We’re so happy you found us! Please take a moment to say hi! We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to launch our new site. You’ll still be able to find your favorite items like what to do, where to go, etc. But you’ll also find so much more! We’re going to bring the best of Birmingham to all you Moms and Dads out there!
We’ve decided that “mommy” is a verb, as well as a noun (someone notify Webster). So you’ll be able to navigate through the site using the verbs you see on the navigation bar. Beneath some of those are more detailed categories.
We’re also proud to welcome many new contributors who’ll have featured columns of their own – just wait until you meet some of Alabama’s most talented writers. So sit back, grab a cup of coffee and stay a while. We’re glad to have you!
Who doesn’t love a good meatloaf? Well, leave it to our favorite recipe maven Mommadrool to make a knock-your-socks-off version of the family favorite for all of you Birmingham moms.
MommaDrool Meatloaf
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 and 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Texas Pete hot sauce
1/2 can diced tomatoes
1/2 can tomato sauce
2 bacon slices
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together ground beef and next nine ingredients (through diced tomatoes) until combined.
2) Shape mixture into one loaf (9 x 4 inches) and place in an aluminum foil-lined broiler pan.
3) Pour tomato sauce over loaf and arrange two bacon slices on top.
4) Bake for one hour and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
We asked Birmingham Moms for their traditions (new and old) that required little money but produced cherished holiday memories. Here’s a sampling of what a few of our readers had to say.
Kerry said “Put peanut butter on pinecones, sprinkle with birdseed, hang from the trees and give the birds a Happy Holiday present!” and also “Simple salt dough ornaments. Let the kids hang them from their own kiddo tree!”
SavingforEight said “sitting around the tree drinking hot chocolate has become tradition round here! My boys asked to do it again this year:)”
Britt said “tempura paint feet and handprints ornaments for the Grandparents”
Julie said “It is killing my waistline but I am letting my boys help me cook treats. They are having so much fun in the kitchen.”
Selena said “My kids LOVE their chocolate Advent calendars!”
*Please note, this page is constantly updated, so check it often for our most up-to-date information*
Trussville Christmas Parade.
December 12th at 3pm through downtown Trussville.
Elf on a Shelf book signing
Saturday, Dec. 12th
4-6pm
Learning Express Cahaba Heights
Elf on a Shelf signing with the illustrator and creator of the Elf, Coe Steinwart. You can purchase the book that day for $29.99 or bring in your own copy and she will sign it too!
Also, Santa will be at Cahaba Heights that same day from 6 to 7:30 pm. He will be happy to give your child their new Elf! Bring your own camera for pics with Santa!
Family Sing-A-Long
Emmett O’Neal Library will be hosting a Family Sing a Long. Special appearance by Mrs. Claus!
December 8th
5:30 p.m. dinner and 6:00 p.m. show
Ride a train around McWane!
Visitors will be able to take a ride around the plaza in this brand new choo-choo! Then, continue your journey in the museum with the Magic of Model Trains exhibit.
TRAIN STATION SCHEDULE:
Sunday, December 6 from 12:00 – 4:00
Saturday, December 12 from 11:00 – 4:00
Tickets $1 for members and $2 for non-members
December 5, 12 & 19
Breakfast with Santa at the Village Tavern!
December 12th
It’s an event the entire family will enjoy, featuring food, holiday art activities with Abrakadoodle, photos with Santa, a goody bag for kids and much more. The $15 ticket benefits the Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs. Kids 2 and under are free. Call 967-0111 for details.
Zoolight Safari
Two trains for the Holiday Train Ride, see the Zoo illuminated with over half-a-million lights, festive carousel, get the best deal and enjoy all holiday rides with the new All-You-Can-Ride wristband, enjoy story time, animal demos and much more! Be sure to stop at the Barn in the Children’s Zoo for photo opportunities, animals and holiday crafts for all to enjoy. The Zoo will close at 4 pm every night of ZooLight Safari. Animal exhibits will be closed during ZooLight Safari. *Additional cost for all rides.
December 4-6, 11-13 – 5-9pm
Hueytown Christmas Parade
12/12/09 – 10 am
Starting at the stadium, will travel by the library, high school, “heart of Hueytown” and ending back up at the stadium.
Everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to win 1 of 10 gifts from Bromberg’s Jewelers and giftcards from Zoe’s Kitchen. Beer, wine and food from Zoe’s Kitchen will be included in ticket price. Tickets are $20 online, $25 at the door and $15 for YP Retail and Event Cardholders. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Shelby Humane Society.
There is still time to get a request in for a free letter from Santa. Just follow the instructions below. To receive a written letter from Santa Claus, a letter with a legible return address must be mailed to:
Santa Claus PO Box 1
Santa Claus, IN 47579
Every letter mailed to Santa Claus before December 21st, will receive a letter back from Santa Claus himself! The earlier you can send in your letter the better.
You can also print a letter from home by following this link
Every Day
IHOP – Everyday kids eat free at IHOP if they are 12 and under. Kids can get 1 free kids’ menu item per adult entree purchased from 4pm to 8pm. The drink is not included. The IHOP kids’ menu includes pancakes, french toast, omelettes, chicken strips, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, eggs, fruit and fish. This deal seems to vary widely based on location – please call your location before visiting!
Cici’s Pizza – Kids 3 and under eat free from the Cici’s Pizza buffet everyday! Specific Cici’s Pizza locations frequently have where older kids can eat for free on certain nights – check with your nearest location!
Chappy’s Deli – Mtn Brook – Kids under 6 eat free with an accompanying adult meal. Ages 6-12 eat for $2.50
Sunday
Firehouse Subs – On Sundays and Wednesdays kids 12 and under get to eat free from 4pm to 9pm. One free kids’ meal comes with each adult purchase. The kids’ meal at Firehouse Subs includes a sub or sandwich, beverage, oreo cookies and free fireman’s hat.
Hooters – Kids eat free at Hooters all day long on Sundays.
Jason’s Deli – Kids eat free at Jason’s Deli all day on Sundays at some locations and on Mondays at others. Call your local Jason’s Deli before you go! The kids’ menu at Jason’s Deli includes sandwiches, wraps, hot dogs, salads, baked potatoes, pasta, pizza and macaroni and cheese.
Qdoba Mexican Grill – Kids eat free at Qdoba Mexican Grills only on Sundays at some locations and only on Wednesdays at some locations. Check with your local location to see which day of the week kids eat free at your Qdoba’s.
Monday
Applebees – At Applebees kids eat for free on Mondays. There is 1 free kids’ meal for each adult entree purchase. Additional kids are $1.00. The kids’ menu at Applebees includes chicken fingers, cheeseburger, grilled cheese sandwich and macaroni & cheese. Not all locations offer this deal so be sure to call ahead to see if your location does!
Buffalo Wild Wings – On Mondays, from 5pm to 8pm kids 12 and under eat for .99 from the kids’ menu at Buffalo Wild Wings. The kids’ menu at Buffalo Wild Wings includes cheeseburger slammers, corn dogs, wings, chicken tenders and mac and cheese.
Golden Corral – Children 10 and under eat free from 5pm to 9pm on Monday’s at Golden Corral. This is limited to 2 kids per 1 adult. Not all locations offer this deal so be sure to call ahead to see if your location does! Kids 3 and under eat free every day!
Jason’s Deli – Kids eat free at Jason’s Deli all day on Sundays at some locations and on Mondays at others. Call your local Jason’s Deli before you go! The kids’ menu at Jason’s Deli includes sandwiches, wraps, hot dogs, salads, baked potatoes, pasta, pizza and macaroni and cheese.
Moe’s Southwest Grill – On Mondays, kids eat for free at Moe’s with the purchase of an adult entree. The kids’ menu at Moe’s includes tacos, burritos and quesadillas.
Red Robin – At Red Robin kids 10 and under can eat for free on Monday (and Tuesday) from 5pm to 9pm. The Red Robin kids’ menu includes mac n’ cheese, spaghetti, grilled cheese, corn dog, pasta, quesadilla, chicken fingers, pizza and burgers. *This is not available at company owned Red Robin’s but is available at particpating Red Robin franchises.*
Texas Roadhouse – On Tuesdays (may be Mondays at some locations), kids 12 and under eat free at Texas Roadhouse. The Texas Roadhouse kids’ menu includes an entree (hot dogs, cheeseburgers, sirloin bites, macaroni & cheese, chicken critters), a side and a drink.
TGI Friday’s – On Mondays and Tuesdays kids 3 and under eat for free at TGI Friday’s.
Tuesday
Backyard Burger – Kids eat free at Backyard Burger on Tuesday (and Thursday!). For each adult combo purchased, you get a free kids’ meal from 4pm until close. The kids’ menu at Backyard Burger includes burgers, chicken tenders and hot dogs.
Captain D’s – Kids eat for free at Captain D’s on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is a limit of 2 free kid’s meals for each adult dinner purchased. The Captain D’s kids’ meals include a choice of fish, chicken, shrimp or mac & cheese.
Chick-fil-A – At participating locations, kids can eat a free kids’ meal at Chil-fil-A on Tuesdays for Family Fun Night from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. There is a limit of 1 free kid’s meal per adult combo meal purchased.
Lonestar Steakhouse – On Tuesdays (all day) at Lonestar Steakhouse, kids can eat free (12 and under). This is limited to 2 children per each adult entree purchased and is dine-in only. The Lonestar Steakhouse kids’ menu includes a hot dog, grilled cheese, macaroni & cheese, cheeseburger, grilled chicken sandwich, chicken tenders and steak medallions.
Red Robin – At Red Robin kids 10 and under can eat for free on Tuesday (and Monday) from 5pm to 9pm. The Red Robin kids’ menu includes mac n’ cheese, spaghetti, grilled cheese, corn dog, pasta, quesadilla, chicken fingers, pizza and burgers. *This is not available at company owned Red Robin’s but is available at particpating Red Robin franchises.*
Texas Roadhouse – On Tuesdays (may be Mondays at some locations), kids 12 and under eat free at Texas Roadhouse. The Texas Roadhouse kids’ menu includes an entree (hot dogs, cheeseburgers, sirloin bites, macaroni & cheese, chicken critters), a side and a drink.
TGI Friday’s – On Mondays and Tuesdays kids 3 and under eat for free at TGI Friday’s.
Wednesday
Firehouse Subs – On Sundays and Wednesdays kids 12 and under get to eat free from 4pm to 9pm. One free kids’ meal comes with each adult purchase. The kids’ meal at Firehouse Subs includes a sub or sandwich, beverage, oreo cookies and free fireman’s hat.
Qdoba Mexican Grill – Kids eat free at Qdoba Mexican Grills only on Wednesdays at some locations and only on Sundays at some locations. Check with your local location to see which day of the week kids eat free at yoru Qdoba’s.
Thursday
Backyard Burger – Kids eat free at Backyard Burger on Thursday (and Tuesday!). For each adult combo purchased, you get a free kids’ meal from 4pm until close. The kids’ menu at Backyard Burger includes burgers, chicken tenders and hot dogs.
Captain D’s – Kids eat for free at Captain D’s on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is a limit of 2 free kid’s meals for each adult dinner purchased. The Captain D’s kids’ meals include a choice of fish, chicken, shrimp or mac & cheese.
KC Masterpiece – From 4pm until close on Thursdays (and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays) kids 12 and under eat free from the
Piccadilly –All Day Thursdays and from 11am to 4pm on Saturdays kids’ meals at .99 and big kids’ meals are $1.99 at Piccadilly. The kid’s meals at Piccadilly includes an entree (chicken tenders, corn dogs, hot pockets, chicken or fish), two sides, jell-o or pudding or a cupcake and kid’s drinks.
Saturday
Piccadilly – All Day Thursdays and from 11am to 4pm on Saturdays kids’ meals at .99 and big kids’ meals are $1.99 at Piccadilly. The kid’s meals at Piccadilly includes an entree (chicken tenders, corn dogs, hot pockets, chicken or fish), two sides, jell-o or pudding or a cupcake and kid’s drinks.
Salsaritas – Get a free kids’ meal with purchase of an adult entree at Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina. The kids’ meals include tacos or quesadillas, chips, drink and a cookie.
If you’ve lived in Birmingham for a while, you know how much you begin to depend on Learning Express for their awesome assortment of toys and personalized items. They just sort of become that go-to place to grab the perfect toy!
We’re thrilled that today’s “Giveaway to Giftaway” is a $50 Learning Express Gift Card!
All you have to do to enter is fill out the form below! One entry per person.
So many of us have either had a child in the NICU or know someone who has. Often, the family is whisked to the unit with nothing but the clothes they have on. Gabe’s Hope, Inc was founded by one of those parents.
Amy Sim’s son, Gabe was born in June of 2008 at Northport Medical Center. After his birth, he had many complications which led to his admittance to the NICU. When Gabe’s conditions did not improve, he was transported to UAB RNICU. Gabe spent six months there before passing away on Christmas night. During that time, Amy was there every day and every night.
Out of that heartache, Amy has started a foundation to assist parents who find themselves in her situation. Gabe’s Hope was founded to provide encouragement and to be a light to the families of babies born with congenital heart defects & other conditions at UAB. They hope to grow to support many more families at many more hospitals.
Knowing first hand the overwhelming feeling that comes with having a newborn in the RNICU, they have designed care packages that will be distributed to the families. These will provide necessities such as toiletries, baby items, snacks, meal gift cards, and other essentials to help make the stay in intensive care more comfortable. They also provide meals or meal gift cards to those families who feel they cannot leave the hospital during the holidays.
In addition, Gabe’s Hope implements the “Beads of Hope” program in Tuscaloosa and Northport. The “Beads of Hope” program is designed to provide encouragement and be a physical marker of each child’s unique and personal journey through treatment.
Families who wish to participate are given a necklace with their child’s name, as well as an “admission” bead, representing their admission into the unit. An additional bead is presented to the family marking each procedure or accomplishment. Each procedure or milestone corresponds to a certain color bead. The collection of beads becomes a personal keepsake or reminder of the child’s story while hospitalized.
On February 6, 2010, Gabe’s Hope will hold it’s inaugural “Heart&Sole 5K & 1 mile Fun Run”. This is an excellent opportunity to volunteer with the organization or participate in the run. For more information, including runner registration, donation opportunities and general information, visit their active.com page. Birminghammommy.com will be running as a team – we’d love you to join us! Details coming soon on that!
To find out more about Gabe’s Hope or how you can help, please visit their site at www.gabeshopeinc.org
My husband is in marathon training, which means my two girls and I have about four hours to kill on Saturday mornings while their daddy is off running giant loops around town. My plan for this past Saturday morning included organization, redecorating, and discounts. We went to Target.
I am about halfway through a futile mission to organize our playroom. I suspect that I will never be satisfied, no matter how many plastic cubes and fabric boxes I buy, but I am plowing ahead anyway. Our next step in operation clean-up-this-stinkin’-mess-before-Mama-throws-out-all-the-toys was to return some shelves that didn’t do what I had hoped they would and use the money to buy more plastic cubes. I loaded my girls – three-year-old Miss D. and 15-month-old Belly – into a cart and headed for the Target return desk.
A nice kid working the counter smiled at Miss D. His supervisor asked how old Belly was. When I told her, she said, “Ooh, that baby is juicy.”
I said nothing. What does one say to that? Is it a compliment? I don’t think so. But it’s not exactly an insult either, I suppose, which left me in a strange position. I didn’t want to thank this woman for her bizarre comment, but I couldn’t really challenge her to step outside either. So, I said nothing. But I had trouble forgetting about it.
Belly – whose nickname came from her actual name and a desire to maintain some anonymity for my kids online – definitely has a belly. She is a healthy girl. Which is maybe a nice way of saying she is “juicy.”
When we got home from Target, Belly, clad in her bright pink jogging suit with the elastic waistband, helped me stuff blocks and toy phones and Fisher Price medical kits into our new plastic cubes and fabric boxes.
I couldn’t help but stare at her cute bum in those jogging pants and picture “Juicy” printed across it in rhinestones.
Miss D. used to have a habit of saying, “I feel juicy,” when she wanted a cup of juice. This phrase made us uncomfortable, though we couldn’t quite put our finger on why. Kids should not be described as “juicy,” no matter how pudgy or healthy or thirsty they may be.
When Miss D. said, “I feel juicy,” we responded, “Do you mean you’re thirsty? We say, ‘I feel thirsty.”
When a stranger tells me Belly is juicy, I don’t know how to respond.
Perhaps, “Do you mean she’s adorable? We say, ‘Boy, that baby is adorable.”
That doesn’t seem quite right. I have to come up with something, though, because we still have toys all over the playroom floor, and I predict another trip to Target in my near future. I need more fabric boxes, and I need a comeback to the woman who labeled my toddler.
I’m open to suggestions.
Our newest contributor to BirminghamMommy.com is Country-Fried Mama, a transplanted Yankee raising two girls in the land of college football, sweet tea, and refined manners. Visit her blog at www.countryfriedmama.com and follow her on Twitter @countryfried.
