Sports Mama Tip: What To do With Your Athlete's Used Sporting Equipment?

With three boys involved in year around sports, I sometimes feel like I live in a locker room. And not just because of the smells either! I'm constantly chasing loose balls that come crashing out of my trunk, washing jerseys, and tripping over cleats. I'm sure most of you Sports Mamas can relate!


So what can you do with all of the old equipment piling up in your garage and basement (and other places, I'm sure!)? Here are a few ideas:

• Pass it down to younger siblings. Luckily for me I have three boys who just happen to play the same sports. The older they get, the less likely they are to be able to use it (especially cleats and sneakers!) for more than one season. The bad news is that the bigger their feet get, the bigger my bill gets. The good news is that they aren't busting holes in them anymore, which makes perfect for hand-me-downs. No. 1 passes his on to No. 2 and No. 2 passes his on to No. 3. No siblings? No worries! Cousins, neighbors, and friends work just as well!
• Donate it. One of our favorite things to do with our old equipment (i.e. sneakers, cleats, gloves, balls, shin guards, etc.) is donate it. Many charities will come to your front door step to pick it up! You never even have to leave home. It seriously can't get any easier! You can also check with your local youth club to see if they will accept it. Our local club collects gently used cleats and sneakers. The best part is that they do not sell them. Interested youth can try them on and leave out with their favorite pair for absolutely free! Zero. NADA!
• Sell it. I personally have never sold any of the boys' equipment, but I know several people who do. You can have a yard sale, sell it locally via websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or even sell it on Ebay. There are also sporting good stores that sell both new AND used equipment. It's quite easy. You take your equipment in, they pay you for it, and then they resell it. It's a win-win situation!

I hope you find these tips helpful. Be sure to check back frequently and join the Confessions of a Sports Mama, private Facebook Group for more tips!


What do you do with your athlete's used equipment? Let me know in the comment section below!

What's Up Wednesday?- June 27, 2018

Happy Hump Day, Sports Mamas! Only two more days until the weekend, you've got this!


Here's what's up:

What we're eating this week...

Monday- Grill food; hot dogs, chorizos, shrimp, and rice and beans.

Tuesday- Leftovers.

Wednesday- Dave & Busters for No. 3's TENTH birthday! Be still, my heart. Be still!

Thursday- Taco Thursday. Who says tacos are only for Tuesdays?

Friday- Fend for yourself. Mama's tired!

What I'm reminiscing about...

We just recently came back from an amazing (and much needed!) trip to Clearwater Beach, Florida. I've been reminiscing nonstop. The weather, the views, the beach...

 

The Cuban sandwiches... mmmm!

What I'm loving...

My little garden! Daylilies, bee balm, and veggies, oh my!

What we've been up to...

Trying to relax as best we know how before football "officially" begins. Although weight training and green days sounds pretty official to me!

What I'm dreading...

I was dreading coming back to work after being off for 11 days. To my surprise though, I only came back to 126 emails. And guess what??? My inbox is down to 23 now. 23!!! #WINNING

What I'm working on...

New content for you all, as always! Have an idea you'd like to see me blog about? Let me know in the comment section below!

What I'm excited about...

I still can't get over the fact that I'm a regular contributor to USA Football and that people (dads and coaches included!) find my posts interesting. SO awesome!

What I'm watching/reading...

Not watching much these days as all the TV's in my house seem to have been taken over by Fortnite now that school's out. *rolls eyes*

What I'm listening to...

Ricky Martin's new song Fiebre is my JAM!!!

What I'm wearing...

99.9% of the time you'll find me in flip flops. Yep, even at work! But when I'm not wearing them, I'm wearing these espadrilles by Adam Tucker. Love them!

What I'm doing this weekend...

No. 1 is headed to team camp with his high school, so it'll just be Coach Hubby, No. 2, No. 3, and I. Hoping to be able to relax pool side for most of it!

What I'm looking forward to next month...

Football season!!! I'm ready to be back on the sidelines, with my fellow football mamas, cowbells in hand, cheering for our boys! I'm also excited (and a little nervous!) about becoming a high school football mom. Say whaaat?! I'll be sure to bring you all along for the ride!

What else is new...

If you're still not keeping up with me on Instagram and Facebook, I'd love to have you join me! I share Sports Mama related posts almost daily. What are you waiting for?

That's it for now. What's up with you, Mama?

Sports Mama Tip: 3 Things to Say to Your Athlete After Each And Every Game

I'll admit it. I'm always happier when my boys' win than when they lose. However, I also know that losing is just as much a part of the game as winning is.


How else would they know how good it feels to win if they never lost?


And while it may seem natural to come down on our kid(s) after a subpar performance and/or loss ("Why didn't you take more shots? Do you want to lose your starting spot? You should've done this instead."), the best thing for us to do is to not treat them much more differently than we would had they won.


Youth sports are suppose to be fun. But if we continually put more emphasis on the bad rather than the good, our young athletes may begin to resent them and see them more as a job than a hobby.


So what should we be saying to our children after their games?


Here are three things to get into the habit of saying to your young athlete after each and every game, regardless of the outcome:

1. Did you try your best?- Just like with any and everything else they put their minds to. No one's saying they have to hit as many three's as Curry, but they should be giving the same full effort he does.
2. Did you have fun?- If they're not enjoying themselves, it may be time to reevaluate things. Youth sports require a lot of time and sacrifice (from both the athletes and us mamas!). Be sure that you're investing in something that brings them joy.
3. I love watching you play!- We wouldn't sign them up season after season if this wasn't the case. Am I right? Be sure they know that a game is just a game and that you are, and always will be, their number one fan... regardless of the score!

As the mother of two teenagers now, one entering into his first season of high school football, I can tell you this for a fact; the days are long but the years are (way too) short.


Enjoy every moment, Mamas!

Team Mama Idea: Super Easy Soccer Cupcakes

Tomorrow is No. 2's last soccer game of the season. Which according to every single meteorologist will be played in the rain, again. Yep, I checked them all. I seriously can't remember the last time we had a dry weekend. Ugh!


After the game, we will celebrate with a team pizza party. And if you know anything about this Sports Mama, you know I couldn't help but volunteer to bring cupcakes. And not just any cupcakes, but soccer cupcakes of course!

These soccer cupcakes were easy, I mean super easy, to make. Want to learn how to make them yourself? Just keep reading!


What you'll need:

• Boxed cake mix
• Black cupcake liners
• Green icing
• Star decorating tip
• Soccer ball party picks (I found mine at Party City)

All you do:

1. Follow the directions on the box for cupcakes.
2. Let the cupcakes cool completely.
3. Once they are completely cooled, pipe on the icing (aka grass) using the star tip.
4. Stick the party pick (aka soccer ball) into the cupcake.
5. Step back and admire your work!

See, I told you they were easy. Yet they *almost* look store bought!

The only thing I would do different next time is to use chocolate cake mix instead of yellow. That way it looks like dirt underneath the "grass".


Happy weekend, Sports Mamas!

*** Update: We won 3-2 AND I just found out that my boy was chosen for the ALL STAR team!!!






*** Click HERE for my football cupcakes and HERE for my basketball cupcakes! ***

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!