Style Archives - Page 3 of 8 - mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents

10 Reasons Why Children’s Place Needs to Add My Size

November 30, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 25 Comments

Shopping for your kids is way more fun than myself – especially my little girl. Many times she gets compliments for her outfits and then I get the look at me that says “but what happened to her mom?” Let’s be honest, when it’s made for a 4 year-old it’s gonna be cute…but The Children’s Place newest line has been asking, “hey do you have that in my size?”

1. Girl’s Fur Cuff Addie Boots:

Because everyone needs some boots with the fur…unless you live in FloRida (see what I did there?)

2. Sleeveless Belted Brocade Flare Dress

For those days when I want to look bit more put together, but really I’m screaming on the inside and want to go to sleep….but’s only 8 a.m. 3. Sequin Kayla Flats

Flats make make it easier to be Superwoman. Sequin flats make me feel fabulous while I do it.

4. Quilted Heart Purse:

Because it’s never too old or young for Chanel(esque.)

5. Short Sleeve Metallic Dot Jacquard Dress:

Jackie O would approve and then ask for a matching gloves.

6. Chunky Glitter Square Purse:

Some purchases aren’t practical. They’re just fun.

7. Long Sleeve Flannel Button Down:

Yes, this is a little boys shirt, but anything in the “boyfriend” style (jeans, blazers, watch, etc.) makes me happy and hides my bloat.

8. Button Front CPO Jacket:

Not exactly a “boyfriend” style I would wear, but I’m pretty sure my husband could rock this.

9. Sparkle Bow Ballet Flat:

What’s wrong with buying two pairs of sparkly shoes? Don’t judge me.

10. Faux Fur Vest:

Fur and pink? Of course, we all need this in our closet.

But until Children’s Place decides to change their name to “Mama and Me’s Place,” we’re stuck playing dress up with the kiddos or I need to think about buying two or three of them and glue ’em together.

Talking Straight about Curly Hair

November 23, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 30 Comments

When Dove Hair asked curly-haired gals like myself to try out their new (and first ever) Dove #LoveYourCurls Emoji Keyboard, it wasn’t just about a cute new set of emoticons to add to our smartphone. In Dove Hair fashion, they were really looking deeper for women to get talking (in person and online) about their curly hair. You see for many of us, those beautiful tresses we normally throw around aren’t really naturally soft, smooth and straight. I don’t remember a time I didn’t straighten my naturally curly hair, sometimes working 2 hours or more to try to first blow dry it straight, then take a flat iron to make it smooth and then take a curling iron to put the curl back in my hair. However, it’s just what I’ve always done.

We’ll until now.

One trip to the salon, the lady asked if she could just style my hair. She had noticed a little corkscrew action coming up in my curly hair and she wanted to see how curly it was. Since I didn’t have anywhere to go, I let her do it her way – until she wheeled my chair around and I saw that the curly mane I smoothed down daily from fear someone would think I was Tina Turner…looked beautiful. I was still kinda shocked so I went home to show my then-boyfriend-now-husband what he thought…

To my surprise he loved it. Like loved it so much he asked me to wear it like that more often. So I continued to style it the “real way” from time to time…even our engagement pictures, I used my diffuser and a little gel to style my hair. To this day, those are some of my favorite photos.

Funny it took less time to style the curly way than the way I typically did my hair, but for some reason, I suppose out of routine (and thinking the grass is always greener), I still yearned for straight hair.

Fast forward about 10 years, I was back to an arduous routine of wash, blowdry, straighten and curl to style my hair.

Then my 4 year-old daughter, who also inherited the dark, curly mane came into my bathroom and picked up some of my defrizzing product.

“Mama, can you please make my hair look like that,” pointing to the lady on the front of the bottle that had long STRAIGHT as a nail hair.

“Baby,” I said. “You don’t want your hair to look like THAT! Your hair is beautiful just the way it is with your perfect curls.”

“Then why do you use it on your curls, mama?”

Yep – that’ll get you every time. Hearing your own words work against you in a “do as I say, not as I do” kinda moment.

That’s when I realized I wasn’t being real. I wasn’t being real to her or to me and I wasn’t setting a good example of how I wanted her to view her own beauty. The way I wanted her to see herself everyday in a way that made her proud of the way she looks and feels on the inside and the out.

And while getting all of us to change our perception of beauty must be on a personal level, Twitter is helping to make a change on a social one. Every time you share a #LoveYourCurls moment on Twitter, a custom Dove Curly Hair Emoji will appear in the tweet.

So for all of us curly-headed women who feel the need to kill all those healthy hair cells with tons of heating tools to look like that “other” girl, consider just looking like you for a change. That means curly hair and all. And while you practice a little authenticity, consider it online as well as offline. There’s no need to just find anything to represent you on the standard Emoji keyboard. There’s one of your very own curly-headed emoticon just a free click away.

Download the Dove Love Your Curls Emojis in the App Store and Google Play Store to show you #LoveYourCurls!

Dove Hair Website // Dove Hair Facebook // Dove Hair Twitter // Dove Hair Instagram // Dove Hair Pinterest

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Dove Hair, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #LoveYourCurls #pmgdove http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Fall Trend Alert: Get WORN, Give Help

October 1, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

As much as I love a good pair of yoga pants, I realize that the real world sometimes require real clothes. Thankfully the cooler seasons means my favorite part of fall fashion – LAYERS – sweaters, cardigans and wraps to keep you warm and fabulously chic.

Retail stores started teasing us with autumn hues back in summer, but what if I told you there’s a place where you can buy trendy clothes and help needy families get a little bit more cash?

WORN is a fashion-driven social enterprise of Catholic Charities of Fort Worth that provides refugee women living in the U.S. an opportunity to utilize the traditional skill of knitting to increase their families’ household income, thus empowering them to rise above poverty.

And these talented women have been busy creating the new fall line at WORN that is full of gorgeous accessories, like this Fox Trot Circle Scarf that will instantly make you look like a million bucks, even if you’ve only had three hours of sleep.

This scarf is versatile and will make you look effortlessly chic. You can add it to a pair of skinnies, long-sleeve tee and riding boots for a GNO outfit or accessorize a jewel-tone skirt for a touch of glam during a date night or a Holiday party later this year.

Each product, like the scarf, is hand-knit by refugee women out of their home, overcoming significant barriers such as language, transportation and child care. brand provides supplemental income to refugees who hand-knit the products – 100% of the net profits are used for women’s wages and CCFW programs designed to end poverty in the community.

Women like M.D.H. who born in a jungle between Burma and Thailand, but fled to a Thai refugee camp after her parent’s village was burned by the army. She lived in the camp for 20 years before they were given the opportunity to come to the United States in 2008. Today, M.D.H. can read English, drive a car and is able to provide for her family doing something she loves, crocheting.

: M.G.

: M.D.H.

And there’s M.G. who lived in a refugee camp for 21 years. She resettled in Fort Worth with her husband and his parents in February 2014. They are expecting their first child and WORN will provide extra income for baby items and allow me to stay home with the baby.

These women have fled from war-torn countries where they faced persecution and possibly death to find hope, freedom and a future in the United States. Each time I wear the Fox Trot Scarf, I may look sizzlin’, but my heart will be even more warm knowing that this small accessory has brought happiness and prosperity to these families.

SEE the WORN Collection

Bounce Better with Sports Bras from Title Nine

September 30, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 20 Comments

One of my first blog posts was about my #mamachallenge to find the right way to “Tame the Ta-Tas.”

Hitting the gym takes on a whole new meaning if you are a gal with some sizable girls (and I’m not talking about your children here!)

Who’s worn two bras to stop the bounce? Who couldn’t wait to rip their sports bra off after a workout? Who’s bra straps are digging into their shoulders right now? We want to know, and we want to help! Read more in our latest blog post (link in bio). #bravangelists

A photo posted by Title Nine (@titlenine) on Aug 12, 2015 at 11:31am PDT

The lack of good sports bras is often the biggest deterrent to regular exercise. The average American woman wears a 36C bra, however the vast majority of sports bras are built for A and B-cup women. However, Title Nine claims to have a solution to our bra dilemma. They tested thousands of bras and found just the right ones to not only support out workouts and our curves, whether you’re a 32AA or 40EEE.

In addition to the fear of being potentially judged for using bad form or potentially passing out during my workout, the concern that the girls are plopping around as I leap into a burpee or do a set of jumping jacks. But the Title Nine expert bra fit specialist, i.e. their bravangelists, will personally fit you to ensure that you leave with the right support.

Hallelujah for hooters!

And this isn’t just a treat for me, anyone in North Texas can find the support you’ve been searching for at the Title Nine Dallas Fit Fest on Wednesday, October 7 and Thursday, October 8. They have a variety of styles, colors and sizes to meet every woman’s needs, even the nursing mom.

To RSVP for the Title Nine Dallas Fit Fest, 7 and 8, click .

And if you’re not in the Dallas area, no fret, you can get the royal treatment, too:

Visit your local store. Click to find a location near your home.

Use the .

Chat with a bravangelist by phone at 800.342.4448.

I don’t know about you, but the idea of having full support while completing my workout brings a smile to my face. And since everyone should feel a little bounce in their step and not in their boobs, I’m giving away one personalized fitting at your local Title Nine store AND for a bra of your choice.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You’re Invited…Party in Pink with Talbots for Breast Cancer

September 23, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 2 Comments

Fall is my favorite season for of course, obvious reasons – the biggest one being that my name is Autumn.

For this Texan, it means cooler temperatures, pumpkin everything and time to pull out those beautiful sweaters and ponchos you see on Pinterest we rarely get to wear. It also means that everything goes pink – even me – to support a cause that is very near and dear to me, breast cancer awareness.

To kick off its second annual Party in Pink, Talbots is rolling out the pink carpet for its unveiling of their new ‘pink’ collection their Northpark Center in Dallas on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 6 – 8 p.m…and you’re invited!

With every purchase from the eight-piece line, 20% of the net proceeds will benefit National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. early detection, education and support services. This limited collection includes a variety of clothes, accessories and outerwear such an adorable pink heart sweater, a cozy striped wrap (my personal favorite) and pink stone jewelry.

There will be drawings for gift cards and as all good Dallas parties should be, refreshments will be served! Plus, you can shop the new collection on opening day (The breast cancer collection will be available in stores and online at talbots.com through the end of October.) So wear your best pink, strike a pose on the pink carpet for a “photo op” and tag #WearHeartsGiveHope.

Want to be a part of the fun? Just RSVP to DALLASRSVP@TALBOTS.COM and you’re in!

As a woman, you can’t not be passionate about breast cancer. Stats show that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer and as the #2 leading killer of women, you’re going to be affected by breast cancer in some way.

Organizations like the NBCF help bring awareness and encourage our sisters, mothers, daughters and friends to get mammographies that can possible detect it before it’s too late.

And if buying a pink weater saves one more life, then sign me up.

Moms Must Do for Makeup Must Haves: Beauty Brands

August 30, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

Let’s be real.

Makeup can be intimidating and (sometimes) completely unnecessary.

When you accidentally oversleep and still have to get the kids up, pack lunches, and throw on your “good” yoga pants, choosing the perfect nude lipstick is the LAST thing on your mind.

And shopping for makeup can sometimes be just as scary. So many products. So little time. I’m all about the 5-10 minute makeup routine. I need good products that will hide my exhaustion and add just a touch of glam – concealer (because moms don’t sleep, bloggers don’t sleep and a mom that is a blogger really doesn’t sleep), mascara to pry open the eye, powder to keep everything in place, blush to give my face a little bit of definition and a lipstick or even gloss that will make me feel I can take on the world….or at least the day.

Beauty Brands is a great one-stop shop for your makeup must haves and all your beauty needs. From haircare to skincare to makeup and even fragrances, they offer tons of professional products at a price that won’t cause early aging. And the newest location at Village on the Parkway in Addison is right smack dab in the middle of other restaurants and Whole Foods, making it a great place to stop on your lunch break or while running errands.

The store is bright, modern and welcoming to everyone, and there are smiling faces that greet you at the door as soon as you walk in. If you’re a little nervous about makeup, Beauty Brands has beauty specialists, highly-skilled and knowledge professionals, who will help you products perfect for your skin and your lifestyle. The beauty specialists make your shopping experience pleasant and stress free. You can go to them with any question and they are happy to point you in the right direction. The specialists will guide to the right product that will not only make you feel beautiful, but also keep you skin, hair and nails healthy. And they won’t push their own agenda or try to sell you items you don’t need.

One important thing to note is that Beauty Brands only carries professional products like my Peter Thomas Ross , Origins, L’Occitane, and Philosophy are all there ready to be sampled and taken home for your convenience. And they have their own line called KCO that is also very affordable with great quality makeup brushes.

But if you’d like to change your hair color or maybe get a haircut, Beauty Brands has a full spa and salon where they can do anything from a blow out to a mani/pedi or a spray tan if you need it. The salon is clean, has multiple stations and the stylists consistently provide the star treatment for their guests. In a rush, I had a blowout and it latest four days (which for me is amazing), to skim down my morning routine and still make me feel like it was ok to rear my head from the car for school.

Best of all, [Tweet “Beauty Brands Rewards Program: Discounts, competitors’ matching/pricing & accept their coupons.”] (‘m never below saving some money!)

Beauty Brands is a win all around. It’s perfect for people who want to just drop by quickly for a couple of basic products; it’s ideal for those who switch up their routine every month with the latest trends.

Now if only I could find someone who could come to my house and apply the makeup, I would have it all. That’s a whole ‘nother app service to discuss…

It’s your turn – what are your favorite beauty products, and what is one product you have to wear every day?

Not-to-Miss Shops at Southlake Town Square

July 13, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Everybody in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (AKA DFW), knows there’s only one thing we like to do better besides EAT…it’s SHOP. And we have every option you can imagine from layout, location, price point…you name it! And in Southlake, the shopping goes down in a picturesque setting right out of the 50s appropriately called Southlake Town Square.

Equipped a post office, city offices, movie theatre, and several beautiful buildings all set in several “town square” units, you can spend days walking the area’s retail centers, eateries and even movie theater! So just because it may seem like you’re walking through a page out of Patty Duke or Donna Reed, the 120+ stores here are first-class fashion and food; and exclusive to Tarrant County or even Southlake Town Square!

Photo from 2014 Trending LIVE Fashion show at Southlake Town Square.

While you’ll find your favorites like Gap, Banana Republic and Anthropologie, you can’t miss some of these unique shopping and eateries.

1. Malouf’s // website

With only two locations in Lubbock and Southlake, for 65 years Malouf’s has offered the finest merchandise from the top designers around the world. Full of all the top named brands for him and for her, the store also offers one-on-one consultations at your home, office or in the store with stylists will give you expert advice and make your shopping experience rewarding and effortless.

2. Soft Surroundings // website

Soft Surroundings is a unique shopping experience. Rather than simply selling merchandise, Soft Surroundings cultivates a lifestyle of well-being and self-preservation. Today’s woman is learning the value of “me” time and the necessity of putting herself on her long list of things “to do.” She values contentment and simplicity. She commits herself to this lifestyle in everything she wears and everything she does, even while sleeping.

3. HMK // website

HMK is a new Hallmark experience. If you are like me and feel like everything should be monogrammed; this is your store. HMK helps you create beautiful gifts, cards and accessories and discover something surprising. Need a gift, this is your place.

4. Elaine Turner // website

Texas-born Elaine Turner created her first handbag selling it to Neiman Marcus. After 15 years and several stores boutiques, Elaine Turner has expanded to include clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories for an accessible luxury brand.

5. TruFire // website The “Neighborhood Concept” presented by long time restauranteurs, David Kazarian & Jay Clark, with technology leader and retailer, Tony Weiss. The kitchen is the heart of the home and the engine of TruFire… With food and drink the best of conversations are had, celebrations erupt, alliances are struck and laughter can be heard for miles… don’t miss the artichokes, brunch or ahi tuna salad. Come and experience a unique and enjoyable atmosphere where “Life Happens In The Kitchen”

6. Harkins Cine Capri Theatre // website

The Cine Capri® auditorium is the pinnacle of motion picture presentation with the largest screens and the very best in projection and sound technology. The Cine Capri boasts a 30′ x 70′ screen, towering before 600 stadium-style Ultimate Rocker® love-seats. The signature gold waterfall drapes open to unveil each performance in a truly dramatic fashion. And don’t miss E.Leigh’s Boutique and the ME SPA.

And since Southlake Town Square is always expanding, there are several new hot spots that are OPENING SOON!

SPIN! Pizza // website

SPIN! Pizza is an authentic Neapolitan pizza experience with flavor-packed, fresh ingredients that are roasted daily in a stone oven before topping the pizzas. Come solo or with a group and enjoy energetic, cool, and contemporary atmosphere. Salads are fresh, fresh, fresh, with homemade dressing. Cool, creamy gelato. Vino by the glass or bottle.

Kendra Scott // website

Kendra Scott is a leading fashion accessories brand inspired by the personal experiences, travels and sense of community of its CEO and designer.The 1,067 square foot space, located across from Sephora and J. Crew, will showcase the coveted Kendra Scott Color Bar™, offering shoppers a unique, interactive experience to create customized jewelry in minutes. The Color Bar features a touch screen display monitor, iPads and a kaleidoscope of gemstones and jewelry silhouettes in both gold and rhodium silver settings. The stores shelves will boast signature and seasonal jewelry collections in an array of rich hues that embody the Kendra Scott look.

vineyard vines// website

vineyard vines will be located in a 3,365 square foot space, across from Michael Kors and Apple, where it will bring its signature Martha’s Vineyard style to Southlake Town Square. Best known for its whimsical neckties and smiling pink whale logo, vineyard vines was founded in 1998 on Martha’s Vineyard when brothers Shep and Ian Murray cut their “ties” with corporate America to start making ties that represented the “Good Life.” In addition to signature neckwear, vineyard vines offers a variety of clothing and accessories for men, women and children.

bluemercury //website

Also opening is Bluemercury, a leading luxury beauty retailer offering cosmetics, skin care, makeup, perfume, hair, and bath and body lines. Products in the 1,138 square foot store located near lululemon will include well-known, high-end luxury beauty brands such as Darphin, Skinceuticals, Trish McEvoy and Scott, vineyard vines and Bluemercury NARS, as well as their proprietary skincare brand, M-61, all supported with personalized assistance from a team of highly trained beauty experts.

Stores also not to miss that are unique to Tarrant County found only at Southlake Town Square include Boston Proper (upscale women’s fashion), Tyler’s (Active. Lifestyle. Apparel, Footwear, Eyewear & Accessories), and Whole Earth Provision Co. (high-quality products designed with Earth in mind.)

Southlake Town Square
1256 Main St. Suite
100 Southlake, Texas
website

Five Flip Flop Facts {Giveaway}

June 16, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 26 Comments

For Texans, we don’t just wear flip flops, we live in them.

We have summer flip flops and winter flip flops.

We have the crappy flip flops and fancy flip flops.

For me, I’ve been all of the world in my flips flops and have memories attached to each pair including my wedding flip flops (no, there not white.)

So it’s fitting that that on National Flip Flop Day, June 19, we take a moment to celebrate the all powerful flip flop.

1. The first flip flops date back to 4,000 B.C. in Egypt.

2. There are more than 22 references to sandals in the Bible.

3. The name for flip flop actually started as Jandels, for the word “Japanese Sandal” for its origins. Now learn how to say flip flop in more than 20 languages.

4. The world’s most expensive pair of flip flops will set you back $18,000.

5. Wearing flip flops can be hazardous on the feet, ankles and legs as well as harmful for posture and back health, but podiatrist-designed flip flops like Vionic Tide Sandals can hug the arch of the foot to give you the support you need to help realign the leg and posture. So basically, just like any pair of shoes, you still have to be smart about your flip flops just as you do your heels.

But let’s be honest, before you put on any pair of flip flops on your feet, you gotta have a good pedicure. There’s nothing worse than wearing a pair of flippies and then look down to see the cuticles and heels look like the Sedona desert. So Etre Bell, Northpark’s newest med spa is giving one lucky reader a mani/pedi package to make sure your toes look terrific before slipping on another pair of flip flops.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get Your Truly Radiant Perfect Smile

June 3, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 11 Comments

When you look at your life and the things you’ve done, which moments make you the proudest? Was it the moment you crossed the finish line of your first 5K? Was it getting up the guts to get on the stage to sing or make a big speech? Or was it something that didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but inside every time you reminisce about it, you end up with a smile from ear to ear and gets your heart beating just a little louder?

Those are truly radiant moments.

While I have a few stellar milestone moments, one of my most memorable was my first real TV segment starring…ME. Working in PR for more than a decade, I had always been happy to help others tell the story of their business on camera while I held their hand behind the camera. However, when a producer actually asked ME to be the one on camera, I was instantly was terrified.

Why would anyone listen to me? What is it that I could help viewers learn? Why would anyone ever want to watch me?

Ready to take on this mamachallenge in the face, I made it my goal to not just get in front of the camera, but I would make it something I was proud to share with others. After all, there would only be 50,000 people watching the segment, right? After a lot of blood, sweat and as you can see, many plastic baggies later, I had my first live segment in the can. And I was proud of it. You can even tell with my huge smile at the end of the video, it was a #TrulyRadiantFinish!”

Want to know the tip to making your #TrulyRadiantFinish moment picture perfect?

SMILE! And with the new ™ oral care line featuring a mouthwash, toothpaste and the only manual spin brush in the market, I can whiten my teeth in less than five days, prevent stains before they happen while strengthening enamel and leave my mouth feeling extra clean, clean and crisp with its minty fresh flavor.

[Tweet “Join ARM & HAMMER™ 6/4 for #TrulyRadiantFinish Twitter Party 9 AM PST/11 AM CST/Noon EST”]

Now through the end of 2015, Arm & Hammer™ Truly Radiant™ is commemorating our #TrulyRadiantFinish moments while helping to give back at the same time. Partnering with City of Hope Cancer Treatment Center, Arm & Hammer™ has launched a social media initiative encouraging women to share their radiant moments using #TrulyRadiantFinish across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For each use of the hashtag “#TrulyRadiantFinish, the company will donate $1 to City of Hope.

So what is your #TrulyRadiantFinish moment?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Arm & Hammer™.

Show Your Blogger Style with Dallas’ Katydid Collection

May 27, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

There are all kinds of bloggers, but basically it comes down to two classifications. There are the ones that are able to pull off runway looks walking through Walmart and then there are those who can’t because of all the kid crap (and more) that gets on us every day so we’re just happy we got clothes on at all.

Photo by Stephanie Drenka Photography

While we might all aspire to look like we some of my favorite fashion bloggers, but with all that a mom can go through in a day from coffee to counting sheep – I can’t imagine doing most of it in clothes that I can’t move around in. But just because it’s comfortable, it doesn’t mean it has to be dull and boring.

Photo by Stephanie Drenka Photography

And these shirts from the Katydid Collection are anything but boring. Not only does each design have a fantastic feel that you’ll love wearing all day, but also lots phrases to match the exact mood or occasion that you might be headed to. And for bloggers, there’s a whole line committed to your daily lingo…from #ootd to this one I love “Eat, sleep, blog and repeat,” you’ll make a bold statement without saying a word (that’s a great tagline for an ad campaign, right? wink, wink.)

Dallas-based apparel designer Katy Messersmith is founder and owner of Katydid Collection, the brand that transforms the basic casual sportswear tee into a fashion-forward staple of women’s closets throughout the South. Katydid’s designs are modern, flattering, and exude confidence. Katy is known for embracing saturated colors, mixed motifs, detailed embellishments, and incredible quality that endears repeat customers and continually captivates new audiences. Katy insists on the highest standards for her label, and the entire apparel line is made in the USA.

The label is sold in more than 5,000 boutiques across the nation and can also be purchased online at www.katydid.com.

« Previous Page