Lantana Living Magazine December 2019

DECEMBER 13, 2019 - JANUARY 17, 2020 New Year, New You Issue

Country Lakes Family Dental

Kicking Off The ESCAPING

WINTER WEATHER

THE ART OF GIVING

NETFLIX & CHILL

NEW

YEAR

WITH A SMILE

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

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DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 3

LantanaLiving.com

Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray

Happy

Administration Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editors Bobbi Byrne Alisha Tran

Writers & Editor Steve Gamel Brooke Ezzo

Advertising

Kelly Murray kelly@murray-media.com

Production

Art Director Liz Wallace Graphic Designers Caroline Brock Alyson Modene

Photography

Your Candid Memories 469.583.2819 yourcandidmemories.com

Letters

Lantana Living invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments.

Email artwork@murray-media.com.

All submissions become the sole

property of Murray Media Group.

Editorial and Advertising Inquiries call 972.899.3637 or email

artwork@murray-media.com www.murray-media.com

Address: 3513 Yucca Dr., Ste. 200 Flower Mound, TX 75028 Lantana Living 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. Lantana Living 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. © 2019 Murray Media Group

Holidays & CHEERS TO 2020!

T

he holiday season is in full swing and 2020 is fast approaching.

Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday that we were sending the kiddos back to school in triple-digit temperatures, and I can remember ringing in 2019 with family and friends like it happened last week. They say time flies when you’re having fun and, while I definitely had a lot of fun this year, my favorite thing to look back on are all of the things I learned and all of the challenges I overcame.

the ugly. Regardless of whether or not you

As we start to ponder on New Year’s resolutions and how we’re going to make 2020 better than this year, I urge you all to reflect on 2019 – the good, the bad, and

to be too hard on ourselves and instead

nailed all of your 2019 resolutions, I’d be willing to bet that you still learned and

grew in ways that you never expected this year. I know I did.

That’s what I love about life – you never know what the next day(or in this case, the next year) is going to bring. It’s the

unexpected challenges that help us grow the most. So we’ll make our resolutions,

and we’ll try to keep them longer than a

month, but we should also remember not take life as it comes. Enjoy your family,

cherish your friends, always be kind, laugh often, and make the best of the bad days.

Sincerely, Kelly Murray

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

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| DECEMBER 2019

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS New Year, New You

ISSUE

Featuring articles on New Year resolutions, organizational tips and & new healthy lifestyle habits.

32

On the Cover: Is the Country Lakes Family Dental Team

FEATURED:

Kicking Off The New Year With A Smile

26 EDITORS PICK: What Are Your Holiday Traditions?

ASK THE EXPERTS

ARTICLES

36 Netflix & Chill

06 Legal Advice with Balmos Law

08 How to Stay On Task For The New Year

43 Different Kinds Of Pushups

10 Inside Community

44 Who Do I Call?

54 Fitness with Jesse James Fit 59 Gardening with Complete Solutions 60 Edit This with Steve Gamel BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS 29 TruFit Foods: Everyone Deserves a Healthy, Home-Cooked Meal 39 Bosco Auto Group: Bringing The Automotive Experience Home

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11 Inside Education 12 Community Corner 15 Collecting Quarters For A Cure 16 Let’s Get This Party Started 19 Sheriff’s Corner with Sheriff Tracy Murphree 20 Escaping Winter Weather 24 The Art Of Giving 30 Meet Golden Traingle Mall’s 2019 Faces of Denton

46 Classic Christmas Cheer 49 Foodie Friday with Jay Mark Real Estate 50 The Holidays Are Over.

Now It’s Time To Clean Up! 52 Guyer Wildcats Still A Force To Reckon With 56 We Could All Stand To Be A Bit Nicer In The New Year

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 5

Ask The Expert: Legal Advice

Plan Ahead Before A

HEALTHCARE V

CRISIS

ery few people make their best and most thoughtful decisions in the middle of a healthcare crisis. This very reason is why it is critical to talk to your loved ones regarding who will speak for you in the event that you cannot speak for yourself.

With or without a plan, the only time that someone else can make a medical decision for you is if you are unable to do so yourself. Many people think of this in the context of advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s. But think, also, of a catastrophic car accident. Texas is one of only five states that does not recognize a

simple document. For a Medical Power of Attorney to be valid in this state, it must meet a number of statutory requirements.

by Jennifer Balmos Balmos Law, PLLC 940.300.9834 Balmoslaw.com

6 | LANTANA LIVING

People who choose to plan ahead have a number of options to determine WHO will speak for them, and WHAT that person may do. Without a plan, Texas statutes determine who will be able to act on a person’s behalf when he or she is incapacitated. When families must make decisions in the midst of a medical emergency without a plan in place, the result can be heated disagreement on treatment and fractured relationships.

| DECEMBER 2019

Directives to Physicians (commonly known as living wills) allow individuals to dictate their end of life wishes. The Directive serves as a playbook to surrogate decision makers, demonstrating what is most important to the patient in terms of comfort, treatment options and quality of life choices. Making an end-of-life decision is never easy, but doing so without clear guidance as to the patient’s wishes puts family members or friends in a nearimpossible position.

These decisions can be both complex and emotional, which is why they are best considered with the gift of time.

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DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 7

New Year, New You

How To Stay

ONForTASK The

NEW YEAR

by Steve Gamel

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| DECEMBER 2019

I

f your to-do list is never-ending these days, you’re not alone. From work assignments and client meetings to shuffling the kiddos to baseball practice, doctor’s appointments, or piano lessons, there’s always something keeping us busy. And just when we knock a few things off the list and feel a sense of accomplishment, five or six more tasks quickly take their place.

Adulting is difficult. That’s why it’s more important now than ever to have a trusty tool to help us manage our personal schedules, time, and activities. Doing so eliminates guesswork, keeps us on task, and tells us where to be and when.

But what’s the best option for you as we approach the New Year?

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USE A CALENDAR There was once a less frantic time in all of our lives when we didn’t need a calendar and were okay with flying by the seat of our pants.

We could get by with mental notes and snickered at those who couldn’t. Things are different now, and calendars are the perfect remedy to stay on task of all our professional, personal, and family commitments.

Here are a few types to consider: ELECTRONIC OR ONLINE CALENDAR — Digital calendars are portable and can easily be backed up and accessed on multiple devices. This means you can schedule a meeting or appointment between tasks using your phone without having to worry about carrying around additional items all day. Everyone has their cell phone on them, so it just makes sense. Digital calendars are also better if you want to create recurring events, block out time in your day well in advance, and even share your schedule with an assistant or family member. Plus, you can set notification alerts as reminders.

PAPER CALENDAR — If the digital age isn’t quite your thing and you want something tangible, there are still desk calendars, calendars you place on the refrigerator door, and even pocket calendars that allow you to accomplish many of the same things that digital calendars do. This will require more manual work, and there’s no backup if you lose it. But a few reasons why some people prefer paper or physical calendars is that they can remember tasks better simply by writing them down. A paper calendar is also great for a quick visual reminder rather than unlocking your phone and going to a specific app.

CALENDAR

DAY PLANNER

TO-DO LIST www.LantanaLiving.com

U S E A D AY PLANNER

U S E TO - D O LISTS

Day planners are a step above a traditional paper calendar and mirror many of the benefits and features of a digital calendar.

Perhaps more enticing is that they allow you to create a system that works for you.

There are day planners out there for every organizational style, from at-a-glance daily and weekly appointment books to goalsetting diaries, planner-organizer combo sets, and everything in between. Here are just a few things you can keep track of with a day planner.

Even if you prefer using a digital

•

Setting annual goals

make to-do lists for the day while others

•

Monthly overviews

•

Weekly tasks

•

Daily logs

•

Meal and workout plans

•

Shopping lists and household tasks

calendar, paper calendar, day planner, or a combination of all three, there is something about creating a to-do

list on a notepad or using a smartphone app like Evernote. Creating a to-do list right at the beginning of your day

or the night before creates structure for your day. It also gives you a sense of accomplishment as you’re able to

cross off completed items as the minutes and hours pass by. Some people only

create longer ones for busy weekends or an entire work week. Additional benefits include: •

Prioritization

•

Relieving stress

•

Less to keep in your head

It’s important to remember that regardless of which option you choose, none of them will be effective if you don’t consistently incorporate them into your daily and weekly schedules. Choose an option (or several) that works best for you, and then stick to it.

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 9

INSIDE COMMUNITY ANGEL TREE AT SENIOR CARE Senior Care Denton Post-Acute Care photo courtesy of Carla Summar

2244 Brinker Rd. • Denton, TX 76208 The angel tree is up and the sweet seniors at the Care Center in Denton are ready to be chosen. If you are interested in purchasing gifts this Christmas for a senior, please visit the Care Center any day between 9am-5pm, or use the posted door code for after hours. Chose your angel from the tree in the lobby area, sign your name on the angel sheet, then bring your presents to the center by 5pm on December 16th. Last year there were a few center residents who did not receive gifts, lets bring some extra joy and bless every senior this Christmas. For more information you can contact Rhonda or Carla at 940.320.6300.

BREAKFAST IN BETHLEHEM Dec. 14 | 9-11am | Faith Lutheran Church 6000 Morriss Rd. • Flower Mound, TX 75028 This family-friendly event gives families a time to enjoy Advent and the coming of Christmas. Aimed for kids PreK though elementary school, there will be singing, crafts, food, games, photo opportunities, and more. This is a free event and open to the public. Grab your friends and family and come experience breakfast in Bethlehem in the Love to the Max Center at the church. You are encouraged to bring a new book, age infant through teen for the book collection in partnership with Christian Community Action.

Updates about the event can be found at www.faithce.com. photo courtesy of Heather Johnson 10 | LANTANA LIVING

| DECEMBER 2019

LET’S DECORATE FOR

A GOOD CAUSE

Women of Argyle (WOA) is a local nonprofit that was created by several local women wanting to bring our community together through fellowship and charity.

Their Christmas fundraiser will help the WOA Family of the Year through the holiday season. The fundraiser is a Christmas decorating contest!

Two awards will be given out: Best Decorated Front Yard and Best Decorated Front Gate. To see who won visit www.womenofargyle.com and click on the “Christmas Fundraiser” link.

photo courtesy of the CCA facebook page @christiancommunityaction

HOLIDAY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Dec. 17 - 19 | Christian Community Action

200 S. Mill St. • Lewisville, TX 75057

Looking for ways to give back this season? The Christian Community Action organization needs volunteers as they continue their mission of ministering to the poor by providing services that bring hope and change. Volunteers are needed for Gift Distribution days on Dec. 17-19, as well as daytime volunteers at their two Giving Tree Stations. For the full list of please email volunteer.requests@ ccahelps.org or call 972.219.4389. www.LantanaLiving.com

INSIDE EDUCATION HEARTS FOR HOMES

photo courtesy of Gina Ozmer

High school student, Carson Ozmer is spreading cheer this holiday season as he volunteers with the Hearts for Homes organization to provide a laundry basket full of home and personal care supplies, and non-perishable foods to low income senior citizens in Denton County. This year Carson and the team will deliver 91 baskets on Dec. 14.

For more information on Hearts for Homes organization visit www.heartsforhomes.org.

Girls Varsity Basketball VS Carroll (Southlake) Dec. 20 | 6pm at GHS Main Gym

STATE CHAMPIONS FOR SIXTH

Winter Break Dec. 23 - Jan. 3

CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Congratulations to the incredible cheerleaders and coaches from Liberty Christian School for bringing home their sixth consecutive State Champion title.

The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) competition was held over a twoday period, Nov.18 and Nov. 19, in Belton, Texas.

The teams’ dedication to countless hours of practice has truly paid off, as they once again beat out eight other Texas squads for their first place ranking! photo courtesy of Vivian Nichols

GIFT BAGS FOR SAILORS When Lantana resident, Janylle Koren came up with the idea to send gift bags to sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan Aircraft Carrier she never thought her simple gesture would turn into a community-wide event! With the help from all of the elementary schools and Harpool Middle within Lantana and the residents, Janylle and her volunteers are sending almost 100 boxes filled with gift bags and personalized notes to the sailors just in time for Christmas! If you would like to sponsor a box for $20 to help with shipping, please contact Janylle at 678.852.9271. photo courtesy of Janylle Koren www.LantanaLiving.com

Girls Varsity Basketball VS Dallas Thunder Dec. 20 | 6pm at Liberty Christian Gym Boys Varsity Basketball VS Dallas Thunder Dec. 20 | 7:30pm Christmas Break NO SCHOOL Dec. 23 - Jan. 10 Varsity Swimming 12th Annual Christmas Classic Dec. 21 | 12:30pm at LISD Aquatics Center

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 11

COMMUNITY

The $541,199.66 project in Precinct 4

increased flow capacity under the road

CORNER

by 200 percent. Chances for water

by Denton County Commissioner Precinct 4 Dianne Edmondson

Construction on Crawford Road is

OLD ALTON BRIDGE ROAD REOPENS QUICKLY AFTER WASHOUT

W

e recently commemorated the reopening of the Old Alton Road Bridge, which initially washed out during heavy rains in September 2018.

Crews quickly began work on the project, which was finished by Oct. 5, 2019, just over a year later. For government, that’s a pretty speedy project turnaround.

The Denton area was deluged with rain from May 2019 through August 2019, receiving 17 inches of rainfall, which caused some delays though our road crews persevered to finish the project as soon as possible.

To receive a newsletter, please contact Precinct 4 Commissioner Dianne Edmondson at Dianne.Edmondson@dentoncounty.com and ask to be placed on the email list. OR CALL AT 972.434.3960. photo courtesy by Commissioner Dianne Edmondson

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Public safety is No. 1 in our county, especially along a school bus route.

The road was widened and the guardrail extended to improve safety for residents who drive on Old Alton Bridge Road to and from work, school and home.

overtopping the road at least once a year dropped from 99.5 percent to less than 30 percent.

As promised, construction on Crawford Road will begin soon, thanks to the

cooperation of the Town of Argyle and the

City of Denton, which have agreed to work with the county to complete this project. estimated to cost $3,463,600 to

widen the two-lane undivided rural road and add left turn lanes at key

intersections from Interstate 35-W to U.S. 377. Denton County has agreed to provide $2,263,600 for the

construction, using bond funds and

discretionary funds from the County

Judge. The Town of Argyle is expected to provide $1.2 million and will handle

all of the necessary engineering, rightof-way acquisition, utility relocations, construction and inspections.

Crawford Road reconstruction has been a goal of mine since the first day I became

your Precinct 4 Commissioner on January 1. I’d like to personally thank the Town of Argyle and the City of Denton for their willingness to help us with the much-

needed improvements to this rural road

to ensure smoother transportation for our

residents who live in the surrounding area.

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DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 13

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COLLECTING

QUARTERS

CURE FOR A

by Brooke Ezzo

T

he Lantana Ladies League hosted its 7th Annual Quarter Auction on November 19th to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a national organization working to find a cure and help with daily living for those with Type 1 Diabetes.

Members of the Lantana Ladies League (LLL) and guests from the community were invited to a night of fun and holiday shopping at the Lantana Golf Club for the event.

Attendees purchased paddles and used them to bid with quarters on great auction items like NASCAR tickets and a private wine tasting. Local businesses and vendors generously donated items to make the auction a lively event.

While attendees enjoyed light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, they were able to stroll through the golf club and do some holiday shopping. More than 15 vendors joined the evening by setting up display tables with a wide variety of merchandise, from jewelry and makeup to handmade soaps and home décor.

More than 140 members, guests, volunteers, vendors, and sponsors attended the event. Because of the incredible turn out, the Lantana Ladies League surpassed its intended goal for the night.

“Our goal was to raise over $2,000 for JDRF,” exclaimed Kristine Hallingstad, Vice President of the Lantana Ladies League. “We raised $3,250 by the night of the auction!”

Kristine explains that Niagara Bottling Company, LLC has offered to match the amount raised — bringing their total to $6,500. This is an amount that could not have been reached without the generous members, sponsors, and vendors.

“The Lantana Ladies League would like to thank our sponsors: Dance Integrity, IBT Insurance, Balmos Law, Kid’s First Pediatrics, and ViewTech.” Kristine said.

“They would also like to thank the volunteers, members, and the local community of Type 1 Diabetes parents and teens who helped collect quarters.”

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Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system mistakenly destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas. T1D is generally diagnosed early in life, and its causes are not fully known. There is no cure, so people with T1D have to inject or pump insulin to survive.

Serving their local JDRF chapter, the Lantana Ladies League has a special place in their hearts for this foundation and its research in finding a cure because T1D affects one of their own. Krista Middleton, the event chairperson for the Quarter Auction, is a Lantana resident and Ladies League member living with T1D. Managing T1D is a full time job, like Krista and the millions affected by the disease understand. Joining the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation each year by hosting their Quarter Auction, the Lantana Ladies League is serious about collecting quarters for a cure.

For more information about Lantana Ladies League, you can visit their website at www.lantanaladiesleague.com.

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 15

Let’s Get This

S TA RT E D

by Brooke Ezzo

photo courtesy of interskate.net

P

lanning a birthday party for your youngsters can be stressful. Between the venue, the cake and food, the balloons, the invites, and the décor, it can be full-on panic mode for some parents. If you’re interested in leaving the preparation and clean up to someone else, check out some of these fun, full-service party venues in Denton County.

This year, be a guest at your child’s party!

photo courtesy of Win Kids

photo courtesy of flowermound.playstreetmuseum.com

16 | LANTANA LIVING

| DECEMBER 2019

PLAY STREET MUSEUM- FLOWER MOUND This interactive children’s museum is perfect for our younger children who still enjoy imaginary and creative play and exploration. Play Street has a variety of party packages; the do-it-yourself allows you and your tots private use of the museum while allowing you to be the party planner. You can also leave it to the staff and choose from an array of themes. These parties include decorations, food, desserts, and drinks. For package pricing, visit www.flowermound. playstreetmuseum.com.

INTERSKATE ROLLER RINK Roller skating will never go out of style.

Period. If you want to just show up and sit at a table, or you want a private party room, Interskate has a party package to fit any budget. Either way, book your party now at www.interskate.net or call them at 972.221.4666. photo courtesy of gatsplat.com

WIN KIDS- FLOWER MOUND Win Kids offers two birthday packages: gymnastics parties and ninja warrior parties. Both offer a full-service party so the parents can sit back and relax. Parties here are perfect for children ages 1-14.

The gym is loaded with fun equipment, and the party is designed around active kids tumbling and completing obstacle courses. To book a Win Kids party, call them at 972.355.9988 or go online www.winkids.net and click on the “parties” tab.

GAT SPLAT- LEWISVILLE Housing three indoor paintball spaces, Gat Splat is the place to be. Each party package includes entry, gun, tank, safety goggles, air fills, and paintballs.

They make it easy for you to bring food (order in pizza), drinks, and decorations.

Minimum age at Gat Splat is six. If you don’t want paintballs, check out their Nerf Parties and Axe Throwing. Suit up and call them today at 972.956.5500. www.LantanaLiving.com

photo courtesy of Zone Action Park Facebook photo courtesy of rollingescaperoom.com

ZONE ACTION PARK- LEWISVILLE They really do put the action in birthday parties. Between bounce houses, miniature golf, Go Kart rides and games, your child and their friends will be bouncing with excitement here.

They have several party packages to choose from and five private, themed party rooms: the princess room, the sports room, the space room, the Disney room, and the dinosaur room. All parties include a party host, face painting, balloon animals, pizza, and drinks. There is something for everyone here! Book today at www.thezoneactionparktexas. com, and don’t forget to check their site for party coupons!

ROLLING ESCAPE ROOM — MOBILE The first of its kind — an escape room on wheels! This interactive party is full of fun with cryptic puzzles that you and your guests have to escape out of together in the comfort of your own home. In the Rolling Escape Room, there are games the players interact together on and play a story. Will your party get out? Book now at www.rollingescaperoom.com. www.LantanaLiving.com

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 17

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| DECEMBER 2019

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SHERIFF ’S

• Raise Awareness and educate residents. This can be done by posting on social media or implementing neighborhood traffic calming programs that emphasize community involvement.

with Sheriff Tracy Murphree

The Texas Department of Transportation reported that in 2018 there were a total of 251 fatalities in crashes involving speeding over the limit.

CORNER T

he Denton County Sheriff’s Office shares in the concerns of neighborhood safety. We are

aware that there is an increased number of vehicles on the road due to additional subdivisions being built in our county.

Traffic complaints presented to us are taken seriously, and in response, we increase presence to heighten awareness of the speed limit and traffic flow and conduct traffic stops when appropriate.

There are several ways to address the issues:

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• Identify high volume and high speed times and provide targeted enforcement.

• Deploy a Police radar trailer which would produce data that shows if there are violations of the posted speed limit when we are not there and what the range of speeds are. With that information, we could determine if there was truly an issue with speed in that area or are people generally complying with the speed limit and there’s just a perception that there is a speeding issue. The trailer would also draw motorist’ attention to their speed.

WE ARE HIRING DETENTION OFFICERS! 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

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 19

ESCAPING pe rie nce

WINTER WEATHER

Ex of s ar hE m t i w co erson perts. d n A a

by Jenn se e x mou e h t @ n ja n d e r s o

L

iving in Texas, we never

know what kind of weather

the winter season will bring.

While some of us welcome the winter weather whenever we can get it, others are left counting down to summer. If you can’t wait to sit by the pool and enjoy the heat, consider

taking a beach trip during those cold winter months.

Not sure where to begin?

One option is booking a Disney cruise.

Disney Cruise Line offers multiple beach locations including the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Mexico. You’re able to embark on one of these cruises through the Galveston port. You can also select between four and seven-day trips.

20 | LANTANA LIVING

| DECEMBER 2019

www.LantanaLiving.com

Disney Cruise offers a variety of options

(and adults) of all ages. The resort also

the best experience and service that they

will have access to relaxing pools and

of treatments for both teens and adults.

for every age and every interest.

both on the ship and at port stops. You beaches as well as adventures like snorkeling, horseback

has a full spa which offers a wide variety While you can find plenty to do

at the resort, you can also

riding, and animal

encounters. There is something for every age and interest!

Another option for a beach getaway

is Disney’s Aulani

Resort. It is located along the beaches of Ko Olina near

opt for an excursion that

All you have to worry about is packing and enjoying your perfect trip.

O’hau. This all-inclusive

resort also has something

for every age and interest. You and

takes you off property.

You can choose from exploring Pearl

can offer. All destinations have something As an Ears of Experience agent, I can

book and plan the perfect winter beach vacation for you and your family. I have been trained in booking for all Disney destinations including the options

Harbor, hiking

mentioned above. In addition to taking

and many

I will provide a customized itinerary suited

around a volcano,

care of all your booking and planning,

other tours.

for your family’s perfect trip. Booking

You may be asking

why you should choose

a Disney destination

when there are other options.

Disney is not just about Mickey

your trip with me will save you time and possibly money. All you have to worry about is packing and enjoying your perfect trip.

Disney has already announced

your family could enjoy some relaxation at

Mouse and attractions for children.

cruise itineraries for 2020 and there

If you’re interested in a little more fun and

entertainment, food, and customer

December. Contact me today to

one of the many pool or beach locations.

activity, they have water play areas for kids

www.LantanaLiving.com

All Disney destinations offer top-rated

is some availability for a cruise this

service. They strive to give their customers

book your winter getaway.

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 21

GIVING

THE ART OF

I

by Brooke Ezzo

n 12 short years, Lantana resident and Harpool Middle School student Susan Pritchard has crossed quite a few to-dos off her bucket list. From an early age, Susan exhibited a strong passion for volunteering and the arts.

These qualities and talents have led her to the White House, being selected for leadership programs, the honor of having her artwork on the cover of her school’s yearbook.

As the daughter of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) employee and U.S. Diplomat, Susan has leadership and community in her genes. Moving to Lantana from overseas, she brought with her the ability to teach private Spanish lessons to the children in Lantana.

While she lived in Mexico, she visited isolated communities as part of a Missionary group and was part of a writers club that participated in three poetry and short story team-book publications.

“I think my dad’s job is very cool because he enjoys it,” Susan said. “It has given my family many opportunities.”

“All the kids make an entry with a piece of art that is supposed to be a message

24 | LANTANA LIVING

| DECEMBER 2019

the Teach Denton Program, a program

for students who exhibit natural teaching

abilities. She is currently a member of her school’s Builders Club.

“At the end of the school day, the

members of the Builder’s Club take all

of the recycled trash to a huge bin at the back of the school so it can be properly recycled,” said Susan.

Her love of the arts granted her the

honor to be on the cover of the Blanton Elementary School’s yearbook. She was recognized for her entry in last year’s Reflections Art Competition, a video

she created about friends and how the

against the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol,” Susan said. “One student from each grade level is awarded and invited to the ceremony in Washington, D.C.”

love and care of others can give you the

As the first-place winner, Susan and her family traveled to D.C. in early October.

While there, she visited the Washington Monument, the Pentagon, the Capitol, and the White House. During the Red Ribbon Event, one of her favorite parts of the trip was having the honor of meeting First Lady, Melania Trump.

As a member of Girl Scout Troop

This recollection of events is a humbling realization of how much she has done in her 12 years of precious life.

One of those opportunities and most recent accomplishments was an invitation to participate in the Red Ribbon Art Contest.

Every year, the DEA headquarters hosts the art contest, which is made up of kids and teens nationwide.

she was selected by her teachers to join

“When I got called up to the stage to meet the First Lady, I was super nervous,” exclaimed Susan. “She shook my hand and said, ‘Congratulations.’

I didn’t have time to say much to her, but she seems like a very kind person.”

Susan has a passion for volunteering and giving back to her community. Her involvement in many clubs and organizations has given her numerous opportunities to add to her resume of achievements. In Sixth grade,

strength to lift yourself up. She also plays viola for Harpool Middle and the Denton Youth Orchestras.

7879, Susan has learned leadership

development and the value of teamwork from a variety of volunteer and charity

projects. She is also a part of the National Charity League Lantana Chapter, where

her passions are given a chance to bloom.

“Some things we have done while

volunteering include serving meals to the

homeless, cleaning dishes at a community kitchen, and working at a resale store,”

exclaimed Susan. “The Charity League is so much fun!”

Susan’s giving disposition and active persistence to getting involved is an inspiration to her peers and those

around her. This recollection of events is a

humbling realization of how much she has done in her 12 years of precious life.

With the support of her family, school, and the local community, Susan is the

personification of the song lyrics: I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.

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DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 25

What Are Your Holiday

by Steve Gamel

W

hat are your favorite family holiday traditions? You’ll probably get asked that question a million times over the next few weeks, and each time, we’re betting you’ll eagerly rattle off five or six of them with the biggest smile on your face.

And why? Because holiday traditions — especially those that involve your kids, parents, and grandparents — are the best!

They never get old, no matter how young or old you are, and the good news is that everyone’s got them. Whether it’s waking up early on Christmas morning with the family dressed in matching pajamas or building a ginger bread house every Christmas Eve, they’re the sort of thing you live for. They connect us and help us celebrate this special time of year.

So in the spirit of the holiday season, your friends at Murray Media Group wanted to share our favorite holiday traditions.

JANA MELTON, Operations Director My favorite holiday tradition is simple:

a phone call to a family member on the

STEVE GAMEL, Writer and Editor

to call (no texting) a family member and

As far back as I can remember, my parents always allowed my brother and me to open one gift each on Christmas Eve, all with the promise that we’d go to bed afterward so that Santa could get to our house on time to drop off the rest of the presents. Now that I’m grown, I carried that tradition over for my kids — and it never gets old seeing them react the same way we did. We also look forward to our parents’ Christmas party every year, where we get to spend time with cousins we don’t see that often.

morning of Christmas Eve. The first person KELLY AND SCOTT MURRAY, Owners & Publishers At our house, new Christmas pajamas were always a big hit and signified that Santa was on his way. When the kids were little, we thought it would be cute to dress them in matching PJs or in the alwaysfunny onesies! Now they are older and we still do the onesies. The outfits are not as cute as they use to be, but it sure is funny and reminds us of years past.

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| DECEMBER 2019

say, “Christmas Eve Gift!” wins bragging rights for the day and lots of laughs.

It all started with my Grandfather’s family.

They would call their brothers and sisters and say, “CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!” Back

then, calls were very expensive, especially long-distance calls, as they all lived in

different states. Calls like that were very special. My father and his siblings, my

brothers and I, and now with our children, have all carried on the tradition.

www.LantanaLiving.com

CAROLINE BROCK, Graphic Designer

ALYSON MODENE, Graphic Designer

ALISHA TRAN, Social Media Manager

My older sister, Elizabeth, and I had a fun childhood tradition that I still try keep

My favorite holiday traditions that my

As a child, it was an unwritten rule that my sisters and I had to be up and ready by 9 a.m. on Christmas Morning.

Now that we’re older, we all meet at my parents’ house at 9 a.m. wearing our Christmas pajamas. My mom cooks breakfast, and after we eat, we drink hot chocolate while we open presents.

My mom has a rule that only one person can open a present at a time, so we can all see their reaction. I didn’t get it as a child, but now I understand that’s

today. On Christmas Eve, we would try every year to stay up all night to catch

Santa. While we stayed up, we watched the 24-hour marathon of A Christmas

Story that played on TBS. We, of course, as little kids never were able to stay up

to catch dear Santa, but as we got older

we still tried to stay up all night watching the marathon. To this day, even as we’ve

moved out, had families of our own, and now live in different states, we call each other to make sure that we watch A Christmas Story.

family has takes place on Christmas Eve. The first thing we do for it is pull names

out of a Santa hat, then we go to a store, normally Target, and we have about $50

and an hour to buy a gift for the person’s name we pulled out. Once we get to a

location, we split up into groups. The best part of this is running through the store grabbing random things to make the

other group think you are going to buy

them a toilet seat or something silly like

that, while also spying on them trying to

actually the best part.

figure out what they might get you. It is a tradition all about laughing and messing around as a family.

AARON JUAREZ, SEO & Web Development Manager Every Christmas Eve, the whole family (uncles, aunts, and cousins) would get together to disperse presents amongst everyone. At the stroke of midnight, we would all open our presents at the same time and get surprised by Santa Claus coming through the door giving the younger kids even more presents. Of course, the gifts weren’t much, but it

provided a time for all of us to get together even if it was just for a couple of hours to live our perfect little Christmas.

BROOKE EZZO, Writer Every Christmas Eve growing up, my brother and I decorated cookies for Santa and were allowed to open one present. I have fond memories of those traditions. As an

adult, we have started a new tradition with my husband’s family. Every year, we all meet up right before Christmas; aunts, grandparents, cousins, brothers, sisters, spouses, and all the children (about 30 of us) and we walk around Grapevine Main Street. We have

dinner at Esparzas, and we end the night at The Palace Theatre to watch It’s a Wonderful Life. I look forward to this every year! www.LantanaLiving.com

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Business Spotlight

Everyone

DESERVES A

HEALTHY,

HOME-COOKED

MEAL

by Steve Gamel

S

photo courtesy of TruFit Foods

o you committed yourself to eat healthy, home-cooked meals and even got your family to buy-in to the idea of meal prepping each week to make everything easier. The only problem is time. You work all day, and the last thing you want is to spend the time and energy it takes to choose a menu, buy groceries, cook for the entire family — and then clean up.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a place

It’s become such a hit because it’s a

chefs who could do it all for you?

home and feed your family. We have a

locally with healthy-eating experts and

Lucky for all of us and our tummies, that

variety of clients, and it’s nice hearing

Mound. For three years, sisters Carla and

Alejandra added, “We build relationships

place exists at TruFit Foods in Flower

Alejandra Trujillo have been right under our noses serving Grab & Go healthy

meals, catering, and meal-prep services to

with every customer who walks in.

We want to remember them all by name.”

TruFit Foods is perfect for families,

shoppers. They use local products with

enthusiasts, busy entrepreneurs who

offer a different menu every week.

moms, people who are looking to lose a

as close as Lantana to eager out-of-state

both large and small, as well as fitness

ingredients from all over the world and

are constantly on the go, stay-at-home

after an intense workout? They’ve got you

little weight, and those who simply want

healthier dining options. Their mission is

covered. How about a different meal for

to provide delicious and balanced meals

ready to serve that same day? They do

“We’ve had people locally who have

every day this week — packaged fresh and that, too.

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everyone’s story.”

a growing community that includes folks

Do you need a healthy soup and salad

469.469.9398 TruFitFoods.com 5801 Long Prairie Rd., Ste. 850 Flower Mound, TX 75028

healthy option that you can then take

for you and your family.

said, ‘How did I not know you were here

“Growing up, we always knew we had

before?’ We also had a lady arrive in town

home,” Carla said. “We just want to do

without our meals,” Carla said. “Hearing

a home-cooked meal waiting for us at

yesterday, and she said she couldn’t live

the same thing for our community here.

that is so special and means a lot to us.”

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 29

Meet Golden Triangle Mall’s

2019 FACES OF DENTON press release submitted by Carrie Carter

photo courtesy of Carrie Carter

COLBY CORI CAMERON ARIANA

JENNA

ALLISON

D

enton, Texas – Golden Triangle Mall is proud to announce the “2019 Faces of Denton” campaign, where we celebrate you!

Denton is a unique, fun-loving place where people come together – and you deserve to be recognized. Because we cater to you, we want YOU to be the center of attention! We’re proud to introduce just a few of them below. To see the full list go to www.shopgoldentriangle.com/meet-our-2019-faces-of-denton. We’re so glad we got to meet these fantastic people.

J E N N A , 28

C O L B Y, 17

A R I A N A , 18

Coming all the way from Salt Lake City, Jenna took her time in making Denton her home. She became familiar with Texas when her family moved to Plano when she was 9, but it took her almost 10 more years to call Denton her home! What brought her here was education — a fashion design degree from UNT. She realized Denton was home and started working for Painting With a Twist in 2017.

As a true artist, she has an endless supply of projects going on but still manages to find time to relax and read with her cat, Tonks. Her favorite parts about Denton are the arts culture, the Gallery, and the Arts and Jazz Festival.

Colby absolutely loves music. He plays piano and keyboard and is thinking about being in a band one day. He’s currently home-schooled but has his eyes set on going to UNT in the near future. When he’s not jamming out, he’s hanging with friends (recently saw Joker in theaters) and is a swim coach. Despite loving how musiccentric and diverse Denton is, he wants to be a pilot one day and see the world.

His mom is from Oklahoma and his dad is from Louisiana, so they moved around a ton – which might be fuel for his potential piloting. When it’s all said and done, he can see himself staying in Denton because he believes most people stay and it’s a very nice place to live.

Although she’s from Pilot Point, she feels as though she has a firm understanding of Denton and sees it as a ‘Mini Austin,’ which she loves. She loves the Golden Triangle Mall and spends a lot of her free time here. Going to North Central Texas College, she has been frequenting the mall for some time! As an aspiring veterinarian, she has a deep affinity for animals but also acquired quite the taste for Beth Marie’s Ice Cream. Her favorite parts about Denton are the Kennedy Fair, being an off-season varsity cheerleader captain, UNT football games, and the Arts and Jazz Festival.

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www.LantanaLiving.com

C O R I , 23

Coming from Katy, Cori loves how energetic, bubbly, enthusiastic, and peppy Denton is. She immediately felt comfortable here and loves how friendly, how diverse, and how welcoming the people are. Her favorite food is tacos so naturally, her go-to restaurants are Fuzzy’s and Rusty’s. As a full-time sophomore at UNT, a lot of her time is spent studying.

But she’s also an Office Manager at Fred Moore Nursery School and loves spending time with her daughter. Despite having no other biological family in Denton, she has been here for a full year, and her neighbors, students, and coworkers have become her family. She couldn’t be happier.

C A M E R O N , 16 We chose Cameron as one of our Faces of Denton because his look screamed confidence. Cameron was born and raised in Denton and is currently a junior in high school. His favorite part about his hometown is the Square, walking around, enjoying the amazing local food, buying shoes, and generally being very involved in the community. He’s a starter on his football team, playing wide receiver and free safety/cornerback. However, when winter rolls around, he’ll be playing basketball and baseball in the spring.

A L L I S O N , 21 The first thing we noticed was her fancy, tiny backpack — very fashionable and very Allison. This little lady from Keller is a senior at Texas Women’s University, where she is pursuing a psychology degree.

She also has a huge heart and works in a nursing home as well as a psychiatric facility in her spare time. In her free time, you can find her at Free Play most likely drinking a craft beer and dominating games. Her other favorite places to frequent are the Denton Brewery and Beth Marie’s Ice Cream.

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DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 31

Kicking Off The

NEW YEAR WITH A SMILE

by Steve Gamel

T

he New Year will soon be upon us, and with that comes new opportunities for declarations of improvement and resolve. As we usher into the new decade with innovative notions of self-development, the team at Country Lakes Family Dental would like to encourage all resolution enthusiasts to take on the New Year with a smile!

Believe it or not, making the New Year bright could be as simple as beginning with a smile.

Dr. Matt Artho and his team are brimming with ways to help you achieve that goal with different ways to improve your look and health beyond the typical methods of straightening your teeth and whitening your smile. As their patients know, their office boasts the latest technology and advancements that make improving your dental health comfortable and predictable. Plus, a knowledgeable and hospitable team makes it all the more easy to keep your resolution to smile.

“Your smile, like your health, is undoubtedly an invaluable quality to your state of being,” Dr. Matt said. “And like so many resolutions, sometimes dental care can easily fall to the wayside.”

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Dr. Matt emphasizes that with current advancements in digital technology and software, along with thorough planning, creating your desired smile is not only efficient but predictable. Utilizing digital impression scanners with smile design technology and 3D printing, Dr. Matt can propose dental outcomes even before treatment begins. With the use of crown fabrication equipment, certain treatments can even occur the same day.

Dental implant placement is also anticipated through 3D radiograph and implant design software. Even traditional orthodontics or Invisalign treatment are digitally pre-planned prior to receiving treatment, allowing for fine-tuning of desired outcomes.

The New Year also presents a new approach to how dental treatment is perceived. Dental advancements not only help foresee results but also create

a comfortable dental experience, making avoiding dental care a thing of the past.

Country Lakes Dental offers digital impressions, digital x-rays, and sedation dental care to help avoid discomfort and quicken appointment times. Even the use of dental laser treatment for both children and adults can allow certain treatments, including fillings, to be performed quickly and without anesthesia.

When looking into creating your new smile for the new year, Dr. Matt and his team begin with the basics of understanding your goals and combining them with a proper diagnosis. Dr. Matt encourages patients to consider all treatment options when approaching a strategy to create their very best smile.

“Regardless of how you want to improve your dental health and your smile, there are many ways to reach the same goal,”

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photography by Your Candid Memories (YourCandidMemories.com) Sponsored Content

940.455.7645 | www.CountryLakesDental.com | 74 McMakin Rd., Ste. 200 • Bartonville, TX 76226

Dr. Matt explains. “Your individual goals can be accomplished through treatment as simple as a cleaning with whitening or can be multifactorial by incorporating cosmetic, orthodontic, or even implant dental treatment.

Matt appreciates the value of oral health

and completed an extended residency

to pediatric dental care is consistent with

Education in General Dentistry. He is a

for children. His conservative approach his mission to establish a generation

that enjoys and values dental appointments. He urges

parents to approach the

“YOUR SMILE, New Year with planned routine dental care for LIKE YOUR HEALTH, even the youngest of IS UNDOUBTEDLY AN your family.

INVALUABLE QUALITY Dr. Matt is more than qualified to TO YOUR STATE manage your family’s OF BEING...” smile makeover and has

Dr. Matt also encourages patients to know that following a smile makeover, an attractive smile should be both healthy and functional, and proper dental habits moving forward will help maintain a beautiful smile for years to come.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, as a family practice, Dr. Matt also encourages patients to consider the resolution to get their children on the right track to proper dental health. A father of nine children, Dr.

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even completed his own New

Year’s Resolutions. He will receive his

receiving a certificate for Advanced

member of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics and the International Association of Orthodontics.

Dr. Matt also served as a Dental Officer

in the Army National Guard, completing 10 years of service with a rank of Major.

He and his team are pleased to have been voted by their patients as Best of Denton County for seven years in a row!

So, as the Holidays and New Year bring

new campaigns of exercise regimens and

steadfast dietary choices, these newfound determinations should be met with

Fellowship with the Academy of General

tenacity, enthusiasm, and, most of all, a

hours of continuing education. A former

assured Dr. Matt and the team at Country

from Texas A&M College of Dentistry

with ease!

Dentistry in July 2020 with over 700

smile! Venturing into 2020, you can rest

engineer, Dr. Matt went on to graduate

Lakes Family Dental will help you smile

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 33

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NETFLIX

& Ch i ll

by Brooke Ezzo

A

s 2019 comes to a close, there are only so many days left to catch up on some of the hottest Netflix series and movies of the year. Netflix left us anticipating more seasons to come for our favorite shows, but it also let older series make a comeback with different audiences. This may be a hard list to write considering everything on this streaming app is binge-worthy, but here it goes.

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BREAKING BAD (ALL SEASONS) An American neo-Western crime drama tells the story of Walter White, a depressed, cancer-stricken high school chemistry teacher who turns to a life of crime, selling crystal meth. The show aired from 2008-2013, winning numerous awards in all major award shows. There are a few reasons why Breaking Bad made a comeback in 2019, and one of them is the spin-off, Better Call Saul. (Add it to your list.) The second reason however, is El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie was released in October 2019. The buzz for this epilogue was deafening, and everyone wanted a Breaking Bad refresher or to watch it for the first time. This series was entered into Guinness World Records as the most critically-acclaimed show of all time. You might want to add it to your Netflix line up.

THE IRISHMAN (MOVIE) Based on the 2004 book, I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, this American crime film was directed and produced by Martin Scorsese. So, you know it’s good. Its release this year came with an outpouring of social media posts claiming it was the best movie on Netflix.

This could be believable considering it has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes — something we know is unheard of. The crime thriller follows Frank Sheeran as he recalls his former years as a mafia hitman for the Bufalino crime family. With a cast of Hollywood greats such as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, this isn’t a movie to miss.

STRANGER THINGS (SEASON 3) This American science fiction horror series dropped in 2016 and made a major splash in the social media chatter. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, the series premiere season is focused on the investigation into the disappearance of a young boy, the supernatural events occurring around town, and the arrival of a girl with psychokinetic abilities.

Each season is centered around an open portal to an alternate dimension and the influence it has on the residents. The third season was highly anticipated, and fans had to wait all of 2018 before they could get their weekend binge fix in July of 2019. Fans have something to look forward to again, and the creators of the show say a fourth season is in the works.

Don’t get left behind in the Upside Down; catch up on the series before Eleven and the boys are gone forever.

Looking toward 2020, Netflix invites us to get our comfy pants and wine glasses ready for an incredible line up of Netflix and chill nights (and days). Here are a few additional titles to keep an eye out for: Ares, Grace and Frankie Season 6, and Ozark Season 3.

www.LantanaLiving.com

BIRDBOX (MOVIE) Birdbox was released at the end of 2018, but it spent almost all of 2019 immersed in some sort of conversation, social media meme, or that blindfolded challenge that took stupidity to a new level. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world where Malorie Hayes has to row a boat downstream with two young children — blindfolded out of fear for their lives. The movie shows that five years earlier, unexplained mass suicides spread like wildfire throughout the world because of some entity attempting to wipe out mankind. This movie belongs on your bucket list. But be aware, you will need some sort of anxiety reliever because this is a suspenseful thriller.

I don’t watch TV, I Netflix.

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Business Spotlight

Bringing the

AUTOMOTIVE

EXPERIENCE

HOME

by Steve Gamel

T

he dream of Bosco Auto Group started in 2006 when Paul Bosco Jr. started buying and selling cars

while attending the University of North Texas. Over the last 13 years, he has

transformed his passion into Bosco Auto Group – a full-service dealership that

recently opened at 1401 Justin Road in Flower Mound. Raised in Double Oak

and Copper Canyon and now residing in Lantana, he’s no stranger to the 407

– we are the place they can come for a one-stop-shop.”

Over the last decade, the dealership has built strong relationships with

national lenders and extended warranty

companies to be able to offer low interest rates with flexible terms and reliable

coverage. Bosco Auto Group stocks a

unique inventory that will soon offer over 300 cars, trucks, and SUVs.

corridors. When it came time to decide

“We understand that this community is

seemed right.

to fit,” Bosco Jr. told us. “Whether they are

where to build the new dealership, it just “We want to offer the community a local

owner-operated and trusted automotive

diverse and wants the inventory we offer a first-time buyer, upsize/downsizing, or

looking for their dream car – we can help.”

experience.” Bosco Jr. said. “Whether the

Bosco Auto Group’s service department

repair, or have maintenance done

service bays, the team is equipped to

photo courtesy by Bosco Auto Group

customer is wanting to buy, sell, trade,

is equally assorted in its ability. With 14

repair and maintain all makes and models, both foreign and domestic. From a basic oil change or alignment to complete engine replacements and anything in between, they will get the job done right.

“Home of the free service loaner,” Bosco Auto Group offers free loaner vehicles to their service customers by appointment.

The program is designed to minimize interruptions in the customer’s day.

They have already started with the loaner program and customers are loving the freedom it offers.

“The goal is to provide the community with a trusted and capable home for their full automotive needs,” Paul Bosco Sr. said.

Bosco Auto Group is bringing value back to the car buying experience. Visit them in person or check out their website at www.BoscoAutoGroup.com.

972.833.1393 1401 Justin Road Flower Mound, TX 75028

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New Year, New You

di ffe rent kinds of

PUSHUPS

T

by Steve Gamel

he pushup seems like it has been around since the dawn of time.

But while it is definitely a great workout to help stay in shape and develop a strong and confident looking chest, many people don’t utilize the pushup to its fullest advantage.

That’s right; there’s more than one way to do a pushup — and each one offers its own unique benefits.

1. TRADITIONAL: This is the one we all know and love. Place your hands on the ground beneath your shoulders, and position yourself on your toes. Slowly lower yourself to the ground while being sure to keep your back straight rather than let your hips sag. As you lower yourself, keep your elbows in. And then, push yourself back up to the starting position.

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2. DIAMOND PUSHUP: With this pushup, you’re using the same form as a traditional pushup, but instead of placing your hands on the ground and shoulder-width apart, bring your hands together and form a diamond shape with your fingers.

This variation of the common pushup is much harder but is great for developing those tricep muscles.

3. WIDE HANDS PUSHUP: This slight variation of the traditional pushup puts significantly more emphasis on your chest muscles as it requires you to place your hands more than shoulder-width apart.

4. STAGGERED HANDS PUSHUP: For those of you who want to isolate one arm at a time and improve core strength and stability across the body, position one arm in the normal pushup position

and the other slightly backward so that your arms are in a staggered position.

As you lower, you will immediately find that the one staggered arm takes the brunt of the workout. After each rep, switch the arm positions and repeat to get a balanced workout.

5. SPHINX PUSHUP: For those of you who really want to take the traditional pushup and kick it up a notch, this one is for you.

Start in the plank position and push up with your triceps to lift your elbows off the ground. Lower yourself back to the original plank position and repeat. This is a killer upper body workout with a ton of focus on the triceps.

6. CLAP PUSHUP: This variation is perfect for those workout enthusiasts who want to improve their explosive power. All you have to do is get into a traditional pushup position, but as you push up, do so with an emphasis on explosion so that you propel yourself off the ground long enough to clap your hands together before landing in the starting position again.

There are plenty more pushup variations where these came from, but the seven we mentioned above will get you exactly what you need to hit on as many major muscle groups in your upper body as possible.

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 43

WHO DO I CALL? L

information provided by Community Lifestyle Director Ashtin Slovak

antana is a unique community in that it does not rest inside the corporate limits of a municipality. Lantana is located in unincorporated Denton County. To provide some of the services that a municipality normally provides, Fresh Water Supply Districts 6 & 7 were created. This can be confusing sometimes for the residents of Lantana on which entity they should contact for a particular service or concern. Below is a small list to clarify who you can call for specific services.

LANTANA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

940.728.1660 | www.lantanalive.com After Hours emergency Line: 214.373.2412

FRESH WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT

940.728.5050 | www.lantanatx.org •

Trash Collection

•

Water Bill

•

Perimeter Stone & Brick Walls

•

Right of Ways Along (Lantana Trail, Rayzor Rd., Branch Crossing, Stacee Ln.)

DENTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Emergency: 9.1.1 Non-Emergency: 940.349.1600 •

Traffic Concerns (Speeding, Reckless Driving)

•

Crime Stoppers

•

Animal Control

•

Jail Information

•

Association Common Areas:

•

North Amenity Center & North Pond

•

South Amenity Center & Town Green

•

Tennis Courts

•

Mesquite Park Pool & Playground

•

Building Permits

•

Jail Records

•

Hickory Park Pool & Playground

•

Block Party Permits

•

Warrants

•

Oak Park Pool Playground

•

Streets

•

Architectural Review Committee Submittals (For All Exterior Modifications)

•

Sidewalks (With more than 1 inch vertical movement)

•

Street Regulatory Signs

•

Neighborhood Parks

•

Hike & Bike Trails

•

Community Events

•

Front Yard Maintenance

•

Vector Security

•

Grande Communications Basic Cable (In Select Neighborhoods)

•

Barking Dogs (You will need to be able to provide address)

•

Monument entry Sign Lights

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COSERV ELECTRIC 1.800.566.2314 | www.coserv.com •

Street Light Outages

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DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 45

CLASSIC

C

H

E

E

R

C

photo courtesy of Classic of Denton

lassic, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Mazda in Denton is reaching out to our local community for

contributions for Classic Christmas Cheer 2019. Last year, Classic of Denton was

able to adopt over 665 children, which

provided a special Christmas for them.

This year, Classic of Denton has a goal of

adopting over 700 children, the names will

be provided to us from the local Churches, Denton Independent School District,

Gonzales School, Friends of the Family,

Giving Hope Denton, The Wheeler House, Serve Denton, Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, Our Daily Bread and Monsignor King Outreach Center.

We are reaching out to our Classic

Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Mazda and

employees, partners, vendors, friends

ITEMS NEEDED: Footballs • Soccer Balls • Barbies • Legos • Hoodies (various sizes)

and customers to help with a donation or adopting a family.

As a community, let’s make Christmas 2019 a year of Holiday Cheer, and

Goodwill for all those less fortunate.

For more info contact Rick or Lessa by

46 | LANTANA LIVING

RICK WICK

940.498.9865 rwick@classicofdenton.com

LESSA POPHAM

940.498.9871 lessa@classicofdenton.com

DECEMBER 16, 2019

| DECEMBER 2019

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Earl’s 377 Pizza: Foodie Friday DFW

EARL’S 377 Pizza R

E

S

T

A

U

R

A

N

T

940.464.4444 | www.earls377pizza.com | 427 U.S. 377 S. • Argyle, TX 76226

A

s a lover of the theatre, I appreciate a restaurant that has a great backstory to it -

even if it is mostly made up. And if you haven’t been to Earl’s 377 Pizza out in

Argyle, you’ve yet to experience one of

the greatest restaurant stories of all time!

Earl’s is the unique brainchild of well-

notice the juxtaposition of Earl’s “good-

ol’-boy” style and Isabella’s more refined Italian taste. The chandeliers are made out of buckets, shovels, and helmets.

The furniture has a homemade, craftsy

look to it. And Isabella’s gorgeous, vintage wine carafes are on display as well.

known local restaurateur, John ‘Sparky’

The story of Earl the veteran is much

old Argyle Volunteer Fire Department into

Earl’s 377 Pizza, as well as the remainder

Pearson, who had the vision to turn the something truly special. photos courtesy of Foodie Friday DFW

In the decor of the restaurant, you’ll

And ‘special’ is exactly what I would call Earl’s.

At Earl’s you’ll become a player in the

story about a fictitious military vet who

more than “just a story,” however.

of the restaurants under the Radical

Hospitality Group, have teamed up with

Spirit of a Hero, a nonprofit that works to help veterans right here in North Texas.

At their restaurants you can find a

special menu item which has all of its

met his wife, Isabella, overseas in Italy

proceeds donated to Spirit of a Hero.

with him only after promising to help

a Hero Pizza topped with a BBQ-Ranch

Italian restaurant.

and red peppers.

and convinced her to move back to Texas

And at Earl’s that item is their Spirit of

her realize her dream of opening an

sauce, Bumbershoot chopped brisket,

Nonna’s Meatballs are a fan-favorite as well as their Vita Mia Lasagna made with a classic bolognese sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella.

When you come to Earl’s, you’re guaranteed to have a great meal and a great experience. And the people at Earl’s want you to know they’re not just a business in the community - they are truly a part of the community.

(And here’s a pro tip - you can also order food from Bumbershoot BBQ while you’re there.) Eat well, Foodies!

Believe it or not, Earl’s has also become

well-known for their salads. Our personal favorite is their Italian Cobb made

with some of their fresh-cut salami and

giardinera. It’s big enough to feed about 5 people!

And when it comes to Italian classics, Earl’s has more than just pizza mastered. Their

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

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DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 49

New Year, New You

The Holidays are Over.

NOW IT’S TIME TO

A

CLEAN UP!

by Debbie Sardone

fter all the excitement of the holidays — spending quality time with family and friends, enjoying delicious food and drink, and giving and receiving presents — your happy glow can quickly disappear when guests are gone and you have to deal with the cleanup. Getting your home back into tip-top shape can be challenging, but these tips will help when your guests and gifts are gone, and you’re left behind with the mess.

Clean as you go

Remember How Great It Feels

great and picks up any glitter, too.

Take down the holiday lights and decorations

Do you wish you could leave your

Christmas decorations up year- round

As you prepare the holiday meal, wash the

up again next year? Don’t be that person.

as you go. Instead of stacking dirty dishes

you clean up this year’s decorations.

go, so that this tip isn’t a surprise for you.

just to avoid the agony of putting them

pots, utensils, dishes, and cutting boards

Make next year easier on yourself when

or glasses on the counter, put them in the

•

dishwasher immediately. Rinse any wine

glasses then put them aside to hand-wash

phone. The images will cut down the

clean up spills right away because food

time you spend decorating next year.

that contains sugar (like tomato or caramel the spill cool.

decorations. Then print them out

save the pictures to an album on your

smoothtop electric cooktop, be sure you

sauce) can bond with the glass if you let

Take pictures of your lights and

and put them in your holiday bins, or

when your guests are gone. If you have a

Just follow the pictures!

•

Remove the tree

When you take down a string of

lights, wrap them around a paper

towel tube or a piece of cardboard

You don’t want to be the neighbor who

to keep them untangled and easy to

finally tosses their tree onto the street on how and when to dispose of your

| DECEMBER 2019

vacuuming them. The lint roller works

Hopefully, you’ve been cleaning as you

in mid-February. Check with your town

50 | LANTANA LIVING

into the carpet, you’ll have a hard time

unravel next December.

•

Label your holiday bins with the

Christmas tree: bring it to be mulched —

specific room or area where you use

— or leave it at the curb per your town’s

unpack them accordingly. Decorating

pine needles, you can use a lint roller to

room bin. Ready to clean up the family

a service many communities now offer

those decorations and lights. Pack and

instructions. If you’re facing a pile of fallen

the family room? Bring in the family

pick them up. Once these get ground

room? Bring in the family room bin.

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Deal with holiday cards

Collect all the holiday cards that arrived in the mail and make a list of who you

received cards from. You can use this as a starting point for next year’s holiday card

list. Then toss those cards in the recycling bin, immediately clearing your mantle and counters from the festive clutter.

Or if you’re feeling crafty, you can cut up

the cards to reuse as gift tags for next year.

Get rid of unwanted gifts

Don’t feel guilty if you received a gift

that you don’t want. Return it, donate it, or re-gift it. Make a clean break and set yourself up for a clutter-free new year.

And since you’re already headed to Goodwill with unwanted gifts, save

yourself a trip and get rid of old items that you received replacements for.

Someone gave you new cookware? Ditch your old pans so that your cabinets aren’t overwhelmed when you add the shiny

new ones to your kitchen. The same trick goes for any clothing you received, to keep your closets from overflowing.

Hire a professional service to clean your home

Let’s face it — all the spills in the kitchen and increased traffic through the bathrooms

left your home a mess. Instead of bravely

facing the task of cleaning this by yourself,

hire a cleaning company like Bucket & Bows Maid Service to deep clean your house.

Let the professionals tackle cleaning kitchen cabinets, stove, oven, countertops, floors, dusting and vacuuming the living areas,

cleaning toilets and sinks, and getting your house back in shape. What a great way to usher in the new year!

Smile ... and Relax

Remember how great it feels when the

holidays are over and the cleanup is done?

When you aren’t sidestepping twinkling Santas in the foyer, and you realize how big your rooms really are? We love that

feeling, too! Use it to propel you through

the cleanup. Get the whole family involved.

Order in some pizzas or subs and dance to some happy music. Happy holidays, and

Debbie Sardone is the president and owner of Buckets & Bows Maid Service and a popular national speaker on all things cleaning.

don’t sweat the cleanup! www.LantanaLiving.com

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 51

Guyer Wildcats

STILL A FORCE TO

RECKON WITH

by Steve Gamel

52 | LANTANA LIVING

| DECEMBER 2019

www.LantanaLiving.com

I

t’s no secret that the Guyer boys basketball team was hit hard by the graduation of star players De’Vion

Harmon and Jalen Wilson. But head

coach Grant Long didn’t mince words

recently when he said the Wildcats are not a team opponents can suddenly dismiss moving forward.

Guyer, which has advanced to

the region tournament in each of the past two seasons, still has all the pieces in place to make another deep

playoff run and will put

that statement to the test

when it opens district play

on January 3. In fact, Long

wouldn’t be surprised if this year’s

team does what its predecessors

couldn’t — play in a title game in a few short months.

“We expect to be one of the best teams

in our region,” Long said. “I think we were

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ranked No. 6 in the preseason, but we’ve seen situations where the teams that are ranked No. 1 don’t end up winning it all.

I really do think it’s anyone’s ballgame, and we intend to be right there.”

includes Jace Wilson, Brayden Bradshaw,

Long has worked hard over the years to make sure his program bounces back every year. And proof of that lies in the fact that the Wildcats are an eye-popping 125-16 since 2016. This year’s team will be led by the trio of big man, JaKobe Coles, and all-around knockdown shooter, Tyler McGhie.

Both logged considerable minutes last year and know what it takes to play in big games.

Tournament during the Christmas holidays

and KJ Liggins, to name a few.

With the preseason slowly drawing to

a close, the Wildcats were expected to

compete in the prestigious Whataburger

in preparation for defending their district title come January.

The district schedule opens with Keller Timber Creek and also includes the likes of Keller Central, Trophy Club

Byron Nelson, Keller Fossil Ridge, Keller, Southlake Carroll, and Northwest Eaton.

Guyer rolled to an unbeaten record in this district last year.

Coles, who will play at Butler in the fall, averaged 15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds last season.

“We have some young pieces, so I’m

But don’t expect that duo to have to shoulder the load too much. Amaechi Chukwu does a little bit of everything on the floor and is part of a loaded roster that

“It’s a different team, for sure. And it’s a

sure we’ll have our ups and downs as the season progresses,” Long said.

different look without having guys like De’Vion and Jalen out there. But I’m excited about what we have.”

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 53

Ask The Expert: Fitness

The Best Gift Ever Love Yourself this New Year

T

he New Year is on its way, and everyone seems pumped about going to the gym, eating clean,

and exercising. A large portion of those

at the gym and around you may be New

Year’s resolutioners — and good for them.

But being consistent is an important factor of success with any weight-loss program

as well as having a strong support system from family, friends, and coworkers.

We’ve seen it year after year. A large

portion of those resolutioners will trickle out of the gym and lose interest or find reasons why they can’t stick with it.

Ideally, an active lifestyle shouldn’t be

a trend in your life. Rather, it should be a common habit for your health, mind,

RE M E M B ER T H ESE G UIDEL INES: • Build Your Support Team: Let Your

friends, family, and co-workers know

your physical appearance, your

You can try to get them involved by inviting them to be a walking buddy.

Let your friends know that you may not be able to join them at the places you would normally go before, but suggest a healthier restaurant that fits your needs.

• Get Your Spouse Involved:

Compromise with them. If they eat

some progress, have you experienced

of choice one day a week. Make your

coworkers, family and friends, or

your activities.

you, you will let them choose the meal

any odd questions or comments from

spouse feel invited to participate in

• Develop Healthy Incentives:

around you, but it’s not always a reality.

Instead of rewarding yourself with

is on board with your new goals or is at

a vacation as motivation. These

If you are married, hopefully, your spouse

sweets, go for a movie, or set up

least supportive. If not, this could make

incentives help keep temptation away.

if you’re trying to avoid temptation.

The support around you matters and will be helpful in your quest for weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

Decide how bad you want to achieve your goals, make a decision, and stick with it.

54 | LANTANA LIVING

| DECEMBER 2019

This transformation can be many things from building confidence,

gym, eating clean, and starting to make

dinner time difficult or socializing hard

you will go through a transformation.

them on how to be supportive of you.

healthy five days out of the week with

I would hope you have cheerleaders all

During your weight loss journey,

that this is important to you and coach

body, and spirit. So if you’re going to the

temptations from them?

• Why It’s Called a Journey:

• You’re On Your Own: You must

surroundings, and your mindset.

It’s ok to see change. Change is growth, and you deserve the best for yourself. Going forward, you must realize it’s ok to put your health, mental, physical, and spiritual first, and it is not selfish to do so. While going through this, try to inspire those around you to get healthy, too.

I’ve seen many women struggle with negativity from family, friendships, and their surroundings. The message I want all women to know is taking care of yourself starts in the mirror. The person staring back needs your help more than you realize. As you become healthier, you become stronger, both physically and mentally.

Love yourself in 2020 by staying consistently determined to make progress in your health and wellbeing!

realize this your journey and yours alone. At the end of the day, this is a choice you make for yourself, and it’s up to you to wake up and plan your day accordingly to take your life back.

by Jesse J. Leyva, Owner of Jesse James Fit & Outlaw Fitcamp JesseJamesFit.com OutlawFitcamp.com www.LantanaLiving.com

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DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 55

New Year, New You

We Could All Stand To Be A Bit

NICER In The New Year

by Steve Gamel

I

believe the majority of people in this world are kind-hearted, nice people. They care about the well-being of their friends, family, neighbors, and total strangers, and they go out of their way to donate their time to charitable causes. They have no biases and would prefer to revel in someone else’s success. They also raise their children right, go to church, work hard, and count their blessing each and every day. People are good.

People are kind.

But under the right circumstances, people can also be mean — and even hateful.

We live in an increasingly divisive culture

where it’s become popular to break from

our normally sunny disposition and warm values to be mean spirited and take a person’s opinion or beliefs and scrutinize them in the

court of public opinion. Not

everyone does it, but plenty do — including some really nice people who I thought

would never get caught up

in such negativity. It’s gotten

to the point where common, everyday people like you

and me can’t even have a 56 | LANTANA LIVING

healthy conversation about politics, religion, sex, or how we prefer to raise our children without everything turning sideways.

We’ve all done it, so there’s no need to point fingers. But there’s no need for

SEEK OUT W AY S TO BE A NICER PERSON IN 2020

| DECEMBER 2019

OPEN OUR MINDS We need to listen and empathize with each other. We need to open our minds to the possibility that we don’t know everything, and our opinion could be wrong and is sometimes not welcome.

On top of that, it’s okay if someone doesn’t agree with us. Trust me, you can still be friends with someone if they are a Democrat and you’re a staunch Republican. We should open our minds to different perspectives and embrace our individuality.

the negativity. So what’s the answer?

As we approach the end of one year and the beginning of another, perhaps we should all be taking stock in how often we allow ourselves to get caught up in meanness and seek out ways to be a nicer person in 2020.

SURROUND O U R S E LV E S W I T H POSITIVE THINKERS If you find yourself hanging around negative people, you’re bound to get sucked into the same trap. Surround yourself with positive people and be more intentional about focusing on the good things in life. www.LantanaLiving.com

THINK BEFORE WE COMMENT This is particularly true on social media,

where everyone with a computer screen and a quiet room suddenly becomes

extremely brave and outspoken. There is nothing wrong with having an opinion, but if you’re choosing to blast people rather than offer constructive advice,

nothing is gained, and feelings are often hurt. Always err on the side of being

respectful in all situations, even if you

don’t always agree with what’s going on.

ASK QUESTIONS AND LISTEN We are all too often sucked into forming opinions and making brash statements before we’ve had a chance to fully

understand the topic or where someone

is coming from. Not only is this mean, but it makes us look really bad in the end.

Understand the situation, ask questions,

and be a good listener. You may just find that you are far less reactionary.

OFFER TO HELP Rather than cut someone down for

heading in the wrong direction as you,

perhaps offer to help them with advice,

resources, or through some other means.

For example, if a friend is overweight

and is expressing that they want to lose

weight, find ways to encourage them and build them up.

BE LESS SENSITIVE TO CRITICISM

It’s not easy to accept criticism, even when someone isn’t necessarily trying to be

mean. But when possible, try not to react

to someone else’s comments too harshly.

Instead, thank them for their input and decide later whether their advice was good or not. Then move on.

What are some other ways to help each other be nicer in 2020? Let us know! www.LantanaLiving.com

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 57

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| DECEMBER 2019

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Gardening: Ask The Expert

Winter LAWN CARE

by PJ Kratohvil of Complete Solutions completesolutionsdfw.com

www.LantanaLiving.com

T

his time of year always seems like it’s one of the busiest as we move through the holiday season and toward the end of the year. As you’re preparing for Christmas and your own “end of the year deadlines” don’t forget to get outside and take care of some wintertime maintenance.

As the trees are losing leaves, it’s an ideal time to get them trimmed up and thinned out. Along with helping to strengthen the tree, trimming will allow more sunlight to your shady turf areas thickening them up come spring, slowing the soil erosion and keeping your lawn looking healthier. Out in the Lantana and Argyle areas, we’ve noticed what seems to be an increase in mice and squirrels this year, so getting those limbs back off the house could also eliminate one of their routes back inside.

eroding or pooling up. Winter is a

As the last lawn cuttings (scalpings) of the year should be happening here in the next week or so (if not already) take advantage of the ground exposure and look for areas where water is either

We hope everyone has a great Christmas

great time to get drainage work done now that the grass is so short and

everyone can see exactly how the

ground lays out. French drains along with downspout / gutter drains are a

great way to help dry out around your

property. Eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, foundation issues and muddy backyards should be high on our

homeowner to-do lists, ensuring yearround use of our outdoor spaces.

season and doesn’t get too overwhelmed

by one thing or another. Enjoy visiting with your family and friends and invest your time in what really matters.

DECEMBER 2019 | LANTANA LIVING | 59

Ask The Expert: Edit This

DON’T LET

APOSTROPHES Ruin Your Holiday Cards

by Steve Gamel Edit This 469.360.3611 EditThisLLC.com

T

he holiday season is upon us, which means it’s time to get those family cards in the mail asap.

As the resident writer and editor, this is your friendly last-second reminder that before you send them out, make sure you do a final glance over to make sure you didn’t put an unnecessary apostrophe in your family’s last name. Trust me; it’s a massive grammar faux pas.

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about: WRONG: Merry Christmas from the Gamel’s

✓

CORRECT: Merry Christmas from the Gamels

While the correct version admittedly looks a little weird to most people, using the apostrophe actually makes your last name possessive. I see this mistake being made time and time again, so I thought, why not give a quick tutorial just in case you’ve fallen into this trap once again.

If the last letter of your last name ends in a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, t, u, v, w, y ... simply add an s to the end of your name.

Examples: •

The Murrays

•

The Meltons

•

The Wallaces

If the last letter of your last name ends in s, x, z, ch, sh ... add an es to the end.

Examples: •

The Joneses

•

The Gonzalezes

•

The Maddoxes

If you really don’t think you can remember all of this in the crunch, another option is to avoid the scenario altogether and write around it!

“Merry Christmas from the Gamel Family!”

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| DECEMBER 2019

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