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Christmas at the Anatole

December 3, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 2 Comments

There’s tons to do in Dallas and Fort Worth during the holidays. One of our mamachallenge favorites is indoor fun for everyone at the Christmas at the Hilton Anatole. Thanks to the Anatole for the opportunity to experience this holiday spectacular!

Our family enjoys our staycations at the Hilton Anatole and when we went we loved Sparkle! at the Anatole. This year we are excited to visit Geppetto’s Marionette Theater featuring Winter Wonderland again. The hotel lights up with lots of fun and with other fun at activities for their Christmas at the Anatole!

Breakfast with Santa (and Mrs. Claus) is a big way to make Christmas magic. This special morning includes a big delicious breakfast buffet, storytelling with Santa Claus, fun on the Santa slides, gingerbread cookie decorating in the Gingerbread House, parking and a super scavenger hung with face painting, hot cocoa station and more. Breakfast with Santa is open to both hotel guests and the public, but seating is limited for purchasing the tickets without a hotel package.

Starting at $189, the Breakfast with Santa Package includes:

Guest room
Breakfast With Santa for up to two adults & two kids at 9 AM
Self-parking
Christmas At The Anatole Weekend Activities
- Holiday movie night at 7:30pm on day of arrival with kids popcorn bar
- Gift bag per child given at breakfast with Santa
- Breakfast With Santa Experience (Activities Include: breakfast with Santa, holiday scavenger hunt, face painting, Gingerbread Bakeshop cookie-making, stories at Rudolph’s Reindeer Barn, Snapshack photo opps, letters to Santa and more!)

*Photos with Santa are available from 11am – 1pm. Photo packages start from $25 and can be paid for directly to the photographer.

*Late checkout at 2 p.m. is included.

After you filled your belly and Santa has checked your list (twice), pair your morning with an afternoon adventure to Geppetto’s Marionette Theater featuring a Winter Wonderland. More than 60 hand-carved marionettes will take you on a magical experience as you meet the Winter Wizard, North Pole dancing elves and other toys from Santa’s workshop. My 4 year old and 7 year old love the theatre and I love seeing their faces light it when “it begins to snow.” Get your tickets for the show times in advance here.

Crazy kids loved Winter Wonderland at Geppeto’s Workshop in the Hilton Anatole! Their favorite part included Elsa, Ice Ice Baby and of course when it snowed! Just part of the fun at the #ChristmasattheAnatole weekend! Win yours now at MAMACHALLENGE.com! #Christmas #mamachallenge #Dallas #win

A photo posted by MamaChallenge.com | Autumn Reo (@autumnreo) on Nov 28, 2015 at 2:23pm PST

There are only a few more weeks left for Christmas at the Anatole activities, so make sure you buy your tickets today!

Bradenton Area: This Florida Beach Destination Will Surprise You

December 1, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 1 Comment

Need to get away? Florida is a popular destination, but we found a paradise not far off the beaten path that is an adventure you don’t need a ticket to enjoy. Welcome to the Bradenton Area!

Hello Mama Challenge readers! My name is Debra Muccio and you’ll usually find me over at FindingDebra.com, a lifestyle blog where I focus on my day to day adventures at home, on the road and in the air. From holiday recipes to Disney secrets, I’m your go-to girl. Recently. Autumn sent me to cover a travel destination for her, the Bradenton Area of Florida. It was there that I joined 3 other bloggers for an adventure I’ll never forget.

Anyone who knows me will testify to the fact that I spend A LOT of time in Florida. In fact, if you looked at my calendar recently, you’d find that this Texan visited the state four times this fall. But I have a little confession to make. Most of the time when I visit Florida, it has something to do with a certain mouse we all love. So when I had the opportunity to visit the Bradenton Area on behalf of Mama Challenge, I jumped at the chance.

What did I discover? That there is WAY more to Florida than my favorite theme parks and characters. Shhh! Don’t tell Mickey!

Follow along as I take you to a Florida beach destination that will surprise you, one set along Florida’s West Coast.

Bradenton Area Florida

Truth be told, I’d never heard of the Bradenton Area before, but one quick look at a map and I knew exactly where it was. Nestled between Tampa to the north and Sarasota to the south, you’ll find this area which includes the more city-like area of Bradenton, Longboat Key and a little known tourist destination called Anna Maria Island.

Whether you are looking to plan a family beach vacation or trying to add on a little rest and relaxation after a busy Orlando trip, this is the spot for you. It’s one of those destinations where you’ll find families coming back year after year. How do I know? I met many of them.

Let’s start with why people visit Florida year after year…the beaches!

The Beaches to Visit

The Bradenton Area has many beaches and they are all so very different. I’m talking about 16 miles of sand in this area. While the rain kept us from spending more time at the beach and from actually getting in the water (seriously, Mother Nature did not cooperate those 3 days), the moments spent visiting the beaches were amazing. These are just 3 of the beaches in the area. One beach in particular had me in awe.

Manatee Beach – Located in the heart of Anna Maria Island, this beach is close in proximity to everything and is more for families with kids. It has many amenities perfect for families, including a cafe, restrooms, water fountains and gift shop. The playgrounds are incredible and located right on the sand!

Bean Point – Located at the very northern tip of Anna Maria Island, this beach is for those wanting a more serene and quiet spot. It will not disappoint.

Coquina Beach – This is the beach that stole my heart. Why? Well, I’m from Texas and let’s just say I’ve always been enamored with seashells. I’ve visited a few Florida beaches before and there were shells here and there, but let me tell you that Coquina Beach blew me away. At one point I was walking on nothing but shells. It was incredible and I cannot wait to take my daughter back. She would literally spend all day collecting shells.

Where to Eat

Food. It’s at the heart of nearly every vacation you take. You not only want a great destination but you want to experience amazing and unique food. The Bradenton Area did not disappoint!

The Sandbar – From the very first night on Anna Maria Island on, we were spoiled rotten by the generosity of the restaurants we visited. In fact, that very first night could not have been spent on a more beautiful beach. Yes, our dinner was spent watching the incredible sunset with our toes in the sand. That’s not something you can do every day. You’ll want to make room for a visit to The Sandbar restaurant for sunset dinners. I’ve also heard the Sunday brunch is pretty incredible.

Owner Ed Chiles’ commitment on serving locally harvested seafood and local produce makes this restaurant top notch. One can see why The Sandbar is consistently chosen as a top spot for weddings and receptions by brides everywhere.

Seafood Shack – If you are looking for somewhere a little more casual, you’ll want to head over to the Seafood Shack. Located at Cortez Fishing Village, this restaurant, which opened in 1971, has gotten a new look and updated menu thanks in part to Chef Gerard. Locals and tourists alike will love the seafood offerings here. A special menu created for our visit included an outstanding spread of seafood complete with lobster and even turtle soup. (Yes, I tried it – delicious!!)! I have to say the Chef outdid himself and the meal ended with Bourbon Pecan Pie, family style!

Pier 22 – When it comes time for an upscale meal or perhaps a date night, you’ll want to head off the island and back into Bradenton for a stop at Pier 22. It was at this restaurant, sitting outside along the water’s edge, where we spent 3 hours enjoying the cuisine.

Yes, 3 hours!

Pier 22 served us more than a meal. It was an experience.

From the unexpected sushi boat that arrived on our table to the homemade fudge slices that came directly from the recipes of the Chef’ Campbell’s Grandma, each bite was superb. The seafood. The sides. The incredible service. They wow’d us and for that reason alone, I will be back!

TIP: Pier 22 is in a great section of Bradenton and within walking distance to several area attractions, including the South Florida Museum I mention below. So definitely make a point to grab a reservation here.

Restaurants Off the Beaten Path

We all know it’s those small restaurants and locations off the beaten path which can make a destination memorable. Anna Maria Island has several of them worth noting!

Ginny’s and Jane E’s – This funky gift store actually has a cafe in the back where they serve the most amazing cinnamon buns that are approximately 6 inches wide! Do not miss this. You know it’s great when locals and tourists alike are standing in line!

The Donut Experiment – Kids and grownups alike will be smiling upon entering this small storefront off Pine Avenue. This is the island’s only donut shop and what a donut shop it is. Donuts are made to order with so many icings and toppings to choose from, but you’ll find a few specialties as well. TIP: Try the Key Lime Donut with a coffee to go!

Poppo’s Taqueria – Looking for a quick meal, one with affordable prices and organic ingredients? Look no further than Poppo’s Taqueria on Pine Ave (right next to The Donut Experiment). We grabbed a quick dinner one night after enjoying the annual Bayfest event. Don’t miss the fresh tacos and gourmet craft soda!

What to Do

Now that you’ve seen all the amazing restaurants in the area, you might think you’ll be eating the entire time you’re visiting. Oh no, you must make time for all the non-beach and non-food activities too!

You won’t be lacking in things to do while you are in the Bradenton Area, but here are a few of my favorites!

South Florida Museum – A short walk from the the upscale restaurant Pier 22 you’ll find the South Florida Museum. The museum houses not only the Parker Manatee Aquarium, but also the Bishop Planetarium. We experienced both. I have to say that the show in the planetarium was stellar!

It doesn’t take long before you realize that manatee’s are a big part of the Florida landscape here. No trip to the Bradenton Area is complete without meeting Snooty, the world’s oldest manatee, located right here at the Parker Manatee Aquarium. He’s so famous that they even named a drink after him at Pier 22 restaurant!

Mixon’s Fruit Farm & Wildlife Rehab Tour – Another stop worth making in Bradenton, especially if you have kids, is Mixon’s Fruit Farm. This is Florida, so you can expect orange groves and it was a fun experience to get up close at this farm during a tram tour. It wasn’t exactly the time of year for harvesting, but you can bet we took advantage of the homemade orange swirl ice cream offered inside the gift shop.

Surprisingly the farm is also home to a wildlife tour, where we learned about how they rehabilitate Florida wildlife for release back into the wild. We met all types of animals like skunks, tortoises, a gigantic snake and more. You also can bet there were a few alligators. I even touched one of the smaller ones!

Dolphin Watch Tour – You’ll want to head over to Historic Bridge Street to catch a dolphin watch tour with Paradise Boat Tours. The team there took great care of us and though a fast, incoming storm forced our trip short, we ended up spotting two dolphins upon our return. Due to the rain, they promised another boat tour to those who are able to take advantage, even if it’s not for months. Great customer service!

Shopping along Pine Avenue – Pine Avenue is Anna Maria Island’s main street, running from the Gulf to the city pier. The island in general is very committed to “green” and the shops are no exception here. You’ll find unique, one of a kind boutique shops along Pine Avenue and I dare you not to find something you must have! A few fun favorites included Junktion and Olive Oil Outpost.

How to Get Around

Whether you are coming in from Tampa, Orlando or Sarasota, chances are you’ll have a rental car at your disposal, which is great for getting to and from Anna Maria Island and back to Bradenton Area attractions, but don’t miss the fun of getting around this island.

You’ll want to check out Beach Bums, a great rental shop offering an assortment of transportation for your stay, including bikes, kayaks, paddle boards, and more. You’ll find that many tourist on the island use street legal electric golf carts to get around on the island and many use scooters & pedal cars too!

Free to those on the island is the trolley, which makes a continual loop from the Pier on the north to Coquina Beach on the south. The trolley is air-conditioned and runs daily from 6:00am to 10:30pm.

Where to Stay

There was one thing I quickly learned during my visit to Anna Maria Island – this wasn’t a place where you’d see your favorite hotel chains. Anna Maria Island is unique in that many of the tourists stay in vacation rental homes, though you’ll find several boutique inns and motels seaside.

We were hosted in an 8-bedroom house on Anna Maria Island, complete with 7.5 bathrooms, courtesy of Anna Maria Vacations. The Malibu Beach home was spectacular both inside and out, complete with every modern convenience you can imagine. Though this house was meant for a large number of people, Anna Maria Vacations has rental homes to fit every traveling party size.

I don’t know about you, but I love the advantages of staying in a rental home. Having a full kitchen can save on meals and with a pool in the backyard (one with an amazing rock slide), there was build in entertainment! I did the math, and my extended family (which would fill up 8 bedrooms) could easily stay here and split the cost for much less than typical resort stays we are used to. Love that!

Overall, I have to admit that I fell in love with the Bradenton Area and I dare you to do the same!

Be sure to visit BradentonGulfIslands.com for more information and FindingDebra.com for more of my travel posts!

Best Hotels for Kids in DFW

August 15, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

Traveling to DFW with children or just searching for a getaway not far from home, these are the Best Hotels for Kids in Dallas Fort Worth.

1. Hilton Anatole / Dallas

At first look the beautiful Hilton Anatole, full of Asian artwork, sculpture and design, may seem to be too sophisticated for kids, but this hotel definitely has the kiddos in mind nowadays. With a full-time marionette puppet workshop on property, mommy and me spa treatments at the V Spa, a new deluxe waterpark complete with resort-style dining, theme-oriented programming at the holidays and summer time, and free kids dining, there is a lot to love about this oasis in the middle of Big D.

The Jadewaters Waterpark is the ideal size for families (or girl-friend getaways) to spend the day stayin’ cool in the lazy river, slipping down one of the slides, or lounging in your private cabana with their specialty pool cocktails (YUM!) or Kona Ices for the kids. At night the pool turns into a movie theatre with family-friendly entertainment, dining and even yard games to keep the kids going strong – at least until bedtime. Enjoy room service to round out the weekend with the Nutella-stuffed french toast and Eggs Benedict (complete with bread pudding!)

Don’t miss: Take advantage of your Anatole amenities package that includes parking, admission to the waterpark, kids meals for free with an adult meal, 2 free Starbucks coffees, and much more. Best of all, this is all included in your stay!

2. Westin Galleria / North Dallas

If a hotel that is attached to one of the best shopping malls in America isn’t enough to make your kids dance with glee, a hotel that is also steps from one of the only few American Girl stores will.

Credit: Westin Galleria

The Westin Galleria sweetens the deal with a special American Doll Sweet Dreams package! Make reservations to this beautiful hotel to enjoy all its amenities plus a few extras that your little girl will love: an American Girl doll bed, American Girl robe and slippers – all to take home after the stay. Parents with two girls can add on the American Doll extras for just $40. This special is only available on the weekends, so book now along with your other American Girl in-store activities like lunch at the bistro for the ultimate American Girl experience.

Don’t miss: If having more than 200+ amazing stores or American Girl within reach wasn’t enough, there’s also the Galleria Dallas Ice Rink to enjoy throughout the year. And if you go during the holidays, don’t miss the nation’s tallest indoor Christmas tree and the shopping center’s over-the-top Christmas spectacular!

3. Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center / Grapevine

Wishing for a getaway from everything, but don’t have the time to go away? Don’t worry – you’ll always feel like you’re world’s away at the Gaylord Texan. A lakeside hotel after my own heart, this Texas-themed resort has so many options for everyone from dining to entertainment, which is why so many people plan vacations, staycations, conferences, weddings, and even holidays throughout the year! And since (almost) everything is connected through the beautiful atrium, the Gaylord makes it easy for you to get to your next adventure – only a few feet away.

Credit: Gaylord Texan

The annual summer and holiday themed-adventures have been a mainstay since the hotel opened, so always check what special themed activities you’ll be able to participate when you’re staying (some of these are for the kids and some are for the adults, too!) For the 2016 SummerFest features the twisted tale of “Alice and Wonderland” and this year’s for the Lone Star Christmas event goes classic with “Santa Claus is coming to Town”.

Memorial Day through Labor Day, cool off at the amazing Paradise Springs, the 10-acre resort pool, complete with lazy river, zip line, onsite dining, cabanas and more – available only to resort guests!

Credit: Gaylord Texan

Don’t miss: There are tons of dining options on premises, but like any resort, you may need to book these in advance. The Italian restaurant, Zeppole creates some remarkable dishes including gluten-free Italian (which is almost an oxymoron!) Kids can choose from the special Gaylord Hotels Extraordinary Kids® program with healthy options and table activities!

4. Great Wolf Lodge / Grapevine

Want an outdoor adventure without all the unpleasantness of being outside (no bathrooms, heat or A/C, or weather?) Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine is the cure for what you’re after anytime of the year.

Credit: Great Wolf Lodge

With a 80,000 sq. ft. indoor/outdoor water park, family-friendly scavenger hunts, kid spa, gaming area, and more, the Great Wolf Lodge was designed for kids. From the moment you enter the property, you know that a howling good time is in store. The interiors resemble that a camping experience like none other – both around the hotel and in the theme-oriented rooms. There’s tons of activities including character experience, the legendary story time, the Great Clock Tower Show, Scooops Kids Spa and an adult spa too, laser tag, arcade and don’t miss any of the indoor interactive games including MagicQuest, CompassQuest and ShadowQuest.

Don’t miss: The Lodge Wood Fired Grill is worth the stay – even without the kids. The menu makes it fun to enjoy dining out with the kids with mushroom risotto, lobster and shrimp pasta and some finger-linkin’ good ribs! And don’t miss the tasty cocktail menu.

5. Omni Hotel / Downtown Dallas and Fort Worth

Whether you are going to Dallas or Fort Worth, all of the Omni Hotels make an impression – on the inside and the out! Both hotels give you a big impression of DFW with beautiful design and a huge helping of southern hospitality that Omni Hotels are known for.

Credit: Omni Dallas Hotel

Credit: Omni Fort Worth Hotel

With several delicious dining options like Bob’s Chop and Steak House, spa services at the Mokara Spa, shopping and more just within reach, the Omni is your destination for when you’re looking to be “right in the middle of everything.” For the little ones, the hotel rolls out the red carpet with their Sensational Kids Program, where children are given a backpack full of activities and fun to enjoy while on the property. The kids will also enjoy a special treat of milk and cookies as part of their first night’s stay. Isn’t that a sweet deal?

Credit: Omni Hotels

Don’t miss: The beautiful light displays by either hotel. Depending on local events and holidays, the exterior of the hotel lights up the skies (especially the Dallas skyline!) It’s almost a show within itself!

Have fun while you’re in DFW metroplex with any of these Best Hotels for Kids in Dallas Fort Worth!

Love Where You Live: Dallas Farmers Market #FromHereforHere

July 6, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

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

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

Actually, it’s a REALLY long list.

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

We wanna eat like Texans.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get the full list of vendors (subject to change)

TASTE THE MARKET FAVORITES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TASTE OF TEXAS AT HOME

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Trails and Happy Tasting around Texas!

10 Reasons to Go to Granbury Texas

June 17, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 17 Comments

Need to “get away,” but only have a few hours for a vacation? A quick drive to Granbury Texas and you’ll feel like you’re hundreds of miles away from it all. Need more convincing? Here’s 10 Reasons to Go to Granbury and what makes it so grand.

Thank you to Visit Granbury for partnering with mamachallenge by providing complimentary experiences to many of its great landmarks.

Vacation? What’s that?

With little time to sandwich in a big getaway with the fam or even the hubs, I’ve come to master the art of a 24-hour vacation.

Even with just a few hours at your disposal, you can really get refocused when you walk away from the norm and take a deep breath of fresh air – in somewhere new, different, and unexplored (i.e. somewhere that didn’t have Starbucks or lots of traffic.)

With little to spare in traveling time, we jumped in the car just about an hour away to the grand little town of Granbury, Texas.

A small-town girl myself, I know that Texas is full of jewels like Granbury…you just have to let your imagination let you roam. And be ok to create a little schedule since you might fall in love with your first stop and not have any time left to explore some of the other fun destinations. Consider this kind of trip, your “Whitman’s Chocolate Sampler,” an opportunity to get a taste of everything in order to come back again (and again) to indulge in your favorites as little or as much as you want.

While I have more than 10 reasons you should plan a visit to Granbury, I’m actually rather selfish, and don’t want to share them all. I feel like it’s my own little piece of paradise and I don’t want everyone taking a piece of it. While I realize Granbury isn’t technically, mine, she did have my heart in just 24 hours.

1. EAGLE MOUNTAIN FARMHOUSE CHEESE / 10 am – 4 pm Monday – Friday, NOW 10 am – 2 pm Saturdays

Your discovery of Granbury actually should start outside of town in Lipan, about 20 minutes from town. Founded by the one and only Dave Eagle, Eagle Mountain Farmhouse Cheese is the only the finest hand-made cheeses from the fresh natural Grade A raw milk of the Brown Swiss dairy cows pastured exclusively at Sandy Creek Farm in North Texas. Here you’ll find Gouda style cheeses, Alpine style cheeses, Trappist style cheeses, tomme style cheeses and others that you can purchase to nibble on the way home (I’d suggest two at least – one for now in the car and one to eat when you realize the first wedge is already gone.)

Award-winning cheese making happens here, but you’ll need to call ahead to get in on classes well in advance (and these are real deal classes, not just an hour or so to touch it and say you made it. This is the kind real cheesemakers do!) And just in case someone moves your cheese, you can get your hands on more at local North Texas farmer’s markets like in Coppell, Texas and some of the finest restaurants in Texas like Ellerbe’s Fine Foods in Fort Worth.

2. REVOLVER BREWING // Noon – 3 pm Saturdays only

One of the reasons Dallasites are flocking fast (say that 10 times fast) to Granbury is in pursuit of Blood and Honey. That is the nectar of the Revolver gods, the brewery that is found right outside of Granbury.

Each Saturday the gates are opened and you’re invited for just a few hours to take a tour of the brewery, catch some live tunes, let hot sauce drip down your face as you shove in a taco, hang out and of course, redeem your $10 worth of cerveza. Imagine a family reunion where everyone likes each other, brings good grub and condones drinking. Worth the drive just for the day, but with so much to do, why would you stop just here.

Don’t miss: Come early to make sure you make the brew tour at 1:30 pm. Arrive before 2pm and you get four 8oz tastings. Arrive after 2pm and you get two 8oz tastings. You can still come out and get your brews, but you won’t get to see how it becomes the hard-to-find brew that is tops on everyone’s list.

3. HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SQUARE //

This is a good place to start your day (and end it) in Granbury.

If you love history, you’ll love just strolling the square to see the store fronts and landmarks.

Love to shop? They have you covered with several shops that display everything from clothes, rare coins and from what we found, even old gun from colonel that had fought in the in a battle (I didn’t catch that part).

Don’t miss: If you’re lucky, get in on the the second Saturday of the month for Girls Night Out. Many shops on the square keep the oil burning with extended hours to allow you to sip, savor and shop a little longer.

FOOD FUN ON THE SQUARE

Love to drink wine and eat great grub? Granbury doesn’t disappoint. Walking the square, you’ll find homestyle cooking, tea room fare at the name, Italian food at D’Vine Winery, and you can even be transported to Germany only steps from each other.

4. KETZLERS SCHNITZEL HAUS AND BIERGARTEN // Closed Monday and Tuesday

Hitting up Ketzler’s and the biergarten was a must on our trip to for all the best of the wurst (with traditional bratwurst, smoked bratwurst, wiess wurst and nurnberger with saurkraut and German mustard) and ~~one~~ ~~two~~ three cold Paulaner Oktoberfests under the shade of the trees next to the water fountain. (However, overheard a woman making some delightful noise as she devoured her reuben so it’s a good chance it’s because it was that good too.)

Since the one that makes it also serves it to you, it’s the kind of place that you pull up a bench and stay awhile (at least until the last bier wears off.)

5.EIGHTEEN NINETY MARKETPLACE, GRILL AND LOUNGE // Closed Sundays and Mondays

Just a few doors down: go back in time to 1812, a culinary mecca for spices, oils and some epic gluten-free brownie mix. This is where I went crazy. For foodies, this is your playground with flavors found you can’t get anywhere else.

After throwing down my credit card, I discovered the shop was just for starters…there is also pretty hot steak joint that serves as the fancy dining in town. However, blue jeans make the cut as you order the Texas Trilogy. While we had other dinner plans that night, don’t think I’m not calling in advance to make sure I’m on the top of the list for this place so I can sop up some PEI mussels.

Don’t miss: On the square inside Christina’s is a beautiful custom built wooden bar. Take it its awesomeness while ordering the sangria selection of the day or at least make it a pit stop as you round that side of the square. And if you have time, you should definitely stay for tea time.

6. GLUTEN FREE IN GRANBURY

With only 24 hours we couldn’t taste everything (especially since we didn’t have time to wait in the line), but we wish we could have. During a bathroom break I did stumble into the old stomping grounds of Billy the Kid and found some pretty epic gluten-free sweets at the Nutshell (for the win!). And don’t miss Farina’s Winery for a family Italian experience complete with gluten-free pizza!

7. BARKING ROCKS WINERY // 1-5 pm Saturdays

Always one to hit up the local wine trail wherever I go (Napa, Fredricksburg, Temucula, Grapevine), a drive a dirt road to Barking Rocks was one of my favorite parts of Granbury. After second thinking a few times that we had mistakenly hit up the wrong winding road, we reached the beautiful country oasis.

Insider the barn you’ll find a few tables, a knowledgeable staff, live music (when you’re lucky) and what you need to just forget to check into Facebook (but yes, I did.) Founded by Tiberia and Kristina Bolinger, this winery was started after he finally had enough of corporate America and ready to embrace his Italian heritage of wine making. The barn also serves as the place where the magic happens and then washed away before scooting the tables back to the center of the cement floor.

If you can catch it, check out the winery the first Friday of the month. Bring your best potluck and your friends for live music at the winery. Consider yourself lucky if Tobias stops by to join in the fun which often happens.

Oh, the Fizz n’ Rose. With Mourvedre, Roussanne and Chardonnay grapes, which is the ideal patio sipping wine for hot Texas summers with just a little tinge of sweetness and effervescence. Grab a few bottles (only $17) to take home, but not too many – you’ll want an excuse to return for more.

Don’t miss: You’ll also find a few other wineries if you want to do a little more wine touring including Pemberton Cellars, Bluff Dale Vineyards, and D’vine Wine of Granbury (also a great hangout for the locals). If you really love wine, Pplan now to visit in April for the annual Granbury Wine Walk.

8. GRANBURY GHOSTS & LEGENDS TOUR // Fridays & Saturdays 7 pm & 9:15 pm by reservation only

No visit to Granbury should be without tickets to the 7 pm or 9:15 pm Ghost Tour. Owned and conducted by mother-daughter team Coletta Henderson and Brandy Her., this tour is a trip down memory lane with tons of history and of course, of much local lore. Kicking off at the Nutt Hotel, you’ll walk through the “darker” parts of Granbury to explore and engage in legends come to life including Audrey and John Wilkes Booth (yep, that one that shot Abe.)

Totally family friendly, we didn’t talk too many scary stories, however, while walking around the square, which was dark by now, some of the lights began flicker during one of the accounts of a ghost that still haunts the area, but apparently that’s not the only thing that has happened on these tours. A great way to end the evening in Granbury.

9. INN ON LAKE GRANBURY // By reservation

Ready to hit the hay? You’ll find total relaxation at the Inn on Lake Granbury bed and breakfast resort owned and operated by the most hospitable local couple.

At check in we learned that this was a destination for couples to really enjoy doing nothing and let the culinary talents of “wife’s name” take over during happy hour and breakfast (included in the stay.) The property includes a beautiful pool, picturesque lake view with tons of Pottery Barn-like perfect seating, and lots of activities if you want to just stay put at the Inn (worth a trip to do nothing at all.)

While we didn’t get the opportunity to really revel in the delightful nothingness that many others retreat here for, our time in the Pool House ensured we would return as many of the other couples had recorded in the guest book when they needed to get away or celebrate another momentous occasion.

10.And here are a few I missed but will be going back to visit:

CITY BEACH PARK // Open 5 am – 11 pm daily

This is one that I’m making a point to visit this summer – the beach…in GRANBURY! There’s not a lot of beaches to get to in this neck of the woods, so this was a super surprise, especially if you’re just looking for a few hours in the sun next to the water. The beach park includes a spray park, SUP/volleyball/bicycle concessionaire, kayak rentals in the summer, and thatched roof picnic pavilions available on a first-come, first-served basis. And since it’s close to downtown, you can still add a little time downtown to the start or end of your trip!

ART GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS

Combined there are more than 20 museums and art galleries in Granbury. So if you’re into history, art, or just appreciate exploring new things, you can make a whole trip just visiting each of these! While the Veterans Museum was closed while I was there, I was able to snap this shot of the plane near the park, also another stop to enjoy in Granbury.

Now you know a few reasons Granbury is so grand. Hopefully you’ll make a stop (or a stay) in the future.

It’s one of those places that makes me proud to call Texas home.

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

Rockin’ with #AloftLive Summer Tour

June 10, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Wanna to enjoy live music only a few steps from bed and free at that? #AloftLive is the coolest (and cheapest) way to get music, hotel, and technology, all in once space. And you don’t even have to stay the night if you don’t want to, but you should. Thanks to Aloft Hotels for inviting me to join in the fun with a complimentary night at the #AloftLive.

In my lifetime, I’ve stayed at a lot of hotels. Most I love, some not as much. However, recently I added a new one to my favorites list: Aloft Hotels. During a rushed overnight business trip, I was able to squeeze in a few hours of total relaxation with a margarita, jam out to a few new bands, and kinda feel like a rockstar – all within the walls of the hotel. Already a huge fan of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, I was thrilled walking in to the downtown Dallas Aloft and experience how technology, design and music come alive in a hotel environment.

Upon entry it was easy to see why the Aloft is the perfect setting for the Live At Aloft Hotels 2016 Tour with a very urban vibe of concrete, brick, and openness – just like you would expect in a loft. Joining the crowd of locals that had already started to hang out at the hotel bar (it’s also a cool vibe and nothing like the hotel lounges of yesteryear) to wait for the music to begin. It was just like a music festival without the mess and best of all without a ticket because it’s free.

While personally I hadn’t heard of tonight’s line up of Safety Suit and Olivia Somerlyn before walking in the door, a quick look at the scene and both their social networks, I definitely was part of a growing mass of people that were already enamored. And considering Bruno Mars, The Lumineers, and Ed Sheeran have been a part of the tour before hitting it big, it’s clear the Aloft has a proven knack for knowing what people like and want, which was obvious after hear

Starting in 2015, the Live At Aloft Hotels Tour travels the country to various cities to give you a feel for the Aloft experience – one that is tech-forward, vibrant, modern that’s different by design.

After jamming out for a few hours, it was time for bed. So just a few steps away, I climbed into the elevator, up to my room for an evening in a big bed…without any children, a husband, alone.

#Heaven.

Enter the room, its smart design was instantly appreciated from the OCD-minded mama. While most hotels have unnecessarily large closets, this one had a great use of space, color, and openness. The room wasn’t huge, but it felt like it with a big window that ran the length of the room. A total dork for toiletries, the Bliss products lined around the basin was a unexpected and welcome treat (the standard for Aloft hotels.)

The best part though was the work space that a gal that needs to permanently needs a laptop or device online, the office space made it hard to really want to roll up in the bed even though I did after a few hours of interrupted work. The only drawback to the hotel is there is no room service (one of my favorite things EVER), but there was an open space shot to pick up things like salads, granola bars, candy, drinks, etc. downstairs that was open 24/7 for folks like me that never sleep.)

Aloft is now just another reason to stay Starwood, but if you’re looking for a modern hotel without all the pomp and circumstance, this is a great choice. If you are traveling this summer, check out if the Live At Aloft Hotels 2016 Tour is playing anywhere near you (it runs until the end of July). And if you’re a musician who’s looking for your big break, then you might want to consider Aloft, too. The Aloft’s annual Project Aloft Star global talent competition is aimed at discovering the world’s hottest music acts and it’s currently taking applications to win a spot on the Live at Aloft Hotels Tour 2017.

For a complete and up-to-date list of all artists, locations and performance dates, please visit LiveAtAloftHotels.com and join the conversation @AloftHotels using #AloftLive.

PeachDish Now Delivers to Homewood Suites

April 22, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 26 Comments

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

10 Reasons to Luv Love Field

December 16, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 27 Comments

Where would you go this holiday? Whether you’re flying in to Dallas or flying out, it’s hard not to love Dallas Love Field.

One of my favorite movies every – especially at the holidays, is Love Actually.

While the characters are witty and the humor is spot on, that opening moment of the movie where everyone is at the airport gets me every time. In just one place, there is so much love of dear ones being reunited after traveling, there’s so much sadness as someone gives that last hug before not seeing them for a long time, there’s the adventure of the first-timer nervously awaiting to board the plane, and the big sigh of relief that comes from that busy person who finally is getting a chance to take that long-awaited vacation. And if you’ve ever been present to see a soldier run to meet his family after months of being on the front lines to fight our country, you’ll shed more than a tear, just as I am thinking about it as I write this post.

The airport is a magical place and for many of the people that work there, that makes them magical, too. Giving guidance to anxious travelers, bumping up the newlyweds to first-class for a memory that will last a lifetime, and putting the wings on an eager little boy as he takes a trip to Disney World. Those are all moments that don’t just make an impact, but also will be remembered sometimes more so than the fancy vacation you went on.

Living in Dallas Fort Worth, we don’t have just one airport to create these moment in – we have two that are home to big names in the aviation business including Southwest Airlines. I can give you a long list of reasons why I love Southwest Airlines (let’s start with the leadership of Herb Kelleher), but when it comes to flying in Dallas, it’s hard not to love Love Field. Whether you’re flying out or flying home, one walk through Love Field, you’ll know why…well why it’s love at first flight. (Get ready for the puns, people.)

10. Proximity. Need to catch a plane at any time of the day, just a few miles and you’re there, through security, and ready to board. And while passengers are the name of their game, they care about their neighbors, too.

9. Cheap airfare. Actually to use the new Southwest Airlines term, tranFAREncy, the airlines that are operated at Love Field, including Southwest Airlines, work to be low-cost providers. Gotta love how fair they are about fares!

8. Pet Love. I mean really love pets. Enough so they’ve even built a place for your pets to go when they need to go.

7. Parking is easy. Well no parking at the airport is easy, but as far as airports go, this one makes it hard to beat to park your car and deliver you to the door. Can we suggest a Love Connection?

6. Big D Shopping. People come to Big D to shop and you can start as soon as you get off the plane. Really. Cowboy boots? Billy Bob’s is ready to fit your feet. Yoga pants? Soybu BLISS gets you in sun salutation in no time flat. Cool kid souvenir? It’s obvious Creative Kidstuff has a gift with your name on it.

5. Love Field Art Program. When else do you have 30+ minutes to just stop and enjoy beautiful works of art than at the airport! Throughout the airport you’ll find several beautiful pieces as well as along the walls, but also a true gallery space called the Love Field Art Program free of charge.

4. Lil’ Love Lounge. Adults get restless at airports, but kids are the worst – and you can’t blame them. That’s why Love Field created a space called the Lil’ Love Lounge to let them play and get out all that energy before they board the plane and make it a long ride for everyone. (Gotta love that, right?)

3. Food Fantasy. Is it wrong that I would seriously consider saying “is it worth a cheap ticket” just to get passed security to eat at Love Field? It’s got everything you could want that makes Dallas what it is from Whataburger, Dickey’s, and legendary Campisi’s to the acclaimed Sky Canyon by Stephan Pyles and beloved Cool River Cafe. There are 20 places to eat and drink while at Love Field including a wine bar. (Love!)

2. Customer Service. It can’t be beat at Love Field. We’ll maybe it can, but smiling faces, personality and just doing the thing that’s right to make your day special is what Southwest Airlines has long been known for. So much so they made a TV show about it. I mean people actually want to be here and will give their time to help you out if you ever come to visit. Get Lost in Love with their volunteer program. (Don’t you just love the name?)

1. It’s called Love Field! Just look at the tail on the plane or the sign on the door, you can’t help but love it when you see a heart and know it’s love.

Are you ready to visit Dallas to see Love Field? Ready to share why you love Love Field or better yet, why you love Southwest Airlines?

You could win $5,000 gift card from Southwest Airlines and Ritz when you enter the #LuvRitzSweepstakes right now – Jan. 31, 2016 by sharing! To get the full contest rules and instructions go to LuvRitz.com right now and while you’re there, vote for your favorite Ritz creation (I’m loving the Jamaica Coconut Pineapple Cheesecake!)

Gaylord Texan Lone Star Christmas

December 6, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 2 Comments

There’s tons to do in Dallas – Fort Worth during the holidays. One of our mamachallenge favorites is indoor fun for everyone at the Gaylord Texan Lone Star Christmas. While only a few miles away from home, it feels like we’ve traveled to a winter wonderland.

We already had breakfast with Santa and experienced some of the magical activities the America’s Dream City has to offer. Now we’re going to hop in our cars and drive a little farther west to Grapevine, home of the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center for a Lone Star Christmas.

You and your family will marvel at displays that include:

2 million holiday lights decorating the resort’s indoor atriums
2 million pounds of hand-carved ice for ICE! featuring “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town”
2 million pounds of real Texas snow for a two-story tall, 12-lane snow tubing hill
6,000-square- foot outdoor ice skating rink
54-foot- tall Christmas tree adorning the center atrium
Magical miniature train sets throughout the property
25-foot-tall Nutcrackers overlooking joyful families
2,300 decorated wreaths, 5,600 feet of garland
15,000 festive ornaments…

“And a patridge in a pear tree!”

A Lone Star Christmas has activities that will put every member of the family into the holiday spirit – from the little ones who still leave out cookies for Santa to your hashtag-talking, slightly know-it-all teenager who would rather be at home than at a family outing. . You can enjoy visits with Santa, Snow tube and drink milk & cookies with Mrs. Claus, participate in The Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt or walk through the ICE! that features an all new theme this year – Christmas Around the World!

We don’t get a lot of snow here in North Texas, but the folks at the Gaylord have made sure that we still are able to enjoy a Winter Wonderland with real snow! Twelve lanes of tubing fun are available, and you can slide down by yourself or with a friend. There are a few restrictions for the tubing, so make sure you visit the website for all of rules, requirements and hours of operations.

If you haven’t gone through the ICE! exhibit, than my friend, you are in for a treat. They start assembling the middle of October when 40 ice artisans travel all the way from China to Grapevine to start carving away at 2 million pounds of ice into magical holiday scenes, brilliant characters, and “On the Blocks” ice bar (21 & up), five ice slides and take the visitors on a journey of through holiday’s favorite cartoon, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town!”

Plus, as you travel the world through the 14,000-square-foot that is kept at chilly 9 degrees, you get to wear these warm parkas that maybe one of the best parts of the whole trip. There’s no way you can put on these coats and not instantly feel all warm, fuzzy and “Christmasy.” No other way.

If you’re traveling from out of town, the Gaylord Texan offers several overnight options that will make your it is encouraged to make a full experience and stay at the Gaylord Texan. There are several overnight options that will be cost effective for your visit. Another good thing to note is that there are several combo packages available if you want to do both the ICE! and the snow tubing. The Gaylord Texan is making it super easy to have a Texas-size Christmas!

Check out our SNEAK PEEK of the ICE! 2016 at the Gaylord Texan

Gaylord Texan’s Lone Star Christmas

November 10, 2016 – January 1, 2017

1501 Gaylord Trail

Grapevine, Texas 76051

Website

Glamping, Texas Style

November 3, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 22 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FallGlamping #CollectiveBias

I’m not much of a camping kinda girl.

But glamping (i.e. glamorous camping) – that’s more my style.

I can enjoy Mother Nature much more when there’s I’m biting into a ooey-gooey s’more wrapped up in a soft, cashmere blanket in my own Pinterest-perfect oasis. For me that’s the only way to camp.

So for this glamping trip, we headed to Walmart to stock up on the essentials for our luxury trip to the outdoors. A go-to resource for camping, I found both the must-haves for camping as well as the beautiful “Texas” touches to really upgrade our trip the wild (or in this case a spot not too far from home, but just far enough to enjoy the stars).

Comfort and cute is the name of the game for glamping, so I grabbed a few items to really make it homey like LED battery candles, lanterns (on sale), a few flower arrangements (you can’t always be sure what you’ll find in the wild), a warm, lush white down-like comforter, and tons of pillows. A few necessities haves included large clear jars with a little burlap for giving it that rustic, shabby-chic look, an easy-to-put-up tent, a table and chairs, and of course, an air mattress is a must-have to have you waking up like a princess the next day.

My favorite find was this no-setup picnic table all-in-one that I found on Walmart.com and using their new unlimited shipping feature, Shipping Pass, was able to get it delivered to my door in just three days. (I’m a HUGE FAN of this new option and of course, the Walmart Site-to-Store option makes finding everything you need for glamping possible!)

Since the menu plays a huge part of creating the ideal glamping experience. I mean what’s the point of all the work of putting up a tent and all the beautiful details, if you don’t have something to look forward?

But the menu doesn’t need to be hard to make or take too long to have ready either.

Just like glamping, Freschetta® is about the details with a homemade taste using only premium ingredients and a fresh-baked crust that is made like fresh baked bread, so it’s like you made your own, but with no work and only 15-20 minutes over the grill! (And there’s a gluten-free and cheese only version, too to fit all your campers needs!) That’s why Freschetta® Brick Oven Pizza is a great go-to for camping; you can make it over the grill for the ideal meal that’ll have you finishing every bite especially with my Roasted Garlic Butter Sauce! And no camping or glamping experience is complete without s’mores, but we added our own unique twist with S’mores Donuts using Honey Maid Graham Crackers, Hershey’s Chocolate, and Kraft Marshmallows.

Setting the Scene

As the backdrop for our outdoor escape, I found this beautiful area surrounded by trees for a little privacy and super shade. A few fallen tree trunks also made for some additional seating especially to enjoy the nearby sound of the recently filled running stream just steps from the glamp site.

Designing the whole space only took 30 minutes! Starting with tent, I added a large outdoor patio rug to keep for keeping our “home away from home” also as clean as possible. Next using a pallet I had in the garage for the finishing piece, a laid up a headboard (you can normally find these at a large store or somewhere there is a lot of shipping, just ask if they’ll let you have one.) Then it was time for the air mattress, cozy comforter and a little mood lighting!

Lighting is key for making it the beautiful and comfortable space you’re little for when glamping. Using a bungee cord and this LED battery operated lantern (for just around $10), I created a bedroom chandelier for a little just-the-right lighting once the sun goes down. And a few LED battery operated candles (made of real wax) give the space ambiance without the fear of catching fire or burning out!

Pillows add all the punch for making a glamping space your creative own! While I was able to find adorable cow print pillows at Walmart, you can design your own, with any throw pillow and two handkerchiefs (or two large square pieces of material.) I just tied them at the corners and voilà, new pillows!

My treasure find at Walmart.com was this amazing pine wood rocking chair (on big sale) to really set the scene for this outdoor retreat. Paired with an outdoor side table and a few “candles,” this natural wood rocker is ideal for staying up for hours talking, reading a book, pondering life, or just enjoying sipping coffee the next morning after the first break of day after a super slumber.

For me, pretty doesn’t have to be complicated, so a little burlap made for an easy table runner, a few tall glass jars with candles, and a little twine for that detailed touch. I also made these bouquet of flowers by with several bunched up recycled coffee filters and inserting the ends into straws to use as the centerpiece for our dining decor.

Now that we finished the fab, it’s on to the food!

No need to make glamping hard, make sure to bring a cutting board and have either your own grill/fire pit available for the easiest and safest way of cooking up a mouthwatering meal that doesn’t have to take hours to create! First off, start your fire! Using self-starting charcoal (the briquettes already have lighter fluid on them), you can rock a fire ready to cook in just around 10 minutes using the grid-pattern technique. Lay out the charcoal one-by-one in a grid covering the whole grate/floor of your cooking device and then light the four briquettes at each corner with a large lighter! In seconds, you’ll have a fire roaring and be ready to go.

While Freschetta® Brick Oven Pizza is already good, we took it first-class by adding a roasted garlic butter sauce (with only two ingredients) for the golden touch! Garlic and butter always make everything better and this little trick can be done anytime (including in your oven at home) to make your meal really wow!

Roasted Garlic Butter Sauce

Taking a bulb of garlic, on the cutting board slice the stem just about 1/2 inch to expose the cloves. Place the garlic in the middle of double foil and making a little bowl around the bottom so you can add oil (olive or vegetable will work) directly to the garlic (about 2-3 tablespoons). Then close the garlic with the remaining foil ends to create a little “garlic” flower and add it directly to the fire source (I actually laid mine in the coals.)

Making Pizza on the Grill

While the garlic cooks in the fire, it’s a perfect time to get started on the pizza! To make the best grilled pizza over an open flame, all you’ll need is two pieces of foil to lay on the grate and Freschetta® Brick Oven Pizza. Remove everything from the pizza and place it frozen right over the foil. Now all you have to do is wait 15-20 minutes until the crust is browned and the cheese is melted!

While the pizza is cooling for a few minutes, also take out the garlic and allow it to cool slightly. Open the foil and you’ll find that the garlic smells like heaven and has “melted” into a paste-like creamy consistency! Using a towel or something to keep your hands from the heat, you’ll squeeze the garlic into a small bowl (about two tablespoons) along with the butter (about 3-4 tablespoons) and mix!

And that’s it for the sauce!

Now just dip your cut slices of pizza into the sauce to enjoy every bite from start to finish!

S’mores Donuts

Now you can’t forget the s’mores when you go camping or glamping – it’s like a rule! But sometimes you gotta change up the rules a little bit! So whether you eat these S’mores Donuts for breakfast or dessert, they’re going to knock your socks off with the right amount of marshmallow and chocolate inside the donut (made from canned biscuits) and of course, the crunch of the Honey Maid Graham Cracker for the finishing touch.

While making these little babies takes no time at all, the trick is getting the oil hot enough to “fry” the biscuits. I recommend putting your pot or dutch oven (another must for camping) with two-inches of vegetable oil over the fire while you’re cooking other items, so it’s ready when you are! You’ll know it’s the right temperate by testing it first by adding a small part of a biscuit to the oil to make sure it bubbles.

Now add one large marshmallow (I don’t recommend the jumbos though) and one small chocolate (Hershey’s miniatures are just the right size) and sandwich them between two raw biscuits, pinching the sides until it’s closed. Next add the biscuit to the oil until it’s golden (it won’t but just a few seconds depending on the temperature of the oil.) Using tongs, transfer the biscuit to a plate and quickly add add another chocolate (or drizzle just a little melted chocolate) and finish with graham cracker crumbs!

Now it’s ready to sink your teeth into! Like any s’more this donut can be a little messy, but it actually can last longer than traditional s’mores so you can munch on them into the night. However, they are best served warmed and eaten with your fingers for all the fun!

Now doesn’t this just say home sweet home?!? Little cleanup, little work and lots of good food with a fabulous place to call home – if only for a few hours!

Check out other ways to glamp and get your s’mores on with Freschetta and Honey Maid!

What’s your best camping/glamping tip?

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