It’s a classic Thanksgiving dessert, but you can make a pumpkin pie dip instead.
1 package cream cheese, softened
2 c powdered sugar
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin pie filling
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
Beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until smooth, then add the remaining ingredients and beat well.
Cover and chill overnight.
Serve with apple slices and ginger snaps.
Do you have any not so traditional ways to serve Pumpkin Pie? Share with the class!
Perfect! Appetizers made in the crock pot leave you free to do other cooking, or GASP! possibly relaxing and socializing.
Throw these things in a crock pot and cook on low for 1 hour:
2 c cooked chicken (use leftovers, rotisserie chicken, or deli chunks)
1 pkg cream cheese
2 c shredded cheddar cheese- medium or sharp
1 c ranch dressing (or less… I used about 1/2 c)
After the 1 hour, serve with celery, tortilla chips, or crackers!
It’s a BIG week for us here at BirminghamMommy.com! We kicked off the BIG McWane Science Center Annual Membership drive today! $20 off any membership level! It’s a deal you need to take advantage of, especially this close to Christmas!
The long awaited Twilight BD2 Premiere Party and Movie is finally here! We can’t wait to see all of you ticket holders this Thursday night!
Check out the Zoo for Veteran’s Day and get ready to shop this week at The Market, hosted by the Junior League of Birmingham.
Have a great week everyone, we’re certainly looking forward to it!
McWane Membership Drive Kicks Off!!
We’ll be at Starbucks in Vestavia City Center from 9am – 11am
Whistle Weekend – McWane Science Center
All aboard for the opening weekend of the Magic of Model Trains exhibit and get a free train whistle with purchase of a Combination Ticket to see the Rocky Mountain Express in IMAX® and see the Magic of Model Trains exhibit in the museum.
Riverchase Galleria Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Show
Come out for a weekend of Santa Clause and Christmas Cheer. Riverchase Galleria will be having their annual tree lighting and we will be coordinating a Christmas Show inside the mall with vendors for you to visit with – gifts, catering ideas, bakeries, floral arrangements, and home improvements.
Noon
Homestead Hollow, Christmas in the Country
Featuring fine arts, unique, hand made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days- see wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, tour our original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy our great food that makes your mouth scream for more.
Children’s activities: ride the ponies, circle in our wagon ride, jump in the moon walk or climb the rock wall. Kids and adults all enjoy our petting zoo. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally.
Homestead Hollow’s General store is open for you to visit and shop for those home-made fried pies and other great items during show dates.
9am – 4pm
Veteran’s Day at the Birmingham Zoo
The Birmingham Zoo invites families and friends to come out and join in all the fun that the Zoo has to offer this Veterans Day. In honor of this holiday, all active and retired military and their dependents can take advantage of free admission to the Zoo Sunday, November 11th and Monday, November 12th with valid military identification.
FREE for all active and retired military and their dependents.
Valid military identification is required.
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Veteran’s Day!
McWane Membership Drive – Riverchase Galleria
Food Court area near the Starbucks 10am – Noon
Veteran’s Day at the Birmingham Zoo
The Birmingham Zoo invites families and friends to come out and join in all the fun that the Zoo has to offer this Veterans Day. In honor of this holiday, all active and retired military and their dependents can take advantage of free admission to the Zoo Sunday, November 11th and Monday, November 12th with valid military identification.
FREE for all active and retired military and their dependents.
Valid military identification is required.
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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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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The Market, Junior League of Birmingham – Cahaba Grand Conference Center
Sneak Peek Party – Be the first to shop our unique merchants! And try your luck at our Diamonds Direct Diamond Giveaway. You will have the chance to win a one-carat diamond with the purchase of a glass of champagne. Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and a special wine tasting presented by Whole Foods and beer tasting by local breweries.
7pm – 10pm
$12 General Admission
$36 Sneak Peek Party
$10 Group Tickets
$24 Three Day Pass
Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Ballerina Rosie. Come and hear about what happens when Rosie decides to go to dance school. 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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Twilight Premiere Party and Movie – Carmike Summit
Don’t forget! You will need to stop by our Will Call table in the movie theater lobby between 5pm – 8pm to pick up your purchased tickets. The party will begin inside of auditorium 7 at 8:30pm. Movie will begin at 10pm. We will have special dinner vouchers provided by Sponsor Lime Fresh Mexican Grill. You can grab those from the Will Call table when picking up your tickets.
The Market, Junior League of Birmingham – Cahaba Grand Conference Center
Martie & The Market Brunch, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.: “Food Network Star” finalist Martie Duncan will join us this year as our guest speaker at the Martie & The Market Brunch. Martie, a native of Alabama and deemed “party guru” will tell you all you need to know when it comes to planning parties for the holiday season.
The Market is a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the missions and purpose of The Junior League of Birmingham, an organization of women committed improving the lives of women and children in the Greater Birmingham Area.
9am – 9pm
$12 General Admission
$24 Martie & The Market
$10 Group Tickets
$24 Three Day Pass
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McWane Science Center, Membership Drive!
We’ll be at Hart and Soul Coffee Shop from 10am – Noon
The Market, Junior League of Birmingham – Cahaba Grand Conference Center
The Market is a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the missions and purpose of The Junior League of Birmingham, an organization of women committed improving the lives of women and children in the Greater Birmingham Area.
9am – 9pm
$12 General Admission
$24 Martie & The Market
$10 Group Tickets
$12 Snaps with Santa
$24 Three Day Pass
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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The Market, Junior League of Birmingham – Cahaba Grand Conference Center
Snaps with Santa, 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be our special guests at The Market on Saturday morning for Snaps with Santa. This is your opportunity to capture a photo of your children with Santa and Mrs. Claus for FREE. Don’t forget your camera … and your kids! Children 12 and under are admitted free.
The Market is a three-day shopping extravaganza that benefits the missions and purpose of The Junior League of Birmingham, an organization of women committed improving the lives of women and children in the Greater Birmingham Area.
9am – 9pm
$12 General Admission
$24 Martie & The Market
$10 Group Tickets
$12 Snaps with Santa
$24 Three Day Pass
Family Day – Birmingham Museum of Art
Did you know that Bart has traveled all over the world? Meet Bart and his Inuit animal friends from up north in this fun for all FREE family day! You’ll enjoy art activities, film, live animals, storytelling, drumming, Inuit treats and more! Geared for ages 5-10, but all are welcome.
11am
Cartoons and Cereal – Homewood Public Library
Fall in love with your favorite classic cartoons all over again. Cereal is available until 10:45am. *dry cereal only
10am
Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
Bart’s Books is a storytelling program for families with children ages 4-7. Bart selects a new book and related work of art each month for kids to enjoy. This month’s book is The Goat in the Rug.
11am
Super Saturday Family Event – Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest
Suncatchers: Come make a beautiful suncatcher for the whole family to enjoy!
All ages
11am
United Way Food Drive – Birmingham Zoo
The Zoo invites the community to give back to those in need this time of year and take advantage of half-price admission. Bring a canned or non-perishable food item to the Zoo for the United Way Food Drive to receive half-price admission. Guests must bring one item per person to qualify for discounted admission.
Members FREE
Non-members: Adults $14 ($7 with a canned food item)
Children 2-12 $9 ($4.50 with a canned food item)
Senior Citizens 65 years+ $9 ($4.50 with a canned food item)
Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Pepper Place Saturday Market brings the best local growers, food producers and artisans to you each Saturday morning. Rain or shine! Thru December 15th
7am – Noon
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 If All the Animals Came Inside. Find out what happens when all the animals that live outside decide to come inside for the day. We will make something fun and have a treat from the Cafe.
11am
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United Way Food Drive – Birmingham Zoo
The Zoo invites the community to give back to those in need this time of year and take advantage of half-price admission. Bring a canned or non-perishable food item to the Zoo for the United Way Food Drive to receive half-price admission. Guests must bring one item per person to qualify for discounted admission.
Members FREE
Non-members: Adults $14 ($7 with a canned food item)
Children 2-12 $9 ($4.50 with a canned food item)
Senior Citizens 65 years+ $9 ($4.50 with a canned food item)
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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: Rescue and The Last Reef
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.
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.
BirminghamMommy.com is happy to be partnering up with the McWane Science Center for the 3rd year in a row to offer this AMAZING discount to our readers! $20 off any membership level. Good for 1 week only!!
It’s THE biggest discount you will see this year for the McWane Science Center! $20 off any Membership level!
$20 off is HUGE savings and is only effective from November 11th – 17th, 2012. You must purchase in person from a BirminghamMommy representative, or in person at the McWane Center. If you’re currently a McWane member, you can renew for next year at this rate! You can purchase as many of these memberships as you want as gifts! Tip: Call the grandparents, aunt and uncles and let them know this is what your kids want for Christmas. They can mark you off of their shopping list and it takes up no space in your house! A win/win for everyone.
We’re moms, we know it’s hard to get out and run errands. To make purchasing easier, we will be set up at some offsite locations that we hope will be convenient for you. You can always purchase in person at McWane as well, just remember the coupon.. You must have it in order to get the discount. You can print the coupon HERE.
Cash, check, or credit cards accepted. Make checks payable to McWane Science Center.
Here is our tentative schedule for offsite locations to help make signing up a little easier. Make sure to watch our Facebook for any changes or additions we might make to this schedule.
Sunday, November 11th – Starbucks Vestavia 9am – 11am
Monday, November 12th – Riverchase Galleria Food Court Area. Look for us near the Starbucks. 10am – Noon
Thursday, November 15th – Carmike Summit 5pm – 8pm
Friday, November 16th – Hart and Soul Coffee Shop in Homewood 10am – Noon
Membership Forms will also be available at the following locations:
Do it Yourself Crafts in Homewood, Sunday (the 11th) Noon – 5pm, Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm
Instant Sign Center in Trussville – Tuesday – Friday 9am – 4pm
As Moms, are always excited to learn about new places in Birmingham that offer up something for our kids. Which is why we are super happy to tell you about the newly renovated space at the Books A Million at Brookwood Village.
The new Kids A Million space takes up the second floor and caters to the tiny humans. You will get to check it all out this Saturday, November 10th at the Grand Opening Celebration.
The celebration is scheduled for 10am – 6pm and the first 200 shoppers will receive a Dr Seuss lunch bag that just might include a $200 gift card! There will be a Cat in the Hat storytime, complete with hat making. There will be Storm Troopers, Junie B Jones, LEGOS, face painting and more!
Make plans to attend this fun family friendly event. We’ll see you there!
The holidays are that time of year when appetizers become a staple. We all go to different houses and want to bring something. How about a special holiday series that highlights some yummy nibbles? This year, you can wow everyone with your mad cooking skills.
And if you’re like me, you love getting to try new ones that other people have made. My typical go to’s are sausage balls, layer dips, or bacon wrapped water chestnuts.
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
1 can water chestnuts (Drained)
1/4 c chili sauce (ketchup with worcestershire would sub easily)
1/4 c brown sugar
6 slices of bacon, halved
Wrap the bacon around the whole water chestnut, secure with a toothpick.
Mix the chili sauce and brown sugar and pour it over the bacon/chestnuts.
Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes.
Eat. Enjoy!
Eating healthy is something that does not come easy in my household. Not because I don’t try but for the most part, my kids fight me every inch of the way. I try getting sneaky, I try putting just one carrot on their plate but somehow we always end up in an epic meltdown that wears us all down.
Recently we discovered some of the great products offered by Healthy Baby Organic and it’s making my life easier, knowing that at least they are getting something healthier in their little bodies than a goldfish cracker.
One of our Contributors, Kristen weighed in on some of the products she tried and loved.
I was pumped for the chance to try out some Happy Baby products, in part because I’m a sucker for super cute packaging. My two-year-old was pretty excited about all the snacks we were loading up on – little did he know, there were lots of hidden organic fruits and veggies going into the cart as well. One of our favorites was the Happy Munchies, which looked a bit like cheese doodles but contained organic broccoli and kale. Kale! My five-year-old repeatedly requested these in her lunchbox so so, apparently, they made for a Happy Kindergartener, too. We also loved the Happy Times freeze dried yogurt bites and Happy Tot snacks (kind of like the applesauce pouches but with fruits, veggies, and grains, and all kinds brain boosting goodness). I heard nary a complaint about “green stuff” from anyone and felt good about giving my kids these snacks. And, I might’ve eaten a Happy Munchie. Or two.
Don’t be fooled by the title Happy “Baby.” There are plenty of products in their line to make kids of all ages happy. Including my 7 year old.
We too, thoroughly enjoyed the Happy Yogis and Happy Munchies. The Happy Tot and Tot plus pouches were also a big hit, we enjoyed the fruit versions best, although they come in many different and unique flavor combinations like Spinach, Mango & Pear, and Sweet Potato Apple Carrots & Cinnamon. We love anything in “Pouch Form.” They’re no mess and easy for on the go.
I think my.. er, the kids favorite of all the things we tried, were the caramel yogurt and apple bits. They are yummy for your tummy!
“HappyBaby is committed to providing families with the healthiest, most optimal nutrition possible. Besides using the best organic ingredients, we also incorporate the best nature has to offer when it comes to added nutrition, like our sustainable source of DHA, pre and probiotics, and supergrains like Salba and Quinoa.” And it shows!
One lucky, BirminghamMommy.com has the chance to win Free Trial Coupons for
· Happy Yogis -Yogurt snacks for babies and toddlers
· Happy Munchies
· Happy Tot pouches
· Happy Tot Plus pouches
· Happy Tot toddler meal bowls
· Happy Times snack packs
Happy Family Recipes and a Happy Family Nutrition Guide.
Here’s how to enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post letting us know which product would make your baby a “Happy Baby.”
2. Follow Happy Family on Twitter @HappySuperFoods
3. Visit the HAPPYFAMILY Facebook Page
4. Sign up for Generation Happy
Come back here and leave a comment for each entry. Giveaway will end Thursday, November 8th and 10pm.
We received the above products to facilitate this review. Prize will be sent from Happy Family Brands. All opinions are those of BirminghamMommy. Not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Facebook. Entries involving Facebook are not mandatory, and Facebook has no liability for this giveaway.
By Kristen Berthiaume
Last year around this time, we talked about how to instill gratitude in your kids. You can find that article right here. In it, there were some ideas about helping your child learn to appreciate what he has in life, be it toys, relationships, or experiences, by having him work for what he gets, say thank you, and count his blessings. A couple of reminders in case you don’t have time to read the whole thing:
Just because your child may have everything doesn’t mean she needs access to everything all the time. Rotate out some of the toys in her room. Set up a system so she earns her screen time. Let her wait a little while for what she wants to do. She may not thank you for these restrictions but, in the long run, you’ll be doing her a big favor!
Keep sharing. Help your child learn to share his money, his time, and his toys (but considering letting him pick a couple of a favorite toys to keep to himself). You may have to make sharing non-optional at first but start small. Be sure to explain why it’s such an important thing to do and how what he shares helps other people. Make sure you also model sharing for him so he knows adults are expected to share, too. Over time, he’ll (hopefully) come to embrace sharing and want to do even more of it. (Just encourage him to keep his germs to himself – it is flu season, after all!)
Say thank you. Duh!
Count your blessings as a family. At breakfast: What are you grateful for today? Don’t allow any repeats in the same month. At dinner: What was the best thing that happened today? Make sure you participate, too. You might be surprised by how it changes your outlook!
Given that it’s almost election time and we’re all feeling a bit cynical about life right about now, I thought some new ideas about gratitude might be a fun departure. So, here’s “Kids and Gratitude: New and Improved!” (well, at least “New”).
Start a gratefulness chain. Cut strips of construction paper with each family member getting a different color. Daily, everyone writes down one thing he or she is grateful for. Staple the strips together to form rings and link each ring to the one you made the day before. Use the gratefulness chains to decorate for Thanksgiving or for a Christmas tree garland that’s much more meaningful than tinsel. Start a new chain with a new color next year around this same time. Connect the chains from year-to-year and reflect back on how the things you’re grateful for have changed over time (after all, there was probably once a time you were really grateful for NKOTB).
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Test out this theory by having everyone in the family give up one thing that’s important to them for the month (or week or day, depending on your children’s ages and how difficult this will be for them) (or you). This should be totally voluntary and each person should pick what he or she is going to sacrifice without too much pressure from anyone else – helpful suggestions are always…well…helpful. Examples of what to give up might be not-so-great habits like too much T.V. watching or shopping (a regular amount of shopping is, of course, just fine) or favored items like a special doll or train set. Use this time to talk with each other about how the activity or object is important and why it’s difficult to go without. See if new habits or favorites develop. At the end of the designated period, discuss with family members setting goals for how you might approach the activities or handle the objects differently in the future. Your son might decide that playing outside was pretty great, too, so maybe no videogames until it’s dark out. Your daughter may admit that leaving her favorite toy on the floor wasn’t the best way to take care of it and pledge to be more careful in the future. Congratulate everyone on going without and remind yourselves how lucky you are to have those favorites! Take this activity a step further by researching and talking about people in the world who don’t have these luxuries at all. Consider what your family might do to help, be it donating clothes and toys, giving money or to charity, or volunteering your time.
Be grateful when you’re not. It’s easier to be grateful when everything’s going your way but there’s value in finding the proverbial “silver lining” in frustrating situations. Ask your older kids to think of a person or situation that they are definitely not grateful for and share one yourself. Maybe it’s an annoying co-worker for you or a boring piano lesson for your daughter. Then, challenge everyone to think of something about that person or situation that they are grateful for. You might be grateful that the co-worker is conscientious, even if he’s hard to interact with. Your daughter might be glad she can read music, even though the lessons seem to last forever. After you’ve practiced this skill, look for opportunities when someone is griping to encourage him or her to find a positive – be it a “life lesson” or a chance to improve. This isn’t an easy task but can improve everyone’s mood and ability to overcome obstacles. That’s definitely something to be grateful for!
I realize that talking about gratitude around Thanksgiving might give the impression that this is the only time to think about this kind of stuff. In reality, this is just a good season to start your thankfulness habits so you can continue them throughout the year. More important than anything you might buy your child this year, the gift of gratitude is one that can last a lifetime – with some gentle reminders and a little practice, of course.
And, once again, THANK YOU for reading!
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 psycholo
gy 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, be
havioral 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.
Out with Halloween and on to the bustle of the official Holiday Season! Christmas decorations are going up around Birmingham and of course there’s this “little election thing” going on Tuesday… Get out at VOTE!! Want to involve your kiddos in the voting process? Check out this article for tips on how to talk with your kids about politics and voting.
The Magic of Model Trains will open this weekend at McWane so stop by for Whistle weekend happening this Saturday and Sunday!
If you’re interested in learning to save money, make sure you’re registered for the Couponing for Moms event this Thursday, presented by Brookwood Medical Center. We’ll be there with goodies and great tips from igobo!
Disney on Ice, Treasure Trove – BJCC
Discover endless riches when Disney on Ice presents “Treasure Trove” comes to your hometown! Disney on Ice sets the gold standard with its newest skating spectacular.
Get tangled up in Disney’s 50th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn and enter the worlds of your other favorite Disney princesses – Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and of course, the one who started it all, Snow White. Ahoy, Mateys! Set sail with Peter Pan, the always sassy Tinker Bell and the cantankerous Captain Hook and his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Neverland! Trek the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the ‘Circle of Life.’ Tick-Tock! Tick-Tock! Don’t be late to a very important date with Alice and the Madhatter as they march with the Queen of Hearts’ Army of Cards.
Be sure to see this show full of memories guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Tickets will also be available at the BJCC Central Ticket Office and Publix. The CTO is open 9am-5pm daily. For group sales call 888-305-9550
1pm and 5pm
Moss Rock Festival
Grab friends and family and get outside to The Preserve in Hoover for the premier free eco-creative 2- day festival in Alabama exploring Nature & Eco-Ideas in the same breath with Art & Design. At the 7th annual Moss Rock Festival fun features await visitors at every turn including 100 artists whose work is inspired by nature; an eco-district featuring green living ideas, products, services and organizations; live music; craft beer tasting; a cake design expo & tasting; wonderkid studios; wreaths re-imagined exhibition; hiking, biking, and geocaching; fuel efficient car exhibitions; a café, and much more. There is something for everyone to do & see. We guarantee it will be a weekend where discoveries are the norm so come enjoy art, design, green living, and the great outdoors under a blanket of fall colors.
FREE SHUTTLE – SCHEDULE
It’s quick & easy. Only a short 5 minute ride. Shuttles will run regularly from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm Saturday and 9:30am to 5:00pm. The site will be blocked to thru traffic except for home owners & their guests.
10am – 4pm
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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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ELECTION DAY! Don’t forget to vote!
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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Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read On My Way to the Bath. Find out what happens when Livi tries to avoid bathtime. We will make a craft and have a delicious 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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Couponing for Moms – EarthFare: Presented by Brookwood Medical Center
Being a mom is tough work. You’re constantly juggling so many demands and expenses. Cutting expenses is on everyone’s minds, but it takes time and planning. Let us help you learn the ropes for saving money! Holly Syx is the founder of iGoBoGo.com and an accomplished couponer. She’ll be sharing her secrets on how to save money on baby and child products: diapers, formula, food and more. Make sure to register, only a few spots left!!
6pm
Kaya’s First Feast – Homewood Public Library
Join Kaya, an American Girl, as she celebrates her first feast with crafts and treats.
Space is limited. Please register.
6pm
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Riverchase Galleria Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Show
Come out for a weekend of Santa Clause and Christmas Cheer. Riverchase Galleria will be having their annual tree lighting and we will be coordinating a Christmas Show inside the mall with vendors for you to visit with – gifts, catering ideas, bakeries, floral arrangements, and home improvements.
10:00 am
Homestead Hollow, Christmas in Country
Featuring fine arts, unique, hand made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days- see wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, tour our original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy our great food that makes your mouth scream for more.
Children’s activities: ride the ponies, circle in our wagon ride, jump in the moon walk or climb the rock wall. Kids and adults all enjoy our petting zoo. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally.
Homestead Hollow’s General store is open for you to visit and shop for those home-made fried pies and other great items during show dates.
9am – 4pm
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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Whistle Weekend – McWane Science Center
All aboard for the opening weekend of the Magic of Model Trains exhibit and get a free train whistle with purchase of a Combination Ticket to see the Rocky Mountain Express in IMAX® and see the Magic of Model Trains exhibit in the museum.
Geocaching – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Geocaching is often described as a combination of an outdoor scavenger hunt mixed with hide and seek. This course is perfect for those interested in learning more about how to geocache, as well those who just need a little guidance. Families will learn the basics of geocaching and will also have the opportunity to search for caches on the mountain. Each family needs to have at least one handheld GPS unit or smartphone with a GPS or geocaching app.
$4 Members
$6 Non-member
Reservations Required
10am
Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
The Bart’s Art Cart weekend activity will inspire guests to design their own Navajo-stye rug!
11am
Riverchase Galleria Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Show
Come out for a weekend of Santa Clause and Christmas Cheer. Riverchase Galleria will be having their annual tree lighting and we will be coordinating a Christmas Show inside the mall with vendors for you to visit with – gifts, catering ideas, bakeries, floral arrangements, and home improvements.
9am
Homestead Hollow, Christmas in Country
Featuring fine arts, unique, hand made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days- see wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, tour our original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy our great food that makes your mouth scream for more.
Children’s activities: ride the ponies, circle in our wagon ride, jump in the moon walk or climb the rock wall. Kids and adults all enjoy our petting zoo. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally.
Homestead Hollow’s General store is open for you to visit and shop for those home-made fried pies and other great items during show dates.
9am – 4pm
Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Pepper Place Saturday Market brings the best local growers, food producers and artisans to you each Saturday morning. Rain or shine! Thru December 15th
7am – Noon
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 Lovabye Dragon. Find out what happens when a princess wishes she had a dragon for a friend. We will make something fun and have a yummy treat from the Cafe.
11am
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Whistle Weekend – McWane Science Center
All aboard for the opening weekend of the Magic of Model Trains exhibit and get a free train whistle with purchase of a Combination Ticket to see the Rocky Mountain Express in IMAX® and see the Magic of Model Trains exhibit in the museum.
Riverchase Galleria Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Show
Come out for a weekend of Santa Clause and Christmas Cheer. Riverchase Galleria will be having their annual tree lighting and we will be coordinating a Christmas Show inside the mall with vendors for you to visit with – gifts, catering ideas, bakeries, floral arrangements, and home improvements.
Noon
Homestead Hollow, Christmas in Country
Featuring fine arts, unique, hand made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days- see wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at our original working still, tour our original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy our great food that makes your mouth scream for more.
Children’s activities: ride the ponies, circle in our wagon ride, jump in the moon walk or climb the rock wall. Kids and adults all enjoy our petting zoo. Visit and talk with our Herbalist and find out more about grandma’s remedies or those nature produces naturally.
Homestead Hollow’s General store is open for you to visit and shop for those home-made fried pies and other great items during show dates.
9am – 4pm
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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: Rescue and The Last Reef
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.
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.
Add Barnes & Noble to the growing list of retailers that offer rewards programs for shopping. What we like best about this one? It’s geared towards kids! It’s free and easy to sign up!
As a welcome gift, when you join B&N Kids’ Club™ online or in a Barnes & Noble store, they will email you a coupon for 30% off an eligible future purchase. Qualifying products include most children’s books, toys, games, puzzles and workbooks. Your 30% discount will be applied to the most expensive eligible item in your order, and will be applied after all other discounts.
Loyalty Rewards — $5 reward for every $100 you spend on kids’ stuff
Every time you spend $100 on kids’ items online or in our stores, they will reward you with a $5 B&N Kids’ Club™ Reward Certificate by email. You will get Loyalty Rewards Credit on your eligible purchases after all other discounts are applied; qualifying products include most children’s books, toys, games, puzzles and workbooks.
You can receive up to 4 rewards every year that you’re actively enrolled in the program. Spend them on kids’ items throughout the store. So get shopping!
Birthday Club — Birthday presents for each of your children’s birthdays. Share their birthday, and they’ll take care of the rest!
Before the big date, they will email you a coupon for a FREE cupcake or cookie from the Barnes & Noble Café that you can use anytime during your child’s birthday week!
Additional Benefits will include: Monthly, they will email you a newsletter with additional offers and savings for B&N Kids’ Club™ participants. In addition, you will have access to age–appropriate product recommendations for all of your children, fun activity ideas & more!
With the holidays coming up, now would be a great time to sign up and start earning those rewards.
Don’t forget! Many Barnes and Noble stores offer weekly storytimes in their Children’s Department. Check their website for more information on days, times and what book they will be reading each week.
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