The 4th of July is usually marked in retail as the ‘end of summer.’ Most retail stores start clearing out their summer stock to put out their fall items. Any seasoned mom will tell you that this is the time to buy ahead. Buying ahead is harder when the kiddos are just babes, but as they reach toddler and preschooler status, it becomes much easier because their growth starts to stabilize.
So the time is upon us! Start seeking out those deals! Looking for summer clothes for next summer now will save lots of money!
All month at BirminghamMommy.com we are going to be featuring tips and bits of knowledge for new moms. We already do this throughout the year, but you’ll see a lot of it this month. And we don’t know everything!! Please comment and let us know your opinion!
Make sure you sign up for this wonderful program: Imagination Library is a program administered by the Junior League of Birmingham and funded by the fabulous Dolly Parton! It sends your child a high quality hardback book every month until they turn 5 years old. You can sign your future bundle of joy up today, as long as you have a due date!!
**Currently only serving Jefferson County residents, but check back frequently to see if that has changed**
We have a friend who is a bit of shopping mastermind… one might call her the “Shoe Oracle.” We have been chatting about wanting a comfy summer shoe that wasn’t a flip flop. Our Shoe Oracle found a few options.
The first option is the Volatile Sandal, this one is the Voo Doo style. The bed is foam and wonderfully comfortable. No slippery feelings from foot sweat. (Don’t lie, your foot sweats.)
The other option is the Dr.Scholl’s Dance Clog or Mule. I’m a Mom…!? just purchased these and has great things to say about their comfort. In her words, “They truly are comfy, will go with everything and are so ugly they’re cute… Best of all, one less pair of shoes that make my legs look like stumps!”
Added tip: Shoefly in Homewood is having a great sale on their Volatile Sandals. They also carry the Dr. Scholl’s. Shoefly 2823 18th St S Birmingham, AL 35209-2509 (205) 870-7131
Want to check out the latest family movie a different way? Don’t forget about Birmingham’s two drive-ins. Located in Argo and Harpersville, the drive-in is a wonderful way to check out the latest family film in a different way (not to mention a boon for people like me with small children who can’t make it through a theater movie. So load up the kids, the lawn chairs and the goodies and check it out!
Did you know that you can take the kids out to the movies for free? Several of the local theaters participate in a Summer Movie Program that will get you in and out for just the cost of the snacks.
Movies start at 10am and we recommend arriving early, first come first served and seating is limited.
Rave Motion Pictures will be offering these movies for the remainder of the summer:
June 23 & 24
Surf’s Up
PG
85 minutes
June 30 & July 1
The Tale of Despereaux
G
90 minutes
July 7 & 8
Horton Hears A Who!
G
86 minutes
July 14 & 15
Space Chimps
G
81 minutes
July 21 & 22
Igor
PG
87 minutes
July 28 & 29
Shrek the Third
PG
93 minutes
*Patton Creek and Lee Branch locations.
Regal Entertainment will be showing the following movies at their Trussville Stadium 16 Location:
06/16/2009-06/17/2009
Horton Hears A Who (G)
Flicka (PG)
06/23/2009-06/24/2009
Rugrats: The Movie (G)
06/30/2009-07/01/2009
Wallace And Gromit (G)
Bee Movie (PG)
07/07/2009-07/08/2009
The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
Igor (PG)
07/14/2009-07/15/2009
Mr. Bean’s Holiday (G)
Shrek The Third (PG)
07/21/2009-07/22/2009
Doogal (G)
Hoodwinked (PG)
07/28/2009-07/29/2009
Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G)
Evan Almighty (PG)
Carmike Cinemas is not participating in free movies but are offering Stimulus Tuesday – $1 popcorn, $1 Drink
Don’t forget the movies in the park. Check our calendar for a complete listing of movies, and locations!!
All month at BirminghamMommy.com we are going to be featuring tips and bits of knowledge for new moms. We already do this throughout the year, but you’ll see a lot of it this month. And we don’t know everything!! Please comment and let us know your opinion!
This is all you need to know: Most essential book ever: Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. Seriously, it’s ESSENTIAL.
It’s a good middle ground book- it doesn’t fall into either extreme— it’s not strict like Babywise and not attachment parenting like Dr. Sears, but somewhere in the middle. The author promotes the idea that sleep is vital to your child’s health. More or less the idea is to follow a few guidelines: 1. watch your child for signs of drowsiness (it explains the signs) 2. put him/her down to sleep when you first see the signs of tiredness 3. most children under 6 months do not stay awake for longer than 2-3 hours at a time 4. DO NOT just put your child down to nap when you feel like it – that’s just letting him/her cry, not TEACHING them to sleep 5. Most children need to go to sleep at night earlier than you’d think 6. Going to bed earlier promotes later sleeping, Sleep begets sleep!
I had no idea about #6… I was putting my son to bed later and later hoping he’d sleep past 4am. Then I put him to bed at 6:30pm one night and he slept until 7:30am. That wasn’t a fluke, it became his normal routine. The book also helped me get him on a nap schedule. He was overall so much happier when well-rested.
It also addresses colic and a myriad of other obstacles for sleep. It goes well into preschool and school-aged childrens’ sleep issues as well. Go online and read some of the reviews, you’ll be sold!
The largest music festival our city does is here this weekend. City Stages is a great event for all ages but here are a few things you can do to make it super family friendly and get the kids out to burn off some of that extra energy.
Check out the Children’s Festival, packed with entertainment and hands on activities for the little ones. The Lowes Kids Camp and the Arts and Craft Tent will be set up for face painting, and craft making. There will be play areas set up and live music for everyone to enjoy!
Weekend passes for the three-day festival are $40 and children under 12 get in free with a paying adult. For more information, visit www.citystages.org. Located at Linn Park. June 19 – 21st. ENTERTAINMENT Charles Tortorici and Walker Yancey Band Pink House Interactive Drum Circle Dogs Barking at Dogs Phi De I APT Children Characters ARTS & CRAFTS Lowe’s Kids Camp Father’s Day Card Making Station Pottery Making
ACTIVITIES Alabama Power Safety Group Anuntie Litter Fresh Air Face Painting by Painted Personalities Hair Wraps McWane Science Center Publix Activity Center
All month at BirminghamMommy.com we are going to be featuring tips and bits of knowledge for new moms. We already do this throughout the year, but you’ll see a lot of it this month. And we don’t know everything!! Please comment and let us know your opinion!
My personal favorite and most-have stuff: pack n play, video monitor, playmat, sleepsacks, swaddlers, temporal scan thermometer, exersaucer, bouncy seat, good stroller
THE pack ‘n play. It is by far the most important piece for us. You use it when they’re babies to sleep in, change diapers on, etc. Then it’s a playpen, then it’s a travel bed for toddlers. It is the single item I would invest in and choose very carefully.
The exersaucer– At our house it was the mobile command unit. It was frequently dragged from room to room it was so useful.
Bouncy seat– It bounces, vibrates and is easy to pick up and take room to room. Both of my kids lived in it for the first 4 months.
Stroller— Find the right one, for me it was one with a built in footboard for a second kid, thereby eliminating the need and expense of a double stroller.
Haven’t gotten your kiddos into any cool summer camps yet? Don’t worry, check out this list of ideas and hop on the phone!
1) Alabama School of Fine Arts has a vast assortment of summer camps for children – from creative writing to algebra, from dance to chemistry, there is something to enrich any child’s interests. Check out their site for additional information. ASFA
2) Camp Shakespeare Extreme – led by UAB staff, this camp is designed for the student who wishes to dig deep into the world of Shakespeare’s theatre. For more info, click here
3) The Alys Stephens Center’s summer drama camp – “Kids on Stage”. This 3 session summer camp is designed to help your child discover the wonderful world of theater performance. Click here for details, ASC Camp
4) Filmmaking camp! Gather up your little directors and producers and let them get a tast of the process of bringing art to life on film! Click for more info, VSA Camp
5) Dance camp! There are plenty to choose from in our area, but a fave around town would be Children’s Dance Foundation. Check them out here
6) Birmingham Botanical Gardens hosts a variety of workshops for children, check them out here
7) Music Alive Camp at Birmingham Southern College – check out their program here
8) Campfire USA Art Camp @ Lee Branch – check this out here
9) Math and Science Camp – this environmentally-oriented camp is happening in Forestdale – check out the site for camp info
