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A Local Moms Dream Lives On.

Posted on by Angie
Photo From al.com

Some of you may remember a cool little product we featured a while back called Baby Face Bands. A band that fits sippy cups and is personalized with your child’s picture so that even from an early age, when they can’t read, they can recognize the picture of themselves and know which sippy is theirs.

We were very sad to learn that Local Mom and founder of Baby Face Bands, Laura Black,  recently lost her battle with cancer. Laura passed away at the age of 37.  Up until her last breath this beloved wife and mother was the picture of faith, grace and strength in the fight against cancer.   Laura inspired untold thousands of people through her writings and speaking engagements. Her idea for Baby Face Bands came from her time spent working in her church nursery. An admitted “germaphobe,” Laura came up with this idea to help toddlers be able to recognize their own sippy cups.

At the time of her passing, Baby Face Bands were featured in more than 20 stores in six states.

This October some of Laura’s friends plan to volunteer their time to take Baby Face Bands to the National ABC Kids Expo in Louisville, Kentucky.  These friends won’t profit in any way.  Their sole purpose is to honor Laura, and help continue her dream.   The proceeds of all sales will go to support Laura’s family and also a portion will go to cancer research.

For more information on Baby Face Bands or to order some of your own, visit their site.

Wendy and Mallory, we wish you much success in honoring your friend.

Busy Mommy Bonding: Acorn Kisses

Posted on by Angie

There’s just something about fall that makes us want to do more craft projects. Maybe it’s just wanting to add decorations around the house or make cute snacks for the kids. Either way, we love fall crafting and here’s a cute little idea that you can do with the kids.

What you’ll Need:

Hershey Kisses
Mini Nilla Wafers
Peanut Butter or Chocolate Icing (Or both!)
Pretzel Sticks

What You’ll Do:

Assemble the pieces by using the peanut butter or icing as a “glue” to stick the Nilla Wafer to the flat bottom of the Hershey Kiss. Then attach a piece of the pretzel stick to the top the same way, making a stem.

Eat.

Enjoy.

Easy!

Birmingham Events Calendar: October 7th – October 14th

Posted on by Angie

Finally! A little dose of some crisp, fall weather. Birmingham has a lot to offer this week! Why not kick it off at the Cahaba River Fry Down, check out a storytime, hit up the Barnes and Noble Harry Potter Costume Contest and end the week by checking out Homestead Hollow!

If you’re ready to get your Pumpkin On, check out our list of patches and festivals. Don’t forget Boo at the Zoo is underway!

Have a Great Week, Moms!

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

Sunday October 7th

Cahaba River Fry Down – Trussville Springs
The best amateur catfish fryers in Alabama will square off for the Annual Cahaba River Society Fry-Down, a competitive catfish cooking contest and riverfront festival to celebrate the beauty and significance of the Cahaba River.  A fundraiser for the is Trussville Springs, along the banks of the Cahaba in Trussville, Ala.

The Fry-Down is like a BBQ or chili cook-off, but with catfish and hushpuppies. Local teams of enthusiastic chefs will prepare catfish and fixings for a panel of celebrity judges.  Fest-goers can sample their efforts and learn about the diversity of the Cahaba River and its role as a source of drinking water and recreation for Alabama.
11am

Whisper from the Past, A Native American Experience – Aldridge Gardens
Take a trip back in time to rediscover the culture and contributions of Native Alabamians. Native American life will take shape through demonstrations featuring flint knapping, cooking; activities like leaf pounding, beading, corn grinding, gourd painting, Native American temporary tattoos, a scavenger hunt for native medicinal herbs and the Three Sisters Garden; and an exhibit of ancient artifacts from the Josselyn Collection housed at UAB.  Enjoy the sounds of drums and flutes and the highlight of the day three dance performances by the Sylestine Legacy—including a black-light performance at sunset! Food vendors will sell fry bread, Indian tacos and roasted corn. Offsite parking and free continuous shuttle will be available.

$5 for adults 18+,
$3 activity card for school-age children
12:00-7:30 p.m.

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Monday October 8th:

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 9th:

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 10th:

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Bear Has a Story to Tell. Find out what happens when a bear tries to tell his story to his animal friends who are getting ready for winter. We will make something fun and have a yummy 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 October 11th:

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

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Friday October 12th:

Homestead Hollow Harvest Festival
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.
Adults $7.00
Children ages 3 – 12 $3.00.
Children 2 and under free.
Free parking No pets.
Groups of 20 $6.00 each
9am – 5pm

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 October 13th:

Harry Potter Halloween Costume Contest – Barnes and Noble Summit
Teen Event, Special Event, Young Readers
Select Barnes & Noble stores will host a Harry Potter Halloween Party for ages 7-16 on Saturday, October 13. Dress up as your favorite Harry Potter character and join us for a scavenger hunt and costume contest.
7pm

Fiesta 2012 – Linn Park
This year will be Fiesta’s 10th anniversary celebration, and a new energy is in the air as the event moves to Linn Park in Birmingham, AL. Throughout the State of Alabama, many different cultures and backgrounds are represented, specifically, a large Hispanic population. The success of Fiesta continues to grow and evolve because the community continues to embrace this event as its own and has done so since its inception. As in past years, Fiesta will continue to showcase what the Birmingham Region can provide to its community in terms of multiculturalism, sensitivity and acceptance. All Hispanic cultures will be celebrated, and patrons will leave Fiesta with a rich appreciation of our Latino neighbors!
Adults: $5
12 and Under: Free
Noon – 7pm

Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic
Halloween is right around the corner, celebrate by making a Ghoul Bus!
10am – Register Here

Homestead Hollow Harvest Festival
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.
Adults $7.00
Children ages 3 – 12 $3.00.
Children 2 and under free.
Free parking No pets.
Groups of 20 $6.00 each
9am – 5pm

Founders Day Festival – Black Creek Park, Fultondale
Live entertainment, Arts & Crafts, kid’s zone, food expo, car show and fireworks.
Admission is FREE as always, but if you want to support our local effort Christmas For Kids please bring a New Unwrapped Toy or make a Donation to Christmas For Kids the day of the event.
10am – 9pm

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 Clifford the Big Red Dog. Find out about Clifford’s adventures and come to meet Clifford in the store. We will also have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday October 14th:

Homestead Hollow Harvest Festival
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.
Adults $7.00
Children ages 3 – 12 $3.00.
Children 2 and under free.
Free parking No pets.
Groups of 20 $6.00 each
9am – 5pm

Break N’ Bread – Railroad Park
The Birmingham Originals, an organization of the Magic City’s finest locally-owned restaurants, gears up for the 2012 Break ’n Bread food and wine festival. Touted as one of the top food events in the state of Alabama, the festival will once again be held at Railroad Park, downtown Birmingham’s premier urban oasis.

While food enthusiasts gather at the tasting tents, just a few steps away will be a dedicated children’s area featuring face painting with clowns from the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, petting corner and entertainment from the Birmingham Zoo, healthy kids cooking demonstrations, Desert Island Supply Company writing workshop and a pumpkin decorating station. Local farmer’s market vendors will also be stationed in and around the park, offering a variety of fresh produce and artisan products.
$35 for regular
$75 for VIP
Free for children under 12 years old
1pm – 5pm

 

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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

Dora and Diego, Let’s Explore Exhibit
Get ready for adventure with Dora and Diego at McWane Science Center in the new exhibit Dora & Diego—Let’s Explore! The exhibit features beloved characters Dora and Diego from Nickelodeon’s hit preschool series Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!, along with their friends Boots, Map, Backpack, Isa, Tico, and of course Swiper, now in their own exhibit for children to explore as they learn and play along.

This new, interactive traveling exhibit, was created by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Nickelodeon, and presented by the WellPoint Foundation.

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.

Perfect Parks & Playgrounds in Birmingham: Leeds Memorial Park

Posted on by Angie
Toddler Area and Pavilion.

A friend on Facebook posted a photo of her child playing at an amazing playground. When I asked about the park, she told me it was just a hop skip and a jump from my house.. A quick 20 minute drive, in lay terms.

With the weather being perfect and all fall like, I decided we were going to this amazing playground to check it out for ourselves and it did not disappoint.

Que brilliant idea.. Just like we recently highlighted some of the great storytimes that Birmingham has to offer, we are now going to highlight some of the amazing parks you can find around the Magic City.

First up: Leeds Memorial Park. It’s just a short 5 or so minutes from the Grand River Outlet Mall and Bass Pro shops, so if you’re wanting to do a little shopping, you can bribe your kids with a trip to the park if they behave 🙂

The Main Attraction

As you can see, the playground speaks for itself, it’s amazing and the toddler area is also great. If you have kids various ages you can see them all playing at the same time. There is a walking track around the park, great trees and rocks to climb on and a pavilion for your picnic lunch.

The only negative and it’s a biggie for Moms with young children. Bathrooms. There is a Port O’ Pottie. And it’s not great. I would highly recommend tossing your travel potty in the trunk, and make the kids pee right before you leave the house.

So next time your looking for a new park, try this one! Maybe we’ll see you there!

Note:

It’s very easy to find, but most likely your googlemap won’t pick it up. (Off of I-20 at exit 140, head away from the outlets, past the Bass Pro shop, turn right on President Street, follow until it stops and take a left on 119. The Park will be on your right)

Mamarazzi: Oh Drew!

Posted on by Angie

By Harmony Hobbs:

Oh, Drew!

Drew Barrymore had her baby last week and I am just now finding out. WHAT! Why did it take me so long?!
Because she didn’t make a big deal about it.

She had her baby like a normal person. She didn’t call the press, she just went to the hospital and gave birth and then went home. No paparazzi, no tweets. She even gave her daughter a normal name: Olive Barrymore Kopelman. Even during her pregnancy she never said a word about it – NOT A WORD. She even looked like a normal pregnant woman. It was all very un-Hollywood. I admire this.

Drew, you used to be a mess and maybe you still are, but you’re rockin’ this motherhood thing.

(Sidenote: Nick Lachey and Vanessa What’s-Her-Face are already tweeting pictures of their 2 ½-week-old and whoring him out to the media … I’m just saying.)

Parenting with a PhD: Kids and Politics

Posted on by Angie

By: Kristen Berthiaume

As parents, we want to pass on our values and beliefs to our children and we do this in a variety of ways everyday.  Many of us may worry about our kids hearing opinions we strongly disagree with and this is never more likely than at election time. A quick perusal of any Facebook feed shows that folks are not shy about expressing their political opinions. At all. Even if your child isn’t on Facebook (and most of our kids probably shouldn’t be…), he’s bound to see political ads and signs, or overhear politically charged conversations – probably on a daily, if not hourly, basis. So, what can parents do when they want their children to know about the political process (Voting = Good!) but don’t want to expose their kids to the nastiness? Here are some tips for how to (and how not to) involve your child in politics:

Talk about the process.  All younger kids need is the basics.  People go and vote for who they want to do jobs like be the President.  Whoever gets the most votes wins!  For older kids, you can explain (or at least try to explain) all the Electoral College business.  Talk about how the various candidates have ideas about the best way to run the country (or city or state) and we vote for the person whose ideas we agree with most.  Discuss the ways you learn what positions each candidate holds like reading information in the newspaper, watching the news or debates, and visiting candidates’ websites.  Mark Election Day on the calendar and do a countdown when we get close – this makes voting something to look forward to!

Take your child to vote.  This is an easy one. Kids are more likely to vote when they’re old enough if they were aware of you voting when they were little. Before you vote, talk about a few, age-appropriate issues that you feel strongly about. Explain how you’re voting and why. Focus on what you’re for rather than what you’re against. Rather than explaining why you don’t like the other candidate (or, even more problematic, engaging in personal attacks against him or her), talk about how the candidate you’re supporting believes similarly to you.  For older kids, it’s o.k. to make some generalizations about major political parties such as “Republican candidates usually believe…” or “Democratic candidates usually believe…” but too much focus on party preference fails to give your child the background she needs to really understand why you’re making the choices you’re making.

Let your child vote.  Help your child set up an election with her stuffed animals.  Choose a particular issue like, “What’s the most fun game to play?” Decide on a few “candidates” and choose a “position” for each.  Your daughter’s favorite doll may feel that tea parties are best – we’ll call her the Tea Party Candidate (Sorry – couldn’t resist!).  Her teddy bear might find picnics to be most fun while the stuffed unicorn (I know your daughter has at least one) prefers story time.  After each “candidate” has stated his or her position, let the other stuffed animals “vote” by drawing a picture or writing the name of the candidate they choose on a scrap of paper and dropping it in a hat.  For added fun, print out a ballot and let your child mark each stuffed animal’s choice.  Then, count the votes and determine a winner.  Throw a party (or picnic) and have some speeches. Consider talking about how the winner might feel about being chosen and how he or she should act towards the other candidates.  Also, discuss the importance of the losing candidates being good sports and trying again next time.

Let your child have an opinion. Your child may surprise you by already having a viewpoint on certain issues. Try not to take him having a different opinion from yours as a threat. Remember, he is still trying out this thing called a brain and realizing that his beliefs don’t always have to be the same as yours. It’s a good idea to correct misconceptions he may have and engage him in friendly (did you catch the word “friendly?”) debate about the issues. Try to communicate how your position on an issue is in line with your core values. For example, if you support raising the minimum wage, explain that you do so because you believe people who work hard should be rewarded. Don’t expect his opinion to change by the end of the conversation. Chances are his underlying values will pretty closely reflect yours by the time he’s of voting age – particularly if you weren’t overly demanding that he fall in line.

Limit your child’s exposure.  Politics can get pretty yucky. I am thankful everyday for the ability to fast forward through political ads because I can’t stomach some of them. Your child doesn’t need to hear some of that information and definitely doesn’t need to see your reaction to hearing some of that information (you can’t be bleeped so be careful!). If you’re able to skip commercials – do it. Teach your kids how to skip them, too. This will probably save you a lot of heartache at the holidays – just think of all the hot new toys they’ll never know about! Political bickering is just one of the many reasons not to watch the news with your young child in the room (by early adolescence, many kids can handle it – provided that they’re not overly anxious). Look for child-oriented political information, such as can be found on www.kids.usa.gov, or www.bensguide.gpo.gov. Also, find lots of Election-related crafts and games at www.pinterest.com or  www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/election-day. Make sure to discuss anything political your child watches or reads to clear up confusion.

Steer clear of topics that aren’t age-appropriate.  There are a number of hot button issues in the current election (e.g., gay marriage, abortion, immigration) that may not have a place during dinner time discussion with your kids. Parents sometimes feel that expressing views about such issues when kids are young will ensure adherence to the family’s belief system later; however, most kids under age 8 are not ready to hear about complicated issues like abortion (and many aren’t for a while after that). Whatever you believe about this issue, trying to explain your position to a young child is likely to result in confusion and unnecessary distress for her. A good rule of thumb, if your child is too young to know specifics about how a pregnancy was started, she is definitely not ready to hear about how one might be terminated. When it comes to more mature topics, communicate to your child the core values you hold but not your stance on specific issues. For example, if you’re against abortion, have conversations with your child about how significant each person’s life is. If you’re pro-choice, focus on the importance of individuals making their own decisions, depending on what’s right for them. When your child is older, these concepts can be applied when you’re ready to have a conversation about your stance on abortion. Be careful, too, in expressing negative feelings towards an entire group of people. You may understand the complexities of the issue but making sweeping generalizations can lead your child to stereotype others. Take the issue of gay marriage. If you’re of the opinion that it should not be legal, it’s fine to explain to your child what you believe marriage is or should be; however, it’s important that you avoid making negative statements about individuals who are homosexual. Why? Because your child may take this as permission or even encouragement to bully peers who he knows or perceives to be gay.

The bottom line is that involving your children in politics is a great way to teach them about our government and to start them on the road to being responsible citizens.  However, it’s important to be careful about exposing them to the negative side of politics too early, which can leave them jaded or disinterested.  Instilling your family’s values in your children and explaining how those values guide your political decisions will help your kids form their own, well-reasoned opinions.  Ultimately, this practice will lead to fewer baseless Facebook (Version 27.0.1?) rants and will better-equip our future generations to participate in the political process when they reach voting age.

For the record, I’d totally vote for the unicorn!

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

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

Event of The Week: Swing Night, Southern Museum of Flight

Posted on by Angie

How long has it been since you and the husband had a date night? Did you just answer that with, “How old are my kids?” If you did, then you are way overdue!

This Thursday, October 4th. The Southern Museum of Flight is hosting a Swing Night!

Support the south’s future in flight at Flight Swing Night! The Southern Museum of Flight provides educational tours and programs to over 20 districts locally and serves numerous national tours and programs for people of all ages.

Enjoy a night of swing dancing and participate in our silent auction from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm. A complimentary dance lesson will be led from 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Door prize drawing and silent auction winners announced at 8:30 pm. Free snacks and beverages will be provided.

$25 couples, $15 single, $10 Students and Military *Advance tickets are $5 off
*Call in to reserve your ticket. Then either send in a check with your donation made out to Southern Museum of Flight or Donate online.  For More Info

Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 Early Access Premiere Party

Posted on by Angie

Alright Twi-Moms! For the 2nd year in a row BirminghamMommy.com will be hosting THE Premiere Party and movie showing for die-hard Twilight Fans!

Join us on Thursday, November 15th in our reserved theater to see the last movie in the Twilight Saga. *Sniff*

You can purchase your tickets NOW through this LINK..

By purchasing your ticket through BirminghamMommy.com, you’ll have the opportunity to win swag, prizes and seats in our VIP rows. But most importantly you get to skip the hours of standing in line, hang out with some fellow Twilight Moms AND see the movie before the midnight release!!

Your tickets must be bought through BirminghamMommy.com in order to receive early access. Start time for the movie is 10:00pm on Thursday, November 15th. Early Access to the theater will begin at 8:30pm –

All tickets will be held at the BirminghamMommy.com Will Call table to pick up the night of the event. Absolutely NO REFUNDS will be given once the tickets are purchased. (Will Call will be in the Lobby of the Carmike Theater at the Summit from 5:00pm – 8:00pm on Thursday, the 15th.) Please make sure to print your Eventbrite ticket (receipt) and bring with you to avoid any confusion on the night of the event.

A huge thank you to all of our Sponsors for this event, we couldn’t do it without them.

 

Swag and Door Prizes provided by: Lime Mexican Grill, Smith Counseling Services, Villager Yoga, Royal Cup EspresShip, Donut Joes, A Twilight Affair, Fitness Connection, Buds Best cookies, Brookwood Medical Center, McWane Science Center, Bonefish Grill, Rubbish Tees, Butterflies & Rainbows, CRH Photography, Sephora, Riverchase Car wash and More!


 

Birmingham Events Calendar: September 30th – October 7th

Posted on by Angie

Alright Moms! We’ve got another fun filled week of things to do in Birmingham!!

A FREE Lego Mini Build at the Riverchase Galleria, Vestavia Hills National Night Out, the Butterbean Festival and the one we are most looking forward to, Swing Night at the Southern Museum of Flight!! Get a sitter and make it a date night, you know you deserve!

Ready to decorate with pumpkins and get into the “Fall Spirit?” Don’t forget to check out our list of Fall Festivals and Pumpkin Patches!

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

Sunday September 30th

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Stop by to create a headpiece inspired by the ruffles and feathers of the Rococo!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month will highlight a different gallery and feature a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1pm

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Monday October 1st:

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 2nd:

Lego Mini Build – Riverchase Galleria
Make a mini model, and take it home – for free! Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only.
This month will be a Black Cat!
5pm until supplies last.

Vestavia Hills Night Out – Vestavia Hills Baptist Church
Police & fire personnel, equipment and vehicles (including LifeSaver One Helicopter) will be on site. Local vendors will provide food, fun, live music, hot air balloon, children’s activities, product demos, and much, much more! We hope everyone will make plans to come out and take part in our community’s symbolic stance against crime.
6:30pm – 8pm

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 3rd:

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Olivia and the Fairy Princess. Find out what happens when Olivia decides she doesn’t want to be a princess anymore. 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 October 4th:

Southern Museum of Flight Swing Night!
Support the south’s future in flight at Flight Swing Night! The Southern Museum of Flight provides educational tours and programs to over 20 districts locally and serves numerous national tours and programs for people of all ages.

Enjoy a night of swing dancing and participate in our silent auction. A complimentary dance lesson will be led from 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Door prize drawing and silent auction winners announced at 8:30 pm. Free snacks and beverages will be provided.
6:30pm – 9:30pm

Brookwood Live, Top Secret. – Brookwood Mall
Join us on the street for great live music, family fun and dancing in the street. Feature musical talent is Top Secret.
5pm – 9pm

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Friday October 5th:

Alabama Butterbean Festival – Pinson Public Library
Nestled in the heart of downtown Pinson, Alabama, The Alabama Butterbean Festival has activities to offer people of all age groups ranging from kids to grandparents! Starting at 6:00 on Friday night enjoy Gospel singing on our Chamber of Commerce Stage, and Rock and Roll at the City of Pinson Stage. Let the kids experience the old “State Fair” feeling of the rides with their bright, blinking lights. The whole family will enjoy the “Fair Food” while waiting for the 9:00 Fireworks Spectacular. The Family, Food, and Fun will continue on Saturday with a 7:00 start of our races and our new “WaterBall” attraction, camel rides and petting zoo all will open at 8:00. On Saturday the Car and Dog shows will entertain from the youngest to the oldest fan. All of this and more with… FREE PARKING AND FREE ADMISSION.

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 October 6th:

Studio For Kids, Saturday Studio – Birmingham Museum of Art
What would Bart the Art Bat have looked like in Prehistoric times? During the Renaissance? At the dawn of the Modern Era? Create an original Bart masterpiece inspired by your favorite style of art at “Bart Through the Ages,” led by instructor Tym Davis.
AGES 7-11 // $20 ($15 BART’S ART CLUB MEMBERS)
10am

Bluff Park Art Show – Bluff Park Community Center
140 artists from across the country to exhibit and sell their fine art. This juried art show has garnered the reputation of being one of the finest one day art shows in the southeast, and is a favorite of both artists and patrons. Come experience the Show for yourself.
9am – 5pm

Alabama Butterbean Festival – Pinson Public Library
Nestled in the heart of downtown Pinson, Alabama, The Alabama Butterbean Festival has activities to offer people of all age groups ranging from kids to grandparents! Starting at 6:00 on Friday night enjoy Gospel singing on our Chamber of Commerce Stage, and Rock and Roll at the City of Pinson Stage. Let the kids experience the old “State Fair” feeling of the rides with their bright, blinking lights. The whole family will enjoy the “Fair Food” while waiting for the 9:00 Fireworks Spectacular. The Family, Food, and Fun will continue on Saturday with a 7:00 start of our races and our new “WaterBall” attraction, camel rides and petting zoo all will open at 8:00. On Saturday the Car and Dog shows will entertain from the youngest to the oldest fan. All of this and more with… FREE PARKING AND FREE ADMISSION.

Storytime on the Mountain – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
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

Bark in the Park – Veteran’s Park, Alabaster
The all-day affair will feature activities for both pets and people, including: the Mutt Strut, a mile-long walk in which participants have the option to seek sponsorships to benefit Shelby Humane Society, contests, music, children’s activities and a fashion show. Bark in the Park is a free event full of fun for the whole family, including family members with tails!

Bark in the Park is an annual event put on by the City of Alabaster to support the Shelby Humane Society. All proceeds will benefit animals of the shelter and the expenses needed to care for them until they find their forever home.
9am

Home Depot Kids Workshop
Fire Truck
FREE hands-on workshops designed for children ages 5 – 12, between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment. All kids get to keep their craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement.

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Re-open again for the season! 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.

Star Wars Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
It’s Star Wars Reads Day! Is the Force strong with you young one? Join us today for all things Jedi. Wear your favorite costume, be it Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, or even an Ewok! We’ll also make a special Star Wars themed craft.
11am

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Sunday October 7th:

Cahaba River Fry Down – Trussville Springs
The best amateur catfish fryers in Alabama will square off for the Annual Cahaba River Society Fry-Down, a competitive catfish cooking contest and riverfront festival to celebrate the beauty and significance of the Cahaba River.  A fundraiser for the is Trussville Springs, along the banks of the Cahaba in Trussville, Ala.

The Fry-Down is like a BBQ or chili cook-off, but with catfish and hushpuppies. Local teams of enthusiastic chefs will prepare catfish and fixings for a panel of celebrity judges.  Fest-goers can sample their efforts and learn about the diversity of the Cahaba River and its role as a source of drinking water and recreation for Alabama.
11am

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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

Dora and Diego, Let’s Explore Exhibit
Get ready for adventure with Dora and Diego at McWane Science Center in the new exhibit Dora & Diego—Let’s Explore! The exhibit features beloved characters Dora and Diego from Nickelodeon’s hit preschool series Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!, along with their friends Boots, Map, Backpack, Isa, Tico, and of course Swiper, now in their own exhibit for children to explore as they learn and play along.

This new, interactive traveling exhibit, was created by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Nickelodeon, and presented by the WellPoint Foundation.

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.

Medical Minute: Guide to Gynecological Cancer Symptoms

Posted on by Angie

A staggering fact can be found on the CDC’s website: In the US in 2008, 83,662 women were told that they had a gynecologic cancer. Education is imperative in awareness and diagnosis of these cancers.

There are five main gynecologic cancers (cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar). This symptom chart is great to have around- take a moment and read over it. Knowing your body and being aware of changes can lead to earlier detection.

 

CDC.GOV

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