Making a Racquet in November
A monthly update for the Tennis Yellow lifestyle.

League Update
There is a truth universally acknowledged in the sport of tennis, and that is that there is always more tennis. Even after the last Grand Slam is played, there are more tournaments, more games and more sport to be had. This is true in league play as well. Even after the final few league teams that advance to Nationals play, there is still local league tennis to be played.
In my neck of the woods, we have indoor tennis because the weather has gotten cold and as I sit here at my computer, there is snow starting to dust the mountains in the distance. Because our play moves to indoor play, court time is dear. This means that our matches switch to timed matches. Each match starts with a timer, set by the home team for 90 minutes. In that 90 minutes, a match starts with the possibility of a ‘winner takes all deciding point’ in the case of a very close match. It can be a bit stressful but it is a great opportunity to practice performing under pressure. Here is a graphic (Timed Match Flow) that shows the flow of a timed match. This method works anytime that you have a court for a restricted amount of time. This is what we use to play league even when court time and space is restricted.

Shop with me
Lately I have been building some court looks that I like to call “court cozy” meaning that they are cute and functional on the court and warm and cozy to wear. Check out my LTK shop to take a peek at what Court Cozy looks like. I firmly believe in the expression, “look great, play great” and I feel like this is a mantra to keep in mind all year long. Fall months are extra fun to wear layers to feel warm and comfortable on and off of the court.
Gift Guide Go To
Tis’ the season to show love and appreciation to the players, coaches, friends and sport enthusiasts in your life. I have made finding the perfect and thoughtful gift so easy. Check out these gift guides for great ideas for the court enthusiast in your life. Whether it is for your coach, doubles partner, team captain or even yourself (you deserve it!) here are some great ideas that will be absolutely perfect. Each guide is curated to make it easy for you to shop. Check out my LTK Shop for all the details.
A Great Read for November
I am always a fan of a great book but this month’s read is extra special. With the news of Rafael Nadal’s impending retirement, this month I have chosen to highlight the book, Rafa by Rafael Nadal and John Carlin. Because Carlin speaks both Spanish and English we get to hear Rafa translated into full English, and hear about the amazing life story of one of the all time greatest tennis players in the world. I can be in danger of raving about how much I admire Rafa, his work ethic, his drive and focus. But really, you should grab a copy here and see for yourself.
Click image for link.

Recipe of the Month
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
When I make this recipe of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, my family is so happy. They ask me to make it when their friends come over and when there are extra I love to share with my neighbors and teammates. I hope you will enjoy them as well.
With fall firmly in the air, my home is full of pumpkins to look at and pumpkins to eat. One of my family’s all time favorite treats are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. I am happy to share this recipe with all of my tennis friends. This recipe is easy to make, especially if you use a mixer like a KitchenAid. I have some tools that make baking SO easy. Here is a walk through of what I use and you can see for yourself how easy it is to make great things when you have good tools. Here is a link to all of these items that make this done with ease and these cookies are oh so tasty! Enjoy!

Hope you are having a ball in the month of November and enjoy some great tennis vibes! It might be a bit cold outside, but finding a life balance of friends, family, exercise and sunshine helps bring joy and purpose to life. Now call up a friend or find a wall to hit against and get out there and hit! If you have any questions or want to reach out to me, please drop me a DM at katri@tennisyellow.com
Love all,
Katri
