My new thing this week was….I baked a cake from scratch. I confess…I’m a box-cake girl. I finally tried my hand at baking a homemade Red Velvet Cake, and it was…awful. It was dry and hot pink! But the frosting was fantastic, so I ate that instead.
Angie –
This week, I saw a new movie.. We were bored on Saturday, my husband was vegging out on Basketball so I loaded up the 4 year old and we went to see “How to Train your Dragon.” This movie was EXCELLENT!! I highly suggest seeing it in the theater, in 3D – I don’t normally like 3D, but I think I might have enjoyed this movie more than the 4 year olds.
Trish –
My new thing was to try a new recipe every day. It worked out to only be 4 in the week, 3 of which were desserts!
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!
Brand new to the market, released in time to celebrate Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary month, check out Greenzy’s, give a Greenzy a home and they will plant a tree in your honor!
Life Accessories
We love these market feed bags – perfect for hauling your pool gear, heading out to Pepper Place or any place else! These also make great teacher gifts!
Need style? Want eco-friendly too? Not a problem. Check out June 15. Lovely.
Plastic baggies are so 2002 – check out these reusable snack bags – fun prints at Reusies, super-hip style at Graze Organic and sweet style at theENDpeace on Etsy.
And one of our favorite clothing companies ever. Ever. (These clothes almost NEVER show wear. Even after being handed-down!) Hanna Andersson Organic Cotton Clothing!
If you have a soft spot in your heart for animals, this is an event you will want to attend. Join the Summit, The Greater Birmingham Humane Society, and Do Dah Day for this great outdoor event that will be fun for the whole family, including those furry little 4 legged loved ones!
Happening on Saks Plaza it will be a pet adoption festival, complete with live music, dog training seminars, face painting, balloon animals, arts and crafts, giveaways and our favorite, Pet Characture Drawings!!
The mobile pet adoption vehicle will be in town for one day only, if you adopt a pet at the event, you will receive a $20 Summit Gift card, it’s a win/win!
Mark your calendars now for this awesome event that goes to help a wonderful organization!
Friday April 9th – 10am – 4pm
Free for the whole family!
For more information on The Greater Birmingham Humane Society or how to adopt a new 4 legged family member of your own, visit their site
**This giveaway is closed. Thanks for entering! Winner to be announced shortly! **
The nice people at Happy Green Bee Organic Clothing sent me a darling little top to try out. I love it and my daughter wears it often (I’m sort of stripe-happy right now). It’s lightweight, organic (= soft) and colorful! I’ve been happy with how it’s held up during washes and wear. I am also happy with their clothing selection online and am currently planning a few Spring purchases.
They use the following description to tell a little about themselves, we think it sums things up nicely: “Where childhood is a time for high-energy play, creative exploration and wholesome natural goodness. Discover comfy organic cotton, simple stylish designs and cheerful colors to be mixed and matched in endless combinations for organic kids’ clothes that are as fun to buy as they are to wear.”
Want to know more about organic clothing? Check out this link from their site.
Not only do I get to try out a piece of their darling clothing, but so do one of you! Register for your chance to win a chemise from the company!
You can register by doing the following:
Just comment below, once per day!
You can also grab ONE additional entry by visiting their site and telling us about a product you’d love to have.
You can also grab ONE additional entry by subscribing to the Birminghammommy.com monthly newsletter
**For EACH entry, you must return to this page and comment or your entry will not count. If you already subscribe to the Birminghammommy newsletter, just comment to let us know! **
The giveaway ends Monday, April 12th at Noon CST, no late entries will be counted.
*The item reviewed was provided by the company Happy Green Bee Clothing at their expense. Please see our review policy with any questions you may have*
In honor of National Volunteer Month, this month we will be dedicating our Giving Highlight to Casey’s Cause. We continue to find it amazing what friends and loved ones can do when they come together to honor the love and life of a child they’ve lost.
Casey’s Cause was incorporated in March 2007 by a group of family and friends of Casey Marie Grant, a seven-year old girl who was diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a rare blood platelet disorder. Nine days after being diagnosed, Casey passed away on January 25, 2007 from a massive hemorrhage.
Jason and Christine Grant have a passion for promoting the awareness of ITP. “When Jason and I left the hospital we were determined to do something, anything in order to help others affected by ITP. We did not want anyone else to have to walk in our shoes and believed that by spreading the word about ITP we could make a difference.” Says Christine.
Supporting the research efforts of the Platelet Disorder Support Association who work with doctors and patients assessing lifestyle changes as a result of symptoms and treatments of ITP, Casey’s Cause also supports the ITP Foundation whose research efforts are based worldwide and start at the cellular level. In addition, they have teamed up with the Charley Foundation to support a weekend camp for children affected by ITP and their families. Other funds are utilized to assist families, local or elsewhere, with the needs of their chronically ill children.
5 out of 100,000 children are diagnosed with the most common age group being 2-5 years old, 20% of those children will have ITP long term or chronic. Treatment is either to suppress the immune system which decreases platelet destruction or to improve platelet production. ITP is difficult because there is no specific treatment plan, while it may not be a life threatening disorder it is absolutely life altering for everyone involved.
The 3rd Annual Casey’s Cause 10k, 5k and Fun Run will be held Saturday, April 24th, at 8:00am, benefiting Camp Charley – a weekend camp for kids with ITP and their families.
For more information or to Register for this years race – you can do so online until April 22nd.
If you would like to make a donation or would like more information regarding Casey’s Cause, ITP, or to find out how you can help or volunteer with this special organization, visit their site at Caseyscause.org
Bumps and scrapes happen while we’re away from home just as much as when we’re in our own driveway. Be “that” mom who is prepared for anything by assembling this easy peasy first-aid car kit!
Supplies:
a used baby wipe tub to store your supplies (if you really want to go all out, decorate it!)
a package of multi-size bandages – go ahead and scout out the web for coupons – they’re likely out there!
a tube of antibiotic ointment (store brand works too!)
antiseptic towelettes
hand sanitizer (get the small bottle and just refill it from a larger one you have in-home)
thermometer
children and adult-dose acetaminophen or ibuprofen
children and adult-dose antihistamine
anti-diarrheal medicine
sunscreen (50 spf)
tweezers
a lollipop or other treat to help sooth an aching sweetie!
Stash this in the trunk or under a seat (out of reach of children!) and you’ll be ready for travel to the ballpark or across the country!
*This is a basic list to have on hand – if you or your family require additional medications, tailor your kit to suit your needs. Also, when traveling long distances, it’s always safe to pack some extra water and food. It’s always best to know the closest medical treatment facility when traveling – so scope them out along the way and be prepared!
The popular Texas restaurant, Chuy’s will be opening at the Summit in Birmingham as part of the center’s third phase. Known for it’s fresh ingredients, large portions and eclectic decor, the restaurant is set to open this summer. Construction has already begun and will include an expansive patio area with and indoor/outdoor bar (Yippe!).
Chuy’s Birmingham diners can expect a taste of the restaurant’s signature décor including hand-carved wooden
fish, colorful art, hubcaps on the ceiling, metal palm trees in the dining room and a custom Birmingham-version of the Chuy’s Elvis shrine. So, so far, we’ve got an indoor/outdoor bar, hubcaps and Elvis – alrighty folks, I think we have a new hangout!
“Chuy’s is an institution throughout Texas,” said Frank Biller, Vice President of Operations, Southeast. “But we have a saying, ‘if you’ve seen one Chuy’s, you’ve seen one Chuy’s.’ While there will be a lot ofcarryover of our décor, we fully expect this Chuy’s to be uniquely Birmingham.”
Chuy’s will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The restaurant’s happy hour will include drink
specials and the fully loaded nacho car, with free queso, chips, salsa and taco meat. Features on the menu
include Burritos As Big As Yo’ Face, Stuffed Chile Rellenos and margaritas made with fresh-squeezed lime. Chuy’s is known for exceptional service and unbelievable portions at a phenomenal value, with only one item on the menu over $10.
Chuy’s has the reputation across Texas as the most fun and friendly spot to eat real Mexican food at a great price. For more information, visit Facebook.com/ChuysNashville or www.chuys.com.
My new thing for this week comes back to food, do you see a pattern here? We had our monthly bookclub at one of my favorite restaurants. Whenever possible I order the lobster tacos because they are phenomenal, only they are so special, they are elusive most times. With them not having the lobster tacos on the specials menu (again,) I was forced to choose something else but didn’t want my same ole, same ole, so I let the Server talk me into the crab enchiladas, they were also very tasty. Not as tasty as the Lobster, but very tasty indeed. If you are ever in the mood for some Crab Enchiladas and you find yourself at Cocina Superior, try them out, your taste buds will thank you – unless of course you passed on the lobster for the crab.
Trish –
My new thing this week was to designate play time. I keep finding that when I could be playing with the kids, I’m always opting to load the dishwasher or vacuum or facebook (eek!). Those things need to get done of course(minus the facebook) , but I stay home so I can teach my kids. So we have added playtimes to our routine. We played before but it was just sporadic and the kids didn’t know if I’d be able to play or not. Now they know that at this certain time every day, we play.
Jamie –
My new thing this week was this KILLER recipe from Everyday Food. I saw it on their television program on Public Television and it looked so good I wanted to crawl into the tv to eat it. So, we made it – and WOW. It’s a must. Without further adieu –
Turkey Meatloaf with Fontina, Mushrooms and Leeks
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
coarse salt and ground pepper
2 small leeks, white and light-green parts only, thinly slices, washed and dried thoroughly
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup shredded fontina cheese (4 ounces)
1 slice day old bread, cubed
1 large egg
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage leaves
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey (93% lean)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Working in batches, cook mushrooms, stirring once or twice, until deep golden brown, about 5 minutes per batch. Season with salt and pepper, transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Return skillet to medium and add 1 tablespoon oil. Add leeks and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 4 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add to bowl with mushrooms and let cool.
Add fontina, bread, egg, and sage to bowl and mix until thoroughly combined. Mix in turkey, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. On a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet, use your hands to form turkey mixture into a 10-inch loaf. Bake until cooked through, about 45 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
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!
The economy has, well…shrank. My budget right along with it. But we’re pulling through – we’re staying positive and we’re working harder than ever to stretch our dollars. I’ve managed to clean up my spending and make (almost) every dollar count toward a bright future for my family. I try to keep the long-term in mind as I make spending decisions and I think it’s working for us. We asked our readers for some of their best budgeting secrets – this is what they had to share:
Reader Lee F. had this to say:
We learned this in Dave Ramsey. Use cash. If you take 100 dollars into Costco then that is all you can spend. Really works.
Reader Brandy B. had this to say:
I never buy anything full price and We always look online before we just got in a store to buy something. It is crazy at how much you can save just buy checking around. I try to buy store brands but some things I just can’t. If it is not a store brand I go to the company’s website and get a coupon for that certain item. It is great that most of them are now on social networks and we can get coupons through email.
Reader and Contributor Amber B had this to say:
I limit trips to the store–I try to do a meal plan then list out the ingredients I’ll need all week. Going multiple times always means I buy additional junk!!
Reader April B. had this to say:
We keep a detailed spreadsheet, and update it daily to ensure that it corresponds with the checking account. It is tedious but we know how we spend every dime.
Reader and Contributor Rebecca J. Had this to say:
I find lots of ideas based on good, old-fashioned Yankee frugality at domesticcents.com.
Reader Jane W. had this to say:
If I can’t pay cash …i don’t need it…it works!!! Also during the year i save all my change so when Christmas rolls around I have at least 500 dollars or more to spend..I’ve been doing that for a few years now.
Reader (and Bargain Queen – I know her!) Alexis M. had this to say:
second hand shopping, coupons, and discount stores!
Reader Kate A. had this to say:
Just the obvious, like spending time to meal plan, and matching coupons with weekly special discounts etc…
One other hint is in regard to medical bills. If you have a larger medical bill looming, most hospitals and doctors offices will give you a discount off of it if you ask them and tell them you’ll pay it all at once! In both births of my children we literally saved hundreds of dollars by doing this.
We’ll be spotlighting this awesome kids clothing company soon – as well as hosting a giveaway! In the meantime, check them out (and don’t miss the factory store link at the bottom!)!
Jamie –
