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Savory Nibbles: Bacon & Chicken Bites

Posted on by Angie

This is the perfect nibble to bring to any potluck gathering!

1 package of boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 package of sliced bacon
1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
1-2 tbsp chili powder

Preheat oven to 350.
Cut chicken breasts into 1″ pieces, cut bacon slices into 1/3’s.
Wrap a bacon around each chicken and secure with a toothpick.
Mix the brown sugar and chili powder, and roll the chicken/bacon cube in it.
Spray a broiler pan with non stick spray. Place the cubes on the pan.
Bake for 35 minutes, or until bacon is crisp.

Say Cheese: Staying in the (Facebook) Picture

Posted on by Angie

By: Lissa Peterson

If you are a young mother, I’m willing to bet you don’t have a lot of recent pictures of yourself. What about your Facebook photo? Are you in it, or is it just of your children? Are you in your family’s Christmas card?

I’ve read a lot of opinions over the past few months about how the current generation of young mothers has a tendency to disappear from pictures. On Huffington Post, Allison Tate begged mothers to allow pictures of themselves to be taken. Not doing so, she says, takes us out of the story of our family.  She recently posted an update on the topic that discusses Christmas cards in particular.

And then there’s Katie Roiphe, who attacks women who use photos of their children as their profile pics on facebook (guilty). In an essay that is dripping with snark, she wonders why women who work, are in book clubs, and have “interests outside the home” still choose to put their little cuties on the profile page instead of themselves. Sarcastically, she says she understands the urge: “After all, it frees you of the burden of looking halfway decent for a picture, and of the whole excruciating business of being yourself.” Ouch.

Roiphe must have a full-time nanny and personal assistant to have so much energy. I feel the day is a success if I didn’t lose either of my children. Sorry, but “looking halfway decent” and “being [my]self” are well beyond the scope of my daily abilities.
I won’t spend too much time on Roiphe’s article, except to say that Erin Newcomb summed up my thoughts on her piece better than I think I could have myself. For example: “If mothers martyr themselves for their children, that’s not an issue of failing to be sexy enough (as Roiphe suggests), but of lacking support and viable alternatives for making life meaningful.” And further, “Roiphe misses the fact that motherhood is a calling for many women, and that engaging in it joyfully was supposed to be a valid choice in feminism.”

It’s interesting to me that Tate situates her argument in the idea of being there for your children, while Roiphe’s focus is on being yourself. Both arguments are valid and important. I’m certainly not immune to this phenomenon. As I mentioned, my current Facebook profile pic is of my children. Finding a pic of me for my Twitter account was a challenge. Heck, the best I could do for my blog was a picture of my whole family.

Why don’t I have any pictures of myself?

First, at the risk of seeming to push blame on others, I must point out that when you become a mother, people mysteriously stop taking pictures of you. And why not? Your kids are so gosh darned cute! And they are brand new. And they won’t stay this young forever. And you are so tired. After motherhood, a woman’s cheering section often starts cheering for the little ones instead.
Then, of course, mothers don’t really help the issue. We don’t encourage anyone to take a picture of us. I know that I tend to scoot out of the way when the cameras come out. I never feel like I am “fixed” enough for documentation. Again, surviving the day is an accomplishment.

Are we really being fair to women with these comments, or are we just requiring them to look great in addition to all of the other expectations we place on them? Those Christmas cards that don’t have moms in them — the dads aren’t in there either. A quick scan of my Facebook page showed that a large number of dads use their kids in the pictures, too. Why make such a big deal about it for women?

I’m constantly struggling to find my own personal level of balance — a way of spending quality time with my children but also connecting with and impacting the world outside my home. I often ask myself why I can’t just give up the urge to do other things. It would be so much easier to stay home and focus solely on my family. I think for me the decision has to do with my own perception of visibility.

I know this will probably sound judgmental of moms who stay home (which I don’t intend at all), but for me it is important to have an active presence outside the home — whatever that may mean. I love spending time with my kids, but I also strongly feel I need to have an impact on the outside world for my own good and to set a good example for my children. I don’t want to perpetuate the idea that the well-being of my family is all that matters. I want to show my children that we help others — friends, extended family, and even strangers — as well. No, that doesn’t mean that I have to “work” outside the home, but it does mean that I need to occasionally focus my attention on others besides my kids.

So, I think visibility is important too, but a different kind. I prefer the kind of visibility that suggests I want to leave the world a little better than I found it. It doesn’t have anything to do with how I look, or even with making sure I’m identified by my own image and not that of my children. Yes, some of the reluctance with having my picture taken is because I don’t look the way I used to. But I also just don’t see the point of spending as much time on my looks as I used to either.

We all have our own different ways of making an impact on the world. If someone else doesn’t think it’s a priority to always have a recent, perfect snapshot of themselves, maybe it’s because they are too busy making a difference some other way. Maintaining an active social media presence isn’t the only way to change the world.

Birmingham Events Calendar: January 6th – January 13th

Posted on by Angie

Happy New Year! We’re back and slowly easing back into the swing of things! We hope you all enjoyed your Holiday Break!

The library calendars are starting to pick up and storytimes are back. Today is the last day to check out the Winter Wonderland at the McWane Science Center. If you haven’t made time for that yet, load the kids up and head on out. It’s worth it!

There are free kids yoga classes happening at Villager Yoga and Bart’s Art Cart is kicking off the New Year with a special about the Chinese New Year!

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

Sunday January 6th:

Last day to play in the Winter Wonderland at the McWane Science Center!!

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Monday January 7th:

Free Kids Yoga Classes – Villager Yoga
Come check out our kids classes for free as we prepare to start our 2013 yoga series.

Yoga is a fun and interactive way for children and teens to build strength, release excess energy and develop a healthy body and body image. Kids tend to lead intense lifestyles due to overstimulation, academic and social pressures, blended families and busy schedules, all which create stress that can be hard for them to identify and clearly communicate. Our yoga practice provides tools children, teens and families can use to alleviate stress and find calm and balance in a safe, non-competitive environment.
1:30 – 2:15

Character Kids – Gardendale Public Library
A fun interactive program for kids K5, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. Ms. Molly uses character development through games, stories, science, and more.
3:30pm

Toddler Tales – North Shelby Library
A story program for children and a caregiver. Stories, songs, finger plays and crafts make up a lively program designed especially for short attention spans. Best suited for ages 19 months to 3 years. Must Register
9:30am and 10:30am

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Tuesday January 8th:

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us for the best part of your week with stories that make you laugh and songs that make you dance! Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome. For large groups, a call to 332-6619 is nice.
10:30am

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Wednesday January 9th:

Free Kids Yoga Classes – Villager Yoga
Come check out our kids classes for free as we prepare to start our 2013 yoga series.

Yoga is a fun and interactive way for children and teens to build strength, release excess energy and develop a healthy body and body image. Kids tend to lead intense lifestyles due to overstimulation, academic and social pressures, blended families and busy schedules, all which create stress that can be hard for them to identify and clearly communicate. Our yoga practice provides tools children, teens and families can use to alleviate stress and find calm and balance in a safe, non-competitive environment.
4:00 – 4:45pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read I Need My Own Country. Find out what happens when a little girl decides to make her own country. There will be a craft and we will 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

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Thursday January 10th:

Free Kids Yoga Classes – Villager Yoga
Come check out our kids classes for free as we prepare to start our 2013 yoga series.

Yoga is a fun and interactive way for children and teens to build strength, release excess energy and develop a healthy body and body image. Kids tend to lead intense lifestyles due to overstimulation, academic and social pressures, blended families and busy schedules, all which create stress that can be hard for them to identify and clearly communicate. Our yoga practice provides tools children, teens and families can use to alleviate stress and find calm and balance in a safe, non-competitive environment.
3:30 – 4:15 and 4:30 -5:15

SNAP – Movie and Popcorn – Emmet O Neal Library
Follow a feisty red-headed heroine across the magical moors of Scotland. Thursday, January 10, at 3:30 pm. Call 879-0497 for movie and ending times. Grades 3-6. No registration required.

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Friday January 11th:

Storytime with NeNe – Whole Foods
NeNe is back and better than ever! Join Whole Foods most Fridays’ for storyday! There will be storyboards, songs and snacks!
10am

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Saturday January 12th:

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different gallery and activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart! This month, slither into the Museum to make a snake for Chinese New Year!
11am

Llama Llama Red Pajama Party – Hoover Public Library
Throw on your favorite pajamas and join us as we party party Llama Llama style. Registration going on now.
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 for Storytime as we read Hey, Presto! Find out what happens when Presto and his friend, Monty, perform a magic show. There will be a fun activity and we will have something delicious from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday January 13th:

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

 

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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: The Last Reef, Santa and the Snowman, Rocky Mountain Express

The Tornadoes of April 27th – Looking Back — Moving Forward, a new exhibit at McWane Science Center, reflects on the experiences of the April 27th, 2011 storms. The exhibit shares personal stories from those who experienced the devastation of the storms firsthand, while emphasizing the importance of tornado preparedness and explaining the science behind tornadoes.

Photos and stories from The Birmingham News help tell the story of the storms and the affect they had on survivors, volunteers, and the community as a whole. Students from Daniel Payne Middle School also help tell the story of their school and community through photos and artifacts from the storm for the exhibit. UAB students worked with the children from Daniel Payne Middle School to create short documentaries that can be seen in the exhibit as well.

In addition to sharing the personal stories from that day, the goal of this exhibit is to inform the community about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions, explaining the science of tornadoes and stressing awareness.

With vivid displays, the exhibit allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the scientific side of tornadoes. Graphics within the exhibit illustrate tornado formation and anatomy, educating visitors on how such extreme weather conditions develop. Additionally, the exhibit displays statistics and disputes common myths concerning the destructive storms.

Guests can watch live video from the storms that rolled across our state on April 27th, 2011, including the
weather forecasts from that day and actual images of the tornado as it made its way through our area provided by FOX6 WBRC. The exhibit is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum this summer.

Be Ready Alabama Exhibit Presented by:
The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
www.readyalabama.org

Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog
Join Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, and all their friends in the Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog™ exhibit! Featuring the people and places of the beloved children’s book and PBS Kids television series, this new interactive exhibit brings Clifford’s home on Birdwell Island to life with playful activities and enchanting environments for early learners to explore.

Winter Wonderland

Snow is in the forecast at McWane Science Center this year with the return of the Winter Wonderland exhbit. This magical holiday experience gives families a chance to learn about the science of the season together as they play in the snow, go ice fishing, and watch toy trains zip around the tracks.

Winter Wonderland offers something for everyone in the family to enjoy together. Inside the snow room, children can make snow angels, build snow castles and more. Children can catch fish through the ice in the ice fishing area.

Guests can even sled down the giant slide between the third and second floors in the museum or try the zip line.

Families also have a chance to see toy trains of every shape and size zipping around the tracks in the Magic of Model Trains area. This year children will be able to become conductors at one of the new stations and also see several new additions to the train sets.

Winter Wonderland Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday  10 AM – 5 PM
Saturday  10 AM – 6 PM
Sunday   12 PM – 6 PM

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.

5 Foods Your Children Should Be Eating (And How to Serve Them)

Posted on by Angie

The top 5 healthiest, nutrient-packed foods for kids are:

1. Salmon- Great source of omega-3 fats, good for boosting brain health. DHA is critical for brain cell membranes, and salmon is a great source. Top it with teriyaki or mix flaked off pieces of salmon into pasta.

2. Oats- Fiber-rich and slow-burning, oatmeal is a great way to give the little ones energy- especially as the weather cools down.  You can mix in some cut up fruit or try adding peanut butter or maple syrup.

3. Eggs- As kids grow, they develop new muscle tissue. Having a high quality protein will help. To combat cholesterol issues, use 1 egg combined with 2-3 egg whites. You can mix in veggies or meats, or serve them breakfast tacos. I’ve never seen a kid turn down a taco!

4. Spinach- Good for the eyes and high in nutrients, spinach is great for little ones. To get them past the bitter taste, try baby spinach. You can also add chopped spinach leaves to spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce and sneak it in!

5. Beans- Beans have soluble fiber that helps regulate blood sugars and may help calm mood swings. That’s what moms want to hear!  Try adding beans to taco meat or hamburgers, or let them have hummus as a dip for veggies or pita chips.

How many of these foods do your kiddos eat?

New Year's Resolutions for Moms

Posted on by Angie

We know… it’s hard. Change is always hard, but it can make you a better person. As moms, our resolutions are already geared towards other people. But we need to fit a few in for ourselves too.  Here are some ideas for resolutions & goals to keep in mind as you move through 2013.

1. Spend more time being PRESENT with your children. You’re with them a lot, but how much of that time is spent on your phone or checking emails. Life is not about emails or instagram.

2. Healthy lifestyle for  the whole family. For the most part, we exercise regularly.  We want to make the whole family healthier by doing more activities together and eating healthier. Try for at least 3 healthy family dinners and 1 family activity per week.

3. Better budgeting- Even if you’re not a compulsive shopper, it’s east to lose track of spending. Prepare a family budget and stick to it.

4. Charity-  Choose something you can share with your children. They will be great helpers and you can help them understand how important it is to help others.

What goals do you have for the New Year?

 

Reading With Ringling 2013

Posted on by Angie

Reading with Ringling is back and many Birmingham Area Libraries will be participating!  Kids can earn Ringling Bros. circus tickets by picking up Rewards Club cards at participating libraries, and reading books to earn stamps on their card. After five stamps, the Rewards Card is completed and can be used to get a free circus ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. Children aged two to 12 years old can enroll.

Reading is a great way to discover, dream, and learn! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents Built To Amaze, which will play at BJCC Arena, January 23-27, 2013.

Here is a list of libraries in our area:

Adamsville Public Library, 4825 Main Street, Adamsville, AL 35005
http://www.Cityofadamsville.org
All Branches Of Public Library Of Anniston-Calhoun County, Anniston, AL
http://www.Anniston.Lib.Al.Us/Circulation.htm
All Branches Of Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham, AL 35208
http://www.Bplonline.org
Roy Downs Calera Library, 9700 Hwy 25, Birmingham, AL 35040
http://www.Cityofcalera.org
Carrollton Public Library, 225 Commerce Avenue, Carrollton, AL 35447
Columbiana Public Library, 50 Lester St, Columbiana, AL 35051
http://www.Cityofcolumbiana.com
Walter J. Hanna Memorial Library, 4615 Gary Avenue, Fairfield, AL 35064
http://Fairfield.Lib.Al.Us/
Gardendale Martha Moore Public Library, 995 Mount Olive Rd, Gardendale, AL 35071
http://Gardendale.Lib.Al.Us
Graysville Public Library, 315 South Main St, Graysville, AL 35053
http://www.Jclc.org
Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35205
http://www.Homepubliclibrary.org
Hueytown Public Library, 1372 Hueytown Rd, Hueytown, AL 35023
http://www.Hueytown.Com/Htnlib.htm
Irondale Public Library, 105 20th St, Irondale, AL 35210
http://www.Irondale.org
Midfield Public Library, 400 Breland Dr, Midfield, AL 35228
http://Midfield.Lib.Al.Us/
Doris Stanley Memorial Library, 1515 Bookmark Lane, Moody, AL 35004
http://www.Moodypubliclibrary.org
Emmet O’Neal Library, 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook, AL 35213
http://www.Eolib.org
Odenville Public Library, 200 Alabama St, Odenville, AL 35120
http://Odenlib.org/
Oxford Public Library, 110 East 6th St, Oxford, AL 32603
htp://www.Oxfordalabama.org
Pelham Public Library, 3160 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, AL 35124
http://www.Pelhamlibrary.com/
Pell City Public Library, 1923 First Avenue North, Pell City, AL 35125
http://www.Pc.Lib.Al.Us
Pinson Public Library, 4410 Main St, Pinson, AL 35126
http://Pinson.Lib.Al.Us/
Clay Public Library, 7257 Old Springville Rd, Pinson, AL 35126
http://www.Claylibrary.com
Armstrong-Osborne Public Library, 202 South Street East, Talladega, AL 35160
http://www.Talladegalibrary.com
Tarrant Public Library, 1143 Ford Avenue, Tarrant, AL 35217
http://Tarrant.Lib.Al.Us
All Branches Of Tuscaloosa Public Library, Tuscaloosa, AL
http://www.Tuscaloosa-Library.org
Vestavia Hills Library In The Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
http://www.Vestavialibrary.org
Green Pond-Woodstock Library, 321 Presbyterian Church Rd, Woodstock, AL 35188
http://www.Gpwlibrary.org

Parenting with a PhD: Kids and Resolutions

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

Happy New Year!  Don’t we all love the “starting fresh” feeling that comes around now?  We’ve survived the holiday craziness and have but to enjoy a night out (or, for many of us, in) to reflect on the past year and plan for the next 365 days.  And, with that planning usually comes the formation of New Year’s Resolutions.  Although they’re often forgotten by January 2nd (or by the afternoon of January 1st, depending on what exactly you were toasting with…), there’s something about the process that reminds us that, no matter our age, we can still make changes (or at least plan for making changes).

This year, why not try making Family New Year Resolutions?  The fun thing about making changes as a family is that everyone can hold each other accountable for sticking to them.  The terrible thing about making changes as a family is that everyone can hold each other accountable for sticking to them.  So, before you try this, consider what’s doable and won’t drive anyone crazy.  Think about improvements that would increase your quality time together, make for less chaotic mornings, and decrease the overall stress level in the house.  If the resolutions you make lead to more busyness, frustration, and tears, drop them.  Quick.

You can make creating Family Resolutions a part of your New Year’s celebration (seriously, how likely are you to find a babysitter anyway?).  Talk about why people make resolutions – to challenge themselves and better parts of their lives.  Let family members suggest areas for improvement and make a list of reasonable goals.  Consider these goals to be aspirational – something to shoot for but not house rules that you’re punished for breaking.  For example, you might decide to try and eat dinner as a family at least three nights a week or spend less each day so you can go on a longer vacation in the summer.  Once your resolutions are written, make a plan for how you’ll remember and encourage following each one.  A poster would be great for keeping the resolutions visible and on everyone’s minds.  You might decide to do a weekly check-in on how everyone’s doing with the resolutions or you may just try to point out when someone’s making good efforts with them.

Since kids usually do better with short-term goals, consider having resolutions that change week-to-week so the plan will be fresh in memory and no one will get burned out doing the same thing every day.  A fun way to do this would be to have a Resolutions Jar that contains several options – hang up your towel, help one person a day, try a new vegetable – and have a weekly drawing.  Whichever resolution you draw is the one you work on that week.  Younger kids may be used to doing this for classroom jobs already.  Consider having a special family activity for a reward at the end of the week if everyone made good efforts.  This method may or may not lead to long-term change but it will increase the behavior, at least in the short-term, and might, eventually, lead to an overall improvement in the area.

Finally, here’s one resolution to consider making yourself.  Resolve to accept who you are as a parent and stop comparing yourself to parents who are more involved, keep a cleaner house, make cartoon characters with their kids’ lunch, or dress like they’re headed to Fashion Week.  Keep being the best parent you can for your kids and try to shut the other stuff out.  Sometimes, resolutions aren’t about making changes or improving.  Sometimes they’re about accepting what you’re already doing and letting that be enough.

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

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates (www.graysonmentalhealth.com). She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her five-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.

What To Do With the Rest of your Holiday Break

Posted on by Angie

Christmas is over. Now what? If you’re kids (or you) are itching to get out of the house for a bit, here are a few things to keep you busy..

McWane Science Center – The Winter Wonderland is in full swing. This is great for beating the cold weather and still being able to burn off some energy!

Birmingham Zoo – Zoolight Safari. If you didn’t manage to take the kids out to see the Christmas Lights around town, this is going on until December 31st, every night from 5pm – 9pm

Birmingham Civil Rights Museum – Kwanzaa Celebration. celebrate the spirit of family and community with its annual Kwanzaa program. The event kicks off with a hands-on workshop in the Abraham L. Woods Community Meeting Room at 5:00 pm. Elinor Burks will lead this creative activity for families.The community celebration begins at 6:00 pm. in the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery, highlighting the principle Kujichagulia, which means self-determination. It is one of the seven principles or “Nguzo Saba” of Kwanzaa and is celebrated and practiced on a single special day during Kwanzaa and ideally continued throughout the year. Additionally, the celebration will feature music, youth performances and excerpts from the documentary, “The Black Candle.”
December 27th

Homewood Public Library – Cartoons and Cereal
Join us for a morning of watching our favorite cartoons and munching on some delicious cereal. Dry cereal only, no milk will be served.
December 29th, 10am

 

Mamarazzi: 2012's Most Relatable Celebrity Moms

Posted on by Angie

By Harmony Hobbs:

I don’t know about you, but I find celebrity moms to be, for the most part, insufferable. They don’t seem relatable to me on any level. They have trainers and nannies and cleaning ladies and paid STAFF to help them. And, they’re wealthy. So pretty much I feel like they have it made and I cannot relate to them in any way … and I feel a little angry inside when one of them participates in an interview and talks about how difficult motherhood can be. I wrinkle my nose and think judgy thoughts such as, “You don’t KNOW difficult, bitch.”

But you know, there are a few celebrity mothers out there who do seem down-to-earth. Frazzled and mismatched and rumpled – like maybe, just MAYBE, they might do it all without a nanny. They seem real. Here is my collection of 2012’s Most Relatable Celebrity Moms:

1. Drew Barrymore. She is forever childlike, yet seems to finally be growing up now that she is a mother to daughter Olive.

2. Jennifer Garner. She looks like a normal (albeit perfect-looking) person and she always seems to be taking her girls somewhere without an entourage. Also, I saw a picture of her recently where her holey granny underwear was sticking out of her pants.

3. Tina Fey. She is simply, amazingly, self-deprecatingly awesome.

4. Alyson Hannigan. She doesn’t even look like a celebrity when she’s with her daughter. She just looks happy.

5. Pink. You can tell that she LOVES being a mom, and she totally rocks it.

I hope these women continue to enjoy motherhood and personal success, because they’re wearing them well!

Holiday Nibbles: Gumbo Dip… the best dip I've ever had

Posted on by Angie

Christmas Might be over but the “Holidays” are not! Many of you will be entertaining for New Year’s and I don’t know about you, but I think it’s a great time to try something new. To ring in the new year!

It’s always the same old dips… spinach dip, 7-layer dip, bacon and cheese dip… you get the picture. This year, I was on the search for a unique and different dip. I found the dip to end all dips, and it’s good… very good. My family and I devoured it and couldn’t stop raving about how delicious it was.

Gumbo Dip
Photo and recipe from Annie’s Eats

4 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 large bell pepper, seeded and diced
¾ cup sliced okra pods
2 ribs celery, diced
6 green onions, chopped (optional… I left this out)
1 clove garlic, minced
1½ tsp. Cajun seasoning
1½ lbs. large shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped
8 oz. cream cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Toasted baguette slices, for serving

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 400˚ F.  Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the bell pepper, okra, and celery to the pan and sauté until beginning to soften, about 6 minutes.  Stir in the green onions, garlic, and Cajun seasoning.  Cook 1 minute more, just until fragrant.  Stir in the shrimp, cream cheese, and Parmesan.  Stir over low heat until the cream cheese is melted and everything is evenly mixed.  Spoon the mixture into a baking dish.
  • Bake for 25 minutes or until the top is browned and bubbling.  Serve warm with toasted baguette slices.

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