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Going Old School: Best Ever Sloppy Joes

August 18, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 17 Comments

Sloppy Joes have long been a staple of the school lunch line. Bring the recipe home with a special twist inspired by your kid’s lunchbox to make it the best-ever sloppy joes using no-added sugar apple juice.

Thanks to Juicy Juice for bringing this kids in the kitchen moment home to our house just in time for back to school with this collaboration.

“Hey mom…what are sloppy joes?”

When I heard my son asked the other night, I immediately flashed back to grade school and rolling through the lunch line on Fridays to snag a sloppy joe. Good and messy, I never minded sloppy joe day. However as much as I enjoyed them, I’d never made them for my family. Actually, I was pretty sure it had been at least 10 years since I’d had one.

So rather than to tell him what it was, we made ’em. It was going to be sloppy joe Wednesday at our house.

Scrambling through the kitchen, I went looking for the few items needed to make sloppy joes and realized man, I have been missing out on making a meal that was so EASY to make! AND the kids could learn, too.

Lucky for us, there were buns in the freezer, already cut up onions in the freezer, and a pound of lean meat too, so we were off to create dinner and have a teachable moment, too.

To be honest, I had made sloppy joes from a can before, but never from scratch. So this learning lesson was going to be just as much for me as it was for him.

Using a little ketchup, brown sugar and salt and pepper, I had almost everything I needed for the perfect sloppy joe…except that sweet flavor that makes a sloppy joe well, a sloppy joe.

Apple juice.

That’s right, taking a little lunchbox inspiration: I borrowed a Juicy Juice 100% Fruit Juice from my kid’s juice inventory. One box of apple proved to be the perfect amount of sweet, yet savory flavor that our sloppy joes needed.

Now my Juicy Juice had dual purpose – an easy kids lunch staple by day and an easy dinner helper by night! Don’t like sloppy joes? Then try one of the other kid-friendly recipes that you can make with Juicy Juice.

Basically with only six ingredients and 20 minutes, we had dinner on the table. And man, he ate it up! Gold star for me.

If you’re looking to twist up your normal apple juice routine, try one of the new four flavors of Juicy Juice Splashers with 50% less sugar than that of other leading juice brands, no artificial sweeteners or colors, no high fructose corn syrup!

And just in time for school, Juicy Juice has teamed up with Macy’s for the Perfect Fit Sweepstakes. Submit a funny picture of your kids in clothes they’ve outgrown or describe a funny time they outgrew their clothes for the chance to win a shopping spree, gift cards, and of course, Juicy Juice!

Enter now for your chance to win!

What’s your favorite meal memory from grade school?

Best-Ever Sloppy Joes

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Description

An easy dinner that’s perfect for teaching kids cooking skills and using a little inspiration from their lunchbox!

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb ground lean beef (you can use turkey, chicken, etc.)
1/4 cup onions, chopped fine
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup dijon mustard
1 box of Juicy Juice 100% apple juice (or 1 cup of apple juice)
salt and pepper
4 buns (we use gluten free hamburger buns)

Instructions

Brown ground meat in skillet with onions and salt and pepper.
Stir in ketchup, sugar, mustard and any additional salt and pepper on medium heat for 10 minutes.
Pour in apple juice and combine. Cook for another 10-15 minutes until juice has reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper if necessary.
Serve by placing 1/4 cup meat mixture between a bun.
Enjoy!

Notes

This is a perfect recipe for back to school!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4
Calories: 474
Sugar: 30
Sodium: 1178
Fat: 17
Saturated Fat: 6
Unsaturated Fat: 9
Trans Fat: 1
Carbohydrates: 53
Protein: 27
Cholesterol: 70

Back to School Should Mean Back to the Doctor

August 3, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 21 Comments

Back to school time means stocking up on school supplies, getting organized and buying school clothes. However, back to school should mean back to the doctor to get your health physicals and immunizations. Thanks to Methodist Family Health Centers and Medical Groups for this reminding us that our children’s health should always be #1 on our list!

This time of year we’re all in a mad dash to transition from the lazy days of summer to the routine of the school year. That also means filling out all those required forms and updating the kids files for mandated physicals and immunizations. While it may seem like something else to mark of the list, it’s so important to make sure your child has their annual physical exam.

A physical exam isn’t just to ensure that your kiddo is ready to get a spot on the sports team for the school year, but also to ensure there aren’t other issues that haven’t been detected. Physical health exams can also help with symptoms that can lead to depression, obesity, alcoholism/drug use, or other conditions.

One condition that can be evaluated for is heart issues that may not have previously been observed by a doctor. Since my son was born with a congenital heart defect, I’m a huge proponent of ensuring your children receive the exams and treatments they deserve as early as possible.

With more than 27 locations around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is ready to help care for everyone in your family any time of the year – and with same-day appointments and convenient early morning hours. And since patients see the same physician each time you visit, records stay with patients and easy billing to your insurance, Methodist Family Health Centers make health care easy for you and your family.

And just in time for back to school for a limited time, if you live in the DFW area, get this light-up bracelet, just for

This is a sponsored post on the behalf of Methodist Family Health Centers and Medical Groups.

Ice Cream Pizza = Summer’s New Treat

July 18, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 55 Comments

What happens when the best of both worlds: pizza + ice cream come together? It’s THE treat of the summer with Baskin Robbin’s new ice cream pizza. Bite into the Polar Pizza when you enter to win this $50 gift card to Baskin Robbins, one of sweetest partners on mamachallenge.com.

There’s always a reason for ice cream, but it’s been proclaimed that in the month of July you need to eat it every day since it’s National Ice Cream Month. Always churning out the newest and the coolest, Baskin Robbins has made all our dreams come true with the introduction of the best combination after macaroni and cheese: ice cream pizza.

Appropriately called the Polar Pizza, you can now order this ultimate dessert in four delicious featured flavor combinations: OREO® Cookies ‘N Cream, Peanut Butter ‘n Chocolate and REESE’S® Peanut Butter Cup, Jamoca® Almond Fudge and HEATH®, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Or of course, you can have the option to create a customized Polar Pizza by combining a tasty Chocolate Chip Cookie or Double Fudge Brownie crust with your favorite ice cream flavor and whatever else you want heap on to your dream pizza.

I couldn’t want to try it out myself, so in I went to Baskin Robbins. I also found that this month the ice cream treat leader was honoring 75 years of the USOs commitment to supporting the nation’s military with the introduction of a new ice cream flavor, USO Patriot Pop®. The twisted trio is a twisted blend of red, white and blue and features cherry, lemon and blue raspberry-flavored ice.

After all, now that I had a theme, I completed my patriotic pie with red, white and blue toppings for a Polar Pizza that was worth a reason to call a party because you’re going to need to bring friends to enjoy it (or take it home to keep frozen and bring a slice out each time you a sweet treat!

Ready to make your own Polar Pizza? Then win this $50 gift card from Baskin Robbins!

a Rafflecopter giveaway (or enter here on mobile.)

And don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

Rock Your Summer with Rock the Border

July 7, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

On the Border is rockin’ your summer with “Rock the Border” – live music, cold drinks and delicious guacamole through July 31. One of our go-to-favorites, MamaChallenge is excited to partner with Rock the Border for this rockin’ promotion!

Do you know the ingredients to a rockin’ good summer?

Start with an awesome Mexican restaurant, add a bottle of authentic Mexican lager from Jalisco, Mexico, shake it up with live music from some of the best up and coming artists, and serve with a side of guacamole.

Lucky for you, On the Border has it already servin’ it up with Rock the Border.

Come in to any of On the Border’s 150 locations and enjoy rockin’ specials like $2.50 Estrella Jalisco bottles, $2.50 guacamole and live music from the Rock the Border Concert Series at On the Border. While the cerveza has been a Mexican legend since 1910, it’s just made it’s way to the U.S. just in time for the patio sippin’ summer with its light, crisp and smooth flavor.

Rock the Border is a unique music series that features the best local and up-and- coming artists from around the country. Each week at one of the selected On the Border locations, one of the hand-picked acts chosen for their signature Summer sound and local popularity, will play live for free for guests. The act’s performance will also stream free to at all the other On the Border locations so everyone can join in the live music!

On the Border has long been a destination of ours to enjoy food, friends, and fun. But this month don’t miss the chance to savor the good, relish the drinks, immerse in the atmosphere and say SALUD TO SUMMER.

Ready to get the Fiesta Started?

Help curate the perfect summer playlist by tweeting your favorite song and you can win a $100 gift card to On the Border from Avocados from Mexico.

Love Where You Live: Dallas Farmers Market #FromHereforHere

July 6, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

Looking to get a taste of REAL Texas? Then ask a Texan. I’m sharing some of my favorite tastes from one of my favorite Dallas spots: the Dallas Farmers Market. Thanks to Ozarka® Brand Natural Spring Water for partnering with mamachallenge.com for this fun sponsored post. #FromHereforHere

I love Texas for 1000s of reasons. Let me count the ways…

Actually, it’s a REALLY long list.

But when visitors come to town, I’m always asked where should they go to get a real taste of Texas.

We wanna eat like Texans.”

There are tons of places and products that come to mind from all across The Lone Star State that will give you a taste of Texas. And, when you’re in Dallas, we could be here forever narrowing down the best Mexican vs. Tex-Mex, steakhouses vs. BBQ.

So instead of trying to decide on just the RIGHT ones, if you head to the Dallas Farmers Market, you can actually sample many the flavors that make Dallas, Texas so dang good.

The Dallas Farmers Market is a central hub of local produce, crafts, restaurants, and purveyors in near downtown Dallas. While it’s been a part of the Dallas history since 1940s, recent renovations are proof that the community values its local farmers and producers; selling food that is grown and sourced locally on a constant basis.

One of the biggest renovations, includes the air-conditioned/indoor space, The Market, Dallas’ first ever Food Hall in a 26,000 square-foot space (formerly known as Shed 2), filled with dozens of merchants, food vendors and restaurants. So on any day of the week (even in the rest of the market is closed and it’s super hot outside.)

There’s tons to experience within The Market, from fresh seafood from Rex’s Fresh Seafood Market, Caribbean cuisine from the Caribbean Cabana, broths and soups from Stocks and Bondy, and of course, real deal tacos from Taqueria La Ventana. But that’s not all! You can get beautiful finds from around Dallas, and even beautiful authentic pottery from our southern border, Mexico.

Whether you only have an hour to spend or a whole day to leisurely stroll from booth to booth, the Market at the Dallas Farmers Market makes for a must-do and must-go while in Big D.

While you could sit down to eat at any of the anchor restaurants or even Mudhen, the newest restaurant in the DFM-area that sources local produce for unique eats right outside The Market, if you’re in a rush, you can still get a real taste of Dallas at The Market with this list of must-stops!

Get the full list of vendors (subject to change)

TASTE THE MARKET FAVORITES

Start your trip by trying a few new cheeses at Scardello and take home my favorites like Eagle Mountain Cheese (Granbury) and discover new ones like Latte da Dairy (Flower Mound) or Caprino Royale (Waco) for a delicious charcuterie board at home (or you can come sit down for a wine and cheese tasting too if you have the time.

If you have kids, Doc Popcorn is worth the stop. Just make sure to get two, you’ll taste theirs and want one for yourself. Of course, the samples here are plentiful, so you’ll have a chance to try them all before settling on a bag to buy for the trip home (or at least to keep you strolling though The Market.)

Everyone knows that popcorn needs a partner, so it’s a great opportunity to try something new to sip. While there’s a Daquiri Bar or Noble Rey Brewing, that could make for a really long (but interesting) afternoon. Instead, I suggest either sipping a Mexican Coca Cola while getting a hot tamale from Tamalero or hit up the Caribbean Cabana for some delicious fruit infused waters.

Don’t miss the chance to eat your way through Texas with sweet treats at The Market. From Chelle’s Macaroons rainbow of bite-sized bites (Fruity Pebbles is even a flavor) or Coolhaus’ unique ice creams like Nutella Toasted Almond or Strawberry Mojito.

While there’s tons to see and do you’ll discover, don’t forget to stock up on a few a few jars of award-winning Betty’s Blue Ribbon Fare jellies and jams for souvenirs. (The Whiskey Orange Marmalade is A-mazing!)

And that’s just an hour! Imagine what you can do with a full day and a full market open (Fridays-Sundays!)

Can’t make it to The Market at the Dallas Farmers Market, but want to taste Texas? I have several picks to give you a taste of what Texans who make Texas best taste like!

TASTE OF TEXAS AT HOME

Paqui’s Tortilla Chips // Austin, Texas
Looking for a good chip that’s also good for you? Named after the Aztec word that means “to be happy,” Paqui chips are made with unbleached, untreated flour, or by stone grinding corn and adding mouth-watering flavors using high-quality ingredients, such as fire-roasted jalapenos, fresh cilantro leaves, buttermilk, pumpkin and other spices and flavors.

Yellowbird Sauce // Austin, Texas
When this sauce first came out, I drove all the way from Dallas to Austin to get it. Really. For hot bellies like the men in my family, Yellowbird is the way to go. Totally uncomplicated and unpredictable these sauce are the most delicious, most versatile, most satisfying condiments that will ever hit your lips! Yellowbird Sauce goes great on tacos, burgers, wings, sushi, pasta, steak, fish, eggs, pizza, soup….anything you can think of!

Ozarka Water // Roher Springs, Moffitt Springs, & Piney Woods Springs, Texas
When you want an authentic taste of Texas, we’re not just talking food. There’s wine, beers and even sodas made all over Texas (and they all contain water.) But to get the purest taste of the state, you have to experience what runs through it, like Ozarka water. Made from three crystal clear springs in Texas, you can get the freshest flavor that makes our great state the home of this Texas tradition. Best of all, you can even set up Ozarka water delivery straight to your door to enjoy Texas daily no matter where you are!

Jelly Queens // Austin, Texas
Expect royal treatment when you are eating anything from The Jelly Queens. An award-winning, Dallas and Austin-based artisan food company that makes gourmet jams, jellies, spices, sauces and more. Each product is handmade in small batches using organic and, whenever possible, locally grown Texas ingredients. The Jelly Queens was born out of a love for sustainable food, delicious flavors and words of encouragement.

Taste Elevated // Castroville, Texas
Taste Elevated was the spirit child of a couple that after working in D.C. decided to trade in for a dooley, some dogs, three sons and a fig treat. These little flavor-packed pearls are absolutely addicting on everything with a little sweet and a little heat. Add them to a charcuterie tray to, use as a condiment–any place you use mustard (you’ll love it on bbq sandwiches and hot dogs), pair with main dishes–terrific with meatloaf, use in homemade vinaigrettes, this is the type of taste to twist up your favorites!

Snow’s BBQ Sauce // Lexington, Texas
Texas Monthly magazine named Snow’s BBQ as the best in Texas, so you know it’s GOOD. With complex Texas flavor, Snow’s Original BBQ Sauce is excellent on any cut of beef, chicken, or pork. It’s just as good as a dipping sauce as it is a marinade or brush-on sauce during the last minutes of grilling.

Whether you’re taking a trip through Texas or just want to know what makes Texans so proud to be from Texas, any of these favorite tastes are perfect for you to try. If you’re in Dallas, then you definitely need to make a stop at the Dallas Farmers Market. And if you’re looking for the easiest way to get your hands on the heart of Texas, then open up an Ozarka.

Happy Trails and Happy Tasting around Texas!

Simple Summer Skincare Routine

June 22, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 14 Comments

Summer time is in full-effect, but your skincare routine doesn’t have to be. Here are your essentials needed for a quick and simple summer skincare routine that you can really use. Thanks to Revision Skincare and Dallas Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics for their collaboration in creating this power-packed post with an opportunity to try out these products and services. * Revision Skincare is a professional line of skincare products that should only be purchased directly from your dermatology or professional skincare provider.

When I was younger, I loved summers because I was free….

Free to not do much to my hair except spray in the Sun-In.

Free to not wear makeup or put anything on my skin except a little baby oil.

Free to just throw on a short sun dress and fly fancy free.

…Oh those days are so gone now.

Now my hair is often thrown into a ball cap as I run out the door, that whole no-makeup-thing is not happening, and there’s no time in our schedule to fly anything, especially fancy or free. It’s actually because of those worry-free days, I’ve now learned the importance of conditioner, sunscreen, and a calendar.

However, that doesn’t mean that I can’t an easy routine that’s practical and doable, even on my busiest of summer days, and still allows me to feel I look my best…not to mention protecting myself from skin cancer.

1. Check your skin.

Just like going to get your annual checkup, you should be making a visit to the dermatologist. While you should be keeping an eye on your skin for new spots and changing freckles or moles, a dermatologist will conduct a full-body check to make sure the places you can’t see aren’t cancerous. During this time, your derm can also give you a heads up on what you are doing good to your skin (and not). Also, like your gyno, you need to have a great relationship with your derm so you can ask questions and feel comfortable “unveiling” your concerns.

Dr. Polder at the Dallas Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics co-author of “Beautiful Skin Revealed: The Ultimate Guide to Better Skin.”

2. Exfoliate your skin.

Want that sun-kissed look?

Then you start with a fresh face free of dead skin, residue and stuff that you didn’t wash off from the night before by exfoliating! Like buffing, getting the old skin off allows for the new skin to shine through. There are different tools you can use to exfoliate the skin or you can or consider a cleanser that can do both. Revision Skincare offers a summer-perfect cleanser with Salicylic Acid and Papaya Fruit Extract that contains an enzyme that polishes away dead surface cells, leaving your skin smooth by lifting away impurities without stripping the sin of its natural moisture content. Ideally exfoliating doesn’t have to be done daily, but more like 3 times a week.

Skin has a reduced ability to naturally shed dead skin cells as we age. Exfoliants remove dead, dehydrated cells from the surface of the skin to help the skin appear brighter and more vibrant.

3. Moisturize your skin.

Now that you have a perfect canvas of fresh skin, make sure to keep it moisturized. This is where I made tons of mistakes in my younger years because my skin was soft and subtle at the time. Unfortunately the older you get, the more that skin ages and the collagen (the protein that makes your skin strong and gives it elasticity), is diminished. So you have to do more to your skin to keep it moisturized and prevent additional damage that causes wrinkles and improve the health of the skin.

To keep it simple for summer, using a tinted moisturizer like Intellishade from Revision Skincare. This award-winning tinted moisturizer is formulated with a blend of three peptides and broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, it gives skin a touch of sheer, healthy color. And with the added bonus of fighting photodamage which leads to premature aging, this is a multi-tasking product that’s perfect for busy moms.

4. Protect your skin.

If the one thing I’ve learned is that sunscreen is your best friend. However, do the numbers like SPF 50 or 20 confuse you? Well actually, the numbers themselves refer to how long you can sit in the sun without burning, not about the effectiveness of the sunscreen. The problem is most people don’t know exactly how long it takes for their skin to start turning red before it’s too late. This is why using a higher number of SPF allows you to sit outside longer, however, you still should be reapplying – especially if you go swimming or exercise. So in additional to moisturizing your skin, you should be putting sunscreen.

If your tinted moisturizer or foundation has sun protection that’s great, but doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reapply. And of course, you always need to apply to the other places on your body including your ears, neckline and even your scalp if it’s exposed.

You should apply sunscreen daily – even if you’re not in the skin. Research shows those who drive in the car and don’t have sunscreen on have visible signs of sun damage on their left side of their face which faces the sun.

5. Celebrate your skin.

Your skin works hard for you – and it deserves to be rewarded with seasonal maintenance from a professional. While everyone’s wants and needs are different in regards to procedures like Botox or Restylane, you should at least consider routine treatments like a Hydrafacial ®. A HydraFacial is an invigorating, versatile facial treatment that restores the skin’s vibrant tone and texture instantly by exfoliating the skin and nourishes it with essential nutrients in a single treatment. However, working with your dermatologist is key in creating the perfect plan for total skin health.

Remember, skin is in for the summer, just make sure to take care of it as well as it takes care of you!

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment!

JCPenney Launches The Boutique+ for Real Sizes

June 18, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

JCPenney continues to revolutionize the shopping experience with The Boutique, a new way for women with curves to find fashion-forward clothing. Once again, mamachallenge is thrilled to collaborate with JCPenney to share how The Boutique+ will change shopping for everyone.

Fact: The average American woman weighs 140 pounds and wears a size 12-14.

So why is it that so many of us average ladies have to look so hard to not just find clothing, but find clothing that doesn’t resemble either a mumu, tablecloth or a tent?

What if trying on clothes didn’t have to be a total beat down that made you feel like a big pile of crap on the inside and the out?

Yes, what if?

Teaming up with Project Runway’s Ashley Nell Tipton, the first plus-size designer to win the reality TV competition, launched its first-ever private brand designed exclusively for the plus-size woman called Boutique+™.

The Boutique+ is a plus-size lifestyle collection created for the fashion conscious millennial shopper. The brand was conceived by a dedicated team of design, trend and product experts whose focus is to ensure the looks of Boutique+ complement girls with curves, sizes 0x-4x and 16W-30W in stores and online. (Up to 5x is available online.)

Earlier today at theCURVYcon, the event that brings plus-size Brands and influencers together in NY to talk “the would of curv,” JCPenney unveiled a powerful video centering around positive body image in every size and to show that shape doesn’t define the woman.

Makes you think, right? And what about a clothing brand that isn’t about just trying to sell whatever shirt, skirt or pants that you can button, but instead a lifestyle that makes you want to show off what you have in a way that makes you feel like you?

#HEREIAM

As a gal that has always battled with her weight, self image and self worth, having place to not just shop, but to find looks you’ll want to wear and that make you feel good, inside and out is life changing. Of course, since most women share those curvier sizes, that means more women have been searching for a shopping destination just like this. Now JCPenney has created it, along with a new movement that being you is beautiful, which the brand is branding as #HereIAm on social media. You are invited to join in the conversation by following the hashtag along with JCPenney on social: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Face it, plus-size women have a “trifecta of primary apparel needs” – style, fit and price. With the new Boutique+, JCPenney is offering a brand that meets all three needs giving her a brand that’s worth her time and effort. And that makes her feel good, look good, and have a good day.

What do you think about The Boutique #HereIAm Campaign?

Fruit and Veggie Recipes to Make NOW

May 26, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 9 Comments

No doubt that it’s always a good time to eat more veggies and fruit, but the summer time is just RIPE for enjoying these 4 Fruit and Veggie Recipes. Mamachallenge is excited to partner with Dole to launch the 2016 Get up and Grow Together! Tour kick-off in Dallas. Compensation for time and product was provided by Dole, but all opinions shared here are those of mamachallenge.com.

No matter what type of diet plan or nutrition program you follow, one thing remains consistent: eating your vegetables and fruit helps create a healthy lifestyle. As parents we’re always trying to find ways to get our kids eating more veggies and fruit (just check out my segment on apples), but it’s just as important for us to get ours, too!

Did you know bananas are North America’s most popular produce?

That’s just part of the reason for the Dole 2016 Get up and Grow Together! Tour. Started last year as a way to get us all by adopting a diet rich in fruits and veggies, the 42-stop tour launches in Dallas on May 26 on “National Eat More Fruit and Vegetables Day.”

Studies have shown that broccoli helps to decrease the risk of diabetes.

The tour stops at supermarkets and public events throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, offering free produce-filled recipe samples, recipe booklets and other giveaways, an interactive Kid’s Corner, and fruit and veggie-themed photo-sharing opportunities – all to showcase the fun, flavor and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the recipes you’ll be able to sample at the Get up and Grow! Together stops (and now make at home, too!)

Brussels Sprouts and Grilled Pineapple Salad

Strawberries mean summer! Love them everyday but this new recipe for strawberry toast with a ricotta-banana spread and a balsamic-honey vinaigrette is the perfect app for the season! Get the recipe #ontheblog or visit the Dole get Up and Grow Tour to try it yourself! It starts in Dallas and goes to 41 other spots across the U.S. this summer. Get the details on mamachallenge.com. #mamachallenge #ad #GetUpandGrow #dallas #dallasblogger #strawberries #recipe #veggies #healthyblogger #memorialday

A photo posted by Autumn Reo | Mamachallenge.com (@autumnreo) on May 28, 2016 at 2:18pm PDT

Strawberry Toasts

Café Banana Frappé

Salad Sipper

Brussels sprouts help beat the bloat and have shown to aid in weight loss.

Go to www.dole.com/GetUpAndGrow for a complete schedule.

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

Couponing with No Clicking: Groupon Coupons

May 11, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Want to save money on everyday purchases to your favorite retailers, but aren’t interested in become a coupon cutter? MamaChallenge has teamed up with Groupon Coupon to show you how one click can save you cash with no planning at all. [SPONSORED POST]

I love to save money – who doesn’t? But carrying around a binder of coupons isn’t ever gonna happen.

Believe me I tried…you’re back starts to hurt and it really doesn’t pay to save when you hauling it around for a free bowl of queso.

However, I am the queen of a good deal that’s doesn’t just save me money, but is convenient to use and always there for me.

Groupon has been on the screen for several years as the daily go-to for exclusive special offers from local companies for services for everything from car detailing to eyebrowing waxing. I love my Groupon deals, but sometimes I’m not just looking to get a great deal on a haircut, but I’m looking for an amazing deal on new accessories for the living room at Home Decorators or a new dress from JCPenney.

For that, you also have Groupon…Groupon Coupons that is.

Groupon Coupons allows you to search by retailer or category through a long list of deals. For instance, today Groupon is offering 64,669 free coupons at 9,951 stores. If that’s not enough proof that there’s not more than a few opportunities to save some bucks, but when I hit up Carter’s for some kids clothes, there are 23 coupons available for me to use.

Imagine if I had to keep up with those? If that was the case, I wouldn’t have them handy, let them expire, and mostly it would be a pain to save anything. But when you make Groupon Coupons your first stop before heading over to your favorite retailer, you’ll see how easy it is to save money on the places you’d already be shopping at!

Seems a little bit like a no-brainer for me. Just another reason to use Groupon.

And make sure to hit up the travel deals too – that make a much needed vacay within reach and in budget – even when you don’t have time to plan.

What’s the best deal you ever found with Groupon?

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

May 10, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 15 Comments

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

When I was growing up there were only two questions:

“When can I go outside and play?

“When do I need to be back?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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