Nearly all children can become interested in playing at least one sport
if they are properly encouraged. No one wants to become the
stereotypical parent pushing their child into sports, but with the right
kind of encouragement, most children come to enjoy the many social and
health benefits of athletics. Below are three suggestions on how to
gently guide your child towards playing sports.
I don't know about you, but with the warm days we keep having every so often my mind is already thinking about the upcoming camping season. That paired with the fact that we are picking up our first travel trailer next weekend this girl is ready to get a jump-start on all of those adventures that lie ahead! With that in mind I have some fun camping related products to share with you that I'll be loading up once we get our camper home!
As we approach the College Football National Championship in New Orleans this Saturday, I wanted to offer tailgating recipes that benefit Extra Yard For Teachers, the primary cause of the College Football Playoff Foundation. Eckrich has partnered with Extra Yard For Teachers since 2018 and has donated over $1 million to date.
When it comes to holiday gifting I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong with fashion apparel and accessories like jewelry. I know I'm always up for a new outfit, pair of shoes, or something new to accessorize with. If those are the things you're looking for then scroll on down and check out some great gifting ideas!
I don't know about you but this is probably what most of us look like when someone tells us summer is coming to and end. That dreaded "WHY does it have to end" look. The first day of fall is exactly one month away and that month will fly by before we know it. Leaving behind lots of great summer memories in it's past. But I say before that last month is gone hurry up and savor every moment of it!
From cheering your kids team on in style (and comfort) to kicking back to play some video games at home you're gonna love this Extra Wide Foldable Stadium Chair. A standard sized stadium chair just isn't enough when it comes to sitting through a game in overtime on those hard bleachers. These chairs are extra wide and extra cushy! So they provide you the comfort you'll want when Little Johnny's football game goes into overtime. And the comfort he will appreciate too when he's playing video games with his pals.
I tell you I've been waiting for summer to arrive for what feels like months, and I think it is finally here! I guess Mother Nature was just waiting for the official "first day of summer" to bring out the plentiful sunshine. And boy am I glad it's finally arrived. I have to tell you I'm so "OVER" the rain and gloom in our area and ready to enjoy the plentiful sunshine I'm seeing out my window. And in true summer style I kicked off that sunshine by getting outside and doing some well needed yard work. If you've ever tried to work in the yard when it's raining you know that's no fun. It's much better with a little added sunshine! And these new yard tools I've been just itching to test out!
If you've ever had a flat tire in the middle of no where you know what panic feels like. I remember my first flat tire and exactly where it happened - down an old country road. And it was before cell phones! That meant I was stranded without a way to call for help. Thankfully my dad raised me to always be prepared so I always carried an air compressor in my trunk. By having it with me I was able to air up my tire enough to make it back to civilization - okay to town a few miles down the road and to a repair shop to properly fix my tire. After that incident I made sure I always had that air compressor with me. And have since given them as gifts to friends and family when they get their first car. Yes we have cell phones now to call for help, but if you don't have AAA or some other coverage it can be quite costly to call for help for something so simple. And with so many older cars on the road this will definitely be handy.
With my New England Patriots plush blanket and backpack in hand from The Northwest I'm ready for the fall weather and for those outside games. One thing about back to school that always comes to mind once September hits is that the temperatures are going to start dropping and those once pleasant outdoor games are going to start getting chilly. With several kids in our family playing various sports this year I know my new Patriots blanket and backpack will be getting lots of use. The backpack has lots of pockets both inside and out so there's plenty of places to tuck snacks and anything else we might want to take along with us, beside the blanket of course. And with it's generous size I can even use it during off season for outings to the park. This set is perfect for elementary through high school games. However, if you're heading to a college game you might want to consider one of their "Clear Zone" Stadium Friendly Totes instead to help move through security faster.
New England Patriots NFL "Jersey" Raschel Throw
The Officially licensed NFL “Jersey” Raschel Throw by The Northwest Company is the perfect accessory for any fan to show off who they’re rooting for! Add a pop to any room with this jersey-style throw that looks just like your favorite football teams on-field jerseys! This 50”x 60” NFL jersey inspired throw is extremely warm and very comfortable. These throws are known for their bright and bold colors that won’t fade after multiple machine washes. Stay true to your NFL pride with this 100% Polyester throw.
For easy storage and classic style, grab this Officially Licensed NFL "Alliance" Backpack by The Northwest Company. Dominate the day and stay on track with this backpack. The Alliance features sleek and classic style, with an added water resistant bonus. This bag is versatile enough to transition through middle and high school.
Features:
• Screen Printed NFL team logo on Reverse PVC.
• Interior padded laptop compartment;
• Organizational pockets
• Air-mesh padding
• Measures 19"H x 7"D x 12"W
• Made of Reversed Polyester Construction. Spot clean only.
In case your wondering the backpack photo actually shows how it would look with the plush blanket inside. It fits perfectly, with extra room to spare!
This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.
We've probably all been there before. That one time where you give in and be "that parent" that signs up to "help" out with one of your kids sports or clubs. I use the term "that parent" because that's what those of us who usually sit on the sidelines call the ones that volunteer to run pretty much everything. But on occasion we think "Sure I can help out, it can't be too much work, right?". And then somehow we end up as the team coach, or leading the club because the other "that parent" realizes it IS a lot of work. I know I've been there before. I volunteered to be my son's Cub Scouts leader for four years. And, yes, it was a good amount of work, and time investment on my part. I know I wish I had a way to keep myself more organized back then beyond using a traditional calendar and emails to parents. Thankfully though, times have changed and there are ways to make better use of our time. One of them is through a really cool app called TeamSnap. TeamSnap is an easy-to-use, indispensable tool for organizing and communicating every aspect of team life. It provides you with a way to manage your team (club, group, etc), schedules, fees/dues, and volunteers all from your smartphone. That means up-to-the-second info on where everyone needs to be and what they need to bring, all while being on the go.
Fifteen million coaches, parents, team managers and players use TeamSnap's web and mobile apps to save their sanity and stay in the know through email, text and instant alerts. I mean lets be honest who wouldn't want to use an app that can keep at least one part of your life completely organized? I know for me I would have loved having this to use all those years ago. Trying to keep track of everything on my own sometimes became very burdensome.
I'm not in the position of needing the TeamSnap app for any commitments at the moment, but you can sure bet when I need it I will be signing up! I already checked it all out just to see how it works and love so many of the features. I think one of my favorites is that I can share photos with others through the app. So much easier than trying to text them to parents after a big event. And the idea of taking away that excuse so many parents give you of "I forgot to put it on my calendar, or I didn't know what time we were supposed to be there." is one that to me is priceless!
Sign-up now and try it for yourself FREE for 3 months (standard trial period is only 21 days), which includes all the features of the Ultra plan.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received monetary compensation or product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.
One of my favorite parts of Memorial Day is spending time with all of my family. We get together at my grandma's house for lunch and outdoor games. It's actually become quite a thing in our family with each of us bringing a dish to share as well as fun game to play. We have several kids in the family so I'm always looking for simple, but fun games that they can play with little to no help. It makes it so much easier when everyone is able to play a game and not have to spend the day helping the smaller kids the entire time.
One game I can remember playing growing up and enjoy was badminton. We would roll out the big net and tie it between some trees and then hit the birdies back and forth either until we broke them or someone got hurt. I recently was sent a beach badminton set and know it will be a hit with the kids. The birdies have cute feathers sticking out the back of them and they light up! Now how cool is that? I mean who wouldn't want to play badminton at night? Sounds like fun to me at least. I love the soft grip paddles too because they are really comfortable to hold while you're trying to hit the birdies.
This set comes with two paddles, four birdies, and a handy drawstring bag to keep everything all together. Great for storing the set or taking it on the go.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.
Are you ready for gameday? I know in my house it means lots of finger foods and friends getting together for an afternoon of fun. I enjoy it because it's a break from the norm, instead of a big sit down meal we do finger foods that we can enjoy while watching the game. Because I mean who wants to miss part of the game to eat a meal?!? I know the guys in my house sure don't, they would rather not eat than miss a moment of the game. That's why I always have a good supply of finger foods in my freezer like Foster Farms Mini Corn Dogs. They are super quick and easy to prepare, and because they have a sweet honey batter for the breading (in my opinion) they are great plain. Of course you'll still have those that like to dip them in some ketchup and they are just the right size for that too. I also like that they come in a nice resealable bag so I can just pull a few out and pack them in my husbands lunch bag for work alongside a salad and some fruit. Of course that would mean a box would have to last longer than being opened once. It's funny the excitement these have created in our house, once the kids see me open a box they don't stray far from the kitchen waiting for them to come out of the oven. They are one of those foods you want to "get them while they are hot".
How you do gameday with Foster Farms Mini Corn Dogs?
Tweet/share a photo or video (less than 2 minutes) with #FosterFarmsGamedaySweepstakes and you could win a $100 retailer gift card this week, plus be entered to win a $1000 GameDay Party or VIP trip for 4 to the Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara, CA. For Foster Farms Game Day Sweepstakes official rules visit https://www.fosterfarms.com/fosterfarms-gameday-sweepstakes/.
Win it: One lucky reader will win 11 FREE Foster Farms Corn Dog Coupons ($77 in value). This giveaway will end December 2nd at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Prize fulfillment will be made by the sponsor, I am not responsible for prize delivery or lost or stolen deliveries. Open to residents of the US.
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For as long as I can remember we've always watched The Olympic Games together as a family. It's just something we've come to enjoy doing and cheering on Team USA. I enjoy it because it brings us all together for some quality family time. My daughter over the last few years has really taken an interest in the gymnastics portion of The Olympic Games and watching feature gymnast Simone Biles. So much so that she begged me to enroll her in classes so she could learn to be just like her. I can even recall her once telling me how she wanted to do the "gymnasts pose" just like they do as she called it. Well after some classes she says she has now perfected her pose. So of course like any mom would I had to take her photo to preserve the moment. It's amazing how kids can get their minds set on something just by watching someone on TV. It's so nice when it ends up being someone that sets a good example like Simone Biles does showing everyone that hard work pays off. Thankfully for me my daughter choose such an inspirational person and wants to follow in her footsteps when it comes to working hard and going far in gymnastics.
If you've ever had kids in any sort of sport then you know stinky practice clothes will follow. But thanks to products like Tide PODS Original Scent Laundry Detergent you can rest easy knowing even the kids can help with the laundry. My daughter actually enjoys helping me now because she likes to toss in the Tide POD and then watch through the lid of the washer as it floats around before it dissolves. I like knowing that by purchasing and using products like the Tide PODS from P&G at Walmart I can help support Team USA. I mean who knows maybe some day that will be my superstar in the Olympic Games!
Tide PODS Original Scent Laundry Detergent:
• 3-in-1: Detergent, Stain remover, Brightener
• 6X Clean* (*Based on stain removal using 1 Tide Pods Pac vs. 6 doses leading bargain liquid detergent, base variant.)
• 6X Clean in Half the Time* (*Based on stain removal using 1 Tide Pods Pac in HE quick wash cycle vs. 6 doses of the leading bargain liquid detergent, base variant, in a normal HE wash cycle.)
• Less water, more clean* (*Vs. leading liquid bargain detergent)
• Removes over 100 Stains in 1 Wash
• 90% Cleaning Ingredients vs. 15% Cleaning Ingredients (19% Canada)* (*vs. Leading liquid bargain detergent)
Don't forget when you shop for P&G brands at Walmart you too can help support Team USA.
Having both a son and daughter that have participated in sports I know that they are two totally separate ballgames so to speak. I hate to admit it but having a girl in sports is so much different, actually harder than a boy. But thankfully things are starting to change and companies like Always and Walmart are even taking the initiative to help make that change.
As you may know, in June, Always launched Always #LikeAGirl – Keep Playing, focused on the link between sports and confidence. It’s been well-documented that girls who participate in sports report higher levels of self-confidence, but new Always survey data shows that half of girls will quit sports by 17 and nearly 7 in 10 girls reported that they don’t feel encouraged by society to play. When Always examined where that feeling stems from – community support, parental encouragement, funding – they knew they needed to do something to keep girls in the game.
Always just announced a new relationship with Walmart, which will allow them to provide crucial resources to teams around the country and contribute to the goal of keeping girls in sports. As part of the Always #LikeAGirl – Keep Playing initiative, the “50 States, 50 Teams” program will support one girls team in every state - before the year is over, fifty teams will receive the resources needed to keep their girls playing.
The program launched with the reveal of the first team transformation in Hulbert, Oklahoma. This summer, Always and Walmart met with the Lady Riders junior high girls basketball team to hear about their sports experiences and empower them to keep playing by providing the equipment, uniforms and facility upgrades needed.
Coinciding with the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, Always® is partnering with UN Women to help girls build and maintain their confidence through sports. In the U.S., Always® will support Girls on the Run programs and work with retailers to help keep girls in sports.
The experience was captured in the uplifting video which you can view here:
Always and Walmart “50 Teams, 50 States” Program
As part of the Keep Playing #LikeAGirl program, Always is working with retailers to get the word out and help keep girls in sports. As an example, today, Always® and Walmart® announced they are working together to provide much-needed assistance to keep girls in sports across the US. Together, they will provide one girls teams in each of the fifty states with resources like new equipment, uniforms or a facility upgrade to help give girls the confidence to Keep Playing #LikeAGirl. Building on the Always® #LikeAGirl – Keep Playing movement, together, they will reinforce the link between sports and confidence and provide coaching tips to help keep girls motivated to participate in sports through support for coaches, educational materials and access to experts.
“Always® and Walmart® have something powerful in common – we’re both working to make a difference in women’s lives,” said Annie Walker, vice president, over the counter merchandising, Walmart® U.S. “We’re proud to support the Always®’ ‘50 Teams, 50 States' Program, supporting local communities in which we operate and giving schools the help they need to keep girls playing #LikeAGirl.”
I can still remember when my daughter tried out softball for the first time. I had been through it with my son playing ball, but for some reason with her it was different. Maybe it was because she is a girl and well us mom's just tend to be a little over the top when it comes to our baby girl. Or maybe seeing my little girl as an athlete was just something I hadn't ever thought about before it actually happened. I remember going to every practice and every game, just watching with awe as she learned so many new things. And I remember biting my nails every time she was up to bat. I tried to never let her see the sadness in my face when she missed because I had always taught her to never feel bad if she missed and to never give up. So any time she looked my way I would give her a smile and a thumbs up. I think it was those moments that gave her the confidence to keep trying.
Eventually she was able to have the ball pitched to her instead of using the tee, and eventually she was able to hit it too. I never gave up on her or lost faith, and in turn she never gave up on herself. She grew as an athlete and matured through it all.
Of course through all those practices and games my daughter had to stay hydrated. I can still remember her carrying her little bottles of red POWERADE around with her. It was her favorite flavor and color at the time. POWERADE has always been a hit in our house, and with their latest campaign I know why as a mom it was a good choice.
About the POWERADE "Just A Kid" Campaign:
There is potential in all of us. No matter what you achieve in life, you start in the same place as everyone else: as a kid full of potential and big dreams. At the end of the day, we are all “just a kid” from somewhere.
POWERADE believes that with the right motivation these everyday athletes can realize their potential and one day be the athletes that they look up to. Sports have a major impact on our communities. Whether it is t-ball or the pros, every athlete in every league has a story waiting to be told.
Represent your somewhere with custom "Just a Kid" apparel that features where you're from here. All net proceeds from the sale of "Just a Kid" apparel goes to the Boys & Girls Club of America.
Special Offer:
When shoppers purchase two 8-packs of 20 oz POWERADE at Walmart, they’ll be able to go online, submit their receipt, and order a free custom “Just a Kid” reusable sports bottle. Go to http://www.us.powerade.com/walmart/#pov2 to learn more. The offer is good until April 4, 2016 or while supplies last.
Keeping your kids fit and active is one of the biggest aspects of ensuring
they remain healthy, which is where organized sports come into play. Playing
organized sports such as baseball is good for a child's mind and body. If
you're undecided about signing your child up for organized baseball, read more
to learn about some of the best benefits of the sport. If need be, search
online for quality gear, such as baseballgloves for kids from Homerun Monkey. Encourages Teamwork and Social Skills When a child plays organized baseball, or any sport, they learn the
importance of workingtogether as a team even if they don't like everyone on the team. Without
proper teamwork, the entire team cannot come together to win. Children learn
that they must respect their teammates' opinions, skills, and the ways they
contribute. Baseball can also teach a child how to communicate their thoughts
with their teammates and improve their social skills. Health Benefits Children need to be active for optimal health. Baseball is a sport that can
give your child a break from modern technology and helps them enjoy healthyhabits. Some of the most important health benefits of playing baseball
include • Develops strong legs • Burns calories • Strengthens heart muscle • Improves lung capacity • Strengthens arm muscles • Improves joint flexibility When children play baseball, they are performing cardiovascular activity,
which gets their heart pumping. Performing regular cardiovascular activities
lowers blood pressure, decreases the risk of type 2 diabetes, and controls body
fat. Teaches Decision Making Skills Just as teamwork is necessary for playing baseball, children will also learn
how to strategize and make decisions. Baseball can be fast-paced, allowing many
opportunities for them to make quick decisions. Baseball encourages the
importance of concentration, remaining alert, having confidence, and
commitment. Reduces Stress Baseball helps to reduce everyday stress a child faces because it gives them
something else to think about. Organized sports help to free their mind and
encourage a healthy outlet for them to relieve stress. Being active allows the
body to produce endorphins, which replaces stress and allows them to feel good.
Encourages Friendly Competition Playing sports isn't all about winning the game, and it's important to teach
your child that it's okay to lose sometimes. Help boost your child's confidence
by praising and encouraging them even if their team loses. It's natural for a
child to feel bad if their team doesn't win, so help them through the
disappointment as much as you can. Helping your child deal with disappointment
at a young age will teach them how to be stronger as they age and will help
them learn to never give up. Spend time with them improving their skills so
they can be more confident and prepared when on the field.
Organized baseball can provide many benefits to your family. It will give
your child something to be proud of, boosting their self-esteem. Work together
with your child to help them remain positive about the sport. Never push them
to the point where they end up disliking the sport. It's great to win the game,
but let the sport be a positive experience for them where they can let loose
and just have fun.
With football season in full swing it seems like that's all that gets talked about at the dinner table in my house lately. Whose playing when and who is going to beat who, and by how much. I will admit I had no interest or idea about anything football until my daughter started taking interest when her dad would watch a game. I felt like I should make the effort to listen and learn since even she was taking notice. Of course as a female into fashion my first step was to get myself some team apparel. You know a girl has to look good (even if she has no idea what's going on). I started off wearing one of my husbands shirts, but that wasn't good enough for me. It was time to find something made for a lady so it fit right, and looked good of course.
A great place to shop for team apparel is the NFL Shop because they carry apparel not just for the guys, but for the girls too. Heck they even recently came out with a line of maternity shirts called Touch by Alyssa Milano. I have to say there are some super cute shirts in the line I definitely would have rocked when I was pregnant with my kids. But since I'm a seasoned mom I of course am leaning towards a more traditional look that I can wear both at home, and out with my husband.
Here's a few of the basic ladies apparel pieces I found that caught my eye (Yes even though we live in Indiana we are Patriots fans, it's my husband's hometown):
Courtside Long Sleeve T-Shirt - $44.99 // Drop Needle Sweater - $74.99
So tell me, what do you think? I'm thinking maybe I need a long sleeve and a short sleeve shirt. You never know what the temperature will be, plus if I get a short sleeved shirt I could always use that as a lead in to needing a jacket or hoodie.
Can you believe that it's March Madness time? I know for me it seems like everything is just blowing by so fast. It seems like just yesterday it was the start of the new year. Every day I wake up and wonder just how I'm going to fit it all in and still have time left to sit down relax and and enjoy a game on TV.
Do you live a busy lifestyle? Heck, who am I kidding? We all live a busy lifestyle. Thankfully there are so many great devices out there from Best Buy that can help us with our busy lives. Take your cell phone for instance, you can use it for so much more than to just make phone calls. You can keep up with all the latest scores, comment on social networks during the game, see when the next big game is on, heck you can even watch the game right on your phone. And of course now you can even use your phone just like a remote for your television. I know I've done that a few times when we couldn't find the real remote. What a lifesaver, I don't think I could live without my phone. Thankfully my phone teamed up with my television I'm set to make it through the March Madness season.
Best Buy helps keep you connected to the excitement with the devices and connectivity that make it possible. Brought to life by the brand promise of the latest devices and services, all in one place.
How do you keep up with everything and #CatchItAll?
Disclosure: Reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy
Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for
free.
Just in time for the holiday season, Sports Illustrated Kids is now offering a special subscription special. Now, when you purchase an entire year of SI Kids in print and on tablet for $19.95, you can send a second gift of 12 issues (1 year) for only $5!
Summer Unplugged- Spare your
kids from boredom (and the heat)! Two free games every day for each child ages
15 and under registered in the Summer Unplugged program* (Shoe rental
not included, but they’re worth paying for.) Sign-up here for free
bowling all summer long! http://bit.ly/AMFSummer
*You can register up to six children in the program. If you would like to add
more children, you will need to create a new account using an alternate email
address.
Summer Pass- Adults won't be left melting in the heat!
An AMF Summer Pass is just $34.95 and includes two games per day for the pass
owner and up to three guests ages 16 and up. (Shoe rental not included,
but they’re worth paying for.) Sign-up here for AMF's Summer
Pass! http://bit.ly/AMFSummer
New for 2013:
One simple sign-up, no coupons to be emailed or
printed! Simply present your membership card or your name at your local
AMF center and you're all set to go!
Also new this year for Summer Unplugged members is the
"Stay and Play" option. Additional games can be added for just
$1.49! So if the competition is hot and the weather is hotter, you can
keep the strikes coming and stay cool for less!
The Summer Unplugged
and Summer Pass programs run May 13, 2013 through September 2, 2013. Members
can redeem their bowling games every day from open until 8pm using their
membership pass, member ID, first name or other unique identifier.
With over 250 locations, AMF is where America goes bowling! Find an AMF Bowling
Center near you- http://bit.ly/AMFCenters
Disclosure: I participated in this
campaign as a member of One2One
Network and am eligible for a
prize drawing. All opinions stated in this post are my own.
This blog contains affiliate links and sponsored posts. All thoughts and opinions are my own however and are in no way influenced by the sponsorships. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
