Flower Mound Town Life Magazine July 2020

JULY/AUGUST 2020

Keeping You And Your Family

SMILING NO MATTER WHAT

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEWISVILLE, TX PERMIT NO. 977

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TABLE OF Contents ASK THE EXPERTS

15 Summer Fun During Covid

10 Travel with Terri Guthrie

16 Keep Your Community Safe

26 Organizing with Cloud Nine Organizing

18 5 Crazy Ways Social Media Changes Your Brain

30 Fitness with Jesse James Fit

20 Getting A Running Start

48 Dentistry with Country Lakes Family Dental

23 Sheriff’s Corner with Sheriff Tracy Murphree

52 Edit This with Steve Gamel

31 Masking The Issue

56 Legal with Balmos Law

33 Foodie Friday DFW: 407 BBQ

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

34 Everyone Deserves a Healthy Beautiful Smile

14 So Much More Than Just Dent Repair with Metro Dent

38 Hiking Trails

37 Turning Pie-in-The-Sky Healthcare Goals into Your Reality with Connections Wellness FLOWER MOUND PHOTO PAGES

40 Barbecue Recipes For Kids 41 Living That Kind Life 42 Lewisville ISD Prepares for 2020-2021 School Year 44 5 Water Safety Tips

27 Resident Photo Page

45 Insight From The Inside

32 Resident Photo Page Continued

46 Are You Allergic to Your Pet?

ARTICLES 08 5 Bad Dental Habits 12 Inside Community and Education

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50 Fun Summer DIY Backyard Games 54 Service Over Self 58 What Are Your Sleeping Mistakes?

PAGE

28

Keeping You And Your Family

SMILING NO MATTER WHAT Cover Image Dr. John Shillingburg

with DFW Oral Surgeons

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Publisher of Murray Media Group, kelly@murray-media.com

Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray

Administration

Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editors

Bobbi Byrne Alisha Tran

We Want to Tell Your Story

T

hank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of support and excitement we received after the premiere issue of Town Life hit mailboxes last month.

We are so excited to add another publication to our Murray Media Group family, and this one is especially dear to us as it is for our hometown — the place where Scott and I raise our kids, have our business, and are blessed to live.

We enjoy coming across these stories at chamber and networking events, while perusing social media pages and reaching out to non-profit organizations, and from the growing relationships we have with local businesses.

But we want to hear from you — our readers.

As you read through the pages of this month’s issue, keep your eyes out for anything we might have missed — and let us know.

Is there a local teen who did something special? What about educators who go above and beyond? Has your neighborhood pulled together to give back to someone in need? Is there a non-profit we should highlight?

This is a magazine about OUR community, and we want to write stories that matter to you. We want to tell your story!

Also, did you know we LOVE pictures? Family pictures, vacation pictures, furry pet pictures, and event pictures.

Send them to us, and you just might see them in our next issue.

As Texas dials back on its reopening plan, let’s continue to support local businesses and help keep Flower Mound the best place to live, work, and play!

Writers & Editor

Steve Gamel & Brooke Ezzo

Advertising Inquiries

sales@murray-media.com

Production

Graphic Designers Caroline Brock

Alyson Modene

Cayla Thompson

Photography

Nick Allen Photography

Your Candid Memories Photography

What’s That Guy’s Name? Guy T Photography

Letters

Flower Mound Town Life invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments.

Email artwork@murray-media.com.

All submissions become the sole property of Murray Media Group.

Editorial Inquiries Call 972.899.3637 or email editor@murray-media.com www.Murray-Media.com Address: 3513 Yucca Dr., Ste. 200 Flower Mound, TX 75028 Flower Mound Town Life is published monthly by Murray Media Group. 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. Flower

Mound Town Life 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. © 2020 Murray Media Group

Our mission – to inspire everyone to LIVE LIFE LOCAL!

Sincerely, Kelly Murray 6 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

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BAD DENTAL

HABITS

by Contributing Writer

O

ur 32 adult teeth serve valuable purposes. They help us chew food and contribute to certain kinds of speech sounds. Although tooth loss can occur with age, we should practice good dental hygiene to hold onto our teeth as long as possible. When we begin losing them, it can affect the shape of the mouth, how we chew and digest food, the way we speak, and our general appearance. Avoid these bad habits to avoid losing your teeth.

“ You Don’t Have To Brush All Your Teeth Just The Ones You Want To Keep” — Anonymous Quote

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1

LIMITED BRUSHING

Dentists recommend brushing your teeth with toothpaste and clean water after eating. This includes snacks. In fact, many dentists discourage frequent snacking, as certain popular snack foods contain sugar or a crunchy texture that can harm teeth.

Even worse, people don’t typically brush their teeth after eating between meals.

If you can’t brush after snacking, at least privately rinse your mouth with water to remove some of the food debris or beverage residue.

2

RARE FLOSSING

Everyone should floss at least once a day if not after every meal. Flossing helps to remove food particles between the teeth and below the gum line where toothbrushes can’t reach. Regular flossing can keep your gums healthy by reducing or eliminating inflammation that may lead to periodontal disease.

3

NAIL BITING

Avoid chewing on your fingernails or ice, or anything else that can damage your teeth. Some people unconsciously chew pencils or other objects that can wear down their teeth or cause their bite to become misaligned. Don’t bite anything except dental-friendly food to keep your teeth strong and healthy.

4

USE TEETH AS SCISSORS

You might be tempted to break thread in two with your teeth if you don’t have a pair of scissors handy. Some people tear the rind off of citrus fruits with their teeth. Using your teeth as a sharp object to bite, peel, or cut non-food items may cause a tooth to chip, crack, or even get twisted over time.

5

HAVE BRUXISM

It’s not unusual to grind your teeth spontaneously, often due to nerves, frustration, or anger. Some people grind their teeth at night while sleeping and have little control over the habit. However, bruxism in any form can wear down your teeth edges and affect the way you eat and speak. Talk to your dentist about this problem if you have it.

By avoiding bad dental habits like these, you can protect your teeth and keep them in good condition for years to come. Take action now to practice effective dental hygiene and stop mistreating your teeth before they are permanently damaged.

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Ask The Expert: Travel

THE

Gathering Place

by Terri Guthrie | photos courtesy of Terri Guthrie

A

re you looking for something nearby to do this summer?

Well, I have a great idea for you, and it’s just north of us in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Gathering Place has been named “America’s Best New Attraction” by USA TODAY. It was also awarded the “World’s Greatest Places” by Time Magazine in 2019. And what a place it is!!! We have been countless times and still have not seen everything. You really need to see this new creative and very unique FREE Park!

This brand new riverfront park was designed as an inclusive green space where residents and visitors alike can relax and engage with one another.

The expansive park makes use of more than six million gallons of water and 80

The future for The Gathering Place looks very promising as the Kaiser Family Foundation also created a $100 million endowment to support maintenance of the park for the next 99 years. Every city should be so lucky!

tree species, with attractions like multistory fireplaces, an adventure playground, a boathouse, restaurants, coffee shops, a sensory garden, and a reading tree.

There’s something here for everyone.

Fortunately, our daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons live here, so we visit this wonderful park as often as possible and always find new things to discover. It’s definitely a park like none other. Go and see for yourself…you will be glad you did!

The Gathering Place is centered on the east bank of the Arkansas River. It is largely the brainchild of Tulsa multibillionaire and philanthropist, George Kaiser. This publicprivate partnership covers approximately 100 acres of land. As of September 2018, it has cost about $465 million to construct.

FOLLOW TERRI ON INSTAGRAM @TRAVELWITHTERRI OR HER TRAVEL BLOG AT TRAVELWITHTERRI.NET

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INSIDE COMMUNITY

FUNNY SHIELDS

COLLECTING PLASTIC BAGS Do you have an over-flowing amount of plastic bags in your pantry and ready to clear them out? Bring them to the designated bins set up at the FM public library, the senior center and the community activity center. Keep Flower Mound Beautiful will collect them. Help KFMB turn plastic bags into park benches!

Denton County resident, Alejandra Matiz has made eco friendly face shields for kids! These shields protect from direct contact with fluids and mists, and prevents face touching. Made from renewable raw materials. The headband is water resistant, and adjustable. Material is light, easy to clean, and reusable. With many patterns to choose from, purchase one today at www.Etsy.com/shop/MilibelulaOnTheFly. photo courtesy of Alejandra Matiz

INSIDE EDUCATION

BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR Sat., Aug. 1 | 8am - 1pm | Lewisville High School 1098 W. Main St. • Lewisville, TX 75067 Lewisville ISD will host its annual Back-to-School Fair with a bit of a twist. For the safety of students, families, and volunteers, this year’s fair will be designed as a drive-thru, with social distancing and other safety precautions in place. The fair is a free event providing over 5,000 LISD students with backpacks and key school supplies for the new school year. Email BacktoSchoolFair@lisd.net with any questions.

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SUPPORT LEWSIVILLE EDUCATION FOUNDATION Hawaiian Falls waterparks, Garland or The Colony locations have teamed up with the Lewisville Education Foundation to support the district and give you a discounted way to stay cool this summer.

Visit HFalls.com, select YOUR water park, click the brown TICKET PARTNER button and enter the discount code LewisvilleEF.

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SERVICE OVER SELF Club members from Rotary District 5790 were able to raise $161,000 in ten days for COVID-19 relief efforts in North Central Texas. They donated almost $64,000 to Texas Health Resources to purchase needed supplies and $58,000 to the Tarrant Area Food Bank to help replenish much-needed food staples. The rest of the money will be donated to other hospitals and food pantries in the area. Thank you, District 5790! photo courtesy of Kelly Murray

FEARLESS NUTRITION NOW OPEN Mon.- Fri., 8am - 5pm | Sat. 10am - 3pm | Sun.- closed 330 Parker Sq. • Flower Mound, TX 75028 Do you need some energy or a post workout drink? Fearless Nutrition is the perfect place to get healthy, stay hydrated, and feel good. Their expansive menu of healthy shakes and teas offers something for everyone. Support local and follow them on Facebook @ Fearless Nutrition TX. photo courtesy of Brooke Harden

NEW SONG SCHOOL OF HEARTS 7861 Tudor Ln. • Argyle, TX 76226 New Song School of the Arts offers summer camps, workshops, and intensives for students. Their second summer semester starts soon, so reserve your spot today!

There are several camps to choose from: music together classes, a ukulele camp, musical theatre production, and much more. The school is taking precautions by implementing health measures during all camps. For more information, visit www.NewSongSchooloftheArts.com.

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NEW BOOKS FOR STUDENTS The FC Dallas Foundation and Southern New Hampshire University partnered together to promote continued learning and education throughout the summer by gifting nearly 3,000 books to students in LISD. These books will assist K-8th grade English Language Learning students build their at-home libraries.

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 13

Business Spotlight

SO MUCH

MORE Than Just Dent Repair

by Steve Gamel

214.735.8365 | HailFreeCar.com | 1620 E. State Hwy. 121, Ste. C100 • Lewisville, TX 75056

S

o a major hailstorm hits North Texas

days and at no cost out of pocket to the

“It’s amazing to me how many people

… again. While you’ve been lucky

customer,” Mike said. “If a hailstorm hits,

come in here thinking we just do dents,”

to avoid damage to your car in the

past, this time you need to get quite a few repairs done beyond having someone pop a few dents out of your hood.

While filing an insurance claim, meeting with an adjuster, and dropping your car off at the nearest body shop can be a nip and tuck process for many first-timers, for most it’s not. It could take weeks to meet with an adjuster depending on how many claims they are working on, and body shops, in general, aren’t built to handle an influx of hail damaged vehicles on top of their normal workload. Even paintless dent repair facilities are limited in what they can do.

and I need to bring in 50 more technicians to keep that cycle time and quality the same, I’ll do it in a heartbeat.”

Metro Dent has become the trusted choice for motorists throughout Denton County and beyond, and they are the best and most comprehensive.

Metro Dent strives for perfection and will restore your vehicle to

play out over and over again during his 24 years in hail repair. Getting your car repaired should be faster, which is why you should choose Metro Dent in Lewisville.

places are limited in what they can fix, but many times customers have some pretty bad damage and various things that need to be replaced. We can

“We make the entire process easy, so people aren’t so scared to get their car fixed.”

do anything cosmetic.”

All workmanship comes with a lifetime warranty, and on qualified insurance claims, there’s no money out of pocket.

During hail season, Metro Dent offers extended work hours,

its original condition – whether it has a single door ding or a hood full of hail damage.

Mike Nosker has seen this lengthy scenario

Mike said. “Many paintless dent repair

free pickup and delivery, free car rental, and personalized service.

Metro Dent works on your behalf with

Metro Dent also does full-body dent

a licensed independent adjuster to get

repair, minor collision jobs, paint

your repair approved at the proper level,

correction, detailing and reconditioning

which means you are assured of the

services, glass replacement, ceramic paint coatings, vinyl wraps, and more. They

highest quality service. Plus, they can help with your deductible and still offer you a

“We bend over backward to help return

service standard cars and trucks as well as

lifetime warranty.

a customer’s car in the best condition we

boats, RVs, and dirt bikes. All Metro Dent

can without having them wait months.

technicians are certified and have at least

“I always tell people, if you’re not sure

In some cases, our cycle time is three

15 years of experience in the industry.

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of us, everyone is on social media these days. Go look at our reviews,” Mike said. www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

Summer FUN

DURING COVID

by Contributing Writer

M

ake the most of this crazy time by forging some fun memories with your kiddos this summer! Making a Bucket List with your family will give some structure and purpose to your days AND help keep your kiddos entertained!! Use this one as inspiration, but brainstorming to come up with one for your family will be part of the fun!

BOWLING

BUILD A FORT

You don’t need a bowling ally to have a blast bowling with the fam! Stack up some toilet paper or paper towels, if you can find ‘em, and use a soccer or playground ball to knock em’ down! This will keep your little ones busy for a while!

Building forts with your kids is the stuff memories are made of! We have a bin of old sheets that we keep just for this purpose, but you can also grab some at your local thrift store! Battery operated fairy lights will make any fort more magical.

DANCE PARTY Turn up the music and have a dance party! You’ll burn some calories and have a blast! If this isn’t your thing, start with scripted dances like the Cha-Cha Slide or the Chicken Dance.

EXERCISE Teach your kids about different muscles in their bodies, and then learn an exercise that will make that muscle stronger! Challenge your kids to do those exercises every day, and help them chart their progress! www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

QUARANTINE TIME CAPSULE Create a Quarantine Time Capsule with your kids! Look on our Facebook page for a FREE Time Capsule printout.

TIE DYE Make some tie dye shirts or kitchen towels! There are lots of variations of this activity - you could make “bleach” shirts using bleach spray in a bottle.

You can also spray the tie dye! Or, try taping off words, like Quarantine 2020, and spray over that!

MAKE SPONGE BOMBS FOR A WATER FIGHT

Cut sponges into strips and tie them

tightly in the middle with dental floss... dunk them in water and have a “sponge bomb fight!”

GO TO THE ZOO! ONLINE Thanks to Covid-19 these zoos are bringing the zoo to you by hosting

Facebook Lives, uploading videos and

sharing live web cams so your kiddos can

pop in any cage any time. Check out both their website and Facebook pages to see what they’re up to each day.

Dallas Zoo

dallaszoo.com/bringthezootoyou/ Columbus Zoo

columbuszoo.org/home/cameras The Bronx Zoo

bronxzoo.com/virtual-zoo North Carolina Zoo

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KEEP YOUR

Community

SAFE

by Steve Gamel

Y

ou’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t heard of the National Neighborhood Watch Program. One of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the country, a Neighborhood Watch is a collection of everyday citizens who keep an eye on things and work with local police to deter crime and keep their neighborhoods safer.

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Thousands of registered watch groups across the country have that familiar white and blue sign with the slogan that says, “We look out for each other.” But if you’ve noticed, they aren’t in every single neighborhood locally.

If you’d like to start one for your neighborhood, you can visit www.nnw.org/ register-watch. In the meantime, there are still ways you can reduce crime, improve communication among neighbors, and be more prepared when emergencies strike — with or without a formal Neighborhood Watch Program. Here are just a few to help you get started.

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS We should all make it a point to get to know who is living next to us, even if they are six or seven houses down the road or on a nearby street. Does your neighbor have children? Where do they work?

Are your neighbors older and need help every so often? Good neighbors who know each other communicate better, have ways to reach each other, are aware of each other’s tendencies (when people are at work, out of town, etc.), and can recognize suspicious behavior. Even if you don’t want to form an official watch group, knowing your neighbors keeps everyone in the know and concerns top of mind.

DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT Your local police work hard every day to protect and serve, but they can’t keep track of all potential safety issues if they aren’t aware of them. The police are more than willing to meet with you and the rest of your neighbors to answer questions and share their knowledge. They may even be willing to increase daily patrols if you stress the importance of keeping the neighborhood safe. Who knows, they may help you start a Neighborhood Watch Program.

KEEP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKING ITS BEST Neighborhoods with expensive homes and manicured lawns aren’t immune to crime. But keeping your lawn mowed, your vehicles and garage doors locked, and your property well-lit and cared for can keep suspicious activity to a minimum.

The goal is to make things more difficult for criminals who may be looking for an easy score.

IMPROVE THE LIGHTING ON YOUR STREET Speaking of well-lit areas, talk to your Homeowner’s Association, city officials, and neighbors about improving lighting in any areas that are sorely lacking.

Encourage neighbors to turn their porch lights on in the evenings.

EVERY HOUSE SHOULD HAVE A SECURITY SYSTEM One of the best ways to improve safety and decrease criminal activity in neighborhoods or communities that don’t have a dedicated Neighborhood Watch Program is to ensure every home has a security system and that it is being used regularly. Burglars are less likely to invade homes that are clearly protected by cameras and other security systems.

START A NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL MEDIA GROUP Most neighborhoods and communities have a Facebook group such as Lantana Life or What’s Happening Lake Cities. If yours doesn’t have one, be proactive in creating one and inviting your neighbors to join. They are the perfect forum to ask for referrals, have critical discussions, and yes, prevent crime. Neighbors who are in the know are more likely to stay happy and safe. The problem with many of these sites is that they can fall victim to cycles of negativity. If someone asks a question about something they noticed or want to understand better, be a good neighbor and help them in a positive way. www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

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5

CRAZY WAYS

SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGES YOUR BRAIN

O

nline social media platforms are a major part of daily life.

Unfortunately, they can also bring with them some very real dangers to the mental health of their users. Below are just a handful of the very real dangers of social media usage and how overuse can impact your brain.

Fueling Mental Illness

Overriding Safety Concerns

One of the most pressing dangers of

The overwhelming need to be connected to social platforms has also created a substantial fear of being disconnected in many users. This fear has led to individuals ignoring obvious dangers in favor of staying connected, which has led to hazards on roads and sidewalks. One only needs to take a look at drivers on their phones to see how this phenomenon has a major impact on the world at large.

social media is its impact on the overall mental health of its users. A number of different studies have shown that those who engage in substantial social media usage find themselves dealing with worsened symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as a heightened risk of selfharm and suicidal idealization.

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Increasing Isolation Though social platforms are meant to play a role in bringing people together, many studies have shown that they do the opposite. Heavy users of some platforms note that they feel more isolated after using their social accounts than before.

This can be related to the images that users see of others participating in events while they're alone, even though users are fully aware that the events posted are curated by their posters and may not be representative of the other party's actual social life. www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

Reducing Focus

Creating Unhealthy Relationships

Social platform usage also plays a role

Finally, social platforms encourage the creation of unhealthy relationships. Users grow attached to the curated personas of others and do their best to create personas that would likewise attract others. This, unfortunately, can lead to a lack of deep communication and unrealistic expectations when dealing with others in real life. Simply put, social platforms warp relationships.

in reducing the attention spans of users.

Because social platforms thrive on posting constant updates, users condition themselves to constantly getting new input. In a very real way, social platform users are conditioning themselves to process data more quickly rather than more deeply.

Online media platforms can have a huge impact on the well-being of their users. If not used in moderation, they can be legitimately dangerous. It's always best to step back and to remember that these platforms only represent a narrow window in the real world.

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GETTING A

RUNNING

START R

by Susan Neuhalfen

unning has its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, it’s hard on the body. It jars joints and just leaves you feeling achy all day if you don’t do it enough. On the other hand, it’s a very quick way to lose weight and a great motivator. It is also addictive, and once that addiction is discovered by a runner, the euphoria is unmatched.

For those just starting to run, however,

the entire thought can be overwhelming.

Luckily thousands of people have taken the time to create the best equipment

available to make learning to run easier than ever.

Here are a few first steps to make that transition to running:

feeling like you are running forever like a half-marathon or full marathon.

Lucky for you, there are several apps entitled “Couch to 5k” for the beginning runner. Many are free and some work better than others depending on the type of phone used. A few recommended include: 5K Runner • C25K Zombies, Run! • 5K Run.

feet, or even their heels. It varies, and

there are shoes designed specifically for

how you run. The right shoe can mean the difference between sore hips and ankles and feeling great. While you’re at it get some good, cushy running socks.

GPS Watch - Heart Monitor It’s important to keep an eye on your heart rate when you run, which is why you should invest in a quality GPS watch designed specifically for runners. Runner’s World lists the Apple Watch Series 4, Coros Apex Multisport, Polar Advantage, Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, and the Suunto 9 as just a few of the more advanced GPS watches for runners in 2019.

Couch To 5K Apps

The Right Shoes

Signing up for a run is a great way

Don’t just purchase any run-of-the-mill tennis shoe – go to a shoe store that specializes in running shoes, and let the specialist watch you run or walk. Runners may run on their toes, the outside of the

to motivate yourself, and there is no

better motivator than a 5K (3.1 miles).

Unlike a 1 mile fun run, it’s just long enough to be a challenge without 20 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

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A Good Place To Run Finding a good trail is a great motivator.

Google “running trails near me,” and there will be plenty. You can also look in the

pages of this magazine, as we have put

together a map of nearby trails and other running spots.

www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

Take Your Mind Off It The point of listening to something is to take your mind off the run and put it into a positive state. Design a playlist with songs that mimic the beats per minute (BPM) of the run, or just turn on Pandora Radio and listen to your favorite tunes.

Podcasts and books are available if you prefer something other than music. The app Zombies, Run narrates an adventure story in which the runner outruns hordes of hungry zombies while collecting things for the mission.

Find A Running Mate To take running in a more social direction, there are plenty of running clubs in the area, and most are free. Search the internet and find one that fits your style.

There are plenty of other hacks out there to make running easier. Start with these basics and then work into exactly what is needed to make running a great go-to sport that fits your schedule. Remember, it’s never too late to start a great new habit like running. www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

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SHERIFF’S W I T H

“

S H E R I F F

T R A C Y

M U R P H R E E

THANK YOU OFFICERS

T

he last few months have been very have served with honor and distinction challenging for law enforcement. throughout these difficult times. I have The COVID-19 pandemic followed watched over and over as they continue by civil unrest and anti-police sentiments to do their jobs and do their jobs well. has affected law enforcement agencies I’ve heard no complaints or whining, like nothing before. The Denton County as they have done all that I and their Sheriff’s Office and our local agencies respective Chiefs have asked of them. are no exception. In a time of uncertainty They go out every day putting their lives I want to take a moment on the line for Denton and tell you how proud I THEY HAVE WORKED County. They are moms, am of our officers. These dads, husbands, wives, TIRELESSLY men and women have sons and daughters who WITHOUT DAYS not had the opportunity have answered a call not to work from home. They many are willing to answer.

OFF TO KEEP OUR have been unable to social They are angry when a COMMUNITIES SAFE. distance themselves from member of their profession the duties they are sworn brings dishonor to that to provide. They have worked tirelessly profession. They are always and will always without days off to keep our communities be there when they are needed. I’m proud safe. These officers have gone from to lead these men and women. I am also being praised as essential workers to proud of our sister agencies we work so being ridiculed with calls of defunding closely with. You should be proud of their positions. These men and women them too.”

WE ARE

HIRING If you are interested in a career in Law Enforcement, join our family and be a part of a great organization.

Detention Officer I positions start at $38,752.00 per year.

Visit our website to apply. www.governmentjobs.com/ careers/dentoncounty

940.349.1600 | 127 N. WOODROW LN., STE. 300 • DENTON, TX 76205 | DENTONCOUNTY.COM/DEPARTMENTS/SHERIFF.ASPX www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 23

Ask The Expert: Organizing

How To Use A

TOMATO TIMER To Get

ORGANIZED

by Crystal Nerpel, Owner of Cloud Nine Organizing Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique® Pomo-what? Pomodoro is Italian for tomato. The Pomodoro Technique® is centered around the idea of using a tomato timer to get things done. What does that have to do with organizing, you ask?

It’s all about efficiency. It’s a time management technique that was credited

by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.

I have tested this technique out many times and find it to be super

motivating. There’s something about getting as much done as possible before that timer sounds. Using a timer is a simple yet effective method you can use to stay on track while working on any big organizing project.

The key is to stay within a couple parameters so that you stay on track.

First of all, set the timer for no more than 15-25 minutes. Second, you have to STOP at the end of the timer. So simple!

The genius part: you require yourself to take a short break (about 15-20

minutes) after the timer goes off.

You cannot do anything related to the organizing project during the break.

Try not to even think about the organizing project.

Shift your mind to a relaxed state by

drinking a cup of tea, doing a few yoga moves, take a shower, walk around the

block, or anything else relaxing and nonstrenuous. These breaks will help you

tackle the rest of your project with a new, fresh perspective.

After your break, you can set the timer for another 15-25 minutes and get back to

organizing. The short bursts of work with

systematic breaks keep you from burning

out too quickly. Less burn-out means you’ll be more likely to finish your project in a timely manner (see what I did there?)

I don’t suggest doing more than 4

timed-sessions in a day. If you do more

than 4 sessions Cirillo recommends that

you take longer breaks in between each timed-session.

Remember, organizing is never a do

or die situation. If you don’t get your organizing project done in one day

that’s perfectly fine. You can declutter,

destress and simplify your life by using short, manageable bursts of time.

Set reasonable goals for yourself and set a timer.

CLOUDNINEORGANIZING.COM

26 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 27

Keeping You And Your Family

SMILING NO MATTER WHAT

by Steve Gamel | photography by Your Candid Memories (YourCandidMemories.com)

W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and many businesses were either forced to close temporarily or asked to limit their services, Dr. John Shillingburg and his amazing team at DFW Oral Surgeons in Flower Mound had everything under control. Granted, they weren’t allowed to perform elective procedures such as wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, bone and tissue grafting, etc., but they were more than ready to expedite care for their patients in emergency situations.

And according to Dr. Shillingburg, there was a surprisingly high number of those over the last few months.

“We treated multiple jaw fractures for kids who were home and either got hurt riding their skateboard or were playing around in some other way and got seriously injured,” Dr. Shillingburg said. “I had a gentleman

yesterday who had a horrible abscessed tooth pop up out of the blue on him.”

He added, “It’s hard to understand why these emergencies happened now, but they did. And we were here to help.”

There are a few reasons why Dr. Shillingburg is the go-to guy for even the most complicated of emergency procedures. For starters, he’s a boardcertified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and is trained and credentialed in dentoalveolar surgery, facial cosmetic surgery, implant surgery, orthognathic surgery, facial reconstructive oral

surgery, and dental anesthesiology.

This allows him to treat everything from a

simple tooth extraction to replacing every tooth in a patient’s mouth. He holds

membership with the American Dental Association and is a Diplomate of

both the American Dental Society of

Anesthesiology and American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Dr. Shillingburg has also spared no

expense in surrounding himself with

top-of-the-line technology that makes

his job seamless. Along with that was his insistence on investing in the facility as a

whole, which is a true outpatient surgery center capable of treating any mouth

and jaw condition with ease. When you have an emergency, there’s no reason

to go anywhere else because DFW Oral Surgeons is equipped for it all.

Simply put, they do it all, and they do it right.

“There are plenty of things that we

do all the time that we haven’t been 28 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

972.539.1491 | www.dfworalsurgeons.com

4421 Long Prairie Rd., Ste. 100 • Flower Mound, TX 75028

able to do because of the guidelines that are in place, but we have been open the entire time from an emergency basis.

Our goal was to be as safe as possible,”

Dr. Shillingburg said. “We recently added an air purification system that goes well beyond what we

already have. All of

our procedure rooms are positive pressure rooms and have fan

filter units with HEPA filters- just like a

true operating room environment. Our

entire office also has an air purification system.

It’s 100% purified and extremely safe. We

wear N95 masks per CDC guidelines and

of reasons. Having that type of training in

Beyond the accolades and credentials

Many of us take our oral and dental

patients when they need us most.”

mentioned earlier in this article, perhaps what truly prepared Dr. Shillingburg

for the coronavirus

“I got used to managing patients in that environment, where we were extremely concerned about safety for a lot of reasons. Having that type of training in that type of environment prepared me.”

even wear a traditional

Level 3 mask over those for another layer of safety. It’s enabled us to remain safe

www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

and provide the best care possible for our

crisis and how he

would maintain a high standard of care was

his military experience.

“I was military trained in the Army. When I

was in my residency, we were at the

height of Iraq and

Afghanistan and saw a lot of wounded

soldiers and military

that type of environment prepared me.” health for granted, and when we are

suddenly faced with severe problems,

the consequences can be overwhelming.

Having a doctor like John Shillingburg in your corner is a lifesaver.

Dr. Shillingburg and the amazing team at DFW Oral Surgeons are proud to

serve the residents in and around Argyle, Bartonville, Highland Village, Lantana, Double Oak, South Denton, Denton

County, and surrounding areas. We are conveniently located on the west side

of Long Prairie Road between College Parkway and Cross Timbers Road.

service members who

“As an oral surgeon, my job is to manage

some really strange

“We’ve been pretty busy considering

would come back with

complications,” Dr. Shillingburg said.

infections. I got used to managing patients

the circumstances with the coronavirus.

extremely concerned about safety for a lot

they needed us most.”

in that environment, where we were

But we were there for our patients when

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 29

Ask The Expert: Fitness

Are You Staying

HYDRATED? IT’S SO IMPORTANT

Watch out for these other common dehydration symptoms: •

Thirst

•

Fatigue

• • • •

Headache Weakness Dizziness

Confusion

Take in plenty of fluids before you start experiencing the symptoms

by Jesse J. Leyva, Owner of Jesse James Fit & Outlaw Fitcamp

How to stay hydrated

Y

our lawn isn’t the only thing needing more water in the hot summer months.

Staying hydrated is crucial to your well-being year-round, but it can be even more of a challenge in the summer.

Why it’s so important to stay hydrated Water is used by every cell, tissue, and organ in your body. It maintains your body’s temperature, removes waste, lubricates your joints, carries nutrients to your cells, flushes bacteria from your bladder, helps your heart pump blood, helps muscles work efficiently, maintains your heart rate and blood pressure, and maintains a healthy metabolism. Kind of important, right?!

Staying hydrated is necessary—not just for survival—but for good health.

• •

Encourages weight loss

Boosts your metabolic rate

A dehydrated body On the other hand, dehydration can

from swollen feet and headaches to life-

other healthy ways to stay hydrated, but

it’s pretty hard to get the fluids you need without drinking water every day.

Keep a reusable water bottle next to you and keep it full!

•

If you have trouble drinking plain

water, try adding some fruit slices to it or choose carbonated waters.

•

warning signs.

Besides water, other drinks and foods can

It’s very important to be aware of the

The difficulty with dehydration though, is that your body hides the beginning of dehydration very well. It can be

Giving your body plenty of fluids has the following benefits:

thirsty or experiencing other warning

• • •

already know it…drink water. There are

threatening illnesses such as heat stroke.

hours before you start to actually have

Better energy levels and brain function Prevent and treat headaches Skin stays healthier Prevent constipation

The best way to stay hydrated is to…you

cause serious health problems ranging

A hydrated body

•

of dehydration.

symptoms. By the time you’re feeling signs, you’re already dehydrated!

One of the best ways to recognize

that your body is dehydrated is to pay attention to the color of your urine.

Pale urine means you’re well-hydrated.

Dark urine shows that you’re not taking in enough fluids.

Get in the habit of drinking water with your meals instead of other drinks.

also help you stay hydrated. Just make

sure you’re not choosing drinks that add unnecessary sugar and extra calories to your diet.

Water, water, water!

When we get into these really hot days ahead of us, it’s more important than ever to remember to stay hydrated.

But whether you’re inside or outdoors, exercising or relaxing, in summer or

winter—you always need to pay attention to staying hydrated.

Now drink up!

972.355.2639 • JESSEJAMESFIT.COM | 940.497.6002 • OUTLAWFITCAMP.COM

30 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

Masking THE ISSUE

by Jean Eisenmann | photo courtesy of Jean Eisenmann

A

s the coronavirus pandemic continues, I reflect back a couple of months to when we were told gloves were a definite deterrent to contracting the virus.

Then once we loaded up on them, buying up every store’s inventories and stuffing them in every nook and cranny of the house, the new preventive became mask.

And my house smells like a latex factory.

the iridescent silvery stars reflect on the

ceiling and keep him awake. Can’t he just count them like sheep and nod off?

I wear masks with red and orange

flames when I’m feeling rebellious,

I’ve now become so overexposed to

because I hadn’t realized that ripping it

sequins for masked tie, uh, black tie

profound effect on me. I seem to have

causing observers to have nightmares.

feeling my age, gingham when I want

“mass mask marketing” that it’s had a

developed a bona fide mask obsession.

And to think of all the years I wasted coveting shoes.

off my face in one fell swoop might be

Today, I watched a local morning show

where the hostess announced, “Coming

up after the station break, we’ll learn how

It’s the new normal to have only half

to make masks from your husband’s old

public places draws more glares than if

masks, depending on the size of the

going about their lives wearing those

our masks. Ah, American ingenuity and

home; gardening, sunbathing, cleaning

opportunistic greed for good measure.

your face exposed. Not wearing one in

boxer shorts. One pair yields two to three

I picked my nose in church. People are

shorts.” We’re getting pretty crafty with

little fabric disguises and yes, even at

entrepreneurial spirit, with a sprinkling of

out the gutters, and jogging. And fainting,

I am accumulating quite a mask collection

because it’s just too hot to wear a mask outdoors in Texas.

On TV the other

day, a newscaster conducted an

interview remotely with an “etiquette

expert” who shared with us the proper way to remove

a mask without

offending anyone.

You know, that really enlightened me

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AH, AMERICAN INGENUITY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, WITH A SPRINKLING OF OPPORTUNISTIC GREED FOR GOOD MEASURE.

to feed my new

fixation. I have masks of every color for every occasion –

even a night mask

complete with blue half-moons and

silver stars. It’s a

little intrusive to

events, ‘70s psychedelic when I’m

to project innocence, and a red lip print when I don’t.

I removed my jewelry from its

designated box and placed the pieces

in a plastic bag. My grandfather’s college graduation ring from 1920 and my aunt’s engagement ring that she brought over from the old country don’t require the

special container with satin lining that my mask collection does.

In addition to its health benefit of virus

protection, I have come to feel virtually undressed without wearing a mask.

I see it as a burgeoning fashion industry, not only developing as we live under

health threats, but also as we become

accustomed to wearing them as part of

our wardrobes. However, there will always be skeptics who prefer to go commando.

wear while sleeping

In the future, despite whatever progressive

said it not only makes

one characteristic can never be replicated,

like Darth Vader’s, but

heartfelt – and unobstructed – smile.

because my husband

designs may evolve from today’s mask,

my breathing sound

and that’s the beauty of seeing a warm,

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 31

32 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

407 BBQ: Foodie Friday DFW

407 BBQ A

few years ago, we made our way out to Argyle to visit a small but beloved BBQ spot called 407 BBQ which was then located across the street from Harvest. Back then, they were making and serving up barbecue from a small trailer. Fast forward a couple of years, and now, owner Bryan McLarty is operating out of a 4,000+ space in front of Defender

Outdoors in Argyle - still serving up the same great food, just in a much larger kitchen.

to take a few pounds of their ribs home because the house made rub they use is amazing.

Since moving to their larger location, they’ve been able to add a few items to their menu, including mac ‘n cheese every day (hallelujah!) and their elusive Brisket Burger, which Bryan calls the chupacabra of their menu because they only make three dozen of these beauties a day! In other words, you better be one of the first 36 people to order it! And it is worth making sure you get there early enough in the day for. Their brisket is ground in house and is literally melt-in-your-mouth tender.

And as if the ribs weren’t dessert enough, Bryan’s wife is the master when it comes to delicious homemade desserts like their apple and peach cobblers and Grandma’s Banana Pudding.

407 BBQ’s other delicious meats on the menu include: smoked chicken, brisket, pulled pork, and their smoked meatloaf. Our personal favorite? It’s got to be their ribs. We always make sure

If you’re looking for someone to cater an event, 407 BBQ is a great option! Before opening the original 407 BBQ location back in 2016, Bryan had already been operating a successful catering business for 20 years. He’s now combined all that experience with their amazing, new kitchen to bring their customers some of the best catering in the area.

We’ll warn you that visiting 407 BBQ even just once is habit-forming, so you will want to keep going back over and over again.

You’ll love meeting Bryan and observing the love and passion he has for creating great food for his customers.

*During COVID-19 restrictions, 407 BBQ is open for dine-in service with limited capacity and continues to offer takeout which you can order online or by calling 682-224-9225.

972.724.2540 | JayMarksRealEstate.com jay@jaymarksrealestate.com 1013 Long Prairie Rd., Ste. 102 | Flower Mound, TX 75022

www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 33

Everyone Deserves a HEALTHY BEAUTIFUL SMILE

by Brooke Ezzo photography by Whats That Guys Name?

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GUY T (whatsthatguysname.com)

L

eatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry holds themselves to a higher standard to deliver high quality beautiful restorations that are biologically compatible in an infection free zone. Dr. Samantha Leatherwood, D.M.D. and her team believe everyone deserves a healthy, beautiful smile that makes their spirit shine through.

Graduating from the Goldman School of Dental Medicine at Boston University and completing a residency at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, she was introduced to a comprehensive approach to dentistry.

Dr. Leatherwood and her staff are focused on building a solid foundation through comprehensive dentistry, meaning they

“I bounced around the coasts to get a feel for different philosophies and to be exposed to as much as I could,” Dr. Leatherwood said.

“We look at it systemically. We can’t cherry pick one or two teeth because we look at how they all function together,” Dr. Leatherwood said. “I focus on beautiful restorations that are biologically compatible and will last you as long as possible.”

That exposure and the influence from her stepmother, who is also a dentist, helped define the kind of practice she wanted for her patients, a small private practice with a continuity of care.

“I was very fortunate having a stepmother who is really good at what she does and having strong mentors,” Dr. Leatherwood said. “It made all the difference in the world.”

34 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

want the most pristine oral environment for their patients by improving functionality and overall health.

Every smile is different and requires unique protocols to save teeth.

Concentrating on using biological compatible materials helps reduce future reactions.

“We focus on ceramic dentistry,” Dr. Leatherwood said. “We try to eliminate

“WE LOOK AT IT SYSTEMICALLY. WE CAN’T CHERRY PICK ONE OR TWO TEETH BECAUSE WE LOOK AT HOW THEY ALL FUNCTION TOGETHER.” metal as much as possible because there are so many people who have sensitivities.”

Dr. Leatherwood added, “We do a sterilization process that is a lot different than what most patients are used to.

It lowers the sensitivity, it makes the www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

restoration last longer, and it lowers the

relationships with our patients, and we are

treatment on that tooth.”

supportive and encouraging.”

chance of them needing any further

The 3-step process to sterilize the tooth is

to confirm nothing is growing underneath

the restorations and to ensure it is as solid as it can be.

really fortunate to have ones who are so Dedication to the patient is a primary

focus for Dr. Leatherwood and her staff.

Over the past few years she had the

opportunity to build a strong team. From

“We want to make sure the investment

the first phone call and first appointment

possible,” Dr. Leatherwood said. “We can’t

with the highest level of care.

you’re making will last you as long as

to the end of treatment, you are treated

compromise on the outcome.”

Leslie is the practice’s office manager

This level of care is what sets

and is the friendly face customers can

rest. Their diligence in customizing a

insurance and Payton is their clinical

your needs, and your wants has led them

They are completely focused on providing

Leatherwood Dentistry apart from the

expect to see up front. Angela handles

treatment plan that will fit your budget,

assistant. Jackie is the dental hygienist.

to acquire a loyal following.

a memorable experience.

“The nature of what we do is incredibly

“It is great to be on this journey with

someone to trust me,” Dr. Leatherwood

Dr. Leatherwood said. “They see the

intimate, it is really delicate to ask

them. They believe in what we are doing,”

said. “We work hard to have strong

difference we are making for the patients.”

That difference is confidence.

Dr. Leatherwood rebuilds teeth based on facially driven smiles. She figures out where the smile goes on the face and then works backward — giving each patient a beautiful healthy smile they deserve.

“Meeting people who don’t smile and being able to restore that for them is such a huge honor,” Dr. Leatherwood said.

Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry has reopened, and they are taking extra precautions to keep their patients safe.

Staggered appointment times, waiting in your car until your room is ready, and air purifiers that cycle through every 30 minutes are just a few of the many they have put in place.

As a Denton native, Dr. Samantha Leatherwood is grateful to be caring for the community that raised her and for the opportunity to give back.

940.220.5858 | www.leatherwooddental.com | 4400 Teasley Ln., Ste. 300 • Denton, TX 6210 www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 35

36 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

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YOUR Turning Pie-in -Th

e-Sky Healthcar

e

GOALS INTO

by Steve Gamel

Reality

I

t was October 2018, and Nancy Bledsoe-Link, Licensed Professional Counselor and Lead Therapist, was meeting the team of clinicians at Connections Wellness Group in Denton for the first time. Everyone said all the right things — they spoke of purposeful growth, breeding a culture where employees and patients thrive, and having an unapologetic vision to reinvent the healthcare wheel.

Nancy felt like she’d fit right in. But as she left, but there was just one problem.

“I thought, ‘I believe these people; I see their heart. But it has to be too good to be true,’” Nancy said.

We’ve all been that skeptical new employee.

Sometimes, everything works out fine. But more often than not, there are chinks in the organization’s armor. Lofty goals aren’t met.

Customer service lags. Employees aren’t in the right roles, nor do they feel 100% supported. Even if everyone’s mindset is pure and a vision is in plain sight, they struggle to push the mark forward. This is especially true in healthcare. So, when a place like Connections Wellness grows rapidly while touting a model that’s never been done before, people think things will eventually go awry.

What Connections Wellness Group does works because their internal culture of

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having employees feel supported and encouraged created a unique springboard where they’ve bred an even greater passion for the work they do.

“Our passion is to be a hope and a light for the population we serve,” said Molly Garcia, Associate Administrator and Chair for Connections Wellness’ Primary Care Board. “Even during their most vulnerable times, our patients know that they are not alone. The vision is that we can be that sole provider for every patient we see.”

The vision at Connections Wellness has always been to be that place where, with one phone call, a patient can be treated for everything from mental health and family counseling to primary care and nutritional wellness. And they continue to expand their services to meet a full wellness model. They have a trusted and experienced psychiatry team and a dynamic team of therapists who provide play therapy, individual, couples and family counseling. Recently, they introduced Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy to serve those patients who have not successfully responded to medication management in the treatment of their depression.

Connections Wellness also added a Registered Dietitian to the team, who specializes in nutritional well-being,

Business Spotlight furthering their approach to providing a holistic healthcare model.

Their reach, services, and partnerships have patients believing they’ve found their forever care provider.

Jaylia Rentfro, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Lead Therapist, said clinicians are encouraged to be creative and thoughtful in both their visions and approach with clients.

“I’ve worked at places where it is lip service,” Rentfro said. “We got into this profession to chase our calling in life, and this is the environment I’ve always envisioned doing mine.”

Shae Reid, LPC, Certified Sex Therapist, and Lead Therapist said what they’ve created is a trickle-down effect where employees are emotionally and mentally open to giving back to patients in the most meaningful ways.

“We have heartbeat check-ins, which are used to see how we are doing,” she said.

“We get whatever we need, and I think that gives all of us a boost.”

And exceed those pie-in-the-sky goals every day.

940.222.2399

ConnectionsWelln

essGroup.com 2701 Shoreline Dr., Ste. 151 Denton, TX 76210

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 37

HIKING TRAILS H

iking is one of the best ways to get exercise and spend good quality time with family and friends. Neighborhood walking is great but it’s nice to get off the sidewalk from time to time for something a little more off road. There are a tone of hiking trails around your area but here are just a few to try out if you haven’ t already.

1

NORTH SHORE TRAIL | 18 Miles

880 Simmons Rd. • Flower Mound, TX 75022

4

This trail traverses the North Shore of Grapevine

This trail isn’t off road hiking but it is great for runners,

including: Rockledge Park, Murrell Park, MADD

strollers and wheelchairs since it is paved. There are

Shelter, and Twin Coves Park. This is an old

numerous street crossings so look before crossing. This trail

motocross trail that is used for hiking and mountain

is also dog friendly as long as they are on a leash.

biking. We suggest if you are hiking to go in the

Running | Biking | Family Friendly

opposite direction of the suggested trail, so that you can see oncoming bikers.

Hiking | Trail Running

2

Stroller/Wheelchair Friendly | Walking | Dog Friendly

5

SHORELINE TRAIL LOOP | 2.6 Miles

trips and horses. The beginning of the trail is shared with

trafficked loop trail is great for the whole family.

mountain bikers so keep a look out. This trail also connects

It offers scenic views and dogs are also able to use

to Knob Hill Trail.

this trail but must be kept on leash.

3

LEWISVILLE LAKE ENVIRONMENTAL

12434-12498 Dunham Rd. • Roanoke, TX 76262 as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature

Connected to Stoneridge Drive Trailhead this lightly

Hiking | Trail Running

CROSS TIMBERS EQUESTRIAN TRAIL | 6.5 Miles A lightly trafficked trail that features a lake and is rated

4500 Sarasota Dr. • The Colony, TX 75056

Dog Friendly | Kid Friendly | Mountain Biking

304 Swisher Rd. • Lake Dallas, TX 75065 This trail is moderately trafficked and is rated as moderate.

Lake. There are several trailheads for this route,

Dog Friendly | Kid Friendly | Mountain Biking

DENTON KATY RAIL TRAIL | 8.4 Miles

Horse Friendly | Hiking | Mountain Biking

6

KNOB HILL TRAIL | 10.6 Miles Off of US-377 • Roanoke, TX 76262

LEARNING AREA | 9 trails | About 13 Miles In Total

Knob Hill Trail is a moderately trafficked loop trail and is

Off of E. Jones St. • Lewisville, TX 75057

rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity

Within this area are multiple trails for all levels. This is

options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to

a great place to come and spend the day with family

use this trail but must be kept on leash. This trail connects to

and friends to hike and enjoy nature.

Cross Timbers Equestrian Trail.

Kid Friendly | Hiking | Canoing

Dog Friendly | Kid Friendly | Mountain Biking | Hiking

All information sourced from AllTrails.com 38 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

77

288

380

DENTON

380

380

288 35W 377

35E

4

ARGYLE

LAKE DALLAS

35W

LANTANA

377

6

2

35E

3

5

114

CASTLE HILLS

121

1 35E

121

State Highway

Roads

U.S. Highway

Water

Interstate

Vegetation/Park

Barbecue Recipes For Kids That Even Adults Will Love

S

erving food to a group of children is a bit trickier compared to cooking for adults. This is because they tend to only eat what they find attractive or what’s familiar to their taste buds. So if you’re planning a children’s party, why not take it out in the yard?

Your guests will have plenty of room for games and you can serve them these delicious barbecue recipes for kids!

GRILLED BABY RANCH BURGERS

WATERMELON WEDGES WITH MINTY LIME SUGAR

Ingredients •

8 small soft dinner rolls, split

•

1 lb ground beef

•

4 leaves lettuce, halved

•

8 slices plum tomatoes

•

1/2 cup ranch dressing

Ingredients

•

1 teaspoon olive oil

•

8 graham crackers

•

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

•

8 chunks chocolate of your choice

•

Sliced carrots and celery for serving

•

4 large marshmallows

Ingredients

MINI CAMPFIRE S’MORES

Directions

Directions

Using clean hands, form the ground beef into 3-inch patties. Season each with kosher salt and black pepper. Oil the grates and cook patties over medium high heat for about 4 to 6 minutes per side or until good grill marks appear and meat is cooked through. Place grilled patties on dinner rolls, spread with ranch dressing then top with lettuce and tomato.

Serve with sliced carrots and celery.

To make 1 s’more, sandwich 2 chunks of chocolate and 1 marshmallow between 2 crackers. Wrap each s’more with heavy duty aluminum foil and cook on a preheated grill over medium high heat for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Allow to cool for a few minutes before unwrapping the foils.

It’s important to make sure they’re cool enough for kids to eat. Drizzle with melted chocolate before serving if desired.

40 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

•

Precut fresh watermelon wedges

•

1 lime, zested (zest finely grated)

•

4 fresh mint leaves, finely shredded

•

3 1/2 tablespoons golden caster sugar

•

Lime wedges for serving

Directions To prepare the minty lime sugar, mix together lime zest, shredded mint leaves and 2 1/2 tablespoons golden caster sugar. Set aside. Toss the watermelon wedges in the remaining sugar. Heat watermelon on a grill over medium high heat for just a few seconds per side until grill marks appear, using tongs to flip. Place on a serving platter, sprinkle with minty lime sugar and serve with lime wedges. www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

Living That

“We did a travel camp where we took a virtual field trip to France, Mexico, and Jamaica. We did a brief history of each country; we would provide recipes and make snacks together,” Jessica said.

“Another camp is called Discover America where we take the kids back to the pilgrims up through present day.”

by Brooke Ezzo photos courtesy of Jessica Bennett

A

quarantine. They organized birthday caravan parades for families in the area who were looking for unique ways to celebrate. They are also organizing ways for volunteers to do FaceTime calls with residents in nursing homes. And they are currently doing virtual travel camps.

s a young family, the Bennetts moved multiple times before landing in Flower Mound. Their journey caused several “new beginnings,” and the person it seemed to affect the most was oldest daughter, Olivia.

School was challenging because she was always the new girl. One day, when Olivia was 8, she had a hard day with some of the girls and found a hidden place on the playground to be alone and cry it out. She was, surprisingly, met by a classmate who showed her great kindness and compassion.

That day left an imprint and a dream in Olivia’s heart to spread as much kindness in this world as possible. This idea led her family to start a nonprofit organization called: Living That Kind Life. Their simple but powerful mission is to encourage people of all ages to spread kindness.

Now 12, Olivia works side-by-side as CoFounding Encourager with her mother, Jessica Bennett, overseeing the kindness operations of their nonprofit.

“We started by doing small random acts of kindness in the area,” Jessica said. “Olivia donated her birthday party to go cheer on the kids at a Special Olympics event, and we put quarters on vending machines at the Dollar Store.”

Starting in January, the Bennett family’s goal was to fill current needs in the area as best they could. They do this in several ways. Olivia makes YouTube videos and interviews others who spread kindness.

They have free resources on their website that help families take part in kind acts, and they fundraise to collect items for snack, hygiene, and foster kits.

“Our goal is to remind people to start by being kind to themselves,” Jessica said.

“Encouraging people to fill up their cups so they can go and fill up other people’s.”

As a family, they have come up with creative ways to engage the community and give back during the pandemic and

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All of the virtual camps have a level of kindness. For Discover America, all the kids wrote letters to soldiers and thankyou notes to veterans that were passed out on the 4th of July.

Olivia hopes the organization helps others keep kindness as a priority and encourages others to go out and spread as much as they can.

“Always love on people as big as you can,” Olivia said. “If someone is mean to you, don’t be mean back. Try to turn it around and do good.

Like That Kind Life is looking for volunteers and will continue to have camps and resources on their website.

For more information about how you, too, can be an encourager, visit www.

LivingThatKindLife.com.

Adam, Jessica, Olivia, Eli, and Selah Bennett look forward to partnering with the community to continue spreading joy and kindness.

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Lewisville ISD

PREPARES FOR

2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR

by Brooke Ezzo

A

s we all know, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewisville Independent School District students left schools for spring break this past March and did not return.

As extended spring break turned into summer break and now school registration is looming in the background, there is still much confusion.

The ever-changing information from both federal and state entities in regards to the virus has left the district, parents, and caregivers on the edge of their seats, waiting for further instruction on how to reopen schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

Lewisville ISD recently sent out parent surveys that included specific questions about remote and in-person learning platforms. With guidance from the Texas Education Agency and the data reviewed from the surveys, the district will most likely adopt the twofold options for returning to school like other neighboring districts.

With registration deadlines quickly approaching and the early August return date, parents are encouraged to fill out the emailed surveys and complete child registrations. This valuable data will help the district narrow down the safety measures needed to be taken and implement guidelines for students to return to school.

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daily learning. This means saving all assignments until the end of the week will no longer be applicable.

With recent spikes in positive cases throughout North Texas, the district understands that its students’ health and safety is the priority. With that, families that choose to keep their children at home or those unable to return to a classroom setting will have access to a full virtual learning experience taught online by a district teacher or another online platform.

In-Person Learning This is understandably the most difficult decision the district will be making considering opposing views when it comes to what health measures are effective against the virus.

Daily attendance rules will apply, and students will be required to show evidence of daily learning.

On June 23, long-awaited guidance from Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath was shared with all Texas superintendents. Unfortunately, Morath did not discuss what health measures should be followed or mandated. The assumption is the TEA and state entities will leave the health protocols up to each individual district.

Morath did, however, discuss the outlined expectations for remote learning.

Remote Learning at Home When students were not allowed to return to the classroom in March, the district

quickly converted to a virtual learning platform. This form of learning will be a family choice but will come with the same

expectations for learning as the traditional face-to-face instruction model.

This includes more teacher interaction and more time in virtual learning and completing lessons. Remote learning might be semi-flexible, but based on state guidelines, the students are still required to mirror the level of work, commitment, and time on a task as they would with in-person learning. Daily attendance rules will apply, and students will be required to show evidence of

Like neighboring districts, the feedback from the community and staff from the surveys, alongside any guidance from governing entities, will help determine to what degree the district will make face-toface instruction available for all.

The third option would be a hybrid method, which most districts are preparing for. Should social-distancing requirements reduce the number of students in attendance at one time, there would be a contingency plan in place to rotate students into face-toface instruction while filling in the gap remotely.

There are still many questions and they may not be answered until last minute due to the fluidity of the situation. But, the district is working tirelessly to provide the best possible outcome for our students as we navigate through the wake of COVID-19 and the ending of our previous school year.

If you have not yet registered your new or returning students, visit www.lisd.net/enroll.

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JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 43

5 WATER SAFETY TIPS

by Dr. Rebecca Butler, Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics

PROTECT YOUR NEW BABY FROM WATER HAZARDS AROUND THE HOME Drowning can happen to any family. It’s quick, and it’s silent. Never—even for a moment— leave young children alone or in the care of another child while in or near bathtubs, pools, spas, wading pools, irrigation ditches, ponds, or other standing water. During swim times, designate a “Water Watcher” – an adult who will stay within arm’s reach to children in and around water.

1.

​ ROTECT YOUR CURIOUS TODDLER P Little kids are curious, and that’s a wonderful thing! Many toddlers are very curious, active, and eager to explore their surrounding and are attracted to water. It shines, ripples, splashes, and can even make things float, but they don’t understand that water can be dangerous and aren’t old enough yet to do what is needed when in trouble. So, it’s essential to protect them from water hazards where you live and where you visit.

2.

THE TODDLER YEARS = HIGHER DROWNING RISK THAN ANY OTHER TIME Water safety is important for all ages, but especially for toddlers. Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in children 1-4. Young children can drown in as little as an inch or two of water, and it can happen quickly and silently. Remember, water safety is not just about swimming pools. Installing bathroom door locks and toilet latches, and emptying all buckets, pools and tubs helps keep curious little ones safe.

3.

4.

START SWIMMING LESSONS EARLY By their 4th birthday, most children are ready for swim lessons. At this age, they usually can learn basic water survival skills such as floating, treading water, and getting to an exit point. By age 5 or 6, most children in swim lessons can master the front crawl. If your child hasn’t already started in a learn-to-swim program, now is the time!

5.

DOES AAP RECOMMEND INFANT SWIM CLASSES? No, because there is currently no evidence that infant swim programs for babies under 1 year old lower their drowning risk. Infants this age may show reflex “swimming” movements but can’t yet raise their heads out of the water well enough to breathe. It’s OK to enroll in a parent-child water play class to help your infant get used to being in the pool, though; this can be a fun activity to enjoy together.

940.455.7200 | www.LantanaPediatrics.com

74 McMakin Rd., Ste. 100 • Bartonville, TX 76226

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INSIGHT

FROM THE

INSIDE

by Brooke Ezzo | photos courtesy of Allyson Smith

A

fter 24 straight days working the frontlines in New York, Flower Mound resident Allyson Smith is home and sharing her experience not only as a nurse but also as a patient.

With over 20 years of nursing experience, including labor and delivery and triage, Allyson’s knowledge was much needed in what was considered a hot zone for COVID-19.

“I wanted to learn how to treat COVID in the states, in a higher resource setting,” Allyson said.

Assigned to Coney Island Hospital, where every floor was a COVID floor, Allyson was aware of the heartbreak from the moment she arrived. Mainly working in the obstetrics unit, she cared for mothers who were separated from their newborns and loved ones.

“Moms that were COVID-positive would have to send their babies home with someone else for at least two weeks until

they tested negative,” Allyson said. “It was very sobering, and we treated them like family members.”

Allyson is no stranger to tough decisions and quick treatment plans. For 10 years, she and her husband and their three children lived in East Africa where Allyson worked as a nurse in areas with low supplies and no electricity. She treated patients with malaria, those in labor, and everything in between.

“I have a voice. I should use it,” Allyson said. “I wanted to spread some positivity and help bring some insight from the inside.”

After six days in the hospital, she was discharged and began her time in quarantine. Feeling much better now, Allyson and her family intend to begin another journey overseas where her medical expertise is needed.

During her time on the frontlines, Allyson saw loss but there were moments of victory as well. She wants everyone to come together as a community.

“That is another reason I went to New York,” Allyson said. “I am prepared for this. I have seen the worst of the worst.

Emotionally and psychologically, I am in a good position to weather this.”

Allyson came home May 11, and within days started noticing a rash spreading over her face and limbs. She also had a blood clot in her left bicep. Thinking it was a reaction to weeks of wearing her personal protective equipment, she went to the hospital and tested positive for COVID. “I thought it was a skin infection, so I was shocked when they told me it was COVID,” Allyson said. “I have seen so many patients with it, I think that is what scared me.”

Wanting to stay positive, Allyson stuck to a schedule she made for herself while in the

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hospital that involved doing lunges and making her own bed. During this time, she realized she had an opportunity to be a voice, not only as a health provider but also as a patient. She started a Facebook group to help explain and educate those willing to listen.

“I recommend for courtesy of others to wear your mask when you are out and about,” Allyson said. “We can be a bit uncomfortable for the sake of someone else. COVID is real, but I also don’t want people to live in fear.”

To follow Allyson’s journey and stay up-to-date with her family’s upcoming travels overseas, visit the NYC COVID-19 Journey Facebook group and her website, www.SmithsInAfrica.com.

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A R E Y O U A L LERG I C TO

YOUR PET?

Breathe Easy

A

lthough many people have discovered the beneficial effects of caring for a furry friend, the fact remains that roughly 15 to 20% of the population is allergic to animals.

The result? Countless pet parents in unhappy, unhealthy situations — and their beloved pets are the cause! Allergen is the medical term for the actual substance that causes an allergic reaction. Touching or inhaling allergens leads to reactions in allergic individuals. Symptoms can include red, itchy, watery eyes and nose; sneezing; coughing; scratchy or sore throat; itchy skin, and most serious of all, difficulty breathing.

The most common pet allergens are proteins found in their dander (scales of old skin that are constantly shed by an animal), saliva, urine, and sebaceous cells. Any animal can trigger an allergic

“I love my dog, there are several things I do to manage the dander and allergens to ensure she stays with me. When she greets me at the front door after a long day at work with a wagging tail and excited tippy taps it makes it all worth it”— Liz Wallace 46 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

response, but cats are the most common culprits. People can also become allergic to exotic pets such as ferrets, guinea pigs, birds, rabbits, and rodents. There is no species or breed to which humans cannot develop allergies. Fur length and type will not affect or prevent allergies — sorry, Labradoodle lovers. Certain pets can be less irritating than others to those who suffer from allergies, but that is strictly on an individual basis and cannot be predicted.

Once the diagnosis of a pet allergy is made, a physician will often recommend eliminating the companion animal from the surroundings. Heartbreaking? Yes. Absolutely necessary? Not always. Keep in mind that most people are allergic to several things besides pets, such as dust mites, molds, and pollens, all of which can be found in the home. Allergic symptoms result from the total cumulative allergen load. That means that if you eliminate some of the other allergens, you may not have to get rid of your pet. (Conversely, should you decide to remove your pet from your home, this may not immediately solve your problems.) You must also be prepared to invest the time and effort needed to decontaminate your home environment, limit future exposure to allergens and find a physician who will work with you. Read on for helpful tips:

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IMPROVING THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT • Create an allergen-free room. A bedroom is often the best and most practical choice. By preventing your pet from entering this room, you can ensure at least eight hours of freedom from allergens every night.

• Limit fabrics. Allergens collect in rugs, drapes, and upholstery, so do your best to limit or eliminate them from your home. If you choose to keep some fabrics, steam-clean them regularly. You can also cover your furniture with sheets or blankets which you can remove and wash regularly.

• Vacuum frequently using a vacuum equipped with a HEPA (highefficiency particulate arresting) filter or a disposable electrostatic bag.

• Install an air purifier fitted with a HEPA filter. Our modern, energy-efficient homes lock in the air that is loaded with allergens, so it’s smart to let in some fresh air daily.

• Use anti-allergen room sprays. These sprays deactivate allergens, rendering them harmless. Ask your allergist for a product recommendation. www.FlowerMoundMagazine.com

DECONTAMINATING YOUR PET • Bathe your pet at least once a week.

Your veterinarian can recommend a shampoo that won’t dry out his skin. Bathing works to wash off the allergens that accumulate in an animal’s fur.

• Wipe your pet with a product formulated to prevent dander from building up and flaking off into the environment. Ask your veterinarian to suggest one that is safe to use on animals who groom themselves.

• Note any symptoms of dermatitis exhibited by your companion animal.

Dermatitis often leads to accelerated skin and fur shedding, which will up your allergen exposure.

• Brush or comb your pet frequently.

It’s best to do this outdoors, if possible.

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF • If possible, have someone other than yourself do the house cleaning, litter box work and pet washing, wiping, and brushing. If you must clean the house or change the litter, be sure to wear a dust mask.

• Wash your hands after handling your companion animal and before touching your face. The areas around your nose and eyes are particularly sensitive to allergens.

• Designate a “pet outfit” from among your most easily washed clothes.

Wear it when playing or cuddling with your companion, and you’ll leave other clothing uncontaminated.

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 47

Ask The Expert: Dentistry

Dental Hygienists: Your Dental Educators

by Dr. Matt Artho, Owner of Country Lakes Family Dental

I

n acknowledgement of our education issue, I would like to take this time to show appreciation to all our teachers: to the science teachers and the chemistry they bring to the classroom, to the biology teachers sharing the secrets of life, and of course, to the math teachers who always seem to know how to solve a problem. It is an honor and privilege to have you share in the cultivation of our future society. The dental equivalent to teachers in a dental practice often fall to our hygienists. In this article, I would like to pay tribute to the dental educators of our profession.

Hygienists receive a specialized education specific to dental hygiene. They learn not only of methods in identifying concerns related to your gums and the supporting periodontium (the supportive structures of our teeth), but they have an educated understanding of both oral and dental pathology. A hygienist with a keen knowledge and detailed observation can identify oral health concerns and relay the information to the patient and dentist.

A great dental practice has both dentists and hygienists who are equally calibrated to recognize dental and periodontal disease and collaborate with their patients on how to best treat the ailments.

Because dental hygienists are often capable of spending more time with the patient, thoroughly monitoring each tooth and its surrounding structures, they are crucial in isolating oral disease and

educating the patient on their findings during cleanings and examination.

Education of dental patients should always be a priority of both the hygienist and dentist in order to come to an understanding on the conditions and its treatment.

Though diagnosis is limited to the dentist only, hygienists are key contributors of the dental team for helping the dentist and patient come to an agreement on treatment.

their appointments with great eagerness.

So make time to keep those dental appointments. Your hygienist will thank you. Happy Smiling!

As dental educators, dental hygienists are a respected component of your dental care. Knowing they constantly look forward to maintaining their relationships with their patients, they anticipate

940.455.7645 | COUNTRYLAKESDENTAL.COM | 74 MCMAKIN RD., STE. 200 • BARTONVILLE, TX 76226

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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.

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.

JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 51

5 Ask The Expert: Edit This

TIME

MANAGEMENT

HACKS

FOR WRITERS

of the car – even if I have nothing going on. I also have my phone, a pen, and a pad of paper. Keep that stuff handy

because you NEVER want to be caught unprepared as a self-employed writer.

That’s not to say you always have to be in “work mode,” but when inspiration strikes, you’re ready for it.

PLAN AHEAD Use a calendar to plan things out.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a paper calendar or the one on your phone. At the

beginning of each month, I map out

everything I know I have going on and

by Steve Gamel, Owner of Edit This

when I plan on writing those projects.

As the days and weeks go by and more

I

wrote the majority of this blog while sitting in a waiting room before a big presentation.

I used a notes application on my phone to do most of the work, too.

More often than not, that’s the way it goes when you are a self-employed writer.

There are a ton of projects to keep up with, so you have to make the most of your time! In fact, some might argue being really good at time management is more important than being good at your craft.

my computer with me in the backseat

aspects of running my business, spending time with my beautiful family, and even carving out a little time for myself.

Below are hacks that work for me: THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX ON “OFFICE HOURS”

Take advantage of times during the day – or night – when you typically have your If that means knocking out an article creative juices flowing and there’s less while in a waiting room, or on an airplane, chance for interruptions. you do it.

Typically, that’s not the I’ve been a writer for IF THAT MEANS middle of the day! I get nearly 20 years and most of my bigger articles KNOCKING OUT AN have come up with a done at night or very early myriad of clever ways ARTICLE WHILE IN A in the morning. to divide my time WAITING ROOM, OR KEEP “STUFF” HANDY efficiently to cover all

ON AN AIRPLANE, YOU DO IT.

My family teases me because I constantly have

projects come my way, I simply add them in.

FOCUS

You’re going to need to stay focused on those days when it seems like too

many projects are coming in at once.

With the right focus, you will be able to slow down and prioritize each project

in your head. Cutting target goals into

smaller and more immediate pieces will help you accomplish more than you thought you could.

KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO DELEGATE I made this the last one on the list

because there will come a day when a

one-person show can no longer do the

job on their own. You have to be able to recognize that before it happens, and when it does, be able to step in and delegate some of that extra work to someone else.

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know that we are not your grandfather’s Rotary Club. Cross Timbers Rotary is made up of inspiring, motivated, and influential business and civic leaders.”

At the start of this year, Cross Timbers Rotary teamed up with Habitat for Humanity Denton, and despite the ups and downs that came with the impact of COVID-19, they were able to build a home for a deserving family in 18 days.

“There is nothing like being able to put a family in their own home,” Donna said.

by Brooke Ezzo | photos courtesy of Donna Hernandez

O

n Friday June 26, the Cross Timbers Rotary Club held it’s year-end luncheon, celebrating award winners and the passing of the gavel from the 2019-2020 president Ginger Cunningham Eads to the 2020-2021 president Donna Roberts Hernandez.

In 1994, Donna started her rotary journey and has served as president for the Flower Mound Noon Club. She became a Charter Member of the Cross Timbers Club in 2015 when it was chartered along with 62 other members. Her longevity in rotary and dedication to acts of service led her to this leadership role.

“I will preside over the meetings, work with each committee and our many fellowships, represent the club in District and International functions, and take care of the many issues that come up in a club of 117 members,” Donna said.

In a club with that many members, it opens up a lot of opportunity to serve the community. As president, Donna hopes to

give each Rotarian a chance to use their gifts of time, talent, and treasure to their potential.

being a part of was last year’s service “I have three simple goals,” Donna said. trip to Guatemala where the club helped “To get to know each of our members victims of the catastrophic 2018 volcano better, for our members to know eruption. While Rotary is focused on each other so that every Rotarian can their motto, “Service above Self,” and strengthen their connections to each other participates in many service projects, socially and in their business activities, they also like to engage and for our community to their members in see Rotarians as people of “...for our community fellowships like their wine action who are facilitating to see Rotarians as club, book club, dinner club, real change in our world people of action who #Under40 group, and a and having a blast while are facilitating real number of other activities. doing it.”

change in our world...”

The world’s first rotary club was started in 1905 with the vision of bringing together professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. The concept quickly turned global. Today, rotary clubs from all over work together to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems.

“When many hear ‘rotary,’ they think about a group of old men meeting for coffee,” Donna said. “I want the community to 54 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE

| JULY 2020

Another service project Donna loved

Now that the gavel has

been passed, Donna looks

forward to implementing her goals and

leading the Cross Timbers Rotary Club in another successful year.

“This year’s Rotary International theme of

Rotary Opens Opportunities sums up what Rotary means to me,” Donna said. “It gives

Rotarians opportunities to strengthen their leadership, help put service ideas into

action, and thereby improve the lives of those in need.”

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JULY 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 55

Ask The Expert: Legal

PACK A PLAN

WHEN HEADING

TO COLLEGE

by Jennifer Balmos, Owner of Balmos Law, PLLC

I

n this season of graduations, it’s hard not to think of children growing up. Even though high school graduates and college students will always be someone’s child, they are now adults in the eyes of the law. That means it is time to develop a plan.

Every young adult’s plan should include the following: •

Medical Power of Attorney: determines who will make healthcare decisions for a person if he is unable to do so himself. Texas is one of five states that does not accept a simple form. Instead, Medical Powers of Attorney in this state must comply with a number of statutory requirements.

Authority only becomes effective

when a physician determines that the individual cannot speak for himself.

•

Durable General Power of Attorney: determines who will make financial

decisions for a person if he is unable to do so himself.

A springing Power of Attorney will

only become effective if the student is determined to be incapacitated.

A Power of Attorney that is effective immediately will allow another

individual access to financial records even without a finding of incapacity.

This can be particularly helpful if a student is studying abroad.

Critically, Powers of Attorney and Directives to Physicians are governed by state law and vary from state to state.

That said, some states will recognize properly-drafted documents from other jurisdictions. If your child is attending an out-of-state college, consider whether to execute documents for both Texas and the state in which the school is located.

Finally, most schools offer a FERPA Release Form, which allows parents (or other designated individuals) access to a student’s academic records.

Academic records, under this statute, are defined to include such documents as academic transcripts, financial aid records, and disciplinary records.

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WHAT ARE YOUR Sleeping Mistakes?

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make before bedtime:

DRINKING OR HAVING A NIGHTCAP: Alcohol can help you fall asleep but it also affects how you sleep. When you go to bed tipsy or drunk you can have slower sleep patterns, interrupting your circadian rhythm, which can block your REM sleep, have aggressive breathing and have your sleep interrupted by the need to go to the bathroom. This will lead you to have an unrestful sleep.

BEING NEGATIVE: Being stressed, thinking about what happened during the day or planning the next day makes it hard for you to sleep. Your body cannot relax and your heart rate and blood pressure become elevated. Try meditating, doing yoga or doing something relaxing before bed to help you go to sleep.

HITTING THE SNOOZE BUTTON: We all have woken up to the alarm and hit the snooze button and said, “Just 5 more minutes.� Well it turns out that is not the best for us. When you hit that snooze button and go back to sleep you start your sleep cycle again, which means when you do get up you have not finished a sleep cycle making you more tired than if you had gotten up without pressing the snooze button.

HAVING THE TEMPERATURE TO HOT: Your body temperature has a cycle and towards bedtime your body temperature gets cooler, which effects your blood vessels. When the temperature in the room is too hot it helps prevent your body temperature from lowering which means your blood vessels are enlarged and you lose more heat. So when heading to bed put the temperature somewhere in the 60s.

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USING TECHNOLOGY: When we use a device that produces light it tricks our body into thinking that the light is coming from the sun. The body thinking it is sunny signals it to stay awake stopping the production of melatonin, which is what helps us go to sleep. So instead of scrolling through social media, watching a video or playing a game, try reading a book before going to bed.

HAVING CAFFEINE: Caffeine items such as coffee, tea, coca, energy drinks, and chocolate are great for when you wake up because the caffeine blocks the sleepinducing chemicals in your brain. Ones the caffeine takes effect it takes about 6 hours for half of the caffeine to leave your body. This means it would be best not to have that cup of coffee in the afternoon, because it will keep you up at bedtime.

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