Sports Mama Tip: Warm Weather Essentials

It feels like we went straight from Winter to Summer here in NoVA! It's like Spring decided to take this year off. One week I needed a blanket and hand warmers, and the very next week I'm dousing myself in sunscreen. #TRUESTORY


With No. 2 playing soccer, No. 3 playing flag football, and No. 1 getting ready for high school football, I'll be spending a whole bunch of time outside on those sidelines.


Here is my list of warm weather essentials to help keep you cool all season long:

• Sunglasses. Keep the sun out of your eyes, and look cute while doing it! It's a win-win situation!
• Hat. I go back and forth between a baseball cap and a fedora. Both do a good job of keeping your head cool as well as keeping the sun out of your face.
• Hair ties. Ponytails are my go-to hairstyle in the heat. And I don't know about you, but I'm famous for going from having 55 hair ties to having 2 overnight. For this reason, I'm always sure to keep a couple extras in my Sports Mama bag.
• Sunscreen. This one is a must! Most fields lack any type of shade. And if you've ever sat on bleachers before, you know exactly just how much sun they attract. Not only will it protect you from sunburn, it also shields harmful UV rays which in turn lowers your risk of skin cancer. No brainer, right? Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, so be sure to check the label before purchasing.
• Water. Self explanatory. Hydration isn't just important for athletes, Mamas. We have to take care of us too!
• Cooler. Filled with ice, of course. To keep both yours and your athlete's drinks cold. Nothing worse than being thirsty and hot and given warm water.
• Stadium cushion/chair. Shorts + Hot bleachers = NO BUENO! Do your legs a favor and come prepared. If you don't have either one, a blanket will work just as well!
• Canopy. Although they can be a bit of a pain to put up, they are totally worth it. They provide lots of shade and lots of room for you and your Sports Mama BFFs to chill (get it??) under.

Honorable mention:

• Misting fan. I don't have one of these (yet!), but I've been eyeing them. If any of you have one, I'd love to know whether or not you recommend them!

Stay cool, mamas!






*** Not warm where you live? I got you, Mama! Click HERE for my list of Cold Weather Essentials. ***

Sports Mama Review: Lightspeed Self-Inflating Stadium Cushion

One thing all of us Sports Mamas have in common, regardless of the sport(s) our young athletes play, is the fact that we spend a lot of time sitting on the sidelines aka bleachers. And it doesn't take very long at all before you realize just how uncomfortable they can be!


Enter Lightspeed; a company with a love of the outdoors and a goal of making the outdoors easy to enjoy. They've created a Self-Inflating Stadium Cushion! Sounds like a Sports Mama dream come true, doesn't it?!

So what exactly is it? It's a plush, portable cushion with a valve attachment allowing it to self (yes, self!)-inflate. The cushion is made with Flexform, a soft, stretchy fabric and weighs less than half a pound. It also comes with an attached carrying bag making it perfect to throw in your Sports Mama Bag!

Does it work? Coach Hubby and I tested them out at No. 1's AAU basketball tournament this past weekend. According to the instructions, to inflate you simply "unroll cushion and open valve". Once the valve was opened, the cushion self-inflated in about 6 seconds! Yep, I counted. No blowing needed whatsoever. (You can, however, blow into the valve should you want to increase the firmness. We personally preferred them as is.)

The cushion itself was soft and definitely way more comfortable than sitting on hard bleachers! The size once inflated (approximately 16 in x 12 in x 2 in) was just right for us both.

To deflate we simply had to reopen the valve and roll the cushion in the direction of the valve. It was super easy and quick to do. And as previously mentioned, it comes with an attached carrying bag making it super simple to transport. In fact, I kept both of them in my sports mama bag and still had room for everything else!

And do I recommend them? I most definitely do! Thanks to Lightspeed, I'm kissing the days of bleacher butt GOODBYE! These cushions even make sitting on the ground comfortable! (We tested them out while sitting in the grass watching No. 2 play soccer.) Besides the obvious comfort factor, I also see them helping protect from both cold and hot surfaces. Ever sat on too cold or too hot bleachers?? Ouch!


The only critique I have is the lack of available colors. They currently only come in four colors; red, blue, green, and black. I'd love for there to be a wider color variety as us Sports Mamas love matching our entire wardrobe and accessories to our athlete's team colors. Am I right?


I don't see myself (or Coach Hubby!) heading to another event with bleachers without it. Click HERE to order yours today!




Side note: WE WON!!!

*** Disclaimer: Lightspeed was kind enough to send me their product, however, all thoughts and opinions are solely my own.***

Team Mama Idea: 5 (Non-Trophy) Player Gift Ideas

I've previously written posts on both coaches gifts and team mom gift ideas, but what about the players? You may want to give them a little something too. Especially after a successful season.


Here are five of my favorite non-trophy gift ideas:

• Photo Books- Select your favorite photos from the season and have them printed into a book. Such a thoughtful keepsake!

• Personalized Water Bottles- Because athletes can never have too many. Am I right?

• Team T-shirts- You can be as creative as you'd like. Some ideas include adding the team logo, a team photo and the names of all the players, in your team color(s) of course!

• Team Photo- Take a team photo and have it blown up. You can even have it made to look like a magazine cover! 



• Baked Goods- You can never go wrong with this one. Kids + Sugar = Win Win Situation!

Let me know some of your favorite player gift ideas in the comment section below!