The Friday Five: Top Picks for Weekend Fun Oct 20th – Oct 22nd

Posted on Friday, October 20, 2017 by Angie

Another weekend full of fun AND a Weekend Challenge for you! We’re launching the Friday Five Challenge this week, take a picture of yourself or your family enjoying one of our Friday Five Picks, post the photo to our social media using #BHAMFridayFive and you’ll be entered to win A BirminghamMommy tshirt and gift card to The Heavenly Donut Company!

Our picks for this weekend…

Owls in the Oaks at Oak Mountain State Park

Join us at Oak Mountain State Park on Friday, October 20th, to learn about our feathered fall favorites! Owls!

First, spend some time at the Alabama Wildlife Center learning about what makes owls so unique! Their amazing staff will help you learn to identify owl calls, potential owl habitats, and review some of the neat characteristics that owls have that make them some or our favorite feathered friends! Next, meet one of the AWC’s resident owls! Can you guess WWHHOOOO it will be? Then you will head off into the woods on a guided hike to see if you can locate and identify some of our feathered friends in their natural habitat! The hike will be after dark, so be sure to bring a headlamp or flashlight!
As this event includes a hike, this event is NOT stroller frendly. No dogs will be allowed.

There is no charge for the event, but each participant will have to pay their park entry fee (Cash only at gate)! Donations to the Alabama Wildlife Center are not required, but are appreciated! Each donation goes directly toward their continued efforts to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and injured Alabama birds, along with continuing their ability to provide educational programming like this! Please, consider making a donation. All donations are tax deductible!

Boo at the Zoo

It’s the first full weekend of Boo at the Zoo! Dress in your favorite family-friendly costume to ride the Spider Slide, jump on the Eerie Express Pirate Train, see a Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Show, ride the ghost rollers, take a spin on the Scarousel, collect candy on Trick-or-Treat Lane and SO much more! Enjoy live music every night by Feel the Beat Entertainment as you boogie at the Monster Mash dance party under the Safari Peak. Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!

October 19th – 22nd 5pm – 9pm

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with the Alabama Symphony at Samford Wright Center

Friday, October 20 at 7pm (limited availability)
Sunday, October 22 at 3pm

Relive the magic of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone™ in high definition on the big screen. Feel the delightful nostalgia as the Alabama Symphony Orchestra performs every note from John Williams’ unforgettable scores along with the film. Presented in partnership with Samford University Wright Center.

Find Tickets Here

Ruffner Turns 40

On October 21, Ruffner will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition. Yes, it really has been four decades! We can’t believe it either.

Ruffner was founded in 1977 when a small group of dedicated individuals decided to save a mountain threatened by deforestation and development. This was the start of the modern nature movement as we know it today in Birmingham.

Over the years, Ruffner has grown from a few acres to more than 1,000, making it one of the largest privately held, urban nature preserves in the country. Today, it is the urban forest of the Magic City.
Activities 8am – 3pm

Pumpkin People and Gourd Goblins at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Join Birmingham Botanical Gardens Discovery Field Trip docent and Master Gardener Carol Hagood for an afternoon class featuring a pumpkin storytime and Fall nature-crafting. Children can decorate a mini-pumpkin or colorful gourd to make their own special Hallowe’en friend to add to family holiday decorations.

Sunday, October 22 | 2-3 p.m.
Members* $10 | Non-Members $12

Our Sponsor:

The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is the official railroad museum of the state of Alabama! Located just south of Birmingham in Calera, Alabama. The museum features operating standard gauge and narrow gauge trains, two restored depots, an indoor collection of railroad artifacts and memorabilia, and an outdoor collection of railroad cars, locomotives, and cabooses.

The museum is dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of historically significant railway equipment. Our exhibits, operating railroads, and educational programs function as both a unique means of tourism and recreation, and also a way to preserve the rich history of Alabama and our nation.

Lazy Moms Guide to Pumpkin Decorating

Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2017 by Angie

The fun of carving a pumpkin is lost on me. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’ve gotten much better as my girls have gotten older at realizing that life with kids is messy and sticky and chaotic. But when it comes to carving the guts out of a pumpkin, I will go to great lengths to get out of it. It always ends with something that doesn’t look anything like what we wanted or half way through the gutting process they get bored and I’m left to finish and clean everything up on my own. So for the last how many ever years I could possibly get away with it, I’ve defaulted to painting, melting crayons (which is a lot less lazy than you would think) and wrapping pumpkins in toilet paper in an effort to convince my kids that not carving can be fun too.

Here’s a few idea for this Halloween!

Wrap It:
Find some fun fabric, lace or tulle and wrap your pumpkin up, tie a fun ribbon around the top and you’re done.

Buttons:
Use buttons, sequins, thumbtacks or upholstery tacks to spell out a word this year we did “EEK!”

Mumkin:
Glue on some googly eyes (or draw with a sharpie) then wrap in toilet paper to make your pumpkin a Mummy. If you’re looking to step up your game a little, you can use rolled gauze.

Masks:
Rob the kids dress up bucket for masks. Anything you have left over from mardi gras, or past dress up parties or Halloween will do.

Spider:
Black pipe cleaner, googly eyes (or draw them on) and a piece of black construction paper for the mouth and you can have an adorable little spider. We used a knife to precut 4 holes on each side, insert the pipe cleaners and bend to look like legs. Easy Peasy!

Whats your favorite no carve pumpkin idea?

Tutus, Blues and Brews Benefiting The Dance Foundation

Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 by Angie

The Dance Foundation is a non-profit organization providing creative dance classes with live music to more than 1,000 children all over Birmingham each week. These children are preschoolers, have special needs, live in poverty or are learning English.

Tutus, Blues and Brews is a family-friendly event to benefit The Dance Foundation at Red Hills Brewing Company.

Everyone is invited and Admission is Free. Live music by Automatic Slim Blues Band and food by Little Donkey.

Plus dancing, games and great beer!

Tickets may be purchased at the event to use on food, treats and games of chance.
All ticket buyers will receive a souvenir Dance Foundation cup.
Arrive dressed in a tutu, and you’ll receive a free ticket to use at the event!
RSVP for your family and receive a free ticket for that too!

A percentage of all beer sales will be donated to The Dance Foundation.

Sunday, November 5, 2017 | 3 – 5 PM
Red Hills Brewing Company in Homewood

Moss Rock Festival 2017

Posted on Monday, October 16, 2017 by Angie

On the first full weekend in November, grab friends and family and get outside to the Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve in Hoover. Explore Nature, SmartLIVING, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival. Innovation, imagination, and fun await 10,000 visitors under a blanket of fall colors at this idyllic neighborhood setting adjacent to Hoover’s own 350 acre Moss Rock Preserve. MRF features 100 exhibiting artists inspired by nature; +Design artisans, makers & special exhibitions; a tiny home; SmartLIVING ideas and marketplace for food, home, body, and health; live music; The Sweetery; Beer Garden craft tasting event (ticketed); WonderKid Studios; Nature enthusiasts district, Greenway Pathway Expo, and Aspiring Gardeners zone; guided hikes; eco:drive outdoor show rooms; a fly fishing workshop, rock climbing wall & rope bridge; School Planet Project sculptures; popular local food trucks and other festival favorites; big giveaways, and much more.

Nov 4, 2017 at 10:00 am – 05:00 pm (Sat)
Nov 5, 2017 at 10:00 am – 04:00 pm (Sun)

Additional time info:

Saturday, November 4th / 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday, November 5th/ 10:00am – 4:00pm

All visitors will Park & Ride one of the free festival shuttles from the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium to The Preserve, a classic American neighborhood in Hoover. The Hoover Met baseball stadium is located off of Hwy 150 and Stadium Trace Parkway. Only a short 5 minute ride. Shuttles will run regularly from 9:30am to 6:00pm Saturday and 9:30am to 5:00pm Sunday. Visitors will be dropped at The Preserve’s retail center. The roads that are part of the festival site surrounding the neighborhood’s Village Green will be blocked to thru traffic.

* Event durations (if noted) are approximate. Please check with the presenting organization or venue to confirm start times and duration.

Halloween Dinner Recipe

Posted on Monday, October 16, 2017 by Grace A

Halloween is such a busy night and coming up with a healthy and quick dinner can be a challenge. One of our family favorites is stuffed bell peppers. They are delicious and take less than 20 minutes to prepare. Cutting little jack-o-lantern faces into the peppers make them festive and fun for the kids and gives the meal that spook factor.

Stuffed Jack-o-lantern Bell Peppers

Ingredients:

6 bell peppers of any color 2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 pound ground beef ½ cup of chili sauce

1 egg ¼ cup of prepared yellow mustard

4 slices of whole wheat bread, cubed 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce

1 small onion ¼ teaspoon of salt

1 small tomato, diced ¼ teaspoon of pepper

– Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 8×8 baking dish.

-In a bowl mix together the beef, egg, bread cubes, onion, tomato, garlic, chili sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

-Wash your peppers and cut the jack-o-lantern faces with a sharp knife. Slice off the tops of the peppers and clean out the insides. Stuff the peppers lightly with the beef mixture and place them into the baking dish so they support each other.

-Bake in the preheated oven until the peppers are tender and the beef is cooked through. About 1 hour.

*Kid version

Not all of my kids are crazy about the beef stuffing so to keep them involved and included in our spooky meal I prepare some spaghetti with a bit of the beef and let them go crazy. This is the perfect meal to get you warm, full, and ready for trick or treating!

About Grace:

Grace was born and brought up in Bessemer, Alabama but has a great love for exploring new places. She has been married for 8 years and has 3 kids, expecting number 4 in December. Having been a student off and on for the last 10 years she is excited to say that she is finally graduating from BYU-Idaho with a degree in Marriage and Family Counseling this year. She loves to learn and share what she learns with as many people as possible. Strengthening and encouraging positive relationships with couples and families is a life goal and passion. Her biggest hobby is her family and finding new and fun ways to accomplish the above life goal in her home.

Fall Fun with Apples!

Posted on Friday, October 13, 2017 by Grace A

We talk a lot about picking fresh fruits and veggies during the summer but did you know that you can pick apples, not too far from Birmingham!

This is one of our favorite fall activities. This kids love to go and pick from the trees and I love the recipes and canning that I get to do afterwards. It’s a great outdoor experience and fun for the whole family. Some of our favorite orchards are:

Steele Orchard in the Cullman area. They have great prices and cute gift shop and bakery!

Scott’s Orchard outside Ardmore. It is family run and they offer 17 different varieties of apples!

Mountain View Orchards in Mineral Springs. They don’t just offer apples they also have many other delicious fruits to choose from!

Of course there’s lot of yummy recipes you can make with apples, one of favorites to keep on hand for dipping these delicious apples is our Brickle Brackle Apple Dip.

If you like to get crafty with your fruit try this:

We get creative with this one. We have used different colors to make leaves on trees, jack-o-lantern faces, butterflies, apples, abstract art, the sky is the limit with your child’s imagination.

Apple Stamps

What you need:

-Apples cut in half vertically

-Craft paint

-Craft Paper

-Small paint brush

we usually have enough to sacrifice a few to apple stamping. We get creative with this one. We have used different colors to make leaves on trees, jack-o-lantern faces, butterflies, apples, abstract art, the sky is the limit with your child’s imagination.

About Grace:

The Friday Five: Top Picks for Weekend Fun October 13th -15th

Posted on Friday, October 13, 2017 by Angie

SO MUCH TO DO!! So little time this weekend!

McWane After Dark

Kids shouldn’t get to have all the fun this Halloween!

Celebrate Friday the 13th with spine tingling science. Come dressed in your best Halloween costume and enjoy the haunting sounds of our ghost DJ. Ghouls and gals will have a spooky-good time at this exclusive 21+ event where you can eat, drink, and be scary! What’s Halloween without a little MAD Science?

Admission includes access to three levels of McWane Adventure Halls, light snacks, MAD science interactive activities, photo booth, drink ticket (good for one signature drink), 3 cash bars, and free parking.
*parking subject to availability | deck closes at midnight

Photo Booth | All night | Level 1
Saws Food Truck | All night | Plaza

*Halloween costumes are encouraged but optional. If you are interested in participating in the costume contest, please arrive at the first floor staging area at 9:00pm for judging. Judging will be for Best Individual and Best Couple/Group.

Friday October 13, 2017 | 7 PM – 11 PM
$20 early bird: until 9/13 | $25 until 10/12 | $30 at door
21+ only

Harvest Festival at Oak Mountain State Park

Fun for ALL ages! Shopping! Family Friendly! Pets Welcome (they must be on a leash)! Free Guided Hike at 12pm! Yard Games! Free Hay Rides from 9am until 2pm! Music! Food!
Food vendors include Swamp Monster BBQ , Monzy’s Deli , Pazzo Big Slice Pizza and Pazzo Calzone Bakery , Naughty But Nice A Kettle Corn Co. , Bama Wild Dogs and Burgers !

Regular Park Entry Fees Taken at Gate. CASH ONLY at gate!
Ages 3 and Under- FREE
Age 4-11 are $2 each
Age 12-61 $5 each
Age 62 and Up- $2 each

Entrance Fees are Valid for the entire day! So come out and play, shop, learn, and then enjoy the park for the remainder of the day!

Boo at the Zoo Kickoff Weekend!

The Spooktacular fun will kick off this weekend with a Memebers Only night on Saturday, October 14th and open to the public Sunday from 5pm to 9pm
Make sure to see the full schedule of dates

Pumpkin Patch Express at Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

Board their vintage train for a beautiful autumn ride through the scenic forests of Shelby County to the Pumpkin Patch to pick your perfect pumpkin!

While at the Pumpkin Patch, you’ll also get to take a hay ride, bounce in the inflatable bounce house, and participate in a variety of other family-friendly activities! The Pumpkin Patch Express train ride lasts approximately 1½ hours including the train ride and time at the Pumpkin patch.

To purchase tickets visit their site

Shopkins Live!

The grandest and cutest event of the year, Shopkins Live! The first ever Shopkins concert, where kids get to witness their favorite Shopkins and Shoppies characters up-close and see them perform live on stage! Shopkins Live is certainly the perfect kind of entertainment, creativity and fun, a musical show that is certainly not just for kids but also for those who are kids at heart. Kids get to see their favorite Shopkins webisodes turn into a real life production with a twist! Sunday,

October 15th at 1pm
Click to purchase tickets

Our Sponsor:

Prepare Your Home for Fall Allergy Season

Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 by Angie

When you hear “Allergy Season” you probably think Spring. But for many people, Fall can bring a whole new set of triggers. Ragweed pollinates in the fall and pumpkin piles, leaves and corn mazes can harbor mold. Living in the south means that the Summer heat can linger well into the new season, and that warm weather can cause mold spores to be released with high humidity or wind.

Changing the weather isn’t something we can do, but we can do a few things to prepare our home for the season and it’s new set of allergy challenges.

Don’t Dust. No, that’s not a pass for not cleaning this fall, sorry. Instead of using a dry rag or feather duster that can stir up particles, use a damp rag that will trap the dust. If allergies are more irritated with store bought cleaners with chemicals, try a homemade solution of vinegar and water.

Change those Air Filters. Most companies suggest changing your filters every 3 months. If allergies are a problem or you’re dealing with pet hair, consider swapping them out sooner, like every 6-8 weeks. Not only will it help with dust particles, it will help your system run more effectively.

Vacuum with a HEPA Filter. High efficiency particulate air filters, filter out about 99.97% of particles in the air that are larger than the size of a single speck of cornstarch. These filters snap up particles like bacteria, mold, pollen and fungus that regular vacuums may leave behind. If your current vacuum has a HEPA filter, make sure you’re changing it every 6-12 months. If you don’t have a model with a filter and you’re battling allergies, it might be time to invest in a new vacuum.

Keep your Windows Closed. I know, I know. It’s hard to not want to air the house out on a beautiful fall day, but in an effort to let the fresh breeze in, you might be doing more harm than good by allowing pollen into the house too.

Of course for more severe allergy issues, it’s always best to check with your Dr but these tips will be a great start on improving the air inside your home!

What tips do you have for beating seasonal allergies?

About Our Sponsor:

Our sponsor, Stanley Steemer removes an average of 94% of common household allergens like pet dander from carpet, upholstery, tile and hardwood floors. They’re also certified “asthma and allergy friendly” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Stanley Steemer provides professional deep cleaning services including carpet, tile & grout, upholstery, hardwood and air ducts. We also provide water restoration services.

Stanley Steemer of North Central Alabama services the greater Birmingham Metro Area and surrounding counties, spanning from Cullman to Clanton and from the Mississippi state line to the Georgia state line.
Stanley Steemer is the first carpet cleaning service certified asthma & allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, removing an average of 94% of common household allergens from carpet. 24/7 scheduling available!

Use Code: Mom30 for $30 off any service. (Minimum charges apply)

Holiday Film Series at the Alabama Theatre 2017

Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 by Angie

The Alabama Theatre 2017 Holiday Film Line up has been announced! Mark your calendar now for your family’s favorite movies!

Alabama Theatre Holiday Film Series

Friday, Dec. 8 at 7:00 p.m.: White Christmas

Saturday, Dec. 9 at 11:00 a.m.: The Polar Express benefitting Kid One Transport ($12)
Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.: The Polar Express benefitting Kid One Transport ($12)
Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7:00 p.m.: Christmas Vacation

Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2:00 p.m.: Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Sunday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m.: Elf

Monday, Dec. 11 at 7:00 p.m.: It’s a Wonderful Life

Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m.: Home Alone

Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 7:00 p.m.: Christmas Vacation

Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7:00 p.m.: Elf

Friday, Dec. 15 at 7:00 p.m.: A Christmas Story

Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:00 p.m.: Cartoon Matinee (A Charlie Brown Christmas / Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7:00 p.m.: It’s a Wonderful Life

Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2:00 p.m.: White Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 17 at 7:00 p.m.: Home Alone

Monday, Dec. 18 at 2:00 p.m.: It’s a Wonderful Life
Monday, Dec. 18 at 7:00 p.m.: Christmas Vacation

Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 2:00 p.m.: White Christmas
Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7:00 p.m.: Meet Me in St. Louis

Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 2:00 p.m.: Cartoon Matinee (A Charlie Brown Christmas / Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 7:00 p.m.: Elf

Thursday, Dec. 21 at 2:00 p.m.: A Christmas Story
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m.: Christmas Vacation

Friday, Dec. 22 at 2:00 p.m.: The Muppet Christmas Carol
Friday, Dec. 22 at 7:00 p.m.: White Christmas

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by going HERE

Tickets for all movies are $8 each, with the exception of The Polar Express which is $12 and is a fundraiser for Kid One Transport. Children ages two and younger are free of charge. Doors open ninety minutes before showtime, and each screening will begin with a sing-along accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Posted on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 by Grace A

Buying pumpkins is a staple fall tradition and can be one of the most fun activities to share with kids. Creativity is allowed to go wild and I am always amazed at what people do when decorating their Halloween pumpkins. My kids and I usually try to attempt a new and exciting pumpkin carving every year to sit alongside our tradition jack-o-lantern on the porch. I put together a few that were easy, fun, and really awesome!

We found that some of the patterns worked better with fake pumpkins but since my kids prefer the real thing we took the risk and still loved how they turned out. These were a personal favorite of mine because they are not only easy but so beautiful! They were created using different sized drill bits and a carving knife. We used our imaginations and did not use any sort of tutorials.

My 4-year-old is more into cute for Halloween instead of scary so we tried these precious pumpkins out and they were adorable. We used tiny white pumpkins that I stenciled a frosting outline on and allowed her to paint. We then used clear glue to add real sprinkles. She put them around her room and we never did get over their cuteness!

Scary is the name of the game for my oldest so we always have at least one gory pumpkin. This is one of her favorite ideas since my family, for reasons unknown, own a bloody fake leg. It’s perfect for her Halloween personality and easy enough for her to carve with a stencil and minimal help.