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Birmingham Events Calendar: April 24th – May 1st

Posted on by Angie

We hope you all enjoyed your Easter Weekend and got to spend some time with your family!

There are still some Earth Day Celebrations happening this week. The Auntie Liter Earth Day celebration and parade was rained out last week and is now set for this Tuesday. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host their big celebration on May 1st.

Spring time always means lots of festivals and this weekend is no exception! You have the Festival of Springs, a Strawberry Festival and the always popular Schaeffer Eye Center crawfish boil!

Have a Great Week!

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

Sunday April 24th:

Easter Day Celebration – DeSoto Caverns Park
The Easter Bunny will be at the park meeting all visitors with candy and will be available for pictures!

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Quilted Squares – Craft a quilt square to express your inner folk artist.
A fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to discover 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, then stop by and make art with Bart!
1pm – 3pm

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 April 25th:

Holy Inappropriateness! We couldn’t find any special events happening in the Ham’ Today! Check our list of local attractions that are open daily!

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Tuesday April 26th:

MOPS Meeting – Riverchase Community Church
“Art with Kids” topic at the Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) for Expecting Mothers thru to Mothers with preschoolers at 6:30-8:30 pm at Riverchase Community Church.  RSVP child care with Lynn 664-4531.  http://riverchase.cc/mops.php

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

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Wednesday April 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

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Oh no! That’s what we’re reading today. Written by Mac Barnett, this is a tale about a science project gone horribly wrong! Enjoy a treat from our Cafe while working on your own crafts. Then, we’ll tour our new Educational Toys & Games Department.
11:oo am

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

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

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Thursday April 28th:

Auntie Liters Earth Day Parade – Kelly Ingram Park
Auntie Litter’s Earth Day Parade and Festival is the country’s largest Earth Day Parade for children. School children from around Birmingham fill the park for a day of fun and education. Environmental entertainment, picnic lunch and time with 30+ exhibitors fills the morning. The six block parade through the streets of Birmingham is the culmination of the day’s events.
9am – 2pm

Storytime Live – Hoover Public Library
Commotion in the Ocean
10:30am

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Friday April 29th:

Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil
Outside of the BJCC, Richard Arrington Jr Blvd between 22nd and 24th streets
For more information on tickets, hours and the line up visit their site

13th Annual Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival – St Elias Maronite Church
wo day event featuring food and culture of Lebanon. Authentic food including kibbee, grape leaves, tabouleh, grilled chicken, homus, baklawa and more. Dancing by our children performed on stage throughout Friday evening and Saturday. Professional Lebanese band from New York, Amin Sultan, performs each night in tent outside from 5 to 9

Storyday with Ms NeNe – Whole Foods
Come meet Mrs. Renee Schmidt “NeNe” as we bring you our beloved storytime. Enjoy storyboards, songs and snacks!
10am

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Saturday April 30th:

Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil
Outside of the BJCC, Richard Arrington Jr Blvd between 22nd and 24th streets
For more information on tickets, hours and the line up visit their site

BBQ and Blues Festival – Downtown Bessemer
The 2nd Annual Bob Sykes Bbq and Blues Festival will feature talented award winning blues musicians from local to nationwide playing music on one stage beginning at noon-11pm. There will be great blues music, delicious Bob Sykes BBq, children and adult
Pre-sell general admission tickets are $20 and $25 at the festival gate. 12 and under are free. Food and drinks sold separately
Noon – 11pm

Calera Farmers Market Strawberry Festival – Oliver Park
We hope you and your family will make plans now to enjoy simple down home company with those in your community during our first annual Strawberry Festival. It’s a perfect day to Celebrate Calera & all that’s great about our town!

Delicious Farm Fresh Strawberries, Free Kids Zone– Calera Baptist, Many 2010 Vendors you know & love, Shelby Stompers, 4-H Dance Club , Montevallo FFA, Shinbone Bluegrass Band @ Noon, LifeSouth Blood Drive, Ribs to Go—delicious hometown BBQ, And so much more….
10am – 2pm

Festival of the Springs – Reed Harvey Park
Features entertainment, vendors with food, arts, crafts, etc. Park includes lakes, natural springs, a playground and a veterans memorial.
10am – 4pm

13th Annual Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival – St Elias Maronite Church
wo day event featuring food and culture of Lebanon. Authentic food including kibbee, grape leaves, tabouleh, grilled chicken, homus, baklawa and more. Dancing by our children performed on stage throughout Friday evening and Saturday. Professional Lebanese band from New York, Amin Sultan, performs each night in tent outside from 5 to 9

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Sunday May 1st:

Earth Day at the Gardens – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Alabama’s longest continuously-running Earth Day event, Earth Day at The Gardens, is slated for Sunday, May 1 from 1-5 p.m. Dozens of local and regional organizations focused on issues such as conservation, energy efficiency and clean air will fill the Formal Garden, the lawn in front of the Conservatory, will fun-filled, family-focused activities. More than 1,300 attended last year’s festival, placing it among the region’s most-attended free Earth Day celebrations.
10m – 5pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Itty Bitty Magic City –
The mini-sized Magic City – complete with buildings and factories – encourages young learners to explore new skills as they join the cities’ workforce. By dressing up in a favorite career costume and becoming a steel worker, doctor, pilot scientist or train conductor, preschoolers take one small step into the world around them. While operating cranes, turning gears, pulling pulleys, and building structures – to name just a few of the hands-on activities – children expand their understanding of themselves as they experience how objects behave and how their own actions affect the objects around them. Little explorers are free to navigate this active learning area at their own pace, allowing creativity, fun and discovery to flourish in the Itty Bitty Magic City!

NatureScope –  Explore the great outdoors from inside the museum. McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Audubon Society are partnering to create a new exhibit called NatureScope. Explore the science of the birds and the bugs in this new area! Get up close and personal with some resident creepy crawlies! Learn what role insects play in our ecosystem with the decomposition chamber. Meet large bugs including emperor scorpions, a tarantula, and even a giant African millipede!

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.

Breaking the Organic Code

Posted on by Angie

By Amy Whitfield Richardson:

Food recalls seem to happen on a more regular basis now, and acronyms like GMO and HFCS are popping up in conversations regarding food and children pretty much everywhere you turn. You can buy Organic, Locally Grown, All Natural, Free Range, and Grass Fed but what does it all really mean?

As parents we have enough to stress over without the added pressures of reading labels we don’t understand. So, to put your mind at-ease and help you out next time you’re at the market, BirminghamMommy decided to decipher some of the jargon for you.

100% Organic

– Organic farming completely avoids the use of artificial inputs, like synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and bans the use of animal by-products, antibiotics and sewage sludge among other practices.

USDA Organic

– Meaning it avoids the use of MOST artificial inputs. It should be at least 95% free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers as mentioned above. Unlike many of the eco labels you find, “USDA Organic” claims are verified by the USDA.

All Natural

– Contains no synthetic or artificial ingredients (flavors, colors, chemical preservatives). With the exception of USDA-approved meat and poultry. Currently there is not an organization that can verify a manufacturer’s claim so essentially anyone can use the All Natural label on their product.

Free Range

– The “free-range” label doesn’t necessarily mean the animals went outdoors, it does mean that animals have “access” to the outside, per the USDA. However, there is no guarantee of lower salmonella rates or that they have freedom to roam. The term “pasture-raised” is a better indicator of how the animal grew up on the farm.

Cage Free

– When it comes to eggs, Cage Free means hens are uncaged in barns or warehouses, but not they have access to outdoors. Uncaged hens can freely walk, nest and spread their wings. But no third-party, such as the USDA, verifies Cage Free labeled products.

Grass/Grain Fed

– Grass Fed, good. Grain Fed, not so good. As opposed to Grain Fed beef, Grass Fed beef is less fatty and contains high amounts of conjugated linoleic acid, which is a fatty acid that is known for many health benefits, including decreasing inflammation in the body. However, much like the term “Free range”, Grass-fed doesn’t necessarily mean the cows went outside to graze, but that they at least had access to pasture.

Locally Grown –

-Locally grown doesn’t always mean better grown or local in the sense you might think. Unlike certified organic labels, Locally Grown claims are not regulated by the USDA and are defined by retailers in vastly different ways. It could mean the food you’re buying is from the next state over, maybe within a day’s drive, but probably not 20 minutes down the road.

As you’ve noticed, organic foods aren’t as budget-friendly as conventional food items. Now with the labels decoded, which foods are best to find in your organic food aisle, and which ones are okay not to buy? Here are some organic do-buys and don’t-have-to-buys to help you to balance food safety and nutrition with the cash in your grocery fund.

Usually fruits or veggies with a thicker outer skin are less likely to be affected by pesticide levels because the thick skin acts as a protector, blocking pesticides from seeping in. That means fruits like strawberries and leafy greens are more prone to contamination. Even a good wash, doesn’t get rid of all pesticides. Bottom line, if you eat the skin and all, it’s better to go organic.

Better to Buy Organic:

Apples
Bell Peppers
Blueberries
Carrots
Celery
Cherries
Grapes
Kale
Leafy greens
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries
Tomato*

Okay to not buy Organic:

Asparagus
Avocado
Cabbage
Bananas
Broccoli
Eggplant
Kiwi
Mango
Onions
Papaya
Pineapple
Sweet Corn
Sweet Peas
Tomato*
Watermelon

* According to the Environmental Working Group, in 2008 the tomato was one of the most pesticide-ridden veggies, but has cleaned up its act since, that‘s why you can find it on both lists. You may want to try growing tomatoes on your own if you’re worried about this sudden shift in the tomato’s cleanliness.

Buying Local:

Over the last few years big retailers such as Wal-Mart and of course Whole Foods have jumped on the “locally grown” bandwagon, but if you’re truly looking for food grown within the county limits, your best bet is a local farmer’s market where you can meet the actual farmers and ask them questions about their farming practices. Ideally, buying local means you are putting your dollars back into your local economy by buying from Farmer Joe down the road instead of Wal-Mart. Environmental benefits come from reduced shipping, meaning less fuel consumption, less packaging, and not to mention that warm and fuzzy feeling you get inside from doing your part for the environment and for Alabama’s farmers.

Here are a few nearby farmer markets where you can buy local this season:

Alabama Farmer’s Market

Unlike other Birmingham farmer’s markets, the Alabama Farmer’s Market, located on Finley Ave. West, is open daily year-round and is part of Birmingham‘s rich food heritage, dating back to 1921. This open-air, indoor facility offers just about anything you could imagine, produce-wise, attracting 2,000 to 2,500 Alabama farmers each year.

Pepper Place Saturday Market

Located in Birmingham’s Lakeview District, Pepper Place Saturday Market, which officially kicked off their season April 16, offers veggies, flowers, honey, and bake goods, mixed with live music and cooking demonstrations every Saturday.

East Lake Farmer’s Market

East Lake Farmer’s Market will open May 7 with a Strawberry Festival. In addition to the fresh veggies, you can find canned jars of jam, relish, soup, or spaghetti sauce. A family-friendly atmosphere lets you shop local while your kids craft under the kids-only canopy.

Valleydale Farmer’s Market

Serving south Birmingham, the Valleydale Farmer’s Market in the parking lot of Faith Presbyterian Church on Valleydale Road offers fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, including naturally grown produce with no chemical pesticides or herbicides. This Saturday market begins in May.

Urban Cookhouse Farmer’s Market

With the slogan “Buy Local, Eat Urban,” this homegrown restaurant in downtown Homewood is set to host a Saturday farmer’s market for its second year beginning May 21. Beyond fresh food, look for artist booths, live music and chef demonstrations.

Sources:

Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.com
Consumer Report’s greenerchoices.org
www.OrganicGrassFedBeefinfo.com
www.humanesociety.org

About Amy:

A Birmingham native, Amy Whitfield Richardson, isn’t a mommy, but a proud PANK who learns a lot from her friends at BirminghamMommy. When she’s not writing for this website, you can find her blogging about her love for midcentury architecture at Mod Room

Working Mommy Madness: Mother's Day In

Posted on by Angie

By: Harmony Hobbs

Ugh … daycare. How I loathe and love you.

The hardest part of being a working mommy is the issue of childcare. I love to work, but I hate leaving my son. It sent me into a major depression-like funk for the entire first year of his life because I was so laden with guilt over it. We did our best to choose the best possible daycare for him, but no matter how wonderful the staff, or how much fun he seemed to have, I still felt like I was falling way short as a mother.

There are two schools of thought on this subject. My mother said it was “unnatural” to leave my child while I went off to work. She’s right. It is. I hate it. My co-workers (read: working mothers) told me to buck up. And they are also right. If the path I’m on is working motherhood, then I have no choice but to make the very best of it. So I did. I bucked up.

It has gradually gotten easier with time, but dropping him off at daycare is still a task that bothers me so much that I straight up refuse to do it. My husband has to. We really do have a wonderful daycare, but it’s still that – DAYCARE. Let’s not sugar coat here. People who are pretty much strangers take care of my child for 8 hours a day. And even though my son is almost three years old, I still feel like I’m failing him every day that we aren’t together. I deal with it by not dwelling on it.

That is the honest, ugly truth of working motherhood – there are parts that really suck. There is a lot of guilt. You just have to take that as part of the deal and accept it, own it, and work with it.

You might think, based on what I just said, that when I have a day off during the week (a rarity), I would keep my son at home with me without exception. I used to, when he was small. Before I understood how hard motherhood was going to get. Before he learned to walk and talk and exhaust me beyond my wildest dreams. Whatever fatigue I felt as a new mother pales in comparison to the weariness of raising a gregarious, boisterous toddler. This is why I feel that people who have never raised a toddler have no right to judge the actions of other parents who have raised, or are currently raising, toddlers.

You just do what you have to do to survive. Sometimes you do things you might call “crazy.” Or “desperate.”

Don’t worry. You don’t have to tell anyone.

As for me, I need breaks. Now that he is bigger, and more of a handful, there are times when I thank my lucky stars that I have somewhere safe to send him. It’s like what stay-at-home-moms refer to as “Mother’s Day Out.” I send him to daycare so I can have what I like to call “Mothers Day In.”

At first the whole concept seemed terribly wrong to me. I wondered if I was becoming desensitized. I worried I was selfish, a bad mother, or neglectful. And you know, maybe I am all of those things. But my child stays on his schedule, and I get a whole glorious day to myself to regroup. Or, if I happen to be sick, I can actually REST – in my own bed – knowing my child is doing what he’s used to doing every other day of the week.

The very thing that causes me so much guilt – daycare – often saves me from crossing over to the dark side.  I love it and I hate it, all at the same time. Just like how I feel about underwire bras, three-inch heels, and family gatherings.

It’s complicated.

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!

Giveaway! Awesome 80's Prom at Alys Stephens Center

Posted on by Angie

Whether your prom in the 80’s was the bomb or a total bomb, here’s your chance to go back in time and do it all over again…and this time maybe YOU can be the star of the show!

Awesome 80’s Prom is a blast-from-the-party past circa 1989! So grab your parachute pants and come join us! (Seriously, we encourage everyone to dress the part!) Trust us, this isn’t a sit down and watch kind of show. It’s literally a dance party – exactly like attending your senior prom!

All the characters from your favorite ‘80s movies are at THE PROM, from the Captain of the Football Team, to the Geek, and the hottie Head Cheerleader. And the fun part is, the “audience” (meaning the dancefloor) decides who wins prom King and Queen! There will be retro hits like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go!” The Awesome 80’s Prom won’t gag you with a spoon, cause it’s totally rad! Start digging out those old yearbooks for your own personal prom photos to share with us!

BirminghamMommy.com thanks to Alys Stephens Center has 2 pair of tickets to giveaway to 2 lucky readers – Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post letting us know your favorite 80’s band or song – 1 per person

2. Follow Alys Stephens Center on Twitter @ascbham – 1 per person

3. Tweet the following: “@Birminghammommy and @ascbham are doing a totally rad giveaway for the 80’s prom http://ow.ly/4Egj2 ”  – 1 per person

4. Head over to the Alys Stephens FB page and upload a photo of you from the 80’s, big hair and all – 1 per person

Make sure to come back to this post and leave a comment for each thing you do..

Giveaway will end Friday(April 22nd)  at Noon and winners names will be given to Alys Stephens Center for Will Call.

Birmingham Events Calendar: April 17th – 24th

Posted on by Angie

We’ve been going green all month but this week things get busy around town with Earth Day celebrations happening all over! It’s time again for Auntie Liters Earth Day parade, a fun filled day for the entire family!

You’ll also be able to get in on some “Green” fun at the McWane Science Center and the Zoo too! Challenge yourself this week to make just one small change that will help you and our environment for a lifetime!

Sunday is Easter, DeSoto Caverns is celebrating all week with a special Easter Themed light show in the caverns, as well has having the Easter Bunny on site Sunday handing out candy and posing for pictures!

Don’t forget to check our list of area Easter Egg hunts going on, there are still a few! Happy Easter and Happy Earth Day!

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

Sunday April 17th:

Building Fairy Houses – Aldridge Gardens
All ages welcome.  Children younger than 3rd grade must be accompanied by an adult. Members $5 per family/Non-members $6.50 per family. Hear a story, learn what kind of houses the tree and flower fairies prefer, then, try your hand at building a fairy house with natural materials.  You may bring cones, nuts, shells, leaves, feathers, anything found outdoors.  Natural materials purchased in a store will not be used.  This class is outdoors so wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather.
Picnic Area 2pm

Tannehill Trade Days
Shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures. Simple fun for all ages. Please Note: No Pets are allowed in the Trade Days Area.
7am – 5pm

Earthbounds Earthfest – Bessie Estelle Park
Local musicians Earthbound will play their highly-anticipated annual free outdoor concert, Earthbound’s Earthfest, to increase awareness for Earth Day and raise funds for Black Warrior Riverkeeper, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. Free for all ages, Earthbound’s Earthfest will feature a bounce castle, dunk tank, hula hoops, frisbees, and plenty of other fun for children. Local artists and environmental organizations will bring displays. Optional donations from the crowd will support Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s efforts to protect local waterways and Birmingham-area drinking water, which is threatened by the Shepherd Bend Mine proposal.
2pm – sundown

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 April 18th:

Holy Inappropriateness! We couldn’t find any special events happening in the Ham’ Today! Check our list of local attractions that are open daily!

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Tuesday April 19th:

Game Night – Barnes and Noble Summit
In support of Turnoff Week, we are hosting a fun-filled evening of game playing and laughter. Join us in the Cafe where you can enjoy some delicious pastries or hearty sandwiches. We look forward to seeing you!
7pm

Walkabout Puppets on the Plaza – Hoover Public Library
Australian puppeteer, Bob Parsons, performs Goldilocks and the Three Bears using marionettes.
6:30pm

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

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Wednesday April 20th:

Auntie Liters Earth Day Parade – Kelly Ingram Park
Auntie Litter’s Earth Day Parade and Festival is the country’s largest Earth Day Parade for children. School children from around Birmingham fill the park for a day of fun and education. Environmental entertainment, picnic lunch and time with 30+ exhibitors fills the morning. The six block parade through the streets of Birmingham is the culmination of the day’s events.
9am – 2pm

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

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Can you guess how much you are loved? Find out in Guess How much I Love You by Sam McBratney. As we read, sip on something sweet from our Cafe while doing arts and crafts. After, we’ll take a walk through our new Educational Toys & Games Department.
11:oo am

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

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

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Thursday April 21st:

Party for the Planet – Birmingham Zoo
Come to the Zoo April 21-23 for a fun filled event featuring activites and wildlife presentations promoting the care and conservation of our planet. Guests will see special shows and animal demonstrations.

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Friday April 22nd:

Earth Day Celebrations – McWane Science Center
Join the party for the planet with cool programs like “Newspaper Masterpieces” where you can use recycled materials to create works of art!
COST: Included in cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members

Party for the Planet – Birmingham Zoo
Come to the Zoo April 21-23 for a fun filled event featuring activities and wildlife presentations promoting the care and conservation of our planet. Guests will see special shows and animal demonstrations.

Storyday with Ms NeNe – Whole Foods
Come meet Mrs. Renee Schmidt “NeNe” as we bring you our beloved storytime. Enjoy storyboards, songs and snacks!
10am

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Saturday April 23rd:

Earth Day Celebrations – McWane Science Center
Join the party for the planet with cool programs like “Newspaper Masterpieces” where you can use recycled materials to create works of art!
COST: Included in cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members

Park It and Picnic – Sloss Furnaces
Go green with an old-fashioned family picnic. Bring your family, your picnic lunch, and come celebrate at Sloss Furnaces with a day of family fun.

Fun prizes to be given away!

Free self-guided and cell phone tours of Sloss, free guided tours at 1PM, 2PM, and 3PM, badminton, croquette, horse shoes, and more!

Raptor Treck – McWane Science Center
Learn all about feathered friends who live here in Alabama. See real owls, falcons, hawks and even an American Bald Eagle.
COST: Included in cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members

Party for the Planet – Birmingham Zoo
Come to the Zoo April 21-23 for a fun filled event featuring activites and wildlife presentations promoting the care and conservation of our planet. Guests will see special shows and animal demonstrations.

Cottontail Express – Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
Hop aboard for a spring train ride to Peter Cottontail’s meadow! Join in the fun as we hunt for Easter eggs – you might win a prize!  Bring your camera to take photos with Peter Cottontail!

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny – Birmingham Zoo
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny takes place in Kudzoo Cafe and features a delicious breakfast followed by a visit from the Easter Bunny.
8:30am – Registration Required

Bart’s Books Water Dance – Birmingham Museum of Art
April showers bring May flowers! Wonder what else water can do? Bart the Art Bat selects one book each month about art that he thinks 4-7 year olds will enjoy. The storytellers are often our favorite teacher volunteers from local schools
11am

Super Saturday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Celebrate Easter with us as we read The Easter Egg by Jan Brett. Will Hoppi make the winning egg? Come find out while creating some art. Our Cafe will be serving a tasty treat, and later we’ll hunt through our new Educational Toys & Games Department.
11:00am

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Sunday April 24th:

Easter Day Celebration – DeSoto Caverns Park
The Easter Bunny will be at the park meeting all visitors with candy and will be available for pictures!

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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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Itty Bitty Magic City –
The mini-sized Magic City – complete with buildings and factories – encourages young learners to explore new skills as they join the cities’ workforce. By dressing up in a favorite career costume and becoming a steel worker, doctor, pilot scientist or train conductor, preschoolers take one small step into the world around them. While operating cranes, turning gears, pulling pulleys, and building structures – to name just a few of the hands-on activities – children expand their understanding of themselves as they experience how objects behave and how their own actions affect the objects around them. Little explorers are free to navigate this active learning area at their own pace, allowing creativity, fun and discovery to flourish in the Itty Bitty Magic City!

NatureScope –  Explore the great outdoors from inside the museum. McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Audubon Society are partnering to create a new exhibit called NatureScope. Explore the science of the birds and the bugs in this new area! Get up close and personal with some resident creepy crawlies! Learn what role insects play in our ecosystem with the decomposition chamber. Meet large bugs including emperor scorpions, a tarantula, and even a giant African millipede!

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!

BigBham Deal: Jewelry from Jennarosity

Posted on by Angie

Pay $10 for $20 worth of Hand-Stamped Sterling Silver and Copper pieces for everyday wear from Jennarosity.
Click Here to Purchase

About This Deal

Rebecca Waganat started making jewelry for herself and friends 14 years ago. Using sterling silver and copper she creates customized hand stamped, textured, tarnished, and buffed jewelry for everyday wear. Hand stamping allows for customization of each piece; with names, phrases or scripture. So, you can be sure your piece of jewelry is one of a kind!

Today you can get $20 worth of your own beautifully hand-stamped bracelets, earrings or necklaces from Jennarosity.

Mother’s Day is only one month away! These customized hand-stamped pieces make a perfect gift for Mom. So buy one for yourself and one for the special Mom in your life.

What customers are saying about Jennarosity:

“LOVE this necklace!! Great quality! Will come back to purchase more as gifts for friends! Great gift for mommies! :)”

“Necklaces are just what I was looking for. Very fast order processing and shipping. Very fast and clear communication. Thank you so much!”

“Exactly the perfect Christmas present for my sister in law. flawless. fast fast shipping. Thanks!”

Droolicious Cuisine at BirminghamMommy.com: Tilapia Piccata

Posted on by Angie

This is a 15-minute recipe that I found in Cooking Light that all of the family loves…Husby requests it on a regular basis, and we never seem to get tired of eating it. You can substitute most any flaky white fish or use veal or chicken cutlets. This recipe pairs well with a side of sauteed spinach or a mixed field greens salad. I modified the recipe a little bit to suit our tastes. This recipe yields 4 servings. Enjoy!

Tilapia Piccata

8 ounces uncooked orzo (about 1 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup grape tomatoes, halved
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup white cooking wine
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon drained capers
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

1) Cook orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and stir in tomatoes. Set aside and keep warm.

2) Combine salt, pepper, and flour in a large shallow dish. Dredge fish in mixture. Melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add fish to pan and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until fish flakes with a fork. Remove fish from pan and keep warm.

3) Add wine, juice, 2 tablespoons butter, and capers to pan. Cook for 2 minutes. Spoon a portion of sauce over fish and add remaining sauce and feta cheese to orzo mixture. Serve fish with orzo.

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


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.

BirminghamMommy Event of the Week – Paint The Town Red

Posted on by Angie

An event like nothing else happening in our fine city! It’s time again to Paint the Town Red!!

For one night… the blank brick walls and window fronts of 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham’s Loft District will be transformed into canvases for stunning digitally created art: graphic art, digital photography and digital animated shorts… all projected.

In it’s third year, Paint the Town Red is an innovative fundraiser for the Birmingham Chapter of the American Red Cross. It combines stunning visuals, eclectic live music and great street food. Vote for your favorite entries, introduce kids to the future of creativity and indulge your eyes in a visual feast

In addition to great art, there will be a great line up of music programmed by another Birmingham treasure BAAM! Fest

April 16, 2011 from 6pm to 11pm.
Tickets are $15 at the gate $10 in advance: Click HERE to purchase

Birmingham Events Calendar: April 10th – April 17th

Posted on by Angie


Spring Festivals are always fun family events and they are starting to heat up around town, many happening along side annual Easter Egg Hunts!

Enjoy a Movie on the Lawn, or check out Tannehill Trade Days, the Magnolia Festival, or Paint the Town Red this Weekend!

Whatever you decide to do, get out and enjoy the weather! Make sure to check out our complete list of Birmingham Area Egg Hunts – Have a GREAT Week!

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

Sunday April 10th:

Fairytale Festival – Samford University|
Games, sing-a-longs, cupcakes, lemonade and Easter Egg Hunt. Characters from Disney movies. Bolding Rose Garden on the campus. Tickets $10 and $15
2:30pm

The Great Pumpkin Patch Spring Fling
Live music, great food, inflatable park, craft fair, car show and more

Little Naturalists Series – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Do you have fond memories of playing in the woods and want to share that wonder with your children? Or, if you missed out on nature experiences when you were young, now is your chance to experience the joy. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center provides a safe haven for youthful exploration for kids and adults alike. Each month, we will focus on a different topic, sparking interest and inspiring curiosity. Bring your budding naturalist to the mountain and let’s explore!

•$3/ $2 (member) •All children must be accompanied by an adult. •Suited for K – 2nd grade. •Drop-ins welcome.
2pm

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 April 11th:

Holy Inappropriateness! We couldn’t find any special events happening in the Ham’ Today! Check our list of local attractions that are open daily!

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Tuesday April 12th:

MOPS Meeting – Riverchase Community Church
“Finances and going back to Work” topic at the Mothers Of Preschoolers
(MOPS) for Expecting Mothers thru to Mothers with preschoolers at 6:30-8:30 pm at
Riverchase Community Church.  RSVP child care with Lynn 664-4531.

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

Together Time– Emmet O’Neal Library
The Letter “Z”
All Ages Welcome
9:30 or 10:30

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Wednesday April 13th:

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

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
We’ll read Interrupting Chicken by David Stein and see how many times chicken will interrupt her papa. Create something artistic while enjoying a sweet treat from our Cafe. Then we’ll tour our new Educational Toys & Games Department.
11:oo am

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

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

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Thursday April 14th:

Storytime Live – Hoover Public Library
Heads Up
10:30am

PJ Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Dance Off
6:30pm

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Friday April 15th:

Magnolia Festival – Gardendale
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Gardendale Magnolia Festival! New and exciting activities, large carnival, food, and live entertainment.
5pm – 9pm

Movie on the Lawn – Emmet O’Neal
Come get tangled in a new version of a classic fairy tale. Brink a blanket and some supper for a picnic on the lawn while you watch.
7pm

Storyday with Ms NeNe – Whole Foods
Come meet Mrs. Renee Schmidt “NeNe” as we bring you our beloved storytime. Enjoy storyboards, songs and snacks!
10am

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Saturday April 16th:

Paint the Town the Red
the blank brick walls and window fronts of 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham’s Loft District will be transformed into canvases for stunning digitally created art: graphic art, digital photography and digital animated shorts… all projected. In it’s third year, Paint the Town Red is an innovative fundraiser for the Birmingham Chapter of the American Red Cross. It combines stunning visuals, eclectic live music and great street food. Vote for your favorite entries, introduce kids to the future of creativity and indulge your eyes in a visual feast.
6pm to 11pm.

ArtPlay ArtDay – ArtPlay Alys Stephens Center
UAB’s Alys Stephens Center invites the entire community to join in celebration of the Grand Opening of ArtPlay, Birmingham’s new arts education & outreach center. Bring the whole family to for fun festivities for every age. Then, stay for the dedication of the a new outdoor sculpture made by local students, prize giveaways, & more! You’ll get to see what happens in each classroom and take part in hands-on activities, plus see the beautiful renovation of one of Birmingham’s most important Victorian homes. Free and open to everyone. Event runs from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Festivities Include
RIBBON CUTTING
LIVE MUSIC
CLASS DEMONSTRATIONS
INTERACTIVE ART PROJECTS
SCAVENGER HUNT
FREE FOOD & DRINKS
GIVEAWAYS & MORE!

Magnolia Festival – Gardendale
Full day with carnival, live entertainment, over 150 arts and crafts and business vendors, pooch parade, antique car show-100 cars, free children’s art classes, and the best variety and quality of food around.
10am – 5pm

Bart’s Books Water Dance – Birmingham Museum of Art
April showers bring May flowers! Wonder what else water can do? Bart the Art Bat selects one book each month about art that he thinks 4-7 year olds will enjoy. The storytellers are often our favorite teacher volunteers from local schools
11am

Tannehill Trade Days
Shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures. Simple fun for all ages. Please Note: No Pets are allowed in the Trade Days Area.
7am – 5pm

Belk Spring Charity Sale – All Belk Stores
Benefiting local charities, schools and nonprofit organization. A four-hour, in-store shopping event In exchange for a $5
donation, customers will receive a ticket admitting them to the Spring  Charity Sale and entitling them to merchandise discounts ranging from 20 to 70 percent off on items throughout the store, including special savings on rarely discounted brands. Customers will also receive $5 off their  first purchase of $5 or more at the event, and Belk cardholders will receive double Rewards points (and Belk Elite cardholders triple Rewards points) for card purchases.
5am – 10am

Super Saturday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Parents will remember and kids will learn about the inspiring and timeless lyrics of Forever Young by Bob Dylan read as a story. While reminiscing, enjoy a treat from our Cafe and create some crafts. Then we’ll tour our new Educational Toys & Games Department
11:00am

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Sunday April 17th:

Building Fairy Houses – Aldridge Gardens
All ages welcome.  Children younger than 3rd grade must be accompanied by an adult. Members $5 per family/Non-members $6.50 per family. Hear a story, learn what kind of houses the tree and flower fairies prefer, then, try your hand at building a fairy house with natural materials.  You may bring cones, nuts, shells, leaves, feathers, anything found outdoors.  Natural materials purchased in a store will not be used.  This class is outdoors so wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather.
Picnic Area 2pm

Tannehill Trade Days
Shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures. Simple fun for all ages. Please Note: No Pets are allowed in the Trade Days Area.
7am – 5pm

Earthbounds Earthfest – Bessie Estelle Park
Local musicians Earthbound will play their highly-anticipated annual free outdoor concert, Earthbound’s Earthfest, to increase awareness for Earth Day and raise funds for Black Warrior Riverkeeper, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. Free for all ages, Earthbound’s Earthfest will feature a bounce castle, dunk tank, hula hoops, frisbees, and plenty of other fun for children. Local artists and environmental organizations will bring displays. Optional donations from the crowd will support Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s efforts to protect local waterways and Birmingham-area drinking water, which is threatened by the Shepherd Bend Mine proposal.
2pm – sundown

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

—————————————————————————————

Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Itty Bitty Magic City –
The mini-sized Magic City – complete with buildings and factories – encourages young learners to explore new skills as they join the cities’ workforce. By dressing up in a favorite career costume and becoming a steel worker, doctor, pilot scientist or train conductor, preschoolers take one small step into the world around them. While operating cranes, turning gears, pulling pulleys, and building structures – to name just a few of the hands-on activities – children expand their understanding of themselves as they experience how objects behave and how their own actions affect the objects around them. Little explorers are free to navigate this active learning area at their own pace, allowing creativity, fun and discovery to flourish in the Itty Bitty Magic City!

NatureScope –  Explore the great outdoors from inside the museum. McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Audubon Society are partnering to create a new exhibit called NatureScope. Explore the science of the birds and the bugs in this new area! Get up close and personal with some resident creepy crawlies! Learn what role insects play in our ecosystem with the decomposition chamber. Meet large bugs including emperor scorpions, a tarantula, and even a giant African millipede!

Animalopolis at the IMAX – ANIMALOPOLIS will take you on a voyage into the magical world of animals. A bit fanciful, a bit “Seussian” perhaps, a place of good natured humor, beauty and just plain fun for kids and their parents.

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!

BirminghamMommy Plastic Challenge: Take 30 Days to See What Plastics You Can Live Without

Posted on by Angie

By Kate Agliata:

Up for A Challenge? Take 30 Days to See What Plastic Products You Can Live Without

As a new parent I really struggled with bringing certain un-recyclable plastic products into our home. “Where would they eventually end up?” I wondered. After all, we can’t keep burying things beneath the Earth’s surface forever. And then add to that the mounting concern over learning about the serious health risks associated with bisphenol A (BPA), a highly toxic chemical used to make hard plastic and toys. It was all too much. My parenting instincts kicked in, and I stopped heating food in plastic containers, and began hand washing my children’s plastic dishes. I even traded in my beloved Nalgene bottles for bottles labeled BPA-free. I thought I’d covered all the bases, I thought I was doing enough to keep my family safe, and as an added bonus, reducing my family’s contribution to the local landfill. But I thought wrong.

Recent studies continue to warn of plastic products made with a litany of toxic chemicals (many of which still contain BPA). These studies talk about the adverse effects upon children who are exposed to these chemicals and the increased risk for developing cancer, and reproductive and developmental disorders. Studies also indicate that most plastics contain certain chemicals that are widely known to increase estrogen levels. Scary stuff there. On top of the rising health concerns, there is also the fact that our Earth is practically oozing with waste and plastic products that simply won’t go away-because they can’t.

Plastic is made from nonrenewable resources, petroleum or natural gas. The manufacturing process for the sheer volume of plastic products used by today’s society necessitates millions of barrels of oil each year. In fact, it takes the United States an estimated 1.6 million gallons of oil each year just to create plastic bags alone. Plastic is virtually impossible to break down-the material is simply not capable of biodegrading. And even worse, the toxins released from this un-biodegradable plastic leaches into the surrounding soil, water and air, contaminating our most precious natural resources, as well as compromising our health.

So what can we do? If I asked you to try and eliminate plastic from your life, you’d probably think I was crazy. After all, plastic is pretty much unavoidable, right? It’s in our phones and computers, our furniture, and our children’s toys-heck, it’s even in our cars. I could think of a gazillion different plastic products that we use and depend upon every single day. Complete elimination of it all seems impossible,  but beginning to let go of the single use disposable plastics, can be a much more realistic alternative.

Erica Frey-Delaportas, a Birmingham mom of two little boys, explains that by using less plastic on a daily basis, her family is actually already doing something that comes naturally to most parents- multitasking. “One simple choice of not using plastic wrap or plastic containers for leftovers has multiple positive results,” says Frey-Delaportas. “By using ceramic or glass containers with lids, I am saving money, not letting dangerous chemicals leach into my kids’ foods, and we’re also reducing the amount of plastic waste destined for a landfill.” For lunch on the go, she also suggests replacing juice boxes with a thermos, and Ziploc bags with reusable lunch containers.

So what else can you do?

Ban the bags. Seriously, you can do this. Get in the habit of bringing your own cloth bags to the store-every store. And once you’re there try to keep the momentum going by asking yourself things like,“do I really need to put one produce item in its own plastic bag?” Instead, let it hang loose and toss it sans plastic into the cart. And what about that huge stash of plastic bags you’ve been hoarding under your sink? Do you know you can actually bring them to some stores, including Publix, to recycle?

Say no to stupid plastic. Rodale.com suggests avoiding “stupid” or unnecessary plastic, like straws for example. Sure they’re fun, especially for the little ones, but they’re not essential. And if you already know you won’t use the plastic hangers some stores give you with clothing purchases, leave them behind-they’ll surly be used again.

Plastic water bottles. This is one plastic elimination that I know will be tough for some of you. You know who you are too, I’ve seen you at the store buying them in bulk-there are some of you who even do it every week. Alright listen up: You can do this. Here’s what I want you to do, first, purchase reusable water bottles (preferably aluminum) for each member of your family. Make it fun, let them write their name on it, or even decorate it if they want. Second, every day fill them with water-and yes, I mean the water from your own tap. Third, when grocery shopping, resist walking down the water bottle aisle (side note: think about that, a whole aisle just for water?!). Fourth, put a pretty glass jar on the kitchen counter. Fifth, once a week insert into glass jar the money you save from not buying pallets of plastic water bottles. Sixth, one year later, use that money to pay for a family vacation. Simple as that. I promise.

Don’t buy it if you can’t recycle it. Well, at least try not to anyway. Believe it or not, there is actually plastic out there that is not recyclable. Even if you intend on passing these items on and on, in their end there is only one way out-through the trash. Americans recycle very few plastics as it is. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that in 2009 Americans recycled only seven percent of the 30 million tons of total plastic waste generated that year. Just to make my point well heard, let me repeat that, seven percent. If you can’t recycle it in some way, shape or form, try not to bring it into your life.

Cook more, buy less take out. By doing so you’ll avoid plastic take out containers, spend less money on your food budget, and ultimately have more time with your family in your own kitchen. It’s a win, win, simple as that.

Get motivated, learn the facts, and take pride in whatever accomplishments you achieve! For a complete guide to recyclable items and to learn more about which plastics to avoid, please visit Healthy Child, Healthy World: Be Wise with Plastics.

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.

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