What happens when your kids stop napping? Trish is learning what it’s like when kids stop taking naps, have you been there recently? How to you manage those long days when the kids need to nap, but just won’t?
What to Expect When Baby Comes Home
The first few days and weeks at home with a new baby can be overwhelming. So Brookwood Medical Center and BirminghamMommy have assembled a great group of moms – one is an OB/GYN and another has been called the “baby whisperer” – to share tips and tricks that will help you survive the first few weeks and beyond. Plus, the great folks at Swaddle will be sharing with us the latest must-have baby items!
Join Brookwood Medical Center and BirminghamMommy for this free event on Thursday, August 30th at Swaddle Boutique in Homewood. 6pm
Please register here for this event.
Juicebox Jukebox with Jeannine from Magic 96.5
We had the pleasure of catching up with local DJ, and soon to be Mom, Jeannine from Magic 96.5, The New Magic Morning Show with Rob and Jeannine.
As many of you might know, Jeannine is expecting her first baby very soon. We asked her to give us a list of songs that she’s listening to, or letting the baby listen to.. Here’s what she had to say..
1. Rascal Flatts – My Wish
2. LeAnn Womack – I Hope You Dance
3. Jim Brickman – Never Alone
4. Phil Collins – You’ll Be In My Heart
5. Edwin McCain – I Could Not Ask For More
6. Billy Dean – Let Them Be Little
7. Jamie O’Neal – Somebody’s Hero
8. Dixie Chicks – Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)
9. Taylor Swift – Best Day
10. Barenaked Ladies – When You Dream
11. Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely
12.Rod Stewart – Forever Young
What are some of the songs you listened to when you were expecting?
You can catch the New Magic Morning show with Rob and Jeannine each weekday morning from 5am – 9am. Also make sure to follow her Baby Blog to see how this Soon to be Mom is preparing for Baby, and dealing with being on rest now while she waits.
Pinspired Dinners: Mini Chicken Meatball Soup, perfect for Fall!
My love for pinterest grows with every yummy recipe I try. I love soup, and I can’t wait for fall to get here so I can get my soup on! This recipe was simply delicious. The prep time was not too bad- making the chicken meatballs took a few minutes, but then you’re almost done.
The recipe was originally posted on a blog called “For the Love of Cooking.” Click over for great step-by-step photos.
Ingredients:
Meatballs:
1 lb of ground chicken
1 egg
2-3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried oregano
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
1/4 cup of Italian seasoned panko crumbs
1 tbsp canola oil
Soup:
1 tbsp canola oil
1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
3 stalks of celery, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 15 0z can of diced tomatoes
8 cups of chicken broth
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
1/2 cup of ditalini pasta
2 cups of fresh baby spinach
Parmesan cheese or feta cheese as topping (optional)
Directions:
Combine the ground chicken, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, fresh parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, and Italian seasoned panko crumbs together in a bowl until just combined. Roll into mini meatballs and place onto a plate (I filled up two plates full). Place the meatballs into the refrigerator for 10 minutes so they are easier to work with.
Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the meatballs, in batches, and cook for 4-5 minutes, carefully turning halfway through to cook on the other side, or until golden brown but not cooked all the way through (they will finish cooking in the soup). Remove the cooked meatballs from the Dutch oven and place on a clean plate. Finish cooking the remaining meatballs.
Add the remaining tablespoon of canola oil to the same Dutch oven and add the onion, carr
ots, and celery. Cook, stirring often, for 4-5 minutes then add the minced garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute then add the diced tomatoes and chicken broth, season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Cover and cook on low for 30-40 minutes. Remove the lid and add the pasta and meatballs. Cover and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the pasta is tender and the meatballs are cooked through. Add the spinach, stir until combined and slightly wilted, taste and re-season if needed, then ladle into bowls. Top with Parmesan cheese or feta cheese if desired.
Make sure you’re following BirminghamMommy on Pinterest for more Pinspired recipes and ideas.
Life Lessons from My First Grader
It seems like when my kids head off to school this time each year, I start to reflect over the last 12 months. What I’ve done, who I’ve met, did I spend enough quality time with my kids (that answer is always no,) am I happy with the path I’ve chosen as a stay at home mom (that answer is always yes,) did I treat others the way I want to be treated.. etc. Then I start thinking about the things I need to improve on, immediately. Some might call these resolutions. Since I don’t make resolutions, I like to refer to these as “improvements,” a little facelift on life, if you will.
As I was thinking over the things I’m trying to better in myself, I started to think of the things I want to instill in my daughters, like being kind to other people, trying to help at least 1 person with something every day, and to talk less and listen more, just to name a few. When I repeat these things over in my head, I realize that I have a lot to learn from what I’m trying to teach my kids.
You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit: Things don’t always go our way and maybe as adults we aren’t fighting over who gets the princess cup, but sometimes things just don’t go our way and that’s the way of the world.
Is it a big deal or a little deal?: Kids are prone to meltdowns. What I’m trying to get my kids to recognize is the difference between a big deal and a little deal. Not getting the purple helmet, little deal. Falling off your scooter and cracking your head on the pavement because you refused to wear your helmet, big deal. For me, when the cup of milk is spilled across the dinner table, I have to remind myself (at the end of a very long day) not to act like it’s the end of the world. No crying over spilled milk, right? Spilled milk = Little deal.
Get excited over the little things: As a grown up, I take too much for granted. I begrudgingly put up the Christmas Lights because I see it as a chore, I don’t feel like sitting outside for hours because it’s too hot, too cold or too humid. But I should really take a page from my kids book, and learn to dance in the rain. Life is way too short and it’s ok to get that excited about a cupcake.
1, 2, 3 Eyes on Me: When I talk, I expect my kids to listen. But when they’re talking to me, do I give them the same respect? Am I checking my email, updating my Twitter or Facebook while they’re trying to tell me about Peppa Pig or asking about a lost crayon? When they have something to say, at that moment in time, it is the most important thing in their world. You may think you can multitask and “Uhhhh Huh” your way through the conversation, but it’s not polite. They deserve the same respect we ask of them.
What lessons are you learning from your tiny humans?
Birmingham Events Calendar: August 19th – August 26th
What a busy week coming up here in the Magic City! Back to school for lots of kiddos.. Birmingham Restaurant Week is going strong and the Sidewalk Film Festival will kick off later this week, as well as the UniverSoul Circus!
Let’s just hope the teachers don’t give out too much homework this first week back!
If you’ve been waiting to visit the Dora and Diego exhibit at the McWane Science Center, now’s the time! It will only be here a couple more weeks.
Have a great week everyone!!
It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!
Sunday August 19th
Bart’s Art Cart, Warhol Inspired Sports Car – Birmingham Museum of Art
Stop by in August to design your own sports car inspired by Andy Warhol and the Warhol and Cars: American Icons exhibit!
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 August 20th:
Free Yoga Classes – Villager Yoga
Come check out our kids classes as we prepare to start our Fall yoga series. Free classes for kids ages 3-5, 5-8, 9-12 and teens, plus a free Family Yoga class.
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM (Kids 3-5yrs)
Monday Movies – Hoover Library
Join us for Monday at the Movies in The Library Theatre at the Hoover Public Library! Free admission and refreshments.
Feature Film: n this romantic drama based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, Jane Eyre flees Thornfield House, where she works as a governess for wealthy Edward Rochester. As she reflects upon the people and emotions that have defined her, it is clear that the isolated and imposing residence – and Mr. Rochester’s coldness – have sorely tested the young woman’s resilience, forged years earlier when she was orphaned. She must now act decisively to secure her own future and come to terms with the past that haunts her.
Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell
Focus Features; Directed by Cary Fukunaga
Rated PG-13; 121 minutes; 2011
Our license doesn’t allow us to publish the titles of our free movie showings. Please visit our website or call (205) 444-7815 for more information.
2:00pm and 6:30pm
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Tuesday August 21st:
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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Wednesday August 22nd:
Free Yoga Classes – Villager Yoga
Come check out our kids classes as we prepare to start our Fall yoga series. Free classes for kids ages 3-5, 5-8, 9-12 and teens, plus a free Family Yoga class.
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (Kids 5-8yrs)
UniverSoul Circus – Legion Field Stadium
An all-new show that delivers irresistible fun for the entire family!
Laugh, dance in the aisles, and be amazed by world-class acts from around the globe, including Chinese aerialists, pretzel twisting contortionist, pampered pooches, tigers that will have you roaring, and more!
$19.50 Ticket + $6.65 Fees = $26.15
$25.00 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $32.15
$28.50 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $35.65
Children 12 months and older MUST have a ticket. Children 11 months and younger are FREE but MUST sit on Adult’s Lap. No outside toys, strollers or car seats.
7:30pm
Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. Find out what happens when a man’s books get scattered by a storm and how he gets them back. We will make something fun and have a treat from the Cafe.
11am
Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am
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Thursday August 23rd:
Free Yoga Classes – Villager Yoga
Come check out our kids classes as we prepare to start our Fall yoga series. Free classes for kids ages 3-5, 5-8, 9-12 and teens, plus a free Family Yoga class.
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM (Kids 5-8yrs)
4:30PM – 5:15 PM (Kids 9-12yrs)
UniverSoul Circus – Legion Field Stadium
An all-new show that delivers irresistible fun for the entire family!
Laugh, dance in the aisles, and be amazed by world-class acts from around the globe, including Chinese aerialists, pretzel twisting contortionist, pampered pooches, tigers that will have you roaring, and more!
$19.50 Ticket + $6.65 Fees = $26.15
$25.00 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $32.15
$28.50 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $35.65
Children 12 months and older MUST have a ticket. Children 11 months and younger are FREE but MUST sit on Adult’s Lap. No outside toys, strollers or car seats.
10:30am & 7:30pm
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Friday August 24th:
Sidewalk Film Festival – Downtown Birmingham
The 14th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a celebration of new independent cinema in downtown Birmingham, is set to take place August 24-26, 2012. Since its debut in 1999, filmmakers from across the country and around the world have come to Birmingham to screen their work at Sidewalk and have been thrilled to discover fresh, enthusiastic crowds eager to devour new independent cinema.
With nine venues located within Birmingham’s historic Theatre District (featuring the newly restored Alabama Theatre, a 2,200 seat movie palace built by Paramount in 1927), spontaneity rules the schedule of Sidewalk attendees. Low-priced weekend passes provide easy access to Sidewalk venues, encouraging attendees to seek out new films and sample programming they may not otherwise see. The result is a crowd rich in diversity and united in a hunger for new film.
Ticket Prices Range from $10 to $275 Many Festival Events are FREE!
Kicks off at 8:00pm in the Alabama Theatre and the Festival continues across seven venues until about 10:00pm Sunday.
For more information on the films and venues, visit the Sidewalk Film Festival Website.
Music on Main – Downtown Columbiana
Music on Main Street returns to Columbiana featuring live music and extended shop hours every Friday evening of the month. Music is sponsored by the Columbiana Merchants & Professionals Association, the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce and the City of Columbiana.
Music is 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (times are approximate). Bands are subject to change and all events are contingent upon good weather. Bring a chair and enjoy the music.
UniverSoul Circus – Legion Field Stadium
An all-new show that delivers irresistible fun for the entire family!
Laugh, dance in the aisles, and be amazed by world-class acts from around the globe, including Chinese aerialists, pretzel twisting contortionist, pampered pooches, tigers that will have you roaring, and more!
$19.50 Ticket + $6.65 Fees = $26.15
$25.00 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $32.15
$28.50 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $35.65
Children 12 months and older MUST have a ticket. Children 11 months and younger are FREE but MUST sit on Adult’s Lap. No outside toys, strollers or car seats.
4:30pm & 7:30pm
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Saturday August 25th:
Sidewalk Film Festival – Downtown Birmingham
The 14th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a celebration of new independent cinema in downtown Birmingham, is set to take place August 24-26, 2012. Since its debut in 1999, filmmakers from across the country and around the world have come to Birmingham to screen their work at Sidewalk and have been thrilled to discover fresh, enthusiastic crowds eager to devour new independent cinema.
With nine venues located within Birmingham’s historic Theatre District (featuring the newly restored Alabama Theatre, a 2,200 seat movie palace built by Paramount in 1927), spontaneity rules the schedule of Sidewalk attendees. Low-priced weekend passes provide easy access to Sidewalk venues, encouraging attendees to seek out new films and sample programming they may not otherwise see. The result is a crowd rich in diversity and united in a hunger for new film.
Ticket Prices Range from $10 to $275 Many Festival Events are FREE!
For more information on the films and venues, visit the Sidewalk Film Festival Website.
Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic –
Build and Grow Clinics are free to the public. Build and Grow Clinics are free to the public. Our DreamWorks Summer is coming to an end this week. Don’t miss the fun! You child will love this cool Onion Carriage featuring Shrek and Fiona!
10am – Register Here
UniverSoul Circus – Legion Field Stadium
An all-new show that delivers irresistible fun for the entire family!
Laugh, dance in the aisles, and be amazed by world-class acts from around the globe, including Chinese aerialists, pretzel twisting contortionist, pampered pooches, tigers that will have you roaring, and more!
$19.50 Ticket + $6.65 Fees = $26.15
$25.00 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $32.15
$28.50 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $35.65
Children 12 months and older MUST have a ticket. Children 11 months and younger are FREE but MUST sit on Adult’s Lap. No outside toys, strollers or car seats.
Noon, 4:00pm & 7:30pm
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
Yard Sale and Market –
Yard Sale, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Baked Goods, Local Arts and Fun Children’s Activities. For more information please contact the Norwood Resource Center at 205.322.7361.
Norwood Community @ 15th Avenue and 32nd Street North on Norwood Community Blvd.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
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 It’s Raining, It’s Pouring. Find out what happens when it rains and the kids decide to play inside. We will make a craft and have something cool from the Cafe.
11am
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Sunday August 26th:
Sidewalk Film Festival – Downtown Birmingham
The 14th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a celebration of new independent cinema in downtown Birmingham, is set to take place August 24-26, 2012. Since its debut in 1999, filmmakers from across the country and around the world have come to Birmingham to screen their work at Sidewalk and have been thrilled to discover fresh, enthusiastic crowds eager to devour new independent cinema.
With nine venues located within Birmingham’s historic Theatre District (featuring the newly restored Alabama Theatre, a 2,200 seat movie palace built by Paramount in 1927), spontaneity rules the schedule of Sidewalk attendees. Low-priced weekend passes provide easy access to Sidewalk venues, encouraging attendees to seek out new films and sample programming they may not otherwise see. The result is a crowd rich in diversity and united in a hunger for new film.
Ticket Prices Range from $10 to $275 Many Festival Events are FREE!
For more information on the films and venues, visit the Sidewalk Film Festival Website.
Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic –
Build and Grow Clinics are free to the public. Our DreamWorks Summer is coming to an end this week. Don’t miss the fun! You child will love this cool Onion Carriage featuring Shrek and Fiona!
2:00pm Register Here
UniverSoul Circus – Legion Field Stadium
An all-new show that delivers irresistible fun for the entire family!
Laugh, dance in the aisles, and be amazed by world-class acts from around the globe, including Chinese aerialists, pretzel twisting contortionist, pampered pooches, tigers that will have you roaring, and more!
$19.50 Ticket + $6.65 Fees = $26.15
$25.00 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $32.15
$28.50 Ticket + $7.15 Fees = $35.65
Children 12 months and older MUST have a ticket. Children 11 months and younger are FREE but MUST sit on Adult’s Lap. No outside toys, strollers or car seats.
2:30pm & 5:30pm
Bart’s Art Cart, Warhol Inspired Sports Car – Birmingham Museum of Art
Stop by in August to design your own sports car inspired by Andy Warhol and the Warhol and Cars: American Icons exhibit!
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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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: Born to Be Wild, & Flying Monsters.
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.
Stay Organized as the Kids Head Back to School
Megan Brown, Co-founder of HatchedIT.com
As another summer draws to a close and we begin to prepare our kids for the start of a new school year there are several tips we can follow to help stay energized, organized and on track.
Turn off the TV:
Television time is ok but it should be designated. It is too easy to get sucked in and waste hours in front of the tube. Create a schedule with your kids on when they can watch TV and how much they can watch at a given time.
Schedules:
With sports, after school activities, homework, play dates and more scheduling can be one of the more stressful tasks during the school year. It is important to be on top of your scheduling by using calendars, online organizers, and reminders to help you keep track of your busy day. HYPERLINK “http://www.hatchedit.com/”
Storage:
Buy boxes and baskets to help store things around the house like toys and gadgets. Compartmentalizing is great for organization and de-cluttering! They are also the perfect way to help each child know where to put items specific to them like homework assignments, permission slips and after-school activity information. Kids are used to putting things into labeled bins at school – why not let them help you keep organized at home too!
Cleaning:
“A place for everything and everything in its place” is a great motto to live by. Don’t let the cleaning work pile up; try and disperse chores through the week so that you aren’t overwhelmed.
Preparation:
Start preparing anything and everything that you can ahead of time. Some examples? Prep your outfit for work before you go to bed, prep dinner meals on the weekend, pack the kids’ lunches the night before and keep them in the fridge. This way everything is ready when you need it to be and you can start the day feeling prepared rather than discombobulated or rushed.
To Do Lists:
To gain perspective on what needs to be done now and what can be held off – lists are always a great tool. However, sticky notes scattered across the walls of your home are not the best method for list making. Make one list at the start of your day and use it as you get things done throughout the day.
Sleep:
You may not realize it, but getting adequate rest and having a regular sleep schedule will help you to be more organized throughout your day. Both kids and parents should have a bedtime.
Communication:
Coordinating is never going to work without communication. Talking it out is also important in any busy family.
Stop Buying Things:
Seriously! Consider what you actually need versus what you want. Not only will you be saving money, but you will also have less to clean up.
Reward Yourselves:
Give credit where credit is due! If the kids are doing their chores and helping, don’t forget to reinforce their good behavior with compliments and rewards like going out for ice cream or renting a movie. And if the parents have had a great week, treat yourselves to a night out.
The most helpful hint of all- Don’t over stress the start of the school year. If the family supports and loves one another then being organized will happen naturally, especially if you remember to follow the tips!
About Megan Brown:
Megan Brown is the co-founder of HatchedIT.com the online organization and collaboration tool for families. She has over a decade’s worth of Wall Street experience spanning both sales trading and Asset Management Sales & Marketing.
Birmingham Restaurant Week 2012: Let's Eat!
It’s time again to indulge in some of the best that Birmingham has to offer when it comes to dining out in our fine city!
In its 3rd year as the Magic City’s most successful and anticipated culinary event, Restaurant Week was launched in 2010 to spotlight Birmingham as a premier dining destination. This ten-day event features some of Birmingham’s best locally-owned and operated restaurants, offering prix fixe menus and drink specials.
Two Course Prix-fixe Lunch Menu: $5 & $10
Three Course Prix-fixe Dinner Menu: $10, $20 & $30.
Healthy Kids Menu & Brunch Options
Food lovers may simply dine out at as many participating restaurants as they like during Birmingham Restaurant Week. Diners can revisit their favorite restaurants or explore new dining opportunities. Advance reservations are strongly recommended (where reservations are accepted) and can be made by calling restaurants directly or visiting their profile online.
There are no tickets or passes required for any restaurants.
Kicking off on Wednesday, August 15th with a Preview Party at Vulcan Park and Museum, this is an event you don’t want to miss! For more information on the preview party or to purchase tickets visit their website.
For a complete list of participating restaurants, chefs and sponsors check out the Birmingham Restaurant Week Website.
Now comes the hard, where to go first! Which restaurant are you looking forward to visiting?
Pinspired Breakfast: Sausage, Egg, and Biscuit Casserole
I love breakfast casseroles! They’re typically made with either hash browns or bread, but this one uses frozen buttermilk biscuits. The result is a texture that is rich and yummy, and unlike any breakfast casserole I’ve tried. I sent this to a friend who had just had surgery and got several texts raving about it!! We found this on one of our favorite sites www.PlainChicken.com.
1 lb breakfast sausage
7 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
8 frozen buttermilk biscuits, slightly thawed, halved
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Preheat oven to 375. Lightly spray a 7×11-inch dish with cooking spray.
Brown sausage in pan, breaking into chunks. Drain fat.
Whisk together eggs, milk, cream, salt and pepper in a large measuring cup. Set aside.
Slice each biscuit in half with serrated knife. Place biscuit bottoms in baking dish. Sprinkle half of cooked sausage over biscuits and top with half of the cheese. Place remaining biscuits on top of cheese and cover with remaining sausage. Pour egg mixture over biscuits. (Can cover and refrigerate at this point)
Bake 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheese over casserole and bake until eggs are set, about 10-15 minutes. Let casserole stand 10 minutes before serving.
Make sure you’re following BirminghamMommy on Pinterest for more Pinspired recipes and ideas.
Parenting with a PhD: Solving Problems as a Family
By Kristen Berthiaume:
On a daily basis, your family encounters dozens of problems – from what to wear, to what to eat, to whose turn it is to clean out the litter box. Most problems are easily addressed with a little discussion or you pulling rank and making a decision for everyone. However, sometimes problems come along that require a little more thought and this is where a Family Problem-Solving Approach can be helpful. When one of you or the family as a whole is facing a big issue – bullying at school, jitters about an upcoming move, problems with a co-worker, sibling rivalry – consider holding a family meeting to go through the following steps together. Your kids will benefit from learning how to solve problems systematically and will appreciate knowing that grown-ups have trouble knowing how to handle situations sometimes, too. Hold each other accountable to the solutions you come up with and keep track of the outcomes.
Stop, Calm Down, and Think! If tensions run high with the problem in question, choose a time to talk when everyone is calm and can talk rationally. Sit down as a group, preferably with a white board and dry erase markers handy. You’ll want to take notes on your progress as you go. Let everyone know that if the discussion becomes too heated, you’ll have to table it for another time (and follow through on this warning, if needed!)
Say the Problem and How You Feel. Do your best to state the problem as factually and simply as possible. Try to avoid assigning any blame. Then, talk about how the problem makes you all feel. A simple sentence like this works: “The problem we’re having there is a lot of fighting over which T.V. show to watch after school. I feel frustrated to hear you fight.” Then, ask other family members how they are feeling about the issue.
Set a Positive Goal. This isn’t a solution – it’s what outcome you want to reach and it should be as fair as possible to everyone involved. In the above example, you might set the goal of getting along during T.V. time.
Think of LOTS of Solutions. This is the fun step because anything goes. Ask each family member to contribute one or two possible solutions to the problem. Solutions may be great or they may be terrible but keep them all at this stage. It’s really important to write down the solutions family members suggest so you don’t forget any in the next step. To keep things from getting out of hand, limit yourselves to no more than 10 possible solutions. Here’s an example:
Devise a schedule for who gets to pick the T.V. show
My sister has to watch what I want to watch
Give away the T.V. (HA!)
Restrict T.V. to the weekends
Let whoever turns on the T.V. first decide
Sell my brother
Everyone has to agree on the show
Think Ahead to the Consequences. In this step, you’ll discuss the potential consequences, positive or negative, for each solution. Adding a “+” next to solutions for every positive consequence and a “-“ for every negative is a nice visual way to keep track. Be aware that many solutions will have both positive and negative potential consequences, which is O.K. Solutions can have as many positive and/or negative consequences as you can come up with (or have time for). Your Step #5 might look something like this:
Devise a schedule for who gets to pick the T.V. show:
+ (This will be fair and everyone gets a turn)
+ (This will reduce fighting)
– (I might not get to watch my favorite show)
– (My brother might not follow the schedule)
My sister has to watch what I want to watch:
+ (I’ll always get to watch my favorite shows)
– (It’s not fair to my sister)
– (It won’t reduce fighting)
Continue for each solution (Hint: “Sell my brother” should have several negatives).
Go Ahead and Try the Best Plan!
Pick the solution that seems to have the best outcomes for everyone. Make sure you also choose a few back-up solutions in case the first one doesn’t work. That way, you’ll have a fall-back plan and won’t get flustered trying to think on your feet.
Happy Problem-Solving!
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.
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