7 Easy Tips for Being Green and Get Rewarded For It with Recyclebank

Wow Wednesdays:

With 100+ temperatures well underway for DFW over the next couple of days, it’s hard even to think about being green when all you wanna do is run you’re air-conditioner at about 60 degrees. However, a new company called Recyclebank wants to rewards DFW residents for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from restaurants, products and more. In just three minutes, I was signed up and had my first reward, so it is actually "easy to be green" no matter what Kermit the Frog said. 

To help you get started thinking green to save green, Recyclebank  has gathered up some easy tips to help lower your carbon footprint while you have fun in the sun. With these small adjustments, everyone can help to bring about big change—while still enjoying the rest of summer.

1.  Grasscycle with the clippings your mower leaves behind. 
No need to bag up the grass clippings next time you mow the lawn! Instead, just let them lie and you’ll be reducing the amount of plastic and waste that gets sent to the dump while giving the lawn some of the nutrients it needs.

2.  After you rehydrate, make sure you recycle. 
Sometimes summer’s scorchers catch you by surprise. If you need to quench your thirst but forgot a reusable bottle at home, make sure that you purchase a drink that comes in a plastic or aluminum bottle that you can recycle when you’re done.

3. Celebrate summer more sustainably.
Whether you’re grilling in your backyard or tailgating before fireworks, make sure you have a separate bag to collect recyclable glass bottles and aluminum cans. Compostable serve ware can help make your cookouts more eco-friendly, too.

4. Don’t crank the AC in an empty house. 
You can easily conserve a surprising amount of energy when you adjust the air conditioner and water heater thermostats before leaving for a nice, relaxing vacation.

5. Get paperless tickets when you travel. 
Public transportation is already an eco-friendly alternative to traveling by car. Consider booking with electronic tickets when traveling by plane, train or bus and you’ll save some paper, too!

6. Recycle backseat masterpieces made from scrap paper. 
On long drives, keep the kids entertained with lap boards and a handful of scrap paper. They can draw, color or play games like tic-tac-toe on the road and you can still recycle those sheets when they’re done!

7. DIY sandcastles: creative, recyclable, and fun! 
Consider using aluminum soup cans and recyclable plastics on a trip to the beach. They’re great for offering a nice variety of sizes and shapes and, after a quick rinse, they’re totally recyclable, too!

To find out more ways to green your summer, visit https://www.recyclebank.com/green-15.

Last-Minute Road Trip to Texas Hill Country with #Toyota - First Stop:West, Texas

Travel Tuesdays:

Disclaimer: I was provided the use of of Toyota Highlander for the purposes of this review and adventure. No other compensation was provided and all comments here are my own. 

This sign we started to take down in my son's room last week inspired me to take my son on his first road trip after he made a sweet statement about Texas. I felt it was important he not only go on an adventure with me, but he needed to understand what Texas is and Texas was. 

So being that he now was five-years old and I was in need a little mini-vacation, it was time to venture out on the highway and show Jackson what Texas had to offer him. Hence our first road trip - just mama, the boy and my mama. Three generations ready to take on the open road. (Buckle up!)

Since we only had three days, we made a plan to venture south to some of my favorite parts of Texas - Hill Country.

Our route included: 

• a stop at the other Texas stop sign, Czech Stop in West
• Lunch and quick look at Austin (one of my favorite cities, ever)
• two-night stay in San Antonio at the fabulous JW Mariott San Antonio, so we could explore a new adventure together, Schlitterbahn (nope, I have never been) and the historic Riverwalk
• we'd also do some of those unplanned stops along the Texas loop (I-35 to San Antonio and back up 281 to DFW) like the Hard Eight BBQ.

But before we could get going, it was time to get acquainted with the 2013 Toyota Highlander! I can tell you checking out all the fun features of this seven-passenger vehicle was an adventure in itself and over the next few posts in our #ReoRoadTrip (the official hashtag of our escapade), we will share our favorites.

First of all, it was definitely the space the Toyota Highlander provided. Like any mama, I'm always preparing for the things that are going to happen, so I need lots of space for STUFF like a first-aid kit, napkins, games, shoes, bags, wipes, snacks...well, you get the picture. We want space. I loved that there was tons of room and many adjustable cup holders (that can be changed to fit the size of the cup.) An added bonus is that my son's feet aren't able to kick the back of my seat while I'm driving (total plus for me.) You can tell accomodating a family was a #1 priority in the design of this SUV.

Once we were loaded up the car, we were ready to get on the road - the perfect opportunity to see what "Nancy the Navigator" could do (our family name for the Highlander's GPS and technology control center.) We pushed button on the steering wheel for the first time and by just answering "Nancy's" questions, we were able to map out our first stop, the Czech Stop, in a matter of seconds. The directions didn't just include voice instructions, but graphics like the exit sign and an overivew of our route. This is a must-have for me since I'm totally directionally challenged. (Really.)

And we could even turn it down when we had a great song we wanted to hear along our road trip fun. 

If you've never been to the Czech Stop in West, Texas, you are in for a real treat (literally.) Starting by my husband's family, this required stop before reaching Waco is must-do for any trip that gets you anywhere close to I-35. You normally can't miss the cute bakery/convenient store, but I will share that construction made this stop almost impossible. After traveling about six more miles south, we were able to make a U-turn to get back. In most cases, I would have said it was no big deal, we would hit it up on the way home, but like any good road trip, we wouldn't be returning this way, so we had to stop NOW. 

While it sounds like a lot of trouble for a bakery, once you open the door, you understand immediately why this place is a must-do! And apparently now, even if you are gluten-free they have you covered, so everyone could enjoy the love of these baked goods, candy and more. 

Unfortunately, the little town was known for its amazing Czech culture and heritage until earlier this Spring when a large fertilizer plant exploded. It was a horrible accident with mass destruction, many people killed and several hundreds more hurt. Since the explosion, the town has been rebuilding itself for months now and thankfully through many donations (including ours that day), the town will continue to rebuild and carry on the traditions they have kept alive for so many years.

We weren't exactly starving, so we just picked up a few tasty treats including a mandatory strawberry-cream cheese kolache, sausage kolache, honey bear and for this trip, a Texas-shaped sugar cookie, complete with red, white and blue sprinkles. I was able to snag the photo before my son gobbled it up. But that's about how long Czech Stop will last for you too unless you get the frozen ones for you to take home so you can enjoy them anytime you want. (Be careful, kolaches aren't low-fat or low-calorie, but high in flavor!) 

Now in the words of Willie Nelson, it was time to get "On the Road Again."

Follow us on the rest of our #ReoRoadTrip adventure in the Toyota Highlander 2013 over the next few weeks! 

Snag an Invite to Grapevine Mills Private Shopping Event + Giftcard {Giveaway}

Me Mondays:

Have you ever wanted to find out what happens at blogger events? Well here is your chance! Grapevine Mills Mall, one of DFWs premiere shopping + entertainment outlets, is hosting an exclusive, invitation-only event on August 1 complete with: 

• A Style Presentation
• Cocktails and Appetizers
• A swag bag of special gifts
• A $25 Simon Mall Gift Card
• An interactive tour with a chance to win a $250 Simon American Express Gift Card!

Wanna go? 

I'm super excited, but even better, they are allowing me to bring one one of you for a fun night of shopping, girl time and good swag!  

Are you ready for a great evening of sizzling summer of style & savings? All you have to do is enter this giveaway, open now until July 30, 2013 at midnight via Rafflecopter. 

So what are you waiting for? ENTER NOW!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We're on a Road Trip!

Here's a little of what we're up to!

I'll give you the full scoop starting Monday!

Top 10 Songs for a Road Trip with the #Toyota Highlander

Wow Mom Wednesdays:

Disclaimer: I was provided the use of a #Toyota Highlander for the purposes of a review, however, there was no other compensation. All comments and reviews are all my own. 

I'm so excited that in about minus 8 hours, I embark on a three-day span of firsts: my first road trip with my mom, the first opportunity to show my son a little bit of Texas Hill Country and my first experience driving a Toyota.

As part of our journey, I get to test out a Toyota Highlander and all its amazing features. I'm just now learning everything, but I've already figured out the radio system and bluetooth for my phone is A-mazing. I can't wait to try it out, so of course, like any good road trip should have - I've created a song list to kick things off appropriately. 

And when we've blown through those only a few hours down I-35, we've got Pandora in the car to stream all my favorite channels with the use of the Entune technology in the Highlander. 

I'll be sharing my trip over the next few days on Instagram and Twitter, so make sure to follow me for all the #ReoRoadTrip fun!

Disaster Diaper Diaries: How Huggies Slip-Ons Saved Us + $25 Target Giftcard {Giveaway}

Try-it Tuesdays:

Disclaimer: This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Huggies, but all my opinions are my own. #HuggiesSlipOn #pmedia http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

It was one of those days that I woke up thinking, it might be a great day. The house was clean, I had a warm shower all by myself and I actually wasn't dreading anything in the next eight hours. I could hear a little Mary Chapin Carpenter singing, "I Feel Lucky" in my head.  

Then I went upstairs. 

I had spoken too soon. 

My daughter had done her business. Then she peeled the tabs off her diaper and ripped it off. 

And then proceeded to use my carpeted staircase as her personal roll of Quilted Northern. 

I was devasted. Maybe because I had just gotten the carpets cleaned. Maybe because I had just taken a shower and I didn't want to get dirty. Or maybe it's because poop all over my almost-white carpet is just gross. 

While cleaning it all up was my next step, I had to figure out what I was going to do to make sure this wasn't going to happen again. NEVER. EVER. AGAIN.

Then like a little Diaper Fairy Godmother, Huggies Slip-On diapers came in to my life. 

What's so different about Huggies Slip-Ons? 

This diaper has a perfectly snug fit for my busy little kiddo with stetchy sides and Stopping Guards to keep her adorable chunky thighs comfortable all while keeping all the other stuff IN her diaper. Best of all, since they are easy on and off whip these on/off easily without fighting to make her stop to change her diaper (which is helpful since she isn't stopping and runs faster than me.)  And we'll even be able to use them as a transition for potty training - our next messy step in toddlerhood. Lucky me. 

Then just like that -- mama was able to redeem her day...for the most part. I prevented another snail trail incident from happening all over my carpet all thanks for the Huggies Slip-Ons. 

Now I just need to work on getting the Mr. Clean Fairy to show up to help me with the carpet. 

Are you ready to make your diaper diasters turn into diaper dreams? 

*****************************************************************

COUPON ALERT: 
You and your little one can try Huggies Slip On Diapers too 
with this special coupon from Target for $2 off! 

*****************************************************************

Now consider this your special Fairy Godmother with a giveaway for $25 Giftcard from Target so you can try your own Huggies Slip-Ons (and maybe a little something for mama, too!) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Love My Texas: Planning Our First Hill-Country Bound Road Trip

Me Monday:

Mama needs a vacation. Bad. 

Thankfully in Texas it's not too hard to visit some pretty amazing places by just driving a few hours in the car. It's part of the reason I love Texas. And there's about 1000 more reasons where that came from. #truetexan

Found this during my trip planning on TexasHillCountry.com

And now I have the pleasure of passing it on to my son. It seems like some kind of rite of passage; instilling that Texas pride and helping him understand why people from Texas feel compelled to decorate their whole house with Texas stars...(I know we aren't the only ones.) 

Actually the Texas flag is exactly how I got the idea for our first road trip. 

When I was upgrading his room for Thomas the Tank to Lego the other day, I began to take down some of those nursery remnants on the wall, a wooden Texas flag painted on some old fence posts. 

As I removed it from the wall, my son quickly stopped me. 

"Mama, I love my Texas. Leave it on the wall." 

With a prideful smile, I happily placed it back on its post.

I loved hearing him say I love Texas, but I felt I needed to show him a little more than what North Texas had to offer. 

So I drafted up a plan of places to take him before school began, work took over and it was next summer that I was trying to take this trip. 

My Hill Country route includes a couple of places I've always wanted to go as well as places that I feel are a must-stop in Texas. 

I don't want to give away all the fun, but I'd love to hear what places between Dallas and San Antonio you think are a must-see, must-do and must-eat! 

Mom to Mom: Healthy Baby Food Delivery You'll Both Eat

Food Fridays:

Disclaimer: I was provided products for the purposes of this review; however, no compensation was received. All comments and thoughts disclosed here are my own. 

We all have grandiose visions of what amazing things we are going to do for our children to be "good parents." One of my biggest goals was to create my own baby food for my son so he would enjoy healthy eating and ate more than chicken nuggets, goldfish and strained peas. 

Unfortunately, my good intentions were ruined with work, unplanned obligations and pure exhaustion of just getting the absolutely necessary things complete - much less the things I wanted to achieve like whipping up some pureed carrots. 

Now, three years later, I'm here again, with a toddler and a wish to feed her healthy food BUT with even less time than I had with one child. 

Thankfully, this time I actually have an option: Half Pint Palates.

Created by mom/chef/owner/amazingly cool gal Tara Anderson, HPP creates and delivers clean, non-processed, globally insprired baby and toddler foods to doorsteps across the metroplex (within a 30-mile radius of her Deep Ellum kitchen.) Packaged in either a three-day or five-day plan, a single day's menu includes: breakfast, an entrée style lunch, light dinner, two dry snacks, a fruit puree and a juice all for only $17.50 per day. Basically everything you need for your kid's menu but milk.

Since as children we are born with more taste buds than you'll ever have, priming a kids palate is important to appreciate and enjoy certain flavors and textures rather than the bland ingredients that processed baby food presents. So by using local and sustaintable producers, Tara handcrafts her proportionally appropropriate meals by introducing spices, herbs, grains, local meats and legumes (she opts not to use nuts in her foods, although the line is not totally nut free.) 

A sample menu of Half Pint Palates: 

BREAKFAST
Passionfruit Oatmeal
Summer Tomato and Aji Grit Casserole
Caramelized Banana Pudding
Arroz con Leche
Quinoa with Guava-Lime

LUNCH
Chicken and Summer Vegetable Tamale Pie
Vegetarian Chili Verde
Sancocho de Pescado
Fresh Corn and Quinoa Casserole with Chorizo
Argentinean Bistek with Chimichurri Rice

SUPPER
White Beans with Chimichurri
Sauteed Sweet Plantains
Potato Causa
Stewed Yuca and Collard Greens
Calabaza and Carrots with Coconut

SNACKS
Tomatillo, Celery, Lime, Cucumber
Carrot Pineapple Puree
Pan de Queso
Coconut Cinnamon Shortbread

And remember, this is for your KID!
I was elated to share a week's worth of Half Pint Palates with my daughter in efforts to try to change her finicky habits until I took out the container from the freezer and took a bite to try it myself. It was so good, I didn't want her to have it. I mean I wanted to trade my dinner for hers. (Yes, I was chowing down on baby food that was full of flavor and took all of 1:00 to cook.) However, I made the sacrifice and ler her half it with me. 

No longer was making healthy food my challenge. It was opening the homemade crackers, freshly squeezed juices with fun flavors like prickly pear cilantro juice and pimento cheese grits and letting her have them before I decided to eat them for my own meal. (Yes, really it was THAT good.)

How it works:

1. Clients of HPP go to www.halfpintpalates.com to order their food style preference (purees or 'stews'), their desired amount of weekly meals and can choose from a selection of HPP snacks and juices as well as some adult treats. 
2. HPP shops for seasonal ingredients, prepares them by hand, administers a taste test and freezes the fresh meals all within a week of the client's delivery date. 
3. All your food is packaged up and delivered to your home in a refrigerated bag in handy plastic containers that are easily placed in the freezer and pantry for quick cooking throughout the week. 

Like many momprenuers, Half Pint Palates was developed out of Tara's own want to provide her daughter healthy food options and merging her own professional experience as am executive chef with Pepsi. And considering her husband also works with Wolfgang Puck Catering, preparing great food from local sources is a priority for this Lakewood family.

Lucky for you, Tara also hosts monthly cooking classes and this month a special FREE Cooking Demonstration hosted by Dallas Moms Blog THIS Tuesday, July 23 at 11 AM at Central Market! However, you must register for this incredible event and reservations are limited. 

My advice: sign up for Half Pint Palates and order two plans - one for your kiddo AND one for you. 

Half Pint Palates
http://www.halfpintpalates.com
214.208.7908

The Best Places to Find + Post Garage Sales

To-Do Thursdays:

Last weekend the rain convinced me to face up to a task that had been looming for a long, long time. 

I finally had to clean out my kids' rooms. 

My youngest was getting ready for potting training so she was ready to move up to a big-girl bed and the oldest recently announced to me that it was time to move out the Thomas the Tank Engine and bring out the Legos. (There were tears when he told me.) 

But to be honest, there was a lot more to do than that. I needed to pull out those old toys, clothes, shoes and whatever else that we had finally outgrown and send them to storage. You see I hadn't gotten rid of anything from either of kids since they were born. (Shame, right?) 

So before people started to make a call to the show Hoarders, I moved out the old stuff and put them in storage with all the other stuff we were holding on to. Except this time, I couldn't close the door. And there wasn't enough Rubbermaid to organize all this craziness. I needed to make like a cheerleader and purge (just kidding.) 

And since all the junk was a big eye sore each time I walked by, I needed to rid my house of the crap quickly (especially before I began to think about keeping that "one" outfit that would without a doubt turn into 20.) 

Considering there was that much stuff, everything pointed to the idea that I needed to host a garage sale. But since I don't go to garage sales and the only one I ever had made like $20, I went on a mad search for how the age of technology had changed garage sales. 

Seven online sites you can find (and post) a garage sale in your area:

1. Craigslist.org
2. Yardsalesearch.com
3. Gsalr.com (this one even has a cool app that maps your garage sales!)
4. Yardsales.net
5. Atgaragesale.com
6. Online Private Facebook groups (you may have to research these, but they are controlled groups on Facebook that keep the "Craiglist experience" more local.)
7. And don't forget to look at your local newspaper. (Many of them offer really cheap online ads for garage sale listings that can be both print and online!) 

Good to Know: 
I also needed to add that BEFORE having a garage sale, make sure you check your city's rules on hosting a garage sale. Some request a permit, some don't and there may be other rules for signage, ordinances, etc. For instance in Arlington, Texas, we have all kinds of rules on garage sales like where we can post a sign and that you can only host a sale no more than twice a year. 

AND of course, if you are looking for GIRLS & BOYS BABY/KIDS CLOTHES,FURNITURE AND TOYS for ages 0-4, then come on out to see me on Saturday! 

HOTDOG! Mega Mickey Mouse Birthday Party Plan

Wow-Mom Wednesday:

I don't pretend to be a crafty woman. I wish I was. However, I'm one heck of pinner and can find pretty much anything on Pinterest. Especially party ideas.

So as we approached two monumental birthdays for my kiddos with my daughter turning 2 in August and my son turning 5 in June, planning began by February 1. However, when my son was granted his wish to go to Disney World from A Wish With Wings, everything became Mickey Mouse. I mean everything. So of course, so did the birthday party.

Thankfully, with just a little help from some lovely bloggers on Pinterest & Etsy, some Amazon.com purchases, a few local party rentals and 1 lovely neighbor who happened to have some leftover Mickey Mouse decor, we had a party to make Walt Disney proud - or at least make my little ones excited!

Invites:

Oh Etsy, how do I love thee, let me count the ways...Thanks to MyCelebrationShoppe, I had these adorable invites made!

Then using the following graphic and downloading a similar Disney font I downloaded online, I addressed the invitations.

Best of call, since we had the invited printed before our trip to Disney, Jackson was able to person give his invitation to Mickey Mouse personally at Disney World to his Mickey Mouse-inspired birthday. It was such a precious opportunity!

Clothing: 

Like any good mama going to Disney, I had personalized clothes made for my kids. We then repurposed them for their birthday outfits! Adorable and affordable from Etsy's ThePolkaDotLollipop (she was amazing, quick and so easy to work with!)

Decor: 

As I mentioned I had a neighbor who had balloons, a Mickey cardboard standout and some banners to start with, so I was already in good business.


But mama never stops at that.

Thanks to Amazon I was able to order plates, napkins, tablecloths, a little polka dot material for a tablescape and even a photo backdrop to stick up on the fence to welcome families when they arrived at the party. (They also made for great photo backdrops!)

Borrowing an idea from the Mickey Mouse Playhouse attraction at Disney's Magic Kingdom, we added a balloon drop from Amazon to pull after signing "Happy Birthday." I mean, who doesn't love balloons? And it's was less than $12.

So I wasn't selling out completly, Jackson and I spent an afternoon making a Mickey centerpiece for the refreshment table from a post I had found from The Simple Life using styrofoam, a terra cotta pot, a dowel rod and spray paint.
    

Refreshments:

My favorite part of the party is always the food! However, this year we made it easy, hotdogs of course had to be on the menu (Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog!) and chips for each munching.

Since we always do AM birthday parties, we needed a little something healthy, my grandparents sent over this adorable Edible Arrangements (perfect!)

At this age cupcakes are a mandatory since cake + 2 year-olds just makes a big, sticky mess on me.  Just purchasing cupcakes from our neighborhood market, we put cute Mickey Mouse toppers I found on Amazon.com and then this adorable cupcake stand from Wilson. (Easy enough I could do it) 

I tried to make our drinks easy, but it actually took a little tracking down from Langers on Facebook. They actually let me know where to find these Mickey Mouse apple juice pouches, so I bought around five cases just to make sure I didn't run out!

But I had to do one more thing when I came across some photos of some cute cake pops and cupcakes featuring Oreo cookies for Mickey Mouse ears. While I found several different versions of how to do them Mickey Mouse Oreo Cookies on a Stick, I ended up with my own shortcut version (I'll be posting soon!) But, let's face it, if I can do it, anyone can! 

Entertainment:

On to the fun! Since bounce houses are the way to go with kiddos at this age, we were able to find a everything Mickey Mouse 5-in-1 combo playhouse for a great price from Affordable Bouncehouses. They did everything from set up to breakdown. We kept it dry while the party was happening, but afterwards I let the kids go crazy when we hooked up the hose to slide for a little water action! 

But the real entertainment of the part was a special visit from Mickey Mouse himself! A sweet invitation from Jackson (and a call to It's a Party Today) made sure Mickey was available to come by for a special birthday treat! After the party had started, Mickey showed up with his own DJ to play fun birthday games and music to get the whole party going for around an hour. He even stayed for birthday cake, photos and passed out restaurant gift cards to the kiddos! We had a blast with Mickey and his friend and the kids couldn't get enough of him either! (Even if you aren't doing Mickey Mouse, don't worry, they do a little bit of everything!) 

And you can't forget the favors! 

What's a Mickey Mouse party without ears? Unfortunately, most the ones I found rather expensive ($5 at least a pair.) Thankfully I found an international online company called AliExpress.com that was able to send me a package of 30 Mickey and Minnie ears with bows for less than $1 a pair! While I had to order these well in advance of the party (two months), they sent them over in no time and with no issues. 

Putting it all together:

Since the party was at 10 AM, we had a lot to put up and get up early that morning. So to keep all the details in check, I took a template from Vertex42 and reformatted it to my own needs! Feel free to use this birthday plan checklist downloadable in Google Docs for day-of birthday deliveries, pickups and must-dos. 

The whole party was so much fun and we are so thankful to everyone who came to celebrate! 

You can find more Mickey Mouse party ideas on my Pinterest page! 

Get Your Body into Warrior Shape with Camp Gladiator - FOR FREE

Try-it Tuesdays:

It's been way too long since I got out there and did a Try-it Fitness Tuesday. I could make all kinds of excuses like I've been sick, I've been busy, etc. but to get to the point: I've been a lazy mama and it's time to get things going again - especially before it's fall and those sweat pants and sweaters make it so much easy to cover up all that blubber.

Mama needed to get her rear in gear and that meant I needed something to go full-speed ahead and wouldn't leave any prisoners (or tolerate any fat-girl whining.)

Mama needed to a mamachallenge. And I think I've found it: Camp Gladiator!

Just the name says you-are-gonna-be-a-warrior-at-losing-weight-and-getting-healthy!

Camp Gladiator is more than a fitness boot camp, it’s an experience they say. One of the fastest growing and most dynamic fitness program in the nation, Camp Gladiator is a four week, adult fitness boot camp that promises a motivating and challenging environment, where men and women of all ages and fitness levels can push themselves and hopefully be pushed too!

Campers as we are called should expect a total body workout. A typical session could include interval training, sprint and agility drills, stations, plyometrics, body weight strength drills, cardio mix, and much more!

In the words of RuPaul, "You Better Work!" 

Designed to increase your functional strength, speed, stamina and, most importantly, to deliver results, Camp Gladiator works to not just be about exercise, but positive energy and connect people to who they want to be.

And since I want to be a healthier and leaner mama, I've enrolled for the upcoming August camp. Yep, for four weeks I'll be going at it like a mad woman and you are going to be here to help me make it to the finish line! And you can actually get in on the fun too with a special FREE offer! (Keep reading for more details.)

So to prepare me for the challenge, here are 10 Rules to Get Me (and You) 

Ready for Camp Gladiator: 

1. Rain-outs? Never! Every location has a covered area where camp can be held if needed due to weather. Camp Gladiator is rain or shine!
2. Go at your own pace. Camp Gladiator is for all fitness levels. Do the best you can at camp! No one is ever holding anyone up and no one is being held up by others. Do what you can and always try your hardest. Kick your own butt!
3. Modifications are available if needed. Ask a trainer or just keep moving on your own. The goal is to keep your heart rate up for the entire hour, so ask your trainer for an alternate exercise as needed.
4. Stay positive! This is not an easy workout. Don’t get discouraged if you are not able to do something well. Keep working at it and keep coming to camp. Your body will adjust and you will see great improvements.
5. Warm-up properly. Don’t go 100% unless you are fully warm. Stretch on your own before and after camp.
6. You may attend ANY and ALL locations as much as you want!
7. Each day is different and you might like some workouts more than others. We encourage you to continue coming to camp to experience the entire program.
8. You always need to: be on time, sign-in, wear a nametag, and bring dumbbells, water and a mat.
9. Always drink plenty of water! Partner good nutrition with exercise for the best results.
10. Have FUN! Get to know other campers, be loud, encouraging and energetic! 

And now that I'm sufficiently scared and excited, I couldn't be happier to get things moving in the right direction. 

So are you ready to get your body in gear with Camp Gladiator? They've got a special offer just for you! 

Try Camp Gladiator for FREE throughout the month of July! 

Camp is held at the following locations in Arlington:  
Woodland West Church of Christ - Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 5:15am
Woodland West Park (Dottie Lynn) - Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30pm

All you have to do is contact Amber Dean at amberdean@campgladiator.com to get signed up for camp for the next 2 weeks!

I Like How It Feels Video from campGladiator on Vimeo.

And make sure to follow my progress on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for my results!

Introducing Dallas New GoGoSqueeZ Squad Leader, Me!

Mama Mondays:

I am so excited to start this week with a BIG announcement! 

Recently, I was named a member of GoGo squeeZ Squad for Dallas. I was already a huge fan of the products, but a couple of months ago at Blissdom 2013 I had a chance to get to know the brand and I love 'em! So now as a part of the team, I really couldn't be more excited and proud to take on this role and help promote the fun, healthy, convenient and playful lifestyle that GGS is all about here in Dallas-Fort Worth! 

(Hey, I loved them so much I even included them in my Gourmet Pancakes segment on Good Morning Texas!) 

If you are mom who packs lunches or a fitness geek, you probably know exactly what GoGo squeeZ is. However, if you don't, let me just fill you in: 

Happier Healthier families

GoGo squeeZ is proud to be the leading squeezable, re-sealable, 100% fruit in a pouch. GoGo squeeZ’s products are crafted with high-quality natural ingredients to provide wholesome goodness for sipping, squeezing and enjoying, wherever life takes you.

What Does it Mean to be a Member of the squeeZ squad

The squeeZ squad is a team of passionate GoGo lovers that also love being out in their own community. Whether it’s a mom of 4, an adoring aunt, or a former TV producer, our team mission: get GoGo squeeZ to families at work and at play. From field trips to 5k Fun Runs, the squeeZ Squad does it all with a little GoGo. These amazing women (and men) are on the front lines spreading THE playful message.

To get to the core (tee-hee), I will be popping up around the area at events - small and large - to share a little GoGo squeeZ love with you, your family and friends. So if you have an event, activity, party or opportunity you think that is a good place for Go Go squeeZ sampling or gifting, please drop me an email to see if it's a good match!

Every Time You Squeeze, We Please! 

GoGo squeez has teamed up with Life is good® Playmakers, a non-profit that heals and strengthens kids whose lives have been deeply impacted by trauma. They work to ensure that all children grow-up feeling safe, loved and joyful. All you have to do is share this video and we'll donate $1 to Life is good Playmakers!

See why I'm thrilled to be a part of the squad? 

I hope you'll join me too in living life playfully with Go Go squeeZ!

Break Bread, Drink Beer, Make Friends with #WholeFoodsAddison - Sneak Peek Friday, July 12

Food Fridays:

Opening the fringe this morning, I found there was no milk. Half-asleep and pretty-peeved, I was able to make a mess pouring juice, so I reached for the paper towel supply that also seemed to have diminished. It was only when I went to clean my daughter's diaper and had no wipes left that I knew someone was trying to tell me something. 

We were out of groceries. #crappymom alert

Yep, mama needed to go to the store, but all the other stuff (like my leaking ceiling from my clogged A/C and the never-ending ring on my phone today) was making it hard to just stop the madness and take an hour to hit the grocery store. 

If only I had someone to do that (and no, I don't mean my husband.) 

And like a little fairy, I found out that the Whole Foods Addison that was opening this TUESDAY, JULY 16 totally has a personal concierge. Yes, someone who will do my shopping for me...but that's not all folks.

They'll shop while I drink a beer at the bar or coffee (depending if I need an upper or downer with my day.) That's amazeballs. 

Hold on. There's more. 

Your first shop is free. So at least one time you can come in and get someone else to do the work. Awesomesauce.

So how do you get in on the Whole Foods Addison fun? 

Sneak Peek, June 12:
While they are still finishing up on the place, they are inviting everyone - yep, you, me, and all of Dallas, to come on by - have a drink, eat some food, listen to some music and take a look at their "COMMUTER STORE." (And since Addison technically only has about 15,000 residents, then most of us are considered commuters.) You can't buy anything, but you can plot your first experience. 

Opening Day, July 16:
What's also awesome? They are giving away 100 gift cards to the first 100 people who show up to "break bread" with them on Tuesday at 7:30 AM. See, Whole Foods doesn't do ribbon cuttings. Nope, they break bread as a community. And pass out gift cards from $5-$250. Sweet.

THEN - all 1% of profits that day go to Addison's own WaterTower Theatre, who will be putting on a performance from their latest show, XANADU (yes, the disco, roller-skating-Olivia-Newton-John-one.) 

More awesomeness.

However, the coolness didn't stop there. Nope, they just keep dishing it out with 550 cheeses, a "squeeze and grind" coffee and juice bar," Korean BBQ, "flying bananas," and lots of beer and wine to choose from. 

Like Kinky said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder." 

And I think Whole Foods Addison is beautiful. 

See you there folks! 

I'll be the one on the bar stool - grocery shopping. 

Family Drive-In Movie Night with Netflix

Wow-Mom Wednesday:

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Netflix.

When I was growing up I always had drive-in theatre in my own hometown. I have many fond memories of our family watching movies, sitting in the car with the crackle of the attached speaker on the window and a bucket of popcorn in my lap. 

Fast forward to now. While drive-in theatres are back in vogue even in the big city, my kiddos are still not ready (or at least I'm not) to take on the summer fun adventure of two children under 5 in the car for two hours plus and at least $40 out for refreshments.

So we've opted for the next best thing - our own drive-in movie night at home using Netflix.

Rolling out the TV to the back patio, the kids rolled up their cars and mama brought out the popcorn.

Now to choose what to watch!

Using the NEW Netflix.com/Families features, we were able to look through so many categories on our Apple TV including Family Movie Night, Are We There Yet and TV for Curious Kids. While there were so many to choose from, the love of Mickey Mouse won them over with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally. (And at only 48 minutes and no commercials it was ideal for my two-year-old!) 

And just for the occasion, we broke out the ears! Even our Lab, Birddie, got in on the fun. 

We had so much fun with just changing where we were watching TV with Netflix, we decided to make it a double-feature and watched The Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

What an inexpensive night of fun - and all for $7.99 a month. (That's still less one ticket to the movies!) And doing the math for a family of four and treats, it's a big budget item for only two hours out of the house when with Netflix, you can get it unlimited! 

I'll admit I don't know if we will roll the TV out come August in Texas, but it doesn't matter where we watch Netflix. Between our iPad, iPhone, Apple TV and the good ole laptop, Netflix is just a few clicks away for family night fun.

About Netflix

Netflix.com/Families is a new destination designed to meet your family’s summertime entertainment needs. On Netflix.com/Families, parents can find lists of movies and TV shows for all kinds of special summer moments.

Visit www.Netflix.com/Families for more information on the best ways to stream as well as videos from families using Netflix.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Netflix.