Our 2017 Summer Bucket List

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!! It just dawned on me that I hadn't yet made our bucket list.


50 proved a bit too ambitious for us last year (especially once football season began!), so I'm bringing it down to just 25 this year.


Ready? Here we go!

1. Go camping
2. Have a water balloon fight
3. Light our own fireworks
4. Make s'mores
5. Go fishing
6. Build a sand castle
7. Go berry picking
8. Have a picnic
9. Take a road trip
10. Go bike riding
11. Make homemade popsicles
12. Go sightseeing in DC
13. Eat funnel cake
14. Go to the waterpark
15. Rent paddleboats
16. Tie-dye shirts
17. Go go-cart racing
18. Draw with sidewalk chalk
19. Make a lemonade stand
20. Fly a kite
21. Go hiking
22. Go swimming
23. Take a trip to the library
24. Attend an outdoor movie
25. Watch the sun rise

Happy Summer!!!

Easy, DIY Father's Day Gift Idea

With Father's Day being just a few days away, I wanted to share this easy and inexpensive, DIY gift idea with you all.


All dads like beer, right? I mean, let's be honest. Kids will drive you to drinking sometimes! It's inevitable. So, why not give them a gift they're sure to drink love...BEER, made extra special with personalized Father's Day labels!

Here's all you need:

• 6 pack of dad's favorite beer
• White, printer labels (I used Avery no. 6878)

You can be as creative as you'd like when designing your labels. You could even have your child make them by hand, for even more of a personalized touch. Or, if you'd like to use mine, click HERE.

No need to waste time attempting to remove the original labels. I simply stuck mine right on top. They are the perfect fit!

That's it! An easy, thoughtful, inexpensive Father's Day gift that dad is sure to think is absolutely brewtiful!

After all, it's 5 o'clock somewhere right?


Happy (early) Father's Day!

Sports Mama Tip: My Go-To Sites & Apps

I rely on several websites and iPhone apps to help me make it through the season, especially when I'm Team Mama. Here are a list of the ones that I just cannot live without:

• TEAMSNAP- This has been my go-to website for managing teams for the past several years. There are paid upgrades, as well as a standard free version. Basically, it's your own personal webpage for your team. With this one site only, I am able to add our roster (including contact info for players, coaches, and parents), our practice and game schedules, track a player's availability, upload videos and photos, create a snack sign-up list, send messages (emails, texts, and IMs), track our win/loss record, and much more. There also have an app that you can download onto your smart phone.
• SIGNUPGENIUS- It's name speaks for itself. It's a free website that allows you to "say goodbye to reply-all emails and paper sign-up sheets". I use it to create all different types of sign-ups including for snacks, team tailgates, and end of season celebrations. It's quick, easy, and effective.
• FACEBOOK- You know what it is, I know what it is. We all know what it is! I like to use the "page" feature to set up a team page. It allows me to share info including photos and videos to help extended family and friends stay up to day with our team. Just remember not to post any information you wouldn't want to potentially be shared with strangers.
• MAPQUEST- Because I simply have no sense of direction. Embarrassing, but true. I use this app to get to just about every game...except for home games, of course. Ha!
• PINTEREST- Pinterest is my favorite site/app ever! Not only for sports related ideas, but for any other possible idea you could think of. Tired of the same old boring post-game snacks? Go to Pinterest! No clue what to give your child's coach at the end of the season? Go to Pinterest! Need some team spirit ideas? Go to Pinterest! I promise you will not be disappointed!
• ETSY- I like to think that I'm a DIYer, but let's face it. Sometimes a sports mama needs a little help! Etsy describes itself as a "world of vintage and handmade goods".  One of my favorite things to use it for is to purchase unique items including coaches gifts and spirit wear.

Have any go-to sites that you simply can't live without? Please feel free to share them below!

*** Update 7/6/18- It's been a little over a year since I originally wrote this blog post, and I have a couple of new go-to sites/apps that I just have to share with your all!

• Tourney Machine- The one stop shop site/app for keeping up with all things AAU Basketball. It allows me to view schedules, standings, brackets, AND results. The results are entered almost instantly, which is perfect for those games that I can't make it to because it's impossible for me to be in two places at once. And best of all, it's free!
• Waze- I know, I know. I'm late to the party. Coach Hubby has raved about Waze for sometime now, but I'm just now getting on board. I still use my MapQuest, but I do really enjoy the "non-directions" portion that they offer (i.e. real-time alerts regarding accidents, road hazards, and of course, police!). So helpful! And again, it's free!

In the words of one of my Sports Mama friends, Beth, "Sports Mamas gotta stick together and share the resources." Are you using and loving any apps that I missed? Comment down below or share them in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!