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July 2023
THE BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR Fourth of July and Birthday Celebrations
July is one of my favorite months. We’re officially past the rainy season and are entering the warmest point of the year, which gives us plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors. I love the heat, and it’s a big reason why my family and I choose to live in Austin. It’s not just the warmer weather that gets me excited for July. There are also some extraordinary celebrations, with the first only a few short days into the month. The Fourth of July is a special holiday that allows us to bask in patriotism and celebrate our country and its history. Nearly everyone has a unique Independence Day tradition, whether it’s grilling out with friends and family or heading to your local parade. When I was growing up, my family traveled to my grandparents’ small town to absorb the sights and sounds of their holiday celebration. They had a rodeo, carnival, and, like many other towns and cities in our country, a fantastic parade. I have many fond memories of those events.
We had our own traditions with my kids. Most years, we spent Independence Day watching our neighborhood parade and getting together with our neighbors at the annual party in the park. Sometimes my kids would even be in the parade with their Boy Scout or Girl Scout troops or my daughter’s dance team. We usually invited family, and we all enjoyed the celebration in the neighborhood park before walking home and having a cookout. While the Fourth of July gets the majority of the attention this month, another special day is quite important to me and my family. My birthday is this month! I’ve always enjoyed having a July birthday. When I was growing up, I got to celebrate my birthday to the fullest since we were out of school for the summer. That was much better than my son, who has a February birthday and has spent almost all his birthdays in school (he was grateful for those rare weekend birthdays). Another advantage of the summer birthday is that my birthday has coincidentally fallen during some family trips. I’ve been lucky to celebrate birthdays in places like New Orleans, Santa Barbara, and Isla Mujeres, Mexico. During one trip to Isla Mujeres, we had a birthday dinner at a favorite restaurant, where my daughter videotaped the mariachi band serenading me with their version of Happy Birthday. Unfortunately, when trying to play the video back, she erased it. But as luck would have it, we were back in Isla Mujeres on my birthday in 2021 as part of my niece’s destination wedding. And we went back to the same restaurant on my birthday, and the same mariachi band was there, and my daughter could, again, video them singing to me, relieving her guilt. Even if you don’t have birthdays to celebrate this month, there’s plenty to be excited about during July. Take some time to enjoy the outdoors. Go to the lake for the day or a weekend, or play an extra round of golf. This warm weather is only here for a few months yearly, so don’t waste it.
-C. Brooks Schuelke
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WD-40 Has Over 2,000 Uses It’s More Than a Lubricant!
Removing Paint Smudges From Cars Sometimes when you’re out and about, your car can get dinged as other drivers open their doors. A shopping cart might even collide with your vehicle and leave a paint smudge. But there’s no need to spend hours trying to remove the smudge. Simply spray the area with WD- 40 and wipe it clean with a rag. Getting Rid of Sticky Residue Trying to peel off a sticker or label without leaving any residue can be difficult. To help with this issue, spray WD-40 on the residue, wait a few minutes, and then wipe it away with a cloth. Then voila! No more annoying residue!
If you’ve looked into your cabinets, you might find a can of WD-40 lying around. That’s good because it has more capabilities than just lubricating rusted parts. Did you know that WD-40 has over 2,000 uses? You read that right — you can use it for all kinds of things! Here are a few of our favorite uses. Cleaning Carpets It can be difficult and expensive to deep-clean your carpet to remove those pesky stains. However, if you spray the stains with WD-40, wait a few minutes, and then use a sponge and soapy water, you can get those stains out in no time! If you go through this process and the stains remain, retry the above steps or try a carpet cleaner with soapy water. Instantly Waterproofing Shoes No one likes going outside when it’s raining. While you can purchase water-resistant sprays for your shoes, you may have to wait a day or two before wearing them. But if you spray your shoes with WD-40, you can instantly make them waterproof! WD-40 acts as a barrier, meaning that moisture won’t be able to seep into your shoes and get your socks wet.
Can you believe that WD-40 can be used for all this and more? It’s mind-blowing how many uses it has. Learn more about what you can do with this incredible multi-functional item at WD40.co.uk/ tips-and-tricks/uses-for-WD40 .
Let Your Creativity Flourish! With a Zine, Anything Is Possible!
What makes a zine unique? Zines are quickly rising in popularity because they can be anything you want! If you want to highlight your artwork, showcase your writing, display your academic research, or let your creativity blossom, then a zine is for you. There are no rules, guidelines, or processes to follow — everything is up to you! These creations were used initially to highlight minority and underground interests. For example, mainstream magazines may highlight news and other events happening in pop culture and mainstream media. But what about niche topics such as music genres, outsider art, or small-town activists? Zines have filled this gap and provided an outlet to share their voices. Additionally, most people think the only way to be published is to submit their work to many different publications and hope for acceptance, get an agent, or work for a magazine or newspaper. But that’s not the
We’ve all heard of journaling, scrapbooking, and creating collages, but have you ever thought about making a zine? A zine (pronounced “zeen”) is a self- published and noncommercial book you can create and showcase your talents to the world. Many businesses, such as Aesop and Supreme, have used zines to connect with readers and share their stories. And now, you can do the same!
case anymore! Anyone can create a zine — even if they don’t have any experience or training. How do you create a zine? Making your own zine is easy! All you need is paper, glue, scissors, pens, and photos from magazines or the internet. First, you want to take your paper (as many pieces as you wish) and fold each in half to make a book. Then, let your creativity take over! You can cut out newspaper or magazine clippings, print designs off the internet, or draw your own creations. Once you finish your zine, you can keep it to yourself or print and sell several copies. You can publish your zine on social media, reach out to different zine publishers such as Kiosk, Ditto, or Colpa Press, or contact your local, independent bookstore to see if they are willing to showcase your work. So, in honor of July being International Zine Month, let your creativity flourish and create your own!
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TAKE A BREAK
After you separate from your spouse, you may consider entering the dating world again. However, if you have children, dating can be difficult. It can be challenging to determine the right time for that new special someone in your life to meet your kids. How do you ensure your children know they are still important and you’re not replacing the other parent? Give your child time and space. While you and your child’s other parent are no longer together, it may take your child time to adjust to the changes. They may not fully understand why their parents no longer live under one roof. Your child may feel sadness or anger toward the situation, and accepting that new person in your life may be difficult for them. Therefore, give your child enough time to come to terms with the situation before introducing a new partner. While this is an exciting time for you, your child should always come first. Therefore, let them adjust to their new “normal” so they’re less likely to think you’re trying to “replace” their other parent! Take your new relationship slow. If you introduce your new partner to your children too soon and the relationship doesn’t last, your child can be even more confused about the situation. Experts suggest waiting at least 8–9 months before your partner meets your kids. This time allows you to get to know your new partner and ensure you share similar interests, values, and beliefs. Discuss the situation with your ex. Talking to your ex about introducing your new partner to your children may be beneficial. After all, your children are their children, too! You can outline expectations for you and your ex to follow, including how long you should wait to introduce your partner, where the introduction should take place, and how to share concerns you or your ex may have. After your child meets the new special someone in your life, check in with them frequently. You want to ensure they are comfortable with this change and know they can come to you with questions or concerns. With open communication and trust, you can enjoy your time with your expanded family and watch your relationships blossom. SO, YOU’RE DATING SOMEONE NEW Your Children Should Always Come First!
GRILLED STEAK SALAD WITH PEACHES
Inspired by Delish.com
Ingredients
• 1 lb skirt steak, fat trimmed • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 1 clove garlic, minced • 1 tbsp light brown sugar • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • Kosher salt
• Black pepper • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large lemon, juiced • 6 cups baby arugula
• 2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced • 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta
Directions 1. In a large resealable plastic bag or baking dish, combine steak, vinegar, garlic, and brown sugar. Marinate 20 minutes at room temperature. 2. Remove steak from marinade, coat with vegetable oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. 3. On a grill or pan set to high heat, cook steak until desired doneness. Rest 5–10 minutes, then thinly slice against the grain. 4. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil and lemon juice to make dressing. Season with salt and pepper. 5. In a large serving bowl, add arugula, peaches, blue cheese or feta, and steak. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The Hottest Month, the Biggest Holiday, and a Special Birthday
1
You Can Do What With WD-40?
2
You Can Become a Published Author!
3
Grilled Steak Salad With Peaches
How to Introduce Your Children to Your New Partner Gwyneth Paltrow Won Her Case and Received … $1?
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Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Terry Sanderson — When Skiers Collide A BATTLE OF HE SAID, SHE SAID
When you read about celebrity court cases, you probably think of music contract disputes, messy divorces, and settlements with ridiculously high dollar amounts. But the trial between Gwyneth Paltrow and Terry Sanderson was unlike any other. It regarded a ski slope collision that occurred seven years ago. On Feb. 26, 2016, Paltrow and Sanderson were at the Deer Valley Resort in Utah. They both enjoyed the slopes until a tragic accident occurred. The collision caused Sanderson to suffer a concussion, a brain injury, and four broken limbs. In January 2019, Sanderson filed a $3.1 million lawsuit against Paltrow. In return, Paltrow countersued for $1 plus attorney fees. Sanderson argued that Paltrow collided with him from behind while she skied on a beginner’s slope with an instructor. He also mentioned that his injuries prevented him from coping with life. Paltrow argued
that Sanderson was the one who struck her from behind. When pictures of the collision appeared in court, it showed Paltrow on top of Sanderson — which could only happen if Paltrow was struck from behind. Additionally, Paltrow’s lawyers argued that Sanderson sued Paltrow to “exploit her celebrity and wealth.” Evidence strengthens this point because while Sanderson said he couldn’t cope with life, documents showed that he had taken multiple international and domestic trips since the accident. Furthermore, in an email between Sanderson and his children, he stated that he would be famous after the accident made the tabloids. So, how did the case end? After determining that Paltrow was the downhill skier, according to the images shown in court, they turned to the sport’s rules. According to the rules, the person further down the mountain (the downhill skier) has the right of way. This
means that the person closest to the top of the mountain must yield. The jury found Paltrow not liable and awarded her $1 and legal fees. To Paltrow, this case was not about the money. She felt like her character and integrity had been threatened and she simply wanted to prove the allegations were false.
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