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Join us in the Twilight Lounge

Posted on by Angie

We are getting closer to the release of the Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn. As you all know, BirminghamMommy.com has joined forces with the Carmike Summit 16 and will be offering early access into our reserved theater. If you haven’t purchased your ticket yet, you can do so here. To sweeten the deal, Sweet Bones Alabama has offered to host our “Twilight Lounge” beginning at 7pm on November 17th. We will have food from their tasting menu, live music and drink specials. This will give you the opportunity to have an entire night out! Great food, great fun and of course, great company.

Our Will Call Table will be set up in the Twilight Lounge and you will need to go there to claim your ticket from 7pm – 10pm. At 10:30pm the doors to our reserved theater will open and you can grab your seat and enjoy some coffee off of the coffee cart supplied by Royal Cup and we’ll have doughnuts from Donut Joes. We’ll have door prizes provided by Barnes and Noble, Cheeriodicals, Royal Cup Coffee, A Twilight Affair and more!

The Carmike Summit is the place to be on Premiere night! Our Edward Look-a-Like will be out and about hanging around our lounge and on the red carpet. Make sure to bring your camera, Royal Automotive will be loaning us a Volvo just like the one from the movie and it will make the perfect backdrop for your pictures!

To sweeten the deal just a little bit more, if you purchase or have purchased your tickets through BirminghamMommy before November 10th you will automatically be entered to win a VIP upgrade into one of our VIP rows.

VIP row allows you a reserved seat in the theater as well as a little extra something in your swag bag!

So get your friends together and join us, we’ve planned everything for you, all you have to do is show up! We look forward to seeing you there!!

Birth. The Experience

Posted on by Angie

By: Laura Kate Whitney

“First moment of life = Life’s greatest gift”

Who was it that said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”? Oh, yes. It was Dickens and he was introducing a plot that involved contradictions and war and the human spirit.

That epic opening (of a book, I’ll admit, I’ve never read) details the beginning and end of my own recent story, one that tells of my second son’s birth. This, too, involved a number of weighty paradigms: It was primal and vile in its process; it was exquisite in its victory. It was a fight to the bitter end; it was a beautiful journey. It was a screaming match between nature and nurture. It challenged my inability to withstand utter pain; it was utterly peaceful. It was, to date, the single most prolific moment in my life.

This particular birth experience was important. To me. To my son. To our family. And now that some time has passed, I feel the urge to reach some level of closure by writing about it and sharing it with you, my fellow mommy warriors.

But let me backtrack a little. Let me put it in perspective.

When I was eight months pregnant with my first child, and my doctor urged me to lose the notion of “natural”, insisting that “there’s no medal at the finish line” and, therefore, ”no real reason to endure the suffering of childbirth”, I nodded my head diligently, lest not to offend this near stranger that I would soon share the ultimate journey with. All I needed to do was to make a reservation; they’d do the rest. Sounds easy enough, right? Well it was… kind of.

Paul Greyson was born almost three weeks early, at 8:48 p.m. on July 23, 2008, weighing a healthy seven pounds. And I, the proud new mama of this precious baby boy, could barely hold him in my arms. I hadn’t the sense to say “welcome to this world”. I was terrified. I was exhausted. I’d been hooked up to an IV for the majority of his journey, pumped full of this and that, left alone to rest (and sleep!) through active labor. I pushed for less than twenty minutes and, surprisingly to everyone in the room, delivered the little guy with no trouble. But now that the show was over, I was left to my own devices, to relocate the wind in my sails that’d been knocked down and “stabilized” just as soon as the laboring winds started to blow. At the nurse’s suggestion, I allowed myself, upon arrival, to “just get the drugs and relax”. My husband was there and he can vouch for me: delivering our first child was “easy as pie”. I barely felt a thing.

I barely felt a thing. And that lack of feeling just felt…off.

Something was missing. It was if I was more interested in eating the refrigerated roast beef sandwich that was delivered thirty minutes post-birth than I was getting to know my newborn son. The nurses had taken off with him and, surely, they were more qualified than me to nurture this tiny, squirming person. I just wanted to get some shut-eye, to relax and regain composure so that I could operate as I had before – you know, with precision and control. This little baby would be on my schedule, right?

I slept through labor. I had to be instructed throughout delivery. (“This is a contraction; you’ll need to push now”.) I’m assuming the hormones that Mother Nature intended a woman to feel post-delivery kind of got lost-in-process. My body was performing as needed, but I felt as if I’d missed life’s biggest performance.

But I got over it. He was perfect in every way. And life carried on and he grew and he grew and he grew and now he is already too big for me to toss high into the air.

So, not long after I found out we were expecting our second I revisited my first experience and considered what I wanted with this birth and decided that maybe, just maybe, I was entitled to a little more. I knew I didn’t have the authority to write my own Birthing screenplay (pain is required, unfortunately), but hey – I could be prepared, rehearsed, awake.

After roughly five hours of laboring at home, we pulled up to Brookwood Medical Center (Birmingham’s best hospital for natural delivery, in my opinion). I was met at the door with a wheelchair and, my bless- her-heart-she’s-amazing doula intervened and said, “That’s okay. She can do this on her own.” And with Birmingham’s best birth coach by my side, I signed myself in and walked with my own two feet in to the room where my husband and I would welcome our new baby in to the world.

It didn’t take long to settle in; I just dropped to a squat and we got to work. I’d been preparing for this moment for months, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I kept on my own clothes. I brought my own pillow and birthing ball. I found my own groove and I just went there, all alone, to a dark place, deeply internal, untouched by pain-relieving medication. I closed my eyes and felt every pulse, every core- wrenching wave. I moaned. I roared. I surrendered. And with the guidance of my doula, I moved to the
beat of my body and delivered an eight pound, four ounce baby boy, just one hour shy of Mother’s Day.

I owned this birth. It was mine. I knew when it was time to move. I knew when I needed to roar. I knew when it was time to push. I was present for every single tender and agonizing moment. I never let my baby leave my side. I knew how to care for him, and I knew what I needed to do to care for myself.

Life doesn’t always give us second chances. But to my luck, it did. Somebody once told me I couldn’t do something, and I believed them. Then I decided that, indeed, I could… And I did. And let me be clear: I’m not boasting or bragging. There’s equal glory to every birth. With the help of a patient and supportive husband (who overcame his fear of “gore”), an undaunted labor nurse, and a committed doula, I championed the best possible birth experience for our little family.

How was it you asked? It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was the biggest moment of my life, to date. And interestingly enough, I did find that medal at the finish line…

Afterthought… No matter how I delivered my children, whether it via c-section, with forceps, or in a blue-tile tub, I get
to wear that medal. Childbirth (and the preparation prior to) is no simple feat. And I think that’s what makes it amazing. Giving life is a miracle. It’s the type of show you want to have front-row tickets to. It’s a really important date with somebody really special. It’s something you, Mama, are entitled to. And no matter how it presents itself, it means the world. Having a baby is The Best.

P.S. – Pregnant? Considering natural childbirth? Get informed about Alabama’s birthing laws. You might be surprised with what you find out, as expecting mothers aren’t offered quite the level of service you might expect. Also, hire a doula. Here’s a place to get started.

About LK:

Magic City maven Laura Kate Whitney is a full-blooded Southerner who’s found herself planting roots in Sweet Home Alabama. Life circumstances have brought her to Birmingham, along with husband, two young sons, and grumpy old cat. In her “free time” she enjoys long walks, long showers, lots of yoga, Birmingham history, culinary programming, and date night. You can follow Laura Kate’s adventures on Magic City Manifesto and also on Twitter.

A Mother's Shade of Green: Can Living with Less Lead to Having More?

Posted on by Angie

By Kate Agliata:

I recently took on a personal challenge to try and create a more efficient home, one that is also a better representation of us as a family and our desire to live green. While tackling each room one at a time, I’ve put a good deal of effort into de-cluttering household items that are either unused, duplicates or, things that we’ve simply outgrown. Although I’m only about half way through the house, I’m finding the process to be incredibly gratifying-not to mention very liberating! It feels great to let go of so many of the things I always thought we needed. In fact, I’m starting to see just how little our family does really need in order to get by and, to function with on a daily basis. More importantly, I’m finding that by having less, I’m actually gaining more.

One of the greatest benefits of minimalism is that it helps prioritize what’s really important. What parent wants to spend their Saturday afternoon re-organizing endless clutter? Simply said, having minimal “stuff,” means minimal clutter, and when there is less clutter, we are free to enjoy more of life. As parents, we’re often spread too thin. There never seems to be enough time, and it’s a rare day when we actually have the chance to complete our never ending To Do list. We go to bed each night stressed out because we still haven’t found the time to pick up the gazillion toys strewn across the playroom, or worse, to figure out how in the world we’re going to afford the growing wish list for Christmas this year. To get by, we rely on quick fixes and disposable products. And although we hate it, we find ourselves giving in to our children’s pleas for one more show, or another pointless plastic toy at the grocery store, just so they’ll stay content while we work to complete those never ending tasks.

The irony however, is that all of the “stuff” that we accumulate, the stuff that we somehow think will help us, is actually working against us. It’s mere presence is a representation of our having to work harder to afford it. It means more time dedicated to picking up and putting away each day, it means more to clean and organize, and more for our children to have to process. Just thinking about it all is exhausting.

Minimalism works as a method to help us live our values, rather then just talk about them. If enjoying life experiences with family and friends is more important than having to have the latest and greatest advertised on TV, then we should be actively showing our children that belief. Bringing our kids on board with minimalism can offer tremendous benefits for them as well. Here’s how:

Living Green. We’ve become a disposable nation, tossing out anything and everything that we no longer need or want without so much as a blink of an eye. We disconnect ourselves (and our responsibility) to that item the second it lands in our garbage can-it’s no longer our problem. Yet, the reality remains that it is our problem-one that is only getting worse, and won’t go away. Finding ways to reuse or re-purpose items we already have instead of buying new, is a great way to teach kids about reducing waste, and about living a greener lifestyle. Show your children you’re committed to reducing waste by helping them to fix a broken toy instead of replacing it with a new one. Strengthen their emerging personalities by providing them with items that spark their interest, rather then filling their rooms with a plethora of knick knacks and things we want them to like.

Learning Value. As adults we know how much effort goes into sewing a handmade dress, or building a house, but most children aren’t yet capable of understanding the extent of material, costs, energy, etc…involved in such creations. Minimalism encourages selecting items that are well built and made to last. Think of the value you see in certain items at consignment sales-you are probably much more open to the idea of reusing clothing when it is a quality made product. Teaching your children to see that same value in items they select (whether new or reused) will help inspire and motivate them to make wise choices about what they acquire. James Brown said it best when he wrote, “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

Expand your options. Subscribing to a minimalist way of life doesn’t mean you and your family have to deprive yourselves. There are many ways to still benefit from all that is available. Instead of spending a fortune on new books, make it a family affair each week to visit the local library. Every few months, organize a neighborhood toy swap by setting up tables marked specifically for each age group and allowing each child to take one “new” toy home. Ask your children to make two lists for Christmas this year; the first, a list of the few toys they’d like; and the second, a list of seasonal activities for which they’d like the whole family to participate. Make a huge effort to prioritize those activities-hopefully you’ll find that they’ll be enjoyed just as much, if not more, than any other gift your children receive.

So, Can Living with Less, Lead to Having More? You betcha!

About Kate:

Kate, a freelance writer and mother of two, most often finds creative inspiration in writing, but occasionally at the bottom of an empty wine glass. She has hijacked her family’s former lifestyle and is in the midst of creating a simpler and greener approach to life. To follow her family’s challenges and successes in this endeavor, visit her blog, at Kate’s Musings. She and her family have lived in Birmingham since 2009.

Birmingham Events Calendar: October 30th – November 6th

Posted on by Angie

It’s here! After weeks of festivals and school parties, the actual day is finally here! Lots of options available for everyone when it comes to trick or treating. Whether you take your little ghosts and goblins door to door in your neighborhood or prefer to go to your local library or mall, there are plenty of places for you to pick up some loot. Check out our list of Fall Happenings, one last time to see where you will be able to trick or treat on Monday.

Once you have loaded up on candy, rest up and make sure to mark your calendar for the 6th annual Moss Rock Festival next weekend. It’s a wonderful family event with plenty to keep you busy and best of all, outdoors!

Happy Halloween! Have a great week!

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

Sunday October 30th:

Trick or Treat in the Museum – McWane Science Center
Bring your little monsters for a not-too-scary but totally spooky adventure! Try science “tricks” like sticking your hands in slime, learning how to mix mysterious potions, and even touching pumpkin guts! Wear a costume to the museum and get a special treat.
Noon – 4pm

Boo at the Zoo –
Put on your favorite family-friendly costume and have a ghoulish time as you experience haunted attractions and make your way through safe candy villages organized by local non-profit organizations and child-centered business. Go round and round on the Scarousel*, attend Ghoul School at Grandma’s Back Porch, ride The Eerie Express*, cut a rug at the “Monster-Mash” Dance Party, monkey-around at the Planet of the Apes Experience*, attend a Wildlife Show and much, much more!
5pm – 9pm
Admission: $8 (Members & Non-Members), tax included

Barts Art Cart – Sculpture
October is Bart’s favorite month! Come out to create your own Bart the Art Bat Sculpture.

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

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Monday October 31st:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Harvest Hoedown – Gardendale Mt.Vernon UMC

Family and Friends, come join us for the Fall Festival!!!

We will have great games food, horse rides, inflatables, trunk or treat and much more.
6:30pm – 8:30pm

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Tuesday November 1st:

Lego Mini Build –
Lego Turkey: begins at 5:00 pm until supplies last.

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome. For larger groups, a call is nice but not necessary.
10:30am

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Wednesday November 2nd:

Storytime  – Barnes and Noble Summit
It’s Thanksgiving and Corduroy is celebrating with his friends! Come join us as we read together and do some arts and crafts.
11am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

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Thursday November 3rd:

Storytime Fun – Vestavia Hills Library
join Ms. Amanda for Storytime Fun. Adventures of all kinds for kids ages 3 years through 5 years.
10:30am

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Friday November 4th:

Story Day with Nene – Whole Foods
stories, songs, and snacks as Mrs. Renee Schmidt leads the fun.
10am

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Saturday November 5th:

Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve in Hoover
A regional focus for art, design & environmental lovers everywhere. Enjoy artists, our eco-ideas partnerst featuring green living ideas, products, services and organizations, live music, engaging constructions and installations, a cake expo and tasting, wonderkid studios, wreaths re-imagined, hiking, 5K bike ride, geocaching,  fuel-efficient car exhibitions, a café, and the great outdoors.
10:00am-5:00pm

Barts Art Cart – Totem Pole
Get crafty with Bart and create a totem pole with image of family, friends, or a few of your favorite things!

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

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
7am – Noon

Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
Today is a special day! Curious George will be visiting our Storytime! We hope you’ll join us!
11am

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Sunday November 6th:

Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve in Hoover
A regional focus for art, design & environmental lovers everywhere. Enjoy artists, our eco-ideas partnerst featuring green living ideas, products, services and organizations, live music, engaging constructions and installations, a cake expo and tasting, wonderkid studios, wreaths re-imagined, hiking, 5K bike ride, geocaching,  fuel-efficient car exhibitions, a café, and the great outdoors.
10am – 4pm

Barts Art Cart –Totem Pole
Get crafty with Bart and create a totem pole with image of family, friends, or a few of your favorite things!

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

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Eat Well, Play Well Exhibit:
What is in the food we eat? Are fruits and vegetables important? Can everyday activities burn calories? Visitors will find the answers to these questions by exploring nutrition and fitness in this summer’s traveling exhibit called Eat Well, Play Well. This highly-interactive exhibit encourage healthy living by teaching the science of making healthy-food choices and helping children and adults discover that there are many fun and interesting ways to stay active. Visitors will discover what an appropriate serving size looks like, see first hand what it takes to burn off calories, test their flexibility and balance, review the latest clinical research and realize that they can reduce their risk of disease with healthy choices that are within their reach.

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: Tornado Ally,  Born to Be Wild, and Wild Ocean.

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.

Fall Harvest Market Presented by Southern Moms

Posted on by Angie

Tons of talented Mom Vendors all in one place! If you’re looking for a place to do a little pre-holiday shopping, you’re going to want to hit up the Fall Harvest Market this Sunday at the Pelham Civic Complex, presented by Southern Moms.

Admission is free and the event is open to the public. The 1st 100 Shoppers will receive a SWAG Bag Full of Discounts and Goodies from Southern MOMS / MOMS Market Vendors!

To see some of the fabulous Mom Vendors that will be participating in this seasons market, head on over to their Facebook page and check them out!

Sunday, October 30th 12pm – 5pm

Happy Shopping!

Medical Minute: Breast Cancer, How Aware are You?

Posted on by Angie

Many of you reality show junkies or celebrity entertainment gurus most likely know who Giuliana Rancic is, you’ve also most likely heard that at the age of 36 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In a recent interview on the Today’s show Rancic shares her story about how she learned of her diagnosis, fortunately in the very early stages, while undergoing preparation for IVF.

I believe this story strikes a chord with many young women who have always been advised that age 40 was when we were supposed to start undergoing regular Mammograms. (Unless you have a higher than average risk: see below) If early detection is key, then is 40 early enough?

According to the National Cancer Institute, “studies conducted to date have not shown a benefit from regular screening mammography in women under age 40 or from baseline screening mammograms (mammograms used for comparison) taken before age 40.”

Like Giuliana, I am 36 years old with no family history (no diagnosis of my mother, sister, and/or daughters,) should I be bugging my Dr. for a Mammogram or gene testing?  The Study, as stated by the National Cancer Institute leans towards no, but like in this case with Rancic, early detection caught her cancer in the very early stages. It makes it hard to not want to pursue any and all options available… just to be sure. I’m a “just to be sure” kind of gal and while I don’t look forward to that first Mammogram, it is something that is on my radar more now as I approach the big 4 – 0. Whether it’s more care with self exams or an early screening, it is a conversation I’ll be having with my OB on my next visit. Maybe you should too!

Are you at a high risk for breast cancer?

Personal history of breast cancer―Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to develop a second breast cancer.

Family history―A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer increases if her mother, sister, and/or daughter have been diagnosed with the disease, especially if they were diagnosed before age 50. Having a close male blood relative with breast cancer also increases a woman’s risk of developing the disease.

Genetic alterations (changes)―Inherited changes in certain genes (for example, BRCA1, BRCA2, and others) increase the risk of breast cancer. These changes are estimated to account for no more than 10 percent of all breast cancers. However, women who carry certain changes in these genes have a much higher risk of breast cancer than women who do not carry these changes.

Breast density―Women who have a high percentage of dense breast tissue have a higher risk of breast cancer than women of similar age who have little or no dense tissue in their breasts. Some of this increase may reflect the “masking” effect of fibroglandular tissue on the ability to detect tumors on mammograms

Long-term use of menopausal hormone therapy―Women who use combined estrogen and progestin menopausal hormone therapy for more than 5 years have an increased chance of developing breast cancer.

For more information on Mammograms, visit the National Cancer Institute website

Giveaway: Disney on Ice 4 pack of tickets

Posted on by Angie

We’ve had such an exciting week here at BirminghamMommy with the news of Brookwood Medical Centers new Women’s center bringing Rosie Pope to town for their grand opening celebrations, preparing for our GenBump event and of course getting ready for Halloween, we’ve decided to round out the week with a delightful little package to giveaway: 4 passes to Disney on Ice for a Wed/Thur/Fri showing only.

To enter the giveaway:

1. Comment here, 1 entry total per person

2. Answer this question from our interview with Rosie Pope: What is the name of the program Rosie created that helps expecting and new moms figure out solutions to the challenges of motherhood. 1 per person, leave your answer here.

3. Tweet the following, “@BrookwoodMed brought Rosie Pope to Birmingham! http://ow.ly/7aSL6”  1 entry total.

Winner will be announced at the close of the contest on 10/31 at noon.

Droolicious Cuisine at BirminghamMommy.com: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Posted on by Angie

Since everyone is carving their pumpkins right now we were delighted to see that our sweet friend MommaDrool had posted her recipe and instructions for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds along with a few variations! Happy Carving (and Roasting!)
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2) Separate the pumpkin seeds from the pulp and rinse the seeds in a colander.  Shake off the excess water.
3) Oil a baking sheet.  Spread the seeds in a single layer on the sheet.  Roast in the oven for 30 minutes to dry out the seeds.
4) Remove the seeds from the oven and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper (or additional spice flavors).  Return to the oven and bake an additional 20 minutes, until crisp and golden.  Enjoy!

Here are some yummy flavor combinations that She found in Food Network Magazine this year:

Sweet
Toss with cinnamon and sugar (do not use salt in step 4).

Indian
Toss with garam masala; mix with currants after roasting.

Spanish
Toss with smoked paprika; mix with slivered almonds after roasting.

Italian
Toss with grated parmesan and dried oregano.

Barbecue
Toss with brown sugar, chipotle chile powder and ground cumin.

About Kim:

I have been blessed with 2 beautiful kids, one funny little girl & one sweet little boy. They are always the best part of my day. I’m also the luckiest gal in the world because I am married to my soulmate, the kindest and most selfless man I know.

Like this? You can find many more droolicious recipes over at her site, “2 Little Chicks”

GenBump: Labor is the Easy Part, What to Expect when Baby Comes Home

Posted on by Angie

We’re gearing up for our 2nd of a 6 part GenBump series, sponsored by Brookwood Medical Center, BirminghamMommy.com and our host for this session, Swaddle.  This month we’ll tackle the truth about what really happens behind the scenes in your own house when you bring the baby home from the hospital!

The first few days and weeks home can be overwhelming. Days become measured in two-and-three hour feeding increments, peppered in between but burps, spit up and diaper changes. But don’t worry, we have assembled some help! One is an Ob/Gyn and another is referred to as a “Baby Whisperer.” They’ll be sharing tips and tricks to help you survive those first few weeks and beyond.

We’ll have food, fun, and lively conversation plus Swaddle will be offering a 20% discount on items purchased during and after the event! A little something to help you get your nursery started!

We hope to see you there! Thursday, October 27th, 6pm at Swaddle in Homewood.

RSVP required! Complete the registration form at http://www.genbump.com/ or call 205.877.8800 or 888.276.6596 to register for this event.

The first few days and weeks at home with a new baby can be overwhelming. Days become measured in two-and three-hour feeding increments, peppered in between by burps, spit-up and diaper changes. But don’t worry-there is help out there.  We’ve assembled a great group of moms – one is an Ob/Gyn and another has been called the “baby whisperer” – to share tips and tricks to survive the first few weeks and beyond.  We’ll have food, fun, lively conversation and tips about what you might need or want to make life easier.

The first few days and weeks at home with a new baby can be overwhelming. Days become measured in two-and three-hour feeding increments, peppered in between by burps, spit-up and diaper changes. But don’t worry-there is help out there.  We’ve assembled a great group of moms – one is an Ob/Gyn and another has been called the “baby whisperer” – to share tips and tricks to survive the first few weeks and beyond.  We’ll have food, fun, lively conversation and tips about what you might need or want to make life easier.

 

The first few days and weeks at home with a new baby can be overwhelming. Days become measured in two-and three-hour feeding increments, peppered in between by burps, spit-up and diaper changes. But don’t worry-there is help out there.  We’ve assembled a great group of moms – one is an Ob/Gyn and another has been called the “baby whisperer” – to share tips and tricks to survive the first few weeks and beyond.  We’ll have food, fun, lively conversation and tips about what you might need or want to make life easier.

Pregnant in Heels, Rosie Pope Dishes with BirminghamMommy

Posted on by Angie

Leading up to the grand opening of the new Women’s Center, Brookwood Medical Center will be hosting a special event with featured guest Rosie Pope from Bravo TV’s, Pregnant in Heels.

Rosie Pope is the creator and designer of the renowned fashion line, Rosie Pope Maternity. She is also the creator of MomPrep, a program that helps expecting and new moms figure out solutions to the challenges of motherhood and star of Pregnant in Heels, a show where she directs and counsels upper-class mommies-to-be through their pregnancies — a hilarious and often tearful journey. From how to find the best nanny, to selecting the right fitness class and everything in between.

BirminghamMommy.com had the opportunity to talk with Rosie about parenting and get some great advice for Moms and Moms to be!

BhamMommy: What question do you get asked the most and what is the answer?

Rosie: “The most common question I get is “How do you juggle it all?”  With two small boys, a third baby on the way, a husband, a business and a reality TV show the honest answer is: I am just not that sure!  I am a little obsessed with schedules and reminders so I make sure to never forget anything.  But, I am also lucky that I run my own business so I can often be flexible with my hours.  I am able to duck out during the day to read to my son at his school library and then work late after he has gone to bed.  It is tough and my husband will tell you that I often have moments when I just hope this is all worth it and I hope that I truly am building a better future for my family.”

BhamMommy: Has technology changed “mothering”?

Rosie:  “Technology definitely has changed some aspects of mothering.  I think it has allowed mothers to keep a lot of things that are important to them in one place, such as a schedule, contacts, photos – which can be extremely helpful – but I do worry about it because nothing beats getting down on the floor with our wee ones and playing with them rather than whipping out an app and sometimes when we are tired that app is so much easier.  I think as long as we use technology as an aid rather than completely taking over our lives it is a great tool.”

BhamMommy: Mothers are notoriously hard on themselves, what is your advice for too-critical moms?

Rosie: “Ahh yes, mothers are indeed so hard on themselves and I certainly fall victim to this.  What I tell my clients is if you are constantly worrying about whether you are doing the best job you can the chances are –  you are in fact a very, very good mother.  So, give yourself a break and focus a little more on all the wonderful things (especially the small things like little hugs and kisses) that you do for your kids every day.”

BhamMommy:  Moms tend to judge one another, often times harshly. How do you recommend they rise above it?

Rosie: “Nobody knows your kids or your situation better than you so when people judge you it is important to remember why you made the decision in the first place.  If you are proud of it then stand by it and if you aren’t then make a change.  Ultimately, the only people’s opinions you need to worry about are your little ones’ and whether they look up to you.”

BhamMommy: You have 5 words to give to a new mom, what are they?

Rosie: “Be flexible, each day changes (that was tough to give advice in 5 words!)”

We appreciate Rosie taking the time to talk with us!

If you would like the chance to mix and mingle with Rosie be sure to attend this special grand opening event hosted by Brookwood Medical Center on Thursday, November 17th at Workplay. From 6:30 – 8pm, Rosie will lead an interactive conversation about the joys and challenges of being a new Mom. From 8pm – 9pm guests will have the opportunity to socialize and take pictures with Rosie. Throughout the evening enjoy special cocktails and “Mocktails” for Moms-to-be.

Moms-to-be may also register for a special MomPrep course with Rosie. The special course with Sneak Peak hospital tour will take place on Friday, November 18th and space is limited so early registration is strongly recommended.

For more information on all of these grand opening events or to register visit GenB.com

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