great products that you didn’t know existed, but will never remember how you lived without them, then read on. If you aren’t excited by making life easier and better, then you’re probably not on the right blog…
Here’s a look at some of the coolest things in the world I got at the Container Store Opening Weekend in Arlington. While I didn’t buy everything in the list, I will tell you that if you need a day to just put all your stress behind you then spend a day at the Container Store. With the exception of the mass numbers of people in attendance for the grand opening weekend, I found the whole experience rather therapeutic. Just remember, CONTAIN YOURSELF! (For those of you who aren’t loyal shoppers, that’s actually their tagline!)


Packing Thing – Ball Holder Thingy – Real Name: Eagle Creek® Pack-It® Folder





Cable Holders – Real Name: CableDrop™ Cord Clips

Grid It – Real Name: GridIt!



Boot Holders – Real Name: Boot Shapers

Take care of my skin (the right way) for 1 month

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During the month of my big 3-O, something less than magical happened to me: I found gray hairs (yep, that’s plural) and I found wrinkles. Needless to say, getting older was taking its toll. It was then I also realized that being ignorant about what “stuff” I needed to be putting on my face was no longer a real option. I needed to take responsibility for the future in front of me and learn really what I was doing (or in my case, not doing) for my skin. 



So recently, when I got the opportunity to actually learn about how to take care of skin (rather than just randomly trying all the free products I got in my free Clinique Bonus bag), I was ecstatic. Finally after years of school, I felt like I was going to learn something I really should have learned when I was 12 – how to take care of my skin.

Let me be clear; I’m not completely stupid about skincare. I just have so many other things going on I don’t take care of it the way I need to. Many times once I sit down it doesn’t take long for my body to completely go limp and my eyeballs to roll into the back of head, so washing my face is not even an option. Then once I wake up in the morning, I’m happy to splash on some cleanser to get off the leftover mascara and baby slobber from yesterday and then slap on another topcoat (my husband’s reference to foundation) to start it all over again the next day.

As part of Galleria Dallas’ Beauty Live 2012, a three-day event totally devoted to all things beauty, The Body Shop had asked a few friendly volunteers to commit to a four-week test drive to use their products and then share what we thought when we were complete. Always happy to take on a challenge, I was happy to finally learn what type of skin I really had, what it really needed and most of all, what it was doing to my skin. After all with all the products out on the market with so many promises, I’m not sure what is really what I need. 


My consultant, Lori, was amazing. She sat me down, cleaned off my makeup and instantly got down and dirty about my skin. Once she was able to assess my skin type, she developed a custom skin care regime to help combat my problem areas and keep potential issues at bay. During our consultation, she told me about The Body Shop’s commitment tofair trade practices and using natural products. Considering our skin absorbs almost 80 percent of what we put on it, I was happy to begin using products that were as healthy on the inside as they are the out (and mucho points for environmentally and economically friendly business!) And best of all — she wrote on the bottles when and what order I needed to apply the products (who would have thought this would be so helpful.)

All I had to do was promise her that I would commit to a four-weeks, 2 times a day skincare regimen using the following products:  
1.   Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser $14.00
2.   Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator $15.00
3.   Seaweed Clarifying Toner $12.50
4.   Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream $16.50
5.   Seaweed Clarifying Night Treatment $20.00
6.   Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask $22.00
7.   Seaweed Pore Perfector $21.00
8.   Tea Tree Oil $ 9.00
9.   Vitamin E Eye Cream $18.00
          *******For a total of $150

Now that I have promised another human being, I’ll be held accountable for being good to my skin (what a thought!) Best of all after being treated like a total queen, she let me know that anyone can come into the store and get the same type of one-on-one time to help you find what you need for your skin type. Two points!
So ready for the big reveal? You’re gonna have to wait!

For my own benefit, I’m not going to post my before photo at this time, but I will tell you tell you that after four weeks, I hope to be happy to show you a great post-photo. Also, you can come out and see me talk about the product at BEAUTY LIVE at Galleria Dallas on March 19! 

Organizing My Camera Stuff

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style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Crafty Girls'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0in;">Have you ever discovered something that you never heard of, but once mentioned it, saw a need for it everywhere?
I have lots of great things that cross my plate at work or for product review, but recently a company called “mod.” emailed me and asked to review some of their new products. Well, of course, my first question was, “what is mod?” and found out they developed unique camera accessories like camera straps, bags and cap savers. Being that my favorite camera is my Iphone or my little compact camera, I figured I was not the best person to check out their product line. However, after I received the samples, I found out how wrong I was.
Once my box arrived, I pulled out the items thinking, “These are really cute fabrics but what do I need with these items – a strap, a bag or a cap saver – since I’m not a professional photographer?” Once I opened the compact camera bag and matching strap, I became much more excited after I attached the strap to my camera. It was totally adorable and like when you get a new purse, I wanted to take it for a spin. So when my kiddo had an upcoming milestone I needed to record for the scrapbook, I brought my camera with me – now all decked out! As soon as I pulled it out, I received so many compliments asking where I got it and how cute it was.
It was later on in the day, I looked around the room at the other moms and their cameras.  I was surrounded by big professional-like cameras even though none of these ladies were professional photographers. However, that’s not all I noticed. No matter what brand of camera around the neck every mom in the room, every camera was attached with a big, black, ugly strap. Now, all of a sudden, I saw several moms I knew who could tell me exactly where my mod. samples could goJ
After my little experience that day, I took a look at the products in a totally different way. I saw how relevant they were for everyone, especially moms. The strap wrap with places for credit cards and i.d. cards as well as the cap savers seemed like it would make things so much easier like when you’re handling kids. Of course, with a huge selection of bright colors and soft fabrics, they appeal to anyone who spends any time with a camera – no matter the size.
If you think you’re ready to be strapped by mod., one lucky reader will win a special gift certificate for $40 towards any mod. products! Just share with us by commenting:  “what type of camera you use.” Also, please make sure to like my new Mama’s Game Plan Facebook page and the mod.’s Facebook page. to be entered in this contest. This contest ends will be given on 1/31 just in time for Valentine’s Day. SWEET!
Disclosure: I was provided these products for purposes of this review. However, the opinions are all my own.

Motorola Xoom: Check Out a Tablet Besides the Ipad

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Anyone who knows me and my family knows we are huge fans of the Iphone. So when the Ipad was introduced, we were certainly interested in adding it to our ever-growing arsenal of chargeable devices. However, it seemed just like a bigger version of what we already had…so when I got the chance to try out the Ipad’s newest competitor, the  Motorola Xoom, I was happy to see what “else” another tablet could actually do that an Ipad couldn’t. I mean comparison shopping is always necessary, right?  I was pleasantly surprised by the answers.

Just like anything new, I was careful about the way I used it and completely refused to read the directions.  I will confess, since this wasn’t an Apple product, I had to learn a new interface. It was a little difficult to reprogram my thinking, but with some of the other cool things I began to enjoy, I was willing to work through it…What I really noticed about how FAST this thing went. I configured my email accounts in a few seconds.  Since what I do most of all is work, I tried out all my familiar apps. THIS is where it was great that I was a Google user. Besides being a Motorola and Verizon product, the tablet has the unique advantage of being a Google product.  So once I set up my Google account, things like Talk, Tasks, Books and more were already configured before I even used the apps – genius!
In a short time, this little screen became a part of our family’s everyday. After mama had explored her new toy for a couple of days, both my husband and my son asked if they could look at it. I finally gave in and with supervision; I let them take a drive. I mean, I was supposed to be seeing what this thing was capable of. Then the fight was on… Angry Birds was just the start of it. We then tried to use it as a cookbook using the handy charging stand. Then I downloaded Pandora and used it to play music – the sound worked beautifully. Movies (which that could stream from my tablet to my big screen) and videos seemed to play like a dream – and the photos were vivid, crisp and colorful. However, my favorite part of this thing is something that the Ipad can’t do at all – I could view Flash pages! (Something many Apple users know is a huge inconvenience.)
But as much as I liked it, the Motorola Xoom did have its downfall. First, off – I did have some difficulty figuring out where the “on” button was. Yep, that’s right. Unlike that familiar one button that Iphone and Ipad’s are known for, the on/off button is on the BACK of the tablet. Also, the setup/navigation is different than an Ipad – not because it is harder, but more complex. With so many options to customize and the capability to run multiple windows, it can be overwhelming. But like anything, you learn as you go and just enjoy it for what it is. While it is not a replacement for your laptop, desktop or phone, it is a great device to make your household run a little – or actually, a lot smoother. And with a little more time, I would love to figure out what other things this magic device can do and perhaps learn what the terms, honeycomb and ice cream sandwich have to do with the Motorola Xoom.  
Bottom line, although there are many capabilities that the Motorola Xoom and Apple Ipad share, they aren’t exactly the same thing. Just like Hotmail and Gmail, it depends on your lifestyle and what you use it for that will help you make your best decision on choosing a tablet.  So when you get asked what you might want for Christmas, consider that Ipad is not the only option and take a look at the Xoom!
I was provided a Motorola Xoom to demo for a short time to conduct this review. However, the opinions and considerations are all my own.

 


Make the Perfect Christmas Bow

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Call me a dork, but part of my favorite things about Christmas is not just buying the gifts, but wrapping them. I take great pleasure in carefully selecting my wrapping paper and ribbon. I love wrapping presents so much I even have a gift-wrapping room in my house (well, it’s a room with a lot of gift wrap and other things as well.)

Unfortunately, although I have tried many, many times, making the perfect bow has not been easy for me – at least until now. I usually have just made a simple bow (like the way you do on your shoes), but have honestly yearned to learn how to make one of those pretty, pom-pom ribbons like you used to get when stores wrapped your gifts.

 
However, during a special presentation, one of my guilty pleasures – The Container Store, showed me that there was still hope to make the perfect bow. So much so, they even made me make one myself and it came out just the way it supposed to! Now, I pass on the love to you and present my holiday present: my secret to making “The Perfect Christmas Bow.”
However, during a special presentation, one of my guilty pleasures – The Container Store, showed me that there was still hope to make the perfect bow. So much so, they even made me make one myself and it came out just the way it supposed to! Now, I pass on the love to you and present my holiday present: my secret to making “The Perfect Christmas Bow.”
And like every time I’ve ever been to The Container Store, I spotted some more things I didn’t know they made, but now I had to have. First was “Neat Roll.” All I can say, is “why didn’t I think of that?” It’s like those wrap bracelets we had when we were growing up – except you use it to close off your wrapping paper. Genius really and you should get yours now because this little guy was literally flying off the shelves!
 
 
The other one was this container for my son’s Legos – which of course, was a huge Lego. They even had one for the little men and it came in so many sizes and prices, which means that we will probably have to get more of these as well.
 

I bought a lot more stuff too…but that’s another time. If you ever want to talk more about organization – then we should meet for lunch and a date at The Container Store. Perhaps this might be my new girlfriend getaway (when I’ve only got an hour to spare.)

Happy Wrapping!
Please note:
I attended a special blogger event at The Container Store to learn about the resources I have discussed here, but my sincere love of The Container Store is all my own.

Read more about my team at Go Team Reo:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/01/3564216/making-the-perfect-christmas-bow.html

Video Games Could be a Good Thing

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Are you one of those people who loves to play Farmville on their Facebook? Do you have Angry Birds on your Ipad? Is your idea of exercise pulling out the Wii Fit? Well, folks, that’s not me. Actually, while I am a competitive person and LOVE my techno toys, games (and especially a gaming system), don’t interest me. My husband enjoys them and has many on his phone and computer and my son has a Leapster he received as a gift, but admittedly we don’t have a Wii, a PS, a DS or any other one of those things. However, just like everything with being a parent, sometimes you find yourself reconsidering your thinking. This was especially the case for me after attending a special event at the W Hotel in Dallas called the Games for Girls Summit, which has me wondering now: Can games be a good thing?

 
Hosted by an esteemed panel of women including Nicole Armstrong of Activision, Suzanne Kantra of Techilicious, and local hostess with the mostess, Holly Homer of She is Dallas/June Cleaver Nirvana, the Games for Girls Summit was held at the W Hotel in Dallas on November 15. The two-hour event included moms and their kiddos listening to information about games while experiencing the newest kid-centric games on the market. I really enjoyed being able to see the games in action by kids of all ages and since we are a group of moms talking about mom stuff – it was nice to have my kids experience it with me.


Although the environment was amazing, it was the facts from a few recent studies by BYU, NCBI and NPD I heard that really made me think.


Check these out:
 
• 42% of kids less than 8 years old have a TV in their room.
My kiddo has always had a TV in his room.
 
• Today, 91 percent of kids (approximately 64 million) ages 2-17 are gaming in the U.S.
My kiddo has a Leapster and has eight game apps on my Iphone.


• 11% of 0-8 years olds have used a smartphone.
He can operate my phone better than I do.


• People who play video games are more creative. Gamers process info faster and by playing a game together, create a social bond sooner with others.
Well, I have to wonder about this one since “creative” is a relative term, but it can’t hurt to add a little creativity to his learning, not to mention the ability to process info quickly. And while social interaction skills are so important at this age, I had always thought that games would make it that much harder, but it seems the opposite is true.

• Gamers spend 80% of their time failing.
This was the one that really seemed to make me reconsider that by playing games like a Wii can really make my kid build perseverance: the age-old lesson, “When you fail, try, try again.”



Those stats game me really reeling. Then they brought out the goodies – all the newest and coolest games imaginable including Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo, Lalaloopsy, Zoobles, ZhuZhu Babies, Squinkies 2: Adventure Mall Surprize and one of the coolest games I have ever seen – Wappy Dog. The Wappy Dog interacts with the Nintendo DS and vice versa. I have to admit this toy was so cute and I’m really thinking about getting one for my three-year old.

All in all, I thought the summit was eye-opening and a real life-changing experience, honestly. So the next day when I went to Best Buy, I sauntered over to the game section to look at what was out there. I will admit it was a little overwhelming, but at least I made my first step into gaming…and in perfect timing for the holidays (at least for my kids!)
Got any suggestions for a non-gaming mom? What’s your favorite system for the kiddos?


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