Contributors

meet ALLYSON VENRICK

“Every morning when I sit down at my computer to work, I think how lucky I am to do something I love so much — especially with the team at Monthly.”

Originally from New Bern, N.C., Allyson moved to Hilton Head in 1987 after graduating from the NC State School of Design. She moved to her dad’s house on the island while seeking a graphic designer job. After several interviews in nearby cities, she found that job right here on the island.

In her more than 23 years at Anderson Communications, she worked on numerous accounts, including Hilton Head IslandBluffton Chamber of Commerce, Disney Timeshare, Marriott Conference Centers, Embraer Executive Jets and more.

In 2009, Allyson started her own freelance business. It was a slow start but grew steadily with many great clients now and, more importantly, good friends.

In 2015, she was offered a job to work at Monthly part-time helping with ads during production “crunch time.” Six years later she’s still doing that and more in ad design and production.

Allyson is “Ma” to her son Walker, 23. She’s been reunited with her teenage crush, Billy, since 2009.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

UNIQUE IDEAS TO HAVE FUN AT HOME

By Nicole Schultz

Summer is in full swing in the

Lowcountry. If you’re looking for some at-home ideas to keep the family busy, we’ve rounded up some unique staycation ideas to try this summer.

BACKYARD MOVIE FESTIVAL Find a lowcost outdoor movie projector on Amazon (or check Facebook Marketplace for a deal). Hang a white sheet between two trees, then spread out blankets or beach chairs in the backyard. Kick back and enjoy your favorite family movie under the stars.

GO CAMPING If you’re an adventurous crew, a camping trip in the backyard will be an experience your family won’t forget. Set up a tent, grab your sleeping bags and head out back for a night with nature. If you don’t have an ideal yard for this set up, go camping inside: pitch your tent in the living room or make one out of blankets and pillows. Find recipes to “roast” marshmallows in the oven and listen to nature sounds on YouTube.

FAMILY BOARD GAME TOURNAMENT Everyone loves a little healthy competition! Host a family board game tournament featuring quick and easy games like Candyland, UNO, Guess Who, or whatever is age appropriate. Set up different gaming stations throughout the house and play each other one-on-one. Buy a large poster board and create a board game bracket so you can keep track of who is winning.

TAKE ON A FAMILY PROJECT There’s no better time to take on a family project than during the summer! If you’ve been talking about adding a tree house or a fire pit to your home, Google the steps to DIY one together. Take a trip to the hardware store to pick out materials and work together to make it happen. Enjoy the time you spend together creating something new.

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