Struggles of a baseball mom...

Being a baseball mom is my favorite...my very, very favorite.  I truly mean that.  I have loved watching my son play ball for the last three years.  This season has been the most fun yet, as he is on a travel ball team that really ups the ante when it comes to playing.  The amount in which Bubba has improved since he joined his travel ball team is astounding.  I love watching him be coached and then seeing him apply those lessons learned.  But, lets be honest...being a baseball mom has its struggles...

baseball edition...

Happy Friday, y'all!

First and foremost, I want to send out my thoughts and prayers to those affected by Hurricane Harvey.  Watching the news footage leaves me sick to my stomach because of how helpless I feel. I have been hugging my babies extra after hearing the awful stories of stranded children who have lost their parents to the floods. I cannot imagine what this has been like for the people in the Houston area.  I am super impressed by J.J Watt's fundraising effort and will most likely be donating to his cause.  Click here for more information as to how you can donate to his Houston Flood Relief Fund.

Tacos and A Ballpark...

For the hub's birthday, we left Vivian with my Mother-in-Law, and went to an Atlanta Braves game at their new home, Suntrust Park.  We are huge Braves fans.  Hubs grew up a Braves fan and I became a fan while in college at Auburn.  Bubba knows pretty much every player and their position.  Umm, he's 5 y'all...His two favorite players are Freddie Freeman and Ender Inciarte.  So basically, going to Braves games makes us a happy family.  The night we went the Braves played the Phillies and fought hard, but ultimately lost.  We still had a blast exploring and experiencing the park.  It is like a new toy, all shiny and new.  Everything was pristine, even the bathrooms!  Another bonus; not nearly as much dark and dingy concrete as there was at Turner field.  Here are four reasons why I love the new Suntrust Park:

| K I D   S T U F F |

Y'all this was one of the best parts! As we walked down the Battery we noticed a gaggle of kids off to the side and an impressive drum line performance, so we decided to see what was going on...and we found out the Freddie Freeman and Julio Teheran were getting ready to go on the stage for a Kids Only Press Conference!  It was the cutest thing.  Kids got to ask the baseball players anything they wanted.  One child asked Freddie Freeman why he chose green for his cast (He broke his wrist in a previous game) and Freddie told the crowd it was for his late mother who had passed away when he was 10.  Green was her favorite color.  I loved getting to know the players a little more on a personal level and hope they continue to do these press conferences for the kids throughout the season.


Once inside Suntrust Park there is a kids area, appropriately named "The Sandlot".  There were so many awesome activities for the kids to do.  It all costs money, but it was pretty economical overall.  Bubba hit the batting cages and enjoyed a little virtual reality.  We really loved having economical entertainment options available to Bubba in the event he needs a break from the game.

| S T R I N G   L I G H T S |

Just go ahead and call me that #basicwhitegirl everyone makes fun of because I die over some well placed string lights...so Suntrust Park actually killed me.  I always feel like I am in the best part of a rom-com when I am under them.  You know, the part showing the beginning of a relationship where couples are laughing and talking as they walk around looking perfect leading up to the perfectly placed first kiss.  Anyway, the lights and decor really add a quaint and traditional feel to the ball park.

| P A T R I O T I S M |

This same statement could be made about Turner field, but I was so touched when the National Anthem was being performed before the game.  We were in line for food, trying to hurry and get in our seats.  When the children began to sing, most everyone stopped.  The people in front of us stopped in the middle of their food order.  People checking out in the Braves store across the way stopped in the middle of the transaction.  Parents made their children stop what they were playing and take their hats off.  Everyone stopped, removed their hats and turned to face the nearest American flag.  The whole place fell silent, with the exception of the sweet children singing.  Is there anything more patriotic than kids singing the national anthem at a baseball game? I think not.  I was really proud of my fellow Braves fans for their respect for our country's anthem and their dedication to teaching their children to have that same level of respect.

| T A C O S |

I could eat tacos all day, erryday.  Especially fresh street tacos.  Y'all, a ball field that serves good tacos is heaven on earth for me.  Granted, three tacos was $12 and they were not that big, but they were delicious!  I love that Suntrust Park has a wide array of ball park cuisine that spans well beyond hot dogs and peanuts.  They have Wok stations, vegan and vegetarian stations and of course they still have Chick-Fil-A.  There is a very wide range in prices for food, which is great because it offers options for everyone...no matter their budget.

| T R I B U T E S   T O   T H E   P A S T |

Throughout the park there are more than life-sized bobble heads of famous players.  Bubba thought these were really cool and their big heads actually move and bobble.  There is also a small museum that you walk can walk through on your way back to the front entrance of park.  They have an awesome statue of Hank Aaron as well as other memorabilia, including their 1995 World Series Trophy which was really awesome to see in person.

We didn't get to bed until midnight, but we had such a blast celebrating hub's birthday at the ball field.  Our next date night will be at Suntrust Park. It has to be. There is so much more I want to experience and enjoy!

Happy Friday, Y'all!  And GO BRAVOS!

Linking up with some of my favorites

Karli | Andrea |  Tif  | April | Amanda

How to be a sideline hero...

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #SaveSnackScore #CollectiveBias

This baseball mama has been at the beach on vacation with her family for the last four days. It has been a glorious break from life, including baseball life...and has given me time to think and plan for the next month that will consist of my son's baseball practices and tournaments in the hot summer sun.

Currently, my son is on his county All-Star team and is also preparing to be a part of a travel ball team beginning this fall.  We have spent the last four seasons at the ball fields and it is one of our favorite places to be.  I love being a baseball mama and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but it is utterly exhausting being on the sidelines out in the Georgia heat.  My husband and I both work full-time and, in addition to our son, we also have a baby girl.  As you can imagine, our days are packed.  We have no choice, but to be strategic and prepare ahead of time.

Here are some of the things I do the night before to prepare for an upcoming baseball game so that I can be the sideline hero that totes a baby on my hip while cheering on my son:

1. Gather all necessary baseball items (bat, glove, helmet, uniform, cleats, athletic cup, eye black, gloves, etc) Once I have everything together I place bag and equipment in back of my car so I have one less thing to worry about in the morning.

2. Pack change of clothes for myself because I do not want to be sweating buckets while wearing my "dry clean" only work clothes!

3. Pack diaper bag with diapers, wipes, toys, misting fan, water, baby food, etc... I have to be prepared with multiple ways of entertaining my baby on the sidelines so I can watch my oldest out on the field! Once diaper bag is packed, I place it in the car the night before.

4. Gather umbrella, chairs, sunscreen and bug spray, cooler and anything else that will make me slightly more comfortable in the blazing heat.

5. Ensure my snack basket is stocked

I created a snack basket to keep in my office at work.  I work from 8am-5pm, then I have to pick up both kids and have my son dressed and on the ball field by 5:45pm.  I do not have time to stop and pick up snacks and drinks on the way to the ball fields.  To give myself one less thing to worry about in the mornings I created a snack basket that I keep at work. Keeping the snack basket at work allows me to grab what I need on my way to get the kids and head to the ball field. There are plenty of concession stands at baseball tournaments, but they charge and arm and a leg...and truthfully I do not want nachos in the hot sun...blech…

Cheering on my son, with a baby on my hip is exhausting so I always need something to eat and drink that is replenishing. Some of my favorite snacks and drinks for the ball field are NABISCO RITZ BITS cracker sandwiches 12-pack and POWERADE®, both of which I purchased at my local Wal-Mart. I love the convenience of the snack pack and the ability to have portion control.  My son’s games can be intense and if I had a whole box of snacks open I am liable to eat them all just out of nervousness!!  The POWERADE® helps give me fuel while cheering on my son as it is easy to get dehydrated in the hot sun. The NABISCO RITZ BITS cracker sandwiches 12-pack and POWERADE® are also great for sharing with other parents on the sidelines who are cheering on their children while keeping up with a baby or toddler on the sidelines as well.

POWERADE® 8pk 20oz is currently on roll back at Wal-Mart.  You can also grab these in-store coupons from NABISCO:

• coupon neck hanger on POWERADE (8pk 20oz): Save $1.50 on NABISCO 20-pack Multipack
• coupon sticker on boxes of Nabisco snack packs : Savings of .75 when you purchase a 12-pack or larger NABISCO Multipack

Be sure to check out other ways you can be a sideline hero here!

Being a sideline hero means always being prepared! Make sure you use these steps when preparing for your child's next game!

Play ball, y'all!