As part of a season-long program, ¡Yo Quiero! has teamed up with Dave Campbell’s Texas Football to honor some of Texas high school football’s brightest figures — team moms! On November 1st^th, ¡Yo Quiero! recognized Grapevine Hogh School Team mom Kristin Powers with a Team Mom Appreciation Award for going above and beyond to support her son’s team throughout the season.  

“We are consistently impressed by the collective dedication required to keep those iconic Friday Night Lights shining week after week here in Texas,” said Jay Alley, Co-Owner and Vice President of ¡Yo Quiero!. “This is largely thanks to the unwavering support from friends, families, coaches, and, especially, Team Moms.”

This season, eleven Team Moms who have made a positive impact on their communities will be selected to receive an award and a $500 donation to their school, along with the other ten honorees, will be eligible for the Ultimate Team Mom of the Year Award, with voting taking place on texasfootball.com at the end of the season.

Tara Murray, VP of Marketing for ¡Yo Quiero!, noted that “Texans should keep an eye out for ¡Yo Quiero! and the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football crew at games across the state as they recognize these deserving individuals during the 2024 Texas high school football season, all while satisfying the crowd’s craving for everyone’s favorite Texas-made dips!”

Based in Rhome, Texas, ¡Yo Quiero! is a trailblazing, family-focused dip company that’s revolutionizing the Guacamole, Salsa, and Queso category nationwide by offering flavorful, “Better for You” dips made with quality ingredients. “At the core, we’re making it easier for football fans and families to enjoy their favorite foods together in a healthier way, whether they’re celebrating the game at home or in the stands,” said Murray.

ABOUT Dave Campbell Texas Football

For over 65 years, the iconic Dave Campbell’s Texas Football media brand has been “the bible” for millions of football fans across Texas. Its annual summer edition is essential reading for rabid football fans, previewing every high school and college team in the state. Known for its comprehensive coverage, TexasFootball.com offers extensive digital content, including team and recruit rankings, scores, exclusive interviews, podcasts, and daily shows. Additionally, TexanLive.com streams over 1,500 live sporting events each year, bringing fans closer to the action.

About ¡Yo Quiero!

¡Yo Quiero! Brands is a Texas-based avocado, guacamole, and dip company with state-of-the-art facilities in Rhome, Texas and Guanajuato, Mexico. With a mission of selecting and growing the freshest and finest ingredients, ¡Yo Quiero! creates delicious, hand-crafted products that can be found in most local retailers. Bringing years of experience and dip expertise to the category, ¡Yo Quiero! leads and innovates with integrity and passion. The current lineup of premium handcrafted dips can be viewed on our website. For additional information, recipes, or product availability, please visit www.yoquierobrands.com

The Most Exciting Light Show South of the North Pole Returns to the Lone Star State

LINK FOR HIGH RES PHOTOS

 Texans are in for a dazzling holiday treat as The Light Park officially opens in six Texas markets across the state  offering families and friends an unforgettable holiday experience. Opening in Round Rock, Arlington, Frisco, Katy, Selma, and Spring, this spectacular drive-thru light show synchronized to holiday music promises a magical journey through millions of twinkling lights, just in time to kick off the holiday season.

The Light Park has gained popularity for its immersive holiday light displays, allowing visitors to enjoy the festivities from the comfort of their vehicles. This year’s event brings new features, more lights, and synchronized music to create a memorable and safe experience for people of all ages. The Light Park has been heralded as “one of the coolest ways to brighten your holiday season”, where guests witness millions of lights synchronized to an electric mix of music powered by DJ Polar Ice from the North Pole’s #1 Hit Radio station, K-GLO.

The Light Park’s Matt Johnson shares, “We are excited to bring even more holiday magic to Texas this year. Our goal is to provide families with a fun, safe, and joyful experience as they kick off their holiday season. With six locations across the state, we’re thrilled to spread the light and joy of the holidays.”

Those interested in learning more or purchasing admission can visit www.thelightpark.com. Tickets must be pre-purchased , and admission cost varies per showtime from $29-$49 according to the calendar that can be found online at www.thelightpark.com. Prices are per vehicle, not per person.  Visitors must stay in their vehicles the entire time while visiting the park and while on the park property. Guests are encouraged to bring their snacks to enjoy while in their cars, but there are wonderful ways to upgrade your experience with pre-purchased snacks and fun souvenirs to enhance the experience of The Light Park. 

*Please note no vehicles over 30 feet will be allowed in the park; this includes limousines, trailers and buses.

Event Details:

The Light Park has announced the opening of its dazzling holiday light displays at six Texas locations—Round Rock, Arlington, Frisco, Katy, Selma, and Spring—starting on November 1, 2024. “By opening a bit earlier in the season and adding a sixth location, we’re giving our guests more opportunities to join in the holiday spirit with us! Throughout the season, we see carloads of people returning because the experience is so visually captivating and full of energy,” says Matt Johnson, Co-Creator of The Light Park. “Our best advice to visitors is to plan early and get ready to be amazed by the brilliance of millions of spectacular lights in our drive-thru holiday park. While the lights go up, the prices stay down with early-bird pricing on pre-purchased tickets.”

Opens on November 1, 2024

Mondays - Thursdays: 5:30 - 10:00pm

Fridays - Sundays: 5:30 - 11:00pm

CHRISTMAS WEEK HOURS

Dec 18-25: 5:30-11pm

Where:

Frisco (runs through 1/5/25)

Riders Field

7300 Rough Riders Trail

Frisco, TX 75034

Arlington (runs through 1/5/25)

Hurricane Harbor Arlington

1800 E Lamar Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006

Katy (runs through 1/5/25)

Typhoon Texas Waterpark Parking Lot

555 Katy Fort Bend Rd

Katy, TX 77494

Round Rock (runs through 1/5/25)

Dell Diamond

Parking Lot

3400 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665

San Antonio (runs through 1/1/25)

Retama Park Parking Lot

1 Retama Pkwy

Selma, TX 78154

Spring (runs through 1/1/25)

Hurricane Harbor Parking Lot

21300 Interstate 45 N

Spring, TX 77373

Prices: $29-$125

To Purchase Online: https://www.thelightpark.com/

About The Light Park

The Light Park offers six parks in Texas: Round Rock, Spring, Katy, Selma, Arlington and Frisco. Each Park features more than one million LED animated lights and boasts the world’s largest synchronized LED light tunnel. Opens November 1^st, 2024. Shows start at 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (weekdays), and 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (weekends and Christmas week); visitors can enjoy a safe and unique experience as they drive through the one-mile holiday light show curated to seasonal music.

Red Vending Machine Shines Light on an Easy Way to Give This Holiday Season

NORTH TEXAS -- Just in time for the holiday giving season, the Light the World Giving Machine returns to Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas, benefitting seven charities.

Dallas-Fort Worth is one of more than 100 cities worldwide to host Light the World Giving Machines in 2024.  Five local DFW charities will benefit:

Salvation Army North Texas, Catholic Charities Dallas, Lovepacs, 6 Stones and Agape and two global charities, including Lifting Hands International and UNICEF - USA.

 What is a Giving Machine? Red vending machines that allow users to donate items like clothing, baby supplies, medicine and even goats for people in need during the holidays.​ With a swipe of a card at the machines, items can be purchased ranging in price from $5 to $150 and include staples for charities. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the participating charities. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Giving Machine is part of the Light the World holiday campaign, providing an instant act of service.

The Giving Machine will be in three locations throughout the metroplex from Nov. 22 – Jan. 1, 2025

• It will start in Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas, Nov. 22 – Dec. 5 at Napoli’s Italian Kitchen & Market (309 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051)
• Then, the Giving Machine will travel to make its debut in Frisco on Frisco Square from Dec. 7 – Dec. 18.
• It will make its final stop in Historic Downtown McKinney at Guava Tree  (104 S Chestnut St, McKinney, TX 75069) from Dec. 20 until Jan. 1, 2025.

“The Giving Machine is sponsored by our Church as a way to have an unforgettable giving experience with friends and families,” North Texas Area Authority Jonathan Cannon said for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "These moments help us feel the Savior's love for all of God's children.”

"I love the concept of the Giving Machines," Jen Leney, featured charity 6 Stones Executive Director, said.  "I love that you are teaching families charitable giving. There's a lot of need and as we collaborate together, we can transform whole communities.”

"The Giving Machine concept of spreading Light around the World is exactly what we do," Leney said. 

The Texas Giving Machine will also be in Austin, Houston and San Antonio.

Since the first Light the World Giving Machine launched in 2017, hundreds of thousands of people have generously contributed $32 million to assist those in need.

About Light the World Campaign

During the holiday season, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites people everywhere to light the world by lifting and serving others in small and simple ways. One unique, fun, and memorable aspect of the Light the World initiative is the popular Giving Machines. These customized vending machines allow the public to donate necessary products and services to those in need worldwide.

More details on texasgivingmachine.org/dfw/

@TexasGivingMachine on Instagram and Facebook                                     

A Broken Reflection

by

Shelly M. Patel

A baffling series of murders are all connected to one couple.

A Broken Reflection by Shelly M. Patel is a dark and baffling tale of mystery and murder. When women connected to either Claire Bell or her husband, Stephen, become the victims of murder, the police take note and start asking very probing questions. Claire soon finds herself suspected of being a serial killer. 

Claire is the main character in this twisty tale of murder and deception and is as baffled as the police about who is killing women she has some connection to. She’s a mild and amazingly forgiving woman, especially considering her knowledge of her husband’s infidelities. However, she wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone another human being. But why is she missing great blocks of time from her life? And what’s going on then that she doesn’t remember? 

The plot moves quickly, using multiple points of view to reveal the story. The reader learns early on that Claire is being watched, but it could be any number of mysterious people. While she wavers back and forth about her husband’s cheating, the killer seems to take those matters in hand for her as each one of her rivals becomes a victim. The different narrators all have an axe to grind regarding Claire, and the descriptions of their relationships with her vary greatly – almost as if they are not dealing with the same person. 

The story is easy to read, but there were a few places that required re-reading to figure out what the author was trying to say, and there were a couple of awkward transitions between points of view that were confusing. Still, the story was interesting, entertaining, and short. 

I recommend A BROKEN REFLECTION to readers of psychological or domestic thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

The Nine Lives of Tito d’Amelia

by

Ettore Farrattini Pojani

A magical combination of historical fiction and fantasy as seen through the eyes of a cat.

The Nine Lives of Tito d’Amelia by Ettore Farrattini Pojani is a magical story, a combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and tales handed down through time by word of mouth. It is the inventively told history of the author’s ancestors and their hometown, re-imagined through the eyes and timely intervention of a cat as he is reincarnated down through the centuries. 

The cat first appears at the site of what will eventually become the town of Amelia, Italy, in 1134 B.C., and he aligns himself with the first member of the family, who names him Titolo or Tito for short. A beloved companion, he is a special and integral part of this early community. On his death, his spirit is blessed to remain among the people and to continue to protect the town, his former owner, and his progeny into the future. Each subsequent section of the book is the next time the spirit of Tito physically manifests, reincarnated to live one of his nine lives at a critical point in the family’s and town’s history. 

The storytelling is mesmerizing and easy to read, and it is impressive in how smooth and natural it sounds, considering it is a book in translation. I enjoyed the mix of the family story with the history of the time, the personal story with that of what was occurring in the world, and how the town was impacted. As a cat lover, I looked forward to seeing how Tito would fit into each time frame and what means of intervention he would be called upon to guide and protect the family. I was quickly invested in the magic of the tale and needed a tissue by the end of his first life, and that wasn’t my last. 

With its great mix of history and family saga, I recommend THE NINE LIVES OF TITO D’AMELIA to readers of historical fiction and cat lovers; however, there are infrequent mentions of adult activity and nudity that parents may want to consider when sharing with less mature readers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.