We here are BirminghamMommy.com love the word FREE! We are constantly searching the city for things to fill our time, and when we come across something that is easy on the wallet, it just makes our day.
This one is great for the multi-taskers. If you have some shopping to do, head on over to Whole Foods, check out their free story time with Miss Mary, and mark some things off that grocery list while you’re there.
Every Friday
10:00am in the cafe
Story time, craft and snack.
Join area members of various cultural and arts organizations for a tour of the finest cultural locations the city has to offer. A valid member card admits 2 adults and 4 children into every participating venue all day long! Take this opportunity to tour the sites of our magic city and maybe find your new favorite place. In addition, if you’re not currently a member or season ticket holder in a participating venue, you can join that day, get in free everywhere else and register to win a Birmingham Arts & Culture Prize Pack full of memberships & tickets worth over $1,800. For a list of participating venues, click here
Want a little taste of Halloween in July? Well dust off the old cow costume (you know you have one) and head on down to any participating Chic-fil-A for Cow Appreciation Day, July 11.
Dress like a cow from head to hoof and get a complimentary combo meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner.)
Not for supporting the full cow look? Partial cow attire will still get you a complimentary entree.
Get together with some friends and take in a herd, and it’s Chick-fil-A for everyone!
We all have baby clothes that we can’t seem to part with… maybe we’re saving them for future babies, or someone special gave them to us, or we think our grandkids might wear them one day, or junior looked so cute in it! I am personally tired of seeing a big plastic bin full of beautiful clothes just sitting in the closet. So I decided to put them to better use… and make patchwork bears for my kiddos!
There is no real rhyme or reason to this project… just wing it! Because you made it with love, out of loved clothes, for you loved baby… it shouldn’t be perfect. It should show that imperfections are actually a part of perfection.
1. I traced the outline of a teddy bear onto a paper bag and cut it out. You’ll need a front and back, so cut out 2 bears.
2. I cut 3 inch squares (depending on the size of the bear, mine is about 18″) out of the clothes and laid them out on the outline to make sure there were enough, and that there were never two of the same right next to one another.
3. With a needle and some thick thread, I started sewing the squares together. Don’t try to be a perfectionist… it’s impossible. (Sewing by hand means EXTRA love, and blisters!)
4. When you have 2 sheets of patchwork done, put them together inside out and pin in the outline of the bear. If there are any gaps or holes, just sew an extra square in.
I really think my kids will cherish this one day. And if they don’t, there’s always grandkids to shower with my homemade affections!
Expensive, harmful, chemical cleaners are just not necessary… although I think the folks at Lysol and Windex would poop their pants if they knew the secret was out! You can clean most of your house with plain old super-cheap white vinegar. It cleans windows, vinyl, tile floors, wood floors, counters… the list goes on and on. The only downside is the vinegar-y smell. Problem solved!! Make your own cleaner with this simple recipe. Using the orange, lemon, and/or mint leaves will make it smell wonderful and fresh.
NATURAL AND SAFE CLEANER
1/2 c. fresh lemon peel
1/2 c. orange rind
1 c. fresh mint leaves
2 c. white vinegar
Combine peels and mint leaves. Steep in white vinegar for two weeks, or until vinegar has leached the color and fragrance out of the botanicals. Strain the vinegar. To use as a cleaner, always dilute with water. There’s no rigid rule on how much… usually about 1 gallon of water to 1/4 cup vinegar, or less depending on how strong it smells.
Happy Cleaning!!
Join Thomas and friends for a playdate at Toys-R-Us June 28th from 11-1 pm. The day will feature storytime every half hour, a free pack of trading cards (we’re guessing first come, first serve) and a train table for play! So, for luring you and your kids into the store, we’re sure you won’t leave without yet another Thomas collectible, so they’re offering special in-store savings! For more information, click here
It’s hot. It’s humid. It’s summer. A great after dinner idea is to treat the family to ice cream!
Bruster’s gives free baby cones to children under 40″ and free ‘doggie sundaes’ to your furry friend, so bring the entire family. The one on Crosshaven even has a very small play area to keep the kids amused after the ice cream melts.
Money saving tips:
Of course, kids under 40″ are free, and so are dogs.
TheVestavia location will give 50% discounts to policemen, firemen, paramedics… take your badge with you, and Military personnel (active or retired) with valid military ID get a 25% discount on any purchase made.
Thursdays ~ Bring your own Banana and get 1/2 off on a Banana Split!
Four locations in Birmingham, Brusters.com.
The temperature is already heading up. The humidity is stifling. Need air conditioning, need it now? We have options people!
What’s kid-friendly, air-conditioned and only a few minutes away? The library. I know, it may not be the most exciting place, but it’s a change of scenery, a cheap option (what’s cheaper than free?) and somewhere that kids are welcome! So head on in!
First up is the Hoover Library. Located at 200 Municipal Dr. in Hoover, it’s pretty central to the area. It boasts a generous Kids Zone, as well as a Teen Spot. The calendar features many storytime options (not as many in the summer) and other seasonal events such as theatre attractions and activities. Click the link above for all other information.
Next up is Vestavia Library. The city of Vestavia Hills is very central in the Birmingham area and a stomping ground for many other local communities. The Vestavia Hills library is no exception. Located at 1112 Montgomery Highway, it’s just a quick minute from 65 and an equally quick minute from Lakeshore. They also provide a wonderful kids area, filled with books, activities and events. We’re particularly fond of Toddler Time! Check out their monthly calendar and more at their website (click the link above!) Oh and in case you haven’t seen the bumper stickers or signs, Vestavia is currently undergoing a campaign for a new library – Imagine, a library in the forest. This is sure to be something special once it gets off the ground!
Also in the area, Homewood Library. Homewood library is almost always on our way somewhere when we’re out and about. It’s a nice place to hop out of the car and take a break when I’m wagging the kiddo around town on my own agenda. Located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, the library is at the heart of the Homewood area. While they offer the same types of activities and events, check out their calendar, as we can almost always make room for more storytime! Afterall, I consider it my own off-time!
So, no matter how hot, or how muggy it is during the day around here, there are places to escape other than the mall – and you won’t have to explain your Amex bill to the hubby later.
It’s summertime and what to do? Well, if you haven’t already grabbed a spot in a summer camp, it may not be too late. Check out these locations for some great fun away from home (click the links for more information)!
Children’s Dance Foundation
Camps include: Beyond the Costume Box (entering kindergarten), Creative Arts Full Day Camp (1st-5th grade) and Stage Door Youth Theatre Full Day Camp (entering 6th-9th grade).
Sportsblast Kids Camps
Camps include: Mighty Mites Soccer Camp (ages 5&6), Soccer Day Camp (ages 7-16), Kids Fun Camp – Activities Camp (ages 5-8) and Tykes Camp (ages 3&4).
Zoofari Summer Camp @ The Birmingham Zoo
Camp for kids entering ages 4K-8th grade
The Children’s Creative Learning Center – A Summer Enrichment Program
A summer enrichment program offered to ages 4 – 3rd grade. Also offers workshops for children ages 10-12.
Camp Jam – Ultimate Rock & Roll Summer Camp – No canoes – Lots of Rock
Music camp offered to ages 7-17 (different sessions and costs)
UAB Summer Camp Programs
Camps include Science Camp, ChemBridge, Physics workshops, Theatre programs…
Kids Gym Kids Camps
Themes include Diego, space station, zoo safari, surf and sand… Offered to ages 1.5 – 8
Advertisements
