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52 New Things, 2014. Week 47

Posted on by Angie

Here’s what’s new..

Angie-
My new thing is actually a new thing for my twins and their hair. If you’ve ever seen or met them you would know that they have a mess of curls. And I mean a mess. I don’t have a clue what to do with it and it gets pulled into a pony tail most days because we just don’t have the time and I don’t have the energy to fight about it. I was told to try  the Paul Mitchell super skinny line. It’s a bit more expensive than what I would like to pay for 6 year old’s hair products but if it works I’ll gladly fork over the cash. We tried it for the first time followed by a trip to the park where the wind was insane so I’m not really sure whether or not it works. Here’s hoping it does. Any other tips on taming curly, tangly hair, I’m all ears.

Kristen-
My New thing is crashing a wedding. We just stopped by the reception to say hello to some family there and we were invited to come on in but sending off a Bride and Groom I’d never met was a new one for me..

What did you do that was new?

Festival Of Lights at Oak Mountain Amphitheater

Posted on by Angie

Something you’re going to want to add to your list of Holiday To-Do’s is the Festival of Lights at the Oak Mountain Amphitheater. In it’s first year, The Oak Mountain Festival of Lights, presented by Legacy Credit Union, is Alabama’s largest holiday light show with over one million lights choreographed to music, including familiar characters, special effects, a live Nativity Scene and more.

Oak Mountain has put a modern day twist on the old holiday tradition of looking at Christmas lights. The best part is, you enjoy it all from the comfort of your own car!

At the end of your journey, you can stop off at Bud’s Best Cookies Holiday Village for some hot cocoa and sweet treats to warm you up! What a perfect way to end the night. Also in the Holiday Village you’ll find smore’s by the fire pit, live entertainment, arts and crafts and other kids activities including a train ride and bounce houses.

Gates open at 5:30pm each evening, Thursday through Sunday only, beginning November 27, and nightly beginning December 18th through 28th

Tickets start at $20 per car load, $35 per mini bus with up to 25 people, and $45 for buses with over 25 people, and can be purchased through Ticket Master. Advanced discount tickets are available at all participating Walgreens locations. This is a great
value for a fun night out with family or friends!

Oak Mountain Amphitheater is located in Pelham, Alabama just a few miles south of Birmingham, and can be accessed from Highway 31 or from Highway 119. For all the details including dates, times, ticket information and more, visit their site, or like them on facebook to stay up to date with latest happenings!

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Craft: Pinecone Turkeys

Posted on by Angie

I love a good Thanksgiving craft, especially if it’s something that can keep the kids busy while you’re slaving away in the kitchen.

This one is super simple, especially if you have some pinecones in your yard, you can send them out to hunt them down.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Pinecones, enough for each child to have at least 1
Black Pom Poms
Googly Eyes
Orange Felt or Craft Paper
Feathers
Glitter (optional)
Glue

What you’ll do:

Optional: Coat the pine cone with glue and sprinkle with glitter. This is a bit messy but it’s cute and keeps them busy if you give them a little brush to paint the pinecone with glue

Once coated, sprinkle with glitter.

After it’s dry, add the feathers by sticking them in between the “petals” of the pinecone. They stick pretty well on their own but you can use a little extra glue.

Add your eyes and nose to the pom pom and glue to the front of the pinecone to make it’s face.

That’s it.. Super easy and could be used as a cute centerpiece for your Thanksgiving Table.

 

 

 

 

52 New Things, 2014. Week 46

Posted on by Angie

We’re getting so close to the end of the year! Here’s what’s new this week:

 

 

 

Angie-
I taught by girls how to make Embroidery Thread Bracelets. I realize this is not new to me as it was an obsessive past time for me back in the day, but teaching my oldest how to make her own is new to me. Brought back a lot of memories. We got so excited about the possibilities, I took her out to buy up a bunch of thread even though I actually still had some from the old days.

 

 

Kristen-
My New thing this week is this pretty cool petal infinity scarf. Sorry in advance if I wear it everyday now.

Shirley-
I bought a cooking pan from a restaurant supply store. It’s the perfect size, cleans well, cooks evenly.. It’s what chefs use in their kitchen. And best of all it cost all of $20.

What did you do new this week?

Are You a Holiday Traditionalist?

Posted on by Angie

I confess. I am a Holiday Traditionalist. I like to savor each of my holidays as they arrive. I’m not opposed to celebrating, decorating or getting ready for a holiday a month in advance, as long as it doesn’t trample all over another holiday in the process. See: Thanksgiving/Christmas.

I’m strongly opposed to decorating for Christmas until Thanksgiving is in the books. I personally love a good food holiday and love to enjoy it thoroughly. I also love Christmas, it is after all the most wonderful time of the year. But I like to keep the 2 separate. Just like I won’t start celebrating Valentines day at New Years or Easter by Valentines Day. Each holiday deserves its time to shine. I think trying to eat Thanksgiving dinner by the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree makes it feel like you’re celebrating Christmas, without the gifts, you know, the good part.  To me, it takes away from your actual Christmas celebration when the time comes, because you’ve been there, done that.

I know, I’m becoming the minority on this, but I just don’t see myself budging on this one. So, my family will spend the next week savoring the sights and sounds of Thanksgiving and trying to block out the radio stations cramming the Christmas music into our ear buds and the stores that are blinding us with Christmas lights.

Next Friday and maybe even on Thanksgiving night (look out, I’m getting crazy) we will start whipping out all of the Christmas Decorations, our Elf will arrive from the North Pole and by the 28th of November, just over a month until Christmas, our house will be ready to celebrate the next Holiday.

All in perfect order.

“As a holiday traditionalist, I refuse to even think about trampling old people until after midnight tonight.”  – badbanana

Red Mountain Theatre Company Presents: The Holiday Spectacular!

Posted on by Angie


Each holiday season, the Red Mountain Theatre Company hosts Birmingham’s most entertaining celebration with the “Holiday Spectacular.” Delightfully charming, heart-warming and hysterical, it’s a show audiences don’t want to miss.

RMTC Executive Director Keith Cromwell calls the “Holiday Spectacular” a “good, old-fashioned variety show” that features some of the South’s finest actors onstage with the all-star performers of RMTC’s Youth Programs.

Written each year for the local community, “The Holiday Spectacular” pairs holiday fun with good-natured “poking fun”—spoofing the events of another year passed. Part satire and part holiday medley, “Holiday Spectacular” is this season’s show that features something for everyone in the family.

“Because the show is specialized and customized for our community, it’s hysterical,” says Cromwell. “We’re doing a spoof on Duck Dynasty. We poke fun at football. We’ve done a number about being stuck on 280. I love that it pairs tradition with humor—and the humor ranges from slapstick to satire to wit.”

This year’s show features some of Birmingham’s finest professional actors—Tam Debolt, Amy Johnson, Belinda George Peoples, Natalie Valentine, Keith Cromwell, Saxon Murrell, Lonnie Parsons and Cameron White. And audiences won’t want to miss the youth talent in “Holiday Spectacular,” either, as the production showcases the unrivaled talent of RMTC’s youth ensemble. The young actors who participate in RMTC’s musical theatre conservatory are “extraordinary,” Cromwell says. “Our eldest girls are Rockettes, and I’d put their numbers up against any Rockette performance I’ve seen in New York.” Cromwell compares seeing the RMTC ensemble perform with that of witnessing a miracle. “And I mean that,” Cromwell says, “because these kids are so talented, so gifted, and to watch them execute this production is simply remarkable. I think we all want to feel like kids again at the holidays—to feel full of wonder and hope—and watching this show does that.”Come celebrate the season, be entertained, and feel like a kid again with “The Holiday Spectacular.”

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Rated G
Sponsored By: Business Electronics, Ginger & Lane Milam, Shannon & John Smith and Sara & Logan Taylor
The “Holiday Spectacular” runs December 4-21, 2014, at the RMTC Cabaret.

Show times: Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
To purchase tickets, visit RedMountainTheatre.org, or call (205) 324-2424.

Thanksgiving Desserts: A Little Yummy for your Tummy

Posted on by Angie

One of the most crucial parts of Thanksgiving dinner is dessert, almost as important as the turkey if I do say so myself. Here are some yummy recipes that we have gathered and thought we would share in case you are looking for a new twist on your dessert selection this year!

Source: Steamy Kitchen

I’m a sucker for anything in “turtle” form so when I found these Turtle Cheesecake Balls, I knew immediately that they were going to make it on my “to cook” list for holiday baking!

Ingredients

8oz cream cheese
1/2 – 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
8 oz bittersweet chocolate cut into 1/2-inch pieces (I used Ghiradhelli chocolate chips)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp chopped pecans, finely chopped
1/4 cup caramel sauce (or melted caramel squares)

Instructions

  1. Combine the cream cheese with 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs. Taste and add more graham cracker crumbs as desired. I found 1 cup of crumbs to be too much, but some people don’t care for the taste of cream cheese. Keep in mind that the chocolate and caramel add *plenty* of sweetness, so you want the cream cheese mixture to still have some tang. Use a melon baller to scoop up 1 1/4″ sized balls to a wax-paper lined baking sheet. Repeat until you’ve scooped up all of the cream cheese. You should have about 15 balls. Freeze for 10-15 minutes.
  2. While the cheesecake balls are being chilled, melt the chocolate in a double boiler with the vegetable oil, stirring until smooth.
  3. Using 1 or 2 forks, dip each cheesecake ball into the melted chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip away between the tines. Place the chocolate covered balls back on the wax paper on the baking sheet. Repeat for all cheesecake balls.
  4. Top each truffle with pecans. Drizzle caramel over each truffle. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. Best if served within 24 hours.

Can’t have Thanksgiving without some type of pumpkin dessert gracing your table.. How about these yummy Pumpkin Fritters, they remind me of one of my most favorite sweets of all time, Beignets!

1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin spice
1 tsp salt
4 cups canola oil for frying
confectionery sugar for topping

Pumpkin Pie Spice (2 tsp)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg

In a medium bowl using a mixer, combine pumpkin, egg, flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and salt. Mix until smooth.

Heat oil in a deep saucepan to 325 degrees. Drop batter by spoonfuls into hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes.  Remove with a slotted spoon, and serve immediately with sifted powdered sugar on top.

Yields: 24 fritters | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes

 

5 Lessons Learned During My Healthy Pregnancy

Posted on by Angie

By: Erin Holtz

After going through a normal and healthy pregnancy I can now look back and be thankful for all the things I did to maintain a normal, fit, and healthy lifestyle during my pregnancy. Here are 5 lessons I learned that I would like to share with all pregnant women.

1. Stay active and strong…

Going through labor I realized that I was able to maintain my strength by walking the halls, squatting, and stretching in order to progress further along until I delivered. This was all because I walked, jogged, and did weights throughout my pregnancy. This to me was the most important thing I could have done to help me through my labor and delivery. As long as your doctor allows you and you have been exercising before your pregnancy maintain a fit routine daily!

2. Listen to your body

During my pregnancy I continued to workout up until the day I had my baby because I felt great. I know there are days when I did not feel so great and had to take it easy but that is why it is important first off to listen to your body. This was one thing I learned early on. Morning sickness and fatigue is no joke but each day is different so therefore if you are unable to exercise or walk one day maybe you will feel up to it the next day. I had to stop running at 32 weeks due to contractions but I felt like if I would have continued to run despite my body telling me not to my baby could have been born too soon and that comes with a lot of complications.

3.  A healthy diet = a healthy baby

Maintaining a healthy diet ensures that you and your baby are getting the right nutrients as well as maintaining a healthy weight. Trust me the more weight you gain during your pregnancy the more weight you have to lose afterward. I lost my belly within the first 2 weeks post delivery and now I am just in need of toning everything back up. It is a huge compliment when some one asks how old my baby is and I tell them 2 weeks old and they look at me and say there is no way you had a baby 2 weeks ago. That is all due to maintaining a healthy diet even though it was hard at times.

4. Keep an open mind

Going into the hospital with an open mind is the most important thing when you are about to go into a huge life experience such as child birth. Your body and your baby know exactly what they can handle! I had my mind made up that I wanted to try and go all natural during delivery and I almost made it.. but things happened and my baby was bigger than expected so therefore I had to have help from an epidural. I went into this with an open mind and worked hard to go natural but in the end my body was telling me that I needed a little help with getting a bigger baby out of my small pelvis. I ended up with an epidural but the labor and delivery process could not have gone better. I delivered a very healthy baby and had an easy labor and delivery due to the epidural. Looking back I am very thankful that I chose to have an open mind and be flexible. Nothing goes as planned when delivering a baby and it is not the time to be upset, overwhelmed, or putting yourself through more stress.

5. Maintain a healthy weight

Watching how much you gain during your pregnancy will benefit you in the end. Again the more extra weight you put on now from not exercising and eating right the more you will have to lose. That is not to say that you shouldn’t put on weight, your baby needs extra fluid, fat, and blood to grow and mature but there is a healthy way of doing that. Your doctor will tell you an ideal amount of weight that you should put on and I would recommend sticking to that recommendation. You will certainly not fit back into your pre-pregnancy clothes right away but it helps your self-esteem when you are dropping weight and starting to fit back into some things a few weeks after you deliver.

I found that since I did exercise and eat healthy during my pregnancy I am recovering faster, losing weight quicker, and feeling like myself again already at 3 weeks post delivery. This is all due to listening to my body, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program, and having a positive open mind set about pregnancy and childbirth.

Erin Holtz, ATC, ACE-CPT
Erin Holtz is a personal trainer as well as an Athletic Trainer with a degree from The University of Alabama. She holds personal training certification from American Council on Exercise as well as an instructor certification to teach CPR, First Aid, and AED for the infant, child, and adult. After moving to Birmingham, AL following graduation she started working full-time as an athletic trainer and part-time as a personal trainer where she began to realize her passion was not only in the athletic field, but also for helping the general public achieve their life and fitness goals. She now works one-on-one with her clients helping them focus on cardiovascular endurance, plyometrics, core development, rehabilitation, pre- and pos-termt pregnancy, strength, and weight loss. Erin recently joined the HomeFit team and is eager to help you achieve your goals in the comfort of your own home. For more information on Erin and the rest of the HomeFit team, visit www.homefitconsulting.com or call 205-675-7412.

Birmingham Events Calendar: November 16th – November 23rd

Posted on by Angie

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


Our McWane Science Center Membership Drive is in full swing. We’ll be out all week with membership forms, so stop by one of our offsite locations to sign up.

Lots of other fun events happening around town. Market Noel presented by the Junior League kicks off and is the place to be to get a jump on that holiday shopping. If you’re ready to get in the Holiday Spirit, check out the Parade and Fireworks at the Summit.

Have a great week and stay warm!

Sunday November 16th

Mingle and Jingle, A Christmas Market – Pelham Civic Complex
MINGLE AND JINGLE- A Christmas Market presented by Shelby County Moms Guide is Nov. 15 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Pelham Civic Complex. Join us for a day of arts, crafts, concessions, decorations, gifts and shopping. Free professional pictures will be taken with Santa Claus. Admission is $5. Kids free.
Info: 205-319-0563 ext. 2 or Events@momsguidealabama.com.
12pm – 5pm

G2K Once Upon A Mattress – RMTC Caberet Theatre
If you thought you knew the story of The Princess and The Pea, you may be in for a walloping surprise! Chances are, you’ll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again. Young artists (age 7-14) perform in this charming adaptation.

*Getting To Know You series adaptations
Admission Info:
Tickets starting at $10
2pm

Homestead Hollow Arts and Crafts Festival – Homestead Hollow
Homestead Hollow festivals feature fine arts, unique – one of a kind – hand made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days. See wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, and tour original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy our great food that makes your mouth scream for more.

Children’s activities: ride the ponies, circle in our wagon ride or jump in the moon walk. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally.

Homestead Hollow’s General store is open for you to visit and shop for those home-made fried pies and other great items all day during show dates.

Directions: Homestead Hollow is located in Springville, Alabama, just 2 miles off I-59, exit 154. 27 acres of parking and our trams make it easy to park, get to the entrance and start having fun immediately.

Admission Info:
Adults – $7 ~ Children (ages 3 to 12) – $3
Children (ages 2 and under) – Free.
Free Parking. NO PETS ALLOWED.
9qm – 4pm

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Monday November 17th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Join us for popcorn and a drink as we watch a great movie!
3:30pm

Tot Time with Mrs Eve: Show and Tell – Avondale Library
We will be cooking up some really yummy fun at this storytime! Join Mrs. Eve as she presents stories, songs, and crafts geared for 2 to 4 year olds with a caregiver. 24-hour advance registration required.
9:30 and 11:00am

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Tuesday November 18th:

Magic Treehouse Adventure – Hoover Public Library
Join Jack and Annie as they take Junie B. on an exciting escapade. Registration begins November 4. Grades 1-3
4:30pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Love Monster and the Perfect Present Storytime. This adorable follow up to Love Monster is sure to be a new holiday favorite! Join us for Storytime and activities.
11am

Baby Tales – North Shelby Library
A story time designed especially for babies and their caregivers. Stories and music provide interaction for the babies and time for caregivers to talk and share with each other. Ages: Birth to 18 months. Registration Required. Registration will begin one week prior to program date.
9:30am

All Ages Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us for music, puppets, dancing, and so much more in Story Time!
Large groups, we appreciate your call to 205-332-6619 to ensure adequate space.
10:30a

Family Tours, What’s in a Face– 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?

Explore the Museum for portraits with a Museum educator. How are the portraits in the galleries different from each other? Come back to Bart’s ArtVenture to create your own unique portrait!
10:30am

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Wednesday November 19th:

“Preview Noel” Market Noel – Grandview Conference Center
Market Noel is the Junior League of Birmingham’s (JLB) annual holiday market, a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the programs of the JLB.

Market Noel raises money for the league’s community projects, serving women and children in the Birmingham area, in the areas of Education, Health, Financial Stability, and Safety and Crisis Intervention.
$48– Preview Noel
Includes one bonus General Admission ticket
7pm – 10pm

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 November 20th:

“Market Bliss” and  Market Noel – Grandview Conference Center
Market Noel is the Junior League of Birmingham’s (JLB) annual holiday market, a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the programs of the JLB.

Market Noel raises money for the league’s community projects, serving women and children in the Birmingham area, in the areas of Education, Health, Financial Stability, and Safety and Crisis Intervention.
$12 – General Admission
9a.m. – 8p.m.
Stroller Free: 9a.m. – 2p.m.
$24 – Market Bliss
6pm – 8pm

PJ Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Wear your pajamas to the library for stories, songs, and a bedtime snack.
6:30pm

PJ Storytime – North Shelby Library
Come in your PJs, have milk and cookies, and hear some wonderful bedtime tales. All Ages. No Registration Required.
7pm

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

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Friday November 21st:

Lights up at the Summit!
Lights Up at The Summit is the annual kickoff to the holiday season.  The main event of Lights Up is a festive parade that will begin at 6:30 pm at Barnes and Noble and end at Carmike Cinema. At the conclusion of the parade, Santa Claus will officially kick off the holiday season with a grand fireworks show.  Santa will also be available for pictures near the Cinema following the parade until 9:30 pm.

Thousands of visitors will be attend the event and will be entertained prior to the parade at various locations throughout The Summit by the Birmingham Boys Choir, Red Mountain Theatre Company and the Birmingham Children’s Theatre.  Arrive early and enjoy the festivities with Lights Up at The Summit.

  • Parade begins at 6:30 pm
  • Birmingham Boys Choir to perform at 5:30 in front of Kendra Scott (near Belk)
  • Birmingham Children’s Theatre to perform at 5:30 pm in front of Brooks Brothers
  • Red Mountain Theatre Company to perform at 5:30 pm in front of Williams Sonoma
  • Pictures with Santa Claus following the parade until 9:30 pm outside Carmike Cinema

Sponsored by Magic 96.5 who will have a Children’s Christmas Craft Area at their booth near the Carmike Cinema.

BirminghamMommy.com and McWane Science Center will be set up in front of Ann Taylor and Kate Spade, we’ll have plenty of Membership Forms available ready to get you signed up! Come see us!

Magic of Model Trains Preview Party – McWane Science Center
Cost: $15 Adults, $10 Kids (Members: $12.50 Adults, $7.50 Kids)
Be the first to experience both the Magic of Model Trains exhibit and Rocky Mountain Express IMAX film.

Event Includes

  • Admission to the museum and a screening of Rocky Mountain Express (7 PM Screening)
  • Hot chocolate and cookies in the museum
  • Train rides
  • Small popcorn
  • Free train whistle following the film screening for all kids 12 and under

Market Noel – Grandview Conference Center
Market Noel is the Junior League of Birmingham’s (JLB) annual holiday market, a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the programs of the JLB.

Market Noel raises money for the league’s community projects, serving women and children in the Birmingham area, in the areas of Education, Health, Financial Stability, and Safety and Crisis Intervention.
$12 – General Admission
9a.m. – 8p.m.

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Saturday November 22nd:

Winter Wonderland Opens at McWane Science Center
Sleigh bells ring…are you listening? It is the sound of Winter Wonderland at McWane Science Center. Bring your family to the most magical place around this holiday season. Laughter is in the air as children coast down the Ice Slide and take a whirl across the room on the extended zip line. Climb aboard the McWane Train and go for a ride or try your luck at ice fishing.

Our always popular Zip Line will be even longer this year as visitors fly through the air on 70 feet of suspended wire.

The Ice Slide allows kids and grown-ups alike to take the plunge down a 40 foot tube slide covered in holiday lights

The McWane Train, a three-car ride-on train, will double in size this year as it takes kids on a holiday-themed ride around 200 feet of track.

Market Noel – Grandview Conference Center
Market Noel is the Junior League of Birmingham’s (JLB) annual holiday market, a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the programs of the JLB.

Market Noel raises money for the league’s community projects, serving women and children in the Birmingham area, in the areas of Education, Health, Financial Stability, and Safety and Crisis Intervention.
$12 – General Admission
9pm – 5pm
Snaps with Santa
9am – 11am
$12

United Way Food Drive – Birmingham Zoo
Help the Zoo give back to the community this fall with the annual United Way Food Drive! Bring any canned or non-perishable food item and receive half-price admission*. Get up-close and personal with the elephants at the Boma Encounter, visit the animals at the Junior League- Hugh Kaul Children’s Zoo Barn, experience a pelican feeding and much more!
*Limit one discounted ticket per guest.

Family Tours, What’s in a Face– 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?

Explore the Museum for portraits with a Museum educator. How are the portraits in the galleries different from each other? Come back to Bart’s ArtVenture to create your own unique portrait!
10:30

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!

Create a flag that represents you! Take one home and string it up for all to see.
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 The Elf on the Shelf: A Holiday Tradition Storytime and Elf Adoption Event. This holiday season, begin a new family tradition – this interactive holiday hide-and-seek with Santa’s elf is perfect for children and families of all ages.
11am

Puppet Making and Holiday Sing A Long – Barnes and Noble Summit
Kids are invited to make a puppet and sing holiday songs with our booksellers and their newfound puppet friends. Please arrive early; space and supplies are limited. Recommended for children ages 4 and up.
1pm

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Sunday November 23rd:

Snowmen at Night Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? Discover and experience the secret life of snowmen at night. Recommended for children ages 4 and up.
1pm

United Way Food Drive – Birmingham Zoo
Help the Zoo give back to the community this fall with the annual United Way Food Drive! Bring any canned or non-perishable food item and receive half-price admission*. Get up-close and personal with the elephants at the Boma Encounter, visit the animals at the Junior League- Hugh Kaul Children’s Zoo Barn, experience a pelican feeding and much more!
*Limit one discounted ticket per guest.

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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.

52 New Things, 2014. Week 45

Posted on by Angie

We’re getting close to the end of the year… Less than 10 weeks left in 2014!! Hard to believe! Here’s what we did that was new.

Angie-
I tried a new recipe using ground chicken. Yes.. This is an actual thing. They sell it at Target and Publix, that I know of.  I had never heard of this and the few people I asked had never heard of this.. Most likely because it’s disgusting. The texture and taste are just off. The recipe was for Buffalo Chicken Chili which I think would actually be very tasty if you use chicken breast rather than ground chicken. I’m not a fan.

Kristen-
My new thing is St Paul and the Broken Bones at the Alabama Theatre. Amazing Show!

Shirley-
I was an Alabama Fan, dress shopping in Atlanta while my team was playing and beating the number 1 team in the nation.

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