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The Collage and Wood, Inc. Blog

  • Senior Photography: 3 To Follow for Senior Session Inspiration

    by Crystal Waddell
    Senior Photography studios are located all over the county - but some have risen above the rest due to their commitment to innovation and education...
    Posted in senior photo props

  • Destination Senior Pictures: Inspiration for Girls

    by Crystal Waddell
    Destination senior pictures are growing in popularity for senior girls who want to have unique and exclusive senior photos. Senior pictures are ...

  • Senior Photo Inspiration for Guys and Moms

    by Crystal Waddell
    Senior photo inspiration is sometimes as easy as a google search. However, as a boy mom myself, I wondered what the landscape was like for senior ...

  • Dorm Room Decor: 7 Easy (and fun) Dorm Room Ideas

    by Crystal Waddell
    Dorm room decor might rise to the top of your to-do list even as the end of senior year has not come. Making a wish list for the decor you would li...
    Posted in dorm room, graduation, senior year

  • Custom Graduation Gifts Your Kids Will Love

    by Crystal Waddell
    Custom graduation gifts: give them a piece of home to take with them when they leave for college. Custom collage letters and numbers take about 3 ...

  • Graduation Party Sweets: Donuts, Cookies, Cakes, Oh My!

    by Crystal Waddell
    Graduation party food: one of my new favorite topics! But that's mainly because I have an insatiable sweet tooth! How about you? Are you more of th...
    Posted in graduation, graduation party decor

  • Graduation Party Inspiration: Find Your Perfect Aesthetic

    by Crystal Waddell
    Graduation Party Inspiration: delivered! I touched on it a little bit in a previous blog but this post is all about the parties! Get ready to f...

  • Senior Year of High School: 3 Creative Ways to Celebrate the End

    by Crystal Waddell

    Senior year has always had its challenges.

    As our nation “gets back to normal” I realize that normal will not look the same region to region. For some, large graduations will make a return. Of course, small gatherings may be mandated by the state or local community. Time slots may be reserved during graduations for smaller groups of graduates and their families. With that in mind, I wanted to share some ideas that I’ve seen over the past year.

  • One Shining Moment: Celebrate the Career Highlights

    by Crystal Waddell
    One Shining Moment: it doesn't get better than this in sports! Have I ever told you my absolute favorite part of March Madness? It’s the part...
    Posted in senior night, senior night gift, senior year

  • Life After Sports: Injuries, Interruptions and The End of Competition

    by Crystal Waddell

    Life after sports. Is that a thing? Just kidding. It IS a thing and a transition that many athletes have made, some more successfully than others. Which is why I wanted to discuss the topic with you.

    Thank you for joining me again on this journey. As promised from my last blog, I wanted to share some beautiful insights from coaches and sports leaders that I’ve picked up via Clubhouse. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attribute all quotes but I will be working on filling in those gaps.

    Please continue reading for inspiration you won't find anywhere else about preparing for life after sports whether it's for a short time or forever:

  • Goodbye, Sports: Making the Most of Your Final Senior Season

    by Crystal Waddell

    how-athletes-say-goodbye-sports

    The end of a playing career is inevitable - but the way it ends … every athlete wants to control that. I believe every athlete wants to end a competitive career on her terms. In a perfect world, that would happen. Tom Brady, anyone?!

    But in sports, and the real world, most of us don’t live out fairy tale endings. 2020 and 2021 stole a piece of the story from our athletes. Seasons upended, suspended, postponed. Athletes have watched their gyms close … and they’ve also watched players in other states keep playing.

    Posted in Athlete Mental Health, senior season, senior year

  • Athlete Mental Health: How to Keep Your Athlete Mentally Healthy

    by Crystal Waddell

    I’ve also sat in rooms as we shared stories of watching athletes who play “in the zone.” It’s magical to watch - when an individual or team is competing together at their highest level. Other times I’ve seen "it" while watching off-Broadway musicals - I’ve observed it in orchestra. No matter the art, there’s nothing like watching talented individuals perform at their best. 

    In one room, I heard the someone describe “The Zone” as "pure love and joy."

    - Source Unknown

    We can reframe every loss and victory as a metaphor for success in life - and improve athlete mental health.