Alliance Life June 22

content O F T A B L E

ARTICLES 07

SUMMER’S SECRETS: INFUSED WATERS!

08

FUN SUMMER DIY BACKYARD GAMES

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FIVE THINGS TO SEE: WATER PARKS

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QUICK HOME MAKEOVER TIPS

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7 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW

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SIMPLE SUMMER COCKTAILS

O P E NI N G T H E D OOR

To Your Family

THE LORD &

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8 FAMILY FRIENDLY DAY TRIPS

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HIKING TRAILS NEAR YOU

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CITY OF JUSTIN FUN DAY EVENT PHOTOS

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10 HOT SUMMER VACATION SPOTS

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INSIDE COMMUNITY & EDUCATION

F E AT U R E D

23

SHELDON THE DOG

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26

CHANGING HOW AUTISM SPEAKS

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Publisher of Mailbox Media Jeff@murray-media.com Publisher & Editor Jeff Caves

Administration

Summer

HERE IS

I

t’s official! Summer is here and boy, am I ready. Anyone that knows me, knows that I’m a family man first and foremost.

Summertime gives all of us the opportunity to spend a little

less time running around and a little more time to spend together.

One of my favorite things to do when the weather starts to heat up is to host a backyard barbecue where the whole

family gets together. I break out the Traeger, slow cook some ribs, unwind with a cold beer, and appreciate everything that I’ve been blessed with.

It’s in those moments that I realize that this is why I do what I

do. This is why I created Alliance Life Magazine. Alliance Life is about family. It’s about uplifting our businesses, helping them succeed, and spreading love to everyone who lives here.

I’ve loved every second of getting to talk with our local

businesses and being able to hear their passion and dreams

of growth. Knowing that I can help them reach those dreams

through this publication is a part of my dream for Alliance Life.

I saw something special in this area. I saw something good. I saw an area with so many stories that deserved to be told.

So, when you read through this month’s Summertime issue, maybe look for things that you can do together as a family.

Go on a hike, check out a water park, or maybe even pick out a new vacation destination that everyone will love. Let’s put

away our phones and close out social media. That email from work? It can wait until Monday. Take a moment, unwind, and appreciate everything that you’ve been blessed with.

Managing Editor Jana Melton Assistant Editor Bobbi Byrne

Writers

Diane Ciarloni, Leena Duwadi, Jean Eisenmann, Steve Gamel, Caylie Howard, Jade Kensington, Mark Miller

Advertising Inquiries

jeff@murray-media.com

Production

Graphic Designers Cayla Davis Hallie Preece Jessica Seitz Nancy Winberg

Photography

Lacey Whitmer Photo & Design Your Candid Memories Photography What’s That Guy’s Name? Photography by Guy T Miranda Longoria Photography Live Beautifully Photography Penny Whistle Photography

Letters

Alliance Life Magazine invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments.

Email jeff@murray-media.com.

All submissions become the sole property of Mailbox Media.

Editorial Inquiries Call Caylie Howard at 972.899.3637 or email editor@murray-media.com Address: Mailbox Media L.L.C. 2591 Lakeside Pkwy., Ste. 200 Flower Mound, TX 75022 Alliance Life Magazine is published monthly by Mailbox Media.

Some articles and/or content may be sponsored by advertisers.

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Alliance Life Magazine is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission in writing from the publisher. © 2022 Mailbox Media

As always, thank you for reading our latest issue of Alliance Life Magazine!

Sincerely, Jeff & Lacie Caves 6 | ALLIANCE LIFE | JUNE 2022

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JUNE 2022 | ALLIANCE LIFE | 7

Summer DIY BACKYARD Yo u

S h o u l d

B e

D o i n g

N o w

by Steve Gamel

S

ummer is here, and while many people are planning their next vacation getaway with family and friends, there are those of us who are perfectly content doing something more local. Well, what’s more local and fun than your own backyard?

This is the time of year when we all get outside and hang out by the pool while dad fires up the grill, and there are plenty of traditional backyard games like cornhole, lawn darts, croquet, bocce ball, or even dodgeball to keep us busy for hours. Here are a few do-it-yourself game ideas that will take your next backyard outing from ordinary to larger than life.

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30 Dunk Bucket Think of the dunk tanks at carnivals where you throw a ball to hit a target that releases a switch that drops one hopeless soul into the water. You may not have access to a tank, but all you have to do here is attach a wood base to a nearby tree or shed wall that can hold a fivegallon bucket.

20 10 Bean Bag Ladder Toss Talk about thinking outside the box.

DUNK BUCKET

INSTRUCTIONS Take some wood and cut out a target

Grab your basic ladder from the shed and

Lawn Twister This is probably one of the easiest, and most fun games on the planet to do in your backyard. Use circular stencils and

spray paint to turn a section of your lawn into a makeshift game board.

use pieces of paper or sturdy notecards to write point totals for each rung of the ladder. To play the game, make a few

bean bags or substitute bean bags with

rolled up socks and toss them through the different rungs to earn points.

Take wood and cut out base for 5-gallon bucket Use hinges to attach bucket to tree and to attach target to tree Use washers or some other mechanism to hold bucket up Use piping as a delivery method to fill the bucket

Ladder Golf

Glow In The Dark Bowling Why limit your backyard shenanigans

Buy/find tennis balls

to daytime when you can go overtime with this neat, summer night game.

Simply grab yourself six empty water Sit person in front of bucket

bottles, a few glow sticks to put inside the bottles to create the perfect lighting, and any ball you have on hand. When you’re

Throw ball at target (repeat if necessary) Instructions courtesy of thehappyhousewife.com

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all set up, bowl to your heart’s content.

Per wideopenneats.com, all you need to play this fun version of golf is 4x4s, 2x4s, bolts, washers, dowels, plywood, and a few screws. To play this game, space the ladders about 15 feet apart.

Each player tosses three bolas, and then the next player does the same.

The first one to 21 without going over is the winner! The top rung is worth three points, the middle is two, and the bottom rung is worth one point.

If you decide to do any of these DIY game ideas this summer, please send us your photos at artwork@murray-media.com or our Facebook page! We’d love to publish them.

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