Birmingham Area Membership Alliance Day 2011!

Posted on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 by Angie

It’s that time of year again! The one where if you’re a member of one of the participating cultural centers in Birmingham, the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham wants to show their appreciation by inviting you to 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.

Participating Organizations are:

Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Alabama Ballet
Barber Motorsports
Birmingham Children’s Theatre
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Birmingham Museum of Art
Scrollworks
Birmingham History Center
Alabama Theatre
Sidewalk Film Festival
Birmingham Zoo
Embellishments Handbell Ensemble
McWane Science Center
Red Mountain Theatre Company
Birmingham Public Library Sloss Furnaces
Southern Museum of Flight
Vulcan Park and Museum

So, if you’re a member to any of the above, you get to try the others out on Saturday, July 23rd. Make a day of it and see how many you can explore! Who knows, you might even end up with a new membership or two!

Many of the locations will have special performances and activities throughout the day, here is that schedule:

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Birmingham Museum of Art activity
LOCATION: Birmingham History Center

11 AM – 11:30 PM Red Mountain Theatre Company performs
selections from Hairspray
LOCATION: McWane Science Center

12 PM – 12:30 PM Scrollworks Prelude Summer Orchestra performance
LOCATION: Birmingham Public Library

12:30 PM- 1:00 PM Birmingham Children’s Theatre performs Selections
from Jack & the Beanstalk
LOCATION: Birmingham Museum of Art

1 PM – 2:00 PM Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival’s
Children’s Short Film Festival
LOCATION: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Embellishments Handbell Ensemble performance
LOCATION: Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Film Screening: Aliens In The Attic (PG)
LOCATION: The Historic Alabama Theatre

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM McWane Science Center activity
LOCATION: Vulcan Park & Museum

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Alabama Ballet performance
LOCATION: Southern Museum of Flight

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Birmingham Museum of Art activity
LOCATION: Birmingham Zoo

Self-Guided Tours
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM LOCATION: Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM LOCATION: Birmingham Botanical Gardens
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM LOCATION: Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Film Screening: Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (PG)
LOCATION: The Historic Alabama Theatre

Birthdays done simply

Posted on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 by Angie

We all want to make sure our kids have a memorable birthday party. But that doesn’t mean you have to go crazy. We’ve all seen “Sweet Sixteen” on MTV, and let’s be real here… that is NOT the result we’re going for. There’s no better way to show your kids that it is their time with family and friends that is the most valuable – maybe they’ll even stop asking guests “Where’s my present?” as they arrive. Not that that’s ever happened to me. More than once. Or twice.

Food:

Keep it simple, the focus is the people not the time you spent prepping.

Fruit- it’s easy and healthy, what more do you need? Strawberries, pineapple, apple, oranges.
Munching food- pretzels, goldfish, crackers, and no party is complete without some potato chips.
Dips- combine with munching foods and it’s a win win! Salsa, queso, spinach dip… all are easy yet filling.

Invitations:

Deanna Gardner, of The Baby Gardner, has some tips to make any party unique and cost-effective too. “To save funds, have a DIY (do-it-yourself) birthday party. Become a crafty momma and encourage the birthday boy or girl to help.
Together you can spend quality time creating invitations and decorations for the party. Simple paper chain streamers and handmade cards cut the party budget and encourage creative play. Look online for simple craft projects to help in your party planning.”

Fun:

It doesn’t take much to please a kid. The simple pleasures are your best bets. Balloons, pinatas, some fun dress up clothes… it’s all so easy but it works.

What ideas do you have for throwing a great, yet simple Birthday Party?

Droolicious Cuisine: Seared Scallops over Creamy Succotash

Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 by Angie

These days, I am aiming for recipes that I can only describe as “easy gourmet.” I want it to look like I spent hours in the kitchen, but with as little time spent cooking as possible. The total time spent on this meal was about 15 minutes. This creation was absolutely delish! The Husby said it goes in the recipe hall of fame with a spot in his top three. This is a perfect meal for a special occasion or when you want to show everyone a glimpse of your inner Paula Deen. Recipe yields 2 servings. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

14 sea scallops

1 tablespoon + 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 medium onion, diced

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 can triple succotash, drained

1 bag baby spinach

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s seasoning

salt

black pepper

1 lemon, cut into wedges (optional)

Directions:

1) Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute 4 minutes or until soft. Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes.

2) Add triple succotash and Tony Chachere’s seasoning to onion mixture. Simmer over medium-low heat for 6 minutes. Add cream to mixture and return to a simmer over low heat.

3) Once succotash begins to simmer, mix in spinach a few handfuls at a time. Continue to cook, stirring occassionally, until spinach softens.

4) Rinse scallops and pat dry with a paper towel. Lightly salt and pepper scallops on both sides.

5) In a separate skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. As soon as butter begins to brown in olive oil, add scallops to pan. Sear scallops for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until a caramelized brown crust forms. Immediately remove scallops from pan when finished cooking.

6) Put a few spoonfuls of succotash on plate and top with scallops. Squeeze a wedge of fresh lemon juice over top of scallops.

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.

Event of the Week – Pirates Weekend at McWane

Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 by Angie

Aaargh Matey! It’s Pirates weekend in the Aquarium at McWane Science Center!

Set sail for an educational voyage during Pirate Weekend at McWane Science Center. Join our crew as we explore the museum and aquarium on a treasure hunt with fun activities including making pirate hats, eye patches, a compass and even a nautical knot station. As you navigate your way through the aquarium discover an octopus, touch a shark and even see a horseshoe crab up close during exciting programs throughout the weekend.

Dress like a pirate and get $5 admission to the museum. All activities are included in cost of admission to the museum. Free for members. Discount not valid with any other promotions or discounts.

July 9 – 10
Saturday: 10 – 4
Sunday: 12 – 4

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 3rd – July 10th

Posted on Sunday, July 3, 2011 by Angie

Happy 4th of July! We hope you all are having a wonderful and safe holiday weekend with your family and friends! We also hope it includes some incredibly yummy food!

Lots of fun stuff on the calendar this week, take a moment and catch your breath from the weekend and jump right back in!

The libraries continue to bring a ton of fun to the schedule, this week with inflatables, sidewalk chalk, puppets and juggling! Coming up over the weekend you can catch Blues Brews and BBQ at Alabama Adventure or raid your dress up clothes for your Pirate Gear and help the McWane Science Center celebrate Pirates Weekend! Arrgh!

Don’t forget free and discounted movies are a great way to beat the summer heat!

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

Sunday July 3rd:

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

Scholastic Chess Club at Books-A-Million Brookwood Village
In our upstairs Kids Nook. Beginners are welcome, lessons
available, K-12, other mind sport activities are available such as
checkers and GO. Free to attend!
2PM – 5PM

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Monday July 4th:

Happy 4th of July!!

Thunder on the Mountain – From Vulcan
Get spot somewhere around town, as long as you have a clear view of Vulcan you will be able to enjoy the fireworks as they light the nights sky! (ps, you can’t go up to Vulcan, just need to be able to see him)
9pm

4th of July Street Festival – Downtown Homewood
Music, inflatables, games and fun for the whole family. A great way to pass some time while waiting on the fireworks show!
5pm

Jazz in the Park – Caldwell Park
Join us for our 2nd annual Jazz in the Park concert series in Caldwell Park. Bring your picnic basket and lawn chair for an evening of Jazz featuring diverse group Birmingham area Jazz musicians.
5pm – 8pm

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Tuesday July 5th:

Inflatable Fun – Homewood Public Library
Grab your bathing suit, a towel, and some sunscreen and join us for inflatable fun! It’s water fun for all ages.
10:30am

Quite a Catch: World of Tricks – Emmet O’Neal LIbrary
Join us for Quite a Catch, a comic juggling show.
10:30 am and 3:30 pm. All ages. No registration required.

The Puppet Guy – Hoover Public Library
Atlanta-based puppeteer Lee Bryan presents Travelin’ Tales in the Library Theatre: a tantalizing trio of timeless tales from India, China and Native American lore.
10:30am, 1:30pm and 6:30pm

Lego Mini Build – Riverchase Galleria
One free per child. Event is open to children aged 6 to 14 only.
Build a Lego Lighthouse! begins at 5:00pm until supplies last

Free or Discounted Movies
Amstar Alabaster – Kung Fu Panda
Rave, Lee Branch & Patton Creek – Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Regal Trussville – Furry Vengeance and Shrek, Forever After
Edge 12 – Pokemon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

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Wednesday July 6th:

The Puppet Guy – Hoover Public Library
Atlanta-based puppeteer Lee Bryan presents Travelin’ Tales in the Library Theatre: a tantalizing trio of timless tales from India, China and Native American lore.
10:30am and 1:30pm

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
The Cat is back in Splish, Splash, Splat! by Rob Scotton. What is scary, wet and makes him soggy? Come find out and see how Splat handles learning something new. Then, swim through our Educational Toys & Games Department.
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 7th:

Sidewalk Chalk – Homewood Public Library
Who likes to draw? I do! I do! Come draw a masterpiece on our sidewalks, and enjoy a chilly shave ice while you work.
10:30am

My World Storytime – Hoover Public Library
My Teddy Bear– Summer storytime for children under four. In the programming room with Miss Traci and Mr Jeremy.
10:30am

Free and Discounted Movies
Carmike Summit – Madagascar 2

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Friday July 8th:

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 – The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
Helena Amphitheater – Footloose

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Saturday July 9th:

Pirates Weekend – McWane Science Center
Set sail for an educational voyage during Pirate Weekend at McWane Science Center. Join our crew as we explore the museum and aquarium on a treasure hunt with fun activities including making pirate hats, eye patches, a compass and even a nautical knot station. As you navigate your way through the aquarium discover an octopus, touch a shark and even see a horseshoe crab up close during exciting programs throughout the weekend.

Dress like a pirate and get $5 admission to the museum. All activities are included in cost of admission to the museum. Free for members. Discount not valid with any other promotions or discounts
10am – 4pm

Blues, Brews and Bar B Que – Alabama Adventure
The competition is a sanctioned event by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and is free with the price of admission or your season pass.

General Admission $35.99 ($30.99 ONLINE)
Junior/Senior (Under 48″ or over 62 years) $25.99
Children 3 and under get in free FREE

One Day Parking $10.00

Matinee – Alabama Theatre
Space Jam
$7 adults$6 sr. citizens and children under 12.Available at the boxoffice 1 hour before show time.

Lowes Build and Grow Clinic
Your child will love this kit! This awesome Tow Truck comes with stickers and a working tow hook!
10am

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
7am – Noon

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
American Flags

Saturday Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
Learn how recycling can save the Earth from Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel. Join our superhero’s adventures cleaning the planet one town at a time. Then, we can play in our Toys & Games Department and create some arts and crafts!
11am

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Sunday July 10th:

Pirate Weekend – McWane Science Center
Set sail for an educational voyage during Pirate Weekend at McWane Science Center. Join our crew as we explore the museum and aquarium on a treasure hunt with fun activities including making pirate hats, eye patches, a compass and even a nautical knot station. As you navigate your way through the aquarium discover an octopus, touch a shark and even see a horseshoe crab up close during exciting programs throughout the weekend.

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.

Juicebox Jukebox: Summer Tunes to Get You Groovin'

Posted on Friday, July 1, 2011 by Angie

What songs screams Summertime to you? Here are some of the ones we are listening to now around the house when we’re in the mood for a dance party, in the car on a road trip or just around town running errands!

Rolling In the Deep – Adele – There is just something about her voice that keeps me coming back for more, my girls love dancing to this song!

Knee Deep – Zac Brown Band (feat. Jimmy Buffett) – Is it possible to have a summer playlist without Jimmy Buffett?

The Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga – Turn this one up and sing it loud!

Rhythm of Love – Plain White T’s – This is just an upbeat, make you feel happy, kind of song

To the Sky – Owl City– A dreamy world out there… Another feel good song.

Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO (feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock) – This is the ultimate party song. One Mom we know described this song as “turning my Jeep Liberty on its morning commute into the hottest nightclub. One that only serves shots of whole milk and Starbucks.” Shuffle On..

Good Life – OneRepublic – Good life or Great life, this is a great cruising song. Watch for a bad word – we mute or I yell over it.

Relator – Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson Did you know that Scarlett Johansson can sing? She can. Love this song.

Shiny Happy People – REM – Don’t we want our kids all shiny and happy?

California – Phantom Planet– California Here we Come…

Firework – Katy Perry – Had to include this since we’re headed into the 4th of July Weekend

Summertime – Will Smith – I realize we included this on our summer list last year, but as long as I’m putting together summer tunes, this song will be included. It’s like the summer anthem or theme song. It would be a crime to not include it.

What are you listening to this summer?

Harry Potter Read-a-thon

Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2011 by Angie

Calling all Muggles!

Harry Potter enthusiasts young and old will be excited to hear about an exciting weekend of magic and storytelling. The Desert Island Supply Co is hosting a read-a-thon at Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook.
The schedule looks like this:

Also be sure to join them for the Hogwarts Food and Craft Fair on Friday, July 22, 6-8 p.m. We’ll have butterbeer, a wand-making booth and other fun Hogwartsian activities.

Harry Potter Read-a-Thon Schedule

Friday, July 22 @ 6 AM — Harry Potter Read-a-Thon begins with two men appearing out of nowhere, a few yards apart in a narrow, moonlit lane.*

Friday, July 22 @ 6-8 PM — Hogwarts Food and Craft Fair. Free booths and craft tables, including a butterbeer stand and a wand-making booth.**

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.

Sunday, July 24 @ 2:30-3 PM — Prizes awarded for top fundraising individual and team, best costumes and reading performance.

*Read-a-thon organizers cannot guarantee that the narrow lane will be moonlit.
**Reminder: By city ordinance, the Emmet O’Neal Library is a spells-free zone.

If you are interested in learning more about DISCO, or about becoming a reader, check them out here.

Register to become a reader– it’s only 10 minute increments and you will be helping to raise money for DISCO’s new facility.
Prizes will be awarded for: Top Individual Fundraiser, Top Team Fundraiser, Best Costumes, Best Reading Performances

4th of July Snack Cups

Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 by Angie

It’s quite likely that you’ll have a house full of family and/or friends over to celebrate or cook out over the long Holiday weekend, if there are children on your guest list, whip up a few of these festive little snack cups. They’ll be a great party favor or something to take with you when you head out to watch the fireworks.

We found several ways to make these online but since it’s crunch time I went with what I had around the house and the only thing I had to purchase were the cups.

What you’ll need:

Styrofoam cup(s)
Red and blue felt (we didn’t have blue felt so we used blue construction paper)
Red paint, paint pens or markers..
Paintbrush
White or silver paint pen, or marker if you’re using blue construction paper, silver glitter for blue felt
Scissors
White craft glue
Black marker or pen
Silver Glitter

What You’ll Do:

Place cup, open end down, on top of the red felt and trace with a marker.

Cut around the traced circle leaving about a ¾” border around it.

Fold the circle and cut a slit in the center of the circle to allow your scissors to get in. Cut out the inside circle, leaving about a ¼” border around the inside of the trace line. Set felt circle aside.

Paint/draw red stripes all the way around the outside of the cup, stripes should run up and down. Let dry completely.

Cut a strip of blue felt or construction paper about 1.5” wide. Long enough to wrap around the brim of the cup.

For blue felt use glue to draw star shapes then sprinkle with silver glitter, for blue construction paper draw stars with your white or silver paint pen or marker.

Glue felt strip/Construction paper strip around the outside of the top of the cup.

Lay red felt circle on to work surface, black trace line facing up.

Line the lip of the cup with white glue and press down onto black trace line. Let dry.

Turn cup over and place on work surface.

When everything is dry, fill with treats and enjoy!

Happy 4th of July!!

The Scoop on Callaway Gardens

Posted on Monday, June 27, 2011 by Angie

Callaway 2011 054 — The Butterfly House provided us with lots of "OOH's" and "AAH's"

BirminghamMommy took a week to experience the Summer Family Adventure at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA. I will sum it up in 5 words, summer camp for the family.

1. Balance: This was the perfect vacation for everyone because there was plenty to do and plenty of relaxation time. There are 2 kinds of vacationers, the do-ers and the relax-ers. I am a relax-er and my husband is a do-er. All kids, by nature, are do-ers. This vacation actually changed me a bit, I’m now 25% do-er! I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment from tackling the flying trapeze just as much as I loved lying poolside reading a book.

2. Variety: With balance, you must have variety. The schedule for the SFA came out and made me absolutely giddy. The kids and I sat and talked about all of the options we all had. We were all excited and it felt like we were all going to summer camp!

3. Dual purposes: The kids hit the day camp from 9-3 everyday, which means you have a couples vacation for half the day. It’s a great way to spend some time focusing on your spouse. And you miss your kids so evening family time becomes really special. The bonfires, plays, bird shows, circus viewings… all of those things took on an even deeper meaning because I appreciated that time with them. And I will admit, getting a break from one another made us all more appreciative of each other.

4. Unique: This is not your typical vacation- it is very focused on the family aspect while still respecting the individual’s perspective.

We highly recommend the Summer Family Adventure– we loved it so much we stayed an extra day!

Callaway 2011 068 — A vacation they'll remember forever!

A Mother's Shade of Green: Encourage a Greener Life, Without Preaching

Posted on Monday, June 27, 2011 by Angie

By Kate Agliata:

A few months I met up with a new friend over a cup of coffee. While getting to know one another better we soon realized many commonalities, namely a passion for educating others about the benefits of green living. She was excited to learn about my writing A Mother’s Shade of Green, and commented on the vast amount of green parenting related topics I could cover. I too, was just as excited about the endless possibilities. Yet, it wasn’t long before I also realized a bit of a dilemma—while trying to educate people about green living, I would need to be careful not to cross the fine line between sounding too preachy, and offering a good dose of encouragement. What I needed to figure out was how to convince you, and at the same time, also encourage you to convince your friends, that living a greener lifestyle really does make a difference.

The amount of information about living a more Eco-friendly way of life swirling all around us is frankly, overwhelming. It’s not surprising that many people still just tune out, or have yet to even climb on board with greener approaches. My friend was right, in this day and age, especially among our generation of young parents, there is so much about our environment, health and purchases worth examining, learning, and sharing. But who do we trust, and how do we decide which ideas or methods should fall into our family’s growing list of priorities? I can’t even tell you how many people I have conversed with over the last few months who’ve said to me, “I really want to live greener, but I just don’t know where to start.” My usual response is to offer any pertinent suggestions I’m able, hoping that I too, am not overwhelming my inquisitor. Yet, I am always afraid of walking that fine line I mentioned. After all, I am not a green living “expert” per say, but rather a person and a parent, who probably isn’t that different from you—I’d do anything to keep my children safe and out of harms way. That is the most simple explanation as to why I care so deeply about the environment in which my children live.

I grew up in a family where being mindful about our actions was among top priorities, and where respect for our planet was taught by example, not by lecture. But as I grew older and developed my own passions, I could see how easy it was to get too caught up in defending my beliefs. Over time I’ve tried to soften my approach, and I’ve learned a thing or two about improving my conversation. For me, this “green living” way of life isn’t about politics or trying to change the world, but rather more about common sense, and about working toward keeping my family safe and healthy.

Of course, my approach occasionally comes as a bit of dismay to my poor husband. I am that girl who is constantly researching and saying, “yes, let’s try that! Let’s incorporate that green method into our life as well!” As a result he now has to suffer with less than ideal circumstances such as weeds taking over our lawn, (I say: the chemicals may harm our dogs or worse end up on our children’s bare feet!) and random boxes in our garage filled with empty glass jars and bottles (I can’t help that our local recycling program doesn’t accept glass, and I refuse to toss them in the trash). Once while having new friends over for dinner I got so carried away during a conversation about natural skincare products that I actually brought out my Tom’s of Maine deodorant to show our guests. My husband reminded me for weeks about the odd looks I got that night. Needless to say, they didn’t reciprocate our dinner invitation.

While my husband may be slightly embarrassed, and my children’s teachers annoyed by my continual nagging to set up recycling centers in their classrooms, I continue to fight for my beliefs. Along the way however, I’ve learned that not everyone is going to share my passion for the exact same green living beliefs, and that is okay. My advice to you, is to pick and choose what aspects of it work for you and your family, whether it’s recycling, toting your own cloth bags, or banning plastic water bottles—or even all of it! No one else can decide which green approaches are right for you. My experience has taught me that preaching to others, or even just throwing hard cold facts around won’t do any good in convincing them to engage in greener methods. Instead, I’ve learned to focus on having fun with my own green living, and to share my input about it’s many benefits when asked, or when the circumstances call for doing so. Most importantly, I’ve learned to provide encouragement through example.

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.