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Pinspired Bites: Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

Posted on by Angie

I never met a mushroom I didn’t like.

As you may know, I love appetizers. This one is super easy and very yummy.

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
http://www.mountainmamacooks.com/2011/02/bacon-and-cream-cheese-stuffed-mushrooms/

  • 8 oz bacon *I was in a rush, a bag of bacon bits worked pretty darn good!
  • 1/2 cup finely minced sweet onion *I omitted this because I don’t like onions
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 16 oz white button mushrooms
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Using scissors or a sharp knife, cut raw bacon into small pieces. In a large sautee pan, over medium heat, cook bacon until nice and crispy. While bacon is cooking, remove mushroom stems from caps and chop stems into small pieces. When bacon is done, remove from pan and set aside; reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon grease and pour the rest from pan. Sautee onion until soft about 5 minutes, scraping up any brown bits on bottom of pan. Add chopped mushrooms stems and garlic and cook a few minutes longer. Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese and parmesan cheese and stir until cheeses are melted. Add reserved chopped bacon and season to taste with salt and pepper. (Mixture can be made, cooled, and stored, covered, in the fridge for up to two days.) Remove mixture from heat and stuff each mushroom cap generously with mixture. Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes or until mushrooms are soft and filling is nice and hot.

 

The EASY Mushroom

This is another way to make no-fuss appetizers that people will think are more impressive than they are.

Stuff white button mushrooms with goat cheese. Brush tops with butter. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Done. Delicious.

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Parenting with a PhD: Teaching Honesty

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

Your Kid’s Pants Are On Fire!

Chances are, your kid’s a liar – or has been. Most kids go through a lying phase at some point. Before age three, many kids lie because reality and fantasy are already all jumbled up in their cute little brains. By age four, kids may lie for a number of different reasons – often because they realize it keeps them out of trouble and might get for them things they want. In some cases, lying continues into adolescence and adulthood because it can feel easier to invent reality than have to face consequences for poor decisions head on. Fear not – there are things you can do to raise a more honest kid and it’s super easy to do! (O.K. – that last part was a lie. Sorry). Here are some ideas for creating a culture of honesty in your home:

Start early. From the second you find out you’re going to be a parent, you start forming trust with your child. When you respond to an infant’s cries, when you’re consistently present, when you follow through on something you’ve said – these are all behaviors that build trust. Even though your one-year-old may not understand the word “trust” – he can start to grasp its meaning if you use phrases like, “I’ll give your blankie back once I get your pajamas on – You can trust me,” assuming you make a point to give his blankie back once the p.j,’s are on. Building a trusting relationship with your child comes down to a very simple idea: Do what you say you’re going to do. When you’re successful with this, the message that trust is a crucial element for family relationships will come through.

Teaching your child what honesty is. The next step is to convey to your child that you expect him to be trustworthy. With younger kids, it’s best to avoid using the word “lie” because often the intention is not to purposely deceive you. Instead, little ones often say what they wish was the truth or what they think the adult they’re speaking to wants to hear rather than what actually happened. You’re likely to get further in your understanding if you ask a question like this: “Is this what really happened or what you wish was true?” You can help your child learn the difference between truth and fiction by playing games like this: Act something out then make a statement. For example, sit down and then say, “I’m standing on my head.” Now, ask your child to indicate if the statement is true and praise her for correct answers. Get more complicated by doing something objectionable (spilling your water) and then saying: “You spilled the water: true or not true?” You can also try this game using facts your child already knows. Kids learn easily from stories so look for themes of dishonesty and use it as a jumping off place for discussing why it’s important to tell the truth. Some options: “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” (an Aesop fable), Franklin Fibs (Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark, 1992), The Berenstain Bears and the Truth (Stan and Jan Berenstain, 1983), and “The Empty Pot” (Demi, 1990).

Set your child up to tell the truth. One of the biggest mistakes parents make when trying to teach honesty is forcing the child to choose between a lie versus the truth. When you threaten your child with negative consequences, particularly if they’re overly harsh, he’ll feel cornered and desperate to tell you anything that will get him out of trouble. For example, if a father says to his daughter, “If you played with my cell phone after I told you not to, you’ll be grounded for a week!” the child is pretty unlikely to come clean about the behavior. Ultimately, she’ll probably be punished for both playing with the phone and for lying about it. In this situation, the father has set the child up to tell a lie by threatening her with a pretty aversive punishment for the problematic behavior. If, instead, the father said: “I asked you not to play with my cell phone but I see that it has been moved. I think you played with it and feel nervous about telling me that,” the child will realize that her father already knows what happened and that he’s ready to address it. Calmly. In this case, she’s much more likely to admit to the behavior. She may even feel relieved that her dad already knows what she did and that she doesn’t need to come up with a story to explain the phone’s sudden ability to mobilize. The second scenario doesn’t mean there’s no consequence for the behavior but it does make truth-telling easier and more likely. When you set your child up to tell the truth and then she does, you can praise her for doing so, making the behavior more likely in the future. Further, when you respond calmly and rationally to her admission, you’re reminding her that she can trust you with information – even if it’s not information you’re going to like. She knows that your reaction will be measured and not overly harsh or frightening. Because, honestly, if she can’t trust you to react calmly to news that she played with your phone without permission, how can she expect you to handle more serious information like that a friend is cutting herself or that she’s gotten into some kind of legal trouble? A phrase that will set your child up for truth-telling throughout her life might go something like this: “I may not like what you have to tell me and there might be a consequence, but I’ll respect you for telling the truth and will do my best to help.” Consider writing down a similar phrase in your own words to use when you need it.

Walk the walk. You’re not going to love this but one key way to teach honesty is to be honest. Sometimes this requires admitting at check-in that your son was late to school because you were too engrossed in Pinterest (I’ll admit – this has so happened to me). It means no: “Let’s keep this purchase secret from Daddy” or “Don’t tell your piano teacher you didn’t practice all week.” These kinds of little white lies may tempt you on a daily basis and probably don’t cause all that much trouble in the long run. But, children are literal little creatures and, in their minds, a lie’s a lie. It’s a slippery slope from you saying you have a headache to get out of helping at T-ball to your son blaming the broken remote control on his 1-month-old sister. This doesn’t mean you can’t teach your kids to have tact, even at an early age. As my grandfather used to say: “You don’t have to tell all you know.” Refraining from making every comment that pops into your head is different from lying and is an important social skill: one I’ll address in a future column.

The most important reason to promote a culture of honesty in your home isn’t to help you identify who painted the bedroom door with watercolors (my daughter) or who decorated the bathroom with an entire roll of toilet paper (my son). The ultimate goal is to ensure that your children will tell you the truth when it really matters. Because, one day, your child will be faced with a significant problem that he isn’t sure how to handle on his own. The way you handle the small issues today will be a major factor in determining whether you get a chance to help with the big ones. As anyone who’s ever told a tiny little lie for social reasons (or a huge whopper for whatever reason) knows, it takes courage to tell the truth, especially when there are likely to be consequences. The natural instinct is to save face, save your hide, save yourself. Your mission as a parent is to teach your child to be brave enough to tell the truth. But, you also have to demonstrate that he can trust you enough to hear it. Create a culture of trust and honesty in your family. Mean what you say. Do what you say. Expect the same of your kids. Cut them some slack when they fall short.

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.

About Kristen:

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.

Birmingham Events Calendar: May 6th – May 13th

Posted on by Angie

Happy Birthday Day to Us! Come celebrate with us on Thursday night, we want say thank you for all that you have done to support our site over the past for years! Great shopping discounts, food and wine provided by our friends at the Height Village in Cahaba Heights!

Lots of storytimes are winding down getting ready for their summer reading programs but this weekend will be packed full of great festivals! Dog Daze, Love Your Mama Fest and Buck Creek to name a few!

We hop to see you out on Thursday Night and we wish you all a Very Happy Mother’s Day! May you get all of the rest and relaxation you deserve!

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

Sunday May 6th:

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Design a teacup just in time for Mother’s Day!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1:00pm

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Monday May 7th:

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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Tuesday May 8th

Babes in the Zoo– Birmingham Zoo
This fun class introduces children to the experience and wonder of animals in a safe environment.

Children must be 6 months to 2 years old and accompany with an adult. Classes are 30 minutes long.
Members -$6 Non-Members -$12
9am

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Wednesday May 9th:

Bart’s Art Venture – Birmingham Museum of Art
Come celebrate the grand opening of this new kid’s gallery packed with hands-on exhibitions and creative learning space.
11:00am and 3pm

Babes in the Zoo– Birmingham Zoo
This fun class introduces children to the experience and wonder of animals in a safe environment.

Children must be 6 months to 2 years old and accompany with an adult. Classes are 30 minutes long.
Members -$6 Non-Members -$12
9am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Split! Splat! Come find out what happens when a little girl and her dog decide to go and play in the rain. There will be a craft and we will have something yummy 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 May 10th:

BirminghamMommy Birthday Bash and Moms Night Out!

Join us along with our friends, the fabulous Merchants of The Heights Village in Cahaba Heights for a great night of fun, shopping and more!

We have come a long way, Baby! And many of you have been with us from the beginning. Everything has grown! Our content, our readership, our followers and our sponsors, we couldn’t have done it without all of you! We appreciate you and want to say thanks!

So join us, as many of the Shops at Heights Village extend their hours to BirminghamMommy.com fans and offer in store discounts, door prizes and a special “Power Hour” of shopping at The Lili Pad and Little Soles from 5pm – 6pm. We’ll be on hand with swag for the first 50 guests, and food provided by Suburban Grill, O’Carr’s, Yankee Pizzaria, Sexton’s Seafood and NY Butcher Shoppe, who will also be providing our wine for the evening. (Say it with me, THANK YOU, NY BUTCHER SHOPPE!)

We have a lot of exciting things planned, including Mini-Makeovers to spruce you up for your night out, (just in case you’re coming straight from work or those ballet lessons or soccer practice.) Grab your friends, your sister and your Mom, (who can pick something out for Mother’s Day while you’re there) and come spend the evening celebrating with us!
6pm – 8pm at the Heights Village in Cahaba Heights
RSVP and let us know you’re coming

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Friday May 11th:

Buck Creek Festival – Helena
The Buck Creek Festival is proud to begin its eleventh year as one of the leading fund raising events in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Our festival attracts visitors and crafters/vendors from all over the Southern united states.
Live music, arts/craft vendors, food vendors
Visit website for details on band listing.
Presented by: Vulcan Materials, 102.5 The Bull, Magic 96, Shelby County Reporter, Regions Bank, ABC 33/40, Pinnex Group

Park Rules:
No Dogs, No Coolers, No Alcohol. No Golf Carts or Bicycles

Band Information:
Tommy Crowder Band 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
LaReunion Idol – 7:45 – 8:00 p.m.
Kozmic Mama  8:15 – 10:10 p.m.

32 Annual Dog Daze Festival – Trussville
Festival featuring music, fireworks, food vendors, booth vendors and arts & crafts.
5pm – 9pm

Love Your Mama Fest – Forest Park and South Avondale
“Love Your Mama” is a festival celebrating all Mamas in Forest Park Village. Happening on Mother’s Day weekend. A fundraiser for M-Power Community Garden, the festival will be a large open house where the merchants will sell flowers to benefit the organization.

Prizes donated by the Forest Park and Avondale merchants: art, gift certificates to restaurants and other items.
There will be a music jam open to all musicians on Friday night and Saturday all day and each merchant will have an open house with special offers for all mamas. These offers will be all listed on the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/253379184747375/
5pm – 9pm

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Saturday May 12th:

Food Truck Throwdown – 55th Place Arts
Main Street Birmingham and the merchants of 55th Place Arts are teaming up for a Food Truck Throwdown!

Five food trucks will prepare a special dish featuring the jewel of May – STRAWBERRIES. Sample the food, vote for your favorite, listen to live music courtesy of artists associated with 55th Place’s Communicating Vessels record label and browse great art from City Arts Boutique!
3pm – 6pm

Buck Creek Festival – Helena
The Buck Creek Festival is proud to begin its eleventh year as one of the leading fund raising events in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Our festival attracts visitors and crafters/vendors from all over the Southern united states.
Live music, arts/craft vendors, food vendors and Rubber Duck Race.
Visit website for details on band listing.
Presented by: Vulcan Materials, 102.5 The Bull, Magic 96, Shelby County Reporter, Regions Bank, ABC 33/40, Pinnex Group

Park Rules:
No Dogs, No Coolers, No Alcohol. No Golf Carts or Bicycles

Band Information:
Buck Creek Blue Grass Band 10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
After 2 Glasses 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
St. Bernard Jazz Band – 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
DeJa Blue- 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Razz Ma Tazz – 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Microwave Dave & The Nukes- 5:15 – 6:30 p.m.
Liz Melendez Band – 6:45 – 8:00 p.m.
Blues Brothers Experience – 8:15 – 10:00 p.m.

32 Annual Dog Daze Festival – Trussville
Festival featuring music, fireworks, food vendors, booth vendors and arts & crafts.
9am – 4pm

Birmingham International Street Fair
The Birmingham International Street Fair is a family friendly event that celebrates world cultures through food, music and art. The event will also include an educational component that shares how to can get involved in global issues that impact Alabama. 6 musical act’s dozens of food vendors and artists will be on hand to help you travel the world for a day without ever leaving downtown!
11am – 7pm

Love Your Mama Fest – Forest Park and South Avondale
“Love Your Mama” is a festival celebrating all Mamas in Forest Park Village. Happening on Mother’s Day weekend. A fundraiser for M-Power Community Garden, the festival will be a large open house where the merchants will sell flowers to benefit the organization.

Prizes donated by the Forest Park and Avondale merchants: art, gift certificates to restaurants and other items.
There will be a music jam open to all musicians on Friday night and Saturday all day and each merchant will have an open house with special offers for all mamas. These offers will be all listed on the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/253379184747375/
10am – 6pm

Baby Bird Shower – Oak Mountain State Park
We’re expecting! Nearly 1,000 baby birds will arrive at the Alabama Wildlife Center this season. Come join in the fun and bring a gift. There are many ways to “Chirp In & Help Alabama’s Baby Birds:”
Bring a Gift (see Wish List at www.awrc.org)
Purchase T-shirts, shopping bags, travel mugs & More!
Go Shopping – Purchase and donate needed items (listed at awrc.org)
Become a member – Help preserve and protect Alabama’s precious natural heritage with your annual dues
Give what you can – Express your love for wildlife by making a donation in any amount. Our monthly animal care expenses double during baby bird season. As funding increases, so does our ability to help more creatures.
Volunteer – Animal Care volunteer orientation held monthly (Sundays). Call for other volunteer opportunities 663-7930, ext. 8

This event will include children’s activities, baby bird videos, view the baby bird nursery, free cake & beverages.
11am – 2pm

Mudbugs and Music – Avondale Brewery
This family-friendly music showcase and crawfish boil is hosted by the Arthritis Foundation’s Associate Board. The day will feature live music from Truth & Salvage Co., Y’all and T.U.B.Your admission gets you all you can eat crawfish, silent auction, activities for the kids and much more!Proceeds from Mudbugs and Music will be utilized by the Arthritis Foundation in Alabama to support programs for families living with juvenile arthritis.Currently, children from Alabama have the opportunity to attend Camp M*A*S*H, a camp created especially for children living with arthritis and provided to families at no cost. The 2011 Seventh Annual Mudbugs and Music raised over $113,000 benefiting Juvenile Arthritis.

Tickets: $20 before the event$25 day-ofKids 12 and under get in free!

Info Phone: 205-979-5700
2pm – 8pm

Birds of a Feather – Oak Mountain State Park
Alabama is an interesting place to be. We are in a migratory bird flyway, which means we get to see birds heading south for the winter, & then watch them return to their homes for the summer. Have you ever wondered what the flitter of color is or about the short snippet of song that you heard? Meet at the Campground Pavilion (B-side) at 10a.m. Free after admission to Oak Mountain State Park.

Wild Animal Moms Breakfast – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Mother’s Day is just around the corner! Pamper your mom or special lady in your life with Ruffner’s Wild Animal Mom’s Breakfast. Mom won’t have to cook breakfast – we will provide a continental breakfast. Then sit back and learn how some Alabama animal moms provide, keep up with, and protect their babies.  Reservations required.
8:30am – $7/ $5 (member), Children under 4 are free.

Love Your Mama Fest – Forest Park and South Avondale
“Love Your Mama” is a festival celebrating all Mamas in Forest Park Village. Happening on Mother’s Day weekend. A fundraiser for M-Power Community Garden, the festival will be a large open house where the merchants will sell flowers to benefit the organization.

Prizes donated by the Forest Park and Avondale merchants: art, gift certificates to restaurants and other items.
There will be a music jam open to all musicians on Friday night and Saturday all day and each merchant will have an open house with special offers for all mamas. These offers will be all listed on the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/253379184747375/
Sunday for Restaurants – Mother’s day Brunch

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.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us as we read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Find out everything a mouse wants to do when you give him a cookie. We will make something fun and have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday May 13th:

Happy Mother’s Day!

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Design a teacup just in time for Mother’s Day!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1:00pm

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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

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: How to Choose the Best Hospital for You

Posted on by Angie
There are so many decisions to be made when you decide to get pregnant. What do I eat? Sleep on my back? Find a pediatrician? An ob/gyn? Natural or medicated?

Let us help you with one question—which hospital do I give birth in?

BabyCenter.com lists some great questions you can ask your ob/gyn about the hospitals you’re considering. You’ll also need to ask yourself what you want from a hospital. Think hard about what you want and rest assured when you make your decision.

·         Will I be able to labor and give birth in the same room?

·         Are lactation consultants available? (A specialist can be invaluable in helping you get off to a good start with breastfeeding.)

·         Is there an anesthesiologist or anesthetist at the hospital around the clock?

·         How many women in labor does each nurse typically care for?

·         How many support people are allowed to be with me in the labor and birth room? (Your partner will certainly be welcome in any institution, but if you want your sister, a best friend, a doula, or anyone else to be there, you should make sure early in your pregnancy that it’ll be allowed.)

·         Will my baby’s siblings be allowed to attend the birth?

·         Are there private postpartum rooms, if desired? Is one generally available? What’s the extra charge? (Unless you need a private room for medical reasons, your insurance won’t fully cover the cost, so you may want to find out how much you’ll have to pay if you opt for a single room.)

·         Can the baby stay with me in my room 24/7?

·         Can my partner stay with me in the room? What accommodations do you have for partners?

·         What’s the visitation policy? Are there specified visiting hours?

·         Does the hospital accept cord blood donations or arrange for cord blood donations to a public cord blood bank (if this is something you’re interested in doing)?

Welcoming a new baby into your family is always an exciting time, but it can be stressful. Thinking ahead and asking some of these questions in advance can help take some of that pressure off of you as your due date draws closer. And don’t underestimate the power of a good ole’ fashion chat with your best friends! Word of mouth is so important and can be invaluable when making so many decisions.

What things were most important to you?

Event: BirminghamMommy Birthday Bash and Moms Night Out

Posted on by Angie

Happy Birthday to us, Happy Mother’s Day to you!

Join us along with our friends, the fabulous Merchants of The Heights Village in Cahaba Heights for a great night of fun, shopping and more!

We have come a long way, Baby! And many of you have been with us from the beginning. Everything has grown! Our content, our readership, our followers and our sponsors, we couldn’t have done it without all of you! We appreciate you and want to say thanks!

So join us Thursday, May 10th from 6pm – 8pm, as many of the Shops at Heights Village extend their hours to BirminghamMommy.com fans and offer in store discounts, door prizes and a special “Power Hour” of shopping at The Lili Pad and Little Soles from 5pm – 6pm. We’ll be on hand with swag for the first 50 guests, and food provided by Suburban Grill, O’Carr’s, Yankee Pizzaria, Sexton’s Seafood and NY Butcher Shoppe, who will also be providing our wine for the evening. (Say it with me, THANK YOU, NY BUTCHER SHOPPE!)

We have a lot of exciting things planned, including Mini-Makeovers to spruce you up for your night out, (just in case you’re coming straight from work or those ballet lessons or soccer practice.) Grab your friends, your sister and your Mom, (who can pick something out for Mother’s Day while you’re there) and come spend the evening celebrating with us!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thursday May, 10th
6pm – 8pm at the Heights Village in Cahaba Heights
RSVP and let us know you’re coming

 

Patience: Be a Grown-Up

Posted on by Angie

Our Patience Tip for this Week: Be the Grown Up….

One thing I’ve heard from other moms that I really took to heart was this: “You’re the grown-up, act like it.”

I refuse to get into a yelling match, or a tit-for-tat situation with my kids. If they throw a fit, I used to try to fix it. I’ve learned now to walk away, and let it be. I have to always be the most mature, sensible, caring person in the room because my child is watching.  Resorting to their level will never be effective, it will actually sabotage any efforts you’re making.

It’s hard sometimes to refrain from stomping your feet and screaming  like a 3 year old, how do manage to keep yourself in check and remain the grown up when dealing with your kiddos?

Birmingham Events Calendar April 29th – May 6th

Posted on by Angie

Earth Day in the Gardens, Magnolia Festival, Embrace Space Day, and FREE Comic Books are just a few things you will find on this week’s very packed calendar!

The new Giraffe Exhibit has opened at the Birmingham Zoo. One of the largest giraffe habitats in the Southeast, the Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter allows guests to enjoy an up-close and personal interaction with the Zoo’s five giraffes.

The Schaffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil is back and has a great music line up- whether you take the kids or make it a date, it’s always a fun event!

Have a great week everyone!

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

Sunday April 29th:

Magic City Art Connection – Linn Park
This award winning contemporary art festival and Top 20 Southeast Event celebrating its 29th anniversary, transforms downtown Birmingham’s Linn Park each year with its blast of fresh artistic talent, sights, sounds and aromas, drawing from a pool of artists who have been recognized locally, regionally and nationally in visual and performance art, food & wine, dance and music.

Over 200 artists from around the Country, Food from Birmingham’s finest restaurants, wines from around the world, live music and Interactive Art Workshops And Activities For Kids.  See your child’s imagination take flight creating a one-of-a-kind work of art at the Imagination Festival. Imagination Festival hosts 2000 elementary students during its Friday art workshop school program. It will close at 3pm on Friday. Please check at the Info Center for the list of available Imagination Festival workshops that are open to the general public on Friday.

Tickets: Admission to the art show is FREE. Tickets for Corks & Chefs Food and Wine Tasting are $25 advance/$30 at the door.

Info Phone: 205-595-6306
10am – 6pm

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
April showers bring May flowers! Craft a “glass” flower inspired by BMA artist Dale Chihuly.

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1:00pm

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Monday April 30th:

Toddler Tales – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Stories, songs, crafts, and a snack with Miss Kat for ages 24-36 months with a caregiver. Every Monday at 9:30 and 10:30. Call 879-0497 to register, or register online at www.eolib.org.

Tot Time with Mrs Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime fun awaits you and your little one when you attend Avondale Library’s Tot Time. Join Mrs. Eve as she presents stories, songs, and crafts geared for 2 to 4 year olds with a caregiver. 24-hour advance registration required.

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Tuesday May 1st:

Babes in the Zoo– Birmingham Zoo
This fun class introduces children to the experience and wonder of animals in a safe environment.

Children must be 6 months to 2 years old and accompany with an adult. Classes are 30 minutes long.
Members -$6 Non-Members -$12
9am

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome.
10:30am

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Wednesday May 2nd:

Babes in the Zoo– Birmingham Zoo
This fun class introduces children to the experience and wonder of animals in a safe environment.

Children must be 6 months to 2 years old and accompany with an adult. Classes are 30 minutes long.
Members -$6 Non-Members -$12
9am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read The Duckling Gets a Cookie. See what happens when the duckling gets a cookie and how the pigeon feels about it. 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 May 3rd:

Storytime with Ms Terri- Adamsville Public Library
We’ll be reading about and presenting May flowers and spring time fun!
10am

Storytime Adventures – Vestavia Library in the Forest
Join Mr. Brian as he goes on exciting adventures through stories and songs. Ages 3 years – 5 years
10:30am

Time for Tales with Ms Katie – Avondale Library
Join Ms. Katie for a preschool storytime with lots of stories, songs, and fun for everyone! Group registration appreciated.
9:30am

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Friday May 4th:

Gardendale Magnolia Festival – Gardendale Civic Center
Celebrate spring at the award-winning Gardendale Magnolia Festival with over 150 arts/crafts/business vendors including home and garden special section, large midway carnival, classic car show, 3 stages of live entertainment, pooch parade, Little Miss GMF pageant, bungy jump, fishing tank, silent auction, free art classes for kids, and cookie eating contest. You’ll find restaurant quality food as well as festival favorites at our food court including Greek gyros, fried catfish, fried oreos, boiled peanuts, BBQ ribs/smoked sausage, teriyaki chicken on a stick, roasted corn, kettle corn, Italian ice, etc.

Don’t miss this total family experience! Free admission, free parking!
5pm – 9pm

Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil – Outside at the BJCC
The Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil is a Birmingham tradition that like a child, started small then kept growing and growing.The 2011 event included Stone Temple Pilots, Weezer, Cee Lo Green, Nelly, Sublime with Rome Buckcherry, Cage the Elephant, Drivin n Cryin, Cold, Ko Pek, DJ Logic, Wick-It the Instigator and Kidsmeal.

The Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil will be outside at The BJCC (Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. between 22nd and 24th St).

Artists scheduled to play:
Childish Gambino (Donald Glover)
Brantly Gilbert
The Cult
Jane’s Addiction

Friday Single Day – $30.00
Saturday Single Day – $30.00
Friday VIP Single Day – $75.00
Saturday VIP Single Day – $75.00
GA Weekend Pass – $49.50
VIP Weekend Pass – $140.00
There is no age limit; children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

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Saturday May 5th:

We Love Homewood Day – Homewood Central Park
Rides, Games and Inflatables: Located at Homewood Central Park the fun begins at 10:00am and lasts until 5:00pm.  A “We Love Homewood Day” favorite will offer a variety of inflatables, rides and activities for all ages to enjoy.

Arts and Crafts / Vendor Expo: This year vendors will be located back in Homewood Central Park amongst the rides and attractions! 10:00am – 4:00pm. Numerous crafters, businesses and civic groups will display, sell items and provide information to those in attendance. The Vendor Expo is full at this time.

Day Time Entertainment @ Central Park: Entertainment will be provided throughout the day on the Main Stage at Central Park. Below is the current line-up:

10:00am – Shirts & Skirts Square Dance Club’s exhibition

11:00am – The Hearts

12:00pm – The Perishables

1:00pm – Homewood High School Band Pep Rally

Art in Avondale Park – Bham Park and Recreation Board
Come out and join us for a day of art in the newly-refurbished Avondale Park! The event features artists’ booths and food vendors, plus free art activities for children, live music and dance, face-painting and more. The mission of Art in Avondale Park Alliance, Inc. is to inspire children to discover their talents through a wide variety of artmaking lessons provided by local art teachers, artists and community volunteers.
10am

Gardendale Magnolia Festival – Gardendale Civic Center
Celebrate spring at the award-winning Gardendale Magnolia Festival with over 150 arts/crafts/business vendors including home and garden special section, large midway carnival, classic car show, 3 stages of live entertainment, pooch parade, Little Miss GMF pageant, bungy jump, fishing tank, silent auction, free art classes for kids, and cookie eating contest. You’ll find restaurant quality food as well as festival favorites at our food court including Greek gyros, fried catfish, fried oreos, boiled peanuts, BBQ ribs/smoked sausage, teriyaki chicken on a stick, roasted corn, kettle corn, Italian ice, etc.

Don’t miss this total family experience! Free admission, free parking!
10am – 5pm

Earth Day at the Gardens – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Earth Day at The Gardens will have over 40 earth friendly exhibitors at booths displaying family friendly activities and information.

Free Comic Book Day – Kingdom Comics Vestavia
There will be many special guests, including plenty of Super Heroes from across the galaxy. Other fun activities will include a trivia game and photo opportunities with the famous Super Heroes.

Doors open at 10 AM and Super Heroes will be there until 2 PM. Be sure to bring your cameras so you can get some photos with them before they head off to continue saving the world! This is a great family friendly event so bring all the kids. Comic books are free while supplies last!

Air Quality Expo – Pepper Place
Alabama Partners for Clean Air, and initiative of the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, is hosting the 2nd annual Air Quality Expo. from 7 a.m. until 12 noon at Pepper Place Saturday Market. Come out for a free emissions test, view an alternative fuel vehicle, and get free asthma and health screening vouchers. Most importantly, you can learn how to improve Birmingham’s air quality!

Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil – Outside at the BJCC
The Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil is a Birmingham tradition that like a child, started small then kept growing and growing.The 2011 event included Stone Temple Pilots, Weezer, Cee Lo Green, Nelly, Sublime with Rome Buckcherry, Cage the Elephant, Drivin n Cryin, Cold, Ko Pek, DJ Logic, Wick-It the Instigator and Kidsmeal.

The Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil will be outside at The BJCC (Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. between 22nd and 24th St).

Artists scheduled to play:
Moontaxi
Futurebirds
The Head & the Heart
Lupe Fiasco
Megadeth
Snoop Dogg
Wiz Khalifa

Friday Single Day – $30.00
Saturday Single Day – $30.00
Friday VIP Single Day – $75.00
Saturday VIP Single Day – $75.00
GA Weekend Pass – $49.50
VIP Weekend Pass – $140.00
There is no age limit; children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Storytime on the Mountain – Ruffner Mountain
Join Ms. Jerri in the Activity Hall of the Treehouse to read “Butterfly Butterfly” by Petr Horá?ek. This beautifully colored book will have children excited to search for butterflies in their own backyard! We will make butterfly masks following the story. Each family receives a free copy of the book to take home thanks to our sponsor, Target. Stick around after the story and craft and see some real butterflies up-close!
10am

To Be a Park Ranger – Oak Mountain
Come learn what it is to be a Park Ranger at Oak Mountain State Park. Let’s see if we can get them to turn the lights on! Meet at the Campground Pavilion (B-side) at 10a.m. Free after admission to Oak Mountain State Park.
10am

Embrace Space Day – Mcwane Science Center
Join us for Planetarium presentations, space crafts, solar observations, learn how telescopes work, and learn how to become an amateur astronomer.
Cost included in admission – 10am – 2pm

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.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Are You Ready to Play Outside? Find out what happens when Gerald and Piggie want to play outside but it starts to rain. We will make a craft and have something delicious from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday May 6th:

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Design a teacup just in time for Mother’s Day!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1:00pm

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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

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.

Small Space Gardening

Posted on by Angie

For the past 2 years I’ve been wanting to start a garden. Nothing big and elaborate, just some squash, cucumbers, peppers… something super easy for a beginner.

For the past 2 years I’ve talked myself out of it for a few reasons. It’s been equal parts, intimidation, laziness and the overwhelmed feeling I would get just walking outside and thinking about where my garden would go. Then, as if they had a fly on my wall, and could read my thoughts from afar, the publishers of the very well known book series “The Complete Idiot’s Guide To..” emailed to let me know about their guide for small space gardening. They wanted me to review the book along with a book about seed saving and starting. It was kind of perfect timing, as if it was meant to be.

So with my books in hand I decided to give it a-go. But one of the biggest obstacles for where I live is squirrels. They dig up EVERYTHING, they destroy stuff and chew through things (including phone and internet cables.) I had been hearing a lot from my friends about container gardening and lucky for me there is an entire chapter on just that. Again, meant to be.

I went this week and picked out a few containers that I will be using that fit perfectly along the sill on my covered deck. Since I didn’t have the funds or know-how to really build fencing or netting over a garden out in my yard to keep the squirrels out, I decided I would use what I already have – a screened in porch that gets full sun in the afternoon.

The book gives great examples of the types of pots you can purchase. I just went to the gardening department of a local big box store and picked something I thought would fit my space and is actually cute. They also recommend several re-usable container possibilities such as, old watering cans, buckets, canoes, small wooden boats, old dressers and painted tin cans. Use a little creativity and you can make a garden that produces yummy fruits and veggies, and is also pretty cool looking.

If you’re not good at remembering to water, the guide suggests looking into the Earthbox. It’s a self watering container that features a watering tube that fills a reservoir in the bottom to keep the soil evenly moist. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

So, I have my containers, and my space. I know what I want to plant, and this weekend I’ll be officially starting my garden!

Now, to the good part. The fine folks that sent me a copy of their books have offered up a set for us to give away to one lucky reader.

Here’s how to enter and we’re making it easy:

Leave a comment on this post letting us know what you are growing in your garden (or how inspired you are now, knowing that if I can do it, ANYONE can!)

One entry, per person, per day. Giveaway will end at Midnight on Monday April 30th. Winner will be drawn and announced on Facebook Tuesday May 1st.

Happy Gardening Everyone!

 

 

Birmingham Area Summer Movies, Free and Discounted – 2012

Posted on by Angie

Birmingham has a great list of Summer movies for Moms looking to keep the kiddos busy and out of the summer heat. Here’s your run down on the Free and Discounted movies happening in and around town!

Rave Motion Pictures – Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Free Admission, first come first served. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10am.

Amstar Cinemas – Alabaster – Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s. Admission is $3 per person, price includes Movie, Drink and Popcorn. All movies will start at 10am, box office opens at 9:30. Seating is limited, first come first served.

Carmike Cinemas – Summit – Thursdays this summer. This year’s series will be a complete package.  $2.00 for each attendee for each feature gets  admission, a small 16oz drink and a small popcorn. All movies will start at 10am. Seating is limited, first come first served. Additional concession items will be available for purchase at regular price.

The Edge 12 – Free Family Film Festival. G and PG Movies at 10am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Seating is limited, first come first served.

Premiere Cinemas, Tannehill – Wacky Wednesdays. $1 Movie at 10am

Homewood Park – Free Friday Flicks. Bring your blankets and chairs out for family movies throughout the summer. Concessions available for purchase.

Sundown Cinemas, Helena Amphitheater – Free Admission, Showtime starts at 8pm. No outside food or Drink allowed. *Movies have not been set at time of post

Alabama Theatre – Sunday Matinee. 2pm. Check site for pricing information

Regal Cinemas – Trussville – Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10am $1 and A portion of proceeds from the Summer Movie Express will be donated to the Will Rogers Institute.

Avondale Park – Select Tuesdays in June. Beginning at 6:30 pm before each movie, Avondale Library will be holding their weekly free Family Fun Night (call 226-4003 to register). Afterwards, participants are encouraged to walk over to the park’s amphitheater to enjoy the movie.

Summer Movie Schedule:

Tuesday May 29th –

The Edge – The Little Engine that Could (G) and Yours, Mine and Ours (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Shrek Forever After

Wednesday May 30th –

The Edge – The Little Engine that Could (G) and Yours, Mine and Ours (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Shrek Forever After

Friday June 1st –

Free Friday Flicks, Homewood Park – Cars 2
Sundown Cinema, Helena Amphitheater – Movie TBA

Tuesday June 5th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Cats & Dogs 2
The Edge – Horton Hears a Who (G) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Kung Fu Panda 2
Regal Trussville – Journey 2 and Kit Kiteredge: American Girl

Wednesday June 6th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Cats & Dogs 2
The Edge – Horton Hears a Who (G) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Kung Fu Panda 2
Regal Trussville – Journey 2 and Kit Kiteredge: American Girl

Thursday, June 7th

Carmike Summit – Puss in Boots

Friday June 8th

Homewood Park – The Muppets
Sundown Cinema, Helena Amphitheater – Movie TBA

Tuesday June 12th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Legend of the Guardians
The Edge – An American Tail (G) and Cats and Dogs (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Smurfs
Regal Trussville – Dolphin Tale and Happy Feet Two
Avondale Park – Cars

Wednesday June 13th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Legend of the Guardians
The Edge – An American Tail (G) and Cats and Dogs (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Smurfs
Premiere Tannehill – Puss in Boots
Regal Trussville – Dolphin Tale and Happy Feet Two

Thursday June 14th

Carmike Summit – Chicken Run

Friday June 15th

Homewood Park – Alice in Wonderland
Sundown Cinema, Helena Amphitheater – Movie TBA

Tuesday June 19th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Yogi Bear
The Edge – Aliens in the Attic (G) and Harry and the Hendersons (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Rio
Regal Trussville – Legend of the Guardians and Yogi Bear
Avondale Park – Finding Nemo

Wednesday June 20th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch- Yogi Bear
The Edge – Aliens in the Attic (G) and Harry and the Hendersons (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Rio
Premiere Tannehill – Alvin and the Chipmunks, Chipwrecked
Regal Trussville – Legend of the Guardians and Yogi Bear

Thursday June 21st

Carmike Summit – Over the Hedge

Friday June 22nd

Homewood Park – Hugo
Sundown Cinema, Helena Amphitheater – Movie TBA

Tuesday June 26th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Happy Feet 2
Edge 12 – Anastasia (G) and Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Regal Trussville – Cats and Dogs: Revenge and Hugo
Avondale Park – Shrek

Wednesday June 27th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Happy Feet 2
Edge 12 – Anastasia (G) and Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Premiere Tannehill – Despicable Me
Regal Trussville – Cats and Dogs: Revenge and Hugo

Thursday June 28th

Carmike Summit – Kung Fu Panda

Friday June 29th

Homewood Park – Alvin and The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Sundown Cinema, Helena Amphitheater – Movie TBA

Tuesday July 3rd

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Journey 2
Edge 12 – Robots (G) and Bee Movie (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Horton Hears a Who
Regal Trussville – Adventures in Tin Tin and Puss in Boots

Wednesday July 4th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Journey 2
Edge 12 – Robots (G) and Bee Movie (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Horton Hears a Who
Regal Trussville – Adventures in Tin Tin and Puss in Boots

Thursday July 5th

Carmike Summit – Shark Tale

Friday July 6th

Homewood Park – Kung Fu Panda 2

Tuesday July 10th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Dolphin Tale
The Edge – Everyone’s Hero (G) and Ernest Goes to Camp (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Regal Trussville – Kung Fu Panda 2 and Rango

Wednesday July 11th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Dolphin Tale
Edge 12 – Everyone’s Hero (G) and Ernest Goes to Camp (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Premiere Tannehill – Kung Fu Panda 2
Regal Trussville – Kung Fu Panda 2 and Rango

Thursday July 12th

Carmike Summit – How to Train your Dragon

Friday July 13th

Homewood Park – Puss in Boots

Tuesday July 17th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Shorts
Edge 12 – Land Before Time: Time of Great Living (G) and Dennis the Menace (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Hop
Regal Trussville – Rio and Spy Kids: All the time

Wednesday July 18th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Shorts
Edge 12 –  Land Before Time: Time of Great Living (G) and Dennis the Menace (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Hop
Premiere Tannehill – Rio
Regal Trussville – Rio and Spy Kids: All the time

Thursday July 19th

Carmike Summit – Madagascar 2

Friday July 20th

Homewood Park – Toy Story 3

Sunday July 22nd

Alabama Theatre – Wizard of Oz

Tuesday July 24th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Inkheart
Edge 12 – Ferngully (G) and Open Season (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Puss in Boots
Regal Trussville – Chimpanzee and Hoodwinked Too

Wednesday July 25th

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Inkheart
Edge 12 – Ferngully (G) and Open Season (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Puss in Boots
Premiere Tannehill – Horton Hears a Who
Regal Trussville – Chimpanzee and Hoodwinked Too

Thursday July 26th

Carmike Summit – Bee Movie

Friday July 27th

Homewood Park – Rain Date (only used in the event that a previous date is rained out)

Tuesday July 31st

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch- Happy Feet
Edge 12 – Thumbelina (G) and Speed Racer (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Madagascar 2
Regal Trussville – Arthur Christmas and Smurfs

Wednesday August 1st

Rave Patton Creek & Lee Branch – Happy Feet
Edge 12 – Thumbelina (G) and Speed Racer (PG)
Amstar Alabaster – Madagascar 2
Premiere Tannehill – Shrek The Final Chapter
Regal Trussville – Arthur Christmas and Smurfs

Thursday August 2nd

Carmike Summit – Monsters V. Aliens

Sunday August 5th

Alabama Theater – Sound of Music

Tuesday August 2nd

Edge 12 – All Dogs go to Heaven (G) and Garfield: Tail of Two Kitties (PG)

Wednesday August 8th

Edge 12 – All Dogs go to Heaven (G) and Garfield: Tail of Two Kitties (PG)
Premiere Tannehill – Ramona and Beezus

Thursday August 9th

Carmike Summit – Megamind

Pinterest Inspired Dinner: Philly Sliders and Crack Potatoes

Posted on by Angie

I’m happily married, but if I could take a sister wife, it would Pinterest. Pinterest gives me recipes, ideas, and so much more. I’m happy to share some pins I’ve come to know and love!

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

1 pound ground beef
1 softball-sized onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons steak sauce
1 cup beef stock
Salt and ground black pepper
4 dinner rolls  *You MUST try the water rolls from the bakery at Publix. Divine!
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup milk
1 cup provolone, shredded

In large skillet over medium-high heat add the oil and then brown the ground beef, about 5-6 minutes. Add the onion and green pepper and cook another 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables start to get tender. Stir in the steak sauce and beef stock, season with salt and pepper, bring up to a bubble and cook about 2 minutes.

Split open rolls and remove most of the soft insides, leaving a bed to hold the meat mixture. Toast the rolls and set aside.

While the meat is cooking, melt the butter in a medium-size pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and cook about 1 minute. Whisk in milk, bring up to a bubble and let thicken, about 2 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in the cheese.

To serve, place a scoopful of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the rolls, then top with the cheese sauce and replace the top of the roll.

Crack Potatoes

A great side dish for burgers, chicken, or anything really.
1 (16oz) container sour cream
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 (3oz) bags real bacon bits
1 packages Ranch Dip mix  *I only used ½ the packet so it would be a milder flavor.
½  large (28 – 30oz) bag frozen hash brown potatoes – shredded kind

Combine first 4 ingredients, mix in hash browns.  Spread into a 9×13 pan.  Bake at 400 for 45-60 minutes.

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