☰

BigBham Deal – Grandmother's Joy

Posted on by Angie

$15 for $30 worth of fine children’s clothing from Grandmother’s Joy in Mountain Brook

PURCHASE HERE

Grandmother’s Joy was founded in 1985 and has been serving the Birmingham area with classic, timeless styles for children ever since. Located in Crestline Village, this boutique children’s store specializes in classic infant and children’s clothing and heirlooms, in addition to fun, upscale play wear, accessories and gift items. Grandmother’s Joy also offers custom clothing, monogramming and embroidery and holds monthly DIY (Design it Yourself) events for moms and children to come in and design their own outfits from a beautiful selection of fabrics and patterns.

  • Each customer may purchase and use 2 at a time!
  • Not valid on sale items or custom orders
  • Cannot be used with other promotions
  • Please use before Jan 1, 2011

Learn more: joychildrensboutique.com

Birmingham Events Calendar: Sept 13th – 19th

Posted on by Angie

It’s finally here! The week we find out which Birmingham Mom Rocks! We’re busy putting the finishing touches on this sure to be awesome event but in the meantime why don’t you check out what else is going on around town? Folksy Fun, a block party, talk like a Pirate day, Matey! There is no shortage of things happening around the city this week and weekend! We hope to see you all on Thursday night for our big event! Have a great week!

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

Monday September 13th

Holy Inappropriateness!!  We couldn’t find any special events happening in the ham’ today. See below for what’s going on daily at the Birmingham Zoo, McWane Science Center or Southern Museum of Flight.

——————————————————————————————————————-

Tuesday September 14th

Family Folksy Fun – Emmet O Neal Library
Mr. Eric, author and storyteller, will share with us for the first family night of the school year! Dinner is at 5:30 and the show starts at 6:00. No registration or cost – all ages are welcome!

Larry Moore the Magic Man – Hoover Library
A local favorite presents an evening of comedy and magic in the Library Theatre! Fun for the whole family!
6:30pm

Barnes and Noble –  Summit – Terrific Tuesday Storytime
Bestselling author Rob Sctton of Russell The Sheep, does it again with Splat the Cat. A whimsical story of first day school jitters and making new friends. Join us as we follow Splat’s journey and how he learns a valuable lesson.
11:00am

——————————————————————————————————————-

Wednesday September 15th

Block Party – Homewood Library
Grades 6-12 only. Join us after school to create a masterpiece using our Lego stash. Snacks will be served.
3:30 – 4:30

Pirates and Princesses – Emmet O Neal
School is in session, which means after-school specials are back! Visit our medieval market from 3:30 – 4:15 on Wednesday, September 15th. No registration or cost – ages 3 and up.

Education Celebration – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for a fun-filled hour of hands-on learning featuring our brand-new Barnes & Noble @ School section with educational toys and games.
2:00pm

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

——————————————————————————————————————

Thursday September 16th

Birmingham Moms Rock Event – Wine Loft Downtown
Join us for a fun night of food, live music, drink discounts and specials, prizes and swag all while we celebrate Birmingham Moms that Rock! Presented by Brookwood Medical Center, B-Metro and BirminghamMommy.com
Free Event with Complimentary Valet
6pm-9pm

Snap – Emmet O Neal
Go green at the Emmet O’Neal Library! We’ll be making crafts out of used materials. All 3rd-6th graders are welcome in our kids-only zone
3:30 – 4:30

——————————————————————————————————————

Friday September 17th

Wild about Books Story Time – Birmingham Zoo
Come join us for story and craft time with Books-A-Million at the Birmingham Zoo! Every Friday through summer on Grandma’s Front Porch in the Children’s Zoo area
10:00am

——————————————————————————————————————-

Saturday September 18th

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
A new, fun, and free drop-in art program for kids and families. Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month will highlight a different gallery and feature a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am – 1pm

Barts Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
WABI SABI A little cat in Tokyo on a quest to discover the meaning of his name.
READER: Ms. Blair, Our Lady of Sorrows School Librarian
11am

Children’s Storytime Ruffner Mountain
Is your child a budding naturalist? Bring them to Storytime to encourage their excitement about the outdoors. We will read a story with a nature theme. Following the story, there will be a short activity. Suited for children 2 – 5. All children must be accompanied by an adult during the program.
10am

30th Birthday Party Celebration – Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market is turning 30 years old this Fall! And we’ve got a celebration in store for you! More details to come!
Noon – 6pm

Talk Like a Pirate Day – North Shelby Library
Talk Like a Pirate Day: Avast me hearties! Stop by the Children’s Department anytime today to celebrate this day by talking like a pirate and go home with some special “booty!”

Helena Market Days/Farmers Market – Helena Amphitheater
8:00am – 12:00pm

Urban Cookhouse Farmers Market – Downtown Homewood
7am – Noon

Pepper Place Saturday Market
We spread out of the parking lot to include 29th Street as we accommodate local farmers, artisans, music, art and food!
7:00am – Noon

Valleydale Farmers Market –
Valleydale Farmers Market is dedicated to bringing fresh, local produce to communities around Alabama and the Southeast.
Music, cooking demos and storytimes along with fresh produce a great way to spend a day!

Saturday Storytime at Barnes and Noble Summit
If you give a cat a cupcake – The lovable cat who first appeared in If You Give a Pig a Party has his very own book! Author Laura Numeroff’s newest story will show everyone that Cat is where it’s at!
2:00pm

——————————————————————————————————————-

Sunday September 19th

Vulcan Aftertunes – Vulcan Park
Birmingham’s unique musical event returns to Red Mountain this fall for it’s sixth season! Enjoy cool tunes, fresh brews, and sweet views on Sunday afternoons with Birmingham’s hip iron man, Vulcan. Vulcan AfterTunes is a three-part concert series featuring local and national singer/songwriter acts. Kick back, relax and end your weekend with some of the area’s best music while enjoying spectacular views of Birmingham’s city skyline. Ticket price includes admission to Vulcan’s Observation Balcony and Museum.
Cool Tunes. Fresh Brews. Sweet Views.
Price: $10 General Admission; $5 Vulcan Members; $4 Ages 5 -12; FREE for Children 4 and under! Available this year a Family Pass for just $50 Learn More
3pm

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
A new, fun, and free drop-in art program for kids and families. Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month will highlight a different gallery and feature a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. 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

——————————————————————————————————————-

Open Daily

McWane Science Center

Mr Potato Head Exhibit – Families won’t want to miss The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD, a new interactive traveling exhibit that features the much-loved MR. POTATO HEAD character will lead young visitors and parents on a number of fun and educational adventures. From trips to outer space to jungle safaris and archaeological digs, each activity will provide children with engaging learning experiences. Through Sept. 26

Itty Bitty Magic City – NOTE: ITTY BITTY IS AN ITTY BIT SMALLER THIS SUMMER!
The Itty Bitty Magic City will be on display this summer in addition to The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head exhibit. The Itty Bitty City is a little bit smaller than usual, but favorite areas including the grocery store, Tot Spot area, crane, and factory are still in the city. The Itty Bitty Golf Course and a few other items were removed temporarily to make room for the new exhibit “The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head” that is also designed for an early childhood audience and they will return in the Fall.

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

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!

Meanwhile, at gymnastics

Posted on by Angie

By Country Fried Mama

As a mother, I am still fresh out of the baby years.  The Belle just turned two.  Miss D. is 4.  And I am still shocked by things those of you with older kids probably find obvious.

I no longer need to carry anyone down the stairs.

No one will collapse if I fail to produce snacks on demand.

My children are not me.

That last one hits me each week during Miss D.’s gymnastics class.  I sit in the parents’ holding pen for 45 minutes and watch her through the glass.  She is all ta-da hands on the gym floor, while my own fingers are gripped tightly to the edge of my chair.  I try not to gasp as the older girls go flipping and flying across bars and beams.  Miss D., thank goodness, is not performing circus feats yet.  But she is doing lots of things for the first time and approaching them with enthusiasm and glee.

There is little fear in this child.

Somersault on the balance beam? Sure.  Flip over the uneven bars?  Okey-dokey.  Hang from the rings and swing?  You got it.  Spend an hour a week with girls whom she (mostly) just met?  Of course.

She tries to talk to me through the glass sometimes, and I can’t hear her, but I’m certain of what she says. Her body language is far more: Did you see me?  I did it! than: I’m scared.  I don’t want to.  Can you come in here?

Who is this child?  Quite clearly, she is not me.  Sure, she has a white chalk handprint on her black leotard-clad bum, and that is totally something that would happen to her mother.  But otherwise?  This one is already her own person.

Which makes me feel three things:
We’re doing a great job!  She’s no mini-me!  She feels free to be herself in almost any circumstance!
She needs me less.  I am making myself redundant.  I am going to need to find some hobbies.  Or additional employment.
What if this doesn’t last?  What if she adopts self-doubt on her fifth birthday.  Or her sixth?  Or (more likely) her 12th?

So many of the 12-year-old gymnasts, the ones flipping and flying across the mats, wear shapeless T-shirts over their leotards.  They hunch their shoulders.  They look at their feet.  They spend their time at an activity designed to draw attention, and yet, they clearly don’t want anyone looking too closely.

When did that happen to them?  Were they confident and exuberant four-year-old gymnasts once, too?  And is there any way to stop the march from exhibitionist pre-schooler to shrinking pre-teen?

At the end of gymnastics class this week, Miss D. was sporting a pretty severe leotard wedgie.  She didn’t notice or care, though.  Four is a pretty wonderful age.

Country-Fried Mama is a transplanted Yankee raising two girls in the land of college football, sweet tea, and refined manners. Visit her blog at Country Fried Mama and follow her on Twitter @countryfried

When Mommy Needs a Time Out

Posted on by Angie

I’m so glad we’re all friends here. If I weren’t able to call you my friends I probably couldn’t confess to you that lately I’ve been spending a lot of my time in “time out.”

My days with 2 year old twins and a very outspoken, argumentative, smart and imaginative 4 year old have been trying. These are the parenting moments that don’t make the Kodak commercials, the moments you don’t really read about in books or magazines, the moments that most other Moms aren’t really talking about for fear they’ll be judged. I’m snappy, angry and couldn’t find my patience if it hit me in the head like a toy dinosaur.

I can’t even tell you how many times while I’m sitting in my time out I think, “Who am I and how did I get here?” My life is no longer my own, I am living under a dictatorship and answering to these tiny humans that are sticky, loud and color on my hardwood floors.

So how do we (please tell me I can use “we”) cope?

First off I think a Mommy Time Out is on the right track. Whether you’re dumping the kids with your family or neighbor and hightailing it to the car yelling “Serenity Now” or pulling a Charlotte from SATC 2 and crying in the pantry, don’t be afraid to sideline yourself. I read something lately that I try my best to remember before I blurt out things like “Are you Crazy? Of course we don’t scale the outside of the refrigerator like a zoo animal” It was something along the lines of:  “You can’t regret words you haven’t said.” A pretty powerful sentence to keep at the fore front of your mind. None of us want to do damage to our children’s psyche and words can be terribly hurtful. Take a breathe and walk away before saying something you might regret.

Spend a little time reflecting (even if it is while you’re in your time out) When was the last time you took time to enjoy just being you?  If you can’t remember the answer to that question then I have to say, you’re over due. Can you remember a time with no schedules, no lessons, carpools, or commitments? We must make time to take care of ourselves, mentally and physically. Call some friends or don’t, but get out of the house, have a kid free meal. Do you like to read? Head to the bookstore grab a coffee and just listen to the sweet sound of well, nothing. Have you forgotten what quiet sounds like?

Always say “I love you.” No matter how frustrated we are it’s so important for our children to know that even though Mommy is having a bad day, we still love them.

Parenting is not all rainbows and lollipops, it sucks sometimes and feeling that way or even saying it our loud does not make you a bad Mommy. How do you cope when you are having one of “those” days or when you’re running on fumes and have little to no patience to call your own?

Busy Mommy Bonding Series: Colors

Posted on by Angie

This month the theme is COLORS!

We’re all moms, and we know how busy life gets.  It’s hard to find meaningful activities to share with your children when there are literally millions out there.  Especially the 9-5 moms who come home and have only a few precious hours, of which dinnertime and bathtime take up most.   So we decided to start a series of BirminghamMommy tested, BirminghamMommy approved activities- every month we’ll share 2-3 fun and not-so-complicated-it-makes-you-quit-halfway-through projects.    Gather your supplies ahead of time and be ready for some serious bonding time with your babe!

Activity:  Color mixing,  This  shows kids how two colors can combine to make a new one.  It’s a very tactile and sensory oriented activity great for all learners.

Materials:
Ketchup
Mustard
Sandwich baggies

This is easy- put some ketchup in one corner of a baggie, then the same amount of mustard in the other corner.  Seal it.  Double check that you sealed it, trust me on this one.  Then let your kids squeeze their little hearts out.  (If you’re one of those free spirited parents, you can even let them do this with bare hands and no baggie.  But that’s just crazy to me.)   Talk to the kids about the change that’s happening, pointing out that red plus yellow makes a new color.  (Technically they make orange, but because of the darker coloring of the mustard, it turns out brown.)

52 New Things – Week 35

Posted on by Angie

Angie –

I volunteered to be Room Mom. This is a task that I have always shied away from, it’s something I wanted to do but didn’t want to over commit and fail my child (and the teachers and other mothers.) When the Munchkin started pre-school the twins were new, only about 5 months old so I had put in my mind that I would do my time as Room Mom once all the kids were in school and I had more time to devote to those little extras. This year there was a need and I agreed. I’ve been assured that it’s mostly just reminding the other Moms via email (which I can rock) who brings goldfish and who drives on the field trips. I can’t speak yet to whether or not I would do it again as I haven’t really done anything yet. If you have any tips, throw them my way!

Trish –

My new thing this week was a Brita water filter.  I go green when it makes sense, but one area I’ve been resistant is water bottles.  I like them.  I like seeing them lined up row after row in my fridge.  I like grabbing one and walking away.  But I decided to try something else, something that I have always viewed as incapable of working.  I bought a Brita water filter and so far so good.  It’s cheaper (which ties in to my many budget new things) and it’s green.

For more New Things or if you’d like to participate in 52 new things along with BirminghamMommy and many others – please join in by posting your new thing to your blog, facebook or on twitter (use #52newthings) – Also, you can head over to www.willblogforshoes.com to link up every Thursday!

Birmingham Events Calendar – Sept. 6th – Sept. 12th

Posted on by Angie

Happy Labor Day Weekend! We hope you all have been able to spend some time with the family, get a little taste of college football and revel in this cooler almost fall like weather! As we head into fall the city gets busy providing so many things for us to do. This week you can check out Cocktails in the Gardens at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens or explore the culture in downtown during this years Artwalk. Storytimes are back, there’s a Lego Mini Build at the Galleria and a Build and Grow workshop at Lowe’s…..Whew! Have a great week!

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

Monday September 6th

Holy Inappropriateness!!  We couldn’t find any special events happening in the ham’ today. See below for what’s going on daily at the Birmingham Zoo, McWane Science Center or Southern Museum of Flight.

——————————————————————————————————————-

Tuesday September 7th

10 Cent Cookie Tuesday – Whole Foods
Barring any cookie monster attacks we’ll have our silver dollar-size chocolate chip cookies, baked fresh in the Bakery, for just 10 cents each. Buy a whole bushel and freeze them for later!
While Supplies Last

Library Out Loud – Emmet O Neal
45 minutes of fun and laughs with crafts, puppets, skits, and a movie. Snack is provided. Kindergarten – 2nd grade welcome.
3:30pm

Lego Mini Build – Lego Store Riverchase Galleria
LEGO Boy with Backpack: begins at 5:00pm until supplies last

Barnes and Noble –  Summit – Terrific Tuesday Storytime
Award-winning author Jerry Spinelli has done it again with the be-true-to-yourself title, I Can Be Anything! This book is an imaginative joyride about hopes and dreams, and a reminder of all the possibilities of life!
11:00am

——————————————————————————————————————-

Wednesday September 8th

Education Celebration – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for a fun-filled hour of hands-on learning featuring our brand-new Barnes & Noble @ School section with educational toys and games.
2:00pm

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

——————————————————————————————————————

Thursday September 9th

Cocktails In Garden – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Hundreds of young professionals, garden enthusiasts and local music fans enjoy food and drinks from Occasions by Wynfrey, live music from local bands, giveaways from Mia Moda and more. Tickets are $15 to each event, but members get in free–join today! Proceeds benefit The Gardens’ mission to promote public knowledge and appreciation of plants, gardens, and the environment.
5:30pm – 8:30pm

——————————————————————————————————————

Friday September 10th

Birmingham Artwalk
Artwalk is an arts festival that transforms Birmingham’s loft neighborhood into an arts district, featuring the work of more than 100 visual artists, live musicians, street performers, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities. The event is free to the public and in the last three years has become a much anticipated fall event drawing visitors from all over to downtown Birmingham.
5pm – 10pm

Wild about Books Story Time – Birmingham Zoo
Come join us for story and craft time with Books-A-Million at the Birmingham Zoo! Every Friday through summer on Grandma’s Front Porch in the Children’s Zoo area
10:00am

——————————————————————————————————————-

Saturday September 11th

Birmingham Artwalk
Artwalk is an arts festival that transforms Birmingham’s loft neighborhood into an arts district, featuring the work of more than 100 visual artists, live musicians, street performers, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities. The event is free to the public and in the last three years has become a much anticipated fall event drawing visitors from all over to downtown Birmingham.
Noon – 6pm

Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic
Bring your child to Lowe’s and they can build this fun Leash Hanger! Even if you don’t have a pet, they will have a blast building it!
10am

Helena Market Days/Farmers Market – Helena Amphitheater
8:00am – 12:00pm

Urban Cookhouse Farmers Market – Downtown Homewood
7am – Noon

Pepper Place Saturday Market
We spread out of the parking lot to include 29th Street as we accommodate local farmers, artisans, music, art and food!
7:00am – Noon

Valleydale Farmers Market –
Valleydale Farmers Market is dedicated to bringing fresh, local produce to communities around Alabama and the Southeast.
Music, cooking demos and storytimes along with fresh produce a great way to spend a day!

Saturday Storytime at Barnes and Noble Summit
Nathan Saves Summer tells the story of a hippopotamus, Nathan, whose lifelong dream is to become a lifeguard. Author Gerry Renert created Nathan and his friends after research of African animals and their environments.
2:00pm

——————————————————————————————————————-

Sunday September 12th

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

——————————————————————————————————————-

Open Daily

McWane Science Center

Mr Potato Head Exhibit – Families won’t want to miss The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD, a new interactive traveling exhibit that features the much-loved MR. POTATO HEAD character will lead young visitors and parents on a number of fun and educational adventures. From trips to outer space to jungle safaris and archaeological digs, each activity will provide children with engaging learning experiences. Through Sept. 26

Itty Bitty Magic City – NOTE: ITTY BITTY IS AN ITTY BIT SMALLER THIS SUMMER!
The Itty Bitty Magic City will be on display this summer in addition to The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head exhibit. The Itty Bitty City is a little bit smaller than usual, but favorite areas including the grocery store, Tot Spot area, crane, and factory are still in the city. The Itty Bitty Golf Course and a few other items were removed temporarily to make room for the new exhibit “The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head” that is also designed for an early childhood audience and they will return in the Fall.

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

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!

Piggy Herb Garden

Posted on by Angie

Here’s a little craft you can do with the kiddos that will actually benefit you, if you like fresh herbs.

Here’s what you will need for this craft:

  • 3 Large Eggs
  • Bowl
  • Egg Carton
  • Waterproof Markers
  • Potting Soil
  • Herb Seeds

Start by making a hole in the top of your eggs, about the size of a quarter. Empty the eggs into your bowl and use those to scramble later! Carefully clean the eggs with a little soap and water, rinse thoroughly and allow them to dry.

Once your eggshells are dry, get creative by drawing some fun faces on your eggs. We did pigs but any face will be fun for this project. Remember be very very careful.

Fill your shells with soil and sprinkle your seeds inside. Set them in your egg carton. We trimmed ours down to 3 and it fits perfectly in the window sill. Use your marker to label the carton and set your herb egg in it’s appropriate place. Gently water.

Set them in a sunny spot and make sure to keep the soil moist, before you know it you will have little sprouts of herbs ready to garnish your delicious dinner.

*this craft idea was found in Humpty Dumpty magazine

Rockin' Moms! Meet our Nominees

Posted on by Angie

Thank you again to everyone that nominated your friends and loved ones for our Birmingham Moms Rock Event. We received so many wonderful submissions our task of narrowing it down to only ten was very difficult.  We received pages of heartfelt stories about everyone and the short profile we put together below does not even scratch the surface on how these Moms rock. After much deliberation we are happy to introduce you to our nominees!

Laura Kate Whitney – LK Loves Birmingham! She is a go-getter with an optimism and energy that is infectious. After being re-located to the Magic City and leaving her close friends behind she has embraced her new town and planted roots that will last a lifetime.  Moving is no easy task and can mean a loss of connection to a community but LK has made sure that her son will never have that problem. His mother will show him the beauty in the city he is in as well as the beauty of the people in that city. She has become a valuable advocate to our community, encouraging others to get out and see what Birmingham has to offer. Her attitude is admirable, and we can all hope for her to serve as a role model for other moms in our town. We love reading her newcomers take on Birmingham on her Blog: Magic City Manifesto

Talene Yacoubian – Described as a “Super Hero able to leap long hours, tall grant writing deadlines and hair-graying lab politics,” Talene is a working Mom to 2 children, a 4 year old and a 9 month old. She handles a career in cutting edge science and clinical neurology while still being able to maintain the demands of motherhood. After working long hours she still comes home with an unfathomable reserve of  energy to make her time with her girls as happy and exciting as possible. The energy she is able to give them is a combination of her natural strength and the equally natural joy that bounces between her and her girls when they are together. It’s not just her medical skills that make this Mom the best boo-boo soother in their house.

Nicola Stephens – Mom to a 5 year old little boy, 4 year old little girl and pregnant with number 3, Nicola is the President of a local Moms Club that she manages with great care. In her pre-mommy years she was a traveling nurse originally from England, she grew up in Canada, met her husband in Texas and has been in Birmingham for a few years and is now a stay at home mom. Nicola has a happy demeanor even when dealing with the toughest situations and her willingness to help other moms is remarkable. She is patient with her children and is always ready to lend an ear, or a shoulder to a friend that may need one, she gives and never expects the favors to be returned. Caring, considerate, positive and fabulous are all words that can be used to describe this Birmingham Mom.

Brandy Dahlen – Brandy is a mother who lives every aspect of her life around her family. She homeschools her children and devotes her life to experiencing every day with them. She is always the mom with the patience and the calming attitude. Earlier this year her 2 year old daughter Abigail was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Even in the face of the loss of her beautiful baby, she goes on for her 4 other children. She has the courage to not only face each day, but to face it and try to find a way for her family to go on. She doesn’t leave Abigail behind, but keeps her memory present. Even though it’s hard, she will never let her baby be forgotten. All 5 of her children are so fortunate to know the love of such a wonderful mother, every day. On the good days, but especially on the bad days.

Keri- Lane-Hontzas –Keri has always been destined to be the mom that made all the other kids think “I wish my Mom was that cool.” She makes sure that her daughter has the opportunity to participate is numerous extracurricular activities. From dancing, to swimming, art and theater camps, she accompanies her mom to plays and performances at the local theater and symphony, she helps her garden and has been introduced to the world of charitable work by helping raise money for local animal shelters. When Keri travels, she makes sure to leave behind little tokens around the house for the kids to find. As her son (born in March) gets older there is no doubt he will be afforded all of the same fun opportunities. In addition to being an all around fun mom, she manages to run her home based business. She is involved in event management, and is the producer of the Rocky Horror Masquerade Ball at the Alabama theater. She sits on the board of the GB Humane Society, has volunteered for Do Dah Day, City Stages and held the position of Producer of the Sidewalk Film Festival.  She never fails to make time for her husband and friends showing them kindness and love and setting a wonderful example for her children by living her life this way.

Abigail Williams – Having 2 girls under the age of 3, Abi still manages to be an incredible mother, wife, friend, teacher, debate coach, volunteer and individual.  One of the many remarkable things about Abi is her ability to rally and advocate for her children who both suffer from severe asthma, allergies and other complications. With many trips in and out of the hospital for one of her daughters, she took it upon herself to research the perfect diet to increase her daughters immune system and lung health. In addition to being Mom Extraordinaire she teaches full time at Samford University and is a member of and on the steering committee for Survivors Overcoming Abusive Relationships (SOAR) helping young women learn from her difficult past. Even when running on zero sleep she manages to plan daily activities and crafts for her girls. She sets a wonderful example that you can have a career and a loving famil,y that forsaking one for the other is not inevitable in today’s world.

Kona Romans – Kona is a mom who never stops. She has 2 very active boys, one who was diagnosed with autism. She has handled his diagnosis well and is able to work with him and maintain a level of patience that most people just don’t have. She has become his advocate in every way possible. She is not a mom that sits by and lets the system pass her son through, she fights to insure he is treated equally. She also works part-time to help support her family all while managing to maintain a close group of friends to whom she is invaluable. She’s a kind person who’s hard work goes unnoticed on a daily basis.

Claire Davis – She works for a local adoption agency and will be adopting a baby boy from Uganda with her husband. While not “traditionally expecting” she’s expecting nonetheless. Caring and Compassionate, Claire pours herself into a homeless boy’s shelter in Peru (Puerto Alegria) and personally sells jewelry to raise support for the boys. She has been on numerous trips to Peru and loves investing in others. In addition to her job and charitable work she also volunteers as a small group leader in their church.  She has a heart for the lost and for children and that can be seen by everyone around her.

Jennifer Dowling – Jennifer was a single mom for 4 years after her husband passed away when their daughter was almost 2 years old. While being a single mom she successfully managed her career in Medical Sales where she was ranked number 1 in the country. She struggled with so many things during that time. The uncertainty of being a single mom, loneliness, debating between working or focusing on her child during the important developmental years all while trying to deal with grief. Jennifer is now re-married and expecting her second child this October. She is a complete joy to be around and her daughter is so excited to be a big sister. She has managed to independently raise a sunny spirited child that is cheerful and nurturing all without a father figure. That speaks volumes to her ability as a mother.

Jeremi Payne – Jeremi has an amazing heart. She has 1 adopted child from the foster care system and is waiting on her other 2 to become official, hopefully within the next year. One of these children is the baby sister to her adopted daughter. She was born premature and in the ICU. Jeremi would go in every morning at 4am to give her her first feeding just so this sweet child would have something stable in this world. She even goes to great lengths to include extended family by taking one of the older siblings shopping and having her with the family on holidays and birthdays. She takes in kids knowing that at any moment they could be stripped from her care. Before becoming a full time mom, she was a highschool teacher and now is involved in the mother’s program and Sunday school at her church.

Droolicious Cuisine at BirminghamMommy: Chicken and Dumplings

Posted on by Angie

This recipe is all about comfort. Let’s face it, we live in the south, “comfort-food” is our middle name. This month we’re letting MommaDrool tempt us with this yummy recipe of Chicken and Dumplings.  If you’re counting calories, just substitute the Campbell’s Healthy Request Cream of Celery and Cream of Chicken for the original.  You can also save time by using a rotisserie chicken from your grocer’s deli or just add two large chicken breasts to a crock pot with a 1/2 cup of chicken broth and cook.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1- 32 ounce container of chicken broth or stock
3 cups of shredded cooked chicken
1 can cream of celery
1 can cream of chicken
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1- 10.2 ounce can of refrigerated jumbo buttermilk biscuits
Directions:
1) Stir together chicken broth, shredded cooked chicken, cream of celery, cream of chicken, and poultry seasoning in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
2) Place biscuits on a floured surface and pat to 1/8-inch thickness.  Cut biscuit dough into small 1/2-inch wide strips.
3) Return broth to a low boil over medium-high heat.  Drop strips into broth one at a time to prevent sticking.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
You can find many more droolicious recipes over at her site, “2 Little Chicks”

Advertisements