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Anxiety in Moms

Posted on by Angie

Nothing induces anxiety like becoming a mother. You’re in charge of caring for this tiny precious life. It’s a big load to carry. Many women notice a surge in their anxiety levels after having children. A few tips for controlling the anxiety:

Beware of catastrophic thoughts. When you find yourself worrying about the worst case scenario, try to turn the tables on your worry by using logic. Ask yourself what the statistical likelihood is of the scenario happening. Then ask yourself to admit what the most realistic outcome is.

Distractions. Listen to a song, have a snack, draw a picture… anything to help your mind ease.

Keep tension levels low. Exercise, walk the dog, do some yoga.  All of these activities can help you keep tension low, which helps your body keep anxiety at bay.

When you feel like you can’t control it, don’t be afraid to discuss it with your doctor. If you want to see a checklist of symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, click here.

Pack the Perfect Picnic!

Posted on by Angie

Summertime means lots of being outside, whether your packing a picnic lunch for a hike or road trip or just enjoying being outside in your own backyard, we have a few ideas to make your picnic perfect!

If you have kids that don’t really like sandwiches or are just tired from eating them everyday at school, try some of these ideas:

A sandwich minus the bread (can that still be called a sandwich?) Let’s call them turkey (or ham or pepperoni) and cheese roll ups. If your kids will actually eat lettuce, or a tortilla, you could roll it all up and stick them with a toothpick. Or try this recipe wrapped around a pretzel rod.

Substitute your bread with yummy crackers then cut your meats and cheeses into smaller sizes so the kids can make their own little cracker sandwich. My kids like having the ability to choose what they want to eat and mix it up from one to the next.

Think breakfast for lunch – we make lots of muffins for breakfast and those are super easy to pack up and toss in your picnic basket. If you’re a planner, make them up the night before and you have breakfast and lunch taken care of, you might actually make it out of the house on time.. maybe.

All picnics need fruit and/or veggies. We love that you can now buy peanut butter and hummus in single serve packs. While they are a little more costly, they are super convenient and add a little something to your lunch on the go. If you want to save a little cash, you can always use reusable containers. Pair these up with apples slices, pretzels, cut up veggies or anything dunkable and you’re good to go.

A yummy, non mayo based pasta salad is always a yummy addition (Moms like this too!)

Try Prepackaged cereal bars, granola bars or clif bars. They’re easy to toss in, along with a yogurt tube. We keep Clif bars with us almost always, whether it’s a picnic or just a trip to the park, they make a great healthy snack. You can buy a box of the “Kids Clif Bars” at most grocery stores or Walmart and Target.

Don’t forget a little sweet treat! We usually throw in some sugar cookies, or maybe some oatmeal raisin. We always avoid anything chocolate, even during the spring here, it’s warm enough to melt.

If you’re planning a hike around your picnic, make sure to pack plenty of waters for everyone!

What do you pack in your picnic lunch?

Birmingham Events Calendar: June 16th – June 23rd

Posted on by Angie

Happy Father’s Day, Dads! We hope you’re enjoying your day!

We hope you’re having a great summer so far! We’re slowly but surely marking some activities off of our Summer Fun List. There are lots of things to choose from this week whether you want to do something free, cheap or splurge, there is something for everyone!

Have a GREAT week!

 

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

Sunday June 16th

Happy Father’s Day!!

Father’s Day at the Birmingham Zoo
Spend this special day with your dad at the Zoo! In recognition of Father’s Day, dads get in free at the Zoo with the purchase of a full-price child’s admission ticket.

Bird House Extravaganza -Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Bird houses are home tweet home for some birds. Other bird houses, however, are simply meant for decoration. Join us at Ruffner and decorate whatever kind of bird house suits you. You are welcome to bring your own bird house to decorate, or buy one. Paint and other art supplies will be provided. Judges will pick winners for: Most Creative Bird House and “Greenest” Bird House (Children and Adults categories). All houses will then be displayed in the large tree next to the Treehouse. Not only will your bird house be a piece of art work on its own, it will also be a part of a bigger collaborative piece!
1pm – 5pm Come and Go
Free

Hip, Hippo Hooray – Birmingham Museum of Art
Today is your last chance to see the unique, amusing, and beautiful porcelain table service from the collection of Richard Baron Cohen.  Combining two of his greatest collecting passions–ceramics and hippos–Mr. Cohen commissioned a large dinner service from the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory in Denmark that captures the spirit and personality of his favorite animal.

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Monday June 17th:

We get Dirty – Hoover Public Library
Summer storytime for children under four.
10:30am

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

Birmingham Barons – Regions Park
vs. Jacksonville Generals
11:30am

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Tuesday June 18th:

World’s Largest Swim Lesson – Splash Adventure Waterpark
Have you always wanted to help set a Guinness World Record? If so, here is your chance! On June 18, 2013 at 10:00am, kids and adults around the world will unite to hold the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™. Come to Splash Adventure to show your support for the importance of teaching children how to swim while setting a Guinness World Record at the same time!

Afternoon Movie and Popcorn – Emmet O’Neal Library
Monsters generate their city’s power by scaring children, but they are terribly afraid themselves of being contaminated by children. When a little girl enters Monstropolis, top scarer Sully finds his world disrupted. (Rated G)
3:30pm

Chalk on the Walk – Clay Community Center
In one of our special evening programs, children will create works of art using sidwalk chalk. This program will be held in the parking lots of the CLAY COMMUNITY CENTER and SENIOR CENTER.
6pm

Huck’s Lost Mine, Mobile Gem Mining
Climb on board Huck’s gem mining truck and see what you can dig up!
10:30am

Water Play Day – Homewood Public Library
Wear your swim wear& flip flops, bring a towel, and lather on that sun screen ‘cause we will be playing in the water and enjoying Chick-fil-A lemonade!
10:30am

Pepper Place Street Market
Farmers, Food Trucks and live music with Contra dancing! Music provided by Red Mountain White Trash. Bring your kids, dogs and dancing shoes and join the fun! Eat supper at one of our food trucks, Cantina, Bettola or Vittoria. Pick up a cocktail at The Red Cat or Cantina and enjoy the evening with friends and family.
4pm – 8pm

That Puppet Guy – Hoover Public Library
Join Dr. Dinosaur on an exciting expedition of prehistoric proportions!
10:30 am, 1:30 pm & 6:30 pm

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Wednesday June 19th:

Lulu and the Brontosaurus – Springville Library
Come have a dino-rific time as the Springville Road Children’s Department Staff performs a dramatization of Judith Viorst’s Lulu and the Brontosaurus.
10am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us as we read ABC Animal Jamboree by Giles Andreae. What’s your favorite animal? We’d love to know! We will also read Giraffe’s Can’t Dance!
11am

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

That Puppet Guy – Hoover Public Library
Join Dr. Dinosaur on an exciting expedition of prehistoric proportions!
10:30 am, 1:30 pm

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Thursday June 20th:

Thursday Morning Movie – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended and sometimes monstrous consequences. (Rated PG)
10:30am

That Puppet Guy – Hoover Public Library
Join Dr. Dinosaur on an exciting expedition of prehistoric proportions!
10:30 am, 1:30 pm

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Friday June 21st:

Splash Zipping at Red Mountain Park
Join us as we kick off the first day of summer with Splash Zip Tours from 10:00 am-1:00 pm! Come experience the Red Ore Zip Tour as it’s never been experienced before; our guides will be armed with water guns and you’ll have the chance to seek revenge with water balloons! Visit our website (www.redmountainpark.org) or give us a call (205) 913-7899 to book your reservation today!

**Proper dress attire still required

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Saturday June 22nd:

Monsters U – Hoover Public Library
You have been accepted into our University, where you will learn the fine art of scaring, sneaking and hiding.  All ages.
10:30am

Monsters University Chest – Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic
The monster fun continues at Lowe’s this weekend! Your child will love building this chest inspired by Disney•Pixar’s Monsters University. Registration going on now.
10am

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! June is for Animals // Hippo mania is still going on at the BMA!
11am

Magic City Music Fest – Avondale Library
Urban Mystic, Mel Waiters, Shirley Brown, Floyd Taylor, Jeff Floyd, Lattimore, Big Rob, Omar Cunningham, Smokie Norful and more. Picnic baskets welcomed, no glass containers, no coolers.
$48.50 Ticket + $10.30 Fees = $58.80
Ages 6 and under free.
Tickets available through Ticketmaster.
3:30pm

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.

Join us as we read ABC Animal Jamboree by Giles Andreae. What’s your favorite animal? We’d love to know! We will also read Giraffe’s Can’t Dance!
11am

Phonics Fun with Leapfrog Letter Factory – Barnes and Noble Summit
We’re having fun with phonics at a Hands-On Learning event with the LeapFrog Letter Factory. Kids ages 3 to 6 are invited to create words and sing alphabet songs!
11:30am

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Sunday June 23rd:

Monsters University Chest – Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic
The monster fun continues at Lowe’s this weekend! Your child will love building this chest inspired by Disney•Pixar’s Monsters University. Registration going on now.
2pm

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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.

Pinspired Eats for Kids: Cauliflower Bites

Posted on by Angie

In my never ending quest to make sure my kids eat healthy foods and try an array of vegetables, I have had to get creative. Cauliflower doesn’t smell so good when being steamed, so my kids hated it. I found this recipe on pinterest and tried it. It was a huge success! The recipe recommended dipping in ketchup but my kids didn’t even need that. They gobbled it up. The best part was how simple it was.

From Delighted Momma

It’s simple:

  • 2 heads of cauliflower (I only used 1 and it was PLENTY)
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil (reduced a bit because I only used 1 head)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Wash and clean the cauliflower. Cut off and discard the stem. Cut the cauliflower up into small pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, salt and pepper. Add the cauliflower pieces and thoroughly coat each piece.
  4. Place cauliflower pieces onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for one hour and turn 3 times during cooking until each piece has a nice brown coloring. The browner they are the better.
  5. Remove from oven and enjoy!

Follow us on Pinterest for more of our fun finds!

Secret Tips for Moms!

Posted on by Angie

Young moms everywhere need this list! I found it at In the Corner. These are brilliant!  I searched for a good way to bathe my kids when they were in that in-between stage. A laundry basket would be perfect, cheap, and easy! My other favorite is using the pool noodle ($1) as a door stopper. My kids were masters of smashing fingers in doors- this would have saved many tears. Great list!

McWane Science Center Free for Active Duty US Military

Posted on by Angie

McWane Science Center is proud to support military families by participating in Blue Star Museums this summer! This free admission program runs from now until Labor Day and is available to any active duty U.S. military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps – and up to five family members.

The program is for general admission and does not include imax. Offer will end on Labor Day, September 2, 2013. Proof of ID will be required.

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: June 9th – June 16th

Posted on by Angie

Summer Programming at your local library offers a ton of great free fun.. There are so many things going on we can’t possibly list them all here each week. Make sure to check with your local library and see what’s on tap each week. They have great storytimes, movies and shows for all ages!

Birmingham Museum of Art will be a  hot spot this Saturday with lots of “Bart” activities.

Cheap summer movies are happening all over town, we caught 2 last week!

Don’t forget about Father’s Day on Sunday! Dads get in free at the Birmingham Zoo!

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

Sunday June 9th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Park
vs JAX – Salute to Armed Forces
3:00pm

March of the Penguins – Hoover Public Library
The Hoover Public Library will show the documentary March of the Penguins. Free and open to the public.
3pm

Jazz in the Park – Avondale Park
We encourage everyone to bring blankets, coolers, food, small TV trays and votive candles to enjoy the concert. Food vendors are available.

Absolutely no Grills are allowed while attending Jazz in the Park®. Failure to abide by this rule will be enforced by concert organizer and police.

Seating: There is ample seating available in Avondale Park amphitheatre. Parking is located on streets near the venue. Please secure your vehicle as concert organizers and venue are not responsible for stolen property.

Smoking: Jazz in the Park® is promoting a smoke-free event this summer. Please be considerate of your non-smoking colleagues.
6pm – 9pm

Earth Fare’s 1 year Anniversary Celebration
Earth Fare, the healthy supermarket in Riverchase near the Galleria Mall, is turning one! Stop by 12-3 pm for great food, fun and festivities the whole family will enjoy. Enjoy free samples, giveaways and so much more, as well as special appearances by Steel City Pops and other local food trucks. Organic wine samples will be available from Sundown Wines.

Come hungry! We will have the grill ready with all natural antibiotic and hormone free burgers and sides. Because, you and your family are better than fast food.  Like us on Facebook for more details – @EarthFareBirmingham.

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Monday June 10th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Park
vs JAX –
11:30am

We Dig Dinosaurs – Hoover Public Library
Summer storytime for children under four.
10:30am

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 June 11th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Park
vs JAX –
7:05pm

Hippo Adventures – Birmingham Museum of Art
Meet at the Information Desk outside Bart’s ArtVenture! Join us for a new in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore Hip, Hippo, Hooray!, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art and hippos.

No reservations required. Hippo Adventures 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

Afternoon Movie and Popcorn – Emmet O’Neal Library
The Man in the Yellow Hat and his inquisitive pet monkey George embark on an adventure around New York and the world. (Rated G)
3:30pm

TomFoolerys Juggling Extravaganza – Emmet O’Neal Library
Juggling, unicycling, stilt walking, and balancing act – it’s a circus extravaganza with TomFoolery!
10:30am

Madcap Puppets presents Fantastic Fairtytales -Hoover Public Library
Madcap Puppets will present Fantastic Fairytales
10:30am, 1:30pm, 6:30pm

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Wednesday June 12th:

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us as we read I Love My Daddy by Giles Andreae. We will make something special for Dad in honor of Father’s Day, and have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

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

We Dig Magic with Larry Moore – Avondale Library
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.
2pm

Madcap Puppets presents Fantastic Fairtytales -Hoover Public Library
Madcap Puppets will present Fantastic Fairytales
10:30am, and 1:30pm

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Thursday June 13th:

The Magic of Archie Wade and Co. – Barnes and Noble Summit
Imagination is our Summer Reading Theme and the Vestavia Children’s Library is helping us celebrate as they bring magician Archie Wade to our Children’s Department stage! Magicians love reading, too!
3pm

Madcap Puppets presents Fantastic Fairtytales -Hoover Public Library
Madcap Puppets will present Fantastic Fairytales
10:30am, and 1:30pm

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Friday June 14th:

Mobile Dairy Classroom – Springville Road Library
Come to the library to meet a real cow. We’ll learn all about how milk gets from the farm to your fridge. We’ll even have a milking demonstration. This is a special extra-large bovine Grubdown!
10am

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Saturday June 15th

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! June is for Animals // Hippo mania is still going on at the BMA!
11am

Bart’s Books – 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 Margaree King Mitchell’s Uncle Jed’s Barbershop.
11am

Hippo Adventures – Birmingham Museum of Art
Meet at the Information Desk outside Bart’s ArtVenture! Join us for a new in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore Hip, Hippo, Hooray!, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art and hippos.

No reservations required. Hippo Adventures 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

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 as we read I Love My Daddy by Giles Andreae. We will make something special for Dad in honor of Father’s Day and have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

Phonics Fun with Leapfrog Letter Factory – Barnes and Noble Summit
We’re having fun with phonics at a Hands-On Learning event with the LeapFrog Letter Factory. Kids ages 3 to 6 are invited to create words and sing alphabet songs!
11:30am

Explore the Sky with Klutz – Barnes and Noble Summit
Explore the Sky with Klutz at a Hands-On Learning event for kids 7 and up. Learn fun facts and explore creativity while designing and coloring galactic stickers!
11:30am

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Sunday June 16th:

Happy Father’s Day!!

Father’s Day at the Birmingham Zoo
Spend this special day with your dad at the Zoo! In recognition of Father’s Day, dads get in free at the Zoo with the purchase of a full-price child’s admission ticket.

Bird House Extravaganza -Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Bird houses are home tweet home for some birds. Other bird houses, however, are simply meant for decoration. Join us at Ruffner and decorate whatever kind of bird house suits you. You are welcome to bring your own bird house to decorate, or buy one. Paint and other art supplies will be provided. Judges will pick winners for: Most Creative Bird House and “Greenest” Bird House (Children and Adults categories). All houses will then be displayed in the large tree next to the Treehouse. Not only will your bird house be a piece of art work on its own, it will also be a part of a bigger collaborative piece!
1pm – 5pm Come and Go
Free

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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.

Pinspired Idea: Watermelon Cookies

Posted on by Angie

We came across this idea on Pinterest from Beneath the Rowan Tree, and while we haven’t tried it yet, we will soon. This would be cute to make ahead of time for your Summertime Playdates or use it as an activity to do with the kids when you have everyone over.

All you need is a watermelon and some cookie cutters.

Slice your watermelon into pieces about 1″ thick. Cut out with cookie cutter of your choice. That’s it, it’s that easy. Pieces should hold up in the fridge for about 6 hours before serving and will be fine outdoors while the kids play.

Photos: Beneath the Rowan Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow us on Pinterest for more of our fun finds!

Weighing In

Posted on by Angie

The percentage of overweight children and adolescents has more than doubled in the United States over the last 30 years. Television, Computer Games and easy access to movies is partly to blame for this sedentary lifestyle.

Many factors contribute to this trend.  Fun foods like chips, soft drinks, and candy are readily available.  Advertisers barrage us with visions of healthy, thin models and actors chowing down on fries, chips huge burgers, and pizzas constantly.  It is doubtful that these models really eat any of this stuff.  Most models closely watch what they eat and exercise daily.  Serious athletes are careful to eat foods that build muscle, not empty calories like sugary sweets, sodas, and chips.

As parents it is our responsibility to educate our children on making healthy choices and to lead by example. Start by making healthy choices for yourself.

The harsh reality for overweight children and adults is that they are at risk for serious health problems, not to mention psychological stress, poor body image, and low self-esteem.

Read labels.  Healthy foods can become a hazard when manufacturers add too much sugar or fat.

Buy some fruits and vegetables that can be easily snacked on.  Most kids really like vegetables with ranch dressing or try some hummus with those veggies, you might be surprised when they gobble it up!

You can buy baby carrots, celery, and broccoli that are packaged for snacking.  Keep fruit handy.  Have some healthy snacks ready to serve.  You don’t have to cut out “fun” foods entirely, but save them for special occasions.

Watch portion sizes.  This may be the area that trips us up the most. A serving size of meat is the size of a deck of cards.  A serving size of butter or margarine is the size of a dice.  Picture a light bulb as a serving size of fruit or vegetable.  One piece of bread makes one serving.  Pasta?  One half of a cup.  When eating out, skip the megasize and supersize options.

Watch the amounts of soda, milkshakes, and even juices that you drink.  Sipping on drinks with sugar all day stretches your stomach and gives you a hungry feeling.  Drink water when you are thirsty. This is also important in keeping their teeth healthy.

Serve some milk every day.  It fills you up and gives you energy.  Skim milk and zero fat milk have the same amount of calcium and vitamins and minerals as whole milk and is way less fattening than a soft drink.

Play ball or Frisbee, dance, swim, or just walk around the block with your kids every day.  Dust off the bikes and take a ride. Just a 20 minute brisk walk will work wonders.  You will look better, feel better, and get a chance to really talk with your children.

When all else fails.. Send them outside and lock the door behind them. It’s what my Mom used to do!

Birmingham Events Calendar: June 2nd – June 9th

Posted on by Angie

Summer Reading is in full swing! Make sure you stop by your local library to get signed up, it’s a great way to keep the kids busy this summer as well as keeping them fresh on what they learned this past school year!

The Barons will be back home this Friday for a weekend full of fun at the ball park, Summer Movies are going strong and one of our favorite stores, Earth Fare will be celebrating it’s 1 year Anniversary on Sunday!

Have a great week!

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

Sunday June 2nd:

Vulcan’s Birthday Bash
Make plans to attend the BIGGEST birthday bash in Birmingham! Vulcan may be the world’s largest cast iron statue, but he still needs help blowing out his birthday candles! On Sunday, June 2, Vulcan Park and Museum will host a festive outdoor community celebration offering fun activities for the whole family! Admission will be charged and includes admission to the party, Vulcan’s Observation Tower, Museum and a special exhibition in the Linn-Henley Gallery. Log on to www.visitvulcan.com for additional party details.
$3 all ages 5+.
4 and under and Vulcan Members are FREE!
noon – 4pm

Summer Reading Kickoff – Vestavia Library
The “Dig Into Reading” program in the Children’s Department at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest will begin with a huge Kick-off party at the library. There will be face painting, ice cream, an Egyptian Mummy Tomb Mystery, digging for gold and gemstones, and Dr. Magical Balloons, a zany storyteller who uses balloon sculptures – and willing audience members – as his story props. Everyone who signs up for the summer reading program that day will get a special goodie bag filled with coupons and treats courtesy of the generous merchants in the area.
2pm – 4pm

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Monday June 3rd:

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 June 4th:

Afternoon Movie – Emmet O’ Neal Library
After his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home. (Rated G)

Be sure to check out our other Tuesday afternoon movies for preschoolers, going on all summer long at the Emmet O’Neal Library.
3:30pm

Summer Reading Kickoff – Gardendale Martha Moore Library
Come help us kick off this year’s summer reading with a fun-filled concert for all ages featuring well-known singer/entertainer Roger Day!
5:30pm

Summer Reading Kick Off – Barnes and Noble Summit
Come help us kick off a super Summer of Reading! We will have games, stories and refreshments. Pick a new book, get your reading log and get started!
2pm

Hippo Adventures – Birmingham Museum of Art
Meet at the Information Desk outside Bart’s ArtVenture! Join us for a new in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore Hip, Hippo, Hooray!, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art and hippos.

No reservations required. Hippo Adventures 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

Dinoman – Hoover Public Library
With magic, mayham and magnificent props, the audience takes a trip to the Mesozoic Era.
In The Library Theatre
10:30, 1:30 and 6:30

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Wednesday June 5th:

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us as we read I Love My Mommy by Giles Andreae. We will also read Giraffes Can’t Dance!
11am

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

Dinoman – Hoover Public Library
With magic, mayham and magnificent props, the audience takes a trip to the Mesozoic Era.
In The Library Theatre
10:30 and 1:30

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Thursday June 6th:

Dinoman – Hoover Public Library
With magic, mayham and magnificent props, the audience takes a trip to the Mesozoic Era.
In The Library Theatre
10:30 and 1:30

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Friday June 7th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Park
vs JAX – Friday Night Fireworks
7:05pm

We Dig Magic with Larry Moore – Southside Branch Library
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.
9:30am

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Saturday June 8th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Park
vs JAX – Mini Bat Giveaway
6:30pm

Black Creek Arts Festival – Black Creek Park, Fultondale
Third Annual Black Creek Arts Festival at Black Creek Park.  This is a Juried Art show with more than $400 in prize money given. The judging begins at 9:00 am. Download the app here. Artists you can pay online here.  BUT we ask that you mail in your application. More than 40 artists have participated in the past.  We will have musical entertainment and children’s arts activities.
10am – 2pm

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! June is for Animals // Hippo mania is still going on at the BMA!
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
Join us as we read I Love My Mommy by Giles Andreae. There will be a craft and we will have something yummy from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday June 9th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Park
vs JAX – Salute to Armed Forces
3:00pm

March of the Penguins – Hoover Public Library
The Hoover Public Library will show the documentary March of the Penguins. Free and open to the public.
3pm

Jazz in the Park – Avondale Park
We encourage everyone to bring blankets, coolers, food, small TV trays and votive candles to enjoy the concert. Food vendors are available.

Absolutely no Grills are allowed while attending Jazz in the Park®. Failure to abide by this rule will be enforced by concert organizer and police.

Seating: There is ample seating available in Avondale Park amphitheatre. Parking is located on streets near the venue. Please secure your vehicle as concert organizers and venue are not responsible for stolen property.

Smoking: Jazz in the Park® is promoting a smoke-free event this summer. Please be considerate of your non-smoking colleagues.
6pm – 9pm

Earth Fare’s 1 year Anniversary Celebration
Earth Fare, the healthy supermarket in Riverchase near the Galleria Mall, is turning one! Stop by 12-3 pm for great food, fun and festivities the whole family will enjoy. Enjoy free samples, giveaways and so much more, as well as special appearances by Steel City Pops and other local food trucks. Organic wine samples will be available from Sundown Wines.

Come hungry! We will have the grill ready with all natural antibiotic and hormone free burgers and sides. Because, you and your family are better than fast food.  Like us on Facebook for more details – @EarthFareBirmingham.

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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.

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