We probably all grew up in a town or city that had a yearly festival that defined the community. Citizens looked forward to it, the media covered it extensively, and city resources were fully devoted to its success. Ironically enough, with many of these events, a great deal of excitement is generated from something other than what takes place directly on the streets. It all centers on one question…

What is the t-shirt going to look like this year?!

Yes, yes, yes. With established, annual events there is always anticipation surrounding the t-shirt. Growing up in Spokane, the color/design of the Bloomsday (a 7 mile community run held in May) t-shirt was always a major secret until the first person crossed the finish line. Once the shirt was out, it received either the approval or critique of thousands of participants.

Well, #CCUSocialMedia isn’t an annual event. Rather, it is 24/7/365 machine that doesn’t take a day off, let alone 364 of them. However, with that said, we still release an annual t-shirt. 

Each year, a new #CCUSocialMedia t-shirt is released.

As I discussed last year, I arrived at Coastal Carolina University with the intention of building its social media program to function as a brand. Out of the myriad of things needed to fully establish #CCUSocialMedia, a creative t-shirt was on the list (down toward the bottom of course). Once some of the more pressing issues of building a social media presence were taken care of, I gleefully turned my attention to creating something that students would want to wear.

A look at the #CCUSocialMedia shirts of the past.

Recently, we revealed our 2019-20 #CCUSocialMedia t-shirt. The fourth incarnation of the garment, this year’s version was made to not only win favor with our students but also to play a major role in this summer’s social media campaign––but more on the latter objective in a future blog post. Tonight, I just wanted to touch base on the creation of the shirt as a means to showcase our brand and to appeal to our audience.

We recently revealed the 2019 #CCUSocialMedia t-shirt.

I asked my social media specialist, Anthony Bowser, for ideas on this year’s design. As someone who recently graduated from college, he has a better idea than me about what university undergrads will actually walk outside in. He suggested I incorporate the South Carolina state outline somehow. I took his advice and came up with a concept that combined state pride with one of the most popular social media buzzwords floating around.

The back of the 2019 #CCUSocialMedia t-shirt is our program’s logo.

Taking liberty to describe the #CCUSocialMedia program as a major influencer in South Carolina, I envisioned a t-shirt that depicted a flurry of social media activity in the easternmost part of the state––you know, right where Conway is? Anthony and I presented this concept to Ron Walker, one of our talented graphic designers, and he created something that exceeded what I had drawn in my head.

Ron took all the elements we requested and made an awesome design. The outline of the state of South Carolina fills the front part of the t-shirt with the words Top #Influencer written inside. A CCU pin marker designates Conway. Social media icons and reaction buttons stem from the pin and dance inside and outside the outline. The shirt conveys that CCU is a top influencer along with the person wearing it.

Me sporting our new #CCUSocialMedia Top #Influencer t-shirt.

The back of the shirt is our social media logo, solidifying the apparel’s branding.

As I mentioned, this year’s shirt is much more than a trendy item for students. Although we will be giving out a ton of these things to Chanticleers currently enrolled at CCU, there is a greater purpose for their use (more on that later). Thanks to Ron and Anthony for collaborating on this project, I appreciate the creativity! Stay tuned, pretty soon these shirts will be literally everywhere in South Carolina. Don’t Blink.

Good evening to one and all. Remember to really savor this time of the season. Over the next couple weeks we will enjoy some of the longest days of the year. Get out and enjoy them while breathing in the sweet air of summer. Okay, let me get off my soapbox and begin the latest Thursday Rundown…

Tacky Tourist – If you read my blog post from last night, you know that today was not only Sidney’s last day of the school year but also her final day as a second grade teacher. She decided to go out in style by fully participating in her school’s Tacky Tourist Day. Check out this outfit she threw together, complete with a fake sunburn and “raccoon eyes.” Pretty creative if you ask me!

Sidney knocked it out of the park today as a tacky tourist.

Generic to the Core – I am always up for a good knockoff product. Sloan and I have been working on this box of “Berry Crunch.” But the name isn’t the best part of this Crunch Berries rip off. Rather, it is the mascot that appears on the box. How does the bird on the front, a blue mix of the Kellogg’s Cornflakes chicken and the Froot Loops toucan, relate to the cereal in any way? Cap’n Crunch himself has to be pretty puzzled. Despite the random creature on the box, the cereal actually tastes as good as the original cereal.

This week, Sloan and I have been working on a generic version of Crunch Berries called “Berry Crunch.”

Vanilla – I tweeted the below out exactly a year ago. To be honest, it was mostly to gently poke fun at my wife. Not only will she order vanilla at ice cream parlors (for cones and shakes), she will usually order a vanilla bean slice at the Cheesecake Factory. When faced with 31 flavors of ice cream or 34 varieties of cheesecake, how do you select vanilla? But while Sid might fit the literal basis of the tweet, she doesn’t fit it metaphorically. Sidney is one of the most creative people I know and by no means has a “vanilla” personality. Does anyone else out there opt for vanilla flavors?

I tweeted this out on June 6, 2018.

Cookies at Grocery Stores – As a kid, I loved going to the grocery store. In fact, I still really enjoy going as an adult. But back in the day, my primary reasons for going with my mom to do her shopping revolved around browsing the candy aisle, watching the lobsters swim in the tank at the seafood department, playing in the walk-in coolers, and getting my free cookie at the bakery. The last reason is really what motivated me to tag along. It is good to see that the supermarket tradition of pacifying young children (at least for a minute or two) while their parents shop is alive and well. As I mentioned in Monday’s blog post, the cookie that Sloan was given at Kroger over the weekend really helped calm her down. Full disclosure, I am actually a little envious each time Sloan is handed a free cookie because I want one too!

Sloan eating a cookie given to her at Kroger.

Classsssssic – This joke format is pretty common (answering a question but withholding crucial details) but is usually always funny. I love jelly beans but I also know what old ones taste like. This Pickles comic appeared in today’s newspaper.

Classic joke from a classic comic strip.

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I am looking forward to the weekend with my wife and daughter. Have a great Friday everyone and I will catch back up with everyone next week. Don’t Blink.

Tonight, my wife will go to bed as a second grade teacher for the final time.

The school year will end for Horry County students on Thursday and so will Sidney’s tenure teaching 8-year-olds. A few weeks ago, her principal asked if she would be willing to move up to fourth grade. Always down for a challenge and a change, Sid accepted. Undoubtedly, it will be a new adventure next year!

Sidney will teach fourth grade next year.

For us adults, an age gap of two years doesn’t make a difference. For elementary school children, it might as well be an eternity. There are a lot of physical, intellectual, and emotional differences between a second grader and a fourth grader. Needless to say, there will be a major adjustment going from 8-year-olds to 10-year-olds. But of course, maturity level isn’t the only new challenge Sid will face. She will also deal with an entirely new curriculum.

After five years of teaching the same units and lessons, Sid will have to create a new playbook. She will teach different material, prepare students for new standardized tests, and update her classroom. But don’t think when I say “update” her classroom that I just mean switch out the posters on her walls. Rather, think “total makeover” as in a brand new room. Sid will move to a different area of the school to be in the same wing as the other fourth grade teachers.

When she returns to Palmetto Bays School next August, I imagine it might feel like her first day of teaching all over again. There will be a lot that she will have to learn on the fly and probably some nerves to overcome. But any anxiety will be trumped by her excitement for this new challenge. Sidney is an INCREDIBLE teacher and can shape minds in an effective way regardless of whether the heads that house them have been around the sun eight times or ten times.

Congratulations to Mrs. Reser on completing another school year and for successfully teaching second graders for half a decade. Have a wonderful summer, you deserve it! Don’t Blink.

Last night, I received a text message from my wife. She was moments away from boarding a plane that would bring her back to Myrtle Beach. She was concluding a weekend girls’ trip in New York City with her sisters, mom, and niece. The text read, You will be off daddy duty soon.

I replied, writing that I am technically never off daddy duty (nor would I want to be) but that I was excited for my parenting partner to be home. Raising a sweet little girl is just more fun with two.

It was definitely a daddy-daughter weekend at our house over the past few days. It was the longest time she has ever spent with one parent before, making it the longest time I have spent with just my daughter before. Prior to Sloan’s birth, I pledged to Sid that I would be a hands-on dad and this past weekend was another opportunity to make good on that commitment.

My little girl smiled the whole weekend. Was so nice to spend it with her.

My goal going into our three days together was to make it memorable. I did this by conveying to her that it was a special weekend and by relaxing the rules just a bit. Of course this didn’t stop Sloan from asking for mommy frequently, but I think she still appreciated the slight change of pace.

When I picked her up on Friday from daycare, I asked what she wanted for dinner. She responded by exclaiming pepperoni pizza!! We went to Kroger and ordered a custom pizza. During the time that it took the store employees to burn the first pizza and make a new one, Sloan took me on a wild and crazy dash around the grocery store. After our pie was finally ready, we went home and ate. After dinner we played in her playroom and I pushed her around the house on her Minnie Mouse airplane. I surprised her with a couple pieces of her favorite candy (Hershey kisses) and she sat on the couch with me and watched her iPad as I watched adult TV. I then let her fall asleep on our bed while she watched Mickey Mouse.

The cookie the Bakery gave Sloan calmed down her mania a bit. Once we got home, she was chowing down on that pizza!

On Saturday, Sloan was up bright and early. We played in the playroom and out in the front yard. A stroll to our neighborhood park area allowed us to feed the turtles and play on the jungle gym. She exerted large quantities of energy when we visited Windmill Playhouse, an activity she really enjoyed. Sloan went hard for over two hours as she did everything Windmill offered…multiple times. We both went home exhausted! Her night ended on a high note with ice cream.

Saturday was a fun day of playing (and eating).

Sunday started with mass. For the first time in several weeks, she was well-behaved as we celebrated the Ascension. We went to the pool and splashed around. After a nap, the two of us went outside to play on the jungle gym in our backyard and to relax on the hammock. Her friend from next door, Riley, came over to play. I made Sloan pasta for dinner. Before we knew it, the time had arrived for us to pick up Sidney from the airport. After 60+ hours of not seeing mommy, Sloan was in Sid’s arms by 10 p.m. last night.

From mass to the pool to the backyard, Sunday was filled with God and fun!

Dads can get a case of anxiety when they are alone with their little one. I am not immune. However, most of us know that the moments of chaos are outweighed by the moments of laughter and love. Daddy-daughter alone time is also a great way to appreciate moms even more¬– you get an even clearer sense of how much they do! I will cherish the weekend I spent with Sloan, but like I mentioned above, I am glad to have Sid back. Don’t Blink.

Oh my, let me catch my breath for one minute, it has been a crazy month!! But in this case, crazy is good. Let’s roll with the latest Thursday Rundown…

Painting Toes – Sloan was patient enough to let Sid paint her toe nails over the weekend. After her mommy finished the job, Sloan was very proud of her pink toes. She likes to show them off to everyone, including Sid and I, even though we are very aware that they are there. Sid says she doesn’t think Sloan is ready yet for her finger nails.

Sloan was thrilled to get her toes painted by her mommy.

Pick 2 – I bit on this hypothetical tweet from a local Myrtle Beach news station. If I had to choose two from the list, I would undoubtedly pick unlimited airline tickets for life (#4). How could I pass on the opportunity to see family whenever I wanted while at the same time traveling the world? Although I took a little more time deciding on my second choice, I settled on free groceries for five years. You better believe I would be making weekly trips to Costco while supplementing my shopping with trips to gourmet grocery stores for the finest meats and cheeses. I never considered #5 or #7. What would you choose?

Which two options would you choose?

Incense – This morning I was listening to my favorite Catholic podcast, Bishop and the Vicars, when the topic of incense came up. Bishop Daily told a story of a man who entered a Catholic church, noticed the aroma of incense, and remarked something along the lines of “Now this is what a church should smell like” (it reminded him of a church he attended growing up). From there, the vicars explained why incense is used in the Catholic church. Aside from its use being mentioned and encouraged in both Leviticus and Revelation, the role of incense during mass symbolizes prayers floating up to God. Additionally, incense is said to protect the altar and the church in general.

The use of incense is deeply rooted in scripture and is a very holy part of mass.

I’ll Take Popcorn, Thanks – Movie chain Cinemark is offering an alternative to popcorn. During this past month, moviegoers could fill their popcorn bag with Flaming Cheetos instead of the traditional theater go-to. But…why? I want butter, I want fluff, and I want tradition. A crunchy, spicy snack that will leave my hands red is not of interest to me when watching a summer blockbuster.

Why?!

NYC – My wife is headed to New York City this weekend. Our niece turned 10 yesterday and one of her gifts was a girls’ trip to the Big Apple. Russell’s mom/Sid’s sister, Sid’s other sister, and Sid’s mom will all be going as well. Because of her age, Sloan will not be joining the other Mathis women on the trip. But that is fine, because that means I get to spend special time with her! It should be a terrific daddy/daughter weekend filled with fun. Here’s to a great time for my wife in NYC!

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As we usher in June on Saturday, I hope it marks the beginning of a great month for everyone. It will be another busy one for the Resers. Don’t Blink.

Past Don’t Blink blog posts written on May 30:
The Best Glade Air Fresheners (2018)
My Top 5 Favorite Sodas (2017)
Three Thoughts on Memorial Day (2016)

It will go down as the best Memorial Day weekend I have enjoyed in Myrtle Beach. Sidney, Sloan, and I spent our end-of-May holiday in/around water. We had a heavy dose of sun as well. After a Friday that included yard work and a run to the grocery store to pick up sweet, savory, and cold refreshments for the long weekend, we got out our swim suits and prepared for the next three days.

On Friday evening, we loaded up on snacks for the long weekend. Sloan rode in a police car shopping cart and received several stickers from the grocery clerk.

On Saturday, we headed to Myrtle Waves, the largest water park in the state of South Carolina. We met Sid’s parents and her sister’s family and preceded to cool ourselves off from the 95+ degree weather. Sloan loved the kiddie water slides, the large wading pool, and the lazy river. Sid went on some of the “big kid” attractions and I managed to make a quick escape to the beer garden with my father-in-law. The experience was enough for us to consider purchasing season passes. Later in the night, our same Myrtle Waves group met up again to grill out. We had burgers and hot dogs and watched baseball.

Even before we walked out the door, Sloan was ready to hit the water park on Saturday morning!

Sunday we transitioned from fresh water to salt water. After church in the morning, we headed to the beach. We packed a cooler and had a nice time admiring the Atlantic Ocean. Sidney read a magazine while Sloan and I dug in the sand and splashed in the water. After we finished on the coast, we snuck into (shhh don’t tell anyone) a resort pool to play around a little bit and lose some of the sand off our bodies. Later, we relaxed at the house and Sid cooked her delicious Cajun alfredo pasta. We capped the evening off by putting Sloan to bed and watching one of Kevin Hart’s latest films, “Night School.”

On Sunday, the three of us spent the day just with ourselves. We had a nice time at the beach.

Monday was a blast. We met up with Sloan’s friends (and our friends) and hit up the neighborhood pool. We had a good group of parents who work at CCU and kids who attend Oxford Children’s Academy. The fun started in the morning and lasted until the early afternoon. The pool session was highlighted by engaging conversation, Mr. Softee ice cream, and super informal swim lessons. The weekend ended perfectly when the three of us went next door for a cookout with our neighbors and friends; Matt, Ellen, and Riley. We brought hamburgers and hot dogs to go with the chicken, steak, and side dishes that our hosts already had prepared. After we ate and had a discussion about spooky topics, we sat in the living room and played a virtual reality group game. Sun tanned and tired from an epic weekend around the water and in the sun, we returned home and went to bed around 9:30 p.m.

Sloan and her best friend Jacqueline at our neighborhood pool.

It was the best mix. Not only did we enjoy diverse water activities over the weekend, but who we spent it with was also filled with variety. Saturday we spent with Sid’s family, Sunday we enjoyed the day just with ourselves, and Sunday we hung with friends. It was an active and social Memorial Day weekend and I would not have had it any different. Don’t Blink,

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Eve to everyone! Before we celebrate the kickoff of summer, let me present to you my latest Thursday Rundown.

Another Funny, But Faulty, Comparison – A month ago, I shared a message on a marquee from a Myrtle Beach restaurant that tried to argue that beer qualifies as salad. Believe it or not, another local eatery is making a similar audacious (and hilarious) claim. The Sneaky Beagle, a restaurant I recently wrote about, posted the below image on social media of a sandwich board located at its front entrance. Could you imagine satisfying your daily servings of fruits and vegetables by drinking a pint of beer and a glass of wine?

Come on, you got to see the humor in this, right?

An Odd Combo – Sloan insisted going to daycare earlier this week with a couple of contrasting props. She wore the jumbo sized rosary we got her for Easter while wielding the foam tomahawk we brought back from Atlanta. The irony was not last on anyone that she had a symbol of peace and devotion around her neck and a weapon of war in her hand.

Sloan wearing a rosary while wielding a tomahawk.

New Coke – In season three of “Stranger Things,” which will be released in July, New Coke will be prominently featured. For those not well-versed in the Cola Wars, the new Coca-Cola formula was released in 1985, the same year that the latest season of “Stranger Things” is set in. New Coke was a disaster and didn’t last long before it was pulled from the shelves. Not that I know from experience – I wasn’t even born yet. Lucky for me, there is a small chance I might get to try it. In conjunction with “Stranger Things,” Coca-Cola will release a very small portion of the drink to the general public. Although the odds might be stacked against me, I would love to get my hands on a can and sample Coke’s most desperate move to Pepsi’s popularity in the mid-80s.

I would love to get my hands on one of these cans!

Cheesecake Choices – Our Cheesecake Factory experience in Atlanta didn’t merely end after we ate dinner on Friday night. Before we left town on Sunday, we stopped by the restaurant once again to order come cheesecake to go. We purchased three slices and used it as motivation to get home as quickly as possible so we could eat them. When Facetiming Sloan, she asked us randomly for “rainbow cake” so we got her a piece of celebration cheesecake (cheesecake mixed with traditional cake and topped with confetti candy and sprinkles). Sidney selected a slice of cookie dough cheesecake, something we tried over a year ago and really liked. And me? I went with white chocolate macadamia caramel cheesecake, something that I had not tried before. Although it was delicious, Sid’s cookie dough cheesecake was probably the best.

Sloan eating her celebration cheesecake on the left and my white chocolate cheesecake in the top right corner.

Stadium Food! – When at a professional sporting event, some people go crazy with ballpark souvenirs and some people spend all their money on beer. Other people, like Sidney and I, prefer to blow our money on stadium food. So, to keep piling on the calories after I talked about cheesecake, let me reveal the food we ate in SunTrust Park on Saturday. Upon entering the gates, we ate dinner. I ordered chicken strips and fries and Sidney opted for bacon chicken ranch fries. When we went to our seats, I bought a bag of peanuts to enjoy during the early innings. Later, Sid and I shared ice cream served in a mini Atlanta Braves helmet.

A look at my chicken strips and fries and Sid’s chicken bacon ranch fries.

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Be safe this weekend, my friends. Thanks for your loyalty and we will catch back up next week, hopefully with a Memorial Day story or two. Don’t Blink.