Stuart Scott Tribute

                 I know the topic of this blog is to bring you the latest in sportswear fashion, but today I wanted to bring you the latest from the sports world. An ESPN great, Stuart Scott, fought valiantly in his battle against cancer, and passed away this past Sunday. If you tuned in to any sports network these past few days you have probably seen numerous tributes that are celebrating the amazing life he lived. The best one by far was this tribute aired on Sportscenter that was narrated by Robin Roberts:

             When the news first broke, I was shocked. I don’t know why I was hit so hard by the death of somebody who I only knew because of watching him on TV. Every day as I got ready for school, I would turn on Sportscenter, and watch him explain the latest news in the sports world with great enthusiasm. You could tell he loved what he was doing. There wasn’t a personal connection, but it felt like there was one.

            Immediately I turned the channel to ESPN and all they were talking about was Stuart Scott and the great memories he left behind. They didn’t care to talk about the impending NFL Playoff games that were coming up in a few short hours. They didn’t care to talk about the results of the first ever College Football Playoffs. They cared to talk about, for the entire show, the great legacy Stuart Scott left behind. Watching the numerous tributes by all the different ESPN analysts was moving. I remember one analyst, Sage Steele, who worked very closely with Scott and saw him as a mentor, call in to ESPN and share her memories with him and I teared up listening to it. I think that is a testimony to how great of a person Stuart Scott was and how many lives he touched because me, a random teenage girl from the Midwest, was deeply touched by his death.

             Personally, I have had many people around me fight their own battle against cancer including my grandparents, and a friend on my basketball team. I’ve seen, first-hand, the way it knocks you out. The chemo, the medicine, the fight; it’s a hard, tiring battle. His speech at the ESPY’s this past summer described it all perfectly. My favorite quote of his from the night was, “When you die, it does not mean you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live.” Even though, I have not had to face the wrath of cancer, this quote hit me hard and made me really think about my own life. The last sentence should be the way anybody should live their life whether they have cancer or not. I feel like in order to live and full and happy life, you need to have a purpose for why you live. For Stuart Scott it was the love he had for his family. For you, it may be something totally different, but in life there needs to be something that pushes you forward, something that gives you a reason to live, something that makes life beautiful for you.
            Stuart Scott touched the lives of millions, myself included, without even meeting them in person. His joy for life was contagious, and it has made me reevaluate how I’m living my own life. I hope one day I can be like him, and positively impact the lives of those around me. Rest in peace Stuart Scott. Thank you for showing me how to live a full and beautiful life.

Video Courtesy of Sports Cast via www.youtube.com

 

Christmas Wish List: Stocking Stuffers Edition!

           Duh, everybody loves to open extravagant gifts on Christmas morning. But, what about those little knickknacks that you get as you dump out your stocking? Sometimes the smallest things can be the best gifts! Candy and socks aside, here are some great stocking stuffer ideas with your athlete in mind:

·        Nike Phone Cases- want a phone case that defines who your athlete is? The Iphone cases by Nike are just the thing as they come in several different designs that range from the classic swoosh to their slogan of “Just Do It”.

·        Headbands- Every athlete with long hair understands the struggle of hair constantly flying into their face. You can check out my Headbands, Headbands, and more Headbands post to get my opinion on which ones are the best. The Skylar Diggins Headbands that tie in the back a quickly rising in popularity amongst girl athletes!

·        Sunglasses- Especially for those who are baseball and softball players, you can go wrong with a new pair of shades. Oakley is a popular sunglasses brand amongst athletes, and they can be a little bit pricey, but you are getting your bang-for-your-buck as they are of great quality.

·        Water bottles- An athlete must have an endless supply of these bad-boys, so what is adding one more to their “collection” going to do? You can go with the classic style of the Gatorade bottles, the Polar Bottle Sport which is great for insulation, or the CamelBak Eddy. Whichever one you choose, you can’t go wrong!

           I hope my quick and simple ideas for stocking stuffers will help you as you go out on some last minute shopping quests. I wish you the merriest of holidays and hope you spend some great time with family and friends!

Beats by Dr. Dre takeover the Sports World

            It’s two hours before the biggest game, meet, match, or race of your life. Thousands have filled the stands to witness the feat you and your teammates are about to accomplish. Focus is the number one priority. Some may find focus in prayer, others in absolute silence. I know for me, I find my focus while listening to music. I block out the world, get my mind right, and picture my teammates and I hoisting up the trophy, victorious, after a hard fought battle.
           Listening to music. It’s an escape for people. If you watch athletes in pre-game, many are walking around with headphones on, listening to their number one playlist to get them prepared and poised to fight out for a win. But, it’s not just any headphones you see athletes wearing, it’s the Beats headphones by Dr. Dre that thousands of athletes wear as they focus on the task ahead.
           Beats by Dr. Dre offer many different styles and colors of music accessories to fit your needs. For headphones there are the Studio, Solo/Solo2, Mixr, and Pro with the option for wireless for certain styles. For earbuds there are powerbeats/powerbeats2, urbeats, and tour. All of these different headphones and earbuds are offered in numerous different colors as well. Also each pair of headphones come with a carrying case too.

Different Color Options for the Solo Beats headphones by Dr. Dre

          I myself own a pair of the original Solo headphones in white and I love them. I like how the design is very sleek and simple. I personally like the Solo headphones better than the Studio because I think the Studio ones seem a little bulky, but a friend of mine has a pair and she loves them. I think that what makes Beats headphones so great is that they do a great job at doing their job of blocking out all other noise and playing the desired music clearly. I know that when I have my Beats headphone on, I can clearly hear the background parts of songs that aren’t easily heard when listening to the same song on the radio. Also if somebody were to call my name while I had these headphones on, there is probably a 99.9% chance I wouldn’t be able to hear them, which means the headphones are doing their job of blocking out other noises to make a great listening experience.
         Some may say that Beats headphones are a status symbol. I mean they first became big when athletes and celebrities such as Michael Phelps and Justin Bieber were seen wearing them 24/7. Also usually when something is defined as a status symbol, they usually cost a high price, which is true with beats headphones that can range anywhere from $150-$400. But, I don’t think that the price has anything to do with a status symbol. I think the price reflects the great quality of headphones that the customer is buying.
       In my own experiences, I would rate Beats by Dr. Dre at a quality of 5 stars. They are by far the best headphones I have ever used and they are durable as well (not like Iphones that will break the first time you drop them lol). So if you are a person who loves music, but wants to listen to it with better quality and volume, I would definitely recommend you check out Beats by Dr. Dre.

Images Courtesy of www.maclovers.universiablogs.net 

 

Christmas Wish List: Part 3 (Last Minute Ideas!)

            OMG Christmas is literally days away and I couldn’t be more excited! I guess for me at this point, the number one thing on my Christmas wish list is for a white Christmas because here in the Midwest, it feels as if it is still fall with the 40⁰F weather and little to no snow. But for those of you who are looking to do some last minute shopping for your special athlete, here are some quick ideas on easy gifts to surprise them with on Christmas Day!
           In one of my previous posts, Fall Apparel Part 1: Nike Jackets, I mentioned the Nike Half-Zip jacket. Even though it’s a little bit colder in the winter and these jackets probably won’t keep you warm enough in below freezing temperatures, I still think it is a great gift because it is something that you can wear year round, whether under a heavy winter coat or over a tank top on a breezy summer night. Also if you want to make this half-zip jacket extra special for your athlete, it would be cool to get their team logo or name embroidered on the chest area of the jacket. I know my high school basketball did this with our half-zips and it was really popular amongst the players. I was jealous I didn’t get one, so this was one of the big things I asked for on my own Christmas wish list.
          Another really simple and easy Christmas idea for your special athlete would be a baseball hat. Lids offers numerous different styles of caps in any sports team imaginable, from the classic fitted hat all the way to bucket hats which seem to be all the rage with this year’s generation of teenage boys. Lids also offers the option to customize your own hat, but at this point in time with Christmas days away, it could be a time crunch, but it is still a great option! You honestly can’t go wrong with getting your special athlete a hat. Just make sure you get their favorite team, not their rival’s hat otherwise it could end up being the worst gift they receive, and we wouldn’t want that!
          For any other last minute Christmas ideas for your athlete I would recommend checking out Finish Line's 2014 Gift Guide. What I really like about it is that they have what seems to be a never ending list of awesome sportswear from all different sorts of sports brands. I hope my Christmas Wish List posts over the past few weeks have given you some great ideas, and stay tuned as I will be releasing a Christmas Wish List Stocking Stuffers Edition before the holidays end!

Christmas Wish List: Part 2

           Christmas is almost here and I’m still looking for more ideas to add to my wish list for the big man up North. This past week, I’ve been scouring sites like Wanelo and Pinterest, to find some new items that spark my interest. This first item is one for those of you who are runners, and it seems to be a big hit, as I’ve seen these new running tights all over my Twitter feed.  

Nike Flash Women's Running Tights

           Nike’s Flash Women's Running Tights seem to be the new big thing this Christmas season. What I find to be so cool about these leggings is how Nike incorporated the reflective aspect of the pants into their overall design, instead of just adding a few random reflective patches here and there. These tights come in five different colors as well. Their design allows them to not only be used for the running aspect, but you can make a fashion statement in them as printed and patterned leggings are all the rage this winter season. 
           Another item that caught my eye were the basketball socks on Wanelo. Now these aren’t just any old black and white basketball socks. No, these are out of this world, crazy, creative, unique socks that you can’t find anywhere else. A company known as Customize Elite Socks has taken over the basketball sock world with their crazy new designs that can be found in gyms across the country. They have any design of Nike Elite socks you can imagine with designs that range from the Disney movie Frozen and The Ninja Turtles to a classic tie-dye design. There is even the option to customize your own Nike Elite Socks to make your own classic design. If you want to step up your style both on and off the court and stand out from the crowd I would definitely recommend adding this to your wish list this Christmas season.

Nike Roshe Run

           Finally for those of you looking for a new pair of kicks to strut in once the New Year kicks off, put Nike Roshes on your list as well. Over the past month Roshes have become the new “it” shoe by Nike. They offer a simple and sleek design and come in numerous different patterns and color combinations to please any type of customer. Also a big plus is that they are SUPER comfortable because they have an oversized sole that offers extra cushion. I feel like they go really well with any type of athletic wear from your baggiest sweat pants to skin tight leggings. I already own a pair of Roshes and I’ve added them to my own Christmas wish list because I love them so much I want another pair just in a different color.
           I really hope that these options have interested you and you take some time to check out these awesome ideas for your Christmas wish list as I know they are all for sure on mine!

Images Courtesy of www.nike.com and www.kicksonfire.com

Sweatshirts are Life

            If you were to tell me that for the rest of my life I could only wear a certain article of clothing, my first and only choice would be a sweatshirt. I’m not kidding when I say that I wear a sweatshirt to school for about 75% of the school year. The entire top rack of my closet is packed with a sweatshirt from every college imaginable.  I think they are the most comfortable thing to wear on this earth especially when they are oversized and baggy, and you can pair them with yoga pants and it still looks cute. With sales at an all-time high right now due to the Christmas Season, you are in luck at getting the best deals on some awesome sweatshirts.    
           If you are looking for a great hoodie to rep your favorite school in, I would check out Finish Line. Every time I go in there, they have all the top schools sweatshirts in numerous different colors and designs. You can get a sweatshirt design that has the team logo, school mascot, or even just the classic block lettering of the school name, which is my favorite design. Also a big reason to go to Finish Line right now is because they are having a deal on sweatshirts at 2 for $35, which I consider to be a steal! Normally a great sweatshirt, like the ones sold at Finish Line, cost about $35-$40 apiece, so 2 for $35 is like getting one for free. I know I will be definitely be cashing in on that deal!
          Other types of sweatshirts that you should check out would be those from Nike and Under Armour. Under Armour’s Big Logo sweatshirts are my favorite because they have several different color options and patterns. Also on the outside they have a smooth texture that is water resistant and then the inside it nice and fuzzy, which is what sweatshirts are all about. Nike also offers some different designs in sweatshirts that range from a classic hoodie like the Swoosh Out All Time sweatshirt to their Nike Tech Hoodie which has more of a futuristic, modern look to it.
          I don’t think you can ever go wrong when it comes to sweatshirts, unless they don’t have that soft, fuzzy inside I was talking about earlier. Add some more sweatshirts to your closet as you can wear them at any time of the year- yes, even my sister has worn one in Florida during the summer. Maybe one day you will share my great passion of sweatshirts too!

  

Less Styles, but more Design Opitons for Nike

            As you can probably tell from my other posts including my Nike Shoe Collection post, you know that I am a Nike fanatic. Periodically, you can find me scrolling through Nike’s numerous shoe collections and searching for that new pair of kicks that spike my interest. I didn’t really know what I was looking for as I prowled Nike’s website yesterday, I just wanted some new shoes that were different from the normal styles and colors of light blue and gray that I usually get.
           As I looked through their different shoe collections I realized that over the past 6 months Nike hasn’t come out with really any new styles of shoes. They still have the Roshes, Flyknit Lunars, and Lunar Glides. But, what was different about these different styles was that there were numerous different designs and color combos available than there were before. Personally, I was looking into the Roshes and when I looked at all my options for them while designing them on Nike ID, I was overwhelmed at all the patterns and colors I could choose from. There was the option to have a faded color, camo, marbled, or a sparkled pattern added to your shoes.  Nike has stepped up in providing the customer with more choice on their favorite shoe styles which is a big plus in my book.

Nike "Outer Space" Mercurials

          With more design options available for the customer to decide from, it allows them to take the style they love and spice it up a little. Not only is Nike adding more design options to their original tennis shoes styles, but they are incorporating it into other type of sport specific shoes. Soccer wise, Nike’s original shoe designs included the Mercurial and Hypervenom and both types of cleats have numerous design options available as well. One of my teammates has a pair of Mercurials that have a really cool outer space pattern on them which shows how creative one can get when deciding what they want their shoes to look like.

         I hope Nike continues to add more design options, because I already love the original styles of shoes they offer, but I like to be able to get them in different colors and designs. These new options really open up the power of the customer as they get to choose from numerous different options rather than get the standard one-tone color that used to only be offered. This is a great step in the right direction for Nike!

Images Courtesy of www.dailymail.co.uk