Birmingham Events Calendar: March 27th – April 3rd

Posted on Sunday, March 27, 2011 by Angie

April showers bring may flowers! It also brings us Green Month and Earth Day celebrations around town. We are gearing up for some great information and fun activities all centered around being green!

We are so excited to be participating in the MOMS Market Springpalooza Sunday April 3rd. We’ll be there with goodies and a few prizes for you to win, so come out and support local Moms with businesses and stop by our table to say hi!

Have a great week everyone!

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

Sunday March 27th:

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Make a Monkey Mask
Make a mask a king would be proud of! Using inspiration from Indian King Hamuran, you can fashion a monkey mask for yourself. FREE!
1:00pm – 3:00pm

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 March 28th:

Holy Inappropriateness – We couldn’t find any special events happening in the Ham’ today! Check out something going on daily on our list below

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Tuesday March 29th:

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

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

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Wednesday March 30th:

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
Come laugh along with us as we read Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman. When T-rex and the gang wrestle for a pair of prehistoric underpants, it becomes a battle for the briefs! Continue the fun in our Toys and Games Department, and enjoy treats
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 March 31st:

Storytime Live – Hoover Public Library
Creepy Crawlies
10:30am

PJ Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Farm Fun
6:30pm

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Friday April 1st:

Day out with Thomas – Heart of Dixie RR Museum
All little engineers are invited to take a train ride with Thomas! The fun-filled family experience includes photos with Sir Topham Hatt, putt-putt golf, jumpstation, petting zoo, bubble station, temporary tattoos, storytelling, videos, live music and hands-on fun in the Imagination Station! You’ll find commemorative activities, merchandise and give-aways available ONLY at this Day Out With Thomas event.The 25-minute train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine will depart every 45 minutes, rain or shine, with departure times at 9:45 am through 3:45 pm daily. Tickets for the Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track Tour 2011 are $18 for ages two and up.

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 2nd:

Get Wild! – Alabama Wildlife Center, Oak Mtn
A free, monthly family-oriented program promoting bird conservation and stewardship. Each program is hosted by wild bird educators and will feature a different topic. The program always includes our monthly conservation tip and may include an introduction to one of AWC’s resident glove-trained Education Birds, a visit inside the workings of our unique rehabilitation clinic, or maybe even a hands-on service project for our wild bird patients. Come get wild and have a learning adventure! Lasts 20-60 minutes.
Free after paid admission to Oak Mountain State Park: $1 per child 6-11 & Seniors 62+; $3
1:00pm

Kids Workshop – Home Depot
This week they will be building a planter/basket. Designed for ages 5-12.

The Home Depot’s Kids Workshops offer useful projects including the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse or Declaration of Independence frame kit.

The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children.

In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates’ aprons, and an achievement pin.

Super Saturday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Please join us as we read Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin. Pete loves his white shoes — can you guess how many different colors they will change? Find out as we explore our new Educational Toys & Games Department and have a tasty treat from our Cafe.
11:00am

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Sunday April 3rd:

MOMS Market Springpalooza – Pelham Civic Complex
Come out and join us for a great day of shopping fun, supporting local Moms with businesses as well as PADS (Parent Advocates – Down Syndrome) BirminghamMommy.com will be there, so stop by our table to say hi, we’ll have goodies and a chance to win a prize or two!
1pm – 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!

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!

Medical Minute: Get Your Pre Baby Body Back

Posted on Friday, March 25, 2011 by Angie

For many Moms getting back into a workout routine after their baby is born is very difficult. We are working under a brand new set of circumstances that have thrown our previous schedules for doing just about anything down the drain. We are running on fumes from sleepless nights, we’re leaking from odd places, and sometimes just getting dressed for the day is a fete in itself.

But if you are among the multitude of Moms that are longing for their pre baby body and are ready to get busy, we’ve got some tips for you!

Losing that baby weight is like losing any weight that is stubborn and just doesn’t want to come off. Do a combination of cardio work and strength training to achieve maximum results, you’ll tone up while dropping those lbs.

The best way to do this is through interval training. Running for hours on the treadmill is not exciting and the motivation to do it will most likely not come. Punch it up with intervals of running combined with strengthening exercises. A few examples of this would be set a distance ( 2 miles) and do run/walk combo. Run 1 mintue, walk 1 minute. If this seems too challenging just shorten the intervals to 30 seconds running and 1 minute walking. You can also set a time limit, for example do the run/walk combo for 20 minutes. When finished with that do 3 to 5 rounds of all of these exercises, 10 to 20 repetitions depending on your fitness level.

For strength-training, start with push-ups, squats, lunges, crunches or sit ups and lying back extensions. Planks are great at developing your core, it’s there somewhere! Do 10 planks from your elbows at 8 seconds each, resting only 2-5 seconds in between each plank.

Kegals. You must do them! This may be one of the areas that you don’t necessarily think about when getting back into shape but it’s still just as important, and their easy to do! Do them while driving, sitting in car pool, standing in line at the grocery store or just anytime you think of it. If you’re coordinated, do them while you exercise too.

Just remember to start out slow, and make sure to get the green light from your Dr before starting back on any type of exercise program. Getting on a plan now might just get you back in that swimsuit before summer, not to mention all of the added energy you will have to deal with your little bundle of joy!

Giveaway: Personalized Sign, from Signs by Andrea

Posted on Friday, March 25, 2011 by Angie

Signs by Andrea has a wonderful giveaway that would be a great addition to any home. Painted on weathered wood, each knot, imperfection and blemish enhances the vintage look ensuring no two signs are alike. These signs look fabulous hung above doorways and archways or even set on a fireplace mantel. All signs include attached hardware for hanging.

These one-of-a-kind personalized signs are the perfect gift for:

weddings (every bride gets a new last name)
housewarmings
birthdays
holidays
kid’s bedrooms & playrooms
and more!

GIVEAWAY: 1 free personalized hand-painted sign valued at up to $45

To enter:
1. Comment here, 1 entry total
2. Visit Andrea on Facebook, comment here that you “like” her! 1 entry total
3. Our Facebook buds get an entry too, comment here if you “like” us! 1 entry total

Bonus discount!! $5 off per sign, expires April 5th – BHM5OFF

Giveaway will end on Tuesday, March 29th at noon. We will contact the winner by Facebook and via Email

Car Seat Safety, New Guidelines.

Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2011 by Angie

We mentioned earlier this week on our Facebook page that the AAP had amended their guidelines on children in forward facing carseats. They now recommend that children stay rear facing until at least the age of 2, or until they meet the height and weight limits for their car seat. What does this mean?

Remember these are guidelines, not a law, yet. We all want to keep our snuggle bugs as safe as possible for well, forever. Here are the facts that led to these new recommendations. “A 2007 study found that children under age two are 75 percent less likely to die or to be severely injured in a crash if they are rear-facing. Another study found riding rear-facing to be five times safer than forward-facing.”

Many Moms we heard from said absolutely without a doubt this makes sense. Some stating that their children over the age of 2 are still rear facing and they have no plans to make the switch any time soon. Others are more skeptical and concerned about their children’s comfort level and even cited political motivation behind the decision by the AAP, turning this into a bit of a hot topic for Moms everywhere.

While we are certain that the guidelines will continue to evolve over the years, making some adjustments to your car travel may be necessary sooner rather than later if the guidelines eventually become law.

So, if you’re planning to leave your child rear facing even after he/she grows out of those infant seats, here are a few seats available to accommodate those older kiddos.

Sunshine Kids Radian XT SL – Rear-facing children 5 – 45 lbs and forward-facing children 20-80 lbs in a 5-point harness. Its steel alloy frame is NCaP crash tested making it the strongest car seat in the world. Our SuperLATCH system ensures the easiest installation possible using the vehicle’s lower anchors up to 80 lbs – no seat belt required. a height adjustable, aluminum-reinforced head support and protective ePS foam surround the child’s head and body to provide the most complete side impact protection of any car seat, and the SafeStop energy absorbing harness system. Radian’s low profile offers easy child boarding and its unique design provides more shoulder room yet still fits 3-across in a car. Memory foam padding and infant support pillows provide additional comfort. all this and RadianXTsl can fold flat for convenient travel and storage.

Safety 1st Complete Convertible Car Seat – 1 in 3 fatal child car accidents are due to a side-impact collision — almost all of which involve head trauma. Besides the side-impact protection, one of the best features of the Safety 1st Complete Air is its longevity, as it can be used rear-facing from 5-40 lbs. and then forward-facing from 22-65 lbs. Plus, the head-restraint pads adjust easily up and down to accommodate taller babies, making it one of the longest lasting car seats you’ll find.

Graco My Ride – An innovative convertible car seat. My Ride 65 stays rear-facing up to 40 lbs. – longer than most other car seats in the US. Then, it secures your forward-facing child in a 5-point harness until he is 65 lbs. (the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends your child stay harnessed as long as possible). Other features like EPS, energy absorbing foam, side-impact testing*, removable infant insert and toddler headrest help keep your child snug and secure on all his journeys.

If you need a refresher on some Car Seat Safety tips, check out this article that we ran a while back after speaking with the founder of SitTight.

Do It Yourself Dress Up Closet

Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 by Angie

I’m a Mom to 3 girls. Girls that love to play dress up. We recently did some purging of the playroom and narrowed down the princess dresses to everything that was in good condition and still fit them, but this still left us with more than our one storage box could handle.

I was looking for a way to house these play clothes in a way that was easy for them to get to, wasn’t stuffed in a box and wasn’t an eye sore. I didn’t have a lot of extra cash laying around for this “on a whim” project but what I did have was one white IKEA bookcase sitting unused.

I took a quick trip to Target for a tension rod – $6… Came home, removed the shelves from the bookcase, put the tension rod in and viola’ – A brand new dress up closet that can easily go back to a bookcase when/if needed.

I was pretty proud of my creation and the fact that it cost next to nothing. We added a bin on the bottom shelf for all of their jewelry and accessories, again, easy for them to reach. If you wanted to and the size of your bookcase allowed it, you could always add a mirror on the side or some hooks for hats or just extra hanging space.

MommyTravel: Las Vegas!

Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 by Angie

Becoming a mom today doesn’t mean forfeiting all the fun parts of life. One thing we all want to do is travel. There are different modes of mommy travel: the couples trip, the family trip, and the girls only trip. When our spouses heard “Vegas” they were in for our first couples trip! (We’ll see how enthusiastic they are when we want to go to Louisiana to semi-stalk the Twilight cast. We say semi so we won’t be prosecuted.)

Las Vegas: The Couples Trip

Statistics say that having a baby puts a huge strain on your marriage. It is crucial to keep your connection alive with your spouse. We sometimes forget to nurture the spousal relationship because we’re so focused on our children. If there’s one place in the country where you can almost put your focus 100% on your spouse, it’s Vegas!

BirminghamMommy.com got the grandparents to watch the kids for a long weekend so we could check out Sin City. Here’s our scoop:

Getting there, Southwest.com– They have great direct flight options. This is a long flight and with the time change, you don’t want to miss out on too much of the fun, so do the extra money to avoid making a 3 hour flight a 6 hour ordeal. Southwest knew what our weekend goal was, they did a fun raffle on the flight that got our gambling money ready to exit our pockets. We lost the raffle, then crossed our fingers that it was foreshadowing for the trip!

TravelZoo.com– They have great deals all the time, but especially on last minute trips. Check them for flights, packages, and hotels. They currently have a special for the new Aria hotel in Vegas. If you’re considering trying it out, we say go for it. The hotel was a high energy, modern setting full of interesting architectural features.

The Stay- There are so many options when it comes to hotels. We stayed at the MGM Signature Grand. A word of advice- staying in a hotel that does NOT have a casino in the lobby allows you to get a little break from the constant party/smoke/action. As fun as the action may be, it is more relaxing to the multi-functioning mommy brain to be able to “reset” and transition into a more calm setting. I guess the kids’ bedtime routine has rooted itself deeply in our brains. That being said, I think the idea of always staying somewhere different is a good idea. Every place is it’s own experience.

Kids? There aren’t many kids in Vegas, for obvious reasons. We feel like this lessens the reminders of what you’re missing. There’s nothing worse than getting a night out and being seated next to a crying, temper tantrum throwing toddler. Not only is the noise bad, but then you start to miss the noise your own would make. A word of warning- you will see a sleeping baby thrown over the shoulder of a smoking, gambling, drinking adult at some or many points in your trip. Resist the urge to give the evil eye!

Nightlife. If you watched the Real World: Las Vegas, you know Ghost Bar at the Palms. It may be a cliché and I’m sure the locals frown at it, but cliché aside, this place is great. Incredible views, great music selections, and some really interesting people watching. (If your skirt is THAT short, we recommend panties!) Ghost Bar kind of embodies Vegas nightlife- it combines trendy with over the top and is somewhere that doesn’t seem remotely like real life.

Food. Vegas has so much to offer. You only live once- get breakfast served in your room! Or head to a buffet- there’s just something about the myriad of offerings in a buffet that makes me giddy. And there will be lines, but don’t worry! The city of Las Vegas is a well-oiled machine when it comes to getting your money in a timely fashion. You won’t wait too long. Try some international or fusion eats. Of all of our experiences we highly recommend Nobu. It is an amazing fusion restaurant with sushi that will rock your taste buds. There’s also an element of romance, as it is family dining. Order a few hot dishes and a few cold dishes and share away!

Options. The best part of Vegas is the options. They’ve pretty much got you covered when it comes to entertainment options, food options, shopping options. (Helloooo Kate Spade OUTLET!) Research any shows you are interested in before you go, get an idea of the price points, and look for coupons or special offers online. There will be random people handing out discount cards for a “donation.” Don’t waste your time, the cards actually say “Don’t tip for this!”

Be prepared to hoof it. The curse of Vegas is the desire to wear really awesome heels, coupled with the fact that you will be walking a short marathon over the course of the night. Invest in hot yet comfy shoes, you’ll thank us.

ToVegas is an experience that works well as a couples trip or a girls’ trip. Rent “The Hangover” before you go. It’ll get you in the mood!

Birmingham Events Calendar: March 20th – March 27th

Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2011 by Angie

Hello Spring… Boy have we missed you!

Check out what’s going on around town this week as most of you try to get back into a non-spring break routine. As always, plenty of storytimes to choose from, Saturday is packed with all kinds of activities from Free Day at the Birmingham Museum of Art, to the “It’s Easy Being Green” event at the Shops of Grand River… In case you needed an excuse to hit the outlets, now you have one.. You’re welcome!

If you like animals, check out Farm Day at the Birmingham Zoo or have breakfast with the animals at Ruffner Mountain Nature Center.

Whole Foods is celebrating “Whole Baby” all month long with great classes going on each week, stop by there on Saturday for some product samplings and demonstrations…

Whatever you choose, we hope you have a fabulous week!

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

Sunday March 20th:

The Very Hungry Caterpiller Day – Book a Million Stores
Celebrate a “Very Hungry Caterpillar” storytime & the 1st day of Spring!
2pm

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Monday March 21st:

Holy Inappropriateness – We couldn’t find any special events happening in the Ham’ today! Check out something going on daily on our list below

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Tuesday March 22nd:

World Water Day – McWane Science Center
Celebrate H2O with programs like “Water, Water, Everywhere!”
10am – 4pm – Cost included in the price of admission

Storytime – Hueytown Public Library
Join, me, Lisa Hicks, for Clifford the Big Red Dog and Friends stories, songs and activities.
This program is for preschool and caregivers though all ages are welcome. It is open and free to the public.
11:30 a.m

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

After School Special – Emmet O’Neal Library
An Ire-ish Tale w/Wood and String life size puppets.
3:30-4:15 Ages 3 and up.

MOPS Meeting – Riverchase United Methodist
“Service Projects” topic at the Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) forExpecting Mothers thru to Mothers with preschoolers at 6:30-8:30 pm RSVP child care with Lynn 664-4531.
http://riverchase.cc/mops.php

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Wednesday March 23rd:

123 Play With Me – Avondale Library
Avondale is providing a special time and place for you to come to the library and spend one-on-one time playing with your child. We will have toys, books, and art activities just for you and your child. A special guest will join us each week to answer some of your parenting questions. Don’t delay, call and register you and your child today.
10am

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Travel along as Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer. Follow our favorite pig on her journey through Italy while creating arts and crafts. Then, explore our New Educational Toys and Games Department as you sip on a treat from our Cafe.
11:oo am

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

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Thursday March 24th:

Storytime Live – Hoover Public Library
Art Show
10:30am

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Friday March 25th:

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 March 26th:

It’s Easy Being Green Day – Shops of Grand River
A fun, educational and interactive eco-experience with dozens of environmental groups, recycled media artists, and fun crafts.
On-site personal document shredding, cell-phone and electronic recycling. Come out and learn how you can make a difference in your community. Being Green isn’t only easy, but fun too!
10am – 3pm

Free Family Day – Birmingham Museum of Art
Did you know that one of the biggest Hindu holidays– Holi– is celebrated in March? Bart the Art Bat takes the whole month to celebrate! Join Bart on an adventure through the Museum’s Southeast Asain and Indian galleries. Music, dance, art activities and more fill the day!
Bart’s Asian Adventure: A Day of Color!
11AM–3PM

Breakfast with the Animals – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Come watch our resident turtles chow down on their food. Their zany antics will keep you giggling as you eat your own breakfast. You will have an opportunity to see and learn about other native Alabama animals. Start your weekend with up-close encounters of Alabama animals.
•Continental breakfast provided.
8am

Farm Day – Birmingham Zoo
Children’s Zoo from 1pm to 4pm to learn how farms work and how important they are in Alabama and around the globe. This is a great opportunity to see ways that the keepers take care of the farm animals with demonstrations like hoof trimming. Story time, a craft and up close encounters with the animals will also be included.

Mama and Me Whole Baby Day – Whole Foods
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of sampling and product demonstration of all your favorite pre and post pregnancy products: supplements, body care, and favorite baby products!
11am – 3pm

Lowes Build and Grow Clinic
Make a Fortune Teller: This kit is fun for the whole family! Ask a question, shake up the kit and look inside for the answer!
10am

Paws in the Garden – Aldridge Gardens
Bring your furry friend to our 2nd Annual “Paws in the Gardens.” Enjoy doggy parade at 11am plus other activities, give-aways and demonstrations; talk to vets, trainers and groomers; learn about different breeds; and shop for doggy products. You can actually take a picture of your dog with a giant fire hydrant. Come join the fun!
$10 Admission ($3 of which will be donated to a local animal charity)

Super Saturday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
That classic children’s song “Puff the Magic Dragon” comes to life as a book by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary). Parents get to see their kids learn of “a place called Honalee” just as they did when they were young. Crafts, toys and treats too!
11:00am

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Sunday March 27th:

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Birmingham Zoo:

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

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Railroad Park:

Southern Museum of Flight:

MOMS Market 3rd Annual Springpalooza!

Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 by Angie

The MOMS Market Springpalooza is only a couple of weeks away.. Are you ready? We are!

The Springpalooza will be held at the Pelham Civic Complex on Sunday, April 3rd, from 1pm – 5pm and will feature over 100 extremely talented Moms from in and around our area.

There will be Facepainting, Balloon Art, Music, Style consultations, Couponing from IGoBogo, autographs from University of Alabama Football Alum, Prince Wimbly and more!

In addition to all of the wonderful items up for sale, there will be on site monogramming, on site vinyl decals, great gift ideas for Easter, Mother’s Day, Weddings and Birthdays!

Mark your calendars now to come see us! We’ll be handing out some goodies so stop by our table and say hi!

Admission is free, and it’s open to the public.

Proceeds from a silent auction and raffle will go to benefit PADS (Parent Advocates – Down Syndrome) T-shirts designed from friends of PADS will also be available for purchase.

Here is a sampling of some of the 100 vendors set to attend:

Three Little Miracles, LLC. Custom boutique shopping cart covers made with designer fabrics and extra padding.

2 Cute Creations. Personalized vinyl monogrammed gifts

Daydream Designs, LLC – Creating Swinging Daybeds & Other Unique Woodworks

Scarlett Begonias – Custom and boutique children’s clothing from newborn to size 10 and children’s accessories

Usborne Books & More – High quality, educational children’s books and activity kits.

RTE Outfitters – Autographed Alabama and Auburn merchandise and apparel.

Flower Cakes Bakery – specializing in gourmet cupcakes, after school classes for children on cake and cupcake decorating, and birthday party hosting.

Gemmies – Handcrafted Jewelry, hand painted items and home decor

Jennifer Branham Photography – Local Childrens/Family Photographer

Cutie Caps – Specializing in magnetic bottle cap necklaces and accessories

Park Lane Jewelry – Exceptional quality jewelry that is backed by an unconditional guarantee

Ceremic Caboose – An on the move paint your own pottery studio. Birthdays, Ladies Nights out, and fundraising events for schools. Bringing the “studio” on site.

Rendi – Beautiful home decor and gifts.

Mom’s Girl Designs Neck coolers, crochet dish and bath cloths, and children’s lounge pants.

To Be A Blessing – Stuffed Monsters, and Grand Canyon Photography raising money for international adoption.

Memory Lane Designs – Custom scrapbooks, invitations, cards and more.

Magnolia Moon Design – Fairy Fine Things, Children’s dress up costumes including fairy wings and angel wings, tutu’s pettiskirts and more.

To keep up with all of the vendors that will be participating in the show check out MOMS Market on Facebook

March Giving Highlight: Parent Advocates – Down Syndrome

Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 by Angie

This month we are focusing our giving attention on PADS (Parent Advocates – Down Syndrome)

Down Syndrome Alabama seeks not only to advocate for the needs of individuals with Down syndrome, but to offer support, acceptance and encouragement for parents and families of persons with Down syndrome.

They also strive to increase awareness and knowledge of issues relating to Down syndrome and to educate the community about the presence and needs of people with Down syndrome in order to create inclusive environments for all persons.

In addition to all of the support they offer to families, PADS also helped establish the Down Syndrome Clinic at The Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. They provide parent volunteers for the Clinic, maintain the Clinic’s parent library, and help allocate Clinic resources.

They routinely organize educational conferences and workshops with national and local experts and helped establish the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic at UAB. The Clinic offers comprehensive care, primary care and specialty care for adults with Down syndrome.

BirminghamMommy.com is proud to be a part of MOMS Market Springpalooza coming up on April 3rd where a portion of proceeds from booth sales as well as profits from t-shirt sales and raffle money will go to support this cause.

So come out and shop with us, say hi and have the chance to win some great prizes!

For more information on PADS, visit their site.

Busy Mommy Bonding: Shamrock Garland

Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by Angie

Just a quick craft to do with your little Leprechauns this week. We raided the scrapbook stack and I even let them go through some old magazines to pick out some pages with greenish backgrounds..

What you’ll Need:

Scrapbook Papers
Old Magazines
Hole Punch
Shamrock cookie cutter (or you can free hand it)
Twine/Yarn/Ribbon for stringing the shamrocks