Have some shoes your kids have outgrown but are still in great shape? Don’t throw them out! The earthquake victims in Haiti need our help, and this is an easy way for Birmingham moms to lend a hand.
We are all aware of the tragedy that is happening right now in Haiti. If you are one of the many that feel the need to help but don’t know how, don’t know where to start or maybe you don’t have the extra cash laying around to send, we have the scoop on a way you can help and it’s as simple as an old pair of shoes you know you have in your closet or garage.
MyScoop is setting up drop off locations around the city. Shoes can be new or gently worn. If you have a few bucks, check out a local thrift store,
Drop off locations include Manhattan South off Highway 280 in Cahaba Village next to Whole Foods, Gloss Denim Boutique at The Summit, Swank in Mountain Brook Village next to Starbucks, Ivory and White Boutique in Crestline. They will also be collecting this Saturday night at The Alabama Ballet’s Pointe Ball at Saks Fifth Avenue.
The Etiquette School of Birmingham will offer a new children’s etiquette course for second through fifth grade students beginning Sunday, January 24 and running through February 28 (just in time for Spring Break!). Consisting of six one-hour classes, the course will include a dinner at an area restaurant. Classes will begin at 2:00 p.m. and should be finished at 3:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter.
This course is for girls and boys and the class size is limited to six students to ensure that each student receives personal attention. The course curriculum includes dining etiquette, phone etiquette, thank you notes, conversation etiquette and making a positive first impression.
Parents interested in registering a child for the classes, should contact the school at etiquetteschool@bellsouth.net. A $50 deposit will be required to hold the space.
For more information, visit www.etiquettebham.com or call the school at 205-222-0932.
Consignment season is here. Bam! Right on top of us again. Moms all over the city are scrambling to find wire hangers and are digging themselves out from beneath the tubs and tubs of baby clothes they’ve been resisting getting rid of for sentimental reasons, but if you’re like me, resistance is futile. The time has come to start tagging those sweet, sweet infant outfits and reclaiming some of that attic space. Tears optional.
If you’ve never participated in a consignment sale, fear not, we have some advice for the novice consignor, maybe our pro’s will even be able to pick up a tip or two as well. We spoke with Kim Meadows of Kids Market and Mom, one of the largest consignment sales here in the Magic City, and she was happy to give us the lowdown on what you need to know to make the sales successful whether your selling or buying.
Kim believes that consignment sales are so popular among Moms with small children because of the fact that children out grow their clothes so fast. Most of the time children grow out of them before they have a chance to even show a little wear and tear. “It is a small way to recoup some money that you have put into every item that we purchase for our children, and the buyer benefits for gently used clothing and items without paying the high prices.” says Meadows.
If this is your first time to contribute, look thoroughly at each item you plan to sell. Items sell best when they are clean, pressed, in style and have a detailed description. Check for stains, buttons, make sure that zippers are zipping and do your homework on recalled items. Meadows suggests putting yourself in the buyers shoes, “would you want to buy something that you couldn’t use or that might cause harm or danger to your children?”
If you’re just shopping, take a laundry basket to put your items in, some people will even tie a belt or rope to the basket so it’s easy to pull along as they shop. I didn’t know this the first time I shopped, and wished I would have had a place to put the items I ended up carrying around for 2 hours. Take a breath and don’t get overwhelmed, just take it one rack at a time. Kim advises having the measurements of the children you are buying for, with most consignment sales, all sales are final. “Remember that these clothes have been worn and washed, be prepared for shrinkage.” Not all size 3T’s will fit like a new 3T.
Most sales offer shopping perks for consignors or volunteers, but each sale is different. Some sales charge a listing fee in addition to the percentage they keep for items sold. The best way to find out what sale is right for you is to check out each website. Look at the dates, the locations, and the fees involved and see what works best with your schedule. We even know some BirminghamMommy’s that are advantageous enough to plan their sales so that “rejects” from their first sale can be included in a sale that starts a little later in the season. Why not? The items are already tagged, it’s worth a shot.
I turned 30 this year. Either something you face with great enthusiasm or great hesitation. I can’t say I faced it with the former, but I got used to the idea slowly and somewhat painfully. After all, being a woman reaching this “pivotal age,” used to be quite intimidating if you hadn’t reached a couple of key milestones by the time the big 3-0 came a knocking. Marriage and kids, and preferably in that order, right?
Being a spinster wasn’t part of my hesitation (okay, maybe more like devastation) over turning 30, since I’m not one, having married at age 27. But here I was turning 30 and that mysterious, scary “biological clock” thing wasn’t ticking yet. And now that I’m a few months past the “ripe” age, it’s still all quiet on the fertility front.
And do you want to know a secret? I’m glad!
Now, when I begin to think about the unease with which I approached thirtyhood, I wonder why I felt the way I did. Things are so different than when our mothers became mothers. In fact, according to a recent National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) report, in 1970 one in 100 births was among women ages 35 and older, compared with one in 12 in 2006. In that same time period, the average age for first childbirths went up 3.6 years from 21.4 to 25 years old.
Even though statistics from the 2006 U.S. Census Report show that close to as many women ages 15 to 44 do not have kids (44.5 percent) as do, let’s admit it mommies, there’s a lot less love going around in our society for non-moms, whatever the reason for their “non-mom” status may be.
With this inequality on my mind these days, I was thrilled when my sister, BirminghamMommy.com cofounder and wonderful mother of three of my four beautiful nieces, recently introduced me to the new term PANK. Similar to DINK (Dual Income No Kids), PANK, coined by Melanie Notkin, CEO and founder of the successful online community SavyAuntie.com, stands for “Professional Aunt No Kids.”
A PANK herself, Notkin points out that her online community serves and supports the other half of the female population, the “cool aunts, great aunts, godmothers and all women who love kids.”
She also notes, “Without kids of their own, aunts have more discretionary time and income than most moms. That’s why they are most likely to indulge themselves and the children in their lives.” (Hey, that’s not a bad thing is it?)
Let the indulging begin. With the holiday season upon us, “professional aunts” like me, will step into foreign territory braving the local Toys R Us store with a Googled list of this year’s hottest toys. At the mall, we’ll confusingly mull over kid clothing sizes in months and years instead of inches and strictly adhere to the “age 3 and up” labels. We want to safely spoil your kids. Let us. We have the chance to be the “favorite” aunt and we don’t want to screw it up.
I was already feeling better about being 30 sans children. After all, I have four nieces and one nephew to spoil (yea for my sister and sister-in-law for taking the pressure off me!). But I feel even better now knowing that there are many other women, excuse me, PANKs out there who love the children in their family to pieces, but just don’t want their own little ones yet (or ever).
Maybe one day, I’ll hear that tick-tock sound ringing in my ears alarming me that my fertility window is closing. And maybe¸ I’ll get off my uterus and do something about it. But until that day, when or if it ever comes, at least I’ll have a lot of great hands-on training, applicable observation, and sweet memories with my nieces and nephew, all gained during my PANKster years.
Do you like to get products for free or really cheap? I sure do. That’s why I use coupons. Coupons are like cash. You can use them at the store to get that grocery total WAAAY down. There is a little strategy involved, but it’s really easy.
Maybe you’ve seen someone in the store, on the internet or the television buying huge amounts of groceries for pennies on the dollar. You can do it too!Let me show you how easy it is.
Here are 5 steps to easy couponing:
1. Change Your Mindset: Many people are like I used to be in thinking that coupons are just not worth the hassle. Who wants to clip all those coupons just to save a measly few dollars? Not me! To save big with coupons you must change your grocery shopping mindset.
Don’t just see what you’re out of & put it on the list. Stock up when items are dirt cheap or free so you don’t ever run out. If you’re out of something & must buy it just get the smallest & cheapest, and wait for the next deal to stock up again. Don’t worry, It will goon sale!!
2.Get your Coupons: If you’re going to start using coupons then you’ll have to gather up some coupons. Where can you get them?
The largest source of coupons is the weekly Sunday newspaper. There are typically hundreds of dollars worth of coupons inside. I recommend getting at least 2 per week.
Get them in the store. Look around when you go in the grocery store & purposefully try to find coupons. There are blinkie machines(the little machine that spits out coupons). There are tearpads and peelies stuck to the product.
Print your coupons. There are several sites like coupons.com, redplum.com,and smartsource.com, and others that always have many coupons to help you save big!!
Order them. If you see something that’s going to be free or really cheap and you want to stock up you can almost always go online & order what you need. There are several sites to help with that like Ebay, The Coupon Clippers, and Coupons & Things by Dede.
3.Get Organized: There are so many different ways to organize your coupons. Some people use coupon binders with slip in baseball holder type inserts, some use envelopes, and other ways.
Here’s what I do: I get 10 sets of the inserts each week. I do not clip them. I have a file box I use, and when a new week comes along I file them under the date. I only clip then as I need to use them. You’ll also need a coupon organizer of some sort to keep up with all the other non-insert coupons.
4.Get your list together
Get the sales ad for your local grocery store, and look through it making notice of the items that you are interested in. Especially look for items that are buy 1, get 1 free (BOGO), or 10 for $1.00 or 2 for $3.00, etc. Now look through your coupons to see if you have any that match the sales. Chances are that you do.
Don’t want to do all that? Don’t worry, I do it for you over at Saving For Eight at al.com. Just head over there & click on the store category that you want to shop. You’ll find a list of all the hot sale items that week plus coupon matches.
A Full Cup has a great coupon database. You can use it to find out where the coupon you need is located. Just enter the product name in, hit search and there it is!
5.Go shopping
When you’re matching coupons to the sales make sure you note the coupon policy of the store. If they double & to what amount, do price matching, or take competitor’s coupons.
Let me give you an example, One week at Publix their Mott’s Juice was on sale Buy one Get one free with a regular price of 2.59.
That was 2 Juice bottles for $2.59.
I had 2 coupons for “Save $1.00 when you buy 1 Mott’s Juice”.
I purchased 2 bottles, used both coupons and got $1.00 off of each bottle making the price for 2 64 oz bottles of juice only $.59. That’s 30 cents each!!
“But I just don’t have time to do all that work just to save a few bucks…..”
Trust Me…It’s a lot more than just a few bucks. Here are some numbers from previous trips to the Grocery store: One week I got $425.00 worth of groceries for $113.00. another week my total was $43.50 for $237.00 worth of items. The previous week I spent $36.93 on $145.00 worth. And I have all the receipts to show for it. They all included bread, milk, produce, etc…So you see it is WELL worth it!!
I will also be teaching couponing workshops starting this month in the Birmingham/Jefferson areas. Register now for the Coupons Made Easy Workshop and see how truly easy it is to save lots of $$$ on Groceries.
In May 2009, we posted about the many options of baby carriers on the market. Since then, we’ve gotten the scoop from from someone who knows all about babywearing – yep, we want you to wear the baby! Susie Spence, of Babywearing International of Birmingham has graciously given us a little of her time and knowledge to share with you on babywearing. Here’s what she had to say:
1. What is the best way for someone who does not know much about baby wearing to learn more?
There is so much information about babywearing available on the internet, and there are so many different baby carriers, that the information can be quite overwhelming. I think the most efficient way to learn about babywearing is live and in person, either from a knowledgeable friend or at a group meeting. That way, you don’t waste time trying to find the type of information you’re looking for and digging through commercial information from baby carrier sellers promising that their product is the best one available.
Also, when you have in-person help, you get immediate feedback on what you’re doing right or what could be better. For example, at meetings, we almost always have a few cases of troubleshooting-to-solution in less than a minute. A knowledgeable person can often see a problem almost instantly and offer a quick tip that makes a huge difference.
Our group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. on the bottom floor of the Hoover Public Library, and helping people learn more about babywearing is why we exist! Also, we have articles about the benefits of babywearing, babywearing safety, and babywearing basics (with links to instructions) on our blog, which can be accessed from the links page of our website, www.magiccityslingers.com.
2. Do you recommend different slings/wraps for different ages/stages or activities?
There are many different baby carrier options, and most of them are good for many different activities. There is a page at the www.babywearinginternational.org site called “Choosing a Baby Carrier” that describes the main types of carriers. Trying to capture all the variables and create a flow chart to identify what’s best for what circumstance is a daunting task. However, some types of carriers do have standout strengths, so here are some thoughts on that:
Hiking and walking: For hiking and walking, most people prefer a carrier that offers two-shoulder support and can be worn on front or back. There are many options for this, and I don’t want to give the impression that one is “the best.” When we have group hikes and walks, there are always many different carriers represented. Popular choices include soft structured carriers with padded waistbands (which transfer some of the baby’s weight to the wearer’s hips instead of her shoulders), mei tais, and woven wraparound slings. Because they tend to be fast to put on and don’t have long straps that can drag in the dirt, I think soft structured carriers really shine for hiking, but certainly there are many people who love their mei tais or the custom comfort of a wraparound sling for hiking.
Around the house: At home, you don’t have to worry about straps touching the ground, and many people particularly enjoy their wraparound slings around the house. They offer a custom fit every time and can be used to carry a baby in many different positions: on your front, on your back, on your hip, however the wearer and baby are most comfortable. Wraparound slings can be tied in many different ways, so they can offer two-shoulder support, one-shoulder convenience, and even strapless carries where the sling is wrapped around the wearer’s torso.
Quick trips: A lot of people keep one-shoulder carriers in their cars for quick trips to the store, post office, older sibling’s school, etc. A fitted pouch sling is quick and convenient. These types of slings are the most widely available in stores in our area, but correct fit and correct usage are crucial, so I like to encourage pouch-users to watch the DVD that is included with their Hotslings pouch or, if they have another brand, to carefully read and follow the instructions. At meetings, we help lots of people learn to love their pouches. Ring slings also offer a quick one-shoulder carry. Sizing is less important with ring slings than it is with pouches, because you adjust the sling for a custom fit by pulling the tail fabric through the rings. Both ring slings and pouches come in a fabulous array of fashionable fabrics, and lots of people have a few options so they can coordinate their sling with their outfit.
Adopting a toddler overseas: The International Adoption Clinic at UAB recommends babywearing adopted children because it promotes attachment between the child and parent. To promote attachment, eye contact must be possible, so front and hip carries are in order. Although newly adopted children are often small for their age, they can grow quickly, and most families are well served by a carrier well suited for carrying a larger baby. A soft structured carrier such as an ERGObaby carrier (available locally at Swaddle in Homewood), a Beco Baby Carrier, the new BabyHawk Oh Snap! buckle carrier, or a Toddler Patapum, would fit the bill as far as front carries go. An excellent alternative, though, is a dedicated hip carrier. Hip carries allow a baby to look at the parent or to get a good view of the world. The Scootababy hip carrier has a padded waistband and, like the two-shoulder carriers mentioned previously, the baby’s weight is transferred to that waistband and then to the wearer’s hips so that not all of the baby’s weight is born by the wearer’s shoulder and back, so this carrier is very popular with the parents of toddlers. An Ellaroo mei hip is a less expensive dedicated hip carrier and also offers some waist support although it does not have the padded waistband.
3. What type of carrier usually works out for moms with back problems? With large children (I say this gingerly, but I had & have big babies, so I feel I can be frank 🙂
I have big babies too, that’s why I had to become knowledgeable about babywearing … my expensive, highly-recommended brand-name frontpack became unwearable when my babies were about 2-3 months old and I needed another option! Babywearing is a skill, and technique makes a huge difference. Moms with back problems can usually benefit from two things: choosing a carrier that distributes the baby’s weight to both shoulders (not just one), her torso, and her hips; and getting some in-person help to get the fit just right. Our group leaders and experienced members are weight-distribution geeks.
A little information on Babywearing International of Birmingham
Babywearing International of Birmingham is a nonprofit organization and a chapter of Babywearing International, Inc. Our leaders are volunteers. Neither our group nor any of our leaders sells baby carriers, but we do have an extensive library of premium baby carriers that dues-paying members can borrow for a month at a time; dues are $30. Meetings are always free and membership is never required to attend or to try slings at the meeting. At meetings, we discuss and demonstrate various babywearing techniques and provide one-on-one help with babywearing. For more information, please visit Babywearing International of Birmingham at www.magiccityslingers.com
This past week was full of firsts for us. Since we were all in New York together for most of the week, we decided to combine our list into one.
If you’ve been reading then you know that we were participants in the audience of the “Martha Stewart Show.” Attending the taping of a talk show was a first for all us. Trish really racked up since this was her first trip to New York, her list is lengthy. World Trade Center Site, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, first time to almost die in a NYC cab, all the usual’s for a first timer. Jamie and I added “top of the rock” to our list of new things for this week, riding up 70 stories to the top of Rockefeller Center was truly a breathtaking first. The city view was amazing, we would recommend this on your next trip to the Big Apple.
We ate at some of the most incredible restaurants while we were there, Shake Shack, Da Nico’s, Les Halles, and Cafeteria to name a few. It was a first at all of these eateries and it won’t be a last.
Next week will no doubt seem dull in comparison to a trip like this, but we will try our best to make things somewhat interesting!
For more New Things or if you’d like to participate in 52 new things along with BirminghamMommy, Birmingham Bargain Mom 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 Tuesday!
Some of us at Birminghammommy.com are running the 5K, some of us are running the fun run, but either way – we’ll be there! We would love, love, love it if you would join us too! This is a great way to get out and meet some mommies in our area! So bring a friend, or come alone – but just come – we’d love to meet you.
This is an excellent opportunity to volunteer with the organization or participate in the run – also this is a great opportunity to get outside with your kids – bring them along!
For more information, including runner registration, donation opportunities and general information, visit their active.com page. For more information about running with us, see below!
Date: February 6, 2010
Time: 5K 8:00 am
Fun Run 9:00 am
(if not registered by the day of the race, registration begins at 7:00 am)
Where: Greenway Trails which runs along Lakeshore Parkway (Greensprings Entrance). Parking available at Second Presbyterian Church (located on Greensprings/Columbiana Rd)
If you want to run with us, go to the active.com page and register. Then return here and comment below. We will email you the week of to set up a meeting spot. Also, BirminghamMommy runners who register online by February 4th will be entered to win a monogrammed stainless steel water bottle! We’ll draw for the winner on February 5th!
What an exciting experience! We had such a great time seeing “The Chosen One” in person. As we mentioned in our first segment, the set is absolutely beautiful and exactly what you would think of when you think of Martha. Lots of lush green plants, meticulously decorated, and we can only imagine the deliciousness that was being cooked up in the kitchen.
Martha was very personable with the audience and caught us all off guard when she cut loose a bit. During the question and answer session after the show, an audience member asked her about her very, very high heels. We’re talking 5 inches or more here! Martha is dignified and always a proper lady, so naturally when she responded that those very high heels were “good for… you know” we were confused, then shocked. We don’t think she meant gardening. We like edgy Martha! Edgy Martha throws her leg up on a table to show us her shoes!
We were able to stay after the show and watch her tape promos for upcoming shows. Stay tuned, we’re already planning a trip back for the Pole Dancing episode. (We kid, we kid.)
We received a copy of guest Pim Techamuanvivit’s book, The Foodie Handbook. We’ll be giving that away soon, so keep an eye out. She has a Pad Thai recipe that made our mouths water.
Check out those shoes!!
For a complete rundown of our Martha Experience, check out:
Finishing up the show now – We heard that Brian Williams was supposed to be a guest today, but he ended up in Haiti. We’ve been wondering how much of this show was filler or planned, you would never know it all ran so smoothly.
And for the record, they play some kickin’ music during the breaks!
Have some shoes your kids have outgrown but are still in great shape? Don’t throw them out! The earthquake victims in Haiti need our help, and this is an easy way for Birmingham moms to lend a hand.
