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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Baking Up Family Memories: Gluten-Free Breakfast Bars

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Sometimes in life, it’s not about what you’re making, but about the time you spent making it together. We’re excited to be Baking Up Family Memories to make Gluten-Free Breakfast Bars with Big G Cereal’s Honey Nut Cheerios, Walmart and a little help from Que Rica Vida (quericavida.com.)

Food has always been the conversation of my life. Actually, it’s my love language.

Growing up, sitting at the table eating dinner, my family would talk about what we we’re going to make for dinner tomorrow. 

For fun, we’d thumb through magazines and cookbooks looking for new recipes ideas like it was a graphic novel. And the television is always turned on to something food-related whether it’s traveling to a new country to try new cuisines or tips for making beloved dishes better from our favorite chefs. 


So it was no doubt, my kids would follow in my footsteps of food. 

HNCheerios

They have their own aprons, pans, and for fun, they like to create their own cooking shows.

And I love spending time with them cooking, learning and sharing tips and moments that I hope they’ll remember years with their kids, well after I’m gone. 

However, with my 7-year old getting more mature and his little sister wanting so much to be a big girl, it was time to let them try their hand in the kitchen – without mom. Well, mom was there, but I wanted to let them read the instructions, measure the ingredients and feel good about themselves for creating a recipe they had made together. 

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So even though the control-obsessed mama who didn’t want to deal with the aftermath, I let them go with a recipe we found on quericavida.com, a bilingual resource of thousands of recipes for every occasion featuring a world of flavor to delight the whole family.  Since we are now a gluten-free family (due to my hubby and children’s allergies), finding a recipe that’s easy enough for my kids to make AND GF, is like hitting the lottery. Featuring one of our favorite cereals, Honey Nut Cheerios (hooray for being GF) and just four base ingredients to make No-Bake Honey-Nut Cereal Bars, I even had the kids add a few things to make it really seem like they were “cookin’.” 

Cheerios5

Of course, they selected peanut butter chocolate chips:) 

Before they started, I did have them read the recipe to me and pull all the items they would need to make their “Gluden Free Breakfast Bars” (that was the 4-year old’s name for their dish.)

Cheerios3

From there on, it was up to them. I now was just the observer and by request, also the camera man. They had decided they also wanted to make a “Cooking Show.” 

Oh, no! But that’s half the fun, right?!?

cooking

Actually watching them behind the lens gave me a chance to really watch them together. It was adorable how he took on showing his sister how to do things like spray the pan with cooking spray and he watching her study his actions, so she knew what to do and how to do it. 

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#ProudMamaMoment. 

Of course, we did have to enlist dad for just a moment to help microwave our mixture (on cue as you’ll see.) Other than that, they made their first dish without mom and almost no fights!

GF-Cheerios

While they may have learned a recipe, mom learned that not everything has to be perfect, clean and Pinterest perfect. Sometimes the best dishes are those that are baked up with family memories (and a little bit of Honey Cheerios.) 

GFCheerios

Print
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Gluten-Free Breakfast Bars

  • Author: Autumn of @mamachallenge.com
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 3
  • Total Time: 78
  • Yield: 16 1x
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups Honey Nut Cheerios™ cereal
  • 1 cup chopped nuts
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Instructions

  1. Line bottom and sides of 8-inch square pan with foil or parchment paper. Spray foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cereal, mixed nuts, and peanut butter chips; set aside.
  2. In large microwavable bowl, microwave brown sugar, honey and butter uncovered on High 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until mixture is boiling. Microwave an additional 1 minute allowing mixture to boil and thicken slightly.
  3. Pour over cereal mixture in bowl; stir until evenly coated. Using buttered back of spoon, press mixture very firmly in pan. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm enough to cut.
  4. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature up to 1 week.

Notes

  • You can add ingredients to this dish like cranberries, raisins and more for the perfect cereal bar – good for breakfast or snack all day long!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 16
  • Calories: 347
  • Sugar: 11
  • Sodium: 41
  • Fat: 27
  • Saturated Fat: 4
  • Unsaturated Fat: 21
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 23
  • Protein: 10
  • Cholesterol: 2

Celebrate family cooking fun and seach for Dia de los Ninos recipes.

 

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

applesauce

JCPenney Says MOM is #SoWorthIt For Mother’s Day

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Ever used Pinterest for an idea and then when you clicked on the how-to link, wished there was someone to help? MamaChallenge recently partnered with JCPenney to bring their Pinterest boards to life with live demonstrations just in time for Mother’s Day as part of their #SoWorthIt campaign! 

I’ve always wanted to be Oprah. 

Who doesn’t, right? 


#SoWorthit

Last weekend I had the chance to “play Oprah” as the emcee of JCPenny’s #SoWorthit Mother’s Day live demonstration event at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco. As part of a nationwide, 10 location campaign, bloggers like me, Dallas Single Mom and several others, played the part of hostess with the mostest, April 23, 24, 30 and May 1 for some very Pinteresting fun!

JCPAdAge

(Photo of display in Ad Age.)

After two days on stage, I has the opportunity to gift all the merchandise (check out the Pinboard display below) to those who stopped by the stage to enjoy our presentation, which included a deserving mom that we pulled from the audience to get a makeover. Team members from the Sephora Inside JCPenney, applied a smoky eye and beautiful red lip look while giving tips to the audience how they could do it at home or come get a 15 mini-makeover from the store anytime for free. 

I literally said the words, “You get a car…and you get a car…and you get a car,” while I was on stage.

Of course, this was just in the “heat of the moment” and reminded the audience while it wasn’t a car, we were giving away great items perfect for Mother’s Day including shoes, necklaces, and a Chi flatiron. That flatiron actually prompted many audience members to “show what they were working with” with an impromptu dance off. 

I only wish I had gotten that picture! 

However, I did snap a few of the dresses I found at JCPenney and wore on stage. The first one here is from R&K Sleeveless Chiffon Maxi Dress. I normally wouldn’t wear something bright and floral, but I’m so glad I decided to go for it. I felt great all day long and it was definitely a show stopper. Don’t you think? (and under $50.)

The next day was one of those dresses that is perfect for any occasion with this Tiana B. Sleeveless Colorblock Fit and Flare. With just a hint of pink, it was a homerun that I’m sure I’ll be wearing often – especially since it was $39.99 without coupons or special sale!

SephoraInsideJCPenney#SoWorthIt

While I was on stage sharing tips with the audience, I was learning along with them! For instance, I had never tried a lip stain (this one is Sephora’s own cream lip stain), but after 8 hours, two iced coffees, and some pretzel bites, it really stayed on. My lips were moist too, so this is a must-have if you have problems keeping your lip color on for more than an hour! 

JCPenney #SoWorthit

During the weekend we also gave away free samples, $10 off when you sign up for JCPenney Rewards, and even more coupons. It was lots of fun to play girlfriend all weekend giving out advice and learning from each other! However, JCPenney is making it easy to continue the inspiration and ideas on their Pinterest at pinterest.com/JCPenney anytime! 

Thank you to JCPenney for such a fun experience and for my Mother’s Day gift to reward other moms for all the work they do all the time – because we’re all #SoWorthIt. 

 

Real Deal Mexican Nachos with Homemade Tortilla Chips

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Celebrate Cinco de Mayo everyday with this simple, but classic recipe for Real Deal Mexican Nachos with Homemade Tortilla Chips. When you have quality ingredients you don’t need all the extras! 

[Thanks to The Women Bloggers, LLC,  led by Kendal King Group for this fun #SoapboxInfluence project to share the best way to enjoy your #CocinaLatinaBeans.]

One of the first times I went to Mexico, I ordered chips. 

What came out wasn’t the normal chips and queso I was accustomed to at home in Texas (home of TexMex cuisine.) 


My chips were delivered to the table standing up in a plate of beans sprinkled with some white crumbly cheese. 

Real Nachos

While it took a moment to take it in, I quickly figured out, after that first bite, that this little shack in a tree (like really, the place was upstairs and proposed around a tree), had the secret to how to enjoy your chips – it was in a mess of really good refried beans. 

From then on, I ordered the “nachos” (actually I think we just asked for frijoles) everywhere we went. There was something about the hard crunch of the chip, the smooth, rich taste of the beans, and the sharp twang of the cheese that was  “muy bueno.” 

Years later, I still remember the plate of “nachos” and how good they were paired with a cold drink. For me, that is what Mexican food is really supposed to taste like – not because it’s covered in cheese or a complex combination of sauces. Just simple, good ingredients, that when paired together, are the ideal marriage of flavors. 

With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner (and hopefully a vacation southbound as well), it was time to relive that memory of Mexico. And it took all of 20 minutes to do it – from start to finish thanks to a “shortcut” from BUSH’S COCINA LATINA®. With seven flavors available at Walmart, the line gives legendary flavor to your favorite Latin American and Southwestern dishes. 

CocinaLatina

By using the Bush’s Cocina Latina beans, I didn’t have to worry about slaving over a batch of beans. I opened the can and it was done. So really the only thing I had to do to recreate our “Real Deal Mexican Nachos” was chips. 

The Chips:

But we aren’t talking about a bag of chips. Don’t get me wrong, those are good when you need to dip a little salsa. But the first time you make your own corn tortilla chips, you’ll wonder what have you been doing wrong your whole life. Besides, how could it be bad? It’s corn tortillas fried in grease. And that’s it. It doesn’t even warrant a recipe. 

Chips101

Corn tortillas (You’re going to get 4-5 chips per tortilla, so use what you need depending on quantity needed)

Use a pizza cutter to make it easy to slice your tortilla into chips

Fry in hot grease until nice and brown 

Move to a plate with a paper towel to absorb the grease.

Sprinkle with seasoning salt and serve.
Chips

The Cheese:

The cheese is the last in the trifecta of the Real Deal Mexican Nachos with Homemade Tortilla Chips. There are actually a lot of Mexican cheese that get no love. There’s nothing like them in taste, texture, and even their level of meltability (I made that up.) But cojita (pronounced KOHITA) is a hard, but moist cheese that when cut, crumbles like feta and has a salty, sharp, pungent taste. And a little goes a long way. 

Cheese

To serve, all you need to do is layer!  

CocinaLatinaBeans2

Warm up your Bush’s Cocina Latina (I used the Bush’s Cocina Latina Frijoles Charros Machachados with Serrano peppers and bacon), stick your homemade tortilla chips point-side down, and sprinkle the cojita. Ole! 

Nachos

While that’s enough for a fiesta as far as I’m concerned, Bush’s really wants you to celebrate in grand fashion…

Enter to win a $75 gift card!  

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The Real Moms’ Guide to Surviving the Grocery Store

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Grocery Store +Family Dinners = #mamachallenge. The Real Moms’ Guide to Surviving the Grocery Store gives you a REAL strategy on how to get it done with the help of your smartphone. Thanks to Albertsons, there’s no need for notebooks, forms, or planning with the free just for U™ savings app. This is a sponsored post, but all comments here are all my own. 

As a mom, and the planner of the family, I have good intentions of being organized.

I’ve shared the praises of meal planning.


I’ve demonstrated how to make a week’s worth of meals from one protein.

I’ve even found ways to make dinner more exciting for your kids by taking inspiration from their lunchbox.

But I’ll be honest: it doesn’t happen like that. And definitely not for our family.

Real-Moms-Guide-to-the-Grocery-Store

With our crazy schedule, it seems like the start of marathon starts every day at 6 am and it’s a race all day until I a) hit the wall or b) fall asleep while snuggling my kids in their bed.

So when I go to the grocery store it normally is in a mad dash to grab just what I need and I’m definitely not saving any money with coupons (since they are sitting at home, but never get used.)

However, when Albertsons just debuted their new just for U™ app to Dallas-Fort Worth, things changed.

Just-for-you-app

Now, as  I’m running in any Albertsons store at a moment’s notice, the just for U™ app allows me to easily discover and use digital coupons and then when I get to the line, type in my phone number, and all my digital coupons and offers (savings of up to 20% off) are automatically taken off my total. No ads, no flyers, no clipping, no notebooks and no planning to save money. Johnny on the spot.

And on the weeks when I do have a little more time, I can also use the app to create my grocery list for when I have time to do “a big shopping” trip to restock everything!

just--for-you-app

Best of all, the more you use it, the better it gets! Since offers on the just for U™ app are based on the users’ purchase history and then organized in a digestible way, what you’ll see on your app are the things you buy and the offers that apply to you.

And that’s why it’s called just for U™ app!

just-for-you-app

To use the just for U™ app

  1. Download the app for your iOS or the Android phone.
  2. Tap “Sign Up Now” on the welcome screen.
  3. Fill out the registration form and hit submit.
  4. Select a nearby store you want to view offers for.
  5. Add offers to your just for U account.
  6. Use the list in store for an easy reminder.
  7. Enter your phone number at checkout to redeem the offers.

For more information on the just for U™ app, visit justforu.com/app.

Albertsons

Thanks to Albertsons for partnering with mamachallenge.com for this #mamachallenge solved.

 

PeachDish Now Delivers to Homewood Suites

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Going on a vacation but would rather to make healthy meals from the comfort of your hotel room? PeachDish now delivers to Homewood Suites by Hilton so you have everything you need delivered straight to you for fresh farm meals straight from Atlanta.

This is a sponsored post for Homewood Suites by Hilton for which I received a free one-night stay and compensation. All opinions are my own.

We’re big fans of staycations.


Homewood-Suites-Step

With so much to do in Dallas-Fort Worth and few opportunities to get away, a staycation is ideal for us to spend time together just “hanging out” without the stress of traveling expenses and the time it takes to get anywhere. A few weekends ago we “jetted off” just 15 minutes away to Grapevine to get away at the Homewood Suites by Hilton.Pinterest

Part of stay was just to stay put including no fuss with going out to eat. That’s why PeachDish, the meal kit service, was perfect for us. Recently launched in Dallas and Atlanta, Homewood Suites offers guests discounted access (around 20% off) to everything needed to make fresh, chef-designed, seasonal meals  – delivered straight to the hotel!

Peach-Dish

As part of Homewood Suites’ Home Cooked Meals’ program, PeachDish takes all the work out of making a southern-inspired meal in your room (and also when you return home!)

Delivered in a refrigerated box, you receive pre-portioned ingredients all neatly packed for you to immediately make a four-star meal your family will love. And since you’re in Homewood Suites, everything you need to cook – from a knife, pots, bowls, and dishes – are already in your room. 

HomewoodSuites-PeachDish

Here’s How it Works:

  • Guests will make their PeachDish order by Sunday at midnight for delivery the following week.
  • Starting at the customized landing page, guests choose between a two-serving or four-serving option from at least four different dish options to select.
  • In addition to the discount, guests will be able to purchase the PeachDish Starter Kit (Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Kosher Sea Salt, and a Tellicherry Pepper mill) at a special rate.
  • Whatever date you selected, your box will be ready for you to pick up from the front desk!

Take a look at how your PeachDish is delivered as well as a tour from our Homewood Suites stay:

With fully equipped kitchens, separate living and sleeping areas available in studio, one- and two-bedroom sizes, Homewood Suites provides the essentials needed for any number of days you need to stay! With WiFi, complimentary daily full-hot breakfast, onsite social events and free Wi-Fi, Homewood Suites makes it easy for travels to unwind with outdoor grill area, fitness center, pool and sports court!

HomewoodSuites

My first time at an extended stay hotel, I now can’t imagine staying anywhere else with the kids. Everything we needed to enjoy spending time together was at Homewood Suites. And everything we needed for a delicious fresh meal was ready to prepare with PeachDish.

Peach-Dish-Homewood-Suites

Visit Homewood Suites at HomewoodSuites.com to book your next stay and visit PeachDish.com/HomewoodSuites to order your PeachDish!

 

Beyond Lasik: What Else Does Kleiman-Evangelista Do?

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Thinking about LASIK, but don’t know where to start? Autumn Reo of MamaChallenge is giving you a real look at LASIK and other services beyond Lasik at Kleiman|Evangelista with the Mom it Forward Blogger Network. #KEHELPEDMESEE

If you’ve followed my journey to perfect eyesight after 25 years in glasses, you’d think it’s been a long process.

Actually, from the moment I stepped in the door for a free consultation to my post-procedure appointment, it was only three weeks. Three weeks that has changed my life from something that affected me daily for almost three decades. While the time was short, the connection I have made with the team at Kleiman-Evangelista is strong.


But why wouldn’t it be?

Everyone I’ve come in contact with has been more than just friendly – they were integral in making a big difference in my life. I trusted them with one of my most valuable organs and they gave me the ability to see without glasses. That’s a pretty big promise and they over-delivered in giving me both what I wanted with a huge helping of support, guidance, and good customer service.

Post-appt

So when you have that connection with a company, you don’t necessarily want it to end. Just like a friend, you want it to extend past this one moment and in this case, other services.

AwakeningsMedSpa

I discovered that Kleiman-Evangelista offers more healthy vision. They have a Med Spa on property called Awakenings that offers everything from massages, to facials and peels, non-surgical body contouring and sculpting technologies and an extensive line of medical skin care products. And rather than going into a place you’ve never been to, Awakenings MedSpa gives you the professionalism and experience you expect from the KE Center.

I’m anxious to make an appointment. A few of the services that really have me interested include:

Dermaplaning

Starting to notice that unwanted hair around your chin, cheeks and neck that you want to get rid of? Of course, I don’t have any of that (at least that I want to show you in an up-close photo), but I’ll admit there may be a few places that could be “attended to.” An alternative to waxing and threading, dermaplanning uses a surgical scalpel to remove the top layers of dead skin cells and unwanted facial hair. It improves the appearance of facial wrinkles and acne scars and is effective treatment for skin issues and environmentally damaged skin.

Coolsculpting

Ready to freeze off fat? Me too. CoolSculpting uses controlled cooling (Cryolipolysis®) to gently and effectively freeze and eliminate unwanted fat cells. Ironically, the concept was discovered by Harvard University scientists who notices children developed dimples in their cheeks eating popsicles. “The idea that cold can selectively freeze and eliminate fat cells without damaging the surrounding tissue is the science behind CoolSculpting.” [Awakenings Med Spa.]

Did you know that you are born with a certain number of fat cells and depending on when you lose or gain weight, those cells increase or shrink? With Coolsculpting, the cells are completely rid from your body.

During the procedure, fat cells are frozen, crystallizing them, and causing them to die. Then the body expels them so then you’re left with a learner you. 

Once I have this one, I hope to share the results with you exactly the way I did with my Lasik – up close and personal. 

MicroNeedling

Looking to get rid of those beginning wrinkles and scars? Microneedling uses tiny needles to create microholes in the skin to stimulate the body’s natural process of rapid collagen and elastin production. The new thicker skin will resemble your younger self, one without the look the wrinkles and before sun damage. This service can be done in several areas of the body and with basically no downtime, you’ll have the look of fresh, subtle skin in almost no time.

Kleiman-Evangelista-Eye-Center

Believe me, once you realize that there is a way to live a better life with the help of Kleiman-Evangelista, why wouldn’t you?

Check out their Facebook for new promotions offered for any of these services, as well as LASIK, or view the website for more information.

Don’t miss these #mamachallenge moments:

Is-Lasik-Right-For-You-KE

Lasik-Procedure

The Cost of NOT Having LASIK

After-Lasik

New Mamas Invited to BLOOM April 30

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Mamachallenge is excited to partner with Dallas Moms Blog for this special opportunity and giveaway! New and expecting mamas are invited to BLOOM April 30 for a half-day of fun, education, networking, and giveaways! 

I don’t care how many books you read, how “ready” you think you are, or how many kids you babysat for growing up, or even how many kids you already have, when you’re in baby-planning or just-had-a-baby mode, there’s nothing like it. 

I’ll be honest… I’ve never felt more dumb, happy, sad, and accomplished than when you’re baking up a bundle full of joy. 


Bloom-DMB-Baby
When it comes to learning opportunities, you take ’em when you get them. Why else do you think playdates exist (okay, besides the chance to chat with an adult or to possibly drink a little “juice” for yourself?) 

Some of the best learning together and from each is at events with other people just like you which is why if you’re planning to have kids, preggo or just had a baby, we can’t recommend enough attending BLOOM on April 30. 

Bloom-DMB

Hosted by Dallas Moms Blog, the Dallas collaborative resource site by several super Dallas mamas, BLOOM is a half-day of fun with panel discussions, breakout classes, food/drinks, swag bag loaded with goodies in a really great bag, and five raffle tickets to use for giveaways for things you’re gonna really want! 

>>>>> REGISTER FOR BLOOM, APRIL 30 <<<<<

You’ll have a chance to connect with businesses, services, and organizations that will help you to keep your sanity as a new parent. Ask questions, learn answers and best of all, meet with other parents (and parents to be) like you! This is a national event with over 40 fellow sister sites hosting the same event on the same day! Share this event with your friends in other cities by seeing who’s participating. Then, make sure to share the excitement by following along using #CMBNBloom16 and locally with #BloomDallas16. 

Blooms-DMB

Please Note: This event is geared towards new and expectant moms although spouses are welcome! Due to space constraints children UNDER one years old must be worn in a carrier or held as there is no room for strollers. Need to nurse? No problem! Attending moms will be provided with a space to nurse little ones during the event! Please remember this event is designed for new moms and expectant moms, so children over the age of one are requested to sit this one out and have you spend some time on you!) 

Bloom: A Dallas Event for New & Expectant Moms
Dallas Moms Blog
Saturday, April 30, 2016
9:30am – noon
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, Texas 75219
$12
Get tickets

Wanna win tickets to BLOOM in Dallas, April 30?

We’re offering a pair of tickets (value $24) + 10 additional raffle tickets for giveaways! 

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What Happens After Lasik Surgery

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Thinking about LASIK, but don’t know where to start? Autumn Reo of MamaChallenge is giving you a real look at LASIK, including what happens after Lasik surgery, with the help of Kleiman|Evangelista and the Mom it Forward Blogger Network. #KEHELPEDMESEE

A few weeks after Lasik, you’d think maybe I’ve gotten used to not having to wear glasses.

Nope. 


Each morning, I’m more excited every day that I finally did it.

First-Segment-After-Appt

First segment AFTER lasik! (No back and forth with glasses on off camera and taking them off right before we go live.) Can’t wait to share it with you soon!

But now what? Is there anything that happens after lasik?

  • Are there other appointments? 
  • Can you swim or exercise? 
  • Do you have medications to take? 
  • Do you have to do it again later? 
  • Do you get eye infections? 
  • Can you mess it up? 

I can report at least at this point – I haven’t messed anything up and nor will I. You can’t do much to “mess it up” after your recovery period…as long as pay attention to the few things not to do after the procedure. 

What-Happens

You may be asked to NOT do a few of your normal activities (up to a week after the procedure) including: 

  • Exercise (after a few days I was allowed to exercise) 
  • Driving (is normally just for the first day depending on your doctor) 
  • Makeup (no eye makeup for a week. This was my hardest part!) 
  • Spa or Sauna 
  • Gardening or other areas where there is soil in sand 
  • Smoking isn’t forbidden, but perhaps may irritate your eyes
  • Rubbing your eyes!

eye5

Yep, it may seem very obvious to not rub your eyes, but you’d be surprised how often you touch your eyes you don’t even know it! Sleeping might be easier with the special goggles they give to you post-procedure to wear. You won’t want to clean out your eyes with your fingers either. Your hands carry so much bacteria and you definitely don’t want that in your “new” eyes. 

Eye Drops

All I can say is that the recommended medicated eye drops are your best friend. For real.

And to be honest, mine still are. Especially as A/C and fan season kicks in, my eyes don’t love direct air blowing on my eyeballs. And with allergies in full swing, my eyes were already burning before. There hasn’t been any increase, but the drops sure have helped the dryness and itchiness that I normally experience. 

Post-appt

After the procedure and your initial follow-up appointment, there will be other appointments, but just a few and far between typically – one after a week and then around six weeks later. After this point, your doctor will choose if and when other appointments are necessary. On average, it’s just like you would before lasik – recommended at at least once a year. 

While like any procedure, you aren’t always perfect right off the bat. But it amazes me how much my eyes changed in such a short amount of time. Originally, I saw a little halo effect around bright lights, but that only lasted a few days. And remember, I was seeing 20/20 the next day. 

Kleiman-Evangelista-Eye-Center

Of course, everyone’s eyes are a little different.  I’ve shared my experience candidly with Kleiman-Evangelista Eye Center and am excited to report nothing but rave reviews. So what are you waiting for? There’s no time like the present to start seeing your life more clearly with lasik. 

Make your free appointment now. 

Don’t miss these #mamachallenge moments:

Is-Lasik-Right-For-You-KE

 

Lasik-Procedure

 

The Cost of NOT Having LASIK

The Cost of NOT Having LASIK

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Thinking about LASIK, but don’t know where to start? Autumn Reo of MamaChallenge is giving you a real look at LASIK, including the cost of not having Lasik, with the help of Kleiman|Evangelista and the Mom it Forward Blogger Network. #KEHELPEDMESEE

I can’t believe it’s already been a month since I had HD BladeFree Lasik at Kleiman-Evangelista Eye Center.

Thinking back on the last 30 days, it overwhelms me how much my life has changed. REALLY. 

  • Like each morning when I reach for my glasses and realize I don’t need them…
  • When I put on eye makeup and don’t have to cover it up with big lenses…
  • Reaching to pick up my daughter and not have to say “watch my glasses”…
  • Putting on my running shoes and I don’t have to grab glasses to see…
  • Or watching TV, the computer, going to the movies, or checking my smartphone – I don’t have to have glasses. 

Like many people, I had been thinking about Lasik for years, but kept coming up with excuses to put it off.

Will it hurt? 

I don’t have time for the down time? 

What if something happens? 

Do I really need it? 

It costs too much. 

However, the idea of wanting Lasik was always there in the back of my head. Kinda like a little whisper that always got louder each time I went to get new glasses, broke my frames, or my glasses slid down my nose (daily.) 

The Cost of NOT Having LASIK

Then there was finally a moment I realized – what was I waiting for? 

My eyes are one of our most precious resources. Why was I willing to spend money on clothes or a car that I only used temporarily instead of my eyes that I used everyday to work, to drive, and of course, see my children?!? Almost everything I do includes my eyes, so why wasn’t I willing to reap the benefits of 20/20 vision on my own! 

While those were the intrinsic costs, what about the real hard costs of having glasses/contacts? Lasik is normally performed only once, while glasses and/or contacts are an annual cost. 

Let’s break it down. According to a 2013 market study, average annual costs of corrective lenses are as follows*:

Eye Exam: $100 – $200
Contact Lenses: $250 – $700
Contact Lens Supplies: $150 – $200
Glasses with Designer Frames: $500 – $1000
Backup Pair of Glasses: $100 – $200
Prescription Sunglasses: $500+
Total: $1600+/ year

If you do the math, having glasses and/or contacts ain’t exactly cheap. And last year for Christmas, my husband bought me two pairs of prescription sunglasses. Those little gifts cost around $450 a piece! So for me, my Lasik could have almost been paid for when you start adding up costs like that.  

Although, I wish Lasik was covered under insurance, unfortunately it’s not normally covered under your benefits. However, some plans (like mine) do allow for Lasik to be included in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Spending Account (HSA.) And when you combine that, with the discounts/promotions often offered by Kleiman-Evangelista Eye Center, the cost are very affordable. 

While every patient is different, so every procedure is different, costs for Lasik can range depending on your provider and your needs. For a procedure like my HD BladeFree Lasik, costs range starting at $2,500 per eye. However, your eyes isn’t where you want to start looking for the cheapest service available either. It’s your eyes!!! You want to not just pick the place with the most experience, but also the best customer service, and certainly who is going to be up front with you about everything from the start. 

Lasik-Eye-Procedure

For me, I found that at Kleiman-Evangelista and you will, too. You can make appointment any day of the week for free or if you have a few questions before you even step in the door, get online now and chat with someone immediately to give you more information as you start your own path in seeing the world in a whole new way. 

Kleiman-Evangelista-Eye-Center

A better way. A better life.

Why wait for that? 

Don’t Miss this #mamachallenge moment:

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Lasik-Procedure

Save Even More with Spring Dining Deal from Restaurant.com

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I received a Restaurant.com gift card for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

Like to dine out, but need to stay on the budget? Get the best of both with these spring dining deal from Restaurant.com. 

I’m a girl that hates dishes, is always in a rush, and enjoys any reason to go out to eat.

Too bad when you look at the budget it’s the first thing that gets cut from the expense pile. 

However, when you come across a good deal, you don’t pass it up – especially if it’s for some of your favorite places to eat. 

Always a super resource for deals, Restaurant.com is serving up a big one for one day only: $25 Certificates for only $3! 

Restaurant-Sale

All their other deals are on sale too! For example, getting a $10 certificate for just $1.20. 

Yes, that’s only about 15% you’re paying on the dollar! And if you need the math outlined: If you spent $25 at a your favorite participating restaurant (listed on Restaurant.com), your dinner technically would cost you around $3 out of pocket. 

Crazy, right? 

But taking a look at the list of participating restaurants, it’s actually pretty crazy NOT to get in on this deal. 

New to Restaurant.com? You buy gift certificates to be used at the participating restaurants at super low prices. You save money. 

It’s that easy. 

Wondering which restaurants we’ll be using our Restaurant.com gift certificates to? 

Well, I think this one says it all: Dickey’s. 

Another one I know we’d love to use our gift certificates to is the Magic Time Machine. It’s a must-have for special occasions like birthdays and good grades, but sometimes just being together should be a celebration enough. (If you’ve never been to the Magic Time Machine, you’re missing out on Jack Sparrow, Cinderella and the whole crew serving you a lovely dinner experience from start to finish! 

Magic-Time-Machine

  Don’t miss this deal:

$3 SALE FROM RESTAURANT.COM

SAVE AT MORE THAN 23,000 RESTAURANTS NATIONWIDE

Spring has sprung! There’s no better way to celebrate than taking the family to enjoy alfresco dining and fruity drinks. To bring in the new season, Magic Time Machine. is serving up $25 Certificates for only $3 with Promo Code: SALE. 

Search Magic Time Machine. by location, cuisine, price range and more, to find exactly what you want, where you want it! This offer ends Thursday, March 31 at 11:59 pm CT.

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I received a Restaurant.com gift card for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

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Slow-Cooker

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