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

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!!!

Team Mama Idea: Valentine's Day Care Package

Valentine's Day is just two days away! My boys may be 20, 18, and 15 (whoa, that makes me feel old!) now, but that won't stop me from doing a little something extra to make them feel special. Even for the one away at college.

Two of my Sports Mama BFFS (our boys played high school football together and are now each playing in college) and I got together last Friday to make our boys Valentine's themed care packages. We all brought a home baked good as well as other store-bought treats. 

We ended up with a smorgasbord of goodies, everything from brownies to hand warmers to jerky to chapstick! Each boy got one (or two or three!) of everything you see pictured. This is definitely the way to do it!

We put it all in boxes, added some pink, red, and white crinkle shreds, and a super cute card with a handwritten note. We then taped them shut and they were ready for the post office. You definitely want to pay the bit extra for priority mail due to the baked goods. 

No. 1 received his package yesterday. It arrived in perfect condition. 

Seriously, how cute is that card?!? He was super surprised and super grateful. Proof that they still appreciate surprises from their mamas... even if they are 20-year-old big, tough college football players!

Don't have a kid away at college? No worries. This would be just as special if it were hand delivered.

Have a great day surrounded by those you love and cherish, Sports Mamas!

*** 2/7/25- They were such a big hit with our boys last year, that we got together and made them again!

*** Click here, here and here for some of my past Valentine's Day ideas!

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: How to Mail Your Collegiate Athlete Homemade Treats!

Two posts in a week?! I'm on a roll! Just wanted to jump on here really quick and share an idea with you all, especially for the mamas with collegiate athletes.

We never stop missing our kiddos; no matter how old they get. And whether they like to admit it or not, they miss home too. They miss us, their siblings, their room, pets, and of course homemade food! Because let's be honest, those dining halls get old. Quick!

I recently started mailing No. 1 baked goods. One of his absolute favorite things I make are rice krispie treats. I use this recipe here. It calls for more butter than the original recipe, as well as vanilla extract. The recipe also has you stir in whole marshmallows at the very end and cautions against packing them down very tightly. They come out ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!

Perfectly sweet, moist, and fluffy. I have to stop myself from digging in the pan one too many times!

So how did I get them from VA to PA, you ask? I mailed them!

Once they were completely cooled, I cut them into squares. I then individually wrapped each square in saran wrap. And finally, I put each individually wrapped treat in a freezer bag.

And added a little handwritten note, of course!

I then headed over to my local post office and mailed them. Two days later and he had homemade rice krispie treats! And I had a happy boy!

According to google, they should stay fresh for up to five days. I advised him to put them in the fridge *if* he still had any on day four. And that was a BIG if.

College kid not a rice krispie treat fan? No worries! Two of my sports mama BFFS were telling me that they've mailed their boys cookies and brownies (one of them mailing all the way to Florida!). No complaints whatsoever!

I posted about them in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook group and received even more tried and tested ideas:

• protein balls
• muffins
• candied pecans
• oreo truffles
• homemade tortillas
• blondies

I will definitely be trying some many of them! Speaking of the Facebook group, have you joined us yet? 57,000+ real sports mamas, just like yourself!

I hope you found this post helpful. Do you mail your collegiate athlete something not mentioned above? I'd love to hear about it!

10,000 STRONG... and Counting!

We did it, Sports Mamas! WE DID IT! Our Facebook Group hit 10,000 members last week!!! 10,000! So amazing.

So why should you join, if you haven't already? Let me tell you why. It doesn't matter whether you're a football mama, a soccer mama, a basketball mama, a baseball mama, a swim mama, a wrestling mama, or a dance mama. All Sports Mamas; rookie, seasoned and retired are welcomed.

It's a fun, positive place to share personal tips, tricks, experiences, victories and defeats. We share photos, stories, and ask questions.

No judgement passed. Just support!

But don't just take it from me. Here's what our Mamas have to say.

• A place where you can "brag" about your athlete's accomplishments and victories without embarrassment or feeling bad.
• Good advice from other moms.
• Shared experiences... we appreciate each other because we know.
• Seeing the accomplishments of kids you've followed online and will probably never meet in person but feeling so happy for that kid because as a mom, you know how happy that mom is.
• Such an amazing place for us Sports Mom's to come together.
• Have never felt more belonging or "at home" in a FB group before!!

So if you're ready to be part of this awesome, private, women only, Sports Mom community, click HERE to join us today! If you're already a part of it, thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!

Sports Mama Tip: Keep Food Warm Without Sternos!

Hey Sports Mamas, I have a quick tip for you today. Next time you're feeding the team hotdogs, burgers, or any type of warm sandwich, be sure to whip out your handy, dandy cooler! Yep, you heard me right. No warming trays or Sternos needed!

This past week we fed our boys chicken patty sandwiches as part of their pre-game meal. One of my football mama BFFs and I made them at home and then loaded them up and took them to the school. Nobody wants a cold or soggy sandwich. Am I right?! Here's what we did to be sure they were still warm when it was time to serve.

• We baked the patties according to the package (164 of them total!) and placed them on buns.

• We then wrapped each sandwich individually in aluminum foil.

• Once all of the patties were wrapped, we placed them back in the oven on it's lowest temperature setting.

• Before we headed to the school, we placed them in coolers.

When it was time to serve, the sandwiches were still piping hot. The other volunteers commented on how warm they were and the team absolutely loved them!

You'd think that the buns would get soggy or even crunchy being placed in the oven, but they definitely did not. They were just right. In fact, we used this same method for hotdogs after a scrimmage and they were warm a good three hours after coming out of the oven! 

For more sports mom tips and tricks, be sure to join the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!

Happy Labor Day weekend, Mamas!

Sports Mama Tip: Another 2 Weeks of Crockpot Dinner Ideas!

Hey Sports Mamas! High School football season is back and so is all of the dinnertime chaos that comes with it! I spent a total of seven hours at the school this past Monday and Tuesday getting players registered, handing out practice uniforms, and getting the storage room back in order. This is No. 1's last year of high school football (I'm not crying, you are), and I want to enjoy every single moment possible!

As mentioned in my last Crockpot recipe post, I love them because they are delicious, quick, and easy. And who doesn't need easy now that we are wearing more hats than ever these days?!

Here is another two week(day)s worth of athlete AND Sports Mama approved crockpot meals! ENJOY!!! 

1. Shredded BBQ Chicken
2. Chicken Adobo
3. Steak Fajitas
4. Queso Chicken Tacos
5. Sausage and Peppers
6. Taco Pasta
7. Ultimate Chili
8. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
9. Pernil (Puerto Rican Roasted Pork Shoulder)
10. Chicken Tortellini Soup

I hope this gives you some ideas for those busy weeknights and that your family enjoys them as much as mine has!

What's your favorite crockpot dinner? Let us know in the comments below or in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!

Track Mama Survival Tips

I thought my days of being a track mama were long gone as No. 2 stopped running years ago. But lo and behold... I'm baaaack! No. 1 ran track for his high school this past Spring. He competed in the 200, 400, and the 4x100 relay. Coach Hubby and I enjoyed watching him race and more times than not, we stuck around to watch his teammates compete in the other events.

Track meets can be super long. Here are my tips to help you be as prepared and comfortable as possible:

• Get your hands on a schedule. Unless you don't mind arriving hours before your athlete's event, of course. As previously mentioned, track meets are long. They literally last hours. The meet may begin at 3pm and your athlete may not step foot on the track until 6. I don't know about you, but I can think of a handful of things still outstanding on my to-do list.
• Dust off your stadium seat. Or cushion. You're going to be doing a whole lot of sitting. Ain't nobody got time for bleacher butt!
• Layers, layers, layers. Weather can be so unpredictable. Especially in the Spring. I remember one specific meet where I began in short sleeves, sipping an iced guava black tea. By the time we were about three quarters of the way through, I was shivering in a hoodie wishing I had my heated stadium seat with me. Brrr!
• Sun protection. Sunglasses, sunblock, and your favorite cap. Because its always sunnier in the stands. 
• Take out some cash for concessions. Your athlete will thank you later. So will your stomach if they are selling those Chick-fil-A sandwiches. And if you're a high school track mama, you will probably need cash to get into the meet.
• Pack your camcorder. Or phone. Many of the events last mere seconds. We recorded all of No. 1's races so that we could watch with him and share with family and friends as well.
• Enjoy every moment. I've said it before and I'll say it again. And again. Time truly flies mama. No.1 is heading into his Senior year. One more year of high school sports. It is so very bittersweet. Take all the pictures, buy all of the spirit wear, cheer as loud and be as proud as you absolutely want to. You will never get this time back with them.

I hope you find this post helpful! To connect with thousands of real sports mamas, just like yourself, be sure to join the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!

Team Mama Idea: NEW Senior Night Ideas!

If you've been following me for a while, chances are you've seen my original Senior Night post. If you haven't, ummm... where have you been?!? Just kidding! Click HERE to read it.

Typically, Senior Night is the final home game of the season. However due to COVID, we celebrated our Seniors this past week at our home opener. We decided on this just in case of any unforeseen changes to our already shortened schedule.

Here's what we did to make the night all about them!

We ordered colored smoke for the team to run through at kickoff.

They absolutely LOVED it!

We also made Fatheads for their parents to hold as they walked out on the field together. Click HERE for step by step instructions.

I'm head over heels with how they turned out. Alllll the pun intended!

Each Senior received a 6ft personalized vinyl banner. This was definitely the priciest detail of the evening so we had their parents pick up a portion of the cost.

We lined them along the net behind the goal post so that they could be seen by not only the fans, but the players as well!

This picture was taken the next morning and it was super windy, but you get the idea.

As in years past, we ordered roses to which we attached hand written thank you notes from the Seniors to their parents.

Those notes are without a doubt my very favorite of all!

And because they will not be having a banquet and cake this year, we ordered cookies for an extra sweet (COVID safe!) treat.

How awesome did they turn out?!?

Our Senior managers were given these super cute gift bags courtesy of a Senior mama. SO thoughtful!

Despite the unprecedented times that we are living through, our Seniors and their families had a wonderful night. And our 35-14 victory was the icing on he cake... or cookies!

How does your school celebrate Senior Night? Let me know in the comment section below or in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!

*** Click HERE for my most recent Senior Night Ideas!

*** Here's another fun idea courtesy of Facebook Group member Mandy A. They decorated their Seniors' lockers and left them each a candy bouquet! How cute is that!

Sports Mama Review: FOTO Vision Personalized Rally Towel

Our season opener is just one day away!!! It will have been a whole 464 days since our last game... yep, I counted. I'm thankful, nervous, and excited all at the same time!

Thankful because I honestly didn't know if we'd even get here. As you know football is a Fall sport... we're in February. High School football was a no-go in the Fall here in Virginia. In fact, there are still many school districts who are not allowing football, or high school sports at all for that matter. 

I'm nervous for a couple of different reasons. The boys usually have 4 weeks to get ready for their first game, this season they had two. Will they be ready after such a long hiatus? Will playing in such frigid temps affect their play? I'm also nervous because No. 1 is the starting Varsity quarterback! He's been a quarterback since he was 8 so I know he will be just fine, but the mama bear in me can't help but be a little anxious. 

And I'm excited because a) football is back and b) NO. 1 IS THE STARTING VARSITY QUARTERBACK!!! It's his time to shine. And it's my time to cheer louder than ever before! I've got my heated stadium seat, thermal socks, beanie, scarf, gloves, and blanket in our team colors of course, my cowbell, and this awesome personalized rally towel from FOTO Vision!

I absolutely LOVE it, mamas!!! The most obvious reason is the fact that they can be 100% personalized. Simply upload the photo of your choice and add any additional artwork you'd like, including text! The images are printed from edge to edge. FOTO Vision uses a dye-sublimation heat transfer process that allows them to print high-resolution photography. Below is a picture of the mock up.

The quality is equally as great. These 100% polyester, machine washable towels are supplied by Pro Towels, the largest promotional towel supplier in the industry. They've supplied both professional and college athletic teams with their sports rally towels!

And last but most definitely not least, they are only $6.99!!! Say what?! I mean, you can barely get a combo at your favorite fast food burger joint for that. Even Coach Hubby was amazed at the price. These rally towels would make great Senior Night or end of season gifts! I'm planning on ordering them for our entire coaching staff.

Ready to order your own, click HERE! Be sure to use promo code SPORTSMAMA21 to save 10%. You can order personalized beach towels, blankets and more!

Wish us luck. GO SPARTANS!!!

UPDATE: WE WON!!!!

*** Click HERE to read my review on their plush blankets!

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

7 Things ALL Coaches Wives Know

Being the Coach's Wife isn't easy, but somebody's gotta do it! Here are 7 things all of us coaches wives know:

1. Coaching is a huge commitment. Even at the youth level! Our husbands spend endless hours, days, weeks, heck even months preparing for the season. They give it their 100%, for little to no pay at all.
2. During the season, your time with him will be limited. (Refer back to number 1). Then there are practices, meetings, games...
3. He has no favorites. Nope, not even our own kid. In fact, they probably have it the toughest. They live with the Coach. If something is weighing heavy on his heart or mind, you can best believe our kid will hear about it even after leaving the game!
4. Special occasions occasionally have to wait. I can't even begin to tell you how many of our wedding anniversaries were spent at the football field. Instead of pouting about it, try and make the best of it. Surprise him with a card and cupcakes to share with the team!
5. His players become family. He cares about each and every child on the team as if they were his own. As a result, so will you. You will more than likely find yourself chauffeuring a few of them to and from games, baking treats for them, and even crying when they cry.
6. Not everyone will like him. There will always be parents, players, and fans who think that they can do a better job coaching than he is. You may even hear them say it while sitting in the stands. Take a few deep breaths and try not to take it too personal, Mama. You know he is doing the absolute best he can.
7. We are their No. 1 fans! We listen, support, and do not judge. We are ecstatic when they win and heartbroken when they lose. We know exactly how much time, energy, and dedication they put into the season. And because coaching makes them happy, we are okay with it all!

Is your husband a coach too? I'd love to hear what you'd add to the list! Leave a comment below or join hundreds of real Sports Mamas, just like yourself, in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group.

15 Things Sports Moms Say- Part II

Last year I wrote a fun post entitled 15 Things Sports Moms Say. I thought it was about time for a part two, SO I enlisted the help of the awesome Sports Mamas in our Facebook Group!


Ready? Here we go!

1. We need instant replay. These referees are missing everything! - Tania C.
2. You're not getting in my car like that! - Kristy O.
3. Work on your homework now, please. You won't have time when you get home from practice. - Kelly V.
4. Quit chasing the butterflies!! - Erica H.
5. I drove all the way here for this?! - Kristy O.
6. OMG. Put your shoes back on! - Debra P.
7. Which dad decided on white pants? - Laura L.
8. Leave those cleats outside! - Alisa K.
9. Did you hear me yelling? - Debbie J.
10. Suck it up buttercup! - Amy R.
11. Put your cleats on or we'll be late.- Kim M.
12. Please don't get hurt, I don't have time to go to the ER today!- Trisha E.
13. You may not be the biggest or fastest, but you can definitely play the smartest! - Erica S.
14. Shake it off! - LaTarah C.
15. I LOVE WATCHING YOU PLAY! - Lisa M.

Ain't no mama like a Sports Mama... am I right?!?


What would you add to the list? Let us know in the comment section below or join myself and hundreds of other real sports moms just like yourself online!

DIY Basketball Themed Valentine's Day Box

Up until a few days ago, I thought my days of helping my boys prepare for their school Valentine's celebrations were over. I was feeling a bit sad about it too. They grow up way too fast! But then I read No. 3's teacher's weekly newsletter, and that fear disappeared!


Just like No. 2 did when he was in the fifth grade, he has been tasked with creating a Valentine's Day Box! Here are the rules:

1. Create a box to hold your valentines- it should be big enough to hold valentines from your classmates.
2. You must be able to transport your box to and from school on your own!
3. You can get help from your family, but you must be the creator and be involved in every part of building your box.
4. All boxes must be at school by February 14th.

Winners will be chosen for each of the following categories; traditional, most creative, "green", sports themed, animal themed, book/movie themed. The winners will each receive $500 in bonus bucks which the students can turn in for things such as extra recess! And because No. 3 is MY boy, I'm sure you can already guess what theme he chose... sports, of course!


He decided on making a basketball box. (Click HERE to see the football themed box No. 2 made a few years back).

Want to make one yourself? Here's what you'll need?

• Box (we used one of Coach Hubby's shoe boxes)
• Construction paper (orange, white, and black)
• Wood grain printed duck tape (tan construction paper will work if you can't find any!)
• Markers
• Scissors
• Glue (a glue stick and hot glue)
• Paper towel roll
• Rings from two Gatorade bottles (they will become the rims)

He began by applying the duck tape to the top of the box.

Once the entire top was covered, he used the orange construction paper to cover the sides.

The next step was to draw the lines on the court (half court, 3-point, etc.) We used a black sharpie for that. Quick tip: tracing a paper plate will help avoid wiggly lines!

Now that you have a court, it's time to make your hoops! Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of the actual process, but here's the finished product.

We made the backboard out of white cardstock. No. 3 wrote the words "shoot me a valentine" on them and glued on a basketball. The pole was made out of a paper towel roll. We simply cut it, colored it black with a sharpie, and glued them together. We then hot glued the Gatorade ring aka rim to the backboard, let it dry for a few minutes, and then glued the entire hoop to the box. He also made a scoreboard using the black construction paper. That's it!


As far as Valentine's cards, I found this super cool idea on Pinterest! I mean seriously, what can't you find on there?!?

(Click HERE for directions including free printable and 3 ingredient slime recipe!)

Happy Valenslime's Day, Sports Mamas! Wishing you love, health, and happiness today and every other day of the year!




*** Update 2/15/19- HE WON!!!!

*** Have a collegiate athlete? Click here for a care package idea!

Sports Mama Tip: 5 Healthy Habits for a Better You!

We are chauffeurs. We are nurses. We are water girls. We are cheerleaders. We are uniform washers. We are photographers. And so much more.


We are Sports Mamas!


And as Sports Mamas, we tend to put our needs last. It's easy to see how and why this happens. To fall into that non-stop "go, go, go" routine. But guess what, Mama? Without you there is no youth athlete. You play just as big a role in their success, if not bigger, than their coaches do.


Here are FIVE healthy habits to help you not only be the best Sports Mama you can be, but to also help you be the best you that you can be.

1. Eat healthier. The key word is healthier. I know first hand just how tough this can be as a Sports Mama. Especially when you're constantly running from work to practice and have no time in between to prepare dinner. Use your crockpot (click HERE for 2 weeks worth of dinner ideas!). Keep bagged lettuce and fresh veggies on hand for quick salads. And when you just can't avoid the drive-thru, try ordering grilled options instead of fried. Grab a bottle of water instead of a soda.
2. Get moving. Get your heart rate up and your blood circulating. Even if only for twenty minutes a day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, stand more than you sit, walk or run the track at your child's practice. You will not only burn calories by doing so, but will also boost your mood and help improve your sleep quality.
3. Take time out for you. It can be very hard to find me time as a busy Sports Mama. Trust me, I get it! But it is so important that we do a little something for ourselves that makes us happy. Read a book, take a hobby class, get a mani/pedi, have a dinner date with your bff. I recently joined a yoga studio and I absolutely love it! I get an hour all to myself, to stretch, breathe, and meditate. I leave out feeling calm, refreshed, and accomplished.
4. Say no sometimes. Believe me mama, it will be ok. You don't have to be team mom every single season. You do not have to sign your athlete up for multiple, overlapping sports. You do not always have to be the team Uber driver. You are present. You are enough.
5. Rest. Cliché, yes. But oh so important! Sleep boosts your immunity, helps to reduce stress, improves your memory, and may even help reduce the risk of some chronic conditions such as heart disease and depression.

I hope you not only find these tips helpful, but that you also put them into action.


Make time to take care of YOU, mama! And remember, your kids don't want a perfect mom, they want a happy, healthy one.