Moving on to Bigger and Better Things!

Hey there, my favorite Sports Mamas! I need to share some bittersweet news with you. Like the saying goes, all good things must come to an end...

And so, it's time. After 9 years, this blog has come to an end.

I have shared countless numbers of team mom ideas, sports mom tips, reviews, as well a look into my life and the life of my 3 athletes. I have been featured on our local news, USA Football, as well as caught the attention of NFL team owners! Now while all that sounds impressive, what I've enjoyed most is connecting with all of you. YOU are my people! The comments, emails, and amazing Facebook group community (77.9K+ members!) has made it all worth it.

So why am I throwing in the towel? Because it's time for bigger and better things! I'm so proud to announce that I am leaving Blogger for my very own domain!!! Our very own website is finally here!

Yes, you read right. Confessionsofasportsmama.com is where you can now find me!

Scan the QR code above to be taken directly there! Snap a quick screenshot and share it with your favorite sports mamas.

Don't worry, all of my previous tips, tricks, and ideas have moved over with me. There you will also find many new features, including my Amazon storefront. Your one-stop-shop to find everything you need to succeed at that #SPORTSMAMALIFE; game day essentials (for athletes AND moms), team spirit items, as well as gift ideas. We will also have a classifieds section up and running soon, which will allow you to advertise your small business. All in all, it's a win-win situation. I'll still share the same types of posts, but I'll have more creative freedom to bring you even more content.

I hope to see you there!!!

XO,

Vanessa

Team Mama Idea: Team Spirit Shoes

Hey there, Sports Mamas! I hope you all are well. I'm in the middle of college football season, so life is... busy! In the span of 4 weeks, I've been to Louisiana, Buffalo, Connecticut, and PA. We have a bye this weekend which gives me a couple days to relax... and write this quick blog post for you!

You all already know that I'm a loud, proud, team reppin' football mama! One of the ways I've been repping my #8 lately is with my shoes.

Idea No.1: Crocs with allll the charms

Start off by purchasing a pair of Crocs in your team color. Then find the charms (I ordered on Etsy and also found a stand in my local mall)! From letters to numbers to balls... the choices are endless! The more, the cuter!!

Idea No.2: Add your athlete's number to your favorite pair of kicks

I found these cute, self-adhesive number patches at Target for about $2 each! SCORE!!! I received SO many compliments on them... easiest DIY ever!

Idea No.3: Customized Nikes

And finally, I customized my very own pair of Nike Dunks! From the color of the soles to the laces, I got to choose every single detail. And you already know that I wasn't going to pass up on the chance to add text! I added my boys' initials as well as No.1's jersey number. They were definitely a bit of a splurge, but I am so happy with how they turned out!

I hope this post gives you some new ideas! 

For more ideas, be sure to join me and 77.9K other sports mamas in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group.

GO TEAM!!!

Sports Mama Review: Double A Designs Custom Photo Tee

If there's one thing you all know about me, it's that I'm a loud, PROUD football mom! I literally have drawers full of nothing but my #footballmomswag. I am always on the lookout for anything and everything I can find in my boys' team colors.

One thing I didn't have though? A shirt with my boy's picture on it. Enter Double A Designs!

Double A Designs is a one-stop shop for all of your custom needs! They do shirts, hoodies, tumblers, pillows, blankets, bags, invitations, announcements... the list goes on and on. They can even do sublimation, customized party treats, and back drops! Did I mention they are woman owned?!

For this awesome custom tee, all I had to do was send in my favorite photos. It couldn't have been any easier. They did the rest! I was sent a proof for approval prior to them being made.

I couldn't have been any happier with the results. The quality is amazing. I am literally OBSESSED with my shirt! It definitely stood out from the rest on game day. I received compliment after compliment while wearing it.

Coach Hubby loved it too! As did my collegiate athlete! I'm already thinking about my next one.

Check out some more of their work.

From start to finish, Double A Designs was a pleasure to work with. I seriously cannot recommend them enough. Be sure to check them out on Instagram and Facebook for even more inspiration!

*** Double A Designs was kind enough to send me their product, however, all thoughts and opinions are solely my own ***

8 Things I've Learned as a College Football Mom

No. 1's college football season is about to kick off in 17 days! We'll be making the eight-hour truck from Virginia to Ohio to cheer our boy and his team on. I seriously cannot believe that football is back!

This will be my third year as a college football mom, so I'm no longer a rookie. Here are EIGHT (in honor of my boy's number) things I've learned along the ride:

1. It's a full-time job. You thought high school football was a lot? Collegiate athletes (specifically D1 players) have jam-packed schedules; literally from sunup to sundown. A typical in-season day for No. 1 begins with 7am breakfast, followed by practice from 8-11am, lunch, 3pm lift, meetings from 4-7pm, followed by a walk-through until 8pm, dinner, rest and repeat. Once school starts in two weeks, class and homework will be thrown in. And yep, your professors still expect your work to be turned in on time... game week or not!
2. Summers are short. See above. No. 1 was home for less than 20 days this Summer. I never want him to feel left out of our family vacations, so I am always sure to schedule them around his availability. 
3. Everyone is talented. There's a reason only 7% of high school athletes go on to play in college. You're competing with the best of the best. Work hard, be patient. Your time will come! Which brings me to number 4.
4. Redshirting is a blessing in disguise. Of course your child wants to play as soon as they get to college. They were probably always on the field (or equivalent for their sport) in high school. They wouldn't be collegiate athletes if they weren't! BUT, you will learn very quickly that the size, age, and experience of those you are competing against is drastically different. As a 19-year-old Freshman, my son had 24(24!)-year-olds on his team. (Think re-classing, redshirts, etc.) He was redshirted (as were 99%) of the Freshman on his team. This ultimately gives him an extra year of eligibility AND schooling. Looking back, it's definitely a win-win situation.
5. It's a lot of travel. For the athletes AND their families. Even though No. 1 didn't play his Freshman year, he still traveled with the team as a signal caller. Hubby and I decided early on that if he traveled, we would too. Gone are the days of playing your local hometown teams. You will be traveling to several different states. Plan early! As soon as that schedule is released, start booking your hotel stays. The closer to game day it gets, the higher the rates will be. Not only that, but rooms sell out!!
6. Those post-game 10 minutes are everything. EVERYTHING. After each away game, the families gather near the busses to await our players. That is when you can sneak in that big mama bear hug. There is nothing I look forward to more. They make every single mile worth it!
7. Find your tribe. Because just like in youth and high school sports, it takes a village. We have an amazing group of families that we tailgate and cheer with. For home games, we also do post-game tailgates and feed our boys as well as any other teammates who are hungry. Such a great tradition!
8. It goes by fast! I'd say even quicker than high school. At least it feels that way! I feel like I was just crying my eyes out and dropping him off for Freshman year. How can this possibly be year 3?! So savor every moment, mama. Take it all in. The good, and the not so good. Remember that only 7% of high school athletes are playing at this level. Never let a day pass without letting them know just how proud you are of them!

Wishing you all a healthy, successful season! GO RED FLASH!!!

Sports Mama Review: Vettex Doubleguard Mouthguard with Lip Protection

Hey Sports Mamas! I'm back with another review for you all! 

As a football player, mouthguards are a must. No ifs, ands or buts about it! No. 1 was recently sent a Vettex Doubleguard Mouthguard with Lip Protection to try out. They offer 4 key features; ultimate protection, breathability, comfort, and no boiling needed.

They are custom fitted with double impressions to absorb shocks and lock down defense for lips, teeth, and braces. This makes them safe for braces and orthodontics. Vettex are also made with pliable thermo rubber for extra comfort. The adjustable strap attaches to helmets and face shields... no more lost mouthguards! As a sports mama, I know you all can appreciate that! 

They also have two built-in breathing channels to ensure maximum breathability and airflow during play. Another cool feature is that you can skip the boil! Vettex are ready to wear right out of the package (they can still be boiled and molded if your athlete prefers). And finally, they come in 23 different colors... players can rep their team or any other cause near and dear to their hearts.

So what did my collegiate QB/WR think about them?

He really likes them! Says he can breathe easily while using it, great range of colors to choose from, and they look good (in big part due to the minimal branding). The only drawback he gave is position specific; he said it's tough for him to talk/call plays when he's in at quarterback. He did mention that Lamar Jackson uses them though! At only $11.99 each, I'd definitely encourage your quarterback to buy one and form their own conclusions. 

I hope you found this review helpful! If you did and are ready to purchase one for your athlete, click here. (They offer 10% off when you buy two or more at the same time!)

Good luck to your athletes this weekend!

*** Vettex was kind enough to send me their product, however, all thoughts and opinions are solely my own (and my collegiate athlete's!) ***

Sports Mama Tip: College Football Game Day Must-Haves!

Long time no see blog. Life is still busy, per usual. We moved No. 1 into his college dorm room a little over a month ago. He had to report early for football camp. No. 2 is a Senior and No. 3 is a Freshman. My baby... a Freshman! I'm still working full time, momming, on the Board of our High School Football Booster Club, and trying my best to keep up with all things Confessions of a Sports Mama (including our Facebook group which by the way has over 30,000 members now!). Speaking of, have you joined us yet?

This past week I attended No. 1's first college football game!!! Talk about all the feels. It was 5 hours and 45 minutes away from home, so I wanted to be sure that I was as prepared as possible. There was absolutely no turning around if I forgot something. So I asked for help in the group, and of course, they came through!

Here is a list of our college football game day must-haves, in no particular order. Except for the first.:

• Clear stadium bag. Just about all other types of bags (backpacks, fanny packs, purses) are banned in most stadiums. The only bag you are allowed to bring in? A clear bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12". I found mine on Amazon. You can even find some with colored handles, for those of us who want to match them to our team colors.
• Hand sanitizer. I always carry it. Pretty self explanatory. Came in super handy after meeting/shaking hands with parents, especially during the tailgate.
• Sunscreen. Who likes to be sunburned? And because you already know that you're going to be sitting in direct sun if you're at an away game. Isn't it funny how that always happens?
• Sunglasses. Refer to the previous must-have.
• FAN. Paper fan. A battery operated fan. A piece of mail. Anything to fan yourself with. Game day is HOT. Especially in the beginning of the season.
• Portable phone charger. Game days are long. Nothing worse than a dead phone.
• Poncho. Because Mother Nature. And because umbrellas are a no-go in most college stadiums.
• Wallet. To purchase food/drinks from the concession stand. Or to buy some new team swag (can we ever have enough?). One mama suggested carrying cash too, just in case the credit card machines go down.
• Spirit items. Cowbell. Pom poms. Streamers. We are their number one fans after all!
• Positivity. College football can be an emotional roller coaster. Remember, they aren't in high school anymore. Coaches are playing to win, not to make everyone happy. Cheer loud. Be proud! Only 7% of high school athletes make it to this level!

Something I missed that you don't leave home without? Please let me know. I'm still learning the ropes!

GO TEAM!

Team Mama Idea: Decorate Your Athlete's Locker for Senior Night!

Happy Tuesday, Sports Mamas! I hope you all are well. I just wanted to jump on quickly and share this fun idea. There's no tutorial as it's pretty self explanatory.

You guessed it! LOCKER DECORATIONS! Many schools have this tradition. Moms make their athlete a poster and get together the evening before Senior Night and decorate the locker room. Here are some creative ideas from some of the awesome moms in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!

Shared by Elizabeth C.

Shared by Mandy A.

Shared by Stacey B.

Shared by Beth M.

Shared by Sydney D.

As you can see the possibilities are endless! You can simply hang a poster. Or you can go all out and hang streamers, balloons, and include gifts as well. 

You don't have to be a Football Mama to do this. It can be done for any sport that uses a locker room; soccer, volleyball, basketball, etc. 

Can't wait until Senior Night? Do it for Homecoming!

I hope this posts inspires you. For even more inspiration be sure to join myself and the 3,000+ REAL sports mamas, just like yourself in our Facebook Group!

Team Mama Idea: DIY Wooden Photo Collage Letters!

Senior Night for No.1 is next week!!! I can't believe it, mamas. Seems like he was just a Freshman yesterday. And a 55lb anklebiter two weeks ago. *sniff sniff*

Us Senior Mamas are getting together on Thursday for a craft night. We're making fatheads, posters, and these super cute wooden, photo collage letters!

I got the idea from Christina P., one of the awesome mamas in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group. By the way, have you joined us yet?? It's a private group for Sports Moms to connect and ask questions, share ideas, victories and defeats. We're over 2,500 strong...and growing! Here is the photo she shared that I used as inspiration.

Her daughter made one for each of her teammates. How sweet is she?!

Want to make one (or 10!) yourself? Then just keep on reading!

What you'll need:

• Large wooden letter (we found ours at Michaels)
• Mod Podge (we went with the Matte finish)
• Foam Brush
• X-Acto knife
• Scissors
• Photos (I used a total of 12 4x4 photographs, however, every letter will be unique.)

What you do:

• Lay your photos out. You will notice that I printed way more than I needed. I wasn't sure how many I'd need, so I erred on the side of caution. 
• Place them on top of your letter, one by one, until it is covered and you are happy with their placement. Use your scissors to cut them down, if needed. Do not worry if there is some overhang; we will take care of that later.

• Once you are completely happy with the placement of the photos, glue them down using your foam brush and Mod Podge, one at a time. 
• Once the glue has dried (I waited an hour), flip the letter over and trim off any excess using your X-Acto knife.

• The final step is to seal the photos with a thin layer of your Mod Podge. I waited until the next day to do this step, just to be safe. You simply put a little on your foam brush and brush over the entire letter. Do not worry, it dries clear. I promise! This will ensure that your photos do not come up at the edges and will give you a nice matte finish. 

That's it! Super easy and super cute! I'm not even gonna lie. I got a tad bit emotional as I was looking through the photographs. I really cannot believe how fast it has all gone.

Youth sports; the days are long, but the years are short. Way. Too Short. Remember to enjoy each and every moment, Mama.

*** Check out these letters made by some of the Mamas in our Facebook group using the instructions above!

Shared by Beatriz C.

Shared by Stacey B.

Team Mama Idea: Senior Mom Jerseys!

One of the mamas in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group asked to see sample "football mom shirts for inspiration". Speaking of the group... have you joined us yet?? It's a private group made up of thousands of real Sports Mamas, just like yourself. We share ideas, ask questions, and brag on our athletes. I absolutely love it!

Back to the topic of today's post. As previously mentioned, she was looking for inspo and boy did the group deliver! Here are a few of my favorites:

But my most favorite of all was this one!

SENIOR MOM SQUAD! How cute is that? Not to mention that I have a Senior this year, so it spoke directly to my heart.

Lucky for me, one of my football mama bffs is super crafty and volunteered to make them for us! She even took it up a notch by making them on jerseys. #WINNING!

She ordered the jerseys from JiffyShirts.com (if you go with this exact jersey, be sure to order up a size as they run small!) and used vinyl and her silhouette to do the lettering.

She even put our boys' names and numbers on the back!

I mean, seriously... how cute are (we) they?!? I'm so obsessed. GO SPARTANS!!!