Monthly Archives: August 2011

Alix’s Great Summer Adventure : Part 2

August 31, 2011Real Life : AlixMagiQuest, MagiQuest Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach vacationAlix

Ah vacation! When we last left off I was telling you about our fun trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to visit Greg’s parents. I believe I also had an ice cream cone dripping down my arm. Ahem.

So yes it was hot hot hot but we still found plenty to do! When we weren’t have a grand ol’ time hanging out with Greg’s folks, we were on the hunt to stay cool in the 116 degree humidity. Yes, I said 116. Can you tell I was obsessed with the heat?? I can’t stop talking about it.

day and night pool

Golf is a HUGE part of Myrtle Beach culture and miniature golf courses are all over the placeâ€”which makes me very happy because we love to play! In the middle of our game was a huge rain and thunderstorm. We kind of loved it (although we got soaking wet, it really cooled us off!). This is from before the rain hit:

And finally

We tried to stay outdoors whenever possible but the heat simply made this tricky. One of our first days in Myrtle Beach we went to Broadway on the Beach (an outdoor mall/family center) where we stumbled upon a blessedly air-conditioned place called MagiQuest. What is MagiQuest, you ask? Friends, it’s THE BOMB. MagiQuest is bascially an indoor, wizard-themed scavenger hunt. It’s geeky and cool and really, REALLY fun. Wolfie, our little Gryffindor, was so smitten with this thing, lemme tell you!

The entire place is built like a castleâ€”there is the castle library, there is the dungeon, there is an area where the knights train, even a village where pixies live,Â Â etc etc. Each child (or adult) gets a wand and then chooses a special “Magi” name (Wolfie’s was THUNDERWOLF).Â Throughout the place are hidden motion sensitive items. You wave your wand to open treasure chests, make paintings speak, collect items and reveal clues on various “quests”. Â In between challenges you go back to these “home base” screens, wave your wand and a different character speaks to you to let you know where you need to go next and encourage you (the second-rate actors who perform the little videos killed me….but Wolfie ate it up!).

It starts out easy, but gets progressively harder and dangit if Greg and I didn’t start to get into the whole thing too. Here is young Thunderwolf waving his wand to collect his clues and then checking in at the home base.

When you complete a challenge you get to go to various special areas (like to the Duel Master or the Princess) to receive bonus “magic” on your wand. Here is Wolfie visiting the Pixie Queen after he has completed his challenges. The crystal next to her glow green when you are ready to “talk” to her….they are red if you still need to find certain items.

Eventually you work your way up to battling goblins and dragons. Some parts made our young Magi a tad nervous….but mostly he was SO into it.Â The whole adventure is timed. You get 60 minutes to do as much as you can (and of course there is no way to finish it all in 60 minutes…you can “add” more minutes on etc) so there is a fun sense of urgency as you race around finding clues. At one point I remember hollering, “Quick Wolfie! To the unicorn!!” Words I never imagined uttering to my child!

We don’t have one in California, but it was really fun and I know Wolfie will want to return for sure. The wand “remembers” all your information (you will notice that he is not wearing the same outfit in all the photos because we went back TWO more times!).

After a rousing round with The Ancient Book of Wisdom, we wandered outside. And sweat. The expression on everyone’s face there was exactly like Wolfie’s…..kind of this squinched up pained look as sweat poured rolled down your temples and back. Blech.

They have a great outdoor fountain for kids to play in and after CARRRREFULLY wrapping his wand in his t-shirt and tucking it in my bag (with strict instructions NOT to let it get wet) my little Thunderwolf cooled off happily!

Our trip to Myrtle Beach was SO fun! Wolfie misses his Granny and Poo Paw (the name he gave Grandpa George at age 3….hah!) and we can’t wait to see them again! After lots of hugs, we packed our bags and were ready to hit the road. Next stop on Grandparents Tour 2011? MICHIGAN!

It shoulda been mine.

August 31, 2011Mama StyleAlix

Truth be told I need more baubles and bangles like a hole in the head, but this vintage 60s necklace on eBay was so fun and playful and modÂ ….sigh. It’s a good thing I lost it, really. But still. It woulda been nice. Have you ever had something you were eyeing on eBay or Etsy that slipped through your fingers??

Cones are Cool :: Celebrating the First Day of School

August 30, 2011Best of AlixAlix

The first day of elementary school is full of excitement, butterflies in the tummy and just a little bit of anxiety. This is why I find the German “SchultÃ¼te” custom so especially charming! Maybe you’ve seen these awesome cones in older photos? Here is the story behind them!

The SchultÃ¼teÂ tradition dates back to the early 19th century in Germany. Parents give their little first gradeÂ students a colorful, oversized cone to celebrate starting school for the very first time. The cone is typically filled with little treats like chocolates, candy and small gifts. So fun! My mother has a terrific photo of her and herÂ SchultÃ¼te as a little girl that I’ll have to scan when I go back to Michigan.

The name SchultÃ¼teÂ looselyÂ translates Â to “school cone” (technically, Schule= school and TÃ¼te=bag….sometimes you’ll see it spelled Schultuete when an umlaut isn’t available!). I remember we talked about getting one for Wolfie last year when he started first grade, but alas we never did! It looks so fun! Check out the grins on these kiddos…

images:Â barb lawrence

images:Â janwillemsen

I love these stylish little girls from 1969! Although she wasn’t ready for school yet, mama made the younger sister her own mini SchultÃ¼te so she wouldn’t feel left out. Aw!

image:Â Boxwoodcottage

I don’t know about you but everything seems better served in a cone!Â GermanÂ parents and grandparents know this too and since around 1810 theyÂ have been helping ease those first day of school jitters by giving them SchultÃ¼ten. Today, thisÂ charming tradition lives on as a celebration for children all over the country. In addition to slightly more modern designs, the cones are now filled with cool school supplies (like paints and crayons) and little toys, in addition to the classic sweets!

image:Â linda6769

image: meehara

I think this tradition is so wonderful….would you try something like this for your little one when they enter elementary school? I think I would bend the rules and actually make one for 2nd or 3rd grade too!

PS:Â Here is a cuteÂ tutorial to make one yourself, or you can order one fromÂ Kinder Cone.

First Day of Schoolâ€”Wolfie’s Rockin’ 2nd Grade!

August 30, 2011Real Life : AlixAlix

Oh little Wolfie. Yesterday was the first day of school and I was so proud of my boy. I can’t believe how tall he’s grown and quickly time is passing. I swear he was in preschool just the other day.

Second grade is a big mile stone. We are no longer considered, “the little kids”. I’m always a little anxious, but my boy is a pro. He was looking forward to the first day and not nervous at all.

Wolfie was also very excited to see his buddies on the play ground. It’s tricky, as a parent. On the one hand, you don’t want to place too much importance on being “popular”. I want him to be independent and confident….but at the same I want him to be Â social and have good friends. So I was bustin’ to see all his pals come running up to him and shouting, “Hey! Wolfie!!” There were grins and even hugs. It was so cute. Seven is a great age…they are getting bigger for sure, but they are still our little guys and most had their mama’s there to walk them in to class.