Hot Mama In The City

Halloween Bark is an easy and fun recipe to make. If you love chocolate, you'll love this Halloween Bark! It's a fun recipe to get the kids involved in every step of the way. Choose your candy and colors and you're on your way to creating a delicious Halloween treat for everyone to enjoy.

I'm always looking for easy ways to get creative in the kitchen. I've realized that it's easier to get my kids to try new foods and dishes when I present them in a fun way. My kids already love fruits and yogurt, and FAGE Total is a favorite in our home. Having fruits and yogurt in the house at all times has made it very convenient for them to grab a quick snack and because it’s a healthier snack option, I’m not concerned with how often they snack. This week we wanted to try something new with our favorite berries and FAGE Total yogurt. We made delicious yogurt fruit-sicles! These yummy frozen treat only took just a few minutes to make and was gone in seconds. The kids enjoyed the variety in taste with the three different flavors and loved the colorful look of the treats.

The first total eclipse of the sun to span coast to coast across the U.S. mainland in almost a century will be visible Monday, Aug. 21, for people in Portland, where eclipse coverage will reach 99 percent.

This rare celestial event is a spectacular occurrence; however, there are precautions people should take to help maintain their eye health while witnessing the spectacle in its full glory. Looking at a solar eclipse without proper protection can cause serious eye damage, including blurry vision that can last months, or even permanent problems.

The most important tip is to have proper eclipse-viewing glasses, which are heavily tinted – much more so than regular sunglasses – to protect your eyes as you look at the sun. Certified eclipse-viewing glasses will enable you to see the moon track across the orb of the sun until it creates a total eclipse, revealing the sun’s brilliant corona.

Texas is known for its friendly people and Texas sized appetites. And with Skinner Pasta being the #1 pasta in Texas, Skinner wants to help you celebrate friendship. Did you know August 6th was National Friendship Day? A great pasta dish can help bring friends together or help you make new friends.
When I moved to Texas 13 years ago, I had no friends in Texas. I can now say that I’m surrounded by great people and friends. The people that I have met since moving to Texas are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Great food has helped me met and build friendship with some fellow Texans. It’s hard for many Texans to say no to a delicious meaty meal like spaghetti and meatballs.

Chuck E. Cheese's is getting a makeover! Don't worry though! It's still going to be a great place for the family to grab some delicious pizza and enjoy a variety of games and entertainment. The new design highlights the pizza-making process and introduces more of a restaurant atmosphere for mom and dad, while not taking away from the fun and games that has made Chuck E. Cheese’s the place where a kid can be a kid for 40 years. We were recently invited to attend the re-grand opening of our local location here in San Antonio. This San Antonio location is the first in the country to be redesigned. It was a very exciting day for us to be one of the first families to explore the new and improved Chuck E. Cheese's.

Teachers are extremely important to our society. They assist us in raising and educating our children who will one day be adults in the “real world.” I believe teachers don't often get the recognition they deserve. It’s important that teachers remember how amazing their selfless profession is. Self-motivation only goes so far. Teaching is not a 9-5 job, it’s a lifestyle that they have dedicated themselves to. Teaching is rewarding but sometimes it can be thankless and draining. That’s why I think it’s very important to remind teachers that they are making a difference.

The perfect foundation is a very important step in your makeup routine. Foundation can be life-changing! Use it to disguise imperfections in your skin like dark circles and blemishes to create a smooth and even complexion. As a busy mom, I want a foundation that will make my skin look flawless and that can keep up with my busy days. Long days call for long lasting, high performance makeup! I was recently introduced to Kat Von D’s Lock-It Foundation, its perfect for the mom on the-go like me who doesn’t have the time (or energy) for touch ups. #SoWorthIt

As the new school year approaches, the kids and I are preparing to have another great school year. Being well prepared and organized can help make the school year go by a lot smoother. This year I have decided to make a Homework Station. This little station has all the school supplies my kids need in order to complete their homework assignments. The homework station helps eliminate any excuses for not completing homework because they didn't have the proper item needed. This nifty station is also portable so it can be moved from room to room with ease.

If you know anything about Texas or Texans, it’s that everything is bigger in Texas and Texans are very proud of Texas culture. We love Texas-themed everything and Skinner Texas Shape pasta is FUN! It’s the perfect base for pasta dishes to make when entertaining friends and family especially deep in the heart of Texas. This Southwestern Pasta Salad featuring Skinner Texas Shape pasta will be a perfectly delicious dish for any occasion. I’ve been a Texan for 13 years and I quickly learned that when it comes to food, Texans don't mess around. Like they say “Don’t Mess with Texas” especially our beloved food. Pasta dishes are a staple food in many Texas homes.