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Mother of All Consignment Sale Lists for Birmingham, Spring 2015

Posted on by Angie

Ready, Set, Consign!

Who’s ready to tag, sell and shop? This seasons list of consignment sales for Birmingham is out and there are lots of sales already registering. Mark your calendar for all of these great sales!

Alabaster:

Renewed Threads
10903 Highway 119, Restore Building, FUMC of Alabaster

March 13th, 8:00 a.m. til 6:00 p.m.
March 14th, 8:00 a.m. til 2:00 p.m.
Site Info

Gardendale:

Kingdom Kids Consignment
Gardendale Mt.Vernon United Methodist

February 23rd – February 28th
Open to the Public 25th– 28th
Sale Info

Homewood:

Lil Lambs Consignment
Trinity United Methodist –

Open to the Public:

Friday, February 27th – 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday, February 28th – 9:00 AM – 12 Noon
NOTE: Volunteers can shop early at Preview Sale at 4 PM Thursday, Feb 26th.
Sale Info

Hoover:

Bargains on the Bluff
Bluff Park United Methodist –

Open to the Public:
Friday, February 20th, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, February 21st, 9am – 2pm Discount Day
Sale Info

Kids Wear Plus
Hoover Gallery shopping center

Saturday, February 21 – 9a-5p – Receiving
Sunday, February 22 – 2p-5p – Receiving
Monday, February 23 – 5-6p – Sale for Veteran Volunteers
Monday, February 23 – 6-9p – Sale for all Volunteers
Tuesday, February 24 – 5-10p – Sale for Consignors
Friday, February 27 – 9a-9p – Public Sale
Saturday, February 28 – 9a-6p – Public Sale – 30% off
Thursday, March 5 – 1p-7p – Contributors Pick Up Unsold Items
Sale Info

TNT Sale
Riverchase United Methodist –

Seller sign up begins in January
Open to to the Public:
Friday, March 6th – 9am to 6pm
Saturday, March 7th – 8am to 1pm.
Select items are 30% off on Saturday.
Sale Info

Hueytown:

Twice Blessed Sale
Garywood Assembly of God –

Public Sale: TBA

Sale Info

Irondale:

Kids Market and Mom
Located in the old KMart  in the Eastwood Shopping Plaza.
7845 Crestwood Blvd (Hwy 78),
Irondale, AL

Receiving (by Appt)
Tuesday. March 3rd, 9am – 7pm
Wednesday. March 4th, 9am – 7pm

Regular Receiving:

Saturday, March. 7th, 7am – 6pm
Monday, March. 9th, 9am – 6pm
Tuesday. March. 10th, 9am – 6pm
Wednesday. March. 11th, 9am – 3pm
(Clothing items only on the 11th)

Public Sale:

Tuesday, March. 31st, 9am – 8pm
Wednesday – Saturday, April 1st – 4th. 9am – 6pm

CLOSED Sunday. April 5th

Monday – Wednesday, April 6th-8th, 10am – 6pm
Thursday & Friday, April 9th-10th, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, April. 11th, 9am – 4pm
Site Info

Twice as Nice Sale
BAMOM – Birmingham Area Mothers of Multiples –

Open to the Public:
Public Sale
Friday, February 27th, 2015
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

*Half-Price Sale on some items
Saturday,February 28th, 2015
8:00 am to 12:30 pm
Only items marked with an asterisk (*) or a “Y” next to the word discount are sold at half-price.
Sale Info

Mountain Brook:

Sweet Repeats Children’s Consignment
Mountain Brook Community Church

Friday, February 6th, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, February 7th, 9am – Noon

*Saturday several items will be reduced to 1/2 price!!
Sale Info

Oak Mountain:

Giggles and Grace
Asbury United Methodist

Receiving: Wednesday February 11th and Thursday February 12th

Open to the public:
February 13th 8am – 6pm
February 14th – 8am – 1pm
Sale Info

Trussville

Growing Kids
Trussville Methodist Church –

Friday, March 13th, 8:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday, March 14th, 8:00am – 2:00pm
(Saturday is 50% off many items in sale)
Sale Info

Vestavia

Whale of a Sale
Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church

Thursday, March 5th
Friday, March 6th
Seller registration will be the first week of February
Sale Info

Market on the Mountain
Student Center, Mountaintop Community Church –

Friday, March 6th, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, March 7th 9am – 2pm
Sale Info

Sales just outside of Birmingham

Little Peaches Consignment
Verbena Alabama
11586 county road 24, Verbena AL 36091.

Open to the Public:
Friday, March 6th

Saturday, March 7th

** Please remember that all dates and times are subject to change without notice to BirminghamMommy. Please make sure to double check the sales website for the most current and up to date information. If you have a sale you would like to see on our list, email us at contact@birminghammommy.com

Wild About Birds, McWane Science Center

Posted on by Angie

McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Audubon Society will be hosting a special day at the science center on Monday, January 19.  Wild About Birds will be the theme for the day with science center programming emphasizing birds and bird studies.  Special presentations, animal displays and hands on educational activities featuring the Coosa River Science School as well as volunteers of the Birmingham Audubon Society will help round out this first annual “Wild About Birds” special day at McWane Science Center.

Timed activities will include McWane Science Center education department programming ranging from the Science of Flight to Owl Pellet dissections.  Raptors will be on display at the NatureScope stage and volunteers from the Birmingham Audubon

Society will get you ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count.  Home Depot will also be on site to help visitors build bird feeders.

Wild About Birds promises to be a great day of activities for the whole family.  McWane Science Center will be open from 9am until 5pm, Monday, January 19.  Please visit us at mcwane.org for more information and a complete schedule of events.

Do it Yourself Silhouette

Posted on by Angie

By Dedra Duvall:

Let’s face it, we all love pictures and keepsakes from our children’s life.  I’m sure you, much like myself, have your home adorned with photographs on the wall, on the end tables, the coffee table, your desk and of course the fridge (and maybe a few scrapbooks, right).  While flipping through a magazine one afternoon I was reminded of yet another way to celebrate those precious features of my dear children.  I came across the most adorable silhouette pictures and I made a mental note to have some professionally made.

While walking at the gym one day with my friend, Patricia, I mentioned checking into silhouettes for my girls.  She politely told me not to waste my money on the professionals, and that I could make them myself.  Now, I wouldn’t consider myself a crafty person, but when it comes to art, I can usually hold my own.  However, I never have confidence in the projects I complete and always feel that someone else could do it better.  After a little more convincing, I decided to take her advice and instruction and try it myself.

Being a traditionalist at heart, I knew that I wanted the black on white cameo that I have always admired.  So, step one was to purchase some contrasting black and white cardstock paper.  Next, I took some profile photos of the girls.  I was careful to make sure I used the same distance in photographing them so the silhouettes would be approximately the same size.  Next, I printed the pictures off on the computer.  It doesn’t really matter if you print them in color or black and white.  You don’t need a high quality printed photo here because you are going to use it as a template.  After printing out the photos, I decided on which one to use.  I had my girls stand both to the left and right in case I wanted one facing one way and one the other way, but either way, you can flip the cutout to fit your needs.

Next, I simply cut out the picture, carefully getting each feature.  You could use an exacto knife, but I just used some really sharp scissors.  Then, I placed the cut out picture on the black cardstock and cut around it.  After I finished cutting out the profile, I used some scrapbook tape and taped the silhouette to the white cardstock and framed it.  An oval frame would be super traditional, but I already had some silver 8X10 frames on hand.  Depending on the size of your silhouette, you could go larger or smaller, square, rectangle or round.

My friend Patricia reversed the silhouette and used a canvas.  She adhered the cutout silhouette to a canvas, painted the canvas then lifted the cutout to reveal a white silhouette.  Whatever you decide, there’s no right or wrong way, just your way.  Have fun with it.

Giveaway: LEGO Brick Fair

Posted on by Angie

LEGO models, displays and winding trains sprawled out over 58,000 square feet. BrickFair brings together adult fans of LEGO from across the USA (and Canada, and a few other countries) to show off their projects, great and small, and to share their passion for LEGO – the most awesome toy – ever. LEGO fan festivals like BrickFair are great fun for the whole family! Join in a game or two – maybe win a LEGO set. Vendors will be offering all things LEGO, including shirts, hats, minifigures, custom-molded weapons, unique models, keychains and… really… everything you never imagined.

Visitors roam BrickFair at their own pace.  Plan to spend at least 90 minutes.

BirminghamMommy.com has a 4 pack of tickets to giveaway.. Leave a comment on this post letting us know you want them..

Giveaway ends Monday, January 12th at 6pm. Winner will be announced via email.

Good Luck!

Birmingham Events Calendar: January 11th – January 18th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Today is the last day to catch the Winter Wonderland at the McWane Science Center.. It’s cold dreary day and perfect for a McWane Adventure!

If you’re a fan of the Wizard of Oz you can catch it in a few special showing this week with Carmike Cinemas. This weekend LEGO fans will be in heaven at the Brick Fair at the BJCC! Whatever you choose to do this week, we hope you have fun!

Sunday January 11th:

Last Day to check out the Winter Wonderland Exhibit at McWane Science Center!!

Turner Classic Movies presents The Wizard of Oz – Carmike Cinemas
Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc. invite you on magical journey down the YELLOW BRICK ROAD when The Wizard of Oz returns to select cinemas nationwide for a special two-day event. In Birmingham, the broadcast will be shown at the Vestavia Hills 10, Patton Creek 15 and Trussville 16 Theatres.

Experience all of the familiar characters in a larger than life way, on the big screen, in this special cinematic event. Make sure to get there on time as TCM host Robert Osborne gives a special introduction illuminating the history of this family classic that has been an entertainment mainstay for the last 75 years.
2pm and 7pm
Admission: $12.50

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Monday January 12th:

Tot time with Mrs Eve – Avondale Library
Clowning around!
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,children of all ages…the circus is coming to town! So bring your biggest smile and join us for a super Tot Time filled with silly antics and stories! Tot Time is designed for 2 to 4 year olds with a parent or caregiver. 24-hour advance registration is required.
9:30 and 11:00am

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Tuesday January 13th:

Play Along with Olaf – Hoover Public Library
Come play games, make crafts and have refreshments with Olaf. All ages.
4:30pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime, activities and lots of fun. We can’t wait to see you!
11am

Family Tours, Wear/Where– Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Wear/Where: Clothing From Around The World will explore self-expression through garments worn in cultures across the globe.
10:30am

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Wednesday January 14th:

Turner Classic Movies presents The Wizard of Oz – Carmike Cinemas
Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc. invite you on magical journey down the YELLOW BRICK ROAD when The Wizard of Oz returns to select cinemas nationwide for a special two-day event. In Birmingham, the broadcast will be shown at the Vestavia Hills 10, Patton Creek 15 and Trussville 16 Theatres.

Experience all of the familiar characters in a larger than life way, on the big screen, in this special cinematic event. Make sure to get there on time as TCM host Robert Osborne gives a special introduction illuminating the history of this family classic that has been an entertainment mainstay for the last 75 years.
2pm and 7pm
Admission $12.50

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

Wiggleworm Wednesdays– Homewood Public Library
Storytime for all ages! Join us for music, puppets, dancing, and so much more in Storytime with Ms. Mandy. Look in the round auditorium every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for your Storytime pals!
Large groups, we appreciate your call to 205-332-6619 to ensure adequate space.
10:30am

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Thursday January 15th:

Mommy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
We are now featuring two Mommy & Me Story Times with Miss Renee! Due to high demand (and high squish quotient), we are opening availability to create a flexible time schedule that includes all of our eager young patrons (comfortably). You can now choose between two back-to-back Story Times on Thursday mornings; the first begins at 9:30 a.m., the second at 10:30 a.m.

Come by the round auditorium for lots of music, dancing, and of course, the bean-bag song! Miss Rene uses drama, wit, and a hefty dose of fun things to shake to keep your young one entertained and educated.
9:30am and 10:30am

American Girl 70’s Party with Julie – Homewood Public Library
American Girl Night is back! Party with Julie like it’s 1970 again… join us for rad activities, tasty snacks, and lots of American Girl fun!
Registration Required
6:15pm

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Friday January 16th:

Holy Inappropriateness! We couldn’t find any special events happening in the ‘Ham today. Make sure to check our list below for fun exhibits happening daily at our local attractions.

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Saturday December 17th:

LEGO Brickfair – BJCC Exhibition Hall
LEGO models, displays and winding trains sprawled out over 58,000 square feet. BrickFair brings together adult fans of LEGO from across the USA (and Canada, and a few other countries) to show off their projects, great and small, and to share their passion for LEGO – the most awesome toy – ever. LEGO fan festivals like BrickFair are great fun for the whole family! Join in a game or two – maybe win a LEGO set. Vendors will be offering all things LEGO, including shirts, hats, minifigures, custom-molded weapons, unique models, keychains and… really… everything you never imagined.
At the door: $10
3 and under: Free
Visitors roam BrickFair at their own pace.  Plan to spend at least 90 minutes.  Tickets are sometimes available for pre-sale and are always limited in quantity. Advance ticket sales will end Thursday, Jan 8th.
11am – 4pm

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart!
Abstract Art
11am – 1pm

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Storytime and activities featuring Hug Machine. This book with humorous illustrations is a wonderful feel-good story, sure to entertain the young and old!
11am

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Sunday December 18th:

LEGO Brickfair – BJCC Exhibition Hall
LEGO models, displays and winding trains sprawled out over 58,000 square feet. BrickFair brings together adult fans of LEGO from across the USA (and Canada, and a few other countries) to show off their projects, great and small, and to share their passion for LEGO – the most awesome toy – ever. LEGO fan festivals like BrickFair are great fun for the whole family! Join in a game or two – maybe win a LEGO set. Vendors will be offering all things LEGO, including shirts, hats, minifigures, custom-molded weapons, unique models, keychains and… really… everything you never imagined.
At the door: $10
3 and under: Free
Visitors roam BrickFair at their own pace.  Plan to spend at least 90 minutes.  Tickets are sometimes available for pre-sale and are always limited in quantity. Advance ticket sales will end Thursday, Jan 8th.
11am – 4pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

Super Bowl Recipe: Sausage Dip

Posted on by Angie

If reincarnation exists, I will come back as an appetizer in a future life. I love them so much! Such the perfect food, portion size… mmmm. Here’s a new one I tried- I love sausage based dips, this one looked different and it was delicious!  I love Fritos too, and this goes great with Fritos or tortilla chips.

We found this on one of our favorite recipe sites, plainchicken.com. Check her out, a fun southern gal with yummy recipes!

Hot Sausage Dip, from plainchicken.com

1 lb hot sausage
8 oz cream cheese, softened
8 oz sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large skillet, cook sausage until no longer pink.  Drain fat.

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and put in an 8-cup baking dish.  Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.  Serve with corn and/or tortilla chips.

Toddler Proof Your iphone

Posted on by Angie

Think back for a second to what it must have been like back in the day when our Moms didn’t have technology to keep us busy on road trips, in long car pool lines, in the waiting room at the Doctors office or even at a restaurant where you so desperately want to just finish your meal while it’s still somewhat warm…. I can’t even imagine.

I don’t want to.

I love technology and admittedly will use it as a crutch when times get tough (or I want to enjoy a few minutes of peace.) While navigating the landmines that come with having only 1 phone/1portable DVD player and 3 kids can be tricky, I’ll take my chances.

The problem for me is how to avoid the accidental deletion of apps on my phone. It seems that after the little hands have had their way with my phone, apps aren’t where they were, should be, or there at all.

I started by making a folder for just them, they know this is where to find their movies and games yet somehow, my Couch to 5K app went missing thanks to them exploring the options that the phone play toy has to offer.

If you have this problem here are a few options to check out:

The Toddler Tap for iphone (itunes, $0.99) but if your child can find that home button, this won’t help much, you might want to invest in some Bubcaps. Home button covers for iphones, ipads, and the itouch.

Watch the demo: Bubcaps

Now while I think this is a bit much for my taste, but quite possibly a brilliant move, at the recent New York International Toy Fair, Fisher Price debuted their Laugh & Learn Baby iCan Play Case. A case for the iPod Touch or iPhone for your toddler, one that protects it from “dribbles and drools.”

It protects the phone and the home button all in one.

If you like something a little less kid friendly we suggest The Otter Box. Otter Box makes the Defender case for the iPhone, Blackberry, Palm, and some Nokia and Samsung models.  For the full list, see here. While it’s a little on the bulky side and somewhat industrial looking they will protect your phone from bumps, drops, scratches and dust.

So Moms, tell us, what do you use to protect your phone from the tiny humans or do you think it’s ridiculous to go to such great lengths when good old fashion crayons and coloring books can occupy the kids just as well?

Birmingham Events Calendar: January 4th – January 11th

Posted on by Angie

Whew! Pat yourself on the back, you survived the Holidays! Schools are starting back this week and we’re all getting back into our normal routines.

Here’s what’s happening around Birmingham to keep you busy and kick your first week of the New Year off with some fun!

 

Monday January 5th:

Downton Abbey Tea and Trivia – Homewood Public Library
Think you know all there is to know about Downton Abbey? Come test your knowledge of the Crawley Family and all the downstairs servants. Enjoy delicious treats and teas. Don’t forget your tea cup and saucer! Prizes and Door Prizes will be awarded. Space is limited and registration is required so sign up today in the Adult Services Department, by phone, or by email.
6:30pm

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Tuesday January 6th:

Free Lego Mini Build – Riverchase Galleria Lego Store
LEGO® Alien and Space Dog: Tuesday, January 6 beginning at 5:00 pm until supplies last.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime, activities and lots of fun. We can’t wait to see you!
11am

Family Tours, Wear/Where– Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Wear/Where: Clothing From Around The World will explore self-expression through garments worn in cultures across the globe.
10:30am

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Wednesday January 7th:

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

All Ages Storytime – Homewood Public Library
10:30am

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Thursday January 8th:

Mommy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Storytime for the youngest patrons and friends.
9:30am and 10:30am

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Friday January 9th:

Holy Inappropriateness! We couldn’t find any special events happening in the ‘Ham today. Make sure to check our list below for fun exhibits happening daily at our local attractions.

—————————————————————————————

Saturday December 10th:

How to Train your Dragon – Hoover Public Library
Vikings and dragons unite in this fun-filled program for all ages.
10:30am

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart!
Abstract Art
11am – 1pm

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime and activities featuring Please, Mr. Panda. This clever picture book about manners will delight children and endear them to Mr. Panda.
11am

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Sunday December 11th:

Last Day to check out the Winter Wonderland Exhibit at McWane Science Center

—————————————————————————————

Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

Busy Mommy Bonding – Raindrop Art

Posted on by Angie

Looks like we’re in for a few rainy days. If you’re looking for a little something to do with the kiddos try some raindrop art! 

Here is a little activity to do with the little ones to beat the rainy day blues.

What You’ll Need:

White Cardstock
Food Coloring (all colors)
Rain coat
Rain Boots

What You’ll Do:

Put down some old newspaper to protect your table top
Give each child a piece of cardstock and let them drop some food coloring on their sheet
Suit up and head outside
Put each sheet out in the rain and let them watch their masterpiece transform right before their eyes…

Jump in a few puddles then bring your Picasso’s back inside

Once your artwork is dry, they can decorate/embellish with stickers and maybe even draw a rainy day scene with some markers.

Other Suggestions:

Let them use only 2 colors like yellow and blue so they can see that when those colors combine you get green!

Great books to read with this activity are:

Raindrop Plop: by Wendy Cheyette Lewison

The Color Kittens: by Margaret Wise Brown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parenting with a PhD: Resolutions

Posted on by Angie

It’s New Year’s Eve! You have a million things to do today so your family can A) Eat and B) Celebrate the heck out of the old year and in with the new. You have to make black eyed peas for New Year’s Day (it’s good luck after all, which probably means not having them is bad luck…), buy confetti (please re-think this plan), and find that thing on Netflix where King Julian does a count-down so the kids can go to bed by 8:00 p.m. I realize that the very act of making New Year’s Resolutions is just one more thing to do, which is why I’ve made a list for you. Feel free to cut and paste as needed – #11 is my favorite.

1. Install locks – both figuratively and literally. Tired of being disturbed when you’re trying to pee? Put a lock on the bathroom door. Sick of the kids interrupting every time you and your spouse try to have a conversation? Put a (figurative) lock on that behavior. Decide on boundaries that you need for your sanity and figure out how to create them. Whether it’s a simple piece of hardware or an agreement with your spouse that you will both ignore kids who try to talk over you and won’t respond until you’ve finished your conversation.

2. Quit judging your parenting. If reading parenting articles makes you feel like a bad parent, stop following those writers or change the way you think about the message you’re reading. Most of us who write this kind of thing are wanting to offer suggestions and give you more tools to use. It’s rare that a writer is actually trying to shame your parenting skills. If reading parenting articles makes you feel like you’re doing a bad job, consider whether you’re being overly hard on yourself, taking every suggestion as the only way to parent and assuming you fall short on all counts. When you read these articles, look for the things that you’re doing well. Focus on how far you’ve come and the areas where your kids are thriving.

3. Love your body. Or at least fake it for the kids. Your children think you are beautiful. Seriously, my daughter once saw a picture of Jessica Chastain and said, “She looks just like you!” She does not, in reality, look just like me but pointing out to my daughter the myriad ways I’m not as attractive as Jessica Chastain seemed like a pointless exercise (my daughter also thinks I’m 22 years old and I do not disabuse her of this assumption either). Our kids, both our daughters and our sons, need to see that we can love ourselves, flaws and all. They need to understand that the entirety of who we are isn’t wrapped up in our outward appearance or a number on the scale. Resolve to keep your mouth shut about your physical flaws, at least in front of your children. Better yet, say out loud the things you do like about yourself – your eyes, your strong legs, your freakishly long toes.

4. Don’t buy all the things. It’s good for your kids to want – but not get – stuff. It teaches them about the value of things, how to work for what you want, and how to make do with what you already have. Your kids don’t have to have the latest of everything – particularly if it causes a financial strain on you to get it. Your children’s friends won’t stop talking to them because they don’t have a Wii-Station One (or whatever – I don’t keep up) no matter how convinced your kids may be that this will happen. More stuff = more crazy in your house. I don’t know about you but I have enough crazy in my house for now…

5. Ask for help. I know you think you have to do everything yourself so it’s done the right way but some things don’t have to be done “the right way” – they just need to be done. The kids can do their version of making the bed, the spouse is perfectly capable of loading the dishwasher, and your kids’ teacher will happily explain the math homework. To you both. You’re not Super Woman and that’s totally O.K.

6. Avoid upward comparisons. Your Facebook feed is full of perfect children raised in perfect homes by perfect parents. It’s all total B.S. You know in your gut that there is no “perfect” and that most of these people are just doing the best they can day-to-day. We choose what face to present to the world and some people only post those impossibly timed photographs where no one happens to be biting anyone else or screaming about having the wrong color popsicle. Likewise…

7. Avoid “hottest mess” comparisons. Another thing we parents are often guilty of is comparing how truly, terribly awful we have it. From the kid who “never” sleeps to the house that “always” looks like a laundry bomb went off in it, we are huge fans of telling the world how much of a mess our lives are. No matter how super busy someone is, you’re even super busier. No matter how many crazy long hours someone has to work, you have to work even crazier, longer hours. Probably we do this because we feel a little guilty about our stress levels and our lack of time to build blanket forts with our kids (seriously, my kids are so on their own with that). We wonder if our friends would still love us if they saw what our houses looked like 20 minutes before the play date. We want to provide bona fide excuses for why we haven’t signed up to be room parent or why we might miss a few soccer games. But, in truth, if you have food in your fridge and slept with a roof over your head last night, you have it waaaay better than, like75% of the world population (I KNOW – that’s a crazy statistic). This doesn’t mean we can’t vent sometimes but we actually stress ourselves out more when we focus on how busy/disorganized/forgetful we are. Keeping it in perspective can help us avoid “awfulizing” (my dad’s word for making things seem worse than they are) our situation and help us focus on what’s going right.

8. Stop doing the things that aren’t working. If you’re using discipline or parenting techniques with your kids that clearly aren’t working, take stock. Ask your child’s pediatrician for ideas. Search the internet and bookstore for resources. Try a new tactic for a couple of weeks (at least – it might take even longer to work!) and see how it goes. If things are really going badly at home, ask the doc for a referral for therapy so you and your child can work on the problem together. Life is too short to keep doing what you’re doing if everyone is miserable.

9. Put down your phone. I’m so guilty of this one. You may well be reading this on your phone right now and I’m writing it on my iPad, which means I’m not currently interacting with my kids. I get that social media is a much needed escape for many of us parents and we absolutely must take a break sometimes. But, think about the social skills you want your kids to have and model those. Instead of glancing up from the screen briefly when you see your kid after school/work, say hello and give a big hug. Hanging out with friends? Leave the phone in your purse. Make (and stick to) a rule that there are no screens at dinner – including for the adults. Put the phone away for serious discussions or when your child is telling you about his day. Obviously, don’t look at the phone when you’re driving (this is more of a safety issue because 16-year-olds new drivers + phones = yikes). You don’t have to sneak around to look at social media but you can reduce how often you let it disrupt family time.

10. Say NO. To your spouse, to your kids, to your friends, to your boss, to your child’s teacher. Say no to playdates, no to errands, no to organizing events, no to traveling, no to baking, no to working, no to cleaning. Not all the time, of course – this isn’t “New Year’s Magical Wishes.” But, when you’re feeling so stressed that the idea of adding one more thing will lead you to resent the person doing the asking, just politely decline. There will be other chances for you to save the day, help out, or make your world-famous brownies. Today is not the day. And being able to say “no” will not only reduce your stress but enable you to really give your all to the things you’ve said “yes” to today.

11. Eat more chocolate. I don’t know why. Probably this would be helpful

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way and I’ll tell you what I can: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com Please be aware that email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so it’s best to keep your questions general. If your question is featured, your name and email will not be published. Submitting a question does not constitute a professional relationship in any way and this column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel you’re doing the best you can and still need help, it may be time to bring in a professional. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral.

About Kristen:

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages seven and one, and four-year-old son.

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