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Mama, You’re Fat: How The Big Fat Truth Changed My Life

July 5, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 19 Comments

Kids tell it like it is. Here’s How Changed My Life for the better. Be sure to check out The Big Fat Truth on Z Living Sundays at 8pm ET.

“Mama, you’re fat,” my little brown-eyed princess told me as she stood looking at my more than 35- less than 36-year old body getting dressed in the morning.

As she said it, my reflex was to whip my head around so fast to blurt out a few choices expletives I’m often known to use. That’s what I had done the last 30 years of my life, so why would I change now?

But this was my daughter, my baby girl that in many ways is a mirror image of my younger self.

I couldn’t just yell at her and be bitter and mad and all that other stuff. Not just because as a mom and it’s my job to explain things, but also because I knew everything that was about to happen between she and I was going to be mentally recorded FOREVER for us both.

And she was right. No more pretending or excuses.

“Yes, baby, I am,” I uttered. And in that millisecond, all the times I had dieted, lost weight, gained weight, and all the yo-yoing in between flashed before my eyes. So then, with all conviction and more promise that I had ever felt in my life, I responded accordingly, “but don’t worry baby, I’m working on being as healthy as possible.”

See it was looking at her, looking at me, and thinking one day I hoped to be around to look at my granddaughter just as my daughter was looking at me, that I knew that now was the beginning of the next chapter of my life. But not to go on a diet because I was getting married, or because I had a big event I wanted to look good for, or because I was going on vacation and I didn’t want to embarrass myself. But for real, forever change.

Nothing Good Ever Comes Easy

So instead of heading to work out or a diet plan, I went straight to the doctor. I had several friends that had the sleeve surgery and had AMAZING results. They looked amazing. They felt amazing and they couldn’t say better things about how amazing the sleeve had been for them. I did my research and spoke with people relentlessly. This time it seemed I had a choice that would make sense and make a lasting difference. I signed up, got my appointment and begin my pre-op diet of protein, broth and water. However, as I approached my surgery date something happened. Some would say anxiety but for me, it was much more than that. This was a sign that this wasn’t my path. So, I canceled the surgery. And began to make a new path.

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”

That was February and it’s now June. Has anything changed?

Oh yes – it’s changed. Have I lost 50 lbs? Not yet, but I will. So far I’ve lost over 15 inches and 2 dress sizes. But I don’t have a goal weight; I have a goal for life. I didn’t go on a diet; I changed what I ate and how I ate. I didn’t go workout everyday all day.

But I did get help from a trainer to start a lifestyle that was realistic for me.

I didn’t let those same voices get to me and make me feel bad about myself for not being “good enough.”

I am good enough.

Not just to be a mom, but to take care of both my family’s future and myself.

The Big Fat Truth

But I did go looking (and found) encouragement and support to keep me moving, even when I want to stop and eat something that takes me backwards. One of those places I love to find motivation is through others’ journeys, not towards weight loss but a healthier lifestyle. Z Living’s newest show, The Big Fat Truth, deals with the real reasons people struggle with weight, and gives them the tools and the optimism they need to transform their lives. Using problem-solving and motivational skills, award-winning producer JD Roth (author and reality-TV pioneer, championing “transformation television”) takes on the challenge to help save the lives of our greatest unsung heroes.

Watch The Big Fat Truth on Z Living, Sundays at 8 pm EST.

Through their journey, I’m able to navigate mine as well with the encouragement I need in a real way that works for me. The show even has its own FREE Big Fat 30 Day Challenge to help get watchers motivated just like the participants on the show. I plan to keep you updated on my progress and how my journey isn’t as much about “losing weight” (which is nice) but about making the real changes that will make a bigger difference in the rest of my life.

Fun Out of the Sun: Grapevine Mills

June 22, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 33 Comments

Looking for the coolest places for fun this summer? Here’s the scoop on the sale you can’t miss and the fun you’ll find for the whole family at Grapevine Mills. #ThePerfectBag

Thanks to Grapevine Mills for this collaboration and giving us the scoop on the fun this summer.

The moment school let out, Camp Mama took over.

It’s a hybrid of family fun activities, carpooling to camps all over the map, and me still trying to keep everything else rolling and going without losing my mind.

Shop, Drop, Repeat.

When’s the last time you were at Grapevine Mills?

It’s a crazy day, everyday.

I try to mix it up with a little something we can all enjoy…summertime doesn’t have to be just for the kids, right?

So when the hot Texas summer takes over, we’ve found refuge at Grapevine Mills.

Recently the center finalized a multi-million dollar renovation, with sleek new flooring, lighting, seating and special details to make your experience more comfortable whether you’re dropping in for an hour or hoofing it for the whole day of shop ’til you drop. Plus many new stores and unique entertainment destinations has made Grapevine Mills on the top of our go-to shortlist.

Speaking of shortlist, you have just until June 30 to head to Grapevine Mills for their Annual Handbag Sale. Considering I’m always on the hunt for a handbag (I’m totally a bag lady), this sale features already hugely discounted prices on the hottest trends from some of my favorites like Saks Fifth Avenue OFF FIFTH, Banana Republic Factory, Francesca’s, J.Crew Factory, Guess Factory, Nautica, Steve Madden, Vera Bradley Factory Outlet and many more!

// GUESS //

// BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY //

// STEVE MADDEN //

AND THERE’S MORE (in my best Price of Right voice!)

Win the Handbag of Your Dreams Sweepstakes – Two lucky shoppers will have the chance to ‘win the handbag of your dreams’ through a sweepstakes hosted on Grapevine Mills’ Facebook page. All you have to do is comment with which one you love the most! The winners will be selected at random and will receive a Simon American Express gift card valued at $500. (The winners have to be residents of Texas and have the ability to pick up from Grapevine Mills.)

// PLUS FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN WIN $100 SIMON GIFT CARD FROM MAMACHALLENGE.COM//

Handbag Pop Art Display – Shoppers can get interactive at the 5’-by-10’ pop art handbag display in front of Guest Services courtyard near Victoria’s Secret. It will make a great backdrop for photos and Grapevine Mills encourages shoppers to take and post photos at the display and of their handbag finds using #ThePerfectBag.

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Shopping can be fun for some, but not everyone! That’s where Grapevine Mills also makes it easy for you to entertain the whole family especially with some of the NEW destinations!

The Escape Game / Located near the Food Court
Opening just a month ago, you can now choose your escape! The Escape Game is perfect for large groups, girls’ night out, date night, or just a new way to mix it up your day. Rated #1 “Escape Room” On TripAdvisor’s National Rankings, you and your team are locked in a room and have one hour to complete a mission and escape. Escaping requires teamwork, quick thinking, determination and a sense of urgency!

Fieldhouse USA / Located at Entry 3 by Burlington Coat Factory
Build on your sports skills or discover a new one! Fieldhouse USA offers summer camps for basketball, volleyball and futsal camps through August 15 for children ages 5 and up with the emphasis on 100% participation and FUN! Camp Add-Ons are also available to give your child a full day of sports fun all week long.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre / Located at Entry 5 with SEA LIFE Aquarium and AMC Theaters
LEGOLAND Discovery Center is the ultimate indoor LEGO® experience full of amazing play, creativity and building fun designed for families with kids aged 3-10 years. Plus with Pirate Beach, its outdoor waterpark (included with your admission), you can let the kids play with 30 water gadgets, splash through a 2o-foot-tall, 50-gallon bucket of water, while you chill in the shade (or get a little sun!)

SEA LIFE Aquarium / Located at Entry 5 with LEGOLAND Discover Center and AMC Theaters
Take a fascinating journey from the coast to the ocean depths through 16 themed zones at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium. Get up close to thousands of amazing creatures and find out how it feels to touch a sea start and other creatures living in our interactive rockpool experience. With an amazing 360° ocean tunnel, 30 display tanks and thousands of sea creatures the aquarium is the perfect stop for family fun. (Plus it’s all in the A/C!)

Round One Bowling and Entertainment / Located at Entry 6 near the NIKE Factory Store
Whether it’s bowling, arcade games, karaoke, billiards, darts, ping pong or more, you’ll find it at Round One! At 80,000 square-foot game complex features a full bowling alley with 24 lanes that can accommodate up to 120 players, 2,603 square-feet dedicated to singing, and 12 tournament standard billiard tables can accommodate up to 48 players.

Don’t miss these guys at PUDDING ON SMILES! It will make you smile every time you lick your spoon!

AMC Theaters / West side of Grapevine Mills
Whether you’re looking for a comfortable spot to watch a movie or enjoy a full-on movie and a meal experience, AMC Theaters is perfect. Plus it’s close proximity to LEGOLAND Discover Center and SEA LIFE Aquarium, finish off the day with a movie (they’ll probably sleep on the way home.)

Mark your calendar and save the date for these great family movies this summer!

Despicable Me 3 – June 30
Spider-Man: Homecoming – July 7 – PG-13
The Emoji Movie – July 28
The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature – August 11

Want to win $100 Simon Gift Card to get your new handbag or try out one of these amazing destinations?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 New Reasons to Love Target Even More

June 20, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 184 Comments

Love Target? Of course you do! However, here’s 10 new reasons to love Target even more as they bring new changes with their recent renovations!

Thanks to Target for giving us a special look at the new changes and sponsoring this post.

Can you imagine a world without Target?

Even if you could, why would you want to?

There are few places I can think of that give me the convenience of getting a few groceries, filling my prescriptions, styling my home, and the opportunity to cruise quickly for something new (and out of budget) than Target. And let’s not even throw in the fact they meet you at the door with Starbucks. However, several Target stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth are going through a huge remodel to make Target even better (sounds like an oxymoron, right? But it is! We recently took a sneak peek at one of the newly remodeled Target stores and this is what we found.

10 Reasons to Love Target Even More

1. They’re making a big investment in DFW.

Target is investing more than $220 million to remodel 28 of 47 Target stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, the company’s largest remodel investment in a single market in 2017 (lucky for us!) All the remodeled stores will receive top-to-bottom overhauls, including a mix of design and functionality, taking a customized approach to each store location.

2. Almost There.

Twelve stores have already debuted their completed remodels and 16 remaining stores to be completed later this summer and fall! Customers will find modern design elements, including updated LED lighting, new paint, new floors and fixtures!

Already remodeled stores: Addison, Grapevine, Lake Worth, Weatherford, Fort Worth Central, North Dallas Coit Road, Mansfield, McKinney, Plano West, Watauga, and Frisco North.

Scheduled July Completions: Rockwall, Burleson, Waxahachie, and Euless

Scheduled August Completions: Love Field, Frisco, and Dallas North East

Scheduled October Completions: Medallion, North Richland Hills, Flower Mound, Mesquite, Hurst, Cityview, McKinney SW, Denton, Allen North, and Lewisville.

3. More Macchiatos.

Addison, Rockwall and Irving, you’re getting a big upgrade with new Starbucks are added to your Target stores. (Caffeine feeds the Target shopping machine!)

4. Real Inspiration Right in Front of You.

Forget just rows of racks. Target is giving guests an opportunity for more inspiration and style with new merchandise displays and mannequins throughout the store so you know exactly how that dress will look when it’s on a body!

5. Just for You!

Ever started shopping for clothes and found yourself looking at the teenage sizes (way off from what you need to be looking at?) Many other guests did too, so Target took the recommendation and now have create separate sections for teens, maternity, plus size, etc!

6. Grocery Goodness.

Taking a little inspiration from area farmers’ markets, Target has remodeled their grocery department with new wood-grain fixtures, updated floors, LED lighting, and products perfectly paired together to make a meal (everything you’ll need will be in one area and not spread out in different aisle for quick dinner making!) Plus many featured local products like Tupps Brewery.

7. More style, year-long.

Target is already considered a destination for style but they’ve added even better way to find style, year-round. Bathing suit season isn’t just June – August. Now you’ll be able to find suits throughout the year and in sizes for you (cup sizes will now count!) You’ll also find beloved brands like Cat & Jack kids clothes and baby brand Cloud Nine.

8. Quicker, Easier, and Better.

In a rush, no biggie with Target! They’ve added more self-checkout lanes for ease of guest check-out options including updates to the Order Pickup and Guest Service counter! You’ll now find a digitally connected experience with an updated Order Pickup counter and Ship from Store service, so you can get those Target.com orders even quicker! (And remember, there are already CVS / pharmacy there for that much more quick and easy shopping!)

9. One NEW App Solution.

Love couponing with Cartwheel but feel torn with having two apps to cover your Target needs? This fall you’ll find both apps combined together for one easy-to-use digital solution!

10. See if for yourself.

You may not need a reason to head to Target (you probably were on your way already), but we’re giving you a $100 Target gift card to see the changes for yourself!

NOW what’s your favorite thing about Target?

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Ab Fab: New Tummy Tuck Tech

June 4, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo

Thinking about a tummy tuck but don’t know how to deal with all the postsurgical stuff? New technology is making it a little easier to get back your even better mom bod.

Thanks to TissuGlu^® for sharing this medical advancement and the Mom It Forward Influencer Network sponsorship of mamachallenge.com.

Whether you were blessed with a small waist or are still battling your baby weight (and your kids well past being a baby like mine) most of us have a little extra something around our midsection we’d like to get rid of. I’ve been working hard like many moms to shape up and be healthy, but just like both my OB and my trainer said, “some parts will never go back.”

Well $#*! (Insert your hissy fit here.)

For some of us, God blessed you and everything goes back and you look great. For those of us that don’t have Heidi Klum’s body, we suck it up (literally) and deal with it. And for other moms, a tummy tuck is their next step.

I’ve known many moms that have gone through a tummy tuck and look great. I know many more moms who have thought about it, but haven’t done it due to all the recovery time and the mess (i.e., drains) that come with it. (Who’s got time for that!)

However, a new technology is making the process a little easier to deal with. It’s called TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive. TissuGlu is the first surgical adhesive of its kind, making a drain-free tummy tuck possible.

Drains are patients’ #1 tummy tuck complaint. NEW TissuGlu® makes a drain-free tummy tuck possible. Click To Tweet

Most patients find drains to be complicated when emptying and measuring the fluid and painful when they are removed. Drains require maintenance for 1-3 weeks after surgery and sometimes cause additional scarring. TissuGlu forms a strong bond between tissue layers, reducing spaces where fluid may collect, allowing your body to resorb fluid. This way the healing process is more natural without drains.

TissuGlu may reduce the need for drains after surgery. By using TissuGlu instead of drains, you may:

Return to normal activities more quickly
Experience less discomfort and pain than when drains are used
Have fewer invasive treatments for fluid management.

I’m not saying let’s all go out and get a tummy tuck. For some of us, exercise might do the trick. But for those mamas that have done the work and still have an area that doesn’t make them happy, then a tummy tuck might be an option for you. And thankfully, TissuGlu is making it a little less difficult to find your best self in your own body.

If you’re considering abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), ask your doctor if a drain-free tummy tuck with TissuGlu is right for you.

Get more information about TissuGlu by going to their website: www.tissuglu.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrainFreeTummyTucks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drainfreetummytucks

Important TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive Safety Information:

Indication

TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive is indicated for the approximation of tissue layers where subcutaneous dead space exists between the tissue planes in abdominoplasty.

Contraindications

Do not use in patients with known or suspected allergies to urethane-based or isocyanate-containing products.

Warnings

Do not use TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive in patients who have had prior exposure to TissuGlu^®. Immunological response associated with repeat TissuGlu^® exposure has not been studied.
The effectiveness for the treatment of patients with BMI > 28 has not been established. Higher BMI patients have a propensity for fluid accumulation and may have an increased risk of seroma formation.
Effectiveness was not observed in weight loss patients undergoing abdominoplasty. Weight loss patients have a propensity for fluid accumulation and may have an increased risk of seroma formation and aspiration.

Benefits

TissuGlu^® may reduce the need for drains after surgery. By using TissuGlu^® instead of drains, you may:

Return to normal activities more quickly
Experience less discomfort and pain than when drains are used
Have fewer invasive treatments for fluid management. The results showed that 73% of TissuGlu^® patients had no treatments after surgery. However, some patients did require additional invasive treatments including reinsertion of drains.

Risks

Clinical studies were performed using TissuGlu^®. There were no increased safety risks with the use of TissuGlu^® than when drains were used. Potential complications associated with the use of the device and the tummy tuck procedures include seroma (fluid) formation. These complications may require treatments such as drain placement and/or fluid removal by needle, which may be performed in the operating room. Additional potential complications include wound healing issues, rash/redness, surgical site or incision infection, scarring, hematoma (bruise or swelling), incision separation, and immunological reaction.

Safety Information:

For full safety information please visit http://tissuglu.com, contact your doctor, or call Cohera Customer Support at 1-800-641-7458.

Disclaimer:

TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive is currently approved for sale in the United States for the approximation of tissue layers where subcutaneous dead space exists between the tissue planes in abdominoplasty. TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive received European CE Mark in 2011, where it is approved for large flap surgical procedures such as abdominoplasty. TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive is not approved for sale in any other region. Any questions related to the indication for use should be directed to your Cohera Medical Account Manager or to Cohera Medical Corporate Clinical Affairs. Refer to the complete TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive Directions for Use for prescribing and usage information.

Show them We Appreciate: Donut What We Would Do Without You {Free Printable}

May 29, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 50 Comments

National Donut Day is one of the sweetest days on the calendar and it’s this Friday! Say thank you to those special people in your life by including this “Donut What We Would Do Without You” printable and win this $50 Dunkin Donuts gift card to help with the fun!

The folks at Dunkin Donuts have sweetened the pot with a $50 DD gift card for one lucky mamachallenge reader! Thank you for this sponsored post.

Donuts. Doughnut. DO-NUTS.

However you wanna spell it, they’re good. And just bringing a box of donuts to the office, a meeting or showing up early morning with a box for breakfast at home always makes everyone happy.

Besides showing you have good taste, it shows that even with all things you had to do in your day, you took the time to stop and get something to say thank you! That’s true appreciation – for your team, your department, the mail carrier, your teachers, your dry cleaner or even your police department.

So we put together this adorable little printable to go with your drop off of donuts to show your true appreciation! Whether you want a poster, a notecard or whatever, you can scale this printout for what you need! And of course, it’ll look great paired with your drop off of Dunkin Donuts on National Donut Day!

ABOUT NATIONAL DONUT DAY

National Donut Day is Friday, June 2, and Dunkin’ Donuts is ringing in the day in a most delicious, delightful and delectable way, offering guests in the Dallas – Fort Worth area a free donut of their choice (while supplies last) with the purchase of any beverage. The offer is good all day on June 2 at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide.

To make the day even sweeter, at 10:00 a.m. on June 2, Dunkin’ will deliver 60 dozen donuts to the Dallas Police Department headquarters at 1400 S. Lamar Street, Dallas, to be distributed to all substations. Dunkin’ is proud to support law enforcement and is making sure the officers have the opportunity to participate in the free donut offer. National Donut Day was originally established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to honor women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. The holiday is traditionally celebrated on the first Friday of June.

DONUT WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT YOU PRINTABLE

Here are several sizes for your use. There’s even a PDF so you can print it straight to a 8.5 x 11 inch paper, landscape.

Download /// PDF (8.5 x 11 inch paper) / Notecard (perfect for a small note with a Dunkin Donuts gift card) / 5 x 7 poster or note

What a way to celebrate with a $50 gift card to Dunkin Donuts.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer Sippin: Frozen Rose Slushie (Frosé)

May 24, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 5 Comments

Counting down to summer in 3, 2, 1…One taste of this frosé (that’s fancy for frozen rose slushie), you’ll be ready to for the lazy days cooling off next to the pool or at least enjoy dreaming about it.

Thanks to Total Wine & More® in Allen for kicking off the summer right with this sponsored post.

Total Wine & More® its new doors in Allen with a grand opening party, it was time to call in the troops for an evening without the kids and with the girls.

If you’ve never to a Total Wine (aka America’s Wine Superstore), the typical store has 8,000 different wines from every wine-producing region in the world, including more than 2,000 wines not available in any other store and more than 2,000 beers. Plus they do sampling, tastings and classes to educated you and help you to appreciate your wine much more. Tonight’s event included delicious apps, cheese pairings, tastings from favorite makers (Conundrum and Moet!), etchings, games, and lots of laughs. Plus it was another wonderful opportunity to browse the huge selection of wines, whiskeys and other spirits that line the many aisle of Total Wine & More®.

Most the time we are so busy we grab just the names and tastes we know, but this really grabbed my attention for finding a new wine for the summer.

Being a huge fan of rosé, I was drawn to this beautiful pink display. So of course, this Rose from Brin de Rose caught my attention, too with it’s beautiful packaging and the notes of pepper, floral notes, and that price! I walked out with several bottles ready to take on the summer head on!

Headed home in the car, I had remembered chatting with a friend a few weeks ago about planning for the summer to spend more time “taking it all in” slowly and savoring the simpleness of all our experiences. The sound of my daughter giggling when she laughs, the aroma of the earth after it rains, the taste of summer when you sip a rose…these were the things we wanted to make sure we enjoyed.

Somewhere in the conversation, the idea of a frozen rosé popped into our heads. We thought we were geniuses! We had created the best idea since sliced bread. Until of course, I Googled it and found out that we weren’t so smart since half the world had popped up with the same idea. However, the recipes we found for something so simple seemed to take too long (who wants to wait for frozen wine ice cubes) or seemed a little too boring (rose and ice.) We wanted something bright, fresh and like the taste of summer.

Challenge accepted.

Our Frozen Rosée Slushy or the fancy name, Frosé, adds all the best parts of summer with berries and lemons blended with rosé, St-Germaine, honey and ice. The St-Germain is a French liqueur made with Elderflower which is a flower that tastes like like honey and basically the taste of summer and pairs famously with lemons. I was thinking this combination was the perfect pairing for my summer adult slushy, slushee or whatever you want to call it.

I love when good ideas come together…and then you put them into the blender.

And with almost no prep, you have the perfect taste of summer. Cold, in a glass, and ready to be sipped, savored, and enjoyed. Just like summer. If you plan to have

Summer Frozen Rosé Slushee (Frosé)

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Description

Savor summer with this summer sipper perfect for staying cool with those hot, sultry days!

Ingredients

Scale

1 bottle of Rosé
1/4 cup St-Germaine (add more if you love Elderflower as much as I do!)
2 cups frozen strawberries (unsweetened)
2–3 tablespoons honey (local honey is always best!)
1–2 cups ice cubes

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients in the blender, adding ice slowly until preferred consistency.

Notes

I like a drier Rosé. You can choose a sweeter blend and omit/reduce honey for your taste.)
This recipe makes a pitcher at a time. Half this recipe for 2-3 glasses of wine (just right for you and your friend.)

Visit the Total Wine & More® in Allen, Texas at 190 Stacy Road in Allen, Texas or any of the other locations closest to you.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Total Wine & More. The opinions and text are all mine.

Teaching Thank You: “Fuller Hands Bigger Heart” {Free Printable}

May 15, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

In today’s world of calls, texts and 140-character tweets, thank you isn’t said enough. Take time to say it and teach it with this “Fuller Hands, Bigger Hearts” Thank you Printable.

Thank you to Cheerios for this sponsored post and reminding us all “thank you” is always trending.

THANK YOU.

It’s the most important phrase that can move mountains and make all the difference.

However, it’s completely under used, under appreciated, and in my opinion, under taught as it should be.

Think about it.

After a long day of managing your family’s to dos, handling a big work situation or even just picking up a friend’s child from practice at the last minute when you have so much you need to do, doesn’t seem that big a deal when you hear a “thank you.”

And I have plenty of times on the phone trying to handle a late bill, a prescription, whatever – and the moment you’re about to scream and pull out each and every follicle of hair, when you take a deep breathe, and let the operator know “I appreciate you, thank you,” progress seems to just kick in like magic.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

It even feels good saying it. But we don’t near as often as we should.

I actual have given to a page in my planner devoted to my thank you list. These are the folks that not only need a thank you said to them, but because they went the extra mile on my behalf, I feel I need to reach out with a thank you note and make a big point to them that I sincerely appreciate them.

This month the list got real long when I realized how much I appreciated my extended day (on-premises afterschool care) teachers at my children’s school. Each and every day they take care of the kids while I complete my workday, create crafts and activities, feed them a snack, and care for them until I pull up, normally on fumes and completely out of breath (and in the nick of time.)

It really amazes me that not only do they monitor them, they interact with them, they instill a sense of responsibility with chores, and recognize the kids when they do something good. AND when I pick them up, the kids sometimes ask if they can stay just a little bit longer…wow.

Bless them. Each and every one of them.

So when Cheerios asked for us to reach out to someone we knew that needed to be recognized and thanked as part of their #GetOneGiveProgram, it didn’t take long for me and the kids to know exactly a group of teachers that sometimes don’t get the “teacher’s gift” since they aren’t the listed homeroom teacher to a huge number of kids of all ages and grades!

As part of the program, we wanted all the extended day teachers know they were appreciated so I created this simple card to go with the specially-marked Cheerios boxes you can only find at Walmart. This little note was easy to print off and give to anyone who handles so much for so many other people.

From start to finish, the kids had so much putting the “care packages” together. They added their own touches to the thank you notes using a few Cheerios, glue and finishing them off with their signatures. The next day I loaded up the boxes with the notes and went to school to pick them up and deliver! As you can see the kids loved surprising the teachers.

And I think you can also see that the teachers loved having a reminder that they were appreciated and of course, THANK YOU.

The next time someone utters a thank you to you, remember how it makes you feel.

Then remember to share that same feeling by saying thank you to others and often.

Thank you. It feels good to get one and give one doesn’t it?

Instructions to download your free printable (4X6 size):

Design one includes a stencil for lining the heart with Cheerios. {Click here to download.}

Design Two includes an outline of the heart {Click here to download.}

Find your code inside specially marked packages in stores and enter it on http://wm6.walmart.com/Gluten-Free-Cheerios to send a coupon for a free box of Cheerios to someone that matters.

Picnicking with Pinots: Napa Valley Moms Trip

May 9, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 112 Comments

Want to really make a mark this Mother’s Day? Take it from this mama, it’s about the memories. Here’s a look at my adventures with mine: Napa Valley Moms Trip.

Thank you to JCPenney for sponsoring this post and the reminder to tell all the mamas, “you’re #SOWORTHIT!”

Being a mom is a lot like fine wine….the older you get the better you get.

…But take it from me, don’t wait to savor her, appreciate her as much as you can, when you can.

They always say that one day you’ll really appreciate your mom. Like REALLY appreciate her.

In a way that you really can truly understand when you become one yourself.

At that time you get it. And man does it hit you like a big bag of bricks.

Thankfully, while my mother doesn’t live near, she lives close enough if I need something she’s there.

Especially since I’ve had children, she’s there in no time flat.

Without her, there are so many times I wouldn’t have been able to get to a meeting, get my hair done, give birth, go on my dream vacation, cry in the bathroom in peace and quiet. She’s made it happen – whatever, whenever I needed.

And when she goes to leave, to return home to my dad who’s fended for himself while she “Gigis,” the kids and I both walk her out to the car, give her hugs, share kisses, and then the tears begin. All of us.

A few years ago I had a chance to do something with my mama and escape together.

Off to Napa we went for a week of fun and fancy free to inhale as much as Napa Valley we could – and over my birthday at that.

During our drive from San Francisco to Napa and then on to Calistoga (a drive that everyone should take – it’s SO WORTH IT), we talked, we laughed, and plotted out our week. I had arranged for a few hot spots, but we left our schedule open to make sure we didn’t squeeze the joy out of our relaxing week trying to get all my hot spots on the itinerary (I do that.)

Funny enough – we hit almost everything including some that I didn’t think that were possible including Bouchon. One of the items on my list I was able to secure was a tour and tasting at Cliff Lede. A vineyard and winery devoted to classic rock music, the mood of the place rocked (and so did the wine.)

Really whole trip was like that. One experience after another, we found a beautiful space, drank beautiful wine, enjoyed some beautiful meat, cheese and other accoutrements, and just enjoyed the space, the moment and our company.

However, it really was just lots of picnics we were having all of Northern California!

Since our getaway, we haven’t had a chance to escape like that again, but we do reminisce about it all the time. And the last time the kids went to visit her, she mentioned she’d love to have a picnic with the kids but she didn’t have a “proper picnic basket.”

I wasn’t sure exactly what a proper basket was but I was sure I would know it when I saw it.

Sitting in my head, that statement took me back to our “picnics” in Napa, so when Mother’s Day rolled around this year, it was obvious that I was on the search for the right picnic basket for her.

So off to JCPenney I went and discovered a vast selection of picnic baskets. From old school baskets to insulated ones, with straps with or without plates, there was a basket for everyone.

And then I found it – a proper picnic basket. Beautiful and picturesque, just looking at it reminding me of all the moments we had in Napa picnicking with our pinots.

But there was one thing missing…a bottle of Cliff Lede that I had picked up from the winery on our trip.

The perfect pairing. Just like us.

And just the way to say “YOU’RE SO WORTH IT, MOM” this Mother’s Day.

Looking for something for your mama this Mother’s Day or looking for a proper picnic basket of your own, head to JCPenney. Take a look at these baskets AND enter to win $25 JCPenney Gift Card Giveaway.

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Breakup with Your No-Break Policy

May 2, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

Feel so busy that the idea of a break makes you laugh? Actually, breaks make you better. A better employee. A better spouse. A better mom. It’s time to Breakup with Your No-Break Policy.

Thanks to Cafe Breaks for this sponsored post.

Break.

Spring break.

Summer break.

A long sound followed by “Did it break?”

Depending on the inflection in your voice and where you are in your life, those words can cause total and utter panic, sadness, and some pretty cringe-worthy reactions.

Of course they do – for many of us, especially moms, they actually translate as actual more work.

I know that in my head, the word “break” hasn’t ever been something that I have ever considered a positive.

If I was taking a break, I was missing out. (FOMO would be the right verbiage here.)

If I took a break, that meant I wasn’t getting it done.

If we’re talking spring or summer break, that’s work. I love my kids and love the opportunity to be with them more, but that means the cruise director / taxi driver hat comes out of storage. It’s work. Plan the camps, pack the vacations, keep the “mom, I’m bored” moments at bay – that’s all work.

That’s part of the reason I don’t normally sit down all down long for a break. I wait the whole day, when I can’t manage to do anything else at all OR it’s finally time to go to bed. Otherwise, if I took a break I could feel how tired my body and my brain really is. It’s just seemed easier to muscle through it and then let the pain of the day get to me all at one time.

And if someone saw me take a break, that seemed even worse. Like something we aren’t supposed to do. Like we weren’t deserving as a woman or a mom or a wife. We’re just supposed to keep on going. And perhaps that if I just kept on going, trudging through, that one day, one of those days that I had 48 hours worth of work in it to complete but thought I couldn’t mark it all off in one, I would get to the end of the list.

Then what happens???

Guess what…

More stuff.

Sometime between New Year’s resolutions and planning my “let’s get organized” calendar, I decided that this negative idea of a break that I had created in my head was total and dire crap.

That’s right. Crap.

Then and there, I decided to take a break.

B R E A K

A break from all the crazy things I had thought up in my head that being a “do-er,” something I very much held close to my heart as my title in life because I was always moving, going and getting it done, I was totally wrong.

What I really learned is that break I wasn’t taking and refusing to allow myself to enjoy, was actually the part I was really MISSING OUT on.

There’s nothing to prove with that break I wasn’t taking for myself. Actually studies have shown that just 15 minutes can make a big impact on your health and that 15 minutes can change your life. In actuality, that break that I was avoiding, that many of us insist we “don’t have time for” can make you change your mood, making you more effective, refreshed, and ready to take on the rest of the list.

So when you sit down to make your next list, schedule a break. Make it part of your day. Put it in your calendar. And don’t even feel guilty when you take it. Don’t let someone shift it to another time. Don’t think you need to hide in the closet or quietly run to the bathroom (unless that’s the only when you can get it), but do what you must to make sure that break happens.

That’s what makes Café Breaks make it easy for you to take that break.

It’s a reminder to stop, take a moment and savor something good that makes you happy. Every spoonful is like taking that necessary deep breath we should all do. Like meditation…but with chocolate. Best of all, they come in four, indulgent. gourmet coffee-inspired flavors and you can get them basically anywhere (hello, Kroger!)

And best of all, if you’re afraid that a little chocolate break is going to cause you to have to add time to your workout, think again. Just 100 calories.

That’s all. That’s all it takes for a break.

Just be careful not to eat it too fast…the idea is to take the break, not rush it just because it tastes good.

Just like in Kindergarten when we learned about the importance of naptime, that still holds true. Take a break. Enjoy your break. Live your break.

Otherwise, what’s it’s all worth?

Well, one a day at the spa wouldn’t be hurt to help you take a break, huh? Enter to win a $500 SpaFinder gift card!

Café Breaks Spa Weekend with Mom

The Right Way to Do Babe’s Chicken

April 26, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

Looking for the best bonafide homestyle, family-style, fried chicken experience in Texas? Look no further than Babe’s. But if it’s your first time, then you better learn the rules. Here’s our guide to The Right Way to do Babe’s Chicken.

Thank you to Backpack Wine for this sponsoring this post.

Texas is a proud state so no doubt we fancy ourselves the best at a lot of things…

The best BBQ.
The best Tex Mex.
The best Steak.

And most definitely home to the best fried chicken.

Many lists will also reinforce that we’re home to the best place for real, deep south crunchy, perfect fried chicken.

And the name of that home is Babe’s. That’s right “chicken fried with Texas pride!

While a Babe’s Chicken House can now be found in nine locations around North Texas, the first Babe’s was founded (and still stands) in the Unique Dining Capital of Texas in 1993.

Even typing the words I can begin to aroma of the buttery, crispy fried chicken when you open the door…

Unfortunately, there are only two things that stand between you and the smorgasbord of pickle salad, creamy corn and biscuits make its way to you at the table.

Your choice of Fried Chicken or Chicken Fried Steak and the WAIT.

That’s right – it can be a long one, especially if you hit up a Babe’s on a weekend.

There are no reservations and there’s no bar to enjoy a few cocktails to make the ticking clock seem less daunting.

But wait – it’s the wait that almost makes Babe’s a mandatory food experience…as long as you do it the right way.

How to do Babe’s Chicken the Right Way

First, if you plan to go to Babe’s (and you should), make sure you don’t eat much that day.

You’re going to want every part of your belly to enjoy the family-style experience you’re gonna embark on. Also know that the menu slightly differs at each location. If you hit up the original, they’re still serving just the staples but they’re just that good you don’t need the extras. It’s just what you expect from a homemade dinner of fried goodness served with creamy, buttery mashed potatoes with country gravy, Grandma’s creamed corn that will change your life (it’s got a slighty sweet, buttery and smooth texture) and perfectly made pillows of buttermilk biscuits that you’ll want to eat with butter, then gravy, and honey (or sorghum.)

But if you go to some of the other spots, you might find rotisserie chicken, green beans, and even dessert. So call ahead just in case you’re looking for something good. However, you can’t go wrong at all – unless of you have a gluten allergy. Then you need to make the call:)

Second, bring friends and family.

Babe’s is more fun the more people you have with you. It’s a great place to catch up, celebrate, have dinner together which is something many of us don’t make time for anymore and should.

Third, don’t forget the chairs.

If you have a truck, you can always sit on the tailgate while you wait or in the many seats you’ll find outside Babe’s. But there’s no guarantee you’re gonna score a few – especially all together. So bring the chairs. Also bring a deck of cards or anything else that’s gonna keep the kids happy while you wait. Waiting is really half the fun here.

Fourth, one special thing about Babe’s is that it’s BYOB.

That’s right, you can (and must) bring your own beverages (alcoholic ones that is.) While some folks bring beer, some bring bubbles (I’ve done that a few times), but those bottles can be a real pain, too. And let’s not even talk about forgetting the corkscrew.) If you want to make it easy on you and still enjoy your Babe’s experience, pack up a little ice chest of these small cans. Perfectly sized and perfectly paired, Backpack Wine® comes in a 250 ml. convenient, recyclable slimline can and right now in two palate pleasing flavors: Cheeky Rose® and Snappy White®.

Best of all you don’t have to remember a corkscrew (or even a glass)! Just grab it and go.

If you consider yourself a wino, then you might think a “canned wine” is blasphemy, but both wines are from Washington (known for some amazing wines in the Columbia Valley.) The white is a riesling-based wine with a touch of pinot blanc and the rose is also pinot blanc but blended with sangiovese for color and for the floral, strawberry, rose petal flavors that you want from a rose. And the can had nothing to do with the process or changing the taste of the wine.

Fifth, Prepare for a good time!

Babe’s is about being in the moment and enjoying the people, food and experiences you love most. There will be music, dancing, and maybe if you’re lucky, some singing by the staff too. So remember: wear your comfy pants and get ready to smile! (Unless of course, you eat just one more biscuit with honey than you should have.)

Now that’s the right way to do Babe’s.

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DONUT WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT YOU PRINTABLE

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In today’s world of calls, texts and 140-character tweets, thank you isn’t said enough. Take time to say it and teach it with this “Fuller Hands, Bigger Hearts” Thank you Printable.

Want to really make a mark this Mother’s Day? Take it from this mama, it’s about the memories. Here’s a look at my adventures with mine: Napa Valley Moms Trip.

Feel so busy that the idea of a break makes you laugh? Actually, breaks make you better. A better employee. A better spouse. A better mom. It’s time to Breakup with Your No-Break Policy.

Looking for the best bonafide homestyle, family-style, fried chicken experience in Texas? Look no further than Babe’s. But if it’s your first time, then you better learn the rules. Here’s our guide to The Right Way to do Babe’s Chicken.

How to do Babe’s Chicken the Right Way

First, if you plan to go to Babe’s (and you should), make sure you don’t eat much that day.

Second, bring friends and family.

Third, don’t forget the chairs.

Fourth, one special thing about Babe’s is that it’s BYOB.

Fifth, Prepare for a good time!

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