Beach Life Blog

North Myrtle Beach's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

2010-12-08T22:53:00.004-05:00

North Myrtle Beach's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony was held at McLean park on Friday, December 3, 2010.

My step-daughter, Alex, is involved with Keep America Beautiful and her group group helped set up decorations for the Christmas Festivities along with several other Horry County residents.

We arrived at about 4:00pm bundled up with hats, gloves and thick sweaters, and got straight to work. About 30 volunteers worked on setting out hundreds and hundreds of luminary candles throughout the park and then making a second go round to light all of them. (I saw a lot of Advil in my future...)

The kids did a great job and worked their little hearts out. Filling bags with a handful of sand, dropping a votive candle in each one, placing them on both sides of every single path in the park, lining them around the lake and then setting them alight.

By the time the sun went down and the ceremony started, the park looked amazing.

The Keep America Beautiful volunteers enjoyed Papa John's Pizza and hot chocolate compliments of the North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation Department.

The city put on a nice show with singers and performers of all ages.

Santa arrived via the North Myrtle Beach Fire Department's truck. Sirens blazing. The kids went nuts. Santa set up camp at the gazebo overlooking the pond and the kids lined up and eagerly waited their turn to tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

Alex handed out candy to the kids after they finished up with Santa. After the last child in line whispered their Christmas wish to Santa it wasn't time for us to go home... it was time to help clean up!

Melinda and Alex ran through the park stomping out the luminary candles. I think they had more fun stomping the luminaries out than they did setting them out and lighting them. Although they were strutting around like peacocks when the parents told them they were old enough to use the lighters properly, and sent them out on a mission to light as many candles as they could before the sun set.

Little did they know, our backs were hurting from bending over and setting out so many luminary candle bags... we could have cared less if Alex and Melinda set the entire park on fire as long as we didn't have to bend over and light all those damn candles!

After five hours outside, I was seriously chilled to the bone and ready to head home. It was a fun night and I'm super proud of Alex, Melinda and all of the other kids who participated with Keep America Beautiful.

Next year, I am going to wear electric socks!

And now onto my shameless self-promotion...

If you're planning a trip to Virginia Beach, VA, be sure to check out Myrtle Beach Web Marketing's website on Virginia Beach Attractions. With fantastic amusements nearby like Busch Gardens Virginia and the Virginia Zoo, Virginia Beach is the perfect centralized location for a fantastic family vacation.

Busch Gardens Virginia is just a quick 45 minute drive from the Virginia Beach oceanfront, and the Virginia Zoo is less than 20 minutes from the oceanfront boardwalk.

I'm in love with a gay man...

2010-12-06T23:13:00.015-05:00

I am not sure what planet I have been living on, but I totally missed out on the entire Adam Lambert thing. I am so in love with this gay man that I am completely beside myself.

The last gay man I was in head over heals for was Jacob from Gold's gym. Gold's had some pretty decent looking guys hanging out, pumping iron, but none of them tripped my trigger.

Same ol' Same ol'

Sigh...

One day, this guy walks by and I am like BAM. OMGosh. I have to meet him, Jan! He has the X-factor.

What the F is that?

You know, the unknown, something special that you can't put your finger on. The X-factor. That guy, over there. He has *** IT ***!!

Jan rolled her eyes, got off the stationary bike and went outside to have a smoke.

I watched my mysterious x-man for a couple days. He was oblivious to my fascination. Drat. OK. Activate Plan B. Think quick!! I literally throw myself in front of him when he walks by...

OH! HI! (sweet, innocent smile)

You see, MBWA (Myrtle Beach Web Angel) is no dummy. She knows that once you actually say hi and smile at a guy- you go up at least 10 notches on his radar. Ugly, pretty, skinny, fat... you just seriously gained some ground just by being nice, looking someone in the eye, smiling and saying hello.

We start smiling every time we see other in the gym. A little wave. I have a serious crush. Jan can't figure it out. She says he is not my "normal" type, whatever that is. I told her there is just something special about him but I am not sure what it is yet.

We finally formally introduce ourselves. Chat forever while on the elliptical machine. I stay on the machine until I almost pass out. He has a lot of endurance. His name is Jacob. The X-factor? Did he have it? You bet he did. My sweet Jacob has a genius IQ and a great smile. Not a lie. He edits books for the super smart--- doctors and such. He is smarter than they are and fixes their mistakes!! Jacob has a brilliant mind. He is charming, witty and has beautiful sincere eyes. We are going to be perfect together...

He's gay, Melissa.

Noooooooo.

Yes. He's gay.

NO HE IS NOT!

He is hanging from a shoulder harness over there doing the splits...

What?! Oh, well... he likes yoga. He is very spiritual. That doesn't mean he is gay.

His leg is stretched behind his head.

He's flexible. Maybe double jointed.

His feet are literally touching the back of his head now. Look.

I'm not looking. Leave me alone.

He's gay.

You're just jealous. You don't want me to be happy.

I am not jealous of your gay boyfriend.

JACOB ISN'T GAY!!!

Denial. Denial. Denial.

No fair. No fair. No fair. I called dibs...

I was crushed. My crush was crushed. It was over before it even began. Sigh.

How depressing for me. The story doesn't have a terrible ending. I met my Fave Dave a short time later. Dave's not gay, but close enough. He is a metro and sensitive. I had to give him manicures and pedicures to bring him up to snuff, but I love that man. He is actually better than gay. He is a manly-man structural airplane mechanic AND screams like a girl if he stubs his toe. Who could ask for more?

I haven't been in love with another gay man since Jacob. It's been years. Until now. Tonight. By chance, I am watching E. Joan Rivers just got through trashing everyone in Hollywood. I enjoyed it. Cheap laughs at other people's expense.

I start poking around on my cell phone, playing Scrabble against the computer. Another show has come on with this guy named Adam Lambert.

I glance up. Who is that? Adam Lambert? Whatever. Back to Scrabble.

But he starts to catch my eye. X-FACTOR ALERT!!! X-FACTOR ALERT!!! I start watching. Homely, overweight, ginger kid takes American Idol by storm. I set my phone down. His voice: brilliant. He is singing Zeppelin, Hendrix, Queen.

My trigger? Tripped.

Where the hell did this guy come from? Oh my. He looses weight, dyes his hair black, puts on leather. I go nuts. I am all over my droid pulling up YouTube videos of Adam Lambert. The icing on the cake? Yep. He is gay.

I love him so much. The more music I pull, the more I adore him. I don't know how I missed him.

Well, yes I do. I don't actually watch a lot of TV. My internet is set to only bring me news on things I am already interested in. I don't get the newspaper. I listen to Pandora and create my station based on music I already like...

Anyways- this Adam. Adam, I worship and adore you. My finance is incredibly sexy. He can dance. He dresses really well and he has a super hot body. David. I am going to dress you up just like Adam. I am going to put eye liner on you and buy you black leather pants. We're going to pretend you are Adam Lambert and I am going to see if I can make you straight...

You're here, for my entertainment tonight...

Now onto the shameless self promotion of my very favorite website!! If you are planning a spring break vacation, be sure to check out Myrtle Beach Web Marketing's site on all the very best Myrtle Beach Attractions! Myrtle Beach Kids Stuff has all the best information on local area attractions including the Myrtle Beach Aquarium and all of the Myrtle Beach Water Parks. Be sure to check us out! Our website will help make your trip to Myrtle Beach, SC a vacation that your whole family will enjoy!

Virginia Beach Aquarium responds to Gulf Oil Crisis

2010-07-10T11:07:00.001-04:00

The Virginia Beach Aquarium sent two key members of their Stranding Response Team to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas for 10 days to assist with saving and rehabilitating sea turtles sick from the gulf oil spill.

Mark Swingle (the aquarium's director of research and conservation) along with Christina Trapani (assistant stranding response coordinator) flew to New Orleans on June 29th and embarked on a 10 day mission to provide relief and assistance to the Audubon staff who has been working tirelessly to save hundreds of turtles affected by the spill.

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is working in conjunction with the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program and is the primary responder for the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of all marine mammals (dolphins, whales and manatees) and sea turtles along the Louisiana coast.

Hundreds upon hundreds of sea turtles are expected to become stranded in the area and in need of help. The largest challenge facing these environmentalists is being able to house them long-term because as of right now, they cannot be released back into their native habitat.

Swingle and Traponi are just two of many volunteers joining the effort to assist in the gulf. Their focus will be assisting veterinarians with feeding, administering medications, treating injuries and keeping tanks clean.

The Virginia Beach Aquarium Stranding Response Team has responded to over 1500 marine animal strandings and more than 2200 sea turtles. The Stranding Response Program is supported by donations from the community, corporations and grant-making organizations. You can get involved and help by making a tax-deductible gift to the Virginia Aquarium.

If you're looking for things to do in Virginia Beach, remember the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center! Your admission price helps support the important research and conservation programs that the aquarium participates in.

Virginia Zoo

2010-07-03T20:45:00.001-04:00

One of my earliest memories was standing with my face pressed up to the fence of the Lafayette Zoo and having a deer come up and kiss me. I was super tiny. Maybe just 3 or 4 years old. That deer just made my day. That sweet kiss might have very well been the start of my childhood fantasies of living a Dr. Doolittle lifestyle surrounded by bunnies, horses, lions, tigers and whatever creature the good Lord wanted to throw my way.

I was lucky enough to own a small pet shop and surrounded myself with beautiful tropical fish, small parrots, adorable newts, silly frogs, mean hamsters and even I even had a snake that I was afraid of. I've been bitten by the best: hamsters, parrots, a Rottweiler and even my crazy cat, Mo.

I love going to zoos, aquariums, wildlife refuges, etc. I am a true tourist at heart and love to travel and take pictures.

My friend Jan and I have several attractions websites: Virginia Beach Attractions, Myrtle Beach Kids Stuff, Florida Tourist Attractions and Charleston Things To Do. I jump at every chance I get to build pages on cool places like the Virginia Beach Aquarium, the Virginia Zoo and the Myrtle Beach Aquarium. Visiting all the great area tourist attractions gives me the opportunity to indulge myself in everything I am passionate about: animals and their environment, travel and tourism, web-design, videography and photography.

Most recently, I took my nephews, Jack and Sam, too the Virginia Zoo. They are adorable and completely photogenic- so lots of pictures and video clips were taken by their doting aunt. The video below was the icing on the cake for the Virginia Zoological Park page.

I miss my little nephews so much and have watched this video more than 20 times.

While there isn't a Virginia Beach Zoo, this tourist attaction definitely made it on our Virginia Beach Attractions website because of its close proximity to Virginia Beach.

I hope you enjoy it the video and hope that you get a chance to visit the Virgina Zoo sometime in the near future. They have made a lot of improvements over the last 5-10 years, so if you haven't been in a while it's definitely time for a visit.

Forces of Nature vs. Mit Tressler

2010-07-02T19:30:00.003-04:00

Forces of Nature 15
Mit Tressler 0

Seems like nothing is going my way and the trip to Philadelphia is jinxed. Either that, or I have a hex on me...

I got up Friday morning at 8am and we finished packing the U-haul at 5:00pm. We rolled out for the 14 hour drive to Philadelphia at 5:30. Yep- that's PM. Jimboo and I were in the Bug, Dave and Alex followed behind in the U-haul.

The drive wasn't bad. Sometime around 4am we were near Washington DC and made a quick detour into the city to show Dave and Alex the White House. My GPS went insane and had us driving in circles forever. We did pass the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument.

It was dark out and we had the big truck, so we didn't stop. We just drove around in circles for a while.

We grabbed breakfast, then lunch, secured our storage and got to the hotel around 4:30pm. 36 hours with no sleep and counting.

The hotel was impressive at first, or maybe it was just being in the big city. Super tall, big lobby, cool views. In addition to the $160.00 a night base rate we were paying, there was a 20.00 a day surcharge for parking and another 20.00 surcharge for the internet. Surprise. Welcome to Philadelphia.

OK- it is what it is. It was around 5pm before we got checked in. The carpet in the room was covered in nasty stains, and Jimboo was interested in quite a few of them.

We were hungry and decided to hit the streets to find a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. UTTER FAIL. We walked forever and got a lot of great shots of the city, but I swear there was no food to be found. A couple people seemed friendly and gave us directions. Little did we know they were evil little minions sent to aggravate us and give us directions that led to nowhere. Somehow we ended up in a sketchy part of town, but finally got to eat the Cheesesteak that had eluded us for hours. You would think it would have been wonderful because we were starving and delirious from lack of sleep...

Um, no. Overcooked, dry, bland. Sad Sad Sad. Bummer.

We made it back to the hotel and I wanted to go to sleep, but Dave's daughter, Alex was begging for the pool so we decided to go for a swim before turning in. There was a stack of towels by the door and so we jumped right in. By the time we were done swimming a truckload of kids stormed the pool area and swiped all the towels before we could grab one. Darn.

We were freezing and dripping wet with no towels. I called the front desk and they said they would bring some right away.

We waited. And waited. And waited. I called again and waited some more. They never came. We called a third time. We trekked through the hallways dripping wet.

Maybe it was the lack of sleep, maybe the 40.00 a day they were nickle and diming us for internet and parking, maybe it was the towels... but my patience was shot and I could go to a much less expensive hotel and be treated like crap. I called the front desk at about 9p and told them we were out of here. Little did I know I was cutting off my nose to spite my face but it felt good to say goodbye to this hotel.

Do you know we drove for HOURS trying to find a pet friendly hotel with availability? Ultimately we found a great place and I finally got some sleep about 42 hours after my day began. The hotel was called Element and is right over the PA line in Ewing, NJ. The comforters were white and plush, the pillows and bed were wonderful and my sweet little Jimboo even got his own bed (which he turned his nose up at and climbed under my covers to go to sleep.)

If your looking for Philadelphia hotels and don't mind a bit of commute, I highly recommend the Element. And the complimentary breakfast? Not a dry bagel or stale muffin in site. I had a warm egg and cheese croissant along with granola cereal with blueberries and cherries.

The Element was my light at the end of the tunnel.

The story goes on and on with spilled drinks, broken sunglasses, a GPS on drugs, slow refunds, but I 'll wrap it up for now and end on a high note of some cool city shots of Philadelphia.

Starting a new day in a new town.

There it is! Philadelphia! Woo Hoo!

View from our hotel.

Not sure what I think of rooftop tennis...

Tooling around town.

The city is awesome and overwhelming.

Some areas are skeeeery...

We finally found a sub shop on this street.

Heading to Chinatown.

Entrance to Chinatown.

I didn't really find anything cool to buy. Just ate an almond cookie.

A charming little street hidden in the middle of the city.

So this beach girl is a little out of sorts in this big city. Roof top tennis? I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.

I would like to have some sand between my toes- maybe I will go buy a bag at Lowe's and pour it on the ground outside of my hotel room.

Speaking of beaches! I was in Virginia Beach several weeks ago and got to visit my wonderful, brilliant, highly photogenic nephews, Jack and Sam. With the Virginia Beach Attractions website well underway, I am always looking for things to do in Virginia Beach! As always, we were pressed for time, so Dave and I decided to take Jack and Sam to the Virginia Zoo. It's right down the street from my brother's house and I totally love going to the zoo. Any zoo. Okay- so it's not in Virginia Beach, but is only about 20 minutes away- so close enough for Rock and Roll. More on that trip in my next blog!

Til I find the righteous one... Computer Blue

2010-05-20T22:42:00.005-04:00

Last night, I downloaded 27 Prince songs from Amazon.com. I tortured David's daughter with my jams all afternoon...

I was reminiscing about Junior High School and telling Alex how Chris Woolard and my brother would pick me and my best friend (Debbie Keener) up from school every now and then. Chris had an 84 GT Mustang and we would tear out of Brandon Jr. High School's parking lot blaring 1999 and waving to all the losers who had to ride the school bus.

Alex laughed and said, "Isn't funny how YOU THOUGHT you were so cool back then, but when you look back now... you guys were really so nerdy?"

I said, "Um no, Alex. We actually were cool. You're the nerd. We were bad ass... for real."

HAHAHAHAHHAHHA

I'm feeling like it's time to trade my bug in for a mid-life crisis car.

Jimboo and I would really be cool then... for real.

Are you going to be visiting Myrtle Beach this summer??? If so, please check out Myrtle Beach Kids Stuff for all the absolute BEST Myrtle Beach attractions! We have pages for all of the Myrtle Beach Amusement Parks, the Myrtle Beach Aquarium and all of the fantastic Myrtle Beach Water Parks.

Myrtle Beach Kid's Stuff was my first project with Jan and it's now the top site for kids attractions in Myrtle Beach! One day I would love to make it to the first page for the highly coveted 'Myrtle Beach Attractions' key phrase! You can help! Check out the site- take a spin around and look at some of the great hotels that are kind enough to post ads!! Hooray!!

High on my list of priorities... staying out of a mental ward.

2010-05-20T04:07:00.007-04:00

This has nothing to do with the beach or the good life and I don't give a hootie patootie. This blog is a rant and not about anything happy so stop reading if you were hoping I was going to spread some joy... Yep. My inner child is pissed off again!

My friend just lost her dad. He struggled with addiction much like my mom. She commented how sad it was that he only had a few possessions left for her to go through- his girlfriend took off with the few meager belongings he had to his name and the only things left for her were a couple of shirts and some pants that the nursing home gave him. There is a good chance that her dad's girlfriend isn't even aware that he passed away. I didn't ask Cindy, but I'm guessing that her dad's girlfriend is a struggling addict too.

The whole situation has ticked me off and brought up some feelings I thought were long packed away and now I am up at 3:45am on a manic rip. I always felt angry about my mom and why things were so damned hard for her. Why couldn't she just have that little tiny house with the white picket fence that she wanted so damn bad?

Was that just too much to ask for? It sucks and makes you question what we are doing here? What's the whole purpose? Why is life so good to some people while it hands others nothing but crap?

Don't come back preaching how it's all about the choices we make. ANY ONE OF US COULD HAVE GONE DOWN A SHITTY ROAD. The wrong best friend, the wrong boy friend, the wrong things available during a time of crisis.

There but for the grace of God go I. There but for the grace of God go I.

My mantra.

It's the only reason any one of us aren't out on the streets smoking crack and shooting heroin. Don't pat yourself on the back or think you're special just because you didn't struggle like my mom or like Cindy's dad. We just got lucky, I guess.

Speaking of God, I was just cussing him out today. (And I am not joking. I have a strange relationship with him since my parents died. I am still pretty ticked off and hopefully he understands and will forgive me for screaming at him in my darker moments.)

Anyhoo- I'm not gonna lie. It's been a hell of a ride with Dave's kids lately and I have to wonder how God could take away my wonderful family who loved and cared about me so much- and replace them with selfish, ignorant, creepy little boys (one of which continues to pick his nose at age 24, another who doesn't think shampoo is necessary and the other who thinks he is a brilliant prodigy because he knows how to use dental floss.)

Mr. Dental Floss sat down Monday night and told David that he was here to take all he could get from us and was not staying in our house to contribute in any way. This is how he justifies not taking out the trash, leaving dirty dishes, and not even putting a dime towards the gas in the car Dave let's him drive.

He honest to God, actually said, "Dad, I'm not here to contribute..."

This is the kid who is sleeping in my 600 thread-count sheets, raiding my closet for the Calvin Klein towels, gobbling down $30 a bottle vitamins that I bought by the handful and eating a half gallon of Breyer's premium ice-cream in one sitting. Every bit of toilet paper that has wiped his little white hiney in the last 6 months has been purchased by me (probably with a coupon!) The sense of entitlement makes me want to vomit and I want to pummel him.

John McEnroe help me out here!!!

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!

(Thanks John.)

Did the kid really just say that?!
I am still frothing at the mouth- I swear I am.

Right now I am like a rabid dog and Dave has to keep pulling me away because I am pissed off like Cujo. If it were me- Mr. Fancy pants would be riding a bike from this point forward and sharing a bowl of kibble with Jimboo. Oh, who am I kidding?? My little pooh-berry Jimboo doesn't eat kibble...

He looks at it, rolls his eyes and waits patiently for me to share my Filet Mignon with him. But the kid? Yeah- I'd be feeding him Jimboo rejects.

For now- I feel better just getting this off my chest. In fact, I am thinking about blocking all the kids from my facebook account so I can bitch about them more often... OH WHATEVERRRRRR!!! That would only enable them to continue being little creeps.

I need to get them out of whatever crazy land of denial they have been living in. I will be the guiding light... it's my new mission. Come on boys, Melissa is going to show you the way to the promise land!! Thou shalt honor thy father... Follow me!!

(I freaking love this pic and will use it every chance I get!)

Back on subject. Dave is such an amazing guy-- are these kids seriously cut from the same cloth? Do they have brain damage? Is this just a phase? Was I a huge asshole too at age 20 and have just forgotten?? Help me understand!!!

ok. I'm done with my rip now. Now I can go and sleep like a baby. sigh.

Anyhoo- no matter what- I have to keep my eye on the golden ring, which is building a little empire of high ranking websites and not letting these kids push me completely over the edge before I take over the world. Staying out of a mental ward is high on my list of priorities right now...

Onward with the shameless self-promotion!

The newest site is Attorneys-SC. This website is going to eventually have a directory of SC lawyers that will include divorce lawyers in SC, car accident attorneys in SC and any other type of lawyer someone in South Carolina might need.

The directory of SC attorneys is a work in progress! I built the template for the site, edited the photos, created the background tile (which I think is horribly horribly cool!!) and wrote the content.

My buddy, Jan Chilton, is my Myrtle Beach SEO extraordinaire and works tirelessly behind the scenes to get our sites ranking in Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. It's no easy job, but she's a champ and we have no fear.

Pop onto the new Attorneys-SC website and have a look around. Oooh and Ahhh a little. We like the colors and think it's sleek and sophisticated. Now if I could just get myself to start working on that darn directory of SC lawyers!!! It's the easy part, which makes it no fun at all to work on.

Thanks for letting me vent.

A Day in the Life of the Easily Distracted...

2010-05-04T22:28:00.019-04:00

I have a box full of gifts that I have never gotten around to mailing to my little nephew, Jack. These are gifts that started with Christmas and kind of grew from there. They have been piling up on my kitchen counter for months. After several failed attempts to make it to Virginia and hand deliver the presents, I decided to mail my tokens of love and affection. I want my Jackie-Bear to have his presents before he becomes an adult... somehow I don't think he will appreciate his Sponge Bob Hippity Hop Ball as much when he is 23 years old. I'm not sure what happened next, but I do know one thing: the gifts were sitting on the counter weeks later. The box? Nowhere to be found.
I finally found a box and stacked all the gifts in it. Again, a couple more weeks have come and gone. The box and the gifts are still here. They mock me from my kitchen table.
Today is the day. I decided to include a note to my brother with the gifts explaining how much I suck and that I am sorry for not visiting more often this year. I just can't seem to get it together.
I sat down at the computer to write the letter and started checking emails. I am the editor extraordinaire of my HOA's newsletter and there was a request to include some additional information before sending the final draft.
The quick two minute edit took a couple hours. I started digging through the internet for some clip art to compliment the new information. Its impossible to find the perfect graphic and everything has to be completely reworked in Photoshop... so says the addict.
I plug in the new clip art and add the requested content.

The edit completely throws off the forces of nature and I quickly decide the entire newsletter format needs to be tweaked so that the powers that be will once again be happy.
I saved the final draft and got ready to send it via email to the property management company. I double-clicked on my email icon to attach newsletter and ship it off, but got sidetracked by an email from my buddy and roommate, Michael.
Saint Michael. He parties like a rock star, always has a ton of women surrounding him in these crazy bar pictures where he is dancing on tables and grinning like a Cheshire cat. He uploads thousands of pictures a week of all these wild parties. Women call him at all hours of the day and night. I hear Michael on the phone in his room crooning to them, "I love you baby..." But Michael insists they are all just good friends and he is not romantically involved with any of them. I started calling him Saint Michael.

So I had this idea!! OMG- that is my next blog. Saint Michael! I pop on his Facebook account and start saving pics to file and working on the content in my head. I grab a picture of Michael with two Hooter girls, another pic has him going low on some chick in a dancing cage and finally one with Saint Mike in a conga line of about 10 women dressed to the hilt...

Did I mention that Michael has had about 5 back surgeries? hahahaha His doctors are ready to string him up. Nothing stops him.
I have been working on the blog for a while and decide to head to the kitchen to grab a drink. I'm like- wow. That damn box is still sitting on the table!!! Darn. I totally spaced on my mission of the day. Maybe the gifts should be individually wrapped? It's the least I could do for my Jackie-Bear since he has had to wait so long...
Like a bunny, I race up the stairs to grab the wrapping paper and dash back downstairs. I am on a mission!
I have tape on my desk, but need scissors. Shoot. They are in the dishwasher. (Um, no the dishes aren't clean- I forgot to start it after last night's fried chicken dinner.) I used the scissors to trim chicken fat. ewww. I don't even want to touch them. They are all icky with day old chicken goo.
I walk to sink to wash the scissors, but there is a lot of stuff stacked up in there dirty. Maybe if I reorganize the stuff in the dishwasher, I can make more room and fit them all in.
After cleaning out the sink and starting the dishwasher, I notice a stack of cooking magazines on the counter. Man- I need to figure out something for dinner. Maybe I can find a recipe real fast...
I see this kick-ass food thermometer that Cooks Illustrated has rated as the absolute best of the best. It is soooo much what I need to be a better cook. I decide to check out the pricing on the internet... shoot!! My email pops up after the screen saver clicks off. I need to send the newsletter! I totally spaced on that. AHHHHHH
And now? Well, I finally emailed the newsletter but Jimboo reminded me that he has to pee and doesn't know how to sit on the toilet yet. He doesn't know how to open the front door either. However, he does know how to dress! Jimboo- you look sharp!!

While I am walking my little man, I have another brilliant idea for my blog... A Day in the Life of the Easily Distracted!! And you know what? It's 10:00 pm and that damn box of gifts is still sitting on the kitchen table and off hand... I'm not exactly sure what I did with the scissors. Instead of doing anything worth a poot in the wind, I'm writing this blog and thinking about what kind of goofy picture I can come up with to go with it.
Round and round and round she goes... where she stops, nobody knows. (AKA: another day shot to hell.)

And now ladies and gentlemen, its time to brazenly promote my new pet project!

Whether you're looking for nursing home attorneys in SC, worker's compensation lawyers in Horry County or car accident attorneys in SC, our latest website is an excellent resource to help you find the assistance you need.

Visit Attorneys-SC and check out our page on how to find a good lawyer. This website is still in the works, so be on the lookout for new medical malpractice pages, personal injury information and a directory of South Carolina Lawyers.

The Luckiest Girl in the World

2010-05-03T23:03:00.019-04:00

Oh yeah baby!! I totally found my day-timer bite guard!!

You know what that means, don't you?? Yep.
Not only am I sooo much a winner AGAIN...
but I have saved even MORE money.

Count the Benjis. First I saved $250.00 by buying the day-timer and night-timer at the same-timer!

(sorry, I couldn't help my self on that one)

PLUS now I don't have to buy a replacement day guard...

That saves me $250.00 more!! Woo Hoo. $500.00 bucks baby.
$$$ That's cold hard cash in the bank. $$$

I truly am... The Luckiest Girl in the World.
(I'll try not to spend it all in one place.)

And now onto the unabashed, wanton promotion of one of my favorite websites!! Feel free to click on the links below and peruse the site. :)

Have you been searching for pool builders in Myrtle Beach? Every day can be just like a vacation when you have a custom concrete swimming pool built by Arnold's Pools. Arnold's has been building pools in the Horry County area for 30 years and they are your absolute number one choice for pool contractors in

Myrtle Beach.

Do you already have a pool? Don't go looking for swimming pool stores in Myrtle Beach! Arnold's Pools will bring the swimming pool store to you! Ask about chemical delivery service and pool maintenance plans.

Big Teeth. Big Dentist Bills.

2010-04-27T21:31:00.041-04:00

Now you guys know, I gots me some BIG teeth...

Ok- so that is a slight exaggeration of their size... remember, I am addicted to photoshop and cannot help myself.

Fortunately for my dentist, and UNfortunately for me, I clench my jaw almost constantly and grind my teeth at night. I have been religiously wearing a bite guard at night for 15 or 20 years. I've gone through about 4 of them... the first dentist who treated me said I had the jaws of a pit bull. He recommended a steel bite guard. Ummm great.

My most recent trip to the dentist resulted in a $4,750.00 bill. Apparently the night guard isn't enough. Although I am highly medicated and extremely sedated, I am clenching my jaw in the daytime now. The four molars on the left side of my mouth have cracks in them and could shatter into a million pieces unless I replace the old fillings and add a crown to each tooth.

The dentist acted like it pained him to have to break the news to me... but I swear he was high-fiving the hygienist when I walked by his office on my way out.

He was bragging about his new SUV when I went in for a follow-up visit. I am pretty sure I made a big portion of the down payment on it.

Anyhoo- there is a new set of bite guards (a day-timer and night-timer) that are supposed to not only prevent damage, but actually help me break the habit. Each one costs $500 for a grand total of $1000. BUT!!!! If I get them both at the same time, the cost is only $750.00.

Omgosh. What a crazy great deal. It's like I am not even spending money... I am SAVING $250.00!!! Hooray! I am a winner!! I wonder what I am going to do with all the money I just saved???

I eagerly grabbed my almost maxed out credit card and ordered the pair. I got them last week. They are tiny little things, no more than an inch long. Both are made from some sort of hard plastic and slip over the bottom front teeth. I am thinking my dentist has grand total of about ten cents invested in materials. But- they work! You cannot bite down on the back teeth and they kind of force you to relax your jaw. It's hard to explain and maybe someday I'll take a picture and show how they fit in. For now- just trust me. It's a major medical breakthrough.

Here's the problem... I already lost one. DAMN DAMN DAMN. Can you believe it? It was the day-timer. I took it out to have a coke and slipped it in a pocket in my purse. It's gone now.

Maybe I'm not a winner after all...

My inner child is seriously pissed off.

I'll let you guys know if I find it. If not- I am going to have a fund raiser to try to raise the money for the replacement.

Now to the shameless promotion of me and my partner's websites...

Are you going to vacation in the Virginia Beach area? If so, you'll want to check out the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and the Virginia Beach Aquarium! Both are extremely popular Virginia Beach attractions!

I love the boardwalk in Virginia Beach and used to love to go inline skating there. The boardwalk is a great place to ride bikes, jog or just stroll around and enjoy the ocean.

The Virginia Beach Aquarium was recently remodeled and has some fantastic new exhibits. Our website has a great video showcasing the update. Be sure to bring your camera when you visit the Virginia Marine Science Center-- the new 40 foot tunnel displays some of the most beautiful fish in the world.

If you are looking for Virginia Beach things to do, pop onto our website and look around! We have all the best Virginia Beach attractions listed!

Have a great night and wish me luck on finding my day guard.

YOU CAN NOT BE SERIOUS!!!

2010-04-19T21:47:00.005-04:00

"You guys are the absolute pits of the world..."

Famous for both his amazing tennis game and legendary temper, John McEnroe has an unexpected personality trait: a great sense of humor! Game, Set, Rock! Tennis Amplified featured McEnroe playing an exhibition match against Jim Courier and later pairing up with Anna Kournikova in a doubles game against Jim and Monica Seles.

The night started off with lively music played by the Blue Dogs, a local folk-rock band native to the South Carolina area. The weather was perfect, the beer was ice cold and the music was good.

Jim and John arrived in separate EV Smart Cars. The electric cars travel up to 30 mph and are the perfect way for Daniel Island residents to scoot around town. (Jimboo loves them and thinks we would look awesome sporting one around town.)

John and Jim definitely still have IT. John had serves up to 117 mph and Jim's serves were up to 121 mph!

John made jokes about his infamous temper, questioning calls and fussing with the judge. The crowd loved him. McEnroe was clearly enjoying himself and playing well. It was a tight game with McEnroe finally taking the victory in a close tie-breaker.

All the players were wired with microphones for the doubles eight-game pro set. They bantered back and forth, with both John and Jim teasing an out-of-practice Monica about her serves. At one point, they held the net down so her serve would go over.

In a sassy pink Nike mini-dress, Anna Kournikova was cute, bubbly and every guy in the audience was wowed. It's easy to understand why she is so wildly popular.

Anna was serving to long-time friend, Courier and he egged her on to try to ace him. Kournikova acted like she was really going to put some heat on the serve... and then lightly bunny-tapped the ball over the net! Courier's jaw dropped and he didn't have a chance in the world to get to the net in time for the return.

Anna claimed the point and teased that tennis wasn't all about power, you had to be smart too. Pretty feisty chick! She scored some great points and was fierce up at the net. I wonder if my game would improve if I bought one of those pink dresses? hmmmm

We took David's daughter, Alex, and her friend, Kaylee, to the game. They didn't get a lot of the jokes about McEnroe's temper, so when we got home I pulled up some clips on YouTube. Now Alex and Kaylee will scream out to each other, "YOU CAN NOT BE SERIOUS!!"

Dave and I had a great time and Mr. McEnroe has two new teenage fans! I am having a blast in Charleston and hope to make the Family Circle Cup a yearly event.

In fact... I'm having so much fun that Myrtle Beach Web Marketing, LLC is now the proud owner of a new domain: http://www.charlestonthingstodo.net/ Be on the lookout for it!

With exciting local sports like Stingray hockey, Riverdogs baseball, Family Circle Cup tennis and Charleston Battery soccer, it's going to be super fun to put together a Charleston things to do website. I'm getting ready to build the template and can't wait to start playing around with designs.

My partner in crime (Jan Chilton) and I also have websites with all the very best Myrtle Beach attractions and Virginia Beach attractions. Please check them out if you are planning to visit Myrtle Beach, SC or Virginia Beach, VA! You'll find information on the most popular family attractions, Virginia Beach Hotels and Myrtle Beach Condos, and we also have plenty of Google Map links so you can find your way around.

If you already live in the Myrtle Beach area and want to feel like you are on vacation every day, you need a Myrtle Beach Pool Builder! Every day is a great day when you own an Arnold's swimming pool!

Later Gaters!

Family Circle Cup Tennis

2010-04-16T00:11:00.003-04:00

Dave's daughter, Alex, recently signed up to play tennis at her school. My father was a big advocate of going straight to the pros when you start a new sport, so we immediately called around and signed Alex up for tennis lessons at the Family Circle Tennis Center.

Alex has had a couple lessons so far and they are working to help her develop the correct swing, improve hand-eye coordination and improve her serve.

The tennis center is amazing and hosts the Family Circle Cup, an all-women professional tennis event. The 10,200 seat Family Circle Stadium is the focal point of the facility.

A couple weeks ago, I climbed to the highest bleacher in the stadium and looked out over Daniel Island. It's an amazing place. I forgot to bring my camera, so I am going to have to do it again. (It's ok. I really need the exercise... I have been bingeing on blueberry cheesecake for about a month.)

One of Alex's tennis coaches, Gil Amar, gave us complimentary tickets to the Family Circle Cup Prequalification Rounds. Dave and I spent most of the day Sunday watching the event. The weather was beautiful and it was a totally relaxing. Dave even snuck me in a wine cooler as a surprise. What a sweetie pie. Thanks Dave! (Maybe that is why I was so relaxed...)

There was a good opening-day crowd and we had a lot of fun strolling around, checking out the vendors and watching the competition. This time I remembered my camera and got some great action shots.

These ladies were powerful and amazing. I would just kill to be that good. One thing I definitely need to work on? My serve. How pitiful it is. Check out these shots and look how high the toss is:

That's what I am going to start working on. The ball toss...

Anyhoo- I am all jazzed up about the Family Circle Cup. We just bought 4 tickets to the Game, Set, Rock! Tennis Amplified event. John McEnroe is playing in the doubles exhibition and I am crossing my fingers that John will show some of his notorious spunk and get pissed off about something.

One can only hope... I will keep you posted!

That's it for now. I have to get up early and drive to Myrtle Beach for an HOA meeting so I've got to get to bed at a decent hour.

Speaking of the Grand Strand... if you are going to be in the area and are looking for information on any of our fantastic Myrtle Beach attractions, be sure to hop over to Myrtle Beach Kids Stuff! We have the absolute best list of things to do in Myrtle Beach. Check us out!

TTYLG

Stayed up too late...

2010-04-15T16:13:00.000-04:00

Now I can't function. :(

Just woke up. Feeling Grumpy...

2010-04-15T07:39:00.000-04:00

Wait a sec! Let me put on my happy face and bunny ears...

There. Now I feel better.

Good Morning.

I was supposed to do some work today...

2010-04-15T00:31:00.004-04:00

Instead I piddled with my blog background, color schemes and graphics for about 10 hours straight. My eye is twitching, my shoulder aches and I think I am dehydrated. I'm all jacked up and feel like a manic spaz...

BUT!! Damn my blog looks good!! PLUS I have this jazzy new profile picture:

Yep- all those long hours today definitely paid off. My profile picture is totally SWEET!!! (Just like me!!!)

Whoops. Okay, well, I am sweet sometimes. Right now I am a little edgy... ("Hi, my name is Mit Tressler and I am a PhotoShop-a-holic.")

Anyhoo- it's been a while since I posted anything new. I've been pretty busy and totally got sidetracked for a couple of years... but as soon as I hit PUBLISH POST, Beach Life Blog is back in action!! Hoooray!! That's it for tonight. I am going down in flames and need to crash... HARD.

TTYLG! (Talk to you later gaters!!) I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Goodnight. Mit

Bring on the Bike Rallies

2008-08-20T01:34:00.011-04:00

The Myrtle Beach City Council had a workshop today to discuss the impact of new proposals and procedures that could have a year-round impact on local businesses.

The proposed ordnances are aimed at controlling the Biker Rally crowds, but the discussion will have an impact on hundreds and hundreds of businesses.

This is always a hot topic in the area, and is sure to get the locals riled up one way or another. Me? I love the Bike Rallies! I think they are a ton of fun, bring a tremendous amount of revenue and exposure to the city, and sure do liven up this town.

The Rallies are a tradition here in the Grand Strand and started in the 40's. They are said to attract 300,000 visitors to the area. With poker runs, custom bike shows, live bands, tough guys, cool chicks... who could ask for more?

Local business owner, Karon Mitchell told SCNow.com, “On an estimate, I took in around $300,000 for Harley Week at all 3 hotels. Ok, that’s a hunk of change for me as a small motel owner.” Mitchell also says she makes about the same during the Atlantic Beach Bike Fest.

I agree. That's a lot of cash (and that's just one small motel chain.) Bring it on!

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel: A Destination in Itself

2008-05-12T02:32:00.004-04:00

Recently I took a drive up the Eastern Shore and visited Georgetown, DE and Ocean City, MD. It was my first time to the area, and the I enjoyed the drive as much as the destinations.

One highlight of the trip was crossing over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT). The cost is $12.00 each way, but well worth it. The Bridge Tunnel is amazing. It connects the Virginia mainland at Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore and streamlines any trip North of Wilmington, DE by cutting 95 miles off the trip.

The bridge was selected as "One of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World" when it opened in 1964. To meet traffic demands, a parallel bridge was started in 1995 and once again drew attention to the remarkable construction and engineering.

The bridge is so long that it seemed to disappear in the distance. Hundreds of seagulls stop for a break from the wide open waters and rest on the rails and street lights.

The CBBT is 20 miles long and includes 2 one mile long tunnels. It also carries US 13, the main north-south highway on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

My buddy Jan will be happy to know that the CBBT offers a driving assistance program where the police arrange for an employee to assist and drive a customer's vehicle across the bridge-tunnel when they have a phobia that prevents them from doing so themselves. The management offers the driver as a complimentary community service and states that it prevents unsafe driving conditions that could occur due to any phobia presenting itself. The Police Department arranges the escort and can be reached at 757-331-2960. There are occasionally wait times.

If you're a bird watcher, you can observe birds and waterfowl resting on one of the four man-made islands. The concrete, steel, asphalt and rocks make a perfect resting spot for birds migrating in the spring and fall.

There's also a great fishing pier that gives you the opportunity to leave the boat and home, and still enjoy a deep sea fishing experience. Sea Gull Pier is open year round and is wheel chair accessible. No fishing license is required, and there is no fee except to $12.00 per vehicle to access the bridge itself.

I stopped in the restaurant/gift shop and strolled around. They have complete menu for breakfast lunch and dinner, along with plenty of mementos of your trip across the bridge-tunnel.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was definitely impressive and one of the highlights of my trip to the Eastern Shore.

Check out the New T3 Police Cruisers

2008-03-31T08:17:00.005-04:00

It kind of looks like a suped up Jazzy chair, but this vehicle won the 2007 Innovation Award for Best Vehicle and the Spark Award at the International Spark Design Awards. The T3 vehicles are electric motorized three wheel vehicles and the city of Myrtle Beach just purchased three of them for the police force.

The T3s are designed and manufactured by T3 Motion, Inc. with public safety officers and private security markets in mind. It is set to travel at 12 miles per hour and gets officers out of their cars, onto the streets, and interacting with the public. They increase mobility, and are fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

Perfect for Myrtle Beach in the busy tourist season.

The T3s were purchased with $30,000.00 in seized drug money and the city has trained 30 officers how to use them. Officers will begin cruising around on them Monday and will be used in The Market Common area and Third Avenue South to 21st Avenue North.

They're designed to help officers tackle many of their daily functions, including patrolling public areas. The T3's improve the efficiency of the police force; they cover more ground more quickly, and reduce fatigue which is important during our hot summer months.

It's exciting technology and Lt. Richard Show of the Myrtle Beach Police Department told The Sun News that we are one of only two areas in the state using the vehicles.

We're always looking to make things better in the Grand Stand! If your interested in one of our many Oceanfront condos, or any other Myrtle Beach real estate, be sure to visit the Myrtle Beach Condos .net website. They specialize in oceanfront condos in Myrtle Beach and can help you find the perfect home.

The Market Common: All about Location

2008-03-31T01:49:00.004-04:00

It lacks visibility. It lacks familiarity. Many Myrtle Beach residents have no idea where it is and zip right by it! And... that's just the way developers planned it.

The Market Common is tucked away and off the beaten path, nestled in between Kings Highway and the bypass. Clayton McCaffery, vice president of leasing for McCaffery Interests, told The Sun News that they would have never done this project right on Highway 17 or the Bypass.

McCaffery Interests is developing The Market Common. The vision was to make another shopping area off of the main interstate, but to create an urban village in an area that allowed room for expansion and creativity. It will be an hot spot for Myrtle Beach condos and Myrtle Beach real estate, where residents live amongst shops and residential properties are mixed with commercial real estate.

Now that the The Market Common is making it 's debut, expect to hear a lot more buzz and see more billboards and other advertisements. This is one of the most exciting projects launching in the city of Myrtle Beach!

Interested in a Fixer-Upper?

2008-03-30T13:30:00.006-04:00

I'm a do it your selfer... I've tackled tile, minor wall repairs, painting and this weekend, I took out an ugly light fixture and brightened up my dining area with a great ceiling fan.

It's one of the things I love about the Myrtle Beach real estate market; there are some fantastic deals available if you are willing to put in some TLC.

Many of the condos in Myrtle Beach have deeply discounted pricing because they need a bit of work. Take my condo for example. The light fixtures were dated, the carpet was mauve, and it needed some fresh paint. It's been a lot of work, but when I sit back and look at all that I have accomplished, I give myself a little pat on the back.

Plus, my hard work has paid off. Not only do I love the new look, but I've significantly increased my property value.

If you want to grab yourself a great deal and put in a little elbow grease, there are a lot of Myrtle Beach condos right up your alley. The Myrtle Beach Condo Store can help and will find you the perfect fixer upper that will be a fantastic investment and a fun project to work on.

There is Plenty of Sunshine in Myrtle Beach!

2008-03-25T13:55:00.006-04:00

If it still feels like winter, and you are shivering from the cold... hop in your car or jump on a plane and head to Myrtle Beach! It's sunny and warm most days in the early spring and perfect for a bike ride or stroll on the beach.

It's easy to get to from Myrtle Beach from most major cities in the Northeast, and we have affordable air service with airlines like Spirit and Air Tran. We also have service with major airlines like USAir, Continental and Delta.

There are 60 miles of coastline along the Ocean and it's a golfer's paradise with more than 100 golf courses in the area. With so many amenities, the Myrtle Beach real estate market gets a tremendous boost from snowbirds who are looking for Myrtle Beach condos as second homes.

Many resorts offer swimming pools and ocean access. If your family is sports minded, there are plenty resorts with golfing, tennis, and bike trails available that are just minutes from the beach.

It's the perfect place to stay and play!

Myrtle Beach Sun Fun Expands

2008-03-23T14:36:00.005-04:00

Traditionally the Myrtle Beach Sun Fun festival includes a parade, sand castle building competition, and beauty pageants to attract both locals and tourist in the Grand Strand area. This year the Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event, hopes to expand the celebration throughout the summer months.

The chamber hopes to extend the opening events in June to include two weekends and then continue concerts, kids programs and festivals, and other competitions throughout the remaining summer months.

Tentative plans include wave runner competitions, volleyball tournaments and surfing competitions.

The tourism leaders are even extending the festival activities from the downtown Myrtle Beach area to The Market Common; which is a new residential, shopping and dining complex at the old Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. Festivities will kick off at The Market Common on June 7th with fireworks and a concert.

Sun Fun will encompass the entire Myrtle Beach area, but don't worry! There will still be plenty to do in the downtown area, where the events are traditionally held. The chamber plans the double the amount of events that will take place in the heart of the city.

We're going to have a fantastic summer in Myrtle Beach. If you are interested in a second home, this is the perfect place to consider! Myrtle Beach real estate is a great investment opportunity and The Myrtle Beach Condo Store can help you with 1031 Tax Exchanges and will also show you a variety of Myrtle Beach Condos available.

Keeping Costs Low

2008-03-22T14:12:00.004-04:00

County spokesperson, Lisa Bourcier, told The Sun News that bids submitted for the new general aviation terminal at Myrtle Beach were much higher than the $4 million that was budgeted for the project.

Seven companies submitted bids and the lowest bid was $1 million over budget. The county plants to have the architects working on the project get together next week to determine how to lower the costs of building the terminal.

It usually takes about two weeks to wrap things up and finalize contracts once a bid is accepted, but it's going to take longer for this project as the county works to lower the cost.

The airport is within the Myrtle Beach city limits and is run by Horry County. The current terminal is in an old military terminal and services private planes.

If you're interested in living in our town, visit the Myrtle Beach Condo Store websites. The Condo Store is affiliated with Keller Williams in Myrtle Beach and specializes in Myrtle Beach condos, Pawleys Island condos and 1031 Tax Exchanges.

Bike Week 2008 is going to Rock

2008-03-21T01:13:00.006-04:00

Bike Week in Myrtle Beach is literally going to rock this year thanks to the Myrtle Beach Hard Rock Theme Park. The park has secured concerts with Charlie Daniels and .38 Special during the Mid-May Bike Week.

Concerts at the park will be held in the Born in the USA section of the park and regular performances are included in your ticket price.

The Hard Rock Amphitheatre can seat 2000 visitors, has standing room for 10,000 and will also have room for 8000 more fans on the lawn! The park plans to have local and regional groups as entertainment during the day with 6-8 headliners the first year.

This year Bike Week runs from May 9th- 18th, with a fall rally planned for October 1st-5th.

This town always has something going on! If you are interested in Pawleys Island real estate, Myrtle Beach real estate or 1031 Tax Exchanges, be sure to contact David O'Connell at The Condo Store. David can be reached 843-455-5500 and can offer you a no obligation evaluation of your needs.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse coming to Grande Dunes

2008-03-16T08:09:00.006-04:00

Hooray! There's a new steak in town. A spokesman for Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc. confirmed that Ruth's Chris Steak House will be opening at Grande Dunes on March 24.

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of dining at a Ruth's Chris Steak House, they are internationally renowned for their unbeatable USDA Prime steak. Each steak is aged for tenderness with a cut that ensures that the steak will be juicy, and then it is seared to absolute perfection at 1800 degrees.

You can literally hear your steak coming as they bring it to your table on a 500 degree platter. It stays nice and warm through your entire meal.

The 9,500 square-foot restaurant have about 115 employees and serves dinner daily. Ruth's Chris also has market fresh seafood and choices for vegetarians.

It's one more luxury that is making Myrtle Beach great! If you are interested in living in our community, there is a variety of Myrtle Beach real estate available. Contact David O'Connell at 843-455-5500. David specializes in oceanfront condos in Myrtle Beach and 1031 Tax Exchanges.

McLean Park's Annual Easter Egg Hunt

2008-03-14T20:28:00.002-04:00

Saturday, March 22, 2008 is going to be another great day for North Myrtle Beach residents. The city is going to have it's annual easter egg hunt at McLean Park and it's going to fun for kids of all ages.

Egg hunting areas are set up for all age groups: 2 and under, 3-5 year olds, 6-8 year olds, 9-11 year olds, and ages 12 and up.

McLean Park is a 10 acre park that is the perfect location for the festivities. It features a two-acre lake, multiple grills for family cookouts after the egg hunt, a quarter mile walking trail, tennis courts and restroom facilities.

It's going to be exciting for the younger children because the Easter Bunny is going to stop by for a visit and hand out candy. The North Strand Optimist Club will also have activities, attractions and refreshments for the event.

The event is free and everyone is welcome! Call the North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation department if you need additional informaton: 843-280-5570.

You know I love this area. It's a great place to live. If you are interested in owning a piece of paradise, call David O'Connell directly at 843-455-5500. David specializes in North Myrtle Beach real estate, as well as Myrtle Beach condos and Myrtle Beach resorts.

Keeping NMB Safe

2008-03-14T02:10:00.022-04:00

Last week, the six officers who make up North Myrtle Beach's Beach Patrol completed personal watercraft training (PWC). This makes the team the only rescue technician instructors along the East Coast certified by Rescue Training International (RTI).

It's just one more way that the Grand Strand demonstrates that that safety is the number one priority while residents and tourists alike enjoy our beaches during the summer.

The team is now trained in maneuvering in rough surf, rip current rescues, victim towing and more. In addition to the six patrol officers completing the instruction, five of the cities head lifeguards were also certified with RTI as PWC technicians.

All of the North Myrtle Beach lifeguards participate in RTI training and combined with the PWC techs, it makes the team highly skilled and well qualified to protect residents and visitors during the busy tourist season.

Come and enjoy the fun! You might just want to stay.

If you would like to see some of the great North Myrtle Beach condos for sale or any other Myrtle Beach real estate, be sure to visit the Myrtle Beach Condo Store websites.

Towers on the Grove

2008-03-14T01:04:00.006-04:00

While perusing web articles and newspapers to find interesting info for my blog, I came across this great new construction project that is well underway and ahead of schedule: Towers on the Grove. It replaces Cherry Grove Manor, a popular vacation spot for families in the Northern end of North Myrtle Beach.

If you are interested in North Myrtle Beach condos, this is a property you definitely want to want to keep in mind. The building is going to be incredibly snazzy and will be absolutely spectacular when the project is complete. Amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, private beach access, a full service restaurant, and commercial real estate space for a variety of specialty shops.

The units feature upscale furniture and accessories including granite counter tops in the kitchens and baths, at least one jacuzzi style tub, as well as tiled entryways, kitchens and baths. There is also a custom furniture selection available that includes flat screen TVs.

Upgraded packages are available and include stainless steel appliances, ceiling fans, deluxe cabinetry, crown molding and the option of a custom tile backsplash in the kitchen.

What's amazing about these oceanfront condos in North Myrtle Beach is that there is a starting price point of just $149,900. Towers on the Grove will have floor plans ranging from affordable efficiencies to prestigious three bedroom condos with oceanfront views.

Wouldn't it be great to scoot down the elevators, stop the by the on-site lounge to grab a pina colada, head out to the tropical pool deck and then float around on the lazy river on your day off? This property really is the total package.

If you would like more information about Towers on the Grove or any other condo in the Myrtle Beach area, visit the Myrtle Beach Condo Store websites.

Small Businesses have Eye on Future Profits

2008-03-08T00:29:00.001-05:00

Most people driving by the Waccamaw Pottery probably have their eyes on the Hard Rock Theme Park, but several small business owners have their eye on future profits.

Some small businesses in the area have been around a long time, but more recently Myrtle Beach businessmen have been eyeing the area. Experts say that the theme park can expect to draw between 25,000 and 30,000 customers each day and the hope is that being so close to the action will be great for business.

Joseph Carver told SCNow.com that he thought Waccamaw Pottery would be the perfect location for his sandwich shop “Coasters.” Even though the park hasn’t opened yet, he says the he is already getting new customers because of the draw of the theme park.

All in all, the influx of tourist into the area is going to be great for a variety of businesses and will help make the local economy even stronger.

If you are interested in making an investment in Myrtle Beach real estate, commercial real estate or 1031 tax exchanges, contact David O’Connell directly at 843-455-5500. David is affiliated with Keller Williams and specializes in property along the Grand Strand.

Spirit Expands Air Service from Myrtle Beach to Orlando

2008-03-05T02:23:00.006-05:00

Starting June 12 , Spirit Airlines will begin direct flights between Myrtle Beach and Orlando.

The competition is heating up with Spirit Airlines making the announcement on the heals of Allegiant Air announcing that they were beginning non-stop Orlando flights from Wilmington.

It’s a quick flight departing from Myrtle Beach at 11:05am and arriving at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) at 12:35p. You could be in Disney by 2:00pm!

Return flights are expected to depart Orlando at 4:15pm and with arrivals back into the Grand Strand by 5:45pm.

It’s great to see Spirit Airlines expand routes in the Myrtle Beach area. Currently Spirit carries more than 318,000 passengers each year to and from the Myrtle Beach area.

Not only will Myrtle Beach residents be flying south, but it is expected that the expanded route will give the Orlando residents a chance to check out our new, exciting theme park. Golfers will also enjoy the chance to visit our less crowded courses while staying in one of our great oceanfront condos in Myrtle Beach.

Who knows? It might just lead to a second home purchase of one of our great Myrtle Beach resorts.

Tanger Outlet gets Multi-Million Dollar Facelift

2008-03-04T04:26:00.005-05:00

The Myrtle Beach Tanger outlets, located at HWY 501 and HWY 17, offer a collection of over 200 brand name outlet stores and welcome nearly 10 million enthusiastic shoppers year.

Tanger began a $20 million makeover project last December at the HWY 501 location. The design will have the charm of small town America, combined with the whimsy of Victorian accents.

Stanley K. Tanger, Chairman and CEO of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. told The Earth News that renovation projects are an important investment in the economic growth of their shopping centers as well as the communities that they are a part of.

Myrtle Beach is one of the nation’s top vacation destinations and offers a variety of accommodations from oceanfront condos in Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas, to resorts with an island feel, as well as hotel accommodations ranging from 2-4 star.

The $20 million makeover ensures that the HWY 501 Tanger shopping center will continue to draw customers and be a location that is vibrant and attractive for many years to come. Plans include a Main Street style storefront where shoppers will stroll streetscapes that have a pleasant park-like feel. There will be seating areas to relax and landscape touches that are reminiscent of gardens.

The work is expected to be completed this fall and is just one more way that our area continues to grow and to improve upon itself.

If your interested in owning Myrtle Beach real estate or in 1031 Exchange information, contact David O'Connell directly at 843-455-5500. David specializes in Myrtle Beach commercial real estate and 1031 transactions

Updates and Improvements for MB Transit System

2008-03-03T01:40:00.006-05:00

It’s an exciting year for Myrtle Beach with many updates and improvements in the works for our transit system. Residents and Vacationers can expect to see the groundbreaking for Myrtle Beach International’s new air terminal, an expanded bus system and new roads.

The focus is on increasing ways people can get to the Grand Strand and making it a breeze for them to get around town once they arrive.

Mike Barbee, a project manager for the SC Department of Transportation told The Sun News that if a vacationer comes here this year and spends a lot of time sitting in traffic, next year they may decide to go somewhere else.

Myrtle Beach real estate owners and residents of surrounding areas will love the Main Street connector in North Myrtle Beach. It’s slated to open in spring 2009. The $85 million project will connect to SC 31 and drop you directly off in the heart of North Myrtle Beach, eliminating a tremendous amount of traffic on HWY 17.

A friend who rents one of the oceanfront condos in North Myrtle Beach says she is excited about the new connector and how easy it is going to be to get to the south end and shop without having to fuss with the traffic.

MB Airport Expanding

2008-03-01T19:40:00.006-05:00

The Myrtle Beach Airport will begin construction on a $4 million general aviation terminal in 2008 and hopes to complete the project by 2009. The new terminal is going to provide service for private and charter flights.

Plans include an 11,000 square foot building that has conference rooms, a lounge for the pilots and office space.

The airport is also working to bring new carriers to the terminals. The new carriers will open new routes to and from the area, and the competition will help keep ticket prices low.

Don Schunk, economist with Coastal Carolina University, told The Sun News that travelers fly to neighboring airports because it's less expensive, and it's important for Myrtle Beach to open more options for air service.

Vacationers and business professionals alike want the convenience of an airport that has a variety of nonstop and direct routes available at affordable prices. These factors help drive a strong market for Myrtle Beach real estate. It makes it easier for someone to own a second home in the Grand Strand if they don't have to drive 2 hours from Charleston because of pricing and flight availability.

Myrtle Beach gets better everyday! If you are interested in Myrtle Beach condos or other real estate in the Grand Strand, contact the Myrtle Beach Condo Store.

Myrtle Beach Job Fair a Big Success

2008-02-29T17:36:00.006-05:00

The job market is on the upswing for the Grand Strand area. The annual job fair was much busier than in recent years and that's a great indication that there will be strong job growth. In fact, Don Schunk, a research economist with Coastal Grand University, told The Sun News that with the new information from the sate, he will be increasing his original estimates of job growth from 3.2%.

The strong local economy is fantastic news for those who live in Myrtle Beach, and for business owners of commercial real estate.

Approximately 140 companies were actively seeking new employees, and over 5200 potential candidates made their way to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center center to turn in resumes.

One of the major driving forces in this positive trend is the opening of Hard Rock Park, which is opening in April. The park expects to hire on an additional 3000 employees throughout the upcoming year.

The improved job market should have a nice impact on our real estate market with entry level employees looking for affordable condos in Myrtle Beach, as well as condos in Little River, Pawleys Island, North Myrtle Beach and other surrounding areas.

Parks for Pawleys (update)

2008-02-27T03:27:00.004-05:00

Residents from the Waccamaw Neck area are meeting at Waccamaw High School to look at several preliminary parks and recreation projects being put together for the area.

Several proposed projects are exciting and include four tournament-level soccer fields and a tennis court complex that has up to 32 courts and a pro shop!

Baseball fields and multi-use fields are also in the plans. It's fantastic news for those who own homes in Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach. The amenities enhance the quality of life for all the area residents and the health benefits of fostering an active lifestyle are invaluable .

Residents will be able to view the proposed plans for their communities at the Georgetown Middle School auditorium at 6pm on Thursday.

Four public input meetings are planned and then cost estimates will be prepared for further discussion.

If you own Pawleys Island property or real estate in the surrounding area, this is a great time to get involved in your community and show support for the proposed projects. Attending the Georgetown County Council meetings is a great way to start. Those meetings take place at 5:30pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. For more information call 843-545-3058 or visit the Georgetown County webpage.

Tax Rebate Should Boost Myrtle Beach Economy

2008-02-26T20:38:00.002-05:00

The government has an economic stimulus plan that is set to rebate tax revenue to about 136 million Americans. The amounts range between $300-$1200 are set to start arriving in homes across the U.S. in May.

It's the start of the tourist season, so the timing is perfect for Myrtle Beach businesses. The rebates could have a substantial effect on the local economy. Those checks will arrive just in time to be cashed and hopefully spent in the pursuit of happiness here at the Strand.

The extra money could mean an upgrade in room accommodations, an extra night of vacation, or more money being spent with our local retailers.

It's also great for those who own private Myrtle Beach real estate or commercial real estate. Those checks are will go a long way towards sprucing up properties and will benefit our local home improvement stores.

All in all, there are big hopes that the money will help jump-start the local and national economy. We'll have to wait until May to see, but I can't wait to get my check! I promise to do my part to help the economy and will not save one dime of it.

More Parks for Pawleys

2008-02-24T02:33:00.005-05:00

A group of concerned parents from Pawleys Island met Friday night at the local library to discuss the recreational facilities in the city. The group feels that the current recreation areas are few and far in between, as well as in disrepair.

Public amenities contribute to a healthy housing market. Improving local park and recreation fascilities can only benefit the community and owners of Pawleys Island real estate.

It’s important for a community to have the sense of connection that a park brings. Whether it’s relaxing and enjoying a sunset, taking your dog for a brisk walk, or bringing friends and family together for a cookout; public amenities enrich the neighborhood and those who live there.

The concerned citizens plan to take their concerns to a county council meeting next week that's being held in Georgetown.

For those who rent or own homes in Pawleys Island, you can get involved by attending the Georgetown County Council meetings at 5:30pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. For more information call 843-545-3058 or visit the Georgetown County webpage.

Keeping North Myrtle Beach Beautiful

2008-02-21T03:24:00.004-05:00

Wednesday marked the kick off of The Great American Cleanup of South Carolina. It’s a fantastic program that focuses on cleaning up parks, neighborhoods, beaches and other areas of South Carolina, including North Myrtle Beach.

Volunteers state that cigarette butts are one of the main things they are constantly picking up. Bottles come in second. Participants want to show locals and tourists alike that they are proud of the city and care enough about North Myrtle Beach to pick up trash that doesn’t belong to them.

When others see their cleanup efforts, they may think twice before flicking a cigarette butt into the sand.

Keep America Beautiful sponsors The Great American Cleanup and is the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. They promote the idea that we all have an obligation to preserve and protect our environment. Three areas that Keep America Beautiful focuses on are preventing litter, reducing waste and beautifying communities.

The postive effects are far-reaching. Owners of commercial real estate, single family homes, and oceanfront condos in North Myrtle Beach alike will benefit from the local efforts of The Great American Cleanup.

If you would like to participate in the efforts of keep North Myrtle Beach beautiful, visit http://www.palmettopride.com/.

Community Working Together for Cleaner Water

2008-02-20T20:15:00.011-05:00

There’s great news for owners of homes in Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet. Officials from Coastal Carolina University are establishing a volunteer water monitoring program that will help meet the areas new requirements for storm water management.

Susan Libs, professor of marine science at CCU told The Myrtle Beach Sun News that they will be working to characterize sources of land based pollution.

Community involvement is key and volunteers will help monitor the water on a bi-weekly basis. After gathering data on the quality of the water, steps can be taken to improve the water quality by identifying sources of pollution.

Fresh, clean water is an important environmental asset of the area and helps foster our thriving tourist industry.

Volunteers are trained to test for various water pollutants including E coli bacteria. They will also monitor nitrogen and ammonia levels. It’s all part of keeping the waterways clean and healthy, which is fantastic for those who own Pawleys Island property and Murrells Inlet homes.

Get Ready for Some Fun!

2008-02-20T02:31:00.003-05:00

Whether you come to Myrtle Beach to vacation, or own your own piece of Myrtle Beach real estate, there will always be plenty of sunshine and activities for you and your family to enjoy.

The Sun News voted The Family Kingdom Amusement Park the best Family Amusement Value in Myrtle Beach.

The park offers over 30 rides and attractions and is conveniently located on Ocean Boulevard in the heart of the city. There are plenty of games, family entertainment, and an electrifying wooden roller coaster. It also features the largest ferris wheel in the state of South Carolina. (And who can resist the cotton candy, corndogs and funnel cakes?)

Serving the area for more than 40 years, Family Kingdom is a tradition for locals and visitors alike.

Don’t forget to visit The Family Kingdom Water Park. It’s located directly across from the amusment park and offers waterflumes, speed slides and a relaxing lazy river.

It's the perfect place for a corperate outing or church function. Family Kingdom offers discounts to groups of 16 or more. They also have three group dining menus available which would be a great way to take the hassle out of your next family reunion.

Come to Myrtle Beach and discover the fun! If you would like more information about The Family Kingdom Amusement park, be sure to visit their website: www.family-kingdom.com

Canadians Flocking South

2008-02-19T14:45:00.009-05:00

Myrtle Beach was just a vacation spot for many Canadians, but thanks to a strong Canadian dollar many are now calling the Grand Strand home.

Year after year, Canadian tourists have visited the Grand Stand and enjoyed our warm weather and beautiful golf courses.

“It’s been a good getaway for us from the cold here in Canada,” Jennifer Boodram told Jessica Foster of The Myrtle Beach Sun News. “In a couple of years when we decide to retire, we’ll probably spend most of our winters here.”

The Canadian dollar, known as the loonie, has surged against the US dollar. This drastic rise in value has contributed to a real estate market that is appealing to our northern friends. For the first time since 1976, the Canadian dollar rose to a modern-day high in 2007 and was valued higher than the US dollar. There have been some fluctuations and the loonie value has recently dropped closer to $1.01 compared to the US dollar.

Real estate agents, excited by the trend, have started marketing efforts in Canada. One realtor in Murrells Inlet, has already sent about 350 direct mailings to Canadian residents and tells The Myrtle Beach Sun News that she is exploring newspaper advertisements as well.
In addition to the strong Canadian dollar, lower interest rates, affordable home prices and better availability of direct air service make the Myrtle Beach real estate even more attractive.

One local real estate company sold 8 homes to Canadians over the past six months. It’s clear that they are seeing the value of owning Myrtle Beach condos and homes.

In January, the Grand Strand pricing for a single family home was $255,211, compared to an average home price of $317,825 in Canada. Condos in Myrtle Beach had an average price of $218,232. It’s clear that the Myrtle Beach area is very appealing to the Canadian market.

Many Canadians are looking for second homes so they can rent them out, use them as vacation homes, or use them full time when they decide to retire. The bulk of homes purchased by Canadians are in the south, and near the ocean or mountains because they are popular vacation destinations.

When The Sun News spoke to Robin Scange of Ontario, she said that it was nice to have their own property to vacation to and that it was a place that her friends and family were going to enjoy. Robin also plans to rent it out when it is not in use by the family.

Some Canadians have had a difficult time financing their new homes. There are additional closing costs, passport requirements, and also a 10% tax charged to foreign inventors through the Foreign Investment Property Act. In fact 28% of Canadian buyers choose to pay in cash instead of taking out a mortgage.

RBC Centura, a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada has been able to assist several Canadian buyers because they have offices in Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island.

With the strong loonie and many Canadians looking for a place to retire, it’s clear that it is a market with a strong potential for realtors.

A Great Day at Mingo!

2008-02-18T02:33:00.007-05:00

My friend Jan and I went to Pawleys Island last week to take some photos of the area surrounding Pawleys Plantation.

We absolutely fell in love with Mingo at Willbrook Plantation, a residential village with restaurants, shops, business offices, a spa and bakery. The homes offer special features like hardwood floors, built-in book shelves and the unit we looked at had a gas fireplace. Amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, manicured lawns, professional landscaping, along with beautiful trees and shrubs.

Jan and I relaxed while walking around the shopping area. The boardwalk wraps around a picture perfect lake with two waterfalls and an arched wooden bridge. The homes are within walking distance of 4 restaurants, a Blockbuster Video, and grocery store. You can even ride your bike to the beach!

It was a fantastic day and we were able to get a lot of great photos.

If you are interested in Mingo , Pawleys Plantation, or any other Pawley Island real estate, be sure to contact The Myrtle Beach Condo Store. They can help you find the perfect place to live!

Ready for Great Weather?

2008-02-17T23:03:00.005-05:00

Myrtle Beach is fast becoming a year-round destination for vacationers. The mild temperatures during the off seasons appeal to golfers and tennis players alike.

It’s easy to enjoy the 60 mile stretch of beaches known as the Grand Strand throughout the entire year. How about starting your winter morning off with a hot cup of coffee and a brisk walk on the beach? The average temperature is 45 degrees in January. On cooler days it's comfortable to wear a long sleeve shirt with a light jacket.

My friend Lisa and I love walking our dogs on the beach during the winter. It's nice and cool, and there are no crowds.

The Myrtle Beach area welcomes millions of tourists including students, families, golfers and snowbirds. Many snowbirds come to visit only to find themselves looking at Myrtle Beach real estate and planning to move. One snowbird said it was appealing to consider living in a resort area where she could enjoy the sand, surf and warm climate all year long. It's a fantastic lifestyle.

If you would like more information on relocating to this great area, visit The Myrtle Beach Condo Store.

Superstition

2008-02-16T19:54:00.002-05:00

The Chicago Tribune says that she is “…one terrific storyteller,” and Newsweek says she is one of the most popular voices in fiction.”

Mother of three, Karen Robards, is the author of 33 books including Superstition.

Superstition is set in the picturesque town of Pawleys Island, SC, which is 20 minutes south of Myrtle Beach. It must be exciting for the residents who own Pawleys Island real estate to read her thriller based in their hometown.

The book is about the unsolved murder of a teenager and the disappearance of her two friends. The mansion where the teenager was murdered is haunted and a reporter looking for a big break sets up a séance but ends up being murdered in the same fashion as the original teenager.

A resident who lives in Pawleys Plantation said that the book had her on the edge of her seat and she had to get up several times to make sure her doors were locked.

Karen Robards is a fantastic suspense writer and this is a great read. The next time you are in a bookstore, be sure to pick up a copy of Superstition.

BiLo Myrtle Beach Marathon and Relay

2008-02-16T18:32:00.003-05:00

Myrtle Beach hosted their 11th annual marathon today. It’s exciting to think that over 5,300 people ran 13-26 miles through the city this morning.

Residents of Myrtle Beach expected some headaches, but the city had preparations in place to keep congestion to a minimum, including blocking off several major streets, and posting extra police officers along the race route to keep things running smoothly and safely.

One of the main sections of the course took runners down Ocean Blvd. Owners of the oceanfront condos in Myrtle Beach enjoyed watching the marathon from their balconies. I would imagine that it was a great way to spend the morning.

With the mild winter temperatures and the active lifestyle, owning a beautiful condo in Myrtle Beach would be fantastic.

Pawleys Island

2008-02-16T01:53:00.004-05:00

With its white sandy beaches, Pawleys Island has been a favorite vacation spot since the 1700’s. Locals claim that Pawleys Island is the oldest resort area in the United States .

Prestigious rice and indigo planters escaped the summer heat by moving their families to cottages on the Island for the summer. Nine of the cottages are still in use and make up the Pawleys Island “Historic District.”

Historic Georgetown just 10 miles south and the action of Myrtle Beach 20 minutes north. The great location makes Pawleys Island real estate the perfect choice for a new home.

Visit The Myrtle Beach Condo Store to keep up to date on all the best deals for this fantastic beach community.