The Mother of All Consignment Sale Lists for Birmingham, Fall 2011

Posted on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 by Angie

Mark your calendars now! Consignment season is just around the corner!

Here is a list of sale dates that are already set, we’ll update when we learn about more sales, so check back often!

It’s always a great idea to visit the sale websites for more details on tagging items you plan to sale, and make sure to double check hours before heading out!

Happy Consignment Season Everyone!!

Gardendale:

Kingdom Kids Consignment
Gardendale Mt.Vernon United Methodist

August 22nd – August 27th
Sale Info

Helena:

New 2 You Consignment Sale
Church of Cahaba Bend –

Friday, September 30th: 9am – 7pm
Saturday, October 1st: 9am – 1pm
Sale Info

Highland Lakes:

Hope for Gabe, Upscale Children’s Consignment – 2 locations
1036 Baldwin Lane
Birmingham, 35242
Contact: Traci Griffin – 527-4798 for more information
scottandtraci@bellsouth.net

Newborn to Tween Sizes

Sale Dates:

Thursday August 18th, 10am – 7pm
Friday August 19th, 10am – 7pm
Saturday August 20th, 10am – 4pm
Sunday August 21st, 1pm – 5pm

More Info on Hope for Gabe

Homewood:

Lil Lambs Consignment
Trinity United Methodist –

Open to the Public: September 9th and 10th
Sale Info

Kids Market and Mom
Old Academy Sports location at Wildwood Shopping Center

Receiving (by Appt)
Tuesday, September 6th thru Thursday, September 9th

Regular Receiving:
Saturday, September 10th
Monday and Tuesday, September 12th and 13th
Wednesday, September 14th – Clothing only

Public Sale:
Monday October 3rd – Saturday October 15th
*Closed Sunday October 9th

Discount Days:
October 13th – 15th

Site Info

Hoover:

Kids Wear Plus
Hoover Gallery Shopping Center

Receiving:

Saturday September 10th – 7am – 4pm
Monday September 12th – 9am – 6pm
Tuesday September 13th – 9am – 11am

Open to the Public: September 19th – September 24th
Sale Info for new hours!

Bargains on the Bluff
Bluff Park United Methodist –

Online Seller Registration: August 1st
Preview Sale: Thursday September 15th 9am – 2pm
Open to the Public: September 16th, 9am – 6pm September 17th, 9am – 2pm

TNT Sale
Riverchase United Methodist –

Open to to the Public:

Friday, September 23rd – 9am – 6:30pm
Saturday, September 25th – 8am – 1pm
Sale Info

Kids Corner Children’s Consignment
Mountain Chapel UMC

Wednesday, September 14th – 4pm-8pm
Thursday, September 15th – 9am-3pm ( half price sale from 4pm-7pm)
Sale Info

Hueytown:

Twice Blessed Sale
Garywood Assembly of God –

Receiving:

Friday, September 2nd, 4pm – 6:30pm
Saturday, September 3rd, 9:30am – 2:30pm
Sunday, September 4th, 1pm – 2:30pm

Workers and Consignors Sale:

Tuesday September 6th beginning at 4pm
1/2 off preview sale – Friday September 9th – 6pm – 9pm

Open to the Public:

Thursday September 8th – 4pm – 7pm
Friday September 9th – 9am – 5pm
Saturday, (1/2 off day) September 10 – 9am – Noon

Sale Info

Irondale:

Twice as Nice Sale
BAMOM – Birmingham Area Mothers of Multiples –

Open to the public: August 26th and 27th
Sale Info

Mountain Brook:

Hope for Gabe – Upscale Children’s Consignment
2131 English Village Lane
Mountain Brook, 35223
Contact: Cindy Ogletree, 821-4350 for more information

Newborn to Tween Sizes

Sale Dates:

Friday August 26th, 9am – 8pm
Saturday August 27th, 9am – 7pm
Sunday August 28th, 1pm – 7pm
Monday August 29th, 9am – 2pm

More Info on Hope for Gabe

Twice Blessed Children and Home Consignment Sale
Mountain Brook Community Church
Friday, Sept 16 3-9 pm
Saturday, Sept 17 7am-12pm (many items 50% off)
Visit www.mbbc.org/825256 for more information.

Oak Mountain:

Giggles and Grace
Asbury United Methodist

Registration begins August 1st

Receiving: September 6th – 8th
Open to the public: September 9th and 10th
Sale Info

Trussville

Growing Kids
Trussville Methodist Church –

Friday, September 30th 8:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday, October 1st 8:00am – 2:00pm
(Saturday is 50% off many items in sale)

Registration for Consignors begins August 15th

Vestavia

Whale of a Sale
Vestavia Hills Untied Methodist Church
Friday, September 16th 9am – 6pm
Most items 1/2 off after 4pm
Sale Info

Market on the Mountain
Mountaintop Community Church –

Friday, September 9th 9am – 5pm
Saturday, September 10th 9am – 1pm (25% off select items)
Sale Info

** Please remember that all dates and times are subject to change without notice to BirminghamMommy. Please make sure to double check the sales website for the most current and up to date information.

The Best for Back to School 2011

Posted on Monday, July 25, 2011 by Angie

I know, I know it seems like summer just started, yet here we are talking back to school already. Before you know it we’ll be loading those kids on to their school bus and crying like babies as our “babies” head off to their first day of Kindergarten. You may not be able to be with them all day but you can make sure they have the best products for their new school year and maybe even send them off with a little style!

You can’t head off to school without a cool lunchbox and why not get something that will help with the environment too? Check out these from PlanetBox – it’s a great new twist on that old metal lunch box!

We’ve been in love with Bento Boxes since we learned about them over 2 years ago. Pottery Barn Kids has a few options for you to choose from! They aren’t as large as the PlanetBox but do come in pink and blue, are made of durable plastic and are top rack dishwasher safe, always a plus!

These little guys will help cut down on the use of the plastic baggies and lunch trash this making them eco-friendly too! They fit perfectly into the really cute Pottery Barn Lunch boxes that come with coordinating back packs… Talk about some serious style!

Lunch boxes won’t be complete without a stylish water bottle. Since we’ve been talking about reusable items, we like the idea of replacing those juice pouches and boxes with a reusable water bottle like the Sigg or even going back to Pottery Barn Kids to keep with the theme of their matching sets.

Kids are inevitably going to get bored with their lunches. Another item on our favorites list are Kidfresh meals. We love that these healthy meals for kids are ready to heat and are made from all natural ingredients, the best part? They hide veggies in every one of their meals! So don’t be afraid to send them with some Mac and Cheese (and carrots) in their lunch. They’ll love it and you’ll be happy knowing they are eating healthy out from under your watchful eye. The quesadillas also make a great healthy afternoon snack.

The North Face makes a great backpack and it seems to be a popular choice with school kids and Moms… You know the brand and you know they make a durable product.

And what’s a back to school list without a little fashion? We’ve mentioned these before but just absolutely love them.. Tiny Toms – they’re so cute they really just speak for themselves! Available in sparkly silver or pink. Love, Love.

So that’s what we love for back to school, what’s on your “supply” list?

* Huge thank you to Kidfresh (found currently at Whole Foods) , PlanetBox and Mountain High Outfitters for outfitting us with some items for our segment on ABC Talk of Alabama!

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 24th – July 31st

Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2011 by Angie

Another busy week as several more libraries end their summer reading programs.

It’s not too late to catch a summer movie, and there are a bunch of storytimes happening, including at the Birmingham Zoo and the McWane Science Center.

The weekend will be full of activities including the Dog Days of summer festival at Ruffner Mountain, summer is slowly winding down, make the most of it while you can!!

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

Sunday July 24th:

Harry Potter Read a Thon – Emmet O’ Neal
2:30 PM — Harry Potter Read-a-Thon ends with last pages read by mystery reader who shall not be named.

2:30-3 PM — Prizes awarded for top fundraising individual and team, best costumes and reading performance.

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
American Flags

Show your patriotism by creating a colorful flag with Bart! The Museum offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! 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

Barts Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
Fritz and the Beautiful Horses
Fritz is not beautiful like the other ponies and proves that there are things more important than looks to the citizens of his town.
Bart the Art Bat selects one book each month about art that he think 4-7 year olds will enjoy. The storytellers are often our favorite teachers from local schools. “Bart’s Books’ takes place at 11 AM

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Monday July 25th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Join us for a fun flick and a tasty treat!
3pm

Movie Matinee – North Shelby Library
Gnomeo and Juliet
All Ages. Snacks Served. No
Registration Required.

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Tuesday July 26th:

Summer Reading Finale– Homewood Public Library
We hope everyone enjoyed Summer Reading! Homewood summer readers, join us for one last hurrah to close out this great summer.
6:00pm

Summer Reading Finale– Emmet O’Neal Library
Those who have been traveling the world of summer reading with their library passport are invited to our summer reading finale with Roger Day! Enjoy pizza and live music.
6:00 pm. All ages. No registration required.

Free or Discounted Movies
Amstar Alabaster – Alvin and the Chimpmunk The Squeaquel
Regal Trussville – Pirates who Don’t Do Anything and Marmaduke
Edge 12 – Rugrats in Paris, Shrek Forever After

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Wednesday July 27th:

Storytime Science – McWane
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity for your early learner to experience science through literature. Enjoy an enriching story coupled with an intriguing science concept that is sure to spark the curiosity of your child.
COST: Included in cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members
10:30am

Wild Wednesdays – McWane Science Center
Included in the cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members
Bring your little animals for Wild Wednesdays every week this summer. On these special days, your family can take a walk on the wild side and learn about animals from around the world during different programs throughout the day. Join us for the daily line up of educational programs and then roam through the museum in between programs.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
10:30 AM: WILD ABOUT ART
(Recommended for ages Kindergarten and younger)
11:30 AM: Science on the WILD side
1:30 PM: Gulf Tank Feeding in the Aquarium
3:30 PM: WILD About Animals

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
We’re introducing Cloudette, a little cloud with big plans to make a difference in the world. After being blown far away from home, she learns how little can be strong.
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 July 28th:

Summer Reading Finale – North Shelby Library
Party with Blazers Animals All ages. Join us for a trip around the world where we may see anything from a baboon in pants to an African porcupine with 10 inch quills. Refreshments and prizes immediately following the show!

Free and Discounted Movies
Carmike Summit – Shrek 1

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Friday July 29th:

Wild About Books Storytime – Birmingham Zoo
Join us for story and craft time with Books-A-Million at the Birmingham Zoo! Every Friday through summer on Grandma’s Front Porch in the Children’s Zoo. We’ll talk about sheep, turtles, elephants, parrots; and we might even get a visit with a few of our furry friends!
10am

Free or Discounted Movies
Homewood Park -Rango
Helena Amphitheater – The Blind Side
Veterans Park Valleydale Road, Hoover – Grown Ups

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Saturday July 30th:

Slippery Slimy, Saturday – McWane Science Center
Included in museum admission, FREE for members

Join us for the slimiest day of the year at McWane Science Center. Inside the museum you can experience slippery, slimy science experiments and head out on the plaza where you can plunge into slime

SLIP N’ SLIME
Ready, set, SLIME! Guests will have the very rare chance to try sliding into a pool of ooey, gooey green stuff outside on the SLIP N’ SLIME!

OOBLECK POOL:
We dare you to take your chances running across the Oobleck poo!l See how far you can go without sinking into this slimy liquid!

SLIME ALERT:
Come prepared for slime!
If you dare try the SLIP N’ SLIME or run across the OOBLECK POOL on the plaza, you will need to bring a change of clothes and your own towel. Guests will not be permitted inside the museum after being slimed if they are not cleaned off properly.

For a detailed schedule visit their site

Dog Days of Summer – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
The second annual Dog Days of Summer event! Get the pooch and family outside to celebrate nature. We will have naturalist-led dog hikes and booths with local dog organizations and shops, activities and crafts for the kids, and exciting raffles. Start preparing your canine now for one of our many pet contests to be held throughout the day. Caricaturist Tim Rocks will also be on hand to create your dog’s portrait. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with man’s best friend!
10am – 4pm

Matinee – Alabama Theatre
Alabama Theater – Tooth Fairy
$7 adults $6 sr. citizens and children under 12. Available at the box office 1 hour before show time.

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
7am – Noon

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
American Flags

Enrichment Day – Birmingham Zoo
Do you want to know how to keep a six ton Elephant or a 500 pound Lion cool on a hot summer day?

Find out by exploring the Zoo with our zookeepers! See the animals in action and learn how the Zoo uses enrichment programs to increase the animals’ level of activity, help cool them down, and promote natural behaviors. Enjoy enrichment demonstrations, keeper talks and other fun activities!

Saturday Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
If you love to make a mess, you’ll love The Legend of Messy M’Cheany. He’s a real troublemaker until his baby sister comes home, and she likes things neat!
11am

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Sunday July 31st:

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art

American Flags

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Imagination Lab – This summer, McWane Science Center invites you to discover the power of your imagination in a collection of new exhibits called The Imagination Lab.

Dive right into the Bubble Room where you can discover the science of suds when you step inside a giant bubble. Try your hand at making all kinds of bubbles in this unique area including square and triangular bubbles.

The Imagination Lab’s zip line offers an exciting experience for adventure seekers of any age. Parents and children alike can fly through the air on the new zip line and have a safe landing at the end of the line! Learning lurks around every turn inside a giant maze in the exhibit as you find your way around dead ends and wrong turns. With a few lessons learned, you will find your way to the end in no time.

The new Imagination Lab also features a Messy Art Studio. Splatter paint, mix colors and experiment with a variety of materials to create masterpieces of your imagination.

Inside the lab you can use giant foam building blocks to construct forts, tall towers, and more.

Eat Well, Play Well – 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!

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.

Spread the veggie-love! Getting kids to try veggies

Posted on Friday, July 22, 2011 by Angie

Have you hugged your veggie today? Most of us have to fight the good fight to develop healthy eating habits. Research estimates that kids have to be exposed to a new food up to 20 times before they may be willing to try it. That’s a lot of tries and it gets hard to always be met with refusal. Here are some ideas that seem to work well with a lot of different kids. There’s a little psychology to this whole food thing. I definitely got bad results from ordering them to try “just one bite.” It just wasn’t the successful approach for us. Instead of intimidating the kids with a big serving, put one tiny bite of a veggie and don’t make it a requirement. It’s much less frustrating to waste one tiny bite than a whole serving. We made this a game– the only prize was me pretending to be shocked that they were brave enough to try it, followed by me being very proud of them and exclaiming that they’re really eating like a big kid now. Even if they just put the bite in their mouth and spit it out, I would praise them and plant a seed of hope for next time.

While the kids are learning to like their veggies, sneak them in! For several years I snuck all sorts of pureed veggies into foods. To save time I bought baby foods. I tried to make sure the foods’ colors matched. Put yellow squash into mac ‘n cheese, carrots into ketchup, or just about any kind of veggie puree into spaghetti sauce. Be creative! Another idea is to make our legendary scary veggie muffins!

If you have a toddler who is already a fan of certain foods, start tweaking those foods. If your kiddo craves chicken nuggets, try a version that uses almonds and whole wheat flour and bake them. (See recipe here) Heck, go all out with spinach brownies for dessert!

It’s frustrating and it’s hard, but it will eventually happen. Kids that are exposed to healthier foods will eventually eat those foods. Good luck!

Resources:
Champions For Health

Weelicious

Event of the Week: Harry Potter Read-A-Thon

Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 by Angie

With the the release of the final film, Potter Mania is in full effect! What better way for us Muggles to celebrate our love of the wizarding world than with a Read a Thon and party?

The Desert Island Supply Co is hosting a read-a-thon at Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook this weekend. Kicking off with two men appearing out of nowhere, a few yards apart in a narrow, moonlit lane, Friday morning at 6am. The festivities will continue on Friday night with a Hogwarts Food and Craft Fair. There will be butterbeer, a wand-making booth and other fun Hogwartsian activities.

The Read a thon will be going on Saturday and Sunday wrapping up with Prizes awarded for top fundraising individual and team, best costumes and reading performance.

If you’re a Potter fan have one in your home, it’s weekend you won’t want to miss!

Schedule Details:

Saturday, July 23, 10 AM-noon — Read-a-thon participants will apparate to the Pepper Place Saturday Market for special reading appearances by Harry, Hermione, Dumbledore, McGonagall and others.

Sunday, July 24, 2:30 PM — Harry Potter Read-a-Thon ends with last pages read by mystery reader who shall not be named

Parenting with a PhD: Tantrums

Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 by Angie

By: Kristen Berthiaume

Where is your Tantrum Hot Spot? You know, the place you go regularly even though it’s guaranteed to cause a meltdown (or several)? Our is Target. It probably has something to do with all the red. Or the giant bullseye logo. You’d think I’d stop going but…it’s Target.

Most of us are tempted to do whatever it takes to make the tantrum stop: cry, beg, threaten, toss in candy and take cover. Yes, our inner voice reminds us that giving in will make things worse but, let’s face it, that inner voice is completely obliterated by the yelling, screaming voice of the little person in your shopping cart.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make tantrums less likely wherever you go:

Warn your kid.
You’re thinking, “After school, we’ll make a quick grocery run and be home in time to make a healthy dinner.” Your child is thinking, “After school, I’ll sit on the couch leisurely eating Popsicles and watching the entirety of the Disney Channel line-up until well past my bedtime.” As unlikely as your kid’s plan is, he’s still going to be frustrated when his expectations are violated. A quick mention of the grocery run before you drop him off may be enough to keep the peace. When you get to your destination, there’s more prep to be done. Let your child know exactly what you will and will not be doing while you’re there. “We’re here to buy groceries for dinner. We are not eating M&Ms for dinner. We will not be buying M&Ms.” Also, give your child a heads up about expected behavior and consequences. “We’re going to see Cars 2. We’ll buy popcorn but no candy. We won’t be able to go into the theater if you’re screaming because you can’t have candy.”

Always be prepared.
Whether or not you were a Girl Scout, this should be your Mommy Motto. You know how you feel and act (and how you wish you could act) when you’re hungry or tired. Kids, especially young kids, have even fewer resources for managing these feelings and are likely to meltdown when basic needs haven’t been met. Keeping snacks on hand will help to stave off some tantrums. If you have reason to think your child is more tired than usual (i.e., he stayed up all night eating Popsicles…), minimize the demands you’re placing on him. Most errands can wait until he’s in a more cooperative state.

Skip the teaching.
You’ve heard of teachable moments? This isn’t one. A tantrum is not the time to question your child about her behavior or suggest solutions. She isn’t going to hear anything you say and certainly won’t remember it. You’ll have time later when you’re home and everyone is calm to talk about what happened and how to avoid it. A tantrum needs to be contained quickly before it escalates. Find a private bathroom or go out to the car for a cool-down period. Use that time to calm yourself down so you can be most helpful to your child. Give her space and quiet to get calm. Don’t coddle, don’t nag, don’t touch (unless it’s for safety reasons). Give it ten minutes. If the tantrum isn’t over by then…

Be ready to leave.
If you can’t contain the tantrum, you’ll just need to go. Yes, it’s inconvenient. Yes, it may mean returning the next day, leaving a full cart of groceries, making someone else angry. But, it’s a far better choice than giving in to your child’s demands to stop the tantrum.

The bottom line: Unless you are incredibly lucky, your child will have tantrums. Don’t beat yourself up. Later, work together with your child to think of ways to avoid future tantrums. Whatever you do, stick to the rules and expectations you set up ahead of time and avoid rewarding the tantrum in any way.

About this column:
There are many, many different parenting techniques out there. Some will work with your children, some will fail miserably. Chances are, I’ve never met your kid. I have, however, met a whole lot of other kids, some of them even more hard-headed, whiny, nervous, oppositional, silly, sad, angry, and/or lonely than your kid. After some trial-and-error, something has worked with these kids and, hopefully, I’ll have ideas for yours, too.

So, you’ve got questions – don’t we all. Send them my way and I’ll tell you what I can: ksbmail@gmail.com. If your question is featured, your personal information will be kept confidential. Put “Birmingham Mommy” in the subject line and ask away. Next month’s topic: Social Issues.

What if I need more help?
No matter how fantastic a parent you are, some child behaviors are extremely challenging. This column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel like you’re doing the best you can and still aren’t managing your child’s behavior, it may be time to bring in a professional. Or two. Or a whole team of professionals. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician and get a referral for therapy from there. I’ll also provide you with local resources in this column so you’ll know where to go when you’re being driven crazy.

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 one-year-old son.

10 Pet Peeves of a Mommy

Posted on Monday, July 18, 2011 by Angie

Being a parent is the most exciting job ever. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with a few umm “job pet peeves.” What are yours?

1. Repeating myself. How many times do I have to say it?! (Including the husband on this one.)

2. People or kids pretending they don’t hear you. I always test my kids by saying “cupcake,” then pointing out that they heard that.

3. Errands. Enough said.

4. Stickiness. Anywhere.

5. Scratched DVD’s when ONLY that DVD will do.

6. Whining, oh the whining.

7. Stepping on crumbs in every room of your house.

8. Bathing kids, then watching them rub a popsicle on themselves.

9. Mopping the floors, then watching them drop the popsicle on the clean floors.

10. Watching your husband drop a popsicle on the floor.

The flip side of course is that your children melt you. They leave you in a puddle like a popsicle on a clean floor. Simply looking at your kids can break you down into a sniffly mess of emotions. All of the pet peeves in the world mean nothing when they smile.

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 17th – 24th

Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2011 by Angie

Summer Reading programs may be winding down but there is still plenty to do!

Keeping in the spirit of Ice Cream Month, check out “ice Cream Sunday” going on at the Homewood Public Library. The always popular Roger Day will be at the Hoover Library this week and the Harry Potter Read-A-Thon will be going on at Emmet O’ Neal in Mountain Brook.

Don’t forget Pepper Place, you know you want some fresh fruits and veggies, and this week there will be a special treat if you’re a Potter Fan!

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

Sunday July 17th:

Ice Cream Sunday – Homewood Library
July is National Ice Cream Month! So, get out of the heat and have a bit of ice cream on us.
3pm – 5pm

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
American Flags

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Monday July 18th:

Movie Matinee – North Shelby Library
Despicable Me
All Ages. Snacks Served. No
Registration Required.

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Tuesday July 19th:

Indian Dance with Pia Sen– Homewood Public Library
We are very excited to have founder and director of the dance group Notinee, Pia Sen, demonstrate traditional Indian dance for us. Prepared to be wowed
10:30pm

Summer Reading Finale, Roger Day– Hoover Public Library
The ultra-popular Roger Day is back with a jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30am, 1:30pm and 6:30pm

Storytelling with Balloons – Bessemer Library
Dewayne Reynolds will dazzle everyone with his unique storytelling style using balloons as costumes and story props. This storytime is full of fun, interaction, and laughs!
11am

World Tales – Emmet O’Neal Library
Hobey Ford and his Goldenrod Puppets present “World Tales.”
All ages. No registration required.
10:30 am and 3:30 pm.

Free or Discounted Movies
Amstart Alabaster – Shrek 3
Rave, Lee Branch & Patton Creek – Gulliver’s Travels
Regal Trussville – Gulliver’s Travel and How to Train your Dragon
Edge 12 – Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius – Night at the Museum

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Wednesday July 20th:

Summer Reading Finale, Roger Day – Hoover Public Library
The ultra-popular Roger Day is back with a jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30am and 1:30pm

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Walter the Farting Dog is at it again, and he smells worse than before. Can you guess why he’s banned from the beach? Afterwards, we can play in our Toys and Games Department and create some arts and crafts.
11am

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Thursday July 21st:

Summer Reading Finale, Roger Day – Hoover Public Library
The ultra-popular Roger Day is back with a jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30am and 1:30pm

Thursday at the Plaza – Hoover Public Library
Make music with drummer John Scalici in a community-wide “jam session.” Instruments provided! Free fun for the whole family!
6:30pm

Free and Discounted Movies
Carmike Summit – Monsters V. Aliens

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Friday July 22nd:

Harry Potter Read a Thon – Emmet O’Neal Library
6 AM — Harry Potter Read-a-Thon begins with two men appearing out of nowhere, a few yards apart in a narrow, moonlit lane.

6-8 PM — Hogwarts Food and Craft Fair. Free booths and craft tables, including a butterbeer stand and a wand-making booth.

Free or Discounted Movies
Homewood Park – Chicken Run
Helena Amphitheater – Megamind

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Saturday July 23rd:

Harry Potter Read A Thon – Pepper Place
10 AM-noon — Read-a-thon participants will apparate to the Pepper Place Saturday Market for special reading appearances by Harry, Hermione, Dumbledore, McGonagall and others.

Rhino Day – Birmingham Zoo
Did you know that Rhinos have existed on Earth for more than 50 million years? Visit the Zoo from 10:00am to 4:00pm for Rhino Day to learn all about these fascinating animals. Say “hello” to the White Rhinos in the Zoo’s newest exhibit, Trails of Africa, get interesting and in-depth information on the species during Keeper Chats, and be sure to join in on the many games and activities scheduled throughout the day. The White Rhino is currently under the threat of extinction. Come to the Zoo to help raise awareness about this species.

Member Alliance Day
As a way of saying thanks to current members and supporters of arts and culture in the Birmingham region, area organizations have planned a special members-only day of free admission and family-friendly activities. One valid membership card and/or postcard invitation admits 2 adults and up to 4 children into absolutely any and every participating venue all day long. Plus enjoy special Member Day activities and performances throughout the day.
Click Here for more information and a list of events and participating organizations.

Nature Scavenger Hunt – Oak Mountain State Park
Come look for things in nature on this fun filled nature scavenger hunt. Meeting place at the Treetop Nature Trail.
10am

Matinee – Alabama Theatre
Aliens in the Attic
$7 adults$6 sr. citizens and children under 12. Available at the box office 1 hour before show time.

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
7am – Noon

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
American Flags

Saturday Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
It’s Ladybug Girl and The Bug Squad! by David Soman. She had their whole day planned. But when things don’t go her way, everyone knows who’ll save the day.
11am

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Sunday July 24th:

Harry Potter Read a Thon – Emmet O’ Neal
2:30 PM — Harry Potter Read-a-Thon ends with last pages read by mystery reader who shall not be named.

2:30-3 PM — Prizes awarded for top fundraising individual and team, best costumes and reading performance.

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
American Flags

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Imagination Lab – This summer, McWane Science Center invites you to discover the power of your imagination in a collection of new exhibits called The Imagination Lab.

The new Imagination Lab also features a Messy Art Studio. Splatter paint, mix colors and experiment with a variety of materials to create masterpieces of your imagination.

Inside the lab you can use giant foam building blocks to construct forts, tall towers, and more.

Birmingham Zoo:

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

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:

Railroad Park:

Southern Museum of Flight:

Beat the stress of school starting and the holidays by planning now

Posted on Friday, July 15, 2011 by Angie

July is here, we’re more than halfway through the year. Now is the time to get ahead of the game for the last half of the year. So much happens in the fall and winter- school, Halloween, football, the holidays… Start preparing now and ease your stress level. Here are a few suggestions that will help you:

School- Get your back to school plan in place now. Lists are your friends- make a budget and a list of the clothes and supplies each child will need and stick to your list. Sticking to your list will prevent you from spending too much and from stressing over knowing if you’re done. Start shopping one season ahead, hit the end of summer sales to purchase clothes for next spring/summer.
Family calendar- Get a family calendar this is large and monthly. Put it in your kitchen (or your most lived in room) and start filling it with important dates as they come in. Mark dates for important things such as Halloween, but include a deadline date for prepping—the week before Halloween designate a date for purchasing party supplies and costumes.
Budget and save for holiday shopping. List out everyone you need to shop for, don’t forget to include teachers. Set a dollar amount for each person and add up the total you need. Try to list ideas for gifts so you know what items you’ll need to buy. Watch out for daily deals- sites like BigBham.com offer deep discounts on gift certificates. If you were planning to purchase a bike for your son, you may see a 50% off gift certificate that you can use and save even more money.

Don’t forget our list of ways to ease the holiday stress by planning now. It’s not too late to implement some of these ideas.

Working Mommy Madness: Staying Connected

Posted on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 by Angie

By Harmony Hobbs:

I’ve been asked by moms who stay at home, “how do you stay connected with your son while you are away during the day?”

I thought it would be easy to answer that question.

It’s not.

By “away” they apparently mean during my 45 minute commute, 8 hour workday, and 45 minute commute back to my suburb. Just for the record, my commute would only be 15 minutes if they would finish up that damn construction on I-65. When I added up that time, it shocked me. I’m away from my son a LOT. I try not to think about it, but when it’s right there on paper … I have to face it. I’m choosing to blame the Alabama Department of Transportation. Get it together people. We have laundry to get home to.

When I first returned to work after a 4-month maternity leave, I was heartbroken. I put pictures of my little boy all over my cubicle and fought against the urge to call and check on him hourly. The only thing that stopped me from doing that was the fear of becoming “that” mom. The one who calls hourly.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I’m honestly not very good at working motherhood. I WANT to be. But I’m not. I don’t think anyone is. This sunk in after recently reading Tina Fey’s book, Bossypants. Tina, the patron saint of working mothers, has everything a mom would need at her disposal and still barely holds herself together . We’re all doing the impossible. How we do it remains a mystery to me – and I’m several years into this gig.

Anyway, over time my family has adjusted and settled into a comfortable pattern. I trust our daycare and I feel good about sending my child there. I don’t worry about him all day, because I know I don’t have to. They call every time he gets a bump or bruise and that extra effort on their part makes me feel better. I make my husband drop him off, because I still hate doing that. But otherwise, I’m good.

But … connected? Staying connected to my kid during the day? What kind of mother am I, that I can’t come up with an answer to that question?! I have his pictures up. I think about him all day long. He is always present in my mind, lingering back there, behind the pressure of my workload and really bitchy people. He’s the oasis that I drift to when I feel like I. HAVE. HAD. IT. Thinking about him saying the word “vagina” in his screechy little preschool voice makes me able to face life again.

I’ve read many articles on working mother websites that offer advice on how to maintain a level of sanity whilst coping with a work/life balance (read: the impossible), and I find almost none of them helpful. I cannot offer a list of “tips and tricks” to any of you in this department, unless you want to teach your child to say the word “vagina” really loudly so you can think about it later and laugh.

All I can say is, I am connected with my child in my heart and in my soul. He is always with me and I am always with him, every day. Any mother understands the bond I’m speaking of … it’s too profound to put into words. To say that our arrangement is ideal would be a lie, but he is bright and well-adjusted so something seems to be going right.

Am I missing something here? Is there a magical answer I’ve somehow overlooked? How do the rest of you stay connected?

About Harmony:

Harmony blew into Birmingham after Hurricane Katrina and is a self-proclaimed “never home maker” striving for a balance between her career and family life. Visit her blog Working Mommy Madness to read more!