Homewood Central Park, Community Center
1632 Oxmoor Road
3:00 to 5:30 P.M.
Real Salamanders, arts & crafts, learn about fish, recycling & composting, fossil track display, gardening display and much more.
Technical Knockout will have their truck at the festival to collect unwanted electronics – they specialize in electronic destruction and computer re-cycling. Bring any electronics that plug-in, except no TV sets.
PROGRAM TO BE PRESENTED AT 4:00
Music with “The Herb Trotman Band,” Clogging, Awards, Breakdancing, and the story about salamanders!
Come join in the fun! And it’s all FREE except for items at our “Salamander Store.”
All right moms, let’s be honest. There are a few things that we love, love, love so much that we’d eat it all the time. One of mine is feta. You can put feta on a shoe and I’ll at least try it.
Zoe’s Kitchen is already a favorite spot of moms in Birmingham for several reasons: it’s clean, has healthy food options, and is kid friendly. We told you back in 2008 how much we love Zoe’s, and now they’ve earned a prime spot on our “Local Resources” page too! But what we’re really loving now is that they evolve!
They’ve spiced their menu up with a few new options. (Not that my beloved chicken roll ups aren’t good enough, they’re just trying to stay fresh. We like fresh.)
Hummus… why haven’t they had hummus all along? It’s such a great fit and it just makes sense that they should have it. Well now, they do. And it is homemade and tastes like it crawled right out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Dip it, dip it now! The Hummus Salad Plate consists of hummus, greek salad, olives, tomato-cucumber salad, served with pita.
The steak roll ups are a heartier cousin of the chicken roll ups. If I had to pick I’d say chicken for lunch and steak for dinner. More filling with swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms, and the yogurt dip was divine. Men will like this new option, since chicken is girly. (According to my meat and potato lovin’ man)
Chocolate chip cookies were so good that I’d do bad things to get them. Enough said. Though I should add that they are even better when popped in the microwave for a few seconds.
Braised white beans were a unique side that you won’t get tired of because no one else in town has it. Think rosemary and white bean… then get a fork because it’s the perfect amount of herb and creaminess.
One other menu change is that the Greek Chicken Dinner for 4 was taken off the menu due to declining demand, but has been replaced with the Rollup Combo Dinner for 4 which is a much more kid-friendly dinner.
The new menu is available now at all the Birmingham (and beyond) locations!
Make sure to check into following Zoe’s on Twitter and Facebook. They’ve even been doing a few promotions for fans and followers only – so… what are you waiting for?
Now – want a chance to win some zoe’s? Head over to Grasping for Objectivity! Rachel has a great giveaway going for 10 (separate winners) zoe’s meal cards valid for the steak rollups and your choice of side! Plus, while you’re there, check out her review!
I’d hear jingle, jingle clank, clank each time he’d shift his weight while sitting, albeit rather impatiently, in the large, green chair in our living room. Conner didn’t ask too many questions and accepted his sentencing – to wait out 4 hours with military grade handcuffs strapped around one ankle.
Not 30 minutes prior, Conner’s curiosity captured him and his right leg. He trapped himself in the handcuffs an employee gave my husband as prank gift, and came to me for the keys.
“Oh no baby! Daddy has the keys on his key ring and he’s at work till 4, at least!” I answered to his sad little eyes.
He responded with the look he normal gives when he says “Are you being serious, momma?”.
I laughed a bit with Conner to lighten the mood while assuring him that the cuffs were not on tight, and then Michael text me a suggestion – “put the other cuff on the same leg”. (Oh man, the laughter) This way, Conner wouldn’t be annoyed with the cuffs hanging off his leg and on to the floor nor would they wear on his skin.
I grabbed a long pair of pj bottoms, pulled the leg through the first cuff, and gently locked the second. Conner sat so quietly, and laughed only when I told him he was my prisoner for the day.
And so he waited, without so much as a peep.
Four hours later, Michael walked through the front door. Conner sunk slowly to the ground from his green chair and placed one cuffed ankle into the air. He didn’t say a word but his face read “UNLOCK ME NOW!”. Michael slipped the key into each cuff, turned and suddenly, Conner was free.
He hasn’t asked about the handcuffs since his “hard time”, they’ve been put away (NEVER TO BE USED BY ANYONE) and maybe, he has learned that the criminal lifestyle is not for him. After all, no one looks good in stripes and ankle bracelets.
About Amanda:
My name is Amanda and my last name is hardly pronounceable. I’m currently 25 and the mother of 2 half-breed monkey/gorilla hybrids wonderfully rowdy boys (under 5), blogging LIVE! from a city somewhere in Alabama… I have the personality of a 6′6″ man trapped in a 4′10.5″ body. I’m loud, sometimes bitchy, occasionally moody, disorganized yet incredibly passionate and a total goofball. My friends just think I’m odd and that’s fine by me.
You can read more from Amanda over at The Mom Job and you can follow her on twitter @themomjob
Excited about seeing Wizard of Oz in March? Tickets go on sale this Friday to the general public, but if you click HERE you can get them before they go on sale by using password EMERALD.
The show is March 9-14 at the BJCC Concert Hall. Look forward to seeing you all there!!
This week, I jumped feet first into the world of wordpress.org. I know, I know, could this get any more intriguing. But for me, it was a) a first and b) very exciting. I started the weekend off by taking a seminar by Tammy Hart. The class was fabulous – I only wish I’d stayed for the more in-depth second session. From there, I grabbed some hosting space from our favorite designer, Shauna, and dove in. I’m spending countless hours learning as I go, but I’m finding it all terribly fascinating.
Angie
While it’s not quite as glamorous as taking on New York City and seeing Martha Stewart, this week, Trish and I conquered local television in a live interview on Talk of Alabama, on ABC 33/40. We were invited on to talk as “local blog experts” about our trip to see Martha, and about the Juicebox Jukebox.
We weren’t really prepped for the interview, we knew kind of what we were going to be talking about, but other than that, nada. I think we did a pretty good job considering my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. It was fun, we had a great time and can’t wait to do it again!
Trish
My new thing this week was running. Of course I have run before, but I mean running as a means of exercise, rather than running to a sale and clawing a few women to get my purse. I’m just not a runner. I like being active but running makes my side cramp, my lungs burn, etc. In preparation of the Gabe’s Hope run, I bit the bullet and ran a mile after pilates this week. A mile!! I haven’t done that since high school when we took some kind of President’s Challenge. I did it without stopping and now have a plan to build up my endurance and TRY TRY TRY to enjoy running. It’s so good for you, and it’s free.
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!
Mommadrool has done it again! She’s concocted a delicious dinner for us to savor on a cold winter’s night. Enjoy!
Mommadrool’s Pseudo-Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients:
1 pound ground sirloin
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 cup frozen peas
1 onion, finely chopped
1 bell pepper, finely chopped
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 package Simply Potatoes Original Mashed Potatoes (in the egg/milk section at the store)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup A1 Steak Sauce
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add olive oil to a skillet and warm over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook for 8 minutes over medium heat.
2) Add ground sirloin and heat until cooked through, stirring frequently.
3) Stir in peas, Worcestershire sauce, and A1 Steak Sauce and simmer for 6 minutes.
4)Spread meat mixture into the bottom of a glass baking dish.
5) In a bowl, mix potatoes with 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Spread potatoe mixture on top of meat. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheddar cheese on the top of casserole.
You know one way to make a “so-so” outfit look show-stopping? Statement jewelry – jewelry that makes a statement. This is the easiest way to dress up even a plain-jane t-shirt into a hot-mama outfit in no time. Look for large (or small) pieces that are unique and interesting! Experiment with bold accessories, such as necklaces or cuff bracelets to stand out in the crowd.
Legwork, done. Going (and enjoying yourself), up to you…
~Kristine Gresh
Right off the bat and most importantly, you are not going to enjoy yourself if you are feeling guilty. So, shrug off any of it you’re feeling (I mean, you deserve this) and replace it with a fabulous pair of party shoes. Or that little black dress you haven’t worn in a while. Or your favorite jeans. Just put on something that makes you feel great, yet comfortable.
Now, leave the kids with someone you trust and don’t tell them you’ll be home by 10. A night out’s kiss of death is time-checking all night. Plus, some of the best moments tend to happen when you hang out for that third or fourth “last” cocktail or the end-of-the-night pancake stop.
Ok, time to head out the door. But where to go? Believe it or not, there are plenty of options in Birmingham…the challenge can be discovering them. Well, problem solved. Here are a few ideas, depending on what you’re in the mood for. Let’s skip “places to go for dinner” right now and concentrate on other types of night out options…
Let’s begin. Wine bars are a fabulous destination for either a romantic night with the darling husband, or a girls’ night out with a few of your ‘besties’. You can really chat in this setting, catch up on all things…that means kid stuff and non-kid stuff. Remember that opinions on politics and fashion are important too… not just bedtimes and feeding schedules. So, order a glass of wine or champagne, get comfortable and discuss. Check out one of these local establishments:
Ultra hip, modern, very “louge-y” and open with comfy couches, try their baked brie appetizer – it has a honey and balsamic drizzle and it’s downright splendid.
Wine’d Down (Patton Creek, Hoover) www.wineddown.com
A tad more casual, this place is great for trying a new wine, meeting up with a few friends last minute or grabbing a pre- or post-dinner cocktail.
26 (1210 20th St South) www.twentysix26.com
Sibling restaurant to George Reis’ Ocean (next door) and not ‘technically’ a wine bar, their wine list is fantastic and they have a neat bar where you can sit and chat (great for a group of two or three), whether you’re waiting for a table or not.
Not in the mood for hip? It happens. Want to throw on a sweatshirt and just have a few chilly beers? You need a casual, not-at-all-intimidating bar. Luckily, they are plentiful in the Birmingham area. A few pretty stellar ones are:
J Clyde (1312 Cobb Lane South) www.jclyde.com
Best beer selection and most knowledgeable “beer staff,” this place will immediately make you feel comfortable and relaxed…as will their amazing selection of high-gravity beers.
Jackson’s is a neat neighborhood bar in SoHo Square with a great appetizer menu, especially the buffalo feathers. Bonus: they have two magnificent drink specials (on Sundays bottles of wine are ½ price, on Tuesdays beer and well drinks (from 5pm to close) are ½ price.
The courtyard in the back (where you might see gargoyles, chunks of marble, old iron gates) is one of the funkiest spots in the city…and has helped earn the bar national acclaim. Garage Café is extremely laid back (quite possibly the most casual place on this list), and if you’re hungry, they will custom-make you a delicious sandwich. A real find in Birmingham.
All talked out? Just want to hear some great music in a place that seems made for such a thing? Got that covered too. (See, it’s getting harder to say “Oh, I just don’t know where to go in this city…”) Try on these for size:
Specializing in vegetarian and vegan cuisine (but also offering meat!), this place exudes ‘musician’ and ‘artist’ vibes… and brings in some pretty impressive bands, all of whom seem to come back where they’re on tour again. Something is usually going on at Bottle Tree, so check the website…shows have been known to sell out.
Nana Funks (708 29th St South) www.nanafunks.com
A joint in Lakeview that doesn’t get started until most of our kids have been sleeping for hours. Go here to dance. And dance. And dance. Go here because it’s hard to think “carpool” while doing your thing to Jay-Z.
Rogue boasts a great stage, amazing sound system and a contemporary but comfortable feel. Big enough to not feel “squished” but somehow still warm and cozy, their atmosphere seems tailored to listening to music and hanging out. Also, it’s perfect if you have more than a few people in your posse one night.
Ok, chew on those ideas. And here’s one more: when you wake up with that inevitable headache in the morning because you don’t do this every night…hop over to Cosmos in 5 Points [Cosmos (2010 Magnolia Ave) www.cosmossouthside.com] for some brunch and a little “hair of the dog.” Their make-your-own Bloody Mary bar will make you feel better…
Kristine Gresh is a freelance writer and…let’s say “beverage enthusiast…” (and a mom) who’s always on the hunt for fun things to do in Birmingham and beyond… krisgresh@yahoo.com
