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Holiday Nibbles

Posted on by Angie

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!

Happy Baby Organics Review and Giveaway!

Posted on by Angie

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 and thank them for the giveaway.

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.

Parenting with a PhD: Kids and Gratitude, Part 2

Posted on by Angie

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.

Birmingham Events Calendar: November 4th – November 11th

Posted on by Angie

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!

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

Sunday November 4th

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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Monday November 5th:

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 November 6th:

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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Wednesday November 7th:

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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Thursday November 8th:

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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Friday November 9th:

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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Saturday November 10th:

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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Sunday November 11th:

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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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: 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.

Barnes & Noble Kids Club

Posted on by Angie

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.

 

 

 

Snugride = Happy Babies

Posted on by Angie

By: Amanda Pritchard

Calm, cooing and comfort is what babies call for in a car seat. Any car ride without shrill high-pitched squeals will let parents know truer words couldn’t be spoken. Allowing these stress free rides to occur is Graco!

Graco has come to the rescue of many a parents’ budgets and families by creating the only 4-to-40 pound car seat that takes little ones from newborn to toddler.

Recently BirminghamMommy.com and another Birmingham blogger Kat Balog were given the honor to host an event at Babies R Us in Homewood, Alabama demonstrating this exclusive product.

Mommies new and pro “ooo-ed and ahhh-ed” over the latest luxury in parenthood…not having to buy a car seat for the next two years!

Showing clusters of proud papas, mamas and gran grans too, the group was excited to see the eight positions that the adjustable base moves through as your little one blossoms.

Registering for a new baby can be very overwhelming. We were able to make that much easier for two lucky moms as Graco asked us to register all Graco Safety Event attendees for a chance to win a Graco Snugride Click Connect 40! The lucky ladies crowned with this new bling for their mommy wagons were Caroline Moss and Kat Esquivel.  Both are expecting and were beyond thrilled to have won the Graco Snugride Click Connect 40 worth $220. See…already Graco is providing savings for these families.

Not only did this Graco event have major giveaways, it also provided top-notch safety information. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to keep toddlers facing car seats rear facing until the age of two or until they reach the maximum weight and height for their seat.

Lead author of the policy statement and accompanying technical report Dennis Durbin, MD, FAAP said, “A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body.” Providing more information, Durbin continued, “For larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly.” Educating parents on car seat safety as well as Graco’s Snugride Click Connect 40 made for a sensational Saturday down South.
For more information on Graco products visit GracoBaby, and for car seat safety log onto the AAP Site

The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 – the first and only newborn to two-year infant car seat that actually grows with your baby from four pounds all the way up to 40 pounds. The car seat is designed for a parent on the go. The infant car seat can be easily removed from the base and used as a carrier when the infant is small, providing portability and convenience so you can easily move your infant in and out of the car without disturbing them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently made the recommendation to keep all children in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2. Graco set out to make this product so parents can keep infants rear facing longer while still keeping them comfortable.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. The opinions and text are all mine.

Thanks to Graco for inviting us to be a part of this special event!

Do You Judge How Little Girls Dress?

Posted on by Angie

Jessica Simpson isn’t the first mom to be judged for what kind of clothes her daughter is wearing. Chances are, we’re all guilty of judging. I’ll freely admit- when I see very young girls dressed like they’re going to the night club, I judge those parents. I immediately assume that those parents are the ones who don’t know how to say no, who are permissive because they lack confidence.

In the name of fairness, I did a little digging to see why some parents allow their daughters to dress in a provocative manner. Here’s what I found:

1. They want their kids to like them, view them as a friend. Many moms stated that they feel like their daughter will be more willing to be honest with them about touchy subjects such as sex and drugs.

2. They choose their battles, and clothes just aren’t high on the list.

3. They personally like it. Some women just have different taste.

4. They are projecting. The women didn’t themselves admit to this, but psychologists cite it as a reason. Some women were unpopular and dealt with tough times in their childhood, and want to make sure their daughter doesn’t suffer that same fate.

Hopefully, this will help me keep my judging to a minimum. What do you think, why do some parents let their daughters dress provocatively?

Event of the Week: Disney on Ice, Treasure Trove

Posted on by Angie

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

 

 

General Day and Time Info:

Wed, Oct 31 2012 7:00PM
Thu, Nov 1 2012 7:00PM
Fri, Nov 2 2012 7:00PM
Sat, Nov 3 2012 11:00AM and 3:00PM
Sun, Nov 4 2012 1:00PM and 5:00PM

Ticket Pricing:

$76.50 + $11.95 Fees = $88.45(VIP Dining)
$56.50 + $9.45 Fees = $65.95(Rinkside)
$33.50 + $7.95 Fees = $41.45(Lower VIP)
$12.50 + $6.40 Fees = $18.90

Birmingham Events Calendar: October 28th – November 4th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Halloween Week, Finally! Do you have your costumes ready?  We have been busy trying to keep our kids at bay and have relentlessly been counting down the days until they could hit the streets and start collecting free candy!

If you want to get some extra wear from those costumes this week, see this list.

Trick or Treating at the Outlet Shops of Grand River, tons of spooky storytimes and just about every library in Birmingham this week. Moss Rock Festival next weekend and Disney on Ice, Treasure Trove opens this Wednesday! Have a super spooky week everyone!!

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

Sunday October 28th

Trick or Treat at The Outlet Shops of Grand River
Celebrate Halloween with us! Trick or Treat at participating stores. Stores participating in Trick or Treating will have a pumpkin cling on their front window. We are giving away 3-$250 gift cards to The Outlet Shops of Grand River. Register to win the $250 shopping spree by visiting these stores. You will receive a registration form to complete and turn in at the WZZK remote table before 6:00 pm. The 3 winners will be drawn and notified the following day. No purchase necessary to receive a registration form and you can register multiple times.

Hosted by Speedy from the Rick & Bubba show

  • Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in three different age categories (0-4 year olds, 5-8 year olds, 9-12 year olds)
  • Face Painting, Balloon Twisting & Fun Games for the whole family
    6pm

Matinee – Birmingham Public Library, 5 Points West
Join us for an afternoon matinee movie and popcorn. Madagascar 3
3pm

Liberty Park Pumpkin Patch – Prominence Shops at Liberty Park
The Liberty Park Business District and the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will host the Liberty Park Pumpkin Patch across the street from the Shops of Prominence in Liberty Park.

Entertainment includes inflatable bouncers, face painting, live music, children’s activities, and much more! The Liberty Park Pumpkin Party is a great fundraiser and fun for the whole family! Admission is free, but tickets can be purchased for .50¢ for certain activities with proceeds all going to the Alabama Red Cross for Tornado Relief.
1pm

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Monday October 29th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
A movie for all ages. Real movie popcorn and juice for children in attendance.
3:30pm

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 October 30th:

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 October 31st:

Happy Halloween!

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
7pm

Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade
A Halloween parade with the feel of Mardi Gras. Parade participants throw Mystics of Mounntain Brook t-shirts, beads, stuffed animals, and footballs to the huge crowd that lines the streets of Crestline Village. The parade has over 23 floats, the high school cheerleaders, a roller derby, and Mayor Terry Oden driving his antique fire truck.

The parade route starts by the Emmet O’Neal Library, goes to the Tot Lot, turns left on Church Street and then right onto Dexter Avenue and ends on Vine Street.
4pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Bailey at the Museum. Find out what happens when Bailey the dog goes to The Museum of Natural History. We will have a treat from the Cafe and make something fun.
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 November 1st:

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
7pm

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Friday November 2nd:

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
7pm

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

Friday Night PE – Railroad Park
Friday Night P.E. is a mix of your favorite childhood games such as kickball, dodge ball, ultimate frisbee, musical chairs, Simon says and 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10 Red-light to help you burn calories and improve your health. This class is perfect for groups. So if you want to socialize, have fun, get heart healthy and celebrate the the inner kid in you try Friday Night P.E., the reason people say, T.G. I. F. This class is FREE thanks to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama!
6pm – 7pm

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Saturday November 3rd:

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
11am and 3pm

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 – 5pm

Warrior Day Parade and Festival – Warrior Ball Park
Join us Saturday November 3rd in Warrior Alabama for the Warrior Day Parade and Festival. The Parade starts at 9:00 A.M, at the Warrior Elementary School and ends at the Warrior Ball Field where the Festival will be held.

Expect candy and entertainment at the Parade. The festival will include, music, food, arts and crafts, raffles and activities.
9am

Storytime on the Mountain – Ruffner Mountain
Nature inspires creativity in children by engaging a full range of the senses. Join Ms. Jerri in the Treehouse for a fall themed story and craft.  Each family will receive a copy of the book read thanks to Target.
10am

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!
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 The Monsters’ Monster. Find out what happens when a group of monsters decide to make their own monster. Wear your Halloween costume for a store parade! We’ll have special treats and activities too!
11am

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Sunday November 4th:

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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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: 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.

Clifford The Big Red Dog Comes to McWane

Posted on by Angie

We were so happy to get a sneak peek of the newest exhibit at the McWance Science Center. We’re pretty certain that you’re little ones are going to be happy with it too!

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.

This exhibit truly is a hands on experience for your little one. While my 4 year olds loved all of it, I think what they enjoyed most was playing in the Post office. Sorting and delivering the mail to each of the houses/locations for all of the characters you find in the Clifford stories. From Jetta and Mac to The Howards, they all have mailboxes and your little mail carriers will love sorting the letters by either reading the name or matching up the pictures.

If you have a budding chef they will love “cooking” you up a little lunch at Samuel’s Fish and Chips Shack. They can take your order, ring you up, and cook for you.

The exhibit is set up on the 2nd floor, which is a little different than most of the traveling exhibits that come through McWane. The 3rd floor will be home again to the Winter Wonderland exhibit that will open at the end of November. As you can see, there will be lots to keep your family busy at the Museum this fall and winter!

The Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog will officially open this Saturday, October 27th and is free with paid admission to the museum.

So make plans now to check out our own little piece of Birdwell island.

 

 

The Howard's
Samuel's Fish and Chips Shack

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