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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Last-Minute Must Pack Items for SXSW

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Disclaimer: I was selected to represent Pfister at SXSW. I was provided a Powerrocks charger as a promo item. Hormel sent over several packs of their new Rev Meat Snack Mix for me to try complimentary, and I’m obsessed. 


I’m a planner-kind-of-gal. I like to know what to pack, what to bring and what to have just in case. So when going to a conference, especially a biggie like SXSW for my first time, I wanted to make sure I had everything I could possibly need as I journeyed down to the capital of Texas with Shannon of milkandcuddles.com for three days of all things technology, digital, interactive everything.

While I’ve been to Austin many times, I’ll admit a forecast for rain threw my whole plan a little out of whack since normally Austin is prime for sandal weather, but I was so glad I made some specific choices to make sure I was ready to go at it like a pro (minus forgetting my galoshes.) 

While the weather wasn’t going to be on my side as I headed to Austin for SXSW 2014, I at least make sure I packed a few things to make my experience a little more convenient, connected and tastier. 

1. Hormel Rev Meat Snack Mix: 
Ever wish you could eat pizza and type on your keyboard with making a mess? Or drive without dropping your BBQ sandwich all over you at the same time? Well, Hormel is making my dreams come true with their new high-protein, on-the-go snack, Rev Meat Snack Mix. Exclusive to Dallas-Fort Worth for now, I was sent a few of these babies to try out and they were the perfect SXSW treat. Packed in a small-cup size, they are perfect for snacking when you are driving down the road (it sits perfect in my cup holder), hiking/camping or gaming and don’t want to stop. Best of all, the mix varieties including Spicy BBQ & Bacon, Turkey Ranch and my family favorite, Pepperoni Pizza, are loaded with tasty flavors that will satisfy the perfect craving for meat, spice and crunch. And you can’t go wrong when your snack is full of protein with 9-10 g protein per serving. For me, it’s so much better than just snacking on jerky. Just don’t leave them in the cabinet while you go out of town, or your family will devour all of them. You can find these at Kroger for a limited time!

2. Powerrocks Charger: 
Everyone at SXSW will run put of power at least once if not twice a day. When you’re talking technology and the future of interactive nonstop for a week, running out of power is the point. But with my handy (affiliate link) Powerocks Magicstick, I just plug it into my phone, put it in my pocket and keep going. Love it! And it’s pink too so that doesn’t hurt my feelings either! While I would pick up a few of these while I was at the conference, I can’t tell you how many times I needed more than one recharge in a day for the iPhone and the iPad. Thankfully Powerrocks charges them all!

3. Go Go squeeZ: 
As the ambassador for Go Go squeeZ, I always have my green packs of fruity fun around. And when you’re hiking around Austin, waiting in line, or dying of hunger, go go is an awesome + easy way to get some fruit into system and eat it while I’m tweeting. I wish I had brought more for the hackers and power computer users who never left their laptop. Go Go makes it easy to eat over your computer without mess or from stopping what you’re doing. Believe me, you can subsist on Go Go squeeZ when you are on a deadline for many hours and have a sweet craving. 

4. Cords, Cords, and More Cords: 
Not only do you need to bring a small charger to keepy our devices running at SXSW, but you’ll also need to make sure to bring an extension cord. If you are taking notes and on your computer the whole time and have already gone through that recharge pack (or saving it for an emergency), make sure to utilize an opportunity to charge up your computer. And considering outlets may not be handy, having that cord can save you every time. I’ve learned this from other conferences and even if you don’t have to use it often, there’s always going to be that time you should have and didn’t. 

5. Boots. 
Yes, it seems so cliche, but it’s the truth. Any trip to Texas you should bring your boots. I actually had read a post about What to Wear to SXSW and the author mentioned boots. Considering I’m from Dallas/Fort Worth (well, Arlington), I thought that was only fitting for foreigners (people from outside of Texas), so I decided not to comply. Dumb girl. It rained so much on Saturday, even the most comfortable flats I own that are made for walking couldn’t handled the rain along 6th Street as I walked at least four miles that day. And it was cold too. So heed the advice: Bring your boots. Cowboy, rain or just cute riding ones – just leave the ones with the 4 inch heel at home. They just ain’t fittin’ as Mammie would say. 



I’ll definitely be sharing more about my experience at SXSW in coming posts, so make sure you stay tuned for the good stuff. 




Easy, Natural Spring Cleaning Tips from Mama Challenge on TV

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This weekend the clock sprung forward an extra hour and for many of us it marked the unofficial beginning of spring…which also means spring cleaning! 

(Hold back the enthusiasm, right?) 

 But when you are a busy mom with kids (and for me with two kids at home during spring break), it’s a REAL challenge to get caught up with that spring list of chores you’ve been holding off for months to do. 


This morning I conquered a few spring cleaning tips on WFAA Good Morning Texas using products you probably have at home that can make your job easier. And I even have a tip to get the kids involved, too! 

 Check my Spring Cleaning segment here on Good Morning Texas. 





Here’s a list of some of my favorite tips we covered during this segment and soon I’ll have another segment air that will cover some more of the ways you can keep up on your Spring Cleaning list! 
SPRING CLEANING TIPS FROM MAMACHALLENGE

My Most Important Tip: Baking Soda isn’t just for refrigerators and baking anymore, folks!

Clean Your Mattress:
Have your child jump on bed to bring up dust from inside.
Then sprinkle with baking soda.
Then vacuum the mattress top.

Baking Soda as Silver Polish:
To polish silver: Wash items, then place on aluminum foil in the bottom of a pot. Add a baking-soda solution (¼ cup soda, a few teaspoons salt, 1 quart boiling water) and cover for a few seconds.

Use a Baking Soda paste for stains on your cups/plates.

Use a Baking Soda paste to clean stove instead of those corrosive oven cleaners.

 

Clean Your Stainless Steel with Baking Soda:

2 tbsp baking soda, ½ cup vinegar, 2 cups warm water. Put in a bottle once the suds have gone flat.


Clean Your Grout with Hydrogen Peroxide:Just dilute hydrogen peroxide with water before applying on the grout and then leave it for few minutes. It can also be applied in combination with baking soda.

Clean Your Microwave with Vinegar:
½ vinegar
½ water
Microwave and let it steam. Then wipe it down.

White Bread as Glass Magnet:
The next time a tumbler takes a tumble, sponge up the shards with a slice of bread. Even tiny slivers will cling to it.

What’s your favorite spring cleaning tip? 


TV ALERT: 
Watch me next week on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2014 
 for St. Pat’s Treats you can make with the kids! 



Make Healthy Eating Easy with Facts Up Front

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“This is a sponsored post written by me on the behalf of the Facts Up Front program.”

While the chance to go to the grocery store to enjoy a hot cup of designer coffee, taste the new cheeses at the deli department while listening to the perfectly customized soundtrack (with no set time limit) is right up my alley for a fun way to spend my Saturday, it’s not normally the case or the most important part of my trip.


As a mom, I’m on the move and most occasions you’ll see my whip into the store with five minutes to complete a 30-minute trip. And that’s really hard when you are a label reader like me; picking up each product and flipping it over to check out the calories, the fat and how best I can squeeze in the most nutrition into what my family eats and drinks. Unfortunately, if you multiply the number of goods in my cart to the amount of time it takes to find the item, pick it up, turn it over and read the stats…well this mom doesn’t have time for that and probably neither do you.

The grocery store experience has come a long way, but the Facts Up Front initiative is one of the best upgrades yet. A voluntary initiative led by the in 2011, Facts Up Front brings important information from the Nutrition Facts panel (normally found on the side or back of the label) and displays it in a simple and easy-to-use format on the front of food and beverage products.



Specifically, the Facts Up Front label displays four basic icons: calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugars, representing the key nutrients for which dietary guidance recommend limiting consumption in the diet as determined by the Food and Drug Administration.

FACTS UP FRONT LABEL EXAMPLE

Basically, the label makes locating some of the most nutritional facts easier to find without picking up the product, finding the stats and trying to discern quickly if this is a product that fits your family’s nutritional needs – making it a huge time AND money saver!

Just check out this helpful video on how to save time and money with Facts Up Front.

The Facts Up Front website http://www.factsupfront.org also contains interactive tools like a nutrition calculator, an interactive label, a nutritional interactive quiz, shopping tips, and delicious recipes.

With the Nutrition Calculator, in five simple questions the calculator provides caloric intake, along with the suggested amounts of daily nutrients needed for each day, including fiber, protein and Vitamin C. This way you can determine your estimated daily nutrient needs for themselves and their family members in order to maintain a wholesome diet and weight. Then with that knowledge head to the grocery store to find the Facts Up Front labels that match the recommended nutritional values.

The Facts Up Front program is growing with more than 50 manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers voluntarily implementing this special labeling on their branded and private label products including Nestle, Post Foods, Ocean Spray, PepsiCo, Campbell’s, General Mills, Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, Kraft, and Heinz as well as retailers like Kroger. For a full list of Facts Up Front partners, visit http://factsupfront.org/Partners.


While there’s no technology developed to keep your refrigerator and pantry stocked with all the healthy and delicious products all time without going to the grocery store, the Facts Up Front initiative does make it easier and quicker to be informed and choose the right items for your family when you do go.

Then you might still have time and money for that latte when you’re done.

What’s your family’s healthiest go-to meal?

“This is a sponsored post written by me on the behalf of the Facts Up Front program.”

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Cleaner Teeth, Healthier Heart with Waterpik Aquarius Professional Water Flosser

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Waterpik. #NewAgeinWaterFlossing  #Ad.

 I have a love-hate relationship with my teeth.

 Unfortunately, my teeth have always been a source of stress for me with a mouth full of crowns and braces hardware. I’d like to say that if you took the money spent on my teeth, I’d probably be driving a Mercedes.

 As an adult I’ve worked to maintain a healthy regimen of dental hygiene; now for me AND being a good example to my kids, but it’s hard to keep it up, especially trying to stay on top of flossing for all of us.

Thankfully, dealing with that crazy roll of floss and keeping my kids still isn’t necessary with the use of the . Clinically proven up to 50% more effective for improving gum health vs. string floss and to remove up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas in 3 seconds, the Waterpik makes our night time “brush your teeth” ritual much easier with a fun way to take care of your chompers. 

 In the past the idea of pulling out a big, complicated machine seemed to be too overwhelming and too unattractive to leave on the bathroom counter sink, but the compact design of this new  makes set up and clean up a snap as well as the easy on and off on the wand. I can tell you from my own experience, that button alone ensures there’s a lot less mess when you get a mouth full of water and you’re trying to spit while getting to the machine to turn off the button. *It’s the little things that make a real difference! * 


 Also, having a child with a heart defect, dental care is that much more important. Did you know there is a link between good dental hygiene and a healthy heart? While I’m no doctor, the relationship between the two is enough reason everyone should spend more than just a few seconds scraping those bristles across your pearly whites. While having your own teeth and having a nice shiny smile is something we all should consider a priority, a healthy heart gives you enough reason to make time for brushing and flossing daily.


With the  I was able to almost start using it straight out of the box. Following the quick instructions, it just a few minutes I had a mouth full of clean teeth as it the Waterpik removed plaque and debris deep between teeth and below the gumline where brushing and traditional flossing can’t reach. Once I was done, I was able to lined up the kids to show them how it worked. With 7 different flosser tips and the floss/massage option, we all had fun finding just the right mode and tool to clean our teeth. 

 comes with 7 tips made to fit your individual needs including: 
3 – Classic Jet Tips
1 – Plaque Seeker® Tip
1 – Orthodontic Tip
1 – Pik Pocket™ Tip
1 – Toothbrush Tip

 Just having a “machine” made it fun for the kids to clean their teeth. And the clean feel in mouth gave me that “I just got back from the dentist” feeling like when you get a new car. Clean up with a snap and I was able to slide it under the sink easily until our next use! 

As I get older, keeping my teeth healthy and clean is huge priority and teaching my kids the importance of healthy dental care regimen is one of the many things I want to teach my kids. With the  I am able to do that for all of us and probably save money too with less visits to the dentist! 

Right now until March 31, 2014, get free shipping on your  with the code “FREESHIPWP660” on the . 

Happy Flossing! 






This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Waterpik.
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Get Rolling Now for National Meatball Day, March 9 with the Best. Meatballs. Ever. {Recipe + Giveaway}

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I was invited to a special event to learn first-hand how to make Chef Kenny Bowers’ legendary Midnight Meatballs. I was also provided a gift card for the purposes of this giveaway. But my sincere love for Kenny and his meatballs is the real deal. I’ve spent much of my own money to get my fix along with the most amazing polenta croutons. So needless to say, this is some truthful content and you should try this recipe. It’s that good. #meatballmadness

 “On top of spaghetti…all covered with cheese…”


Meatballs are such an important part of the spaghetti experience, they earned their own song. 

 Actually, meatballs aren’t just an Italian thing, but actually play a part of several cultures although it looks like the Romans do claim fame to them first (according to the Colorful History of the Meatball.)  

 Whoever wants to claim them is fine by me, but for my family, they are the purpose for the pasta. And we’ve spent many hours attempting to perfect the right meat mixture, texture and cooking method to create the ideal meatball. While I can remember some really good meatballs, I can’t say I have found THE recipe that I’m willing to cut throats for. However, I have found one that stands pretty close. 


Unfortunately, the recipe is not mine. But Dallas Chef Kenny Bowers (Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill, Kenny’s Burger Joint, Kenny’s Smoke House and Kenny’s Italian Kitchen) was willing to share it with me and a few of my friends over cocktails one afternoon and a big raw mess of pork and hamburger meat. 



Yes, this is how we roll. 

 The cocktail is actually part of the recipe too – as Kenny shared his own story of how the meatball recipe came to fruition. Basically, only after several evenings until past midnight with a few drinks down (read: several) did the recipe finally come together just the right way. Hence, the name “Midnight Meatballs.” 

My cocktail choice for this meatball-making Monday: The Frenchie made with prosecco. And best of all it looks like it’s only $5 on Mondays…(but be careful, it can sneak up on you!)

 Completely different than any recipe I’ve ever made, Kenny showed us how to create a panade (a paste made with white bread and milk) to bind together the meat for just the right texture. And then with a few other ingredients we had Kenny’s legendary meatballs ready for the oven and then “atop of spaghetti.”  But they were so good, they really didn’t need a starch, just some red sauce and a glass of red wine!  



KENNY’S MIDNIGHT MEATBALLS

 Ingredients:

 12 oz (3/4 of a loaf) white bread
3 cups milk (whole)
To taste salt (iodized)
To taste black pepper (table grind)
1 cups parmesan cheese
1 oz wt. basil (fresh, chopped 3/8” no stem)
4 lbs ground beef or pork or sausage

 Instructions:

 Tear bread in to small pieces approx 1”. In a large bowl combine milk and bread. Mix together by hand making sure bread is completely dissolved in milk to form a soupy paste-like consistency. Add salt, pepper, cheese, basil and mix. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before next step.
Gently mix in meat making sure everything is evenly mixed with slightly wet hands form 4 oz wt. balls.
Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees for approx 20 minutes until medium brown and an internal temp of 160.
Note: meatballs freeze very well if you don’t use them all this time.

 I suggest you make the whole recipe and then freeze a portion of them so you have them ready to go whenever you need an appetizer or a quick meatball sub or spaghetti and meatballs! 

OR you can always head over to Kenny’s on any Sunday, and National Meatball Day, for Meatball Madness! For only $1 you’ll get one of Kenny’s 1/4 pound meatballs. Or you can always beat the meatball eating record (currently it’s 18) and you can get your meatballs free. 

Or win this gift card and consider you’ve got $15 worth of meatballs on MamaChallenge! 
Just enter this contest now and you could win! 

Kenny’s Italian Kitchen
5100 Belt Line, Suite 764
Dallas, Texas 75254 (technically it’s in Addison) 
972.661.9380
www.kennysitalian.com









Jammin’ at Bluegrass Heritage Festival, March 7 & 8 in Arlington {Giveaway}

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This last weekend might have kicked off the spring festival season in North Texas, but Mother Nature only gave us half the weekend before she sent us back in doors to retreat from freezing temps AGAIN. However, the show must go on and so will festivals here in DFW. One of the fun ones that will happen (since it takes place indoors) is the Bluegrass Heritage Festival, March 7 & 8. A family-friendly festival for bluegrass fans, this event features some of the best names in bluegrass for a two-day weekend that’s a must-do for those who enjoy listening, jamming, and foot-tapping to the melodious magic that bluegrass brings.


Featuring Blue Highway, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, The Special Consensus, Honi Deaton & Dream, The Purple Hulls, East Mountain, The Herrins, Bluefield Express, and more.


The music will begin at 6 pm on Friday and will continue all day Saturday. Enjoy two days of bluegrass fun with great music, workshops, and jamming under the oak trees! All workshops are included in your festival ticket – no extra charge for workshops!

NOW YOU CAN WIN 2 TICKETS TO THE BLUEGRASS HERITAGE FESTIVAL! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


BLUEGRASS HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Friday & Saturday March 7-8 2014
South Oaks Baptist Church

5925 U. S. Highway 287, Arlington, Texas 76017
(214) 918-0010
$20-50
http://www.bluegrassheritage.org

Giveaways on Mama Challenge!

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We have all kinds of great giveaways this week! 



You’ll need to stay tuned this week for some good ones including SEALIFE Aquarium and their newest attraction Shark Mission! You can read more about it on my page on TodaysMama:

And you can enter right now:




And don’t forget to enter my contest for a $50 gift card to Houlihan’s Restaurants! 

If you’ve never been, then check out what you’re missing! And if you’re a fan, you know why you need to enter to win! 

We will also be giving away tickets to all kinds of Dallas-Fort Worth fun, so stay tuned! 




Save Calories and Money with Houlihan’s Low-Calorie Cali-Cali Menu

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Disclaimer: Compensation was provided by Houlihan’s via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Houlihan’s or MomTrends. 

When comes to dining out, I’m the kinda girl that wants to try everything. For me food is an experience so anytime I find a place that allows me to try a few different things without blowing my calorie count for a month or costing me my paycheck, I’m a fan.  And if you have scallops on your menu, well then you already just made my short list! 

A recent trip to Houlihan’s not only hit all my requirements for good food and good experience, but when I stumbled upon “I <3 Mondays” special, it was a little like the lottery. After a bad case of the Mondays, I began to smile with the idea of a choice of soup AND a dessert for only $3 with the purchase of my entree. However, the smile wasn’t stopping there. 

While I was treating myself to a Monday night dining out experience, I still wanted to try to eat healthy, especially if I was going to have dessert, too! Sliding into the rich wood seats and dark interiors, the weight of the day continued to lift, especially when my waitress greeted me. With Houlihan’s new lighter “Going Back to Cali-Cali” menu options (with items less than 590 calories), I had several delicious options including a very apropos X-Rated Moscato Martini with Skyy Infusions Moscato Grape Vodka, premium X-Rated Fusion Liqueur infused with organic blood orange juice, house sour and fresh cranberry juice and at 140 calories I was doing a little dance.


Now on to the rest of the meal. Considering I wasn’t the only one dining, I opted for something that we couldn’t resist with the Chicken and Avocado Eggrolls (a Houlihan’s staff favorite!) Served with sour cream and salsa, they were the perfect bite we needed to keep us steady for our next courses: salads, entrees and a dessert.

Round 2:

 Sampling from the salad menu, I couldn’t resist the idea of goat cheese, so I selected the White Tuscan Bean Salad.



And who can go wrong with tortilla soup? Houlihan’s definitely doesn’t with a homemade tortilla recipe full of flavor and fixins.


Next course:

 Still looking to be reasonable for a Monday meal, we ordered the Lemon & Herb Grilled Chicken (550 calories) with Tuscan white beans, organic kale-spinach-chard blend, roasted artichokes, tomatoes, herbed broth. It was perfectly tender, flavorful, colorful and packed with all kinds of good stuff. The combination of spinach with the artichokes was just the right pairing for the grilled chicken.


And for our other entree? It was hard to pass up the Georges Bank Scallops, but a long-time hankering for Ahi Tuna was in order with napa cabbage, iceburg and spinach with cashews, banana chips, carrots, scallions, cilantro, crispy wontons, banana-ginger vinaigrette. This was a whole new twist on ahi tuna salad with the unique contrast of tender fish, the sweetness of bananas and the crunch of crispy wontons, carrots and dried banana chips. 


And finally:

 There was dessert. 

As part of the lighter fare menu, the Key Lime Mousse layered with crystallized graham cracker crust and whipped cream made that smile of mine even bigger! The key lime flavor was sweet, but not too much to enjoy until the last drop. 

And we may have enjoyed a fried donuts with apple cobbler dip, too! (It was only $3, right?) And with the nutritional facts online you can always check on what you’re eating!


WIN
 Make sure you come in for the limited time lower calorie fare menu. While you’re there, you’ll see there’s several more reasons you’ll be coming back to Houlihan’s. And this $50 gift card will give you your first experience on me! 


 About Houlihans
Established in 1972, Houlihan’s is a progressive concept that bridges the gap between fine dining and what people have come to expect from casual dining, priding itself on style and quality. Houlihan’s offers guests a design-forward atmosphere featuring a curated indie music soundtrack, an eclectic menu designed for modern lifestyles, and an energetic scene. Houlihan’s crafts dishes made from scratch with assertive flavors and offers creative, diverse cocktails and wine selections, with many of its locations garnering ‘best happy hour’ awards from local media outlets. Currently, 83 Houlihan’s restaurants operate throughout the country, 52 of which are franchised. Houlihan’s is owned by Houlihan’s Restaurants, Inc. of Leawood, Kansas, which developed and owns several restaurant concepts comprising of approximately 100 locations coast-to-coast, including Devon Seafood Grill and J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks. For more information, please visit www.houlihans.com or find Houlihan’s on Facebook at www.facebook.com/houlihans.



Spring Greening: North Texas Irish Festival, Feb. 28 – Mar 2 {Giveaway}

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The largest celebration of culture in Southwest goes to the dogs as its 32nd year showcases all things Irish, including dogs, dancing, dining and more in Dallas’s Fair Park for the North Texas Irish Festival.

NTIF


From “Erin Go Bragh!”, a traditional Irish saying meaning “Ireland Forever,” to “Erin Go Bark!”, the theme of this year’s festival, this phrase reflects one of its most-loved traditions as it celebrates the role of the “Celtic canines” in this beloved dog- and family-friendly festival.

A young visitor is taught the ancient sport of archery in the NTIF Celtic Village. Photo: Bud Mallar


Whether your dog is Irish, Celtic, or just a friendly mutt, he or she is welcome to accompany you and your family to enjoy the music, culture, fun and food. New for this year, the festival now has a bigger paw print – er, footprint – with the addition of a pet pavilion in the Grand Place, dedicated to dogs and other friendly pets — lots to get your tail wagging. Attendees can search for a new pet in the largest gathering of animal rescue groups in North Texas. Last year alone, almost 100 animals found new homes through the festival.

Thank goodness dogs love music, because the heart of this festival, an all-volunteer effort produced by the Southwest Celtic Music Association (SCMA), is a celebration of music that will have you tapping your toes and paws. The North Texas Irish Festival features top Irish musicians, dancers and storytellers from around the world and a variety of cultural presentations on 13 stages at Fair Park. The festival also hosts activities for the kids, an Irish cooking stage, storytelling, arts/crafts and much more for the family.

The “First Texas ‘Ceili” (pronounced “kay-lee” and meaning “gathering” in Gaelic) was held in 1983 at a local Oak Lawn pub and has grown into the largest celebration of Irish culture in the Southwest as the 32nd Annual North Texas Irish Festival, presented by the Southwest Celtic Music Association, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing music and dance scholarships and supporting other major Celtic cultural events in DFW.

NORTH TEXAS IRISH FESTIVAL
Feb. 28 – Mar. 2, 2014
Gates open on Friday evening, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m.
Hours are 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1; and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 2.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ntif.org.

  • Admission is FREE on Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.; $10 after (50% off coupons online at www.ntif.org).
  • Children 11 and under are FREE when accompanied by adult family member.
  • Seniors over 65 or current military members (with valid military ID) receive $5 off all gate prices.
  • Dogs are allowed in on a short leash with a $1 requested donation to animal rescue groups supported by the festival. Leprechauns (in full ceremonial dress and carrying pot of gold) are FREE.
  • A one-day ticket is $20 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday at the gate, while a two-day ticket is $25 and a weekend pass is $30. Discount tickets for all three days will be available at area Tom Thumb stores in February.

Parking is available in and around Fair Park, or attendees can take the DART Green Line (take the Green Line and save some green!) to the front entrance of Fair Park and the North Texas Irish Festival. Detailed directions and parking tips are available at www.ntif.org. The public can call 972-943-4616 or visit www.ntif.org for more information or to volunteer to work at the festival.

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