Category / sports

by Kelly Mattei

Great Deals on Active Family Gifts

Great Deals on Active Family Gifts…

Our little family has had a lot of of fun over the years with active holiday gifts. Here are some great ideas for members of every family. Let’s gooooooo:

  • Razor DXT Drift Trike Yellow, One Size This drift trike has a capacity of 198 pounds, so mom and dad can join in on the fun when Jr’s not playing with it. Steel trike style frame combined with Super Slider POM rear wheels. Riders can power slide through corners, throw fish tails or fast 180s! It’s fun for the whole family… no joke, I think everyone in my family would have a blast with these! I should mark these as ***Great Gifts for Grandchildren***! Grandma and Grandpa, you will be heroes if you deliver these at Christmas! And at writing, it’s 20% off, just $169. Get one (or two or three) for your little daredevils (or Dad!) here.
  • Razor RipRider 360 Caster Trike for Kids Ages 5+ – Lightweight, Rubber Handlebars, Steel Frame, for Riders up to 160 lbs. A great gift for kids (and some adults!) of all ages. This was, without a doubt, one of our daughter’s favorite toys when she was growing up. It keeps them moving! Purchase here. Razor makes lots of great active gifts to keep kids moving. To see what they offer, click here.
  • Flybar Pogo Sticks. Y’all, these were some of the best Christmas gifts ever. We were all pretty good at it, but our daughter could pogo forever. I have videos of her bouncing all over the driveway and the back patio. These are great exercise, and you can purchase them for different ages and levels…yes, even adults! To see a Flybar pogo stick for kids 40 to 80 pounds, click here. To see the pogo stick for weights 120-220, click here. For 80-160 pounds, click here. But there are pogo toys for all ages! Check out the Pogo Ball for children and adults up to 200 pounds here. Check out the Flybar store here.

  • Spikeball 3 Ball Original Roundnet Game Set – Includes 3 Balls, net and Bag. A great way to get the family outdoors and playing together. This competitive game is tons of fun, and it’s portable! Set up is easy. It’s also a great gift for college students who need to take a study break with friends! Get it here.
  • Cornhole Sets. Cornhole is a great game for the whole family to play together! It’s fun for all ages and brings together groups of people. It’s great at parties or just with the family or neighborhood kids. Set up a tournament! To purchase this great gift for someone on your list, click here.

  • Razor RipStik Ripster, compact lightweight caster board, for kids 8+ Kids love RipStiks! And frankly, lots of adults enjoy them too! The Razor RipStik Ripster’s lightweight and compact size is perfect for riders with a narrower stance. Inclined, 360-degree caster trucks and concave deck provide a one-of-a-kind, twist-and-carve ride. Slip-resistant deck platforms deliver maximum grip.. High-grade urethane wheels with ABEC-5 bearings deliver a smooth ride. Get one for someone on your list here. Or maybe a version for kids and adults you can purchase here. Or maybe the more sophisticated version that has more maneuverability and a weight capacity of 220 lbs here.
  • Stomp Rockets. These have been around for a while. My daughter and all the neighborhood kids loved Stomp Rockets when she was a little girl. It was a great toy that got them outside, moving, and playing together! I’m sure they have been improved since the early 2000s. Any kid on your list will love this! Purchase here.
  • Ankle Skip Ball for Kids, Foldable Skip it with Colorful Flash Wheel. When I was a kid, we had something similar to this that had a lemon toy on the end of a flexible tube. We skip-hopped all over the neighborhood! It seems it has been improved! This toy provides hours of great exercise and fun! Get one for every member of the family! Get it here.

Active gifts are a great way to get the whole family together and get each family member moving around! Kids can get exercise without even knowing they are getting exercise with these great gifts.

*** Sponsored ad. We receive commission for items purchased through our Amazon links.***

by Kelly Mattei

Best Active Family Holiday Gifts

Best active family holiday gifts…

Our little family has had a lot of of fun over the years with active holiday gifts. Here are some great ideas for members of every family:

  • Razor DXT Drift Trike Yellow, One Size This drift trike has a capacity of 198 pounds, so mom and dad can join in on the fun when Jr’s not playing with it. Steel trike style frame combined with Super Slider POM rear wheels. Riders can power slide through corners, throw fish tails or fast 180s! It’s fun for the whole family… no joke, I think everyone in my family would have a blast with these! And at writing, it’s 20% off, just $169. Get one (or two or three) for your little daredevils (or Dad!) here.
  • Razor RipRider 360 Caster Trike for Kids Ages 5+ – Lightweight, Rubber Handlebars, Steel Frame, for Riders up to 160 lbs. A great gift for kids (and some adults!) of all ages. This was, without a doubt, one of our daughter’s favorite toys when she was growing up. It keeps them moving! Purchase here. Razor makes lots of great active gifts to keep kids moving. To see what they offer, click here.
  • Flybar Pogo Sticks. Y’all, these were some of the best Christmas gifts ever. We were all pretty good at it, but our daughter could pogo forever. I have videos of her bouncing all over the driveway and the back patio. These are great exercise, and you can purchase them for different ages and levels…yes, even adults! To see a Flybar pogo stick for kids 40 to 80 pounds, click here. To see the pogo stick for weights 120-220, click here. For 80-160 pounds, click here. But there are pogo toys for all ages! Check out the Pogo Ball for children and adults up to 200 pounds here. Check out the Flybar store here.

  • Spikeball 3 Ball Original Roundnet Game Set – Includes 3 Balls, net and Bag. A great way to get the family outdoors and playing together. This competitive game is tons of fun, and it’s portable! Set up is easy. It’s also a great gift for college students who need to take a study break with friends! Get it here.
  • Cornhole Sets. Cornhole is a great game for the whole family to play together! It’s fun for all ages and brings together groups of people. It’s great at parties or just with the family or neighborhood kids. Set up a tournament! To purchase this great gift for someone on your list, click here.

  • Razor RipStik Ripster, compact lightweight caster board, for kids 8+ Kids love RipStiks! And frankly, lots of adults enjoy them too! The Razor RipStik Ripster’s lightweight and compact size is perfect for riders with a narrower stance. Inclined, 360-degree caster trucks and concave deck provide a one-of-a-kind, twist-and-carve ride. Slip-resistant deck platforms deliver maximum grip.. High-grade urethane wheels with ABEC-5 bearings deliver a smooth ride. Get one for someone on your list here. Or maybe a version for kids and adults you can purchase here. Or maybe the more sophisticated version that has more maneuverability and a weight capacity of 220 lbs here.
  • Stomp Rockets. These have been around for a while. My daughter and all the neighborhood kids loved Stomp Rockets when she was a little girl. It was a great toy that got them outside, moving, and playing together! I’m sure they have been improved since the early 2000s. Any kid on your list will love this! Purchase here.
  • Ankle Skip Ball for Kids, Foldable Skip it with Colorful Flash Wheel. When I was a kid, we had something similar to this that had a lemon toy on the end of a flexible tube. We skip-hopped all over the neighborhood! It seems it has been improved! This toy provides hours of great exercise and fun! Get one for every member of the family! Get it here.

Active gifts are a great way to get the whole family together and get each family member moving around! Kids can get exercise without even knowing they are getting exercise with these great gifts.

***We receive commission for items purchased through our Amazon links.***

by Kelly Mattei

Holiday Gifts for the Joe Namath Fan

Holiday Gifts for the Joe Namath Fan.

Lots of my readers love Joe Namath. My posts about his books and my adventure to his hometown of Beaver Falls are consistently the most-read posts on my blog…year after year. I love Joe too. If you’re looking for a gift for a Joe Namath fan on your list, I have some ideas…all of which I would love to receive myself (hint, hint).

  • All the Way: My Life in Four Quarters by Joe Namath. My friend, Linda, gave me this book for my birthday in 2019. Not kidding…I read it straight through in a day. The man has lived a fascinating life. It’s available in paperback, hardback, and even on Audible and Kindle. Highly recommend. Get it here. Or get a signed copy (what a great gift!) here.

  • Joe Namath Facsimile Signed NY Jets Jersey. Any good fan would love a Namath jersey. Can I get one to wear to his restaurant in Florida, in hopes he’ll be there and talk to me?!?! Lol! All kidding aside, this is a great gift at $74.99. Get it here. See other Namath jersey options on Amazon here.

  • Namath: a Biography by Mark Kriegel. Yes, I have read this one too. In fact, I have it in my living room. Another great one with some fun stories about Broadway Joe. Get it here.

  • Joe Namath Poster. Get it framed or leave it unframed. It’s a great gift for a Namath fan. Pricing starts at $15. Get it here.

  • Namath: My Son Joe by Rose Szolnoki. Written by Joe’s mom in 1975, this is a look at Joe Willie from a different perspective. Get it here.

Or check out lots of other Joe Namath gifts here. From bobbleheads to Christmas ornaments and books and posters and more…lots of great Namath merchandise.

Happy Holiday Shopping!

As an Amazon associate, I receive commission on items purchased through these links.

by Kelly Mattei

Youngest in the Grade

Youngest in the grade.

My daughter just turned 20 a few days ago. She’s a sophomore in college, living her best life. My husband and I traveled to her university to celebrate her, and a good time was had by all! In fact, we are still enjoying our time with her and her friends! It did, however, make me think about how fortunate she is that she will turn 21 at the beginning of her junior year in college. She is definitely not the youngest in her class, and believe me when I say I tried to design it that way.

I was one of the youngest in my grade growing up. I wasn’t the youngest, but with a late May birthday, I definitely wasn’t one of the older ones. Add in the fact that I was short with a round little face, so I looked even younger. I was among the last in my grade to get my driver’s license, and then, in college, I was one of the last of my friends to turn 21…after the end of my junior year of college!

Some of you who didn’t experience that might not think it matters. Maybe it didn’t matter at all to some of you when you were growing up. It mattered to me. I hated that I was among the last in my grade to get my driver’s license, and in college, I especially hated that I was among the last of my friends to turn 21. It mattered…a lot. It mattered so much to me, in fact, that I literally had a countdown from my 20th birthday to my 21st. I could tell you exactly how many days, hours, and minutes it was until my birthday. Yes, I would actually say things to my friends like, “I will be 21 in exactly 163 days, 7 hours, and 22 minutes.” Annoying? I’m sure. Weird? Probably. But I wanted to be 21.

It makes me wonder about the kids who skip grades. I’m not condemning that concept, so don’t come at me. I will fight back, you know. Personally, for me, it would have been a terrible thing to be the youngest among my “peers,” especially if I were a year younger! Lots of people in college don’t want to be the one who can’t go to the bar when everyone else can. I have a friend whose daughter is the youngest in her friend group, and when Taylor Swift was in Nashville, the daughter was one week shy of her 21st birthday. All her friends were in Nashville and able to go out to bars, but she couldn’t go to all of them. She could go to the 18+ or 19+ bars, but not the real bars. She felt left out of the fun.

When I was a little girl, in first and second grade, it was recommended that I skip a grade. My mother, in her wisdom, refused. She would point out how small I was. And she would also say, “She does not need to be behind the curve socially. No, she’s staying where she is.” She was wise. No, I’m not saying you are unwise if you let your kid skip a grade. You do you. I am saying I definitely would not have been socially ready for college a year earlier. I will say I see a lot of great athletes who are young in their grade at school and could have been even greater athletes if they’d had another year to grow. My child was eligible to go to kindergarten in North Carolina in 2008, but I wanted her to do a year of transitional kindergarten. I didn’t want her to be the youngest in the grade. I wanted her to have the most athletic opportunities she could have, if she wanted them (she did). I wanted her to be among the first to get her driver’s license, and among the first to turn 21 in college.

By giving my girl an October birthday, I ensured that she will be among the first to turn 21 in her class in college. She has thanked me many times for it. My husband and I were thrilled that she was among the first to turn 16, because it meant she would be responsible for driving herself, instead of being dependent on other teens. We trusted her driving, because we taught her, and we made her have double the number of practice driving hours required by the state of North Carolina to get her license. With 120 practice hours, she was a fairly experienced driver for a 16-yr-old.

So now I’m wishing a belated Happy Birthday to our 20-yr-old! That sounds weird to say. She will be 21 in 350-something days.

***I’m not an educator. I’m not a psychologist. I’m not qualified in any way to say whose kid should start school when. I’m a mom and a person who turned 16 and 21 after all her friends. I’m not offering parenting advice or educational advice in any way, shape, or fashion.***

by Kelly Mattei

College Game Day Essentials

College game day essentials.

It’s finally football season…the most wonderful time of the year! And what’s more fun than spending time with friends and family, pregaming or watching a game together?

Whether you’re hosting friends and family at home or hosting a tailgate, there are some things you’ll need. Check out these suggestions:

  • Tailgate/game day cookbook. I have a favorite, and you can get it from Amazon. It is The Southern Tailgating Cookbook, written by Taylor Mathis, an alumnus of my daughter’s high school. The book contains great recipes the author collected at tailgates across the south. I heard Mr. Mathis speak about the fun he had researching the book, so I had to have it. Get it here.
  • Cheese Board Deck. My friend, Angela, gave me this deck of charcuterie/cheese board ideas, and I love it! Charcuterie boards are an easy, beautiful way to entertain! The deck shows photos and lists ingredients for different types of charcuterie boards, and the price is right at $17.99! Each card in the box tells you exactly what cheeses, fruits, etc. to buy for the corresponding board. Get it here.
  • Football paper plates. If you’re hosting the tailgate or party and don’t want to have dishes to wash later, these cute football paper plates fit right with a game day theme. Get them here.
  • Full set of disposable paper products. Wanna keep it easy and but a full set of football themed disposable paper products? You can do that on Amazon here.
  • Football Serving Trays (3pieces). How about some fun nesting trays that are football themed? If you’re going to be hosting a tailgate or having guests at home, follow through on a football theme with a set of trays that can be used for chips, dips, appetizers or beverages. Get them here.
  • Football cocktail napkins. Maybe you’re just tailgating with cocktails? If so, you’ll need cocktail napkins that are just for tailgating. These are great to have around all the time, in fact. Get them here.
  • Bug fans. If you’re going to have food outside, you will attract flies. How to get rid of them? Keep these small, battery-operated, tabletop fans around your food. They really work, and they’re priced right at about $35 for four. Get them here.
  • Handheld paper fans for guests. Tailgating in the south? You’ll and all your guests will be hot. A great addition to any southern tailgate? Handheld paper fans for all! You can purchase at pack of 20 for about $15 in your team color here.
  • Yeti coolers and cups. You have to keep those drinks cold! Choose from a variety of Yeti coolers and cups for your pregame tailgate or your game day party at the Yeti Amazon store here.
  • Solo Stove. Night game? Need a portable fire pit? Solo Stove makes great ones! We have the Bonfire model, and we love it. Get it at Amazon for about $345 now. Purchase here. You’ll use it for years to come.
  • All-in-One Tailgating Table. I stumbled upon this and thought it was a great thing for tailgates! Sometimes, it’s hard to figure out how to organize a tailgate, but this table can certainly help! Get it here.
  • Football-themed Beer Pong Table. Pong is all the rage, so having a beer pong table is almost a necessity at a tailgate or home football party. There’s a great one at Amazon for $99 here.
  • Cornhole boards. Cornhole brings a group together, for sure! If you want cool regulation sized boards, there are some great ones at Amazon here. You don’t care if it’s not regulations sized? Then you might like a set for about $80 from Amazon here.

  • Folding chairs. If you’re going to need to take a folding chair, you can find lots of them at all price points at Amazon here.
  • JBL speakers. Every tailgate or game day party needs tunes before the game, and with a bluetooth speaker, you can even listen to pregame and game broadcasts! JBL has a great assortment of bluetooth speakers on Amazon here. We have a small JBL speaker, the Charge 5 ($179.95), that puts out great sound. You can see it here. And we have a larger one, the JBL Boombox 2 ($399.95) that puts out bigger sound that you can see here. If you want the newer version, the Boombox 3, it’s great and will set you back $499.95. See it here. (pictured below)

Are you ready for some football?!

by Kelly Mattei

It’s Almost Football Season!

It’s almost football season!

Its the most wonderful time of the year…football season! Seriously, we count down every year at our house. We love all kinds of football…high school, college, NFL. We have our favorite teams, but we will watch almost any game. I can’t watch really bad football. If both teams in any game are playing miserably, I have to remove myself from the viewing area of the television. However, I love a good, close game, and I love the spirit of competition!

I have lots of good memories tied up in football. No, I never played. I’m 5’2″ on a tall day. Plus, I’m tough, but I’m not that tough. However, I have lots of great memories from throughout my life that are related to football. One of the greatest games I have ever attended was the Alabama-Miami Sugar Bowl for the National Championship at the end of the 1992 season. To me, it was one for the ages. My team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, was the definite underdog to the powerhouse University of Miami Hurricanes. I went to the game in the New Orleans Superdome expecting to lose, but I was pleasantly surprised that, not only did we win, we pulled off a huge upset, winning 34-13.

As football season approaches every year, we start stocking up on apparel. My daughter is in college at Alabama now, so she needs cute gameday dresses and outfits. I like to find my own gameday outfits, but they’re not as important as hers! In addition, our local NFL team, the Carolina Panthers, just recruited a quarterback from Alabama, so she and I both ordered our very own Bryce Young #9 jerseys. It has been a long time since we were really excited about a Panthers team, but we are looking forward to the season this year. We’ll be the ones at games in the Bryce Young jerseys. Ha!

If you’re looking for your own game day apparel, I have ideas for everyone in the family! Check these out:

  • College girls. In the south, our college girls go one of two routes. They either dress up for the games, or they wear football jerseys representing their school. I should mention it’s really hot during most of football season in the south, so comfort is key. Therefore, short dresses without a whole lot of extra sleeve fabric…those are popular. Breezy rompers are popular, as well. There are some great options on Amazon in lots of different colors/patterns. One romper that comes in lots of colors and will be cool on a hot game day can be found here. Need a dress for a hot game? See one here. Another romper that will work great for college girls on a hot day can be seen here…it’s offered in 19 colors! If your team is green (Tulane? Baylor?), see a cute green option for a hot day here. And see a cute white dress in 100% cotton here. Once it’s cooler, you might opt for this great dress here. To see lots of game day inspiration on Amazon, click here.
  • College apparel/fan gear. Need NCAA apparel or fan gear? You can get that at Amazon too by going to the Campus Colors page here. You can find almost anything you need by searching for your favorite team under “shop by college.” If you’re a Bama fan, you can bypass that step and click here. Auburn fans click here. Arkansas Razorbacks? Click here. For more SEC teams, click on the name of the school: Florida, Georgia, LSU,, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vandy, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M, or Kentucky. For some reason, Mississippi State isn’t featured, so forgive me, my Bulldog friends. Or check out Amazon’s FAN ZONE here to see goods and apparel from lots of different teams and leagues…college and professional. You can even find those obnoxious car flags there!
  • Plastic flask. If you want to take your own alcohol to a tailgate, I have the perfect flask for you. I know none of my readers would sneak their own alcohol into a game to avoid standing in line at a bar or overpaying for alcohol in a stadium, but if you know someone who would (wink, wink), a plastic flask is great, because it won’t set off a metal detector. My personal favorite can be seen here. At only $10, it’s a steal. I also put a LeakLock Toiletry skin over it to ensure it won’t leak. You can get those here.

It’s still hots as blazes in the southeast right now, but football season will be here soon! Be prepared! I can smell the tailgates and bourbon in the air already!

by Kelly Mattei

How to Dry Clothes in a Pinch

How to dry clothes in a pinch.

I’m no Heloise, but I know how to get things done when I need them done.

You don’t know who Heloise is? Heloise is the woman behind a syndicated “household hints” column published in newspapers nationwide. It’s called Hints from Heloise, and if you can find a newspaper to read, you will likely find her column. She is also the author of several books of household hints. You can see those at Amazon here.

However, I did not have to consult with Heloise to find my handy dandy tips for drying clothes in a hurry. These are all things my mother taught me or that I learned elsewhere.

Yesterday, my daughter was going to the major league soccer game here in town, Charlotte FC vs FC Cincinnati. A friend was here with her as she was getting dressed, and when they came downstairs to leave, my daughter did not look happy. I asked, “What’s that frown?” She replied, “I don’t really like this outfit.” I thought she looked pretty and perfect for the game, but she went on to explain, “I wanted to wear my jean shorts, but they’re in the washing machine. How long would it take them to dry in the dryer?” I replied, “About 30 minutes, probably.” She groaned, “I’m already late. I can’t wait 30 minutes on top of my 25 minute drive.” Bad timing, I guess.

She and her friend got into the car to leave, and I could tell she was likely not going to have as much fun as she had hoped, because she simply didn’t feel great in what she was wearing. I stopped them just outside the garage and said, “Hold on. I know what to do.” I’ll get to that in a minute…

There are lots of ways to get clothes to dry more quickly:

  • If you have one article of clothing to dry, you can use a handheld hair dryer focused directly on it. Jeans are a heavy fabric, though, so it won’t be as quick as other fabrics.
  • Another way to dry one article of clothing quickly is to put it in the dryer with a couple of dry towels that will, hopefully, absorb some of the moisture as the items are tossed.
  • My mother used to iron clothes dry on occasion. She would put a light towel over the article of clothing, and with the iron on a high setting (no steam!), she would iron it until it was dry. It worked pretty well. I don’t do that, because I don’t even know where my iron is! No, we don’t walk around in wrinkled clothes; we use an upright steamer, but that won’t help get clothes dry, for sure.
  • Dryer balls are a great tool for drying clothes more quickly, because they keep the items in the dryer from clumping together, so the hot air can get to each item better. You can purchase them from Amazon here.
  • The most obvious thing to make clothes dry faster (but not in a pinch) is to make sure the lint filter and the hose out of the dryer are clean and clear of obstruction. That will make clothes dry more quickly on a regular basis.

There is one more method I can think of, and it’s the one my daughter used yesterday. You might think I’m crazy, but she wanted to wear those shorts so badly yesterday that she would have done just about anything. I knew the washing cycle was finished on the washing machine, and honestly, our machine has a really good spin cycle that gets most of the water out of the clothes. I knew they wouldn’t be dripping wet. I said, “Come inside and get your shorts out of the dryer while I get something else.” She met me back at the car with the shorts, and I had a belt from an old bathrobe. I said, “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I have seen this done before (when I was a teenager), and it works.” I said, “You have some options since you drive a Jeep. You can open the top and hang the shorts from one of the crossbars, or you can open a window and hang it from one of the handles inside the Jeep, letting it hang in the window.” It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, and with the temperature hovering around 90 degrees, I felt sure she had a good chance with this method. I warned her it would be a bad look to have jean shorts hanging like a flag, but since she had a 25 minute drive ahead of her, the shorts would likely be dry when she got to her destination. Her friend thought it was hilarious and was happy to hang them in her passenger-side window.

When they arrived at their destination, my daughter texted me, “It worked! The shorts are dry!”

She and her friends went to the soccer game and had a great time.

Obviously, this is not something to do in winter, but we used to do this in the 1980s when we went to the beach and needed our swimsuits or coverups to dry quickly. Don’t expect more “household hints” from me. That’s about all I have.

by Kelly Mattei

Sporty Sandals for Summer

Sporty sandals for summer.

I love sandals in summer. I especially love comfortable sandals in summer, and over the past 20 years, I have tried lots of different types, so I can recommend lots of different brands. Here are some I love:

  • Cecelia New York Gabriel Wedge Slingback. With a rubber sole and elasticized slingback, these shoes are ultra-comfortable. (See below) They are offered on Amazon in two great colors. Priced at $89, they’re not too tough on the pocketbook. Purchase here.
  • Nero Giardini Sport Sandal. This is a personal favorite, available on Amazon in white…super cute and super comfortable. I wear mine all the time and get compliments every time I wear them! Priced at about $132, they’re not inexpensive, but they’re well-made. You should be able to wear these for a long time. Purchase them here.
  • Sorel Kinetic Impact. Y’all, Sorel has upped the game on sporty sandals. My personal favorites this year are the Kinetic Impact Slingback Heel Sandals, shown below. I have them in every color (four colors!), and I absolutely love them! Priced at about $200, they’re not cheap, but to me, they have been worth every penny! Purchase them here.
  • Cole Haan OriginalGrand Sandal. (See below) I think it’s probably clear that I like a little heel. I’m most comfortable in shoes that are not completely flat. These OriginalGrands offer a little lift without wobble, and they come in some fun colors! Not gonna lie…I have several pairs of Cole Haan sandals that I have had for more than 20 years! It’s absolutely true! And I still wear them all! Purchase these here.
  • Other Cole Haan sandals. Like I said, I have worn Cole Haan for sandals for years. This year, they offer lots of cute styles. You can see lots of them on Amazon here. Click and scroll to find a style you like! There are lots to choose from!
  • Cecelia New York Uma Slide. For super casual days or days by the pool, these slides from Cecelia New York are priced right at about $40, and they are cute! Offered in several colors. Purchase here.
  • More Sorel Sandals. I mentioned the Sorel Kinetic Slingback, but honestly, Sorel has so many cute sandals this year, and I would be happy to own any/all of them! Lots of cute, colorful styles are offered on Amazon here. A few are pictured here:
  • Cole Haan Pool Slide. Priced under $30, these are great for the pool deck! They come in lots of cute colors. Purchase here.

Ugg Yeah Sport. Another great pool shoe or just something to wear for comfort, these Uggs come in great colors and offer great comfort. Priced at about $60. Personally, I prefer the red ones, but there are lots of colors offered here.

Journee Thong Sandal. These Journee thong sandals remind me of the thong sandals I wore as a little girl. It seems the white ones were most popular in the 1970s. I have these in white and in red, and I love them, because they are cute and lightweight. Purchase here. They’re even more attractive, because at writing, they’re just about $40!

Happy Shopping!

by Kelly Mattei

Sporting Event? Yes, Please!

Sporting event? Yes, please!

A friend texted me last night, “Crazy invite–but I’m asking!” After that, she proceeded to invite me to join her when she goes to an upcoming high school basketball game.

I don’t know why she thought it was a crazy invitation. I guess for lots of people it would be, but anyone who knows me knows I love being a spectator at most sporting events. Give me a basketball game, soccer game, lacrosse game, baseball game, football game, hockey game, volleyball game, rodeo, tennis match, polo…any kind of sporting event, and I’m game! Pun intended. I love the spirit of competition. I love seeing people do things I can’t do. I simply love sports.

Of course, I was quick to respond, “I will go!” So tonight, we are going to a high school basketball game. Apparently, she has intended to see a friend’s son play for years, but has never made it to a game, and he will soon be graduating. He will soon be playing his last high school basketball game. We are going, and I’m excited about it!

Our daughter graduated from high school last year, so I haven’t had much reason or opportunity to attend high school sporting events since she left for college in August. As much as I love going, I have only been to one football game, a girls volleyball game, and a few soccer games. I’m excited.

All this is my long way of reminding my friends that I’m always up for sporting events…at any level of almost any sport. If any of my friends need someone to go with them, I’m their girl! Just call or text, and I’m there!

My parents were sports fanatics. I remember being in the car with them as a child or young teenager, and they would see a baseball game or track meet happening at the very moment we were driving past. They didn’t want to skip it. We had to go. And that was OK, because it was almost always fun. We attended or participated in almost every sporting event for my high school teams, and in college, I went to lots of things too: football games, basketball games, and baseball games. After college, I was known to attend various baseball games, football games, and track and field competitions all over the country…just for fun.

Some people love concerts. I like concerts, but I’m picky about which artists I’m willing to drop a dollar on. I need to know almost every song someone sings to be willing to spend money seeing them, so I don’t go to a lot of concerts. Whereas, I have friends who will go to just about any concert in town. It’s just personality differences, I suppose. Some of those same friends don’t know the difference between a quarterback and cornerback. They don’t know where right field is or where left field is. They don’t know the difference between a layup and a jump shot. They certainly don’t know what an alley-oop is. Ask them about the Holy Roller Play and the Immaculate Reception, and you’re likely to get a blank stare. Corner kick? They have no idea. That’s OK. It’s not their thing. Ask me to sing along all the words to a Coldplay song, and you’ll get the same blank stare, even though I once waited for my car at the valet stand outside a restaurant with Chris Martin…but that’s a story for another day.

We are fortunate in Charlotte to have lots of sports teams and lots of different sporting events to support. Call me if you need a sidekick.

Sports teams to support in Charlotte

UNCC Athletics: https://charlotte49ers.com/

Charlotte Football Club (Soccer): https://www.charlottefootballclub.com/

Charlotte Checkers Hockey: https://charlottecheckers.com/

Carolina Panthers Football: https://www.panthers.com/

Charlotte Knights Baseball: https://www.milb.com/charlotte-knights

Queens University Athletics: https://queensathletics.com/index.aspx

Charlotte Bootleggers Box Lacrosse: https://pbla.com/teams/charlotte-bootleggers/

Since Charlotte is the home of NASCAR, there are all kinds of auto racing venues nearby. Click here to see a list of racetracks and events.

There are lots more. It would be impossible for me to remember all of them, but off the top of my head, there are lots of high school sports events to attend. Check athletics calendars for different schools in the area.

by Kelly Mattei

Last Minute Holiday Gifts

Last minute holiday gifts.

We are getting down to the wire. If you still have gifts to purchase but don’t know where to start (or finish), we have suggestions.

Shop Local. It’s always important to shop local, and I did a lot of local shopping this year. Your local business owners always appreciate your business, but they especially appreciate it when inflation is crazy and prices are soaring. Don’t forget, they are having to pay more for the items from their suppliers too. If you don’t know about local boutiques in your area, ask around. Or if you live in Charlotte, you can check out the Charlotte’s Got A Lot website. They have compiled a lengthy list of local places to shop for everyone on your list. You can check it out here. I checked out their list and got a few ideas for my husband and daughter. Then, I passed along some ideas to friends…straight from the Charlotte’s Got a Lot list. If you don’t live in Charlotte, you might be able to find a similar list for your town. My personal favorite local shops are The Buttercup (great for women/young ladies/neighbors/friends), Paper Skyscraper for whimsical gifts (and stop in for lunch at Thai Taste next door when you go), Charlotte’s for women, Swoozie’s for fun gifts for friends and neighbors, and though it’s not really a shop/boutique, I love purchasing sports tickets or sports merchandise for local teams…the Carolina Panthers (available through Ticketmaster or at the Panthers store in the stadium), Charlotte Checkers hockey tickets/merchandise, and Charlotte Hornets tickets/merchandise.

USA Today List. USA Today published a list just yesterday of some last-minute gift ideas, and it includes gifts for everyone on your list. Prices range from below $100 to over $1000, but you’re likely to find something that will work. Get busy looking, though, because the longer you wait, the less likely it will get here in time. See the USA Today list here.

Amazon. No, it’s not shopping local, for sure, but sometimes you just need Amazon. My mother used Amazon for lots of her shopping when she was alive, because she just didn’t get around real well. Even if you can get around well, you might find that time is not your friend, and you just need to get something now. Amazon has a section on their website called Very Merry Deals, where you can find popular discounted items that can be shipped to your home or to the recipient’s home in time for Christmas. But do your Amazon shopping now! You can see their Very Merry Deals here.

Gift Cards. It sounds cliché, but if there are any college students in your life, they love gift cards. You can purchase gift cards to just about anywhere in Harris Teeter, Target, and CVS. My college-age daughter loves gift cards from Starbucks, Panera, ChickFilA, Netflix, and Amazon, but I’m sure there are others that are popular. As a freshman, our daughter has a dining plan through her university, but sometimes, she just wants to eat what she calls “real food.” That’s when gift cards come in handy.

Experiences. If you have an amusement park near you, it might be possible to purchase season passes or gift cards for someone on your list. Call ahead to find out. Movie passes make great gifts too. Maybe there is an attraction in your town that’s fun for someone in your family. We have the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, and it’s fun for the whole family! A gift card there can mean hours of fun! Or give the gift of travel! Charlotte is a hub airport for American Airlines, so a gift card on American Airlines could be a great gift for someone who could fly out of here or fly into Charlotte to visit! See their gift cards here. Delta offers them on their website too. You can see theirs by clicking here.