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Patience: You have to create balance and eliminate chaos.

Posted on by Angie

Not all of our patience problems are caused by our offspring. I’m so very guilty of this one! I don’t like disorder. A messy kitchen sets the tone for me to start getting grumpy. When I feel frantic, my attitude changes and kids are very observant and they change as well. There are 2 ways to handle this dilemma.

The first is to stay on top of it, and this isn’t always possible. If I plan well, I know that our house will be clean, the kids’ school supplies/lunches/clothes will be ready to go, and dinner will be at least planned. When life is organized, it gives us a general sense of ease and order. It’s comfortable to not be rushed or panicked.

The second option is to realize that it can’t always be ordered and perfect, and take the disorder with a grain of salt.  The kitchen will eventually get cleaned. The kids will not be in therapy because they didn’t have their clothes laid out for them the night before. Try to make the chaos a teachable family lesson. Assign easy tasks for the kids so you can be proud of them while they’re helping lighten your load.

What steps do you take to maintain some type of balance, any tips or tricks to share?

In case you missed our kick off post on this journey to find patience you can find it here.

Reading with Ringling Bros. January 2012

Posted on by Angie

A great program we learned about last year is “Reading with Ringling Bros.” A program designed to allow your child to earn a free ticket voucher to the Circus just for reading books, awesome right? Especially when you have several little ones you plan to take.

Libraries participating this year:

Homewood Public Library –

Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook –

Vestavia Hills Library –

Trussville Public Library (starting Thursday January 12th)
Green Pond – Woodstock Library
Pell City Library
Clay Library

You can receive a FREE ticket to the Circus appearing Jan. 25-29 at the BJCC Arena (for kids ages 2-12)

Here’s how it works:
1. Ask a staff member in the Children’s Department for a Rewards Club Card.
2. Fill in the information on the back of the card.
3. Your Rewards Club Card must be stamped by your librarian after completing and returning each book.
4. You must complete five books and receive five stamps in order to receive your FREE ticket.
5. Bring your Rewards Club Card to the Childrens’ Department to be stamped.
6. Present your Rewards Club Card to the Box Office at the BJCC Arena before January 29th for your free ticket.
7. To ensure seating, redeem your Rewards Club Card in advance of your desired performance. An adult ticket must be purchased at the time of redemption

Reading is a great way to discover, dream, and learn and now it can take you to the circus!

(We have not heard from all of the libraries that we contacted, we will update this list if we learn of more locations, it’s always a good idea to contact your local library if you have any questions about their programming and special events.)

Mamarazzi: Beyonce Gives Birth, Diva-Style

Posted on by Angie
Photo from www.thehollywoodgossip.com

Blue Ivy Carter, the long-anticipated, charmed progeny of Beyonce and Jay-Z, finally arrived on Saturday via C-section. I theorize she opted for a section so there was no chance a photo of her lady business would show up on the internet. Smart girl. Always thinking ahead.

Apparently, the entire 4th floor of the hospital where she delivered was shut down even to doctors and nurses at one point. Everyone on that floor was required to turn in their cell phones. Security cameras were covered with tape. Now THAT is how a diva gives birth.

I would have hated to be delivering my baby on the Upper East Side at the same time as Beyonce. Not one nurse would give a hoot about me and my hoo-ha. I mean who would want to give birth in a situation where your medical staff had that distraction?! Your vagina (or your lower abdomen, if you are having a C-section) is on the line, not to mention your baby, and all people are thinking about is Blue Ivy Carter.

My husband would probably try to sneak away to see if he could spot Jay-Z in the hallway. Then he would post it all over Facebook. It wouldn’t be “Our son just arrived! 8 lbs 6 oz!” It would be “OMG we’re in the same hospital as Beyonce!” or, “Just saw Jay-Z!”

Just thinking about it pisses me off.

Luckily, I am all the way down here in Alabama. There’s no rap royalty here.

Parenting with a PhD: Disciplining a Spirited Child

Posted on by Angie

Parent Question: When you have an older child who is pretty independent and high-spirited, how do you discipline her and get her to bend without breaking that spirit and independence?

Parenting with a PhD Response: “Bending without breaking” is a great way to describe the challenge you face. On the one hand, you want to raise a child who knows she has a voice and isn’t afraid to use it. On the other ha

nd, Little Miss Independent can’t think she’s running things or the entire household is in for trouble. Here are some techniques you can try to nurture her spirit while still keeping her behavior in check.

  • Pick Your Battles. I don’t love this analogy because it implies that you and your daughter are at war – you’re not. But, it is helpful for remembering that you don’t have to attack every single issue that arises. There will be times where you let your child find for herself that something wasn’t a good idea like going outside in 25 degree weather without a coat. Other times, you could make a simple suggestion like, “You might want to leave your new book in the car so it doesn’t get lost at the zoo,” and leave it at that. This method will be most effective if you let your daughter experience the natural consequences that follow her decisions and don’t rush to fix the problem. Yes, she might be cold but it’s not going to kill her. This technique works especially well with older, independent children because it demonstrates for them the impact thei r choices have on themselves and others. In turn, this knowledge leads to a better understanding of when they can handle things and when they need to seek help. In addition, letting your daughter experience natural consequences instead of imposing them (i.e., punishment) makes it less likely that she will blame you or others when things go badly, which is a bonus for your relationship with her. A warning: if you choose this approach, you need to make sure ahead of time that the potential consequence (e.g., losing the book) is acceptable to you. If not, you’ll have to…
  • Take Command. There are times when a specific direction will be necessary but this can be accomplished in a way that shows respect for your daughter’s feelings and opinions. State commands positively by telling her what to do instead of what not to do. Older, independent children are more likely to feel like a willing partici pant, which leads to better compliance, when they are first given a reason for the command. Explaining beforehand makes it less likely that she will forget what you asked her to do and more probable that she’ll want to cooperate. Play to her desire to help and express her opinion when you give the explanation. Consider something like this, “It’s almost time for dinner and I can’t decide which side dish we should have. Please come inside and help me make the best choice.” You’re asking her to stop playing and come in the house, which she won’t want to do, but you’re giving her good reason to do it and sh owing her that you value her opinion.
  • Cede Power. As your child becomes older and more independent, it’s natural that she will want to start making more of her own decisions. Although it means giving up some control, allowing your child some of her own choices now will better prepare her for transitioning to adolescence and adulthood. This is the best time for her to mak e mistakes because she has you as a safety net. Consider offering her a limited number of choices in non-crucial situations and make it clear that any alternative is acceptable. From simple choices like what to wear to more complex decisions like how to handle a problem with a friend, provide guidance when she asks but avoid I-told-you-so’s when a choice doesn’t go as p lanned. Do use situations that end badly as a chance to review and regroup to help your daughter make a better decision next time.
  • Teach Defensive Strategies. Parents hate to hear this but there is a time and place f or complaining. Teach your daughter how to defend herself when she thinks a rule or consequence is unfair. Talk about situations when expressing displeasure would be appropriate vs. inappropriate. Discuss the right timing and tone of voice she should use. For example, it might be o.k. for your daughter to complain about having to go out to eat someplace she hates; ho wever, she needs to do so calmly and in the car, not at the top of her lungs inside the restaurant. Consider using the 3 F’s Formula: Fact, Feeling, and Fair Request. She should first state a fact: “We’ve been to this restaurant every Friday for a month.” Then, tell her feeling: “I’m frustrated that we’re eating there again but we haven’t gone to my favorite restaurant in a long time.” Last comes the fair request asking for what she’d like you to do differently: “Can we go where I want to go instead?” When your daughter has learned and practiced this technique, give her gentle reminders to use it when she ha s a complaint. Reinforce her efforts to complain appropriately, even when they don’t go perfectly. Try to give validation to the feelings she’s having even if you can’t agree to the fair request. Try something like, “I can see that you’re upset and I’m sorry about that. Your favorite restaurant is too expensive for a regular Friday night. Let’s decide on a place that’s more affordable and that everyone likes.”

It’s clear from your question that you’re committed to raising a daughter who both feels respected and shows respect, which will serve your relationship well when she makes most of her decisions far from your watchful eye. By giving her leeway to make some of her own choices – good or bad – and then discussing the outcomes with her afterwards, you are preparing her to stand up to peer pressure, think ahead to the consequences of her behavior, and place high value on her opinions and talents. It’s not as simple an approach as requiring her to comply without questioning but is likely to have much b

etter results, both for her well-being and for your relationship with her.

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way via email at: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com and I’ll tell you what I can: 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. Su

bmitting 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 S. Berthiaume, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Kristen Berthiaume is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates.  She obtained her Ph.D. 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
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 four-year-old daughter and 20-month-old son.

Vote Birmingham Tastiest Town!

Posted on by Angie

Do you like to eat? We do! Have you ever taken the time to stop and really think about all of the fantastic eateries we have in this city? Southern Living has!

In addition to a full roster of dining destinations, Birmingham’s community calendar is packed with annual food events.  For 37 years, the Greek Food Festival has attracted growing crowds to enjoy food favorites such as souvlakia, gyros and baklava.  Up to 30,000 people pack into Birmingham’s Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral for the three-day event.  Also worth noting is the Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil, which serves up 25,000 pounds of boiled crawfish to music lovers each summer.

“This is a huge opportunity to celebrate Birmingham’s culinary successes,” said James H. Smither, president of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau.  “We want to encourage the community to vote, and show those other Southern cities why Birmingham should be at the top of this list.”

Cast your vote daily through January 31 and you can help name Birmingham The South’s Tastiest Town by Southern Living magazine. Plus, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $2,500 cash prize for a trip to any Tasty Town of your choice.

In addition to being entered in the above contest for casting your vote, we are going to sweeten the deal for casting your votes for Birmingham. We have a $50 Gift card to FLIP Burger as well as a pair of passes to the Carmike Summit 16! Dinner and a Movie, just in time for Valentines day! Nice, Right?

Here’s what we need you to do:

Log on to this SITE and vote for Birmingham.

You can do this once a day until January 31st, so we will leave this giveaway open until then. Once you vote on their site, come back here and leave us a comment letting us know that you voted. You can get 1 entry per day, as long as you cast your vote first.

If you want an extra entry (or 2) you can:

Facebook and/or tweet the contest to get your friends to vote too – Direct them to this link:

www.southernliving.com/tasty

You will get one extra entry for each, 1 time only! You must come back here and leave us a comment letting us know that you facebooked and/or tweeted.

BirminghamMommy will choose one winner from the comments left on this post. Giveaway ends on January 31st and the winner will be announced via email. It will be the winners responsibility to contact us back in order to claim the prize.

BirminghamMommy.com has NO affiliation with the $2500 cash prize being given away by Southern Living.

 

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: January 8th – January 15th

Posted on by Angie

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and had the chance to spend lots of time with your family and friends!

We are slowly crawling back into a normal routine and activities around the city are starting to pick back up!

Take a look to see what you can do to keep the little ones busy this week!

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

Sunday January 8th:

Winter Wonderland – McWane Science Center
It’s the last day to take advantage of the Winter Wonderland. Snow room, zip line, and giant slide!

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
In January, Bart will be creating colorful dragon puppets in honor of the Chinese New Year.

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!
1pm

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Monday January 9th:

Family Night – Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest
Animal Adventures! Bring the entire family for a night of pizza and story time fun! Make sure to visit us in the Children’s Department or call us to register. Registration IS required! 205-978-0158
6pm

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Tuesday January 10th:

Kids Scene – Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest
Grades 5K – 3rd
Join Ms. Savannah and make sun catchers from old crayons and wax paper!
Make sure to register by calling us at 205-978-0158.
For every friend your child brings, your child and their friend will receive 5 tickets to use during our Summer 2012 Reading Program.
3:30 -4:30 PM

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Wednesday January 11th:

Where the Wild Things Are Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
At today’s Storytime, we’re going Where the Wild Things Are. Join us in the Children’s Department as we read this favorite by Maurice Sendak. We’ll have a wild rumpus, make crafts and sample treats from our 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 January 12th:

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

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Friday January 13th:

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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Saturday January 14th:

Sid The Science Kid – McWane Science Center
Sid the Science Kid, from PBS Kids educational  television series, is making a stop at McWane Science Center. Join us for a special day celebrating children’s natural curiosity about science in everyday life. The energetic and inquisitive Sid will be available for meet and greets and guests will embark on a fun-filled day of finding answers with the help of family and friends.
10am – 4pm
COST: Included in cost of admission, FREE for McWane Science Center members

BrickFair Alabama – A LEGO Fan Festival
LEGO models, LEGO fun and games brought together by adult fans and artists from across the country.

We are excited to present this new winter festival – a great time for the whole family! Vendors will be offering all things LEGO: shirts, hats, build-mats, custom minifigures, custom-molded weapons and more. Original LEGO creations on display covering 37,000 square feet!

BrickFair is primarily a look-don’t-touch event. Please enjoy the displays with your eyes, not your fingers. The few interactive displays are clearly marked. To satisfy your creative urges, visit the Stay & Play area.
11:00 am – 4:00 pm

A bare minimum of 90 minutes is needed to see most of the show. Doors close at 4:00 pm; expo is vacated at 4:30 pm. No entrance after 4:00 pm.

Age 4 & up: $7
3 & under: Free
Strollers are not permitted.

Barts Art Cart –  Birmingham Museum of Art
In January, Bart will be creating colorful dragon puppets in honor of the Chinese New Year.

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!
11am

Lowes Build and Grow Clinic
Your child is sure to love this kit! This castle comes with stickers, paperboard cutouts and a working drawbridge!
10am

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.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Please join us as we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Junior by reading Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. Of course, we’ll have crafts and snacks too.
11am

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Sunday January 15th:

BrickFair Alabama – A LEGO Fan Festival
LEGO models, LEGO fun and games brought together by adult fans and artists from across the country.

We are excited to present this new winter festival – a great time for the whole family! Vendors will be offering all things LEGO: shirts, hats, build-mats, custom minifigures, custom-molded weapons and more. Original LEGO creations on display covering 37,000 square feet!

BrickFair is primarily a look-don’t-touch event. Please enjoy the displays with your eyes, not your fingers. The few interactive displays are clearly marked. To satisfy your creative urges, visit the Stay & Play area.
11:00 am – 4:00 pm

A bare minimum of 90 minutes is needed to see most of the show. Doors close at 4:00 pm; expo is vacated at 4:30 pm. No entrance after 4:00 pm.

Age 4 & up: $7
3 & under: Free
Strollers are not permitted.

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
In January, Bart will be creating colorful dragon puppets in honor of the Chinese New Year.

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!
2pm

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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 and Santa vs The Snowman

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.

New Year: Chore Chart

Posted on by Angie

We’ve tried numerous ways for a couple of years now to get our kids in a chore routine. Nothing ever seems to stick, mainly because I have to be the chore police and I forget.  As my kids are getting older (and more resistant to cleaning up), I decided it was imperative to get a chore routine in place. Off to our friends Learning Express I went, and found a great chore chart from Melissa & Doug.

The beauty of this chart is that it’s easy: it comes with placards that have not only chores, but also goals. The “chores” range from ‘clean up your room’ to ‘no whining.’ The chores also have pictures for non-readers.

We started a few days before Christmas and it was a huge hit. I told the kids that each “Great Job!” magnet was worth a quarter. They have to read their chores and complete them, then ask me to check them. The responsibility is all on them. If they forget, that’s money lost forever. Once they realized that they had missed out on money, the forgetting stopped!

See the McWane Winter Wonderland While it Lasts!

Posted on by Angie

Time is running out! If you haven’t made it down to the McWane Science Center to see the Winter Wonderland you’re about to miss out!

Winter Wonderland offers something for everyone in the family to enjoy together. Inside the snow room, children can make snow angels, build snow castles and more. Children can catch fish through the ice in the ice fishing area.

Guests can even sled down the giant slide between the third and second floors in the museum or try the zip line.

Families also have a chance to see toy trains of every shape and size zipping around the tracks in the Magic of Model Trains area. This year children will be able to become conductors at one of the new stations and also see several new additions to the train sets.

The exhibit closes January 8, 2012, Hurry!  Price included in the cost of admission, free to members.

Patient Parent 2012, here we go…

Posted on by Angie

Patience is a hot commodity in our houses these days. After talking with other moms, we quickly realized that we’re all struggling with patience. So we decided to challenge ourselves to be better moms.  This was conceived as an idea for a New Year’s Resolution, but we realize it is a life goal.  Here’s my (Trish) story…

I’m not patient. I’m actually very impatient. I’m constantly wishing that everyone around me would pick up the pace. Drive faster. Get out of the way. Talk faster. Think faster. Quite simply, I can’t stand the inefficiency of moving slowly. I’ve always been this way and it’s no surprise that having kids made me realize that patience is NOT my virtue.

What I’ve been doing up until now: On the bright side, I’m very honest with my kids. I tell them I have a hard time being patient. I apologize when I lose my patience. On the not-so-bright side, I haven’t been able to mask my frustration. When they spill chocolate milk (for the 2nd time in one meal), when I’m late and they move like a snail to get their shoes on… these are the times when I let my frustration show. Even if it’s just a sigh or an “Ugh,” I let it out.

What I realized: Me losing my patience isn’t helping. They notice the sigh that I thought they couldn’t hear. It effects them. Venting my feelings doesn’t make me feel better nor does it make them change their behavior.  It only makes us all miserable.

My solution: The first step is recognizing there’s a problem, right? I’m there! I have no formal plan, other than to bombard myself with reminders to be patient, to remind me that they are only children, and to slow down. My theory is that if I keep patience at the front of my mind, it can’t get lost in the everyday rush of things. If I see 4 Facebook status updates a week that reference patience, how can I NOT remember?

The challenge: Do this with us. Think about what you do now, how you wish you did it, and how to fix it. Follow us on Facebook, read the status updates, comment, interact, share your story. We’ll post tips and articles that will help us all do this!

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Posted on by Angie

It’s the end of another year, lots of things have come and gone, new products, recipes, websites, gadgets and kids toys. But what are some things that came across your path that you loved? Something that you loved so much you wanted to share it with everyone you know. We here at BirminghamMommy.com have made a few discoveries of our own this year and we thought it would be fun to talk with our Contributors, Writers and Mombassadors to see what they are loving right now and share it all with you. Here is a list of what our team has declared their “Favorite Things”

I would like to note that I instructed all of them to leave Pinterest off of their list, I think it goes without saying that if you have logged onto that website it’s an automatic on the Favorites list. If you haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, you are definitely missing out! So, go there… now.

LK Whitney – BirminghamMommy Contributor and Mombassador and local blogger:

1 – (Place/Eat) PARAMOUNT, the new yogurt shop in downtown Birmingham, located along 20th Street (known as “Birmingham Green”). It’s just a block away from McWane Center and the perfect spot for both young and old sweet tooths to enjoy a special treat. The modern décor compliments the integrity of a restored (and historical) building in the heart of downtown. And, they serve savory things, too! Totally booking this place for Sweet Pea’s summer birthday party!  http://www.facebook.com/#!/ParamountBham

2 – (Fitness/Baby) MOMMY & BABY YOGA with Krista Jones – Bonding with baby, while nurturing and strengthening your own body! Classes offered throughout the area at times sure to fit your schedule. More info here: http://babybellyyoga.com/Mom___Baby_Yoga.html

3 – (Website/Local) SHOPBIRMINGHAM.COM – A comprehensive, one-stop shop for retail in Birmingham. It’s a great resource for those who love to shop local, and it’s a great way to pick up some new local favorites! www.shopbirmingham.com

Rachel Callahan – BirminghamMommy Mombassador and Local Blogger:

– The Shops of Grand River – I love that we finally have a decent Outlet Mall in Birmingham!! I have done a majority of my shopping here this year, and have gotten some astounding deals for both me and the kids.  My favorite stores are Carter’s, Guess, Learning Express, Gymboree, and Banana Republic. It’s not nearly as far out of town as most people think.  I’ve timed it, and it’s 12 minutes from my house.  Love it!

– Tea Collection kid’s clothes – SO cute – modern without being overly mature.  Their clothes are a little expensive, but they have good sales.

– Amazon Mom – I seriously don’t know how I lived without this with my first kid.  They have the best deals on diapers, give you free two day shipping, and keep you from having to go to the store – ever!!

– Vault Denim – I am not an in-home party type of person, mainly because they’re usually selling things at higher prices than you can buy in the store, and I just feel guilty like I need to buy something for the hostess.  But Vault Denim is an in-home party company that got me excited enough to become a rep.  They sell first-rate designer jeans in all of the major labels — at half price!  Plus it’s one of the most fun girl’s nights possible – trying on jeans with all your girlfriends and helping everyone check out their butt to make sure they don’t have Mom Jeans on?? Priceless.

Shirley Lewis – BirminghamMommy Mombassador:

1. For the mom with no time beauty item it is Tres’emme dry shampoo. It beats out the pricey ones.. and it’s the cheapest i’ve found.

2. For a cheap family entertainment item, Bananagrams game. It’s fast, easy to get, and packs easily when vacationing.

Emi Burton – BirminghamMommy Mombassador:

Hair One is one of my new favorite things of 2011. It is an inexpensive alternative to the Wen Hair System (you know you’ve seen the infomercial and thought about buying it). I searched for a more affordable option and found it. My hair has never felt or looked more healthy.
Psst…. It’s available at Sally Beauty Supply.

Another favorite thing of mine is Crock Pot Liners….no explanation needed.

Trish Bogdanchik- Co Founder BirminghamMommy.com:

Morrocan Oil– best hair product ever! Makes your hair shiny and smooth but not oily.
System Biolage– Since 7th grade this has been my shampoo/conditioner of choice. It’s the smell, I love it!
Caffeine-free Coke– The glory of a coke without the caffeine? Yes, please!
Salted Caramel Hot Chocolates at Starbucks– I get excited on cold, dreary days simply because I know I get a SCHC.
Daily contact lens– Single use contacts have made my life so much better.
iPhone– This is everyone’s favorite, right?
Cherry Chapstick– I’m addicted to it.

Angie Cleland – Co Founder BirminghamMommy.com

I’m not a fan of coffee but I do love a flavored coffee drink. My newest discovery is “The Summit” from Seattle Drip coffee in Homewood. It’s white chocolate and caramel with a shot of espresso and topped with whipped cream. It’s probably a 500 calorie drink but it’s worth every calorie.

Boot Cuffs. A discovery from Pinterest. They’re just a cute way to dress up your boots, and best of all they are completely Do It Yourself…  A quick trip through the thrift store and you’ll find more than enough sweaters to make a couple of pair. I don’t sew so I’m limited to just chopping off the arms but if you sew there is a whole new level of boot cuff available for you!

My Iphone. Can’t go anywhere without it.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Clif Bars – For me and my girls. I have picky eaters so it’s nice to have something that I can toss into my bag for them (or me) to have as a healthy snack or alternative for them wherever we go. Most days they will eat these for breakfast.

Chapstick of any kind although after seeing what Dr Oz had to say about it, I do now try to find something based with coconut oil or lanolin. Burts Bees is my go to, and I especially love their new tinted options.

Reality Television – All varieties, no matter how bad I love it. It’s completely mindless and at the end of the day when I can settle in for a little “me” time – I love catching up on DVR whether it’s the Real Housewives of Everywhere or Top Chef. I’m a gluten for reality tv.

What are some of your favorite must have items? We would love to know!

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