Clothing to take you from the RINK to the LINKS

 *sponsored post*

Every Spring I realize how much my boys have grown, and I search for new clothes to fill their drawers. My boys love hockey and golf, so they are huge fans of Gongshow Gear clothing. Today, I'm sharing my boys favourites from the new Spring/Summer line. These options are perfect for the rink and the links.

Each of my boys has his own personality and style, so of course they selected different items.

My oldest is pretty confident with clothing colours, so he picked a pretty bold shirt. How fun is this tie game on polo ? The colours are fantastic. He paired them with the absolute bomb shorts (which are also high quality, stylish and comfy).

My middle son is less adventurous with colour, and his number one priority is always comfort. He's loving the in the 90s polo and the tee one up hat he chose. Perfect for the golf course!

My youngest is a goalie, and he has really strong opinions on what he wears. Goalies are a unique breed! lol

He chose the protect the tarp t-shirt and the Always Hockey hat (which he loves to wear backwards). Here he is heading to the rink for Spring hockey.

My boys are loving all their new clothes -- the perfect combination of quality, comfort, and style. Have you checked out the new Gongshow Gear line yet? Do you have a favourite? Let me know in the comments below.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure - I was given GONGSHOW products for free in exchange for my honest review and promotion of the products. As always, the views expressed on this blog are 100% my own... and my boys genuinely loved everything they received.

HOCKEY Holiday Gift Guide 2022

***Disclosure -This gift guide contains some products I own, some items that I received for free and a few affiliate links. Please be assured that the opinions in this blog are 100% my own, and I've only included items I think would make fantastic gifts for hockey fans and players. Also, if you make a purchase using one of my affiliate links, you will not pay any extra, but I may get a small commission on your purchase. Thank you!***

If you regularly read my blog, you know that I'm a hockey mom to three hockey-loving boys. Every year, there are several hockey-related items on my Christmas shopping list, so today, I am sharing my top 10 gift ideas for hockey fans and hockey players. There really is something on this list for all ages and budgets.

1) Gongshow Gear - My kids and I LOVE this high quality clothing line, so it's no surprise it made my top ten list. This year, my boys are all getting new Gongshow hoodies. They're our favourite hoodies -- fantastic quality and design, and as my mother says, "they wash like a rag". We have several that have been handed down from my oldest to my youngest, and they still look brand new. I haven't included a picture of the hoodies I purchased (as they are Christmas gifts), but you can check out all the fantastic styles here.

Gongshow also has a wide variety of games that make fantastic Christmas gifts. We have the sauce off game set and the saucer king game set. Both are a lot of fun!

2) Ollie Bots - These cute little wooden robots are made with love and tied together with hockey skate laces. The Ollie Bots project was started by my son's buddy and teammate (Oliver Smith) who sadly passed away at the age of 12 to a rare form of bone cancer. For a $20 donation, you can help raise funds and awareness for Ewing Sarcoma. Find out more here. 

3) NHL23 - If your hockey fan loves video games, you probably already have the latest version of this game on your Christmas shopping list. Grab a copy here.

4) Hockey books - Books always make fantastic gifts, and hockey books are perfect for hockey fans. Check out this fun option...

5) Personalized Hockey Ornaments - I love a personalized, handmade gift, don't you? I make these high quality tree ornaments in my online shop, and you can order them here for only $10. (Shipping anywhere in Canada for $3.)

6) Hockey Shot - Hockey players can't always be at the rink, so "off ice" training aids are a must. My kids are big fans of the dryland flooring tiles -- and you can buy as few (or as many) as you like. Check them out here.

7) Bauer Mystery Mini Sticks - My youngest loves these, and they make a fun and inexpensive Christmas gift for kids. 

8) Wall decals from Oliver's Labels - Personalized wall decals make wonderful gifts for kids. And, and how cute is this large jersey wall decal? Use my link, and save 10% with code: EastCoastMommy.

9) Hockey Nightlight - This is such a cool nightlight for a hockey fan... and they make them for goalies AND players. Check out all the options here.

10) Pacific Rink -  If you are shopping for a hockey bag, you need to check out Pacific Rink. Their hockey bags are the absolute BEST! We've had the Junior Player Bag, The Player Bag, and the Pond Pack... and they are all fantastic. 

This is the pond pack... which is perfect for a trip to the pond, but my oldest son also loves using his for reffing.

And here's the Junior Bag. It was perfect when my kids were small, and they've since moved on to the The Player Bag (which they also love).

Any one of the these TEN products would make a wonderful gift for the hockey fan or hockey player on your Christmas list. My boys and I love all these products. We've tried all the items (except for the alarm clock), so if you have any questions, please just let me know!

Happy shopping!

💗 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Fun Ways to Decorate a Room for a Hockey Fan

*Disclosure - I was given the opportunity to try the hockey wall decals from HockeyRooms.ca, and I was compensated for my honest review and promotion of the product. As always, the views expressed on this blog are 100% my own.

I just revamped my youngest son's hockey-themed bedroom, and I can't wait to show you how cute it turned out. I have a fantastic product to introduce you to, and a couple simple DIY projects that will make the room even more fun!

 

First, I cleared my son's walls and room of clutter, and gave it a good cleaning. There were some things (like a "picture book" bookcase (and more) that he has outgrown.

Then, I installed some awesome wallpaper decals from hockeyrooms.ca. They were easy to install, and they really upped the "wow" factor of the room. 

Finally, I completed the room with a few simple DIY projects that added a personal element to the space.

Check out the details, before and after pictures, and short below.

On this wall, I added boards and glass decals from hockeyrooms.ca, and then I set up gallery wall above the boards. I included hockey pictures of my son, and a hockey art project we did together. Didn't it turn out great?

On the wall by the window: I removed the rocking chair, added more decals, cleaned up his books and shelf, and added the letters of his name (which I already had) to this hockey stick hanger he was given as a gift many years ago.

On the wall beside his bed: I added a football poster that he loves (even though it has nothing to do with hockey... lol), I left a bit of blank space to keep the room from feeling cluttered, I and cleaned out the baskets on his dresser.

I also added a command strip hook to the wall so he could hang his favourite jerseys.

And, of course, just to finish off the room, I applied the hockeyroom.ca decals to the space in between the closet door and the door to his room.

If you are interested in seeing how I installed the high-quality wallpaper decals (and you'd like a closer look at my son's room), check out the short video below. Keep watching until the end if you want to see my son's adorable reaction. 💗

I'm so pleased with how my son's room turned out, and he is beyond excited. If you have a hockey lover in your home, I highly encourage you to check out the products at hockeyrooms.ca

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (Let me know if you have any questions.)

DIY Hockey Valentine

My boys have never liked giving out those "store bought" class Valentine's. So, every year, I have tried to come up with a new idea for a treat or trinket they can share with their friends. My older two boys are too old for Valentine's this year, but my youngest son still needs a fun card to share with his friends. Given that he is a lover of all things hockey, I decided to create a simple DIY hockey Valentine this year.

I started by taking a picture of him at the rink. (As you can see, he's trying out being a goalie this year, which is not good for his mother's heart. lol)

Then, I used photo editing software to add a fun message to the top of the Valentine. I love puns, so the Valentine says, "You are top shelf. Happy Valentine's Day!"

I used Picmonkey.com because it is easy to use, you don't need to download anything, and it's free.

I printed the 4x6 photos, used an x-acto knife to cut two slits in the pictures, and inserted heart-shaped suckers.

And it works for players too! I made this one for my nephew. (You can take a picture of a child shooting top shelf and use "You are top shelf" or you can use a little poem like... "Red lines are red. Blue lines are blue. Hockey is fun, and so are you!"

Isn't this an adorable Valentine?!?! I made enough for my son's class, and it didn't take me long at all.

If you have a hockey fan in your life, you should totally give these DIY Valentines a try this year. You could do a similar thing for other sports too. What sport do your kids play? Would they like this ideas?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)



PS - If you want to give Valentine's to give your teammates, these tags are adorable. Click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer and print it like a regular 4x6 photo. Use ribbon to attach it to a package of Excel gum, and you are good to go!

You can find MORE easy and inexpensive 

Valentine's Day ideas 

here.

If you have a hockey fan in the house, you might also like this hockey post.

Hockey Mom HACKS (decor, parties, crafts, advice, and more!)

As a mom to three boys that eat, sleep, and breath hockey, I have learned a couple of useful hockey tips and tricks over the years. Today, I am sharing some of my favourite hockey mom HACKS.

1) Hockey Decor - If you have hockey fans living in your home, they are going to want to fill their spaces with hockey decor. Check out my boys shared hockey room here. I love that it reflects my boys and their love for hockey, but it's still stylish and not overdone.

2) DIY Hockey Artwork - I love the idea of creating DIY artwork, and I have created a few DIY hockey projects over the years. Check out the hockey stick name art, jersey canvas paintings, hockey card quote artwork, and hockey prints that my boys and I have made. Pretty special, right?

3) Hockey Advice - I'm not an expert, but I have had three boys in hockey for many years... and I've learned a few lessons along the way. Click the links to check out my tips for new hockey moms and my "perspective" advice for hockey parents.

4) Hockey Food - I'm not a nutritionist or an expert on feeding high performance athletes, but I am a mom of three very active boys who are always moving and constantly hungry. Generally, I try to feed my boys a healthy and balanced diet, and on game days we stay away from high fat and fried foods. This often means having "easy to grab" snacks in the fridge and packing a cooler when we are on the road. 

You can find a few of our favourite lunch and snack ideas here. I also highly recommend buying a few banana cases. Bananas are a great nutritious and inexpensive pre-game snack, and they travel really well in these plastic cases. I love them!

5) Hockey Travel Tips - When travelling, always pack a cooler.  It will save you money, and it will help you to eat better too. Other fantastic items to pack are: 

• babywipes (great for cleaning up on the go)
• ziploc bags (perfect for packing snacks, separating wet clothes, and filling with ice for makeshift ice packs)
• laundry dryer sheets or air freshener (which is wonderful for combating hockey stink in the hotel room)
• clothespins (for closing hotel room curtains and keeping the light out at the crack of dawn)
• cards (useful for occupying kids between games when they need a little downtime)

6) Hockey Valentines - Every occasion for a hockey fan has a bit of a "hockey" spin. The cute Valentines you can find here fit the bill perfectly!

7) Hockey Christmas Ideas - In a house of hockey fans, even Christmas has a bit of a "hockey" spin. Check out our favourite holiday hockey hacks here.

8) Halloween for Hockey Fans - Every hockey fan needs a hockey pumpkin on October 31. Pretty cute, right?

9) Simple Coach Gift - Coaches are special people that volunteer a lot of their time to help our kids. I love the simple "thank you" gift idea you can find here. (Free tags included.)

10) Hockey Tape Organizer - This is a simple idea, but you'll be glad you tried it. No more searching for tape before the big game!

11) Simple Hockey Decor - This simple DIY hockey wreath is perfect for Canada Day, but it is wonderful for other times of year as well. Find the full "how to" here.

12) Hockey Parties - If you have a hockey fan, the odds are good that at some point you will be hosting a hockey party. I have some fantastic ideas for DIY hockey food, decor, activities, and more here. I also have a fun idea for hockey party favors or team treats (with free printable tags) here.

Are you a hockey mom or dad? What is best / most useful tip? I'd love a few new ideas!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)