Iron Bowl Canned Food Drive.


Looking for a way to support your team? How about supporting your team while helping those less fortunate.

Iron Bowl Canned Food Drive
Campus Spirit at the Summit
November, 20-29

Show who you’re rooting for in the Iron Bowl. Receive a free face tattoo sticker for either Alabama or Auburn complements of Campus Spirit when you donate a canned good to the Iron Bowl Food Drive. Bring your canned good items to the donation bins inside Campus Spirit to drop off.

Donated food will go to the Collat Jewish Family Services and to Greater Birmingham Ministries food closets.

I know which team is getting my food, how about you?

Birmingham Glam Offers Hair & Make-Up Help This Holiday Season!

BirminghamGlam is offering some great “Holiday Glam Packages” to help you prepare for your special event or holiday photo.  Who doesn’t want the star treatment?  Well now you can get it. Schedule this awesome service to come to your location to take care of your hair and makeup – getting it “just right” before that office holiday party!

The packages are as follows:

PACKAGE #1
Service performed at location of your choice
Hair styled just how you want it…
Includes Up-do’s, Blow-outs or Flat-Ironed, what ever you desire
Make-up applied by Professional Make-up Artist
Includes Custom Lash Application
$125
 
PACKAGE #2
Service performed at location of your choice
Hair styled just how you want it…
Includes Up-do’s, Blow-outs or Flat-Ironed, what ever you desire
$65
 
PACKAGE #3
Service performed at location of your choice
Make-up Application
Performed by Professional Make-up Artist
Includes Custom Lash Application
$75
 
HOLIDAY BAIL-OUT PACKAGE
Service performed at Birmingham Glam
Make-up Application
Performed by Professional Make-up Artist
$35
Groups are subject to increased discount.
(Excludes Bail-out Package)

 
To schedule a service, call 205-789-5480.  Also Submit your beauty questions to Jessica on Twitter.com/BirminghamGlam or on facebook.

Kidz Klozet Gift Certificate Winner!

Congratulations to Tiffany P!  We’ve emailed you!

Thanks to everyone for participating and thanks to Kidz Klozet for generously providing the gift certificate!

Kidz Klozet Giveaway Ended!

Thanks to all that entered our giveaway for the gift certificate. The Contest is now closed and we will be announcing our winner very soon! Stay Tuned.

Half Price Admission to the Zoo!

This weekend the Birmingham Zoo invites the community to give back to those in need this season.

All visitors can enjoy ½ price admission Saturday, November 21 – Sunday, November 22. The Zoo requests visitors to bring a non-perishable item to the Zoo, per individual, to support the canned food drive. Together, we can do our part to help those less fortunate in our community.

We hope to see you here!

Droolicious Cuisine at BirminghamMommy.com: Holiday Feast!

Mommadrool does not let us down with this one. It’s a holiday feast that will make you D.R.O.O.L.

Holiday Dinner Menu:
Sunset Punch
Apple and Pomegranate Cider
Spiced Pecans
Spinach, Artichoke & Bacon Dip with Crusty French Bread
Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
Corn Casserole
Creamy Green Bean Casserole
Smashed Red Potatoes
Booze Meat
Bourbon Pecan Tart with Chocolate Drizzle

Sunset Punch

Ingredients:
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 large limes)
9 lime slices
1 (11.5-ounce) can apricot nectar
24 ounces champagne

Directions:
1) Combine first five ingredients in a large pitcher. Cover and chill.
2) Add champagne immediately before serving.

Apple and Pomegranate Cider

Ingredients:
6 whole cloves
2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
1 (3-inch) strip lemon rind
1 (3-inch) strip orange rind
8 cups unfiltered apple cider
1 cup pomegranate juice
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Directions:
1) Place first 4 ingredients on a double layer of cheesecloth. Gather edges of cheesecloth together; tie securely.
2) Combine cheesecloth bag, cider, and remaining ingredients in a Dutch oven; bring to a simmer. Cook 30 minutes. Discard cheesecloth bag.

Spiced Pecans

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pound pecan halves
Cooking spray

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 325°. Combine all ingredients except cooking spray in a large bowl, tossing well to coat.
2) Spread mixture evenly on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Coat nuts with cooking spray.
3) Bake at 325° for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Remove from oven; cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Spinach, Artichoke & Bacon Dip with Crusty French Bread

Ingredients:
2 (8-ounce) French bread baguettes, each cut into 32 (1/4-inch) slices
Olive oil-flavored cooking spray
1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (8-ounce) package 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1 (8-ounce) package fat-free cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
5 center-cut bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
1 (14-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350°. Arrange baguette slices in a single layer on 2 large baking sheets, and coat bread with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned.
2) Place mayonnaise, garlic, 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, and fat-free cream cheese in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended and creamy.
3) Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, bacon, artichoke hearts, and spinach.
4) Spread mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
5) Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve with toasted baguette slices.

Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

Ingredients:
1 bag spinach salad
2 hard boiled eggs, sliced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup bacon pieces
1 bottle bacon dressing

Directions:
1) Place spinach salad in a large bowl and top with egg slices, mushrooms, and bacon pieces.
2) Heat bacon dressing in the microwave for 1 minute and serve over salad.

Corn Casserole

Ingredients:
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (8-ounce) package Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, and melted butter.
2) Pour into a greased 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. 3) Remove from oven and top with Cheddar. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.

Creamy Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:
2 cans drained French cut green beans
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons grated onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 cup crushed corn flakes
Cooking spray

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine first nine ingredients and mix until well combined.
2) Spread mixture into a glass baking dish and top with corn flakes. Spray corn flakes with cooking spray.
3) Bake in pre-heated oven for 20 minutes.

Smashed Red Potatoes

Ingredients:
13 cups cubed red potato (about 4 pounds)
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
3 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 teaspoon salt object
3/4 teaspoon dried basil
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried dill

Directions:
1) Place potatoes in a Dutch oven; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until tender; drain.
2) Place potatoes in a large bowl. Add sour cream and remaining ingredients; mash with a potato masher to desired consistency.

Booze Meat

Ingredients:
3 cups red wine
3/4 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons onion salt
2 teaspoons garlic salt
3 flank steaks

Directions:
1) Combine first seven ingredients, red wine through garlic salt, and stir well with a whisk.
2) Run a serrated knife over the outside of flank steaks to make shallow cuts in the surface of meat. Place steaks in a shallow glass dish.
3) Pour marinade mixture over steaks, cover, and refrigerate for 24-48 hours.
4) Preheat grill and cook steaks until meat is at medium temperature. Slice flank steaks into thin slices.

Bourbon Pecan Tart with Chocolate Drizzle

Ingredients:
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons bourbon
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 large egg white
2/3 cup pecan halves
1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie dough (such as Pillsbury)
Cooking spray
1/2 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Combine first 10 ingredients, stirring well with a whisk. Stir in pecans.
3) Roll dough into a 13-inch circle; fit into a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan coated with cooking spray. Trim excess crust using a sharp knife.
4) Spoon sugar mixture into prepared crust. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely on a wire rack.
5) Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Drizzle chocolate over tart.


You can find many more droolicious recipes over at Mommadrools blog “Close Encounters of the Drool Kind


Giveaway: Tin Christmas Tree Card Holder!


It’s Christmas card season, and you know what that means… You’ll be getting lots of cards with cute pictures on them, then if you’re like me, they’ll pile up on the table. Not this year! BoutiqueMe.net has given us a great prize to giveaway to one lucky reader; a Tin Christmas Tree Card Holder that can also be a door decoration! Valued at $30, it makes a great gift too!

Everyone needs the perfect place to display their Christmas cards and what better than a fabulous tin Christmas Tree! Our tin trees measure approximately 20 inches and are painted in lime green with glitter red polka dots. Each tree comes with ribbon for hanging on the wall and 8 painted magnets for holding your Christmas cards. 

Don’t forget to visit them on Facebook (BoutiqueMe) and Twitter (@Boutiqueme) for up-to-date information including specials and new items!

HOW TO ENTER:

  • Visit BoutiqueMe.net and comment on the form below, about which item you like the most.

Extra entry:
Tweet ” @BirminghamMommy has a great giveaway from @Boutiqueme ! ” then comment here that you did so, OR post about the giveaway (with a link to birminghammommy.com) on your blog.

Contest ends on 11/19/09 at Noon.
2 allowable entries per person per day. Also, from now through December 31 – everyone is eligible to win – even if you’ve won in the last 30 days!



Lights Up at the Summit!


Ready to scratch that Holiday itch just a little? Check out The Summit this Friday at 6:30pm as they light the shopping center with more than a million lights! There will be a festive parade with marching bands, antique fire trucks and decorative floats.

Santa will make his grand entrance after the 3-D fireworks show. So stick around for your free Santa Picture.

*** Santa will be back for Photos starting the Friday after Thanksgiving so stop by and see Santa on his sleigh, outside of Belk. You’ll even receive a complimentary bag of Bud’s Best cookies! Yum!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
9am-11am, Noon-4pm, 5pm-9pm

December 5-20 Saturdays and Sunday from Noon-4pm

New Giveaway Starts Monday!

Don’t miss another FANTASTIC giveaway – coming Monday!  Our sponsor – Boutiqueme.net has provided this seriously cute Christmas Tree Tin Christmas Card Holder.  It’s absolutely darling, just like the rest of their stuff.  By the way, have you checked out their site?

Archive: Elf on a Shelf

We originally posted this last year 11/18/08, but it’s a tradition… so it comes around every year!

The holidays are just around the corner and it’s time to start pulling out the decorations! Having kids means passing down traditions, and even making some of our own. I want my children to have meaningful memories of their childhood.

Our newest tradition came from I’m a Mom!?!. It’s a book called The Elf on the Shelf. It is a cute book that comes with a little retro inspired elf that hides in various spots around the house. We start reading at bedtime every night just after Thanksgiving. We name the elf and explain that he isn’t a toy to be played with. The book explains to the kids that the elf sits in different spots around the house to help Santa see if they are naughty or nice. So every morning, the kids get up and run downstairs to see where the elf is hiding today. Here’s a description of the tradition.

It made my son so excited last year he was nearly jumping out of bed to go find “Bob” for the day! I think it’s something he will look forward to doing every year, and that he can look back on fondly. And it was nice for me to remind him that Bob was watching…