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Medical Minute: Birth Plan

Posted on by Angie

New moms… once upon a time we were all new and nervous.  THAT is going to come out of WHAT?  We all said it, we all wouldn’t trade it for the world.  Before you pack the bag and paint the nursery, take some time to think about the birthing experience and how you want it to go.  You can’t predict the future, but you can be informed and make your preferences known to avoid disappointment and conflict.

A birth plan is a communication tool that summarizes how you want different aspects of your baby’s birth to be handled. It is not a contract, but rather a simple, clear, one- to two-page statement that outlines your choices. The birth plan is a guideline that can be changed at any time and should be flexible in case something comes up at the hospital or you change your mind after labor begins.

It is probably best not to wait until the last minute to create your birth plan. You might want to discuss your choices with your health care provider and ask for feedback or suggestions. Once you have completed your birth plan, give a copy to your doctor, send one to the hospital where you plan to give birth, and pack one to take with you on the day you give birth. Some topics you might want to address in the birth plan include the following:

  • Who do you want in the delivery room? (partner, parents, family, friends or other siblings)  **TIP:  Think of a code word with your nurse to clear the room if you want privacy but don’t want to offend the visitors.  Mine was “Could I get some grape juice?”  My nurse would then tell my visitors it was time to go.  I loved her for that!**
  • How do you want to manage your labor? (walk around, change positions or labor in a birthing tub or shower)
  • Do you want to wear your own clothes or a hospital gown?  **TIP:  Wait until afterwards to even think of wearing your clothes.  One word: stains. **
  • Do you want to wear your glasses or contact lenses (if possible)?
  • What kind of environment do you want during labor? (play your own music, dim the lights and have minimal interruptions)
  • What do you want to do to relieve pain? (massage, medications, breathing exercises or hot and cold packs)
  • Do you want to avoid induction or an episiotomy unless medically necessary?
  • Would you prefer a routine IV, heparin/saline block or nothing at all?
  • How often do you want fetal monitoring?
  • Do you have any special requests in case you need to have a Cesarean delivery?
  • Is videotaping or photography allowed in the delivery room?
  • Who will cut the umbilical cord?
  • Will you bank the umbilical cord blood?
  • Do you want your baby immediately placed on your stomach/chest after delivery?
  • Do you want to breastfeed?
  • Do you want your baby to room-in with you?
  • Can your baby have a pacifier?
  • If you have a boy, do you want him to be circumcised?

A birth plan can help you feel more confident about the upcoming birth and part of the decision making process even if there are unforeseen circumstances.

Medical information provided by:  Brookwood Women’s Medical Center

Valentines for Children's Hospital

Posted on by Angie

Each year local libraries start accepting Valentine cards that they will donate to the children at Children’s Hospital. This activity is one of our “favorite things.” We think this is a fantastic way to get even the smallest of kiddos involved in giving back. If your children love to color, give them some valentine hued crayons and markers and let them get to work. Better yet, host a playdate and have all of the kids make cards, it’s a win/win!  Just think about how happy they will make a child in need of smile!

Check the list below for libraries around the area that are participating by collecting or providing the supplies to make the cards.

(in order of date)

Gardendale Public Library
February 1st
Kids Bookclub – 4th – 6th grade – Book Club Discussion and make Valentines for Children’s Hospital.
3:30 – 4:00pm

Hoover Public Library
February 1st – 11th
Bring a homemade or store-bought valentine (NO CANDY, PLEASE) for the patients at Children’s Hospital, and receive a holiday prize.

Irondale Library
February 1st – 9th
Drop by the Library anytime between February 1st – February 9th to make a valentine to send to Children’s Hospital!

Eastlake Public Library
Wednesday February 2nd
Saturday February 5th
Monday February 7th
Wednesday February 9th
Sweethearts for Children’s Hospital

Emmet O’Neal Library
Sunday February 6th – Thursday February 13th
Stop by the Children’s desk to create a card.

Homewood Public Library
Monday February 7th
Stop by to create a card
2:30pm – 5:00pm

Leeds Library
Monday February 7th – Thursday February 10th
All supplies will be provided. This is for EVERYONE! Not artistic? There will be simple store bought Valentines for you to sign.

Southside Public Library
Thursday February 10th
Teen Time Valentine – Enjoy making special valentines for Children’s Hospital
4pm – 5pm

A Mother's Shade of Green: Green Living Doesn't have to be Expensive or Complicated

Posted on by Angie

By Kate Agliata:

The laundry is piling up, e-mails need responding, and your 3rd grader still needs help with her homework—you have enough on your plate as it is, without the added pressure to transform your entire lifestyle toward greener living. I hear you, really. Not to mention, buying organic (anything) can, at times, be a bit pricey. But before you give me an Amen sister, you should know that green living doesn’t have to be as time consuming, complicated, or even as expensive as you think. In fact, these are often some of the greatest misconceptions about making green changes to your life. Being environmentally aware means striving to make the planet a better place to live; but for you and your family, it also means making healthy choices, and also about living more simply, so that you can enjoy more of life—concepts you probably already strive toward. The most important first step you can take toward living a greener lifestyle is to do away with the pressure and expectations you feel about it all. Looking beyond the big (and often intimidating) picture of green living can allow you and your family the freedom you need to set simple, realistic, and manageable goals. Here are several easy, yet efficient ways to green certain aspects of your life, without breaking the bank.

Recycle- This one is easy. It’s also a great place to rev up the family’s motivational factor by getting everyone involved. Make it a game to see who can keep more recyclable items out of the trash, and placed into the recycling bin. Depending on where you live, you might already have weekly curbside recycling pickup available. If that isn’t the case however, many contracted garbage collectors now offer recycling pickup for a small, additional monthly fee (an extra $5/month gets my recycling picked up biweekly by Waste Management). There are also numerous conveniently located area recycling centers that accept drop offs.

Kick the bottled water habit- In this well developed world in which we live, bottled water is typically no healthier than the water that comes straight from your home water tap. If you are among those who purchase bottled water strictly for the taste, you may want to consider installing a water purifier into your home’s water system. Approximately 80% of plastic water bottles are not recycled each year, and instead, end up in landfills, lakes, rivers and oceans, causing substantial environmental damage. In addition, the U.S. alone utilizes an astonishing 1.5 million barrels of oil for mere production of plastic water bottles. Ditching the disposable habit and simply buying a few reusable water bottles for your household will not only save you loads of money, but it’s also another easy and realistic way to live greener.

Reusable shopping bags- Similarly to plastic water bottles, plastic bags account for a significant amount of environmental pollution, in fact, less than 1% of them are recycled each year. Additionally, the manufacturing process of plastic bags requires the use of numerous toxic hazards in its production. Using cloth bags instead of plastic, is quickly becoming the trendy thing to do, so it should be easy, right? That is…only if you could remember to actually bring them to the store each time, right? Don’t sweat it. It typically takes an average of four weeks to make an act into a habit. Stick with it. You’ll be lugging two weeks’ worth of groceries in canvas bags from the car before you know it.

Shop local-Farmer’s Markets- The foods we tend to buy at grocery stores have typically already traveled great distances. This transportation requires extensive use of fossil fuel energy and results in the emission of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and the leading contributor to global warming. Next time you head out to shop, give the big box stores a rest and instead pay a visit to the local, little guy in town. Farmer’s markets provide a fun outing for the whole family, often offering live music, arts and free samples as well. They give you a great reason to shop locally, eat fresher foods, and because you’re buying direct, you’ll tend to reduce your grocery bill as well.

Eat less red meat- When you cut out a portion of your family’s weekly red meat intake, you’re not only saving some green in your wallet, you’re also helping to drastically reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of red meat. Designate one to two dinners a week as being meatless nights and you’ll feel good about making significant strides toward greener living.

Buy (gently) used- Buying used clothing or other items, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality or this year’s fashion trends. Trust me, I know, you have enough of a hard time justifying spending oodles of money on a coat you’ll wear for the next five years, let alone spending the same oodles of money on a coat your three-year-old will wear for the next three months. This is where consignment sales come into the picture—I promise you, everyone goes to them (yes, even your snobby neighbor whose daughter exclusively wears Hannah Anderson). Arrive early enough to one of these consignment events and presto, you still have complete access to well-made, quality clothing; only you’re not relinquishing a small fortune in exchange by shopping this way. Thrift stores, yard sales, and Web sites like craigslist.com, are also other great options for scoring gently used items.

Give experiences, not stuff- It’s a given, being human means that you will create, obtain, and bring into your life an enormous amount of stuff. Add children, and guilt, I mean gifts, associated with holidays and birthdays, and your household almost instantaneously becomes filled with a plethora of clutter, knickknacks, and other, often unidentifiable objects. Although you can’t control what others give you, you can however, take a personal, greener step in reducing the craziness through your own gift giving efforts. The next time your child is invited to a birthday party, give a gift certificate to spend an afternoon ice skating or toward the indulgence of special treats at a local ice cream shop—instead of buying another Barbie doll or race car. Web sites such as BigBham, and other deal of the day sites, are great resources in finding daily deals on local and unique experiences.

Resources:

1.) Shelby County area drop off recycling centers:
http://www.aeconline.org/recycling/shelbycounty
2.) The city of Birmingham drop off recycling center:
http://www.aeconline.org/recycling/center

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.

Event of the Week: Spencers Theater of Illusion

Posted on by Angie

Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center Presents a fantastic show for the whole family!

Prepare to be mystified! Named International Magicians of the Year and Performing Arts Entertainers of the Year (Six Times), the Spencers dazzle audiences with their never-seen-before illusions.

Theatre of Illusion is much more than a magic show. Take your seat and you’ll cross over a threshold of disbelief only moments after the Spencers take the stage. The duo presents a high-tech stage show that combines drama, comedy, romance, and suspense that’s chock-full of elaborate stage illusions that include dazzling special effects and magnificent set design. Working with some of the leading creators, inventors, designers, and builders in the industry, the Spencers feature many original illusions that you simply won’t see anywhere else. Don’t miss it!

$1 of every ticket will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.

Performances

  • Friday, January 28, 2011 · 8 PM
    Adults: $37 · Kids: $17 · tickets

Birmingham Events Calendar: January 23rd – January 30th

Posted on by Angie

Bring in the clowns! The Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus will be rolling into Birmingham this week and they will be parading to the BJCC, maybe you can catch a peek! Alys Stephens will be presenting The Spencers Theatre of Illusion on Friday, a fantastic show for the entire family! Catch a movie at Homewood library,  or spin some art with Bart’s Art Cart at the Birmingham Museum of Art! Lots to choose from this week! What will you do?

Make sure to check back throughout the week, we update the calendar as we learn of more events! Have a great week!

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

Sunday January 23rd:

Barts Art Cart, Spin Your Own Work of Art – Birmingham Museum of Art
Take inspiration from the Museum’s current exhibition, Spiral: Perspectives on an African-American Art Collective, and come spin your own work of art!
11:00am – 1:00pm

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

—————————————————————————————

Monday January 24th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Library
Pop on in for a fun flick and tasty treat!
3:30pm

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Tuesday January 25th:

Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey Circus Parade
Vanderbilt Road to Richard Arrington Blvd then Right on 19th Street
10am  *Time is subject to change depending on their arrival

MOPS Meeting – Riverchase United Methodist
“Social Studies” 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

Together Time – Emmet O’Neal Library
Action-packed storytime with Ms. NayNay.
All ages. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

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

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Wednesday January 26th:

Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey Circus, Fully Charged – BJCC
7:30pm

Anime Day – Homewood Library
Grades 6-12 only. Join us after school for snacks, anime and fun with your friends. (We’ll be meeting in the Large Auditorum.)
3:30 – 4:30

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Please join us as we read Russell the Sheep. Can you help Russell go to sleep?
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 January 27th:

Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey Circus – BJCC
10:30am and 7:30pm

—————————————————————————————

Friday January 28th:

Spencers Theatre of Illusion – Alys Stephens Center
Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center Presents a fantastic show for the whole family!

Prepare to be mystified! Named International Magicians of the Year and Performing Arts Entertainers of the Year (Six Times), the Spencers dazzle audiences with their never-seen-before illusions.

Theatre of Illusion is much more than a magic show. Take your seat and you’ll cross over a threshold of disbelief only moments after the Spencers take the stage. The duo presents a high-tech stage show that combines drama, comedy, romance, and suspense that’s chock-full of elaborate stage illusions that include dazzling special effects and magnificent set design. Working with some of the leading creators, inventors, designers, and builders in the industry, the Spencers feature many original illusions that you simply won’t see anywhere else. Don’t miss it!

$1 of every ticket will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.
Adults: $37 · Kids: $17 · tickets
8pm

Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey Circus – BJCC
10:30am and 7:30pm

Storytime with Nene – Whole Foods Market
In the Cafe. Snacks, Songs and Storyboards
10:00am

—————————————————————————————

Saturday January 29th:

Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey Circus – BJCC
11:30am, 3:30 and 7:30pm

Barts Art Cart, Spin Your Own Work of Art – Birmingham Museum of Art
Take inspiration from the Museum’s current exhibition, Spiral: Perspectives on an African-American Art Collective, and come spin your own work of art!
11:00am – 1:00pm

Super Saturday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us as we read Llama Llama Red Pajama!
11:00am

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Sunday January 30th:

Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey Circus – BJCC
1:00pm and 5:00pm

Barts Art Cart, Spin Your Own Work of Art – Birmingham Museum of Art
Take inspiration from the Museum’s current exhibition, Spiral: Perspectives on an African-American Art Collective, and come spin your own work of art!
11:00am – 1:00pm

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

—————————————————————————————

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!

Family 4 Pack & Discount Code for Ringling Bros Circus Fully Charged!

Posted on by Angie

Giveaway has ended!!! You can still take advantage of the discount code below!!

$8 Kids Tickets! – Good for the following performances in the $13 & $23 price levels. Must be purchased with adult ticket to receive savings. (Excludes Circus Celebrity, Front Row, and VIP seats.  No double discounts.  Service charges, facility and handling fees may apply.)

Thu, Jan. 27 at 7:30 PM

Fri, Jan. 28 at 7:30 PM

Sat, Jan. 29 at 11:30 AM & 7:30 PM

Sun, Jan 30 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

CODE: CLOWN

Redeem savings with code online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or at the BJCC Box Office.

Note:  When redeeming offer online at Ticketmaster.com, please select the number of adult tickets you would like to purchase under “Full Price Adult”, then select the number of kids ticket you would like to purchase under “Advance or Promotion Ticket Selection” and enter the code CLOWN.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents FULLY CHARGEDSM, the all-new, 141st ELECTRIFYING edition of The Greatest Show On Earth®!  Ringling Bros.® powers up audiences with acts from all over the globe, featuring breathtaking dare-devilry, superhuman stunts and never-before-seen performances that spark the imaginations of Children Of All Ages!  Clowns from the world-famous Clown Alley charge the audience’s funny bones, while megawatts of thrills explode out of the ring, including The Human Fuse who rockets across the circus skies igniting the power of the people.  And of course, amazing animals spark the audience’s awe and wonder.  Experience the current of excitement at Ringling Bros. Fully Charged!

Up for Grabs:

We’ve got another family four pack, this one is for the show only, on opening night. To win, just leave a comment here on this post, 1 per day, per person. Giveaway will end on Sunday January 23rd at noon. We will announce the winner later that day. Tickets will be left at will call in the winners name, picture ID will be required in order to pick up!

We also have this deal on discounted tickets.

Droolicious Cuisine at BirminghamMommy.com: Bacon, Peas & Parmesan Fettuccine

Posted on by Angie

“This meal is sure to please even the youngest members of the  family, plus it is quick, easy, and inexpensive.  Simple enough for a weeknight meal, but ‘gourmet’ enough to impress company.”

Ingredients:
1 package fettuccine pasta
2 slices center cut bacon
1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
2 teaspoons thyme
1/2 cup frozen green peas
1/3 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons butter
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions:
1) Cook pasta according to package directions.
2) Slice bacon into small strips.  Cook in a skillet over medium heat until crisp.  Remove from pan.
3) Add onion, garlic, and thyme to drippings.  Cook until onion is tender.  Add peas and heat until cooked through.
4) Add milk to pan and stir until heated through.  Add butter, salt, pepper, and pasta.  Toss until combined.
5) Remove from heat and sprinkle pasta with bacon and parmesan.  Yields 4 servings.

About Kim:

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

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

Natural Remedies for The Winter Sniffles

Posted on by Angie

Many of you are naturally natural, but I know some of you out there are like me, incredibly reliant on those precious over the counter cold meds that will help my babies sleep through the night. As of late though, I’m more confused than ever and downright scared to buy anything from the drug store for fear that within days of me giving it to my child a massive recall will hit the news.

As we all know there are no cures for the common cold, while not usually serious they are an un-welcomed guest that tend to always over stay their welcome.

So what do we do to ease the congestion, sniffles and coughs that seem to run rampant this time of year? Here are a few things to try:

Elevate: Keep your child or baby in a semi-upright position to help with nasal drainage. This can be done by raising one end of the mattress and placing a pillow or thick blanket UNDER the mattress. (Never put those in the crib with an infant)

Saline Drops: 2-3 drops in each nostril will help to loosen the dry or thick nasal secretions. Saline drops a very common and easy to find in grocery and drug stores.  To save a little money try mixing: 1 level tsp. salt to 1 cup boiling water.  Then Boil for 10 minutes, and cool. Use an old medicine dropper to administer the drops.

Cool Mist Humidifier: A humidifier will help to thin mucus and hopefully make it easier for your child to expel secretions.

Cough Remedy: For children old enough to have honey (at least 1 year of age or older,) try this homemade remedy of 2-3 tbsp of fresh lime, 1 tbsp honey mixed well. We’ve also been told that rubbing Vicks on their feet and covering them with socks works wonders.

Always remember lots of rest and plenty of liquids will help, and as always if symptoms persist contact your Dr.

Do you have any home remedies that work for you? We would love to hear them!

January Giving Highlight – The Lovelady Center

Posted on by Angie

The Lovelady Center is a local home to over 350 women and children who need a good meal, a warm bed, and Christ’s love. They care for basic human needs, as well as education, biblical counseling, emergency shelter care, medical care, drug and prison rehabilitation.

TLC is a 9 to 12 month program designed to restore hope and rebuild lives. Women and their children enter the program for various reasons, all needing help in their lives.

Basic care they supply includes clothing, medical care, housing and basic hygiene products. In-house psychologists provide substance abuse counseling and drug rehabilitation services on an as-needed basis. Transportation is provided 24 hours a day, moving women and children to and from work, school and medical appointments. Lovelady offers state-certified childcare at KidZone, a daycare center open to the public. State-certified post-educational courses are also offered. Classes are required for graduation, and through partnerships with Jefferson State Community College and Tennessee Temple University, women are offered the chance to gain higher education and job skills. Through our Workforce Development Program, women are trained and aided in finding sustainable jobs to ensure a bright future.

We chose The Lovelady Center for our giving highlight this month to tie in with the Every Little Bottom Diaper drive we held during the month of December. On average they will serve 43,000 diapers to the children in their care. While we didn’t come close to that number every little bit helps. So to everyone that donated diapers for the drive thank you. If you would like to donate now, you can do so by visiting their site.

Giveaway: The Circus with Magic Moments!!

Posted on by Angie

Join Magic Moments under the Big Top on Friday, January 28, 2011, as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey brings the 141th Edition of The Greatest Show On Earth® to Birmingham!

Magic Moments offers a one-of-a-kind evening for the child in all of us. A private pre-circus dinner will feature all the kids’ favorites – hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, chicken fingers, chips, cookies, ice cream and more!
During dinner, the entire family will enjoy great music, roving magicians, jugglers and Ringling Bros. Circus performers. After dinner, you’ll enter the Big Top for your reserved seats at the circus…
and a night to remember!

Proceeds from the event will be used to make wishes and dreams come true for Alabama children with life-threatening illnesses or life-altering medical conditions.

Ticket Sales will end Monday, January 24th at midnight.  Individuals can purchase tickets by going to our website:  www.magicmoments.org or by calling 205.939.9372

Chance to win tickets here!  We have a 4 pack of tickets, here’s how to enter:
1 entry-  Comment here your favorite part of the circus!
1 entry-  Comment here IF you love us on Facebook 🙂
Unlimited entries-  Tell a friend to comment here and include your name and you both get an entry!

Contest ends 1/20/11. 3pm

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