Birmingham Events Calendar: August 10th – August 17th

Posted on Sunday, August 10, 2014 by Angie

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

We know you’re all busy with back to school events and getting the kiddos settled back into a routine but if you have some extra time this week, here are some events for you to squeeze in! Happy Back to School Time, Have a great week

Sunday August 10th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Huntsville Stars
3:00pm

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

The Great Water Balloon Jollification – Crestwood Park
Fun with water balloons to beat the summer heat. We will have some pre-filled balloons ready to go, but make sure to bring some of your own as well.
2pm – 4pm

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Monday August 11th:

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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Tuesday August 12th:

Family Tours, What does a Warrior Wear – 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?

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Come see how Pete gets ready for school! We’ll read some Pete the Cat books and talk about being cool!
11am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Story Time
10:30am

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Wednesday August 13th:

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

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Thursday August 14th:

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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Friday August 15th:

Movies in the Park – Veterans Park
Last movie of the summer! See Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.
All you’ll need to bring is a blanket or chair to sit on, and some snacks and drinks.
Movies begin around 8pm

BAAMFest – Avondale Park
BAAMFest aims to offer patrons of all ages an unforgettable musical and cultural arts experience! Join us in emerging Avondale for more than 25 live performances, short films, artistic work created by area youth, special events and a tribute to the Legends of Muscle Shoals, featuring Bad Brad & the Sipsey Sims with special guests David Hood, Kelvin Holley and Will McFarland. Programs are scheduled to include live music from all genres, including jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, reggae, neo-soul, classic soul, electronica and Latin merengue.
Find more details on the 2014 Avondale Music & Art Festival on Facebook: BAAMfest! Band lineup, event schedule and VIP pass/ticket information available at www.baamfest.com!
6pm – 11pm

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Saturday August 16th:

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

Hikes for Tykes – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Go on a magical storytelling hike with Fresh Air Family’s Verna Gates. Are there fairies and dragons in the Gardens? We will be on the lookout! Fairy house building to follow. Free.
10am

Homewod Library Foundation Block Party – Homewood Library
The Homewood Library Foundation Board is hosting a First Annual “Block Party” Fundraiser. Tickets go on sale July 21st in the Homewood Public Library Adult Services Department. Proceeds will benefit the Homewood Public Library.
$20 per meal ticket
$2 hot dogs on site
4pm – 7pm

Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
This month, Bart has selected Ed Young’s I Doko: The Tale of a Basket.
11am

Storytime Barnes and Noble – Summit
Get ready for school with Pete the Cat! We’re hosting a Pete the Cat and the New Guy
11:00 am.

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

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.

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Sunday August 17th:

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Chattanooga Lookouts
6pm

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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 31

Posted on Saturday, August 9, 2014 by Angie

Even in the craziness of back to school we managed to do something new!

Angie-
My new thing this week is the discovery of an addicting game. I’m not much of a “gamer,” sure I got sucked into Candy Crush for a quick minute but this one is killing me. It’s called 2048 and it’s a tile game. Some kids were playing it on their ipods at a swim meet a few weeks ago then I decided to give it a try and well, now I’m hooked. I even got Shirley hooked and can’t believe she didn’t use that as her new thing!

Kristen-
My new thing is registering my first baby for second grade- don’t see how it can possibly be time for that already!

Shirley-
My new thing is coconut milk ice cream from Whole Foods…. Amazing!

Did you do anything new this week?

Mother of All Consignment Sale Lists for Birmingham. Fall 2014

Posted on Friday, August 8, 2014 by Angie

Consignment Season in Birmingham is here! Many sales are registering now. If you’re planning to sell, check the registration dates, many fill up quickly!

Make sure to check back often as we will update with any sales we learn about in the coming weeks. If you know of a sale in Birmingham that you would like to have listed, please contact us and we’ll get it added!

Alabaster:

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

September 12th, 8:00 a.m. til 6:00 p.m.
September 13th, 8:00 a.m. til 2:00 p.m.
Site Info

Gardendale:

Kingdom Kids Consignment
Gardendale Mt.Vernon United Methodist

August 18h – August 23rd
Open to the Public 20th– 23rd
Sale Info

Homewood:

Lil Lambs Consignment
Trinity United Methodist –

Open to the Public:

Friday, September 5th – 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday, September 6th – 9:00 AM – 12 Noon
NOTE: Volunteers can shop early at our Preview Sale at 4 PM Thursday, Sept. 4.
Sale Info

Hoover:

Bargains on the Bluff
Bluff Park United Methodist –

Open to the Public:
Friday, September 12th, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, September 13th, 9am – 2pm Discount Day
Sale Info

Kids Corner Children’s Consignment
Mountain Chapel UMC

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Wednesday, September 10th 9am – 3pm
Wednesday, September 10th 5pm – 8pm HALF PRICE ON SELECTED ITEMS!!!
Sale Info

TNT Sale
Riverchase United Methodist –

Seller sign up begins Monday, August 11.
Open to to the Public:
Friday, September 19th – 9am to 6pm
Saturday, September. 20th- 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
**NEW LOCATION! Will now be located in the old KMart in the Eastwood Shopping Plaza.
7845 Crestwood Blvd (Hwy 78),
Irondale, AL

Receiving (by Appt)
Tuesday. September, 9th, 9am – 7pm
Wednesday. September 10th, 9am – 7pm

Regular Receiving:

Saturday, September. 13th, 7am – 6pm
Monday, September. 15th, 9am – 6pm
Tuesday. September. 16th, 9am – 6pm
Wednesday. September. 17th, 9am – 3pm
(Clothing items only on the 17th)

Public Sale:

Tuesday, October. 7th, 9am – 8pm
Wednesday – Saturday, October. 8th-11th, 9am – 6pm

CLOSED Sunday. October 12th

Monday – Wednesday, October. 13th-15th, 10am – 6pm
Thursday – Saturday, October. 16th-18th, 9am – 6pm
Site Info

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

Open to the Public:
Public Sale
Friday, August 22, 2014
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Half-Price Sale
Saturday, August 23, 2014
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, September 12th, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, September 13th, 9am – Noon

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

Oak Mountain:

Giggles and Grace
Asbury United Methodist

Receiving: Wednesday September 3rd and Thursday September 4th

Open to the public:
September 5th 8am – 6pm
September 6th – 8am – 1pm
Sale Info

Trussville

Growing Kids
Trussville Methodist Church –

Volunteer/Consignor Registration is Monday, August 11th, at 10am
Consignor Registration is Tuesday, August 12th, at 10am

Friday, September, 26th 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday, September, 27th 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
(Saturday is 50% off many items in sale)
Sale Info

Vestavia

Whale of a Sale
Vestavia Hills Untied Methodist Church
Thursday, September 25th, 5pm – 9pm
Friday, September 26th 9am – 2pm
Most items 1/2 off 1pm – 2pm
Sale Info

Market on the Mountain
Student Center, Mountaintop Community Church –

Friday, September 12th, 9am – 6pm

Saturday, September 13th 9am – 2pm
Sale Info

** 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

Parenting with a PhD: Arguing

Posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 by Angie

How many times have you tried selling this one to your kid: “We only use nice words when talking to our friends.” HA! I’m willing to bet you don’t practice this 100% of the time. Naturally, the people we’re most likely to use less-than-nice words with are the ones we’re closest to (including our kids – not that they learned it from us, of course). But, sometimes people make us mad. And sometimes that happens in front of our kids, especially when the disagreement is with our spouse or partner. Often parents worry that if they argue in front of their kids, it’ll lead to worries about divorce. And yes, loud, scary arguments can cause those kinds of fears. Fortunately, there is a fine art to arguing in front of your kids, making it possible to disagree while maintaining love and respect for the other person. In fact, showing your kids that you and your spouse can work out your differences calmly and (relatively) kindly will actually help your children solve problems they’re having with others, too. Here are some suggestions:

First, agree ahead of time with your spouse or partner that you will “fight fair” if the kids are in the general vicinity. Consider having a “safe word” (yes – I know the connotations here…) so one of you can let the other know that things are getting too heated and you need to take the disagreement behind closed doors. If you can’t both agree on this, you have to have a general policy against arguing around your children. But, consider working towards being able to talk things out when the kids are present – it’s a good learning experience for them and may actually force you and your spouse to be more respectful and more focused during the argument.

Second, make sure everyone is calm (and not hungry, tired, or needing to pee) before the discussion. If not, show how you calm down by taking a deep breath (not an exaggerated huff – everyone knows the difference!) before you start talking. If that doesn’t work, tell your spouse that you need a 5-minute break before talking. Be sure that you’re not having a complex argument while driving and turn off electronics so you aren’t distracted. Check that there’s enough time to have the discussion and that no one is going to be late to anything as a result.

Third, state your case clearly and concisely. People lose track of (and interest in) what we’re saying after around three phrases so don’t go on longer than that. Consider using the 3Fs to tell your spouse what’s going on:

Fact – Tell your spouse what is happening/has happened factually. Leave out the color commentary. “You told me that you would wash the dishes yesterday and you didn’t.”

Feeling – Describe how you feel. Remember that your spouse didn’t make you feel that way and it’s important that you don’t imply that his behavior caused your feeling. “I feel frustrated when I see the dirty dishes piling up.”

Fair Request – Ask your spouse clearly what you’d like him/her to do. Understand that your initial attempt at a fair request might be rejected so have a back-up at the ready. “Will you please wash them now?” If that doesn’t fly, “Please tell me when you’ll have time to wash them so I can decide whether to go ahead and do them myself.”

Fourth, when it’s your spouse’s turn to address the issue, demonstrate active listening. Note that active listening involves making eye contact, turning your body towards your partner, nodding, and possibly reflecting back things you hear. It does not involve eye-rolling, interrupting, scoffing, or angry facial expressions – you know, all the things you hate for your kids to do while you’re talking to them.

Fifth, keep going back and forth with this discussion until you find a compromise you can both feel O.K. about. If it’s clear you’re not going to find middle ground, you have to decide to table to discussion or agree to disagree. If you’re both good with it, try to have some kind of physical contact – a hand squeeze, a hug, etc. – at the end of the argument. The kids may feel like having a hug, too.

Finally, once the argument is over, your work isn’t quite finished. It’s helpful to check in with the kids on what they witnessed and how they’re feeling about it. Spend a few minutes debriefing. Explain each person’s side and why you were having trouble agreeing. Describe how you both first calmed down before you talked it out. Point out how the 3 Fs helped you get your point across and how you and your spouse worked together to find a compromise you could both live with. You might even highlight how the compromise was not quite what you wanted and not quite what your spouse wanted but was pretty good for both of you. Allay any fears that the argument means you don’t love each other or are getting a divorce; although, chances are these won’t come up if everyone managed to stay calm.

Important note: It’s absolutely crucial that your kids not witness serious fights that involve yelling, screaming, cussing or physical violence. In fact, if these things characterize arguments you and your spouse are having, it’s time to get help immediately. If you feel like your partner is being emotionally or physically abusive, you can contact the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 1-800-650-6522 for help in making a plan. If the fights are ugly but no one is being physically injured, seek a psychotherapist skilled at working with couples. Ask a trusted friend or your general practitioner for a referral.

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.

Birmingham Events Calendar: August 3rd – August 10th

Posted on Sunday, August 3, 2014 by Angie

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

If you haven’t had a chance to catch the free or discounted movies around town this summer, you have one week left to make it happen! Check our list of movies to see what’s playing.

The Barons will be back home later in the week, visit the zoo for $5 Fun Days again and if you’re up for a Water Balloon Fight, check out the Water Balloon Jollification at Crestwood Park.

Sunday August 3rd:

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

Vulcan’s Underpants – Railroad Park
Come get some fresh air and fresh comedy! Join ETC for our special brand of comedy – made up on the spot with your suggestions. Fun for your kids or your grandparents. Heck, we love the whole family! In case of inclement weather, we will update Facebook, Twitter and voicemail at (205) 687-5233.
6pm – 8pm

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Monday August 4th:

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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Tuesday August 5th:

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Discover and Learn Event featuring What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada.
11am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Story Time
10:30am

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Wednesday August 6th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Huntsville Stars
7:05pm

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Thursday August 7th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Huntsville Stars
7:05pm

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Friday August 8th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Huntsville Stars
7:05pm

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Saturday August 9th:

Hikes for Tykes – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
A member of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens educational staff will take pre-school children and their families on a hands-on educational adventure through the gardens. Free.
10am

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Huntsville Stars
6:30pm

Get Pop Cultured, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Barnes and Noble Summit
Discover your inner Ninja Turtle with exciting ninja activities for kids ages 5 to 10 including Storytime!
11am

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
In August, we will head to the sculpture garden to check out Craig Wedderspoon’s Quilted Vessels and then make our own! A vessel is an object that holds something. Go see what Craig Wedderspoon’s Quilted Vessels hold, and create your own piece using pieces of foil. What will yours hold?
11am – 1pm

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

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.

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Sunday August 10th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Huntsville Stars
3:00pm

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Birmingham Zoo:

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

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:

Railroad Park:

Southern Museum of Flight:

52 New Things 2014. Week 30

Posted on Saturday, August 2, 2014 by Angie

What’s new with you this week? Here’s what we did!

Angie –
My new thing this week was braving the crowds for some Tax Free Shopping. I didn’t really mean for it to happen. I had to stop in the toy store for a Birthday Present and the shoe store I shop in was next door. I save more than $20 on 2 pair of shoes, got drunk on the savings and decided to brave the Galleria. I actually got some really great deals, but I despise crowds and shopping with my children so I’m thinking this probably won’t happen again.

Kristen –
My New Thing is hitting up a brewery two nights in a row. Don’t think I’ll be making a habit of it but it was fun!

Back to School: Lunchbox Ideas

Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2014 by Angie

If you feel like you run out of ideas for lunches by September, you’re just like us. Here are some fun ideas to get you prepared for the upcoming school year.

Pasta with a tiny bit of melted butter- tastes great warm or cold
Shelled edamame
Muffins of any kind
Oatmeal pancakes, try this yummy recipe from AllRecipes
Veggies with dip
Bagel pizza- good cold!
Hummus and pretzels
Roll-ups: use Laughing Cow cheese with turkey or ham
Pizza sandwich: mozzarella cheese and a thin layer of marinara
Frozen grapes
Vanilla wafer sandwiches: 2 wafers with a slice of banana in the middle
Cheese cubes or sticks
Hardboiled egg

What are some of your “think outside the box” lunchbox ideas?

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 27th – August 3rd

Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2014 by Angie

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

Birmingham Barons, Movies at the Alabama Theatre and so much more happening around Birmingham this week. Kick your week off with a little bit of free yoga at Whole Foods on Monday and check out a very special Frozen Themed Storytime at Barnes and Noble at the Summit on Friday. Whatever you decide to do, have fun and stay cool!

Sunday July 27th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Tennessee Smokies
3pm

Summer Film Series – Alabama Theatre
Sound of Music
Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door or in advance through Ticketmaster.
2pm – Doors open 1 hour before showtime.

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

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Monday July 28th:

Family Yoga – Whole Foods
We’ve teamed up with Villager Yoga to bring you a FREE Family Yoga Class! Bring your water bottle and a mat or towel, and join us for this family fun activity! Agest 4+, please.
11am

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Tennessee Smokies
7:05pm

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Tuesday July 29th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Tennessee Smokies
7:05pm

Animal Appetites – Clay Community Center
Natural History Education Co. of the MidSouth presents “Animal Appetites.” With each animal presented, learn how the animal hunts (or avoids being preyed upon), how it adapts and survives in its native habitat, the status of that species in the wild, and how humans impact these animals’ ecosystem both positively and negatively.
10am

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Discover and Learn Event featuring What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada.
11am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Story Time
10:30am

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Wednesday July 30th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Tennessee Smokies
7:05pm

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Thursday July 31st:

Throwback Thursday Kids Club – Alabama Theatre
Bedknobs & Broomsticks
Tickets are $2 for kids and $5 for adults. Kids MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Doors open at 9 am to start activities, and the movie begins at 10.

Baseball Thursday/Summer Series – Alabama Theater
Join us for the 2014 Summer Film Series! There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before each film.
SandLot
7pm

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Friday August 1st:

Get Pop-Cultured: Frozen – Barnes and Noble Summit
Cool Off With Olaf! A Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble Event. Bring in the kids for Storytime, a sing-along, crafts and activities with everyone’s favorite summer-loving snowman!
Activity stations will begin at 6:00 pm and story/sing-along will start at 7:00 pm!
7pm

Summer Film Series – Alabama Theatre
Join us for the 2014 Summer Film Series! There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before each film.
Mamma Mia!
7pm

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Saturday August 2nd:

Hikes for Tykes – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Pre-school children will go on a shape hunt with Anwen! We will go through the garden hunting for shapes and discussing why plants grow that way. Free
10am

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

Back to School Celebration/Mural Painting – Homecoming Coffee and Gifts
Homecoming Café and the community is sponsoring a Back to school celebration for families. Free food, drinks and plenty of music. We will be painting a large mural on our building in the historic civil rights district. Families, visual artist, musicians, spoken word artist are invited to help us celebrate and encourage our youth.
10am – 4pm

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

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.

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Sunday August 3rd:

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Birmingham Zoo:

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

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:

Railroad Park:

Southern Museum of Flight:

52 New Things 2014. Week 29

Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2014 by Angie

What’s new, What’s new?

Angie –
My new thing for this week is the Fizzio Spiced Rootbeer from Starbucks. It’s common knowledge that I have a slight Iced White Mocha addiction but I decided to “Spice” things up a little and try the new handmade soda they’ve been advertising. It was tasty. A little strong on the ginger flavor but not in a bad way. My Barista said you could actually cut that down a little with a pump or two of vanilla. I haven’t tried it that way yet but I wonder if it tastes like a Rootbeer Float?

Kristen-
My new thing for this week was having my car broken into and my purse stolen. I do not recommend you try this. Even worse, they took my makeup bag. Seriously?

Shirley-
My new thing this week is a useful tip… I was painting and got some oil paint on my hands, I didn’t want to use chemicals so I read somewhere that using oil to get oil based products off of things works. So, I decided to try using olive oil to clean my hands. It worked! Like, really, really well. No chemicals, and I was rewarded with manicure soft hands. It’s now a staple in my painting toolbox!

Encouraging Morning Independence

Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2014 by Angie

The school year is just around the corner and having your child be able to get up and complete simple tasks in the morning will be a life saver once that hectic time of year starts back.

Start now getting your child in the habit of doing a few things for him or herself and your mornings will be a breeze…. Well, maybe not a breeze but breezier.. Here are some tips.

Kill the media – We have a no media in the morning policy. If you feel like your child would be motivated by having TV time once all tasks are complete, consider that as an option. Just be aware that not all shows are going to sync up with your “out the door” time and could cause a battle of epic proportions if having to leave in the middle of their favorite cartoon. Other rewards to consider:

Playing with Pet
Listening to music
Reading
Coloring

Have clothes picked out the night before, maybe even pick out 5 outfits for the week for them to choose from. This helps them feel like they have options, which can be a big deal. Every morning, kids get up, and get dressed before even coming downstairs.

I like the idea of making a hot breakfast for my kids every morning but doing that every day is not realistic in our house. Have easy to make breakfast items on hand for them to pop in the toaster or cereal and fruit for them to prepare or get themselves. If you’re a “cook a hot breakfast every morning” kind of family, more power to ya’! Maybe you can offer us some tips on making that happen. I have in the past made up an extra batch of pancakes on the “good” mornings or on Sundays – kind of a good compromise. They get a “homemade” breakfast but can re-heat them themselves.

If you think remembering all of their morning chores will be a problem. Make a checklist on a poster board, magnetic board or whiteboard. You can post this in a couple of places around the house as a reminder. If your little ones can’t read, draw pictures. If one of their tasks is to make the bed, draw a picture of a bed. Brush teeth, draw a toothbrush…

Make sure to cheer them on throughout their tasks. Tell them you love the outfit they picked out, that they did a great job on their pony tail and if you think they need a little reminding to stay on task, see what they’ve done so far and say “Wow, what a great job you’re doing, only 1 item left on your list….”

You can get out of the house in the mornings without nagging, yelling and tears (yours and theirs) we promise, but developing and adhering to predictable routines is key. It may take a little trial and error to get your timing right but in no time, you can be on your way to some less stressful mornings and more independent kiddos!

photo credit: <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/mufidahkassalias/10519508175/”>Mufidah Kassalias</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/”>cc</a>