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Droolicious Cuisine: Tuna Tacos with Marinated Slaw

Posted on by Angie

We are kind of obsessed with fish tacos right now and thought we would re-post this recipe we ran as a part of our Droolicious Recipe series!

Mommadrool is a one-woman show. She does it all – and boy can she cook. She does not let us down with this one either. Fish tacos are one of my favorite things to eat.  Ever.  I can’t wait to make this one. Enjoy!

Tuna Tacos with Marinated Slaw

Ingredients:

4 cups shredded green cabbage

3 tablespoons Nakano Seasoned Rice Wine Vinegar

2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon diced pickled jalapenos

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1 teaspoon chili powder

3/4 cup flour

4 tablespoons taco seasoning

2 pounds tuna fillets, cut into bite-size pieces

2 tablespoons olive oil

16 flour tortillas

1 cup Pico de Gallo or fresh salsa

Directions:

1) Combine first four ingredients in a medium bowl. Toss well, cover, and refrigerate.

2) Combine sour cream, hot sauce, and chili powder in a small bowl. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate.

3) Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Combine flour and taco seasoning. Dredge fish in flour mixture. Add fish to pan and sauté for 4 minutes or until desired degree of doneness.

4) Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spread a spoonful of sour cream mixture down the center of tortillas. Top with 1/4 cup of marinated slaw. Divide fish evenly among tortillas and top with spoonful of Pico de Gallo; fold in half.

Yields 8 servings (Serving Size: 2 fish tacos)


You can find many more droolicious recipes over at her site,  “2 Little Chicks”

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 28th – August 4th

Posted on by Angie

Some great shows this week at the Alabama Theatre and more summer reading programs are winding down at your local libraries. Check out the Marionettes at Emmet O’ Neal or Rick Rickstraw at Vestavia Library.

The Birmingham Barons will be back home later in the week and you can check out Bountiful Boxes with Bart, at the Birmingham Museum of Art!

Have a great week, everyone!

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

Sunday July 28th

The Sound of Music – Alabama Theatre
A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower. 174 min.

The movie will begin at 2 pm, with doors opening one hour before showtime. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ will perform before each movie. Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door and through Ticketmaster.

—————————————————————————————

Monday July 29th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Hot movie popcorn, drinks, & fun for the family.
3pm

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday July 30th:

Meet Caroline – Hoover Public Library
Grab your dolls for food and fun to hang out with the newest American Girl.  Grades K – 6.
Must Register
6:30pm

Tuesday Afternoon Movie – Emmet O’ Neal Library
A misfit ant, looking for “warriors” to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turns out to be an inept circus troupe. (Rated G)
3:30pm

Stevens Marionettes – Emmet O’ Neal Library
The classic fairy tale comes to life with hand-crafted marionettes.
10:30a

Family Tours with Art – Birmingham Museum of Art
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday July 31st:

Captain Chris and His Pirates Songs – Springville Road Library
Join us for some seaworthy good songs as we bring out super summer of reading to a close.
10am

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Summer is almost over and school is right around the corner. Is Pete upset? No way! He is rocking and rolling in his new shoes! What a cool cat! Join us so you can be cool going back to school!
11am

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Thursday August 1st:

Thursday Morning Movie & Popcorn -Emmet O’ Neal Library
Astronaut Scortch Supernova finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet. (Rated PG)
10:30am

Rick Rakestraw, A Jungle Adventure- Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest
Rick travels with many of his exotic friends, from monkeys to reptiles, and he will bring them to the library for you to see, up close and personal! He is very knowledgeable about animal rescue and will share his many experiences, while educating you about the animals he brings to us! Great fun for all animal enthusiasts!
11am & 3pm

—————————————————————————————

Friday August 2nd:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Blue Wahoos
7:05pm

—-———————————————————————————

Saturday August 3rd:

Storytime on the Mountain – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Come up to the Tree-house with the kids for Story Time the first Saturday of every month. Each month Miss Jerri will be reading a book about nature, wildlife, or the great outdoors. After the story, make a craft that reflects the theme from the book. Remember – it’s free and each family receives a copy of the book to keep, thanks to Target.
10am

Shelby County Family Day – McWane Science Center
Shelby County residents, county employees and University of Montevallo students are invited to enjoy McWane Science Center during the third-annual Shelby County Family Day on Saturday, August 3rd, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. During this special day, Shelby County residents will receive half-off admission to McWane Science Center.

Shelby County Family Day is a great opportunity for families to explore McWane Science Center’s hands-on museum featuring four floors of interactive exhibits including an amazing collection of dinosaurs, science demonstrations, imaginative early childhood learning areas and an awe-inspiring aquarium.

Shelby County residents, county employees and Montevallo student must present a copy of the invitation available online and a copy of a current driver’s license showing proof of residency or county employee identification. University of Montevallo students must present their Student ID.
10am – 6pm

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Blue Wahoos
6:30pm

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! Bountiful Boxes // Inspired by summer’s natural beauty? Make your own miniature garden with Bart!
11am

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.

Join us in August for Ready for School Storytime with Dr. Seuss’s ABC. Enjoy an amazing alphabet book Storytime, activities and treats.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Sunday August 4th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Blue Wahoos
3pm

The Goonies – Alabama Theatre
A group of kids embark on a wild adventure after finding a pirate treasure map.
The movie will begin at 2 pm, with doors opening one hour before showtime. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ will perform before each movie. Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door and through Ticketmaster.

—————————————————————————————

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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titians of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

Minion Cupcakes!

Posted on by Angie

Since we were stuck inside because of the stormy weather this week, we needed something to keep us busy! Knowing my kids love for the Minions (and that cupcakes were on our summer fun list,) I knew my kids were going to love this rainy day activity. Yours will too!

What you’ll need.

Cupcakes – Any boxed or homemade recipe will do
Icing – We used white
Cupcake Liners – We used yellow and blue to add to the color scheme.
Smarties
Black writing icing
Sprinkles – We went with what we had on hand which made for some very colorful Minion hair.
Twinkies or Cloud Cakes

What you’ll do:

Bake cupcakes according to recipe instructions.
While your cupcakes are baking, decorate your minions. This is a perfect task for the tiny humans.

Cut your twinkies in half
Use a little of the black icing to secure 2 white smarties on the twinkies as eyes. (*Don’t forget about the one eyed Minions)
Place a tiny dot of black icing in the center of each smartie
Then draw a line out from the “glasses” on each side with the black icing, completing your glasses.

Once your cupcakes have finished baking and have cooled, ice and gently place a “Minion” on top.

That’s It! Super Easy Minions for the Despicable Me fans in your house!

Avoid Tired, Cranky Kids While on Vacation

Posted on by Angie

Are we there yet?

How Much Longer?

She won’t stop kicking my seat!

And that’s just the car ride!

It’s Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy… This may be true if you’re on vacation, lying in the sun with your feet in the pool, but it may not be quite as accurate if you’re planning to travel with young kids. Many a vacation has been marred by babies crying, toddlers missing naps and preschoolers having tantrums, leading to a grumpy mom and dad. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Joleen Dilk Salyn, Certified Child Sleep Consultant and Founder of Baby Sleep 101, offers five important guidelines to help families best enjoy vacation.

1. Plan Ahead

If you’re going to be staying in a hotel on your vacation, call them ahead of time to see if you can book a room located in a quiet section of the building. Generally, rooms close to the pool, restaurant, stairs or elevator have more foot traffic and are nosier. This can be quite frustrating when you’re trying to get your child to go to sleep.

2. Have a Well-Rested Child Before You Leave

It’s important to have your child on a good routine before you even set out on your travels. This means an established nap routine, a consistent and familiar wind down and an age appropriate bedtime. If your child is well rested and caught up on their sleep before you go, then they will be more likely to fall asleep quicker in a new environment, able to deal with any missed sleep better and be just a happier travel companion overall. Win-win!

3. Practice Makes Perfect

If your child will be sleeping in a Pack and Play while you’re on the road, then it’s wise to do some trial runs with it at home. Sometimes children have a hard time settling down in a new bed, so it’s best to let them get used to it, in the comfort and security of their room. You can try one nap a day to see how they respond and troubleshoot accordingly.

4. Recreate the Sleep Environment

Take everything you can to help replicate your child’s regular sleep environment in the hotel. This may include white noise, dark sheets to imitate their blackout blinds, loveys or special blankets. They say that our sense of smell is the most powerful sense, so you may even want to take the same sheets from their bed without washing them. The familiar scents can help to relax your child when they are trying to fall asleep in a new location.

5. Stick to a Regular Routine

Maintain the same nap and bed times while on the road that you have at home. It’s important to still enjoy your trip, so allow for some flexibility, but overall, children will be better travel companions with a consistent routine because they won’t be overtired and cranky.

Generally car naps are not recommended as part of a healthy sleep routine, but it’s better for your child to take a nap in the car, than to miss the nap entirely while on vacation. Try to time it around when your child regularly takes their nap and remember to leave a little earlier to compensate for falling asleep time.

If you have a tot that doesn’t like to sleep in the car, then try to be at your destination in time for their next nap. The morning nap is the most restorative, so make that one the priority.

Once you are back from your trip, get right back into your old routine. Expect that your child’s sleep will be a little disturbed for about a week, but with time, consistency and early bedtimes, things will be back to normal quickly.

What tips or tricks can you share about making travel easier this summer?

About Joleen
Joleen is an independent certified Baby and Child Sleep Consultant, and founder of Baby Sleep 101. She received her extensive training from the Family Sleep Institute. She is also a member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. Joleen is a mother of two wonderful children; ages 2 yrs and 7 months. Visit www.babysleep101.com for more information.

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 21st – July 28th

Posted on by Angie

Summer Reading Finales are starting at some of the local libraries! Finish up those reading logs!

The Birmingham Barons are at Regions field for a lengthy home stand and the Barnes and Noble Summit will be hosting a LEGO Architecture Event.

ET and The Sound of Music will be playing at the Historic Alabama Theatre, if you’ve never seen this Birmingham Treasure, take the kids down and enjoy a matinee!

 

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

Sunday July 21st

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
3pm

—————————————————————————————

Monday July 22nd:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Hot movie popcorn, drinks, & fun for the family.
3pm

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
7:05pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
The Day the Crayons Quit Storytime, featuring art activities and fun with NOOK!
11am

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Tuesday July 23rd:

Summer Reading Finale – Hoover Public Library
A jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30, 1:30 and 6:30

The Puppet Guy – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Rock through the ages and rock to the beat in this toe-tapping musical revue featuring puppets, original songs, and of course, dinosaurs.
10:30am

Tuesday Afternoon Movie – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse are thrown into a feature film, with the twosome trying to help an orphan girl who is being berated and exploited by a greedy guardian. (Rated G)
3:30pm

Farmer Jason – Homewood Library
This award-winning Children’s music artist will have everyone dancing!
10:30am

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile BayBears
7:05pm

Family Tours with Art – Birmingham Museum of Art
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday July 24th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile BayBears
7:05pm

Summer Reading Finale – Hoover Public Library
A jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30 & 1:30

Ronald McDonald – Springville Road LIbrary
Come see one of the world’s most famous clowns perform a super cool magic show!
10am

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
LeapFrog makes practicing reading skills so much fun with Scout, a lovable talking and singing puppy! Children ages 6 months to 3 years are invited to Read with Me Scout, a fun interactive Storytime where Scout will share his favorite camping story.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Thursday July 25th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile BayBears
7:05pm

Summer Reading Finale – Hoover Public Library
A jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30, & 1:30

Farm Stands on the Railroad – Railroad Park
Are you looking for a good place to buy fresh produce during the week?  If so, stop by Railroad Park.  Farm House of Homewood and Grow Alabama will be on-site every Thursday evening!
4pm – 7:30pm

Thursday Morning Movie & Popcorn -Emmet O’ Neal Library
When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world. (Rated PG)
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Friday July 26th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile BayBears
7:05pm

LEGO Architecture Event – Barnes and Noble Summit
We’re joining with Lego to host the first-ever event for Lego Architecture Studio. Adults and teenagers will have the opportunity to discuss design inspiration, learn about scale, modules and repetition in architecture, and build from what they learn.
7pm

—-———————————————————————————

Saturday July 27th:

Community and Culture Day – McWane Science Center
Join us in celebrating the diverse cultures and communities from across the Birmingham area. Enjoy performances by local artist, dancers, storytellers, musicians and much more!
Museum hours: 10am-6pm. Event begins at 2pm.

ET – Alabama Theatre
A meek and alienated little boy finds a stranded extraterrestrial. He has to find the courage to defy the authorities to help the alien return to its home planet. 115 min.

The movie will begin at 2 pm, with doors opening one hour before showtime. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ will perform before each movie. Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door and through Ticketmaster.

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Mobile BayBears
6:30pm

Keep it Simple Silly – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Join us for this monthly mini program. Each month we will explore a different nature theme or focus on a particular animal. Perfect for families. Program is approximately 45 minutes.
1pm

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! Celebrate with Pinwheels! // Get in the summer spirit and make your own pinwheel!
11am

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
Pete the Cat has four buttons — no — four groovy buttons! Come see why Pete is the coolest cat around — he never loses his cool!
11am

Thames and Kosmos Rubber Band Cars – Barnes and Noble Summit
Kids ages 7 and up, buckle your seatbelts! We’re going on a learning journey with Thames and Kosmos, creators of fabulous science kits. Learn fun physics facts while building and playing with rubber-band driven race cars.
12pm

—————————————————————————————

Sunday July 28th:

The Sound of Music – Alabama Theatre
A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower. 174 min.

The movie will begin at 2 pm, with doors opening one hour before showtime. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ will perform before each movie. Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door and through Ticketmaster.

—————————————————————————————

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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titians of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

Connect to Win: McWane Science Center Membership

Posted on by Angie

We had so much giving away passes a couple of weeks ago, we decided we would up the ante and give away something even bigger! a 1 Year Family Membership to the McWane Science Center!

But you’re going to have to work for it and put your social media outlets to good use!

We will draw one winner from the comments on this post. After you complete each requirement, you will need to come back and leave a comment here letting us know you did it.

To Enter:

1. Leave a Comment On This Post letting us know how much you want it. (1 Per Person, per day)

2. Once we post this on Facebook, share that post with your Facebook friends by clicking the share button on that Facebook Thread. (Come back here and let us know you did, 1 Per person)

3. Tweet this:  “BirminghamMommy is giving away a McWane Membership, connect to win!  http://ow.ly/n87xE ”  (Come back here and let us know that you did, 1 per person)

4. Follow us on Pinterest (Come back here and let us know you did, 1 per person)

5. Follow us on Instagram (Come back here and let us know you did, 1 per person)

Giveaway will run through Wednesday July, 24th at 6pm. Winner will be notified via email and announced on our facebook page.

 

 

Pinspired Side Dish: Mexican Sour Cream Rice

Posted on by Angie
From A Taste of Home Cooking

We love Mexican food and eat it way too much. Usually we have tacos or burritos, but never really a side dish. Which is exactly what Pinterest was invented… to provide yummy side dishes! This was delicious, and you can adjust the hotness level as needed. As prepared, it has a nice kick but wasn’t too much.

AND, as a bonus, try the recipe that’s included with the recipe for BBQ Quesadillas. It looks divine!

From A Taste of Home Cooking:

Mexican Sour Cream Rice Slightly modified from …and a cookie for dessert

1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth 1 cup sour cream
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers
2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese, divided
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
salt and ground black pepper to taste
In a large pot, bring the rice and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish.
In the pot with the cooked rice, mix the sour cream, green chile peppers, 1 cup pepper Jack cheese, corn, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish, and top with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.

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Birmingham Events Calendar: July 14th – July 21st

Posted on by Angie

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month today at Homewood Public Library with Sundeas. Looks like the libraries will be full of fun all week and Barnes and Noble Summit has lots of special events planned from storytimes to LEGOs.

Member Alliance Day is back on Saturday, giving you the chance to check out some of the best that Birmingham has to offer.

If you’re looking for Summer Movies, you still have time! See what’s playing here.

Have a great week!!

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

Sunday July 14th

National Ice Cream SunDay – Homewood Public Library
Summer Readers come celebrate National Ice Cream Day with us! It’s never too late to sign up and join the fun!
2pm – 5pm

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Monday July 15th:

We Dig Construction – Hoover Public Library
Summer story time! Perfect for children under the age of four years.
10:30am

Legosauraus Max _ Hoover Public Library
Take your Lego skills to the max and design paleo creations.
Grades 1-3. Registration required
6:30pm

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday July 16th:

Tuesday Afternoon Movie – Emmet O’ Neal Library
The story of the legendary outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor is portrayed with woodland creatures. (Rated G)
3:30pm

Animal Tales: Reptile Scales and Tails
If it’s cold-blooded and scaly, you can learn about it and see it live with Animal Tales.
10:30am

The Big Dig Family Carnivnal Night – Avondale Library
For all readers who have read many stories this summer and earned a summer reading certificate, your summer of digging is over! Join us for a night of games, prizes, and lots of fun. 24-hour advance registration required.
6pm

Maynard Magic and Music – Homewood Public Library
Maynard is the funny bird— Steve is the great magician!
10:30am

A Wonderful World of Tales – Hoover Public Library
Folktales and songs from around the world are creatively presented in this multi-cultural performance. A mischievous Leprechaun and a lively woodland fairy are the guides on this fun-filled and educational journey.
10:30, 1:30 and 6:30

Family Tours with Bart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

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Wednesday July 17th:

We Dig Magic – Larry Moore
Oh the places you’ll go, the stories you’ll hear, and the magic you’ll see when Larry Moore is near. Join Magic Man Larry for a program filled with stories and tricks that are bound to leave you wanting Moore.
10am

We Dig Hoola Hoopla – Avondale Library
Did you know that hula hoops make the digging-est dance partners? Be a member of the hula hooping craze as you listen to some tunes and learn how to move and groove with your hoop. The library is a circle of fun when the hoops are here. 24-hour advance registration required.
2pm

A Wonderful World of Tales – Hoover Public Library
Folktales and songs from around the world are creatively presented in this multi-cultural performance. A mischievous Leprechaun and a lively woodland fairy are the guides on this fun-filled and educational journey.
10:30 and 1:30

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Pete the Cat has four buttons — no — four groovy buttons! Come see why Pete is the coolest cat around — he never loses his cool!
11am

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Thursday July 18th:

A Wonderful World of Tales – Hoover Public Library
Folktales and songs from around the world are creatively presented in this multi-cultural performance. A mischievous Leprechaun and a lively woodland fairy are the guides on this fun-filled and educational journey.
10:30 and 1:30

Thursday Morning Movie & Popcorn -Emmet O’ Neal Library
Parents and grandparents disagree in a most hilarious fashion on how to raise the next generation of children. (Rated PG)
10:30am

Magician Russell Davis Brings The Magic of Reading – Vestavia Hills Library
Magician Russell Davis brings The Magic of Reading! Mr. Davis is a new performer for us but comes highly recommended from libraries in South Alabama.

As part of our community outreach, this show will also be at Liberty Park for a 3:00 pm show.

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
7:05pm

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Friday July 19th:

Water and Melon Day – Homewood Public Library
It was so much fun, we have to do it again! The Homewood Fire Department will supply the water and we will serve up watermelon! Dress for water play; towels, flip flops and sunscreen highly recommended.
10:30am

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
7:05pm

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Saturday July 20th:

International Festival – Birmingham Zoo
Join the Zoo in commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement. Come see the progression the Zoo has made throughout the years and take in an experience that is rich in culture with a focus on historical moments at the Zoo and all over the world
highlighting Japan, India and South Africa. Enjoy special entertainment, taste unique food, experience a Wildlife Show, see an animal greeting and more! All these fun-filled activities are included with the price of admission.
9am – 7pm

Member Alliance Day 2013
As a way of saying thanks to current members and supporters of arts and culture in the Birmingham region, area organizations have planned a special members-only day of free admission and family-friendly activities. One valid membership card and/or postcard invitation admits 2 adults and up to 4 children into absolutely any and every participating venue all day long. Plus, enjoy special Member Day activities and performances throughout the day. For more information and a complete list of events. Visit our post here.

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! Celebrate with Pinwheels! // Get in the summer spirit and make your own pinwheel!
11am

Bart’s Book – Birmingham Museum of Art
Bart’s Books is a storytelling program for children ages 4-7. Bart selects a new book and related work of art each month that he thinks kids will enjoy.

This month, Bart has selected Kerry Madden-Lunsford and Lucy Madden-Lunsford’s Nothing Fancy about Kathryn and Charlie.
11am

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
6:30pm

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
Pete the Cat has four buttons — no — four groovy buttons! Come see why Pete is the coolest cat around — he never loses his cool!
11am

Thames and Kosmos Rubber Band Cars – Barnes and Noble Summit
Kids ages 7 and up, buckle your seatbelts! We’re going on a learning journey with Thames and Kosmos, creators of fabulous science kits. Learn fun physics facts while building and playing with rubber-band driven race cars.
12pm

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Sunday July 21st:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs Chattanooga Lookouts
3pm

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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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titians of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

Member Alliance Day 2013

Posted on by Angie

As a way of saying thanks to current members and supporters of arts and culture in the Birmingham region, area organizations have planned a special members-only day of free admission and family-friendly activities. One valid membership card and/or postcard invitation admits 2 adults and up to 4 children into absolutely any and every participating venue all day long. Plus, enjoy special Member Day activities and performances throughout the day,

With 18 wonderfully varied groups of performers, museums, and historical landmarks participating in Member Day, it’s one of the best ways to experience the incredible talents and unforgettable experiences offered by our region’s arts and cultural organizations—all in one day!

Want to experience all benefits of Member Day but not already a member/season ticket holder of one of the participating organizations? It’s NOT too late! Become a member/season ticket holder of a participating Member Day 2013 cultural organization on or before July 20 and get Member Day postcard which will serve as your access ticket on this special day.

MEMBER DAY SCHEDULE – JULY 20, 2013
Special Performances and Activities will be available at the following attractions:

10:00 am – 5:00 pm  Birmingham History Center special exhibition, 1963
LOCATION: Birmingham Museum of Art

10:00  – 10:45 am  Birmingham Museum of Art activity
LOCATION: Railroad Park

10:30 – 11:15 am  Alabama Ballet performance
LOCATION: Birmingham History Center

11:00 – 11:40 am  Red Mountain Theatre Company performs selections from 42nd Street and Beauty and the Beast Jr.
LOCATION: McWane Science Center

11:30 am – 12:15 pm ETC improv troupe presents Vulcan’s Underpants
LOCATION: Vulcan Park & Museum

12:00 – 12:45 pm  Embellishments Handbell Ensemble performance
LOCATION: Birmingham Botanical Gardens

12:30 – 1:15 pm  Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival’s Children’s Short Film Festival
LOCATION: Birmingham Public Library

1:00 – 1:45 pm  McWane Science Center presents RACE: Are We So Different? activity
LOCATION: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

1:30 – 2:15 pm  Birmingham Children’s Theatre performance
LOCATION: Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

2:00 – 2:45 pm  Srollworks performance
LOCATION: Southern Museum of Flight

2:30 – 3:15 pm  Birmingham Botanical Gardens activity
LOCATION: Barbers Vintage Motorsports Museum

 

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS (click link for membership info)

Alabama Ballet • Alabama Sports Hall of Fame • Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum • Birmingham Children’s Theatre • Birmingham Botanical Garden • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute • Birmingham History Center • Birmingham Museum of Art • Birmingham Public Library • Cultural Alliance/Birmingham365.org • Embellishments Handbell Ensemble • Extemporaneous Theatre Company • McWane Science Center • Railroad Park • Red Mountain Theatre Company • Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Central Alabama • Sidewalk Film Festival • Southern Museum of Flight • Vulcan Park And Museum

 

Event of the Week: McWane Rocks!

Posted on by Angie

Happy Birthday McWane!!

Join the McWane Science Center for a ROCKin’ 15th birthday party that you won’t want to miss. Travis Taylor, star of Nat Geo’s hit show, Rocket City Rednecks, will be on hand bringing his unique style of southern charm and technology with live demonstrations on the plaza that are guaranteed to excite and engage. From “rock” climbing walls, “rock” ‘n’ roll music and “rock” candy this party will definitely “rock” your world.

BIRTHDAY SPECIALS
On July 13th, in honor of McWane’s 15th birthday, we are offering:
$15 OFF ALL McWane Science Center memberships
$15 for 1 Adventure Hall/IMAX Combo Ticket

Fifteen years ago the dream of a community-wide initiative to build a better Birmingham for our children came to fruition.  On July 11th, 1998, McWane Center opened its doors for the very first time.

Today, that dream is a reality far exceeding the wildest of those expectations.  McWane Science Center, Birmingham’s world-class interactive museum, is actively engaged in our mission to change lives through science and wonder every day.

Thousands of families and school children venture through the doors of McWane Science Center every week.  Each is met with a unique, unforgettable opportunity to see, to hear, to touch and to learn the world of science in an exciting and fun way.

Today, McWane Science Center features four floors of hands-on, learning experiences including exhibits, aquariums, live science shows, camps, classes, teacher-training workshops and outreaches to both schools and community libraries throughout the state. It also includes Alabama’s largest movie screen in the John W. Woods IMAX® Dome Theater.

And, over the last fifteen years, McWane Science Center has used our community’s greatest assets to create new, exciting permanent exhibits  for kids of all ages including Just Mice Size, Newsroom Studio, Challenger Learning Center, Dinosaurs of Alabama, Sea Monsters of Alabama, Itty Bitty Magic City, NatureScope, Science On A Sphere and the Shark & Ray Touch Tank.

We are excited to expand upon these with the opening of the Birmingham Children’s Museum At McWane Science Center, which will soon begin construction on Level 2.

In celebration of 15 amazing years, the museum invites you to join the celebration.  All summer long, visitors can explore their favorite exhibits, experience this summer’s traveling exhibit, RACE: Are We So Different?, and watch blockbuster movies in the IMAX® Dome Theater including Star Trek Into Darkness.

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