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Long Live the Convertible

October 7, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 20 Comments

As the nose of the plane began its ascent, I pulled out my American Way as usual to breeze through the headlines before opening up my laptop to tap out a few emails. However, one title really struck my attention:”End of an Era” – describing the demise of the convertible.

Instantly, I envisioned my hair blowing perfectly in the air as I freely jetted down the highway with “Bittersweet Symphony” playing in the background, but was rushed back to reality as I quickly remembered I now was a member of the “SUV brigade” at least for another 15-20 years. Needless to say, my owning a convertible years weren’t in near sight, but more of a white light at the end of the tunnel making carpool duty not as dreadful.

Getting back to the article, it outlined the demise of the classic car style over the years and how many car companies had either quit making them all together or in some cases, left only one model in their fleet. While facts are facts and car companies are in the business of making money, I began to think that life without a convertible (or at least the option of it) wasn’t really possible. I mean what would empty nesters, pageant queens and hollywood stars do without them? But why end it with those select few? Why does a convertible only have a place for life during those small window periods? Either way, I now had an even great need…I wasn’t going to lose my chance to get behind the wheel of a convertible – even if I had two children, grocery shopping, etc. to deal with.

When I returned from my business trip, I set out to get my chance to experience the idea of pleasure and freedom that a convertible promises to deliver. Thankfully, I was was able to get my hands on not just any convertible, but a beautiful silver 2014 Lexus IS 350 C.

When she rolled up in the driveway, again I was transported to the vision of my hair, the wind, the music and wreckless abandonment. Then I was quickly reminded that the empty fridge meant I couldn’t abandon my duties, so I slipped into the seat and off I went to the grocery store. So with the push of one button, the top came down and I was ready roll. I actually was excited to hit the market.

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Life is more fun in a convertible…just have to plan grocery shopping accordingly. #lexus #convertible #funsummer #autolove #ontheblogsoon

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Success! While it was a tight fit, I didn’t modify my list to fit the car. I wanted to see if I could get groceries for a family of four in the trunk. You’d be surprised how roomy the trunk is – I mean HUGE. Throughout the next two weeks I took on several challenges in the convertible; things that I routinely did, but now in the Lexus IS 350 C. Dropping of the kids to school (yep a 3 year old and a 6 year old is easy out when the top is down and with a handy button), a two trip to see my parents, loading up a run to Home Depot, going to a few meetings normally would be rather boring, but somehow they got an upgrade. I felt like I had gotten an upgrade and I didn’t mean the car. I meant my attitude. It was fun to do things and it was fun to be in the car. During that two weeks I did not use my “mom car” once. Again, my own little mamachallenge at work, I wondered where we ever got the idea that a convertible is only for those special few moments and people. I appreciate that on Christmas I probably wouldn’t have a top down with loads of presents flying out the back, but there definitely was a place in the world for a convertible and in my driveway.

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My boy’s first road trip in the Lexus convertible and he’s convinced it’s the coolest thing ever. Thank goodness it’s 72 in August in Texas! #lexus #roadtrip #Texas #familyreunion #funcity

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There’s a lot to say about the Lexus IS 350 C (or what the kids called the Barbie Car), but a few that I really appreciated in this car beyond comfort and style that comes with having a Lexus:

THREE-PIECE RETRACTABLE HARDTOP: The IS C hardtop retracts effortlessly in about 20 seconds.
HANDS-FREE TECHNOLOGY: A range of available voice-activated features help you receive phone calls and operate climate, audio and navigation functions as well as use of the Lexus Enform system.
OPTIMIZED CLIMATE CONTROL: Utilizing multiple sensors, this system helps ensure the ideal interior temperature, whether the top is up or down.

GPS

And just in case you thought I didn’t take safety into consideration, this car was made for all four seats to be used! There are safety latches for car seats, six airbags in the front, Safety Connect that communicates for help if you are in an accident and tons of features that are made to make sure that your car doesn’t work if it’s stolen, your brakes go into overdrive if you can’t, resists rain on the windshield in case of weather and park assist if you are incapable of parallel parking this baby. But don’t take my word for it, check out this impressive list of other safety features.

After my own little experiment, I know that the only death of the convertible is spoken from those people who have never driven one. And kinda like those special plates and towels in the cabinet that never get used except for “special occasions,” there’s no better opportunity than today to making it a special day.

Messina Hof Grows to Grapevine with New Urban Winery in Fall 2014

August 5, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo 2 Comments

My French manicure may still have a purple hue, but a return to the salon is completely worth the trade for my incredible evening trek to Messina Hof for the Moonlight Harvest kickoff 2014 on Friday, Aug. 1.

While I have enjoyed sipping wine in Napa Valley, Tuscany, and recently around Grapevine, I had never been to Messina Hof. Unfortunately I also had never had the privilege of stomping grapes, part of the evening’s agenda, as well as several other surprises in store for the media and special guests from Austin, Houston and DFW that met at the Bryan winery.

I was in for more than a memorable evening, but actually history in the making for the winery that released its first vintage in 1983.

The Harvest Festival celebrated its 37^th year with its traditional picking, blessing and stomping of the grapes, but this year with a very big announcement made by the family and Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate (seen below): Messina Hof is set to open its third location with an urban winery at the Wallis Hotel in historic Grapevine, Texas.

The idea of unity flowed throughout the evening just like the relationship between the award-winning winery and a community dedicated to the future of Texas wines. With the rich wine heritage of Winemaker Paul Bonarrigo (see the adorable gentlemen with the undeniable style below) dating back six generations to Messina, Sicily and Merrill Bonarrigo’s family originating from Hof, Germany, together the couple has pioneered the Texas wine industry in creating premium wines of distinction and a landmark wine country destination.

Enjoying a wine tasting on the way to the winery, upon arrival, we learned a little about the history of the vineyard and how to properly eye the “Big Kahuna” and select the right grapes for cutting from the vine. Then all the guests took their turn stomping the cold, juicy fruit between their toes before being “breaking bread” for a delicious feast featuring wine, cheese, and some of the best mushroom soup rich with Messina Hof wine.

While we all have to wait for Messina Hof to come to town, you still have the rest of August to experience the Annual Harvest Festival at the Bryan winery each weekend in August and followed by the 2nd Annual Harvest Festival at the Fredericksburg winery the last weekend of August.

The annual event celebrates the bounty of the vineyard, in a public harvest setting similar to European harvesting practices of centuries past. Patrons, friends and family near and far congregate in the pursuit of grape picking, stomping and wine tasting/dining. Eight specialty dinners punctuate these four weeks on the grounds of the winery and the only Four-Diamond resort in the Brazos Valley, the Villa Bed and Breakfast.

Get your tickets now for the Harvest Festival at Messina Hof and view the schedule here.

Say Adios to Summer with San Antonio’s “Kidcation Week,” Aug. 8 – 17

July 30, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

There’s just something about San Antone…

If you been, you know. But if you haven’t, you’ll know why as soon as you get there.

All photos courtesy of the San Antonio CVB.

Last summer I took my son on his first “road trip” to San Antonio and while we haven’t planned anything yet for 2014, I’m pretty sure next week sounds like the ideal opportunity to squeeze in a little “kidcation” before my son starts first grade.

San Antonio is the place for kids this summer during their second annual Kidcation Week, August 8 – 17. During this special week, the city rolls out the red carpet for its youngest visitors, transforming into a citywide playground. Kidcation Week allows families to create lifelong memories and have one last summer hurrah!

Kids of all ages will enjoy exclusive programming including workshops, demonstrations, camps and free entertainment. Parents looking to stretch vacation funds will appreciate the money-saving deals at hotels, attractions, shops and restaurants.

Noted as one of the most family-friendly destinations, San Antonio has something for every family – from historic attractions including the Alamo and Spanish colonial missions, educational and fun-filled museums like the Witte Museum, Institute of Texan Cultures and Buckhorn Museum, cultural institutions including the San Antonio Museum of Art and McNay Art Museum, outdoor fun attractions like the San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio Botanical Garden and Natural Bridge Caverns, and top theme parks including SeaWorld San Antonio, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Morgan’s Wonderland.

Some of the fun during San Antonio’s Kidcation Week include:

Art Crawl – Gallery Tours for Caregivers and Babies at the San Antonio Museum of Art: On August 14 at 10 a.m., moms, dads and caregivers of all sorts can put the babies in their slings and take a walk through the galleries. This 45-minute tour is geared towards adults while art selections are chosen to engage the caregiver and infant. Each tour begins at the front desk and ends with playtime refreshments.
Bat Loco Bash: The City’s final bat event of the year, located at the intersection of Camden and Newell Streets, will feature educational activities, food trucks, bat information, live music and educational bat presentations from Texas Parks and Wildlife, Bat Conservation International and the San Antonio River Authority, and an emergence of 50,000 Mexican Free-Tailed Bats from under the I-35 bridge.
Downtown Tuesday Free Parking: Visitors can save money with free parking provided at City-operated garages, lots and meters after 5 p.m. on August 12.
Institute of Texan Cultures: During Kidcation Week, all Institute of Texan Cultures visitors get in for the children’s admission price of $6. Additionally, “Vaquerocation” activities, focused on Texas Cowboy Culture, will take place every Sunday and Wednesday in August.
Kidcation Art Party at McNay Art Museum: On August 14 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., visitors of all ages can enjoy free art making fun, a music concert and admission to the museum.
Kidcation Week Mini Golf Camp at The First Tee of Greater San Antonio: For only $35, kids can learn the fundamentals of golf in a kid-friendly environment during a camp at Polo Field Golf Center from 9 a.m. to noon on August 12 – 14. Camp includes snacks, beverages and a The First Tee of Greater San Antonio cap.
San Antonio Zoo Zootennial / Hilton Palacio Del Rio Package: Guests can have a wild time with a two-night stay at the Hilton Palacio del Rio in luxurious River Walk accommodations, which includes two adult and two child admission passes to the San Antonio Zoo, a Zootennial amenity, Barrel of Monkeys game, animal crackers, fruit basket, a San Antonio Zoo reusable bag, complimentary breakfast for two adults and two children in The River’s Edge Café and complimentary self-parking for one vehicle.
Splashtown: Visitors can cool off with a free general-admission ticket to Splashtown San Antonio with the purchase of one ticket of equal or greater value at the Splashtown Ticket Booth.
Ser Padres Day at the San Antonio Children’s Museum: Between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on August 16, visitors can enjoy free admission and fun activities as part of Kidcation Week.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!: Stop by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Cargo Hold Gift Shop and pick up a free Ripley’s Believe It or Not! coloring book for children ages 3-11.

Also falling within Kidcation Week is Texas Tax Free Weekend, Aug. 8-10. While I’m not a fan, there’s something to be said for saving around 8 percent when you have a household to get ready for the school year.

A complete listing of Kidcation Week events and specials can be found at http://www.KidcationWeek.com.

Perfect Pairing: Girls’ Night Out with Grapevine Wine Tours

June 24, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

When a trip to Napa isn’t in the schedule or the budget, but you really need to get away to do something fun with the girls, I highly recommend Grapevine Wine Tours. I experienced the fun of the Grapevine Wine Tour complimentary for purposes of this review. I enjoyed every moment of it and I had no idea it was just a few minutes from home!

Only a few short miles from the DFW Airport, many people are astonished at all the fun things to do inn Grapevine, Texas. One of my favorite places, there’s lots to do for visitors to Dallas-Fort Worth as well as the locals who live here. I’ve been here for more than a decade and had never heard of the Grapevine Wine Tours. With a name like Grapevine, you know that wine is part of the recipe for fun, so I was eager to hop aboard the GWT bus and see how the experience stacked up – especially next to my own Napa Valley experience.

The wine tour bus was clean, comfortable and full of hospitality as we met with our lovely tour guide, a cold bottle of water and a little bit of history before we came to our first destination for the evening: Homestead Winery.

Close to the Main Street downtown area, you’ll find Homestead. I’ve been to this area a million times (no lie) and had never seen this adorable restored home that housed our first tasting.

Raising our first glass of the evening, we were able to enjoy pours of several varieties from Homestead’s own wines produced and bottled in Ivanhoe, Texas. While I enjoyed several samples, the one I love the most was actually our first glass, the Bois’ d Arc, a medium-bodied red table wine.

I liked it so much I purchased a bottle as well to take home to enjoy. However, the crowd pleaser was definitely a chocolate wine that had several of the girls making purchases before boarding the bus for our next destination: Delaney Vineyards.

I had actually been to Delaney Vineyards before as it’s a landmark for several beautiful Grapevine events like the Vineyard 5K Run in September, but I had never had a chance to tour the facility and the grounds.

Delaney has been in production since 1996 and the Grapevine winery, along with its main vineyard in Lamesa, Texas, have been producing several award-winning Texas wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Honestly, after going through my photos from the evening, I had a hard time distinguishing my vineyard photos from Napa and the ones I took in Grapevine. As we walked the grounds we learned more about the wine-making process, from the vine, to the barrel and to my wine glass as well as the history of Delaney Vineyards.

Of course, no vineyard tour would be complete without a tasting! So we sat down to enjoy a few samples and catch up for a little while before boarding the bus for our last stop.

As part of our tour, we selected two wineries and dinner . However, depending on your needs and time of day preference, you choose to do a lunch tour; either four hour tour includes three wine tastings in Grapevine. However, if you find yourself in Dallas, they actually have a Dallas wine tour there as well!

Our last stop before heading back after was the main course of the evening; a three-course private dinner at Winewood Grill and another tasting opportunity. After such a great evening of hanging out with the girls, experiencing such beautiful scenery, and of course, savoring the wine, I knew I’d be doing this again the next time the girls were looking for something fun to do!

Ranging from $79.50 for lunch – $89.50 for dinner, the Grapevine Wine Tours operate twice daily. Perfect for girls’ night out, date night or just a great way to experience Grapevine, the GWT are an excellent options for any itinerary for the adults and can be experienced again and again.

Book your Grapevine Wine Tours online or by calling 817.259.WINE!

Why Moms Feel Guilty About Vacation

June 20, 2014 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I needed a little time to take a breather – from everything.

Unfortunately time and money keep me from taking off for a week to unwind. And while I love my family dearly, vacation means a little time without them, too. I mean let’s be honest, while family vacations may be memorable and absolutely necessary…for moms, especially, there’s nothing very relaxing about them. Or at least the ones we’ve taken. Ask any mom after she’s doing laundry from a trip to Disney World or a weeklong road trip. I promise if she doesn’t say she needs a vacation from the vacation, then she’s lying.

And after putting everyone’s priorities above her own all the time everyday, is it so wrong to just remind yourself what it is that makes you happy without wondering if it makes everyone else happy? I mean every choice you normally make starts off with thinking about the rest of the family’s schedule, food preferences, sleep cycles and in our case, what’s going to create less of a fight.

But when you think about it, if all it takes is 24 hours for mom to be herself by herself to keep the sanity of the whole family at bay, then isn’t it worth it?

So off I go on my own vacation. Twenty-four whole hours to do anything I want, how I want, eat what I want, read what I want, do nothing if I want, without interruption (God willing.)

What to do, what to do, what to do.

Follow how mom spends her 24 vacation on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

You never know what will happen.

If you had 24 hours to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?

Enjoy yours!

If you’re reading this post you probably fall into only one of two categories: you are excited to learn why you should or shouldn’t go to SXSWi OR you are wondering if SXSW is the newest version of P90X. Honestly, you might not know what either one is, but when it comes down to the conference for all things digital, music and more, it comes all down to SXSW or what’s more formerly known as South by Southwest or the conference goers as “South By.”

As the big daddy of conferences especially in the music world and now the technology environment too, SXSW, I’ve always wanted to attend. Thankfully, I was asked to be an ambassador for Pfister, so I had the opportunity to travel to Austin for three days to Austin with my blog friend from Milk and Cuddles to explore SXSW together.

My one word to describe SXSW? Overwhelming.

But overwhelming doesn’t necessarily mean something negative, it’s just a lot to take in. However, with a few points of advice, you can figure out if SXSW is for you, what to expect and how to get the most out of it.

Four Tips for a Successful SXSW Experience

1. Book:

Hotels for SXSW open as early as fall for the following year. I’d highly suggest you book one close and realize it’s going to be costly. Since I didn’t decide to go until February, I was stuck with some expensive, yet crappy choice for hotels. While it was only three miles away, each day I had to deal with a little traffic, I did have to plan my parking strategy. Many nearby lots offer parking at $25 for just the day, so I would have to have my evening plans scheduled in advance or I might have a ticket waiting for me or a car not waiting for me. However, having a hotel downtown would have made things easier if it’s within walking distance of the Austin Convention Center.

2. Bring:

Charge cords for all those smart devices, cameras, and computers are a must. While I picked up two freebie ones at SXSW, that was just a lucky circumstance. Remember, there are stations as well in the lounges (see below), but if you plan to tweet a session and the phone starts to go low 30 minutes in, I’m telling you that you aren’t finding a cord. (For other helpful things to bring, check out this post on “Last-Minute Must-Pack Items for SXSW.“)

3. Schedule:

With more than 70,000 at this conference and hundreds of topics, tradeshows and discussions you can attend, it’s impossible to attend everything you want. So you have to be choosy. I attended several sessions at SXSW and would have attended more if I hadn’t learned my first lesson early: know what session you really want to go to, make sure you are there in advance and just because it’s a few blocks away, doesn’t mean it will only take you 10 minutes to get there. My favorite session was with Dallas Mavs owner/technology genius/Shark Tanker Mark Cuban. I honestly wanted to hear a hometown hero at work and I think he represented Big D in a big way. He talked candidly and in true SXSW fashion, rolled out his new app.

4. Network:

There are social events out the wazoo at SXSW. Some are within the event, some are just in around the city. Ironically, only a few are official, so get those thumbs to working on social media looking up what’s available. There were luncheons, dinners, happy hours, tours…well anything and 99% of was free. The Austin American-Statesman had a list of events I found and so did Eventbrite. Just make sure to sign up for these too, as some of them will sell out.

As a brand representative, PR pro, and blogger, I experienced SXSW with several different points of views.

Standouts from my SXSW included:

The Paypal Social Media Lounge was a phenomenal of creating a space for attendees that they wanted to come to repeatedly throughout the event and even enjoy difference experience. Set up as a recharging station for powering up devices, attendees also could order a handcrafted barista-made coffee, meet and greet with a book author, grab a quick snack and even grab some much needed swag at the Paypal store for free. The “store” was actually a way to try out its new online store app to purchase from brick and mortar retailers with a smartphone. While Paypal was actually giving attendees a choice of a charging adapter, umbrella, hangover kit, etc., a product representative a chance to guide the attendee through their first use of the app, making sure everyone who entered the door left with the downloaded app and branded merchandise.

While I wasn’t sure what the brand was when I walked in, I can tell you that everyone wanted to be in the Circus Maximus Lounge. With breakfast, the best Tito’s Bloody Marys and really cute shirts, this coordinated effort between several technology brands had something going on at all times. I’m still not sure exactly all the company names or if they had any real importance for me, it made an impression.

I literally bumped (actually just stumbled) into the Samsung Loungeacross from the Austin Convention Center. Taking over a restaurant space, the Samsung lounge had experiences happening all over the place and it felt like several night clubs in the middle of the day. We had tacos, cocktails, customized juice blends based on our activity style – and everything had a Samsung touchpoint. For those with Samsung devices, attendees could trade in their battery for a new one on the spot.

Of course, the best part of SXSW is that it’s in Austin. No one doesn’t like going to Austin; it’s beautiful (except when it rains in the winter), laid back and full of fun places to eat and experience. From food trucks along Caesar Chavez to rolling down South Congress (SoCo), there are tons of places you can eat.

Places to eat in Austin: I enjoyed the food trucks including this crazy hot mess of tater tots with Longanisa and Sriracha one night for Be More Pacific. Then after a day of nothing but cold rain (which also makes for a different experience in Austin all together), a creamy, rich bowl homemade Papardelle from Enoteca-Vespaio and a risotto balls to die for. I’m still getting cravings for that dish as we speak. However, no Austin experience would be complete without brunch, so the only restaurant we had reservations for was La Condesa and it was worth it. A guacamole tasting, duck fries and some amazing chorizo eggs benedict on a quinoa cake – it was pretty delicious and a wise move since there was a huge waiting line after we left.

Still trying to decide? I’d suggest if you are with a brand launching a service that represents the tech demo or wants to own your place amongst your competition, it’s a must. If you are a blogger, SWSW has some great opportunities, but the sessions I attended seemed less workshop style and more discussion of social responsibility and how technology will play out in the future. However, the energy was intense and was an amazing way to immerse myself in all things in the digital world. And remember, you can always go to Austin during SXSW and be a part of the scene and not even buy a ticket. (I think my friend actually had an even better experience than me and she paid just her spending money while she was there.)

My last bit of advice for SXSW: Make sure you have a solid goal and stick to it. If you are going to hang and to check out the scene, then understand that’s what you are doing. If you are going in efforts to meet tons of people, then pound some coffee and get after it. Just make sure your agenda is clear from the beginning, so you accomplish what you set out to accomplish! Basically, it might not be a life-changing experience, but “it’d a whole lot cooler if you did.”