In The Next 30 Days

A 30-Day Challenge Closer to Brighter, Shinier, & Happier.

June 28th, 2013

Be Outside Day 28 | The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel

When you make it your mission to Be Outside, you start to look for goings on that might put you a little outside your comfort zone. Not that I’m bored with my backyard sitting or hanging on the beach, but sometimes you just want to do something that will make your heart beat a little faster. Last weekend Jason and I escaped to Myrtle Beach to celebrate our 10th anniversary. From our hotel room, we could clearly see the Sky Wheel. While heights aren’t my very favorite things, I knew I wanted the view from the top, and I wanted to ride the Sky Wheel. Jason humored my adventurous spirit, and we bought tickets.

Sky Wheel 2 Be Outside Day 28 | The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel

I felt very small standing on the deck beneath the Sky Wheel. The organized workings of a Ferris wheel are hypnotic and amazing. Wires connect to cables connected to pipes that all spin slowly around. The metal ladders cast moving shadows. And the whole thing twirled silently past.

Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel 3 Be Outside Day 28 | The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel

The first time around rattled my nerves a bit. It was a trust thing, I think. That I was trusting this tangle of steel to keep me safe. But more it was also an OMG-I’m-up-so-high-and-this-cart-I’m-in swings thing. The Sky Wheel gives views of the Grand Strand, all kinds of beach hotels, the Boardwalk, and the beach. Honestly, I could probably see all the way to China from the top of that thing.

Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel 4 Be Outside Day 28 | The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel

Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel 5 Be Outside Day 28 | The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel

Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel 7 Be Outside Day 28 | The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel

Bird’s eye view, right? We spun over the ocean and Myrtle Beach for 20 or so minutes, stopping occasionally to let someone off or pick up new passengers. As our car went around, the skies got bluer and the sun came out. I love moments like those. It’s when you realize how awesome right now is. How totally perfect the second that you’re experiencing is. That feeling, right then, is the feeling of being really alive.

Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel 6 Be Outside Day 28 | The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel

What do you do that makes you feel really, totally, and completely alive?

Tags: fun, Myrtle Beach, outside
Posted in 30 Days | Be Outside | 5 Comments »

August 1st, 2012

Day One | End-of-Summer Survival

The other day, I walked around the corner into my den. Julia was stretched out on the couch with her blankie. She was very peaceful. Max, though, was standing above her, his toy, plastic hammer held over head ready to throttle his sister. While I pulled the hammer from Max’s fist and tried to convince him that smiling wasn’t the appropriate reaction (there’s no reasoning with a 16-month-old), I realized that summer had hit us all. By that I mean the stagnate, summer doldrums had knocked us over. It’s when the expectations of what summer could be collide with what summer really is. It’s when you’re stuck inside because the heat index is well over 110 degrees, you’ve lost all motivation to try something new or to do anything bold, and the people closest to you start to look like someone you’d like to bash over the head with a toy hammer. Apparently, even toddlers aren’t immune to summer stagnation.

It was almost this exact moment that I knew I had to change something before I pulled all my hair out and my children resort to real violence. (I say this in total jest. My kids are never violent for the sake of violence. It’s regular sibling rivalry-and probably totally mild compared to what’s to come. I just thought I’d have a year or two more before it kicked in. Silly Mama.)

When school let out in May and June, the Internet was full of advice on how to survive the summer. And I’ll tell you that I started out with that enthusiasm as well. I had plans. And even though Julia was only in school 3 mornings a week, I felt like I had some down time. It’s hard entertaining two toddlers full time. And I’m exhausted, and my kids are watching more TV than I like.

So, for the month of August I’m going to work to beat Summer and to squeeze all the excitement and joy out of the last month before back to school hits. I know that come October, I’ll be wishing I could take the Kiddo Combo to the pool or enjoy the beach with them. But by then there will be school priorities, and it’ll be too cold to run through the backyard barefoot. For these 30 Days I am going to relish in Summer’s dog days (sadly, without our dog) and live it up. We’re going to do more than survive Summer, we’re going to thrive in it.

And now’s your chance again to share your own 30 Days! Link up here. Let’s share our adventures to motivate each other as we work toward our goals. I’m excited to see what you all are up to. Did you all follow Julie last month as she revolutionized her eating? Show me what you’re up to and what you’re made of. And let’s support all of our experiences.

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Tags: fun, kids, summer
Posted in 30 Days | End of Summer Survival | 8 Comments »

June 21st, 2012

Fountain Play at Waterfront Park

The temperature is rising, and I don’t have to tell you that humidity sucks. I find that two toddlers (with beans in their ears, it seems) in the pool or ocean is sometimes one more than I can handle on my own. So what can we do to cool down?

Waterfront Park has the answer in the form of two giant fountains designed with wading and splashing in mind. While not historic by anyone’s standards (especially Charleston’s) Waterfront Park has amazing green space, trails, swings, and a pier all downtown along the Cooper River leading to Charleston Harbor. And when summer swelters, the fountains overflow with children and water that both run and splash. Lucky for Julia and Max, the fountain was mostly empty yesterday when we walked down Vendue Range to the park. And despite some initial hesitancy, both kids loved the shallow waters and the areas of the fountain where the water jets didn’t seem to reach. Julia even decided that the spray directly against her head and face was something to be tickled about.

I hate the phrase “beat the heat” for all of its cheesy repetition. But really, how else will I successfully combat against the extreme Southern temperatures this summer?

When you go:
1 Vendue Range
Free admission
For more information