Your home should be a safe place for your family, but there are actually many hidden dangers. Our homes are filled with poisonous substances. Knowing the dangers and how to prevent them can keep kids safe.

Ann Slattery is the director of the Alabama Poison Information Center at Children’s of Alabama. She says parents and grandparents should do their part to “Prepare, Prevent, and Protect” kids against accidental poisoning.

PREPARE
Prepare now for the possible event of poisoning. Slattery recommends saving the toll free number for the Alabama Poison Information Center in your phone to keep it close at hand at all times. The number is 1-800-222-1222. Also, she recommends every home have a carbon monoxide detector, and that adults should prepare a list of all medications. “For adults we say have a list of your everyday medications available in case you have to call the poison center,” she said.

PREVENT
Act now to prevent the risk of poisoning. Store all cleaning products up and out of reach of children. Slattery also recommends storing prescription medicine in lock boxes. “Make sure you have child resistant closures on your medications,” she said. “Remember there is no such thing as child proof.” Slattery advises to remember this risk when visitors are in the home. You never know what guests may have in their bags, so store purses and suitcases out of reach or behind locked doors and away from children.

PROTECT
In the unfortunate event that an exposure does occur, call the Alabama Poison Information Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222. Slattery advises that if the individual is unconscious, having trouble breathing or experiencing a seizure to instead call 911 immediately.

By taking the proper precautions now, you can help keep children safe from the risk of poisoning. But if an accident does happen, be prepared to act quickly in the event of an emergency.

There’s just something about spring that has us all itching to up our curb appeal and yard game. Landscaping doesn’t have to be expensive. Whether you’re fixing up your yard for personal enjoyment or getting ready to sell, a little elbow grease and some creativity can create a beautiful outdoor space that enhances your home.

Draw a Plan: Before you do anything else, lay out the design for your outdoor space. Consider any existing plants and hardscape and decide what you like and what you want to change. Play with shapes and sizes, such as raised beds to add dimension or a round patch of grass for emphasis.

Use Color: Color is one of the easiest ways to spruce up any part of your home, and your yard is no exception. Paint can be used to freshen an old fence. Inexpensive colored flower pots can be grouped on the hardscape or in borders to add drama.

Buy Ground Cover: Fill in empty patches with less expensive ground cover or natural materials, such as mulch or pebbles. Over time, the ground cover will spread naturally and if you are intentional about the placement of the plantings, then these plants will look beautiful even during the growing period.

Add a Walkway: A gravel walkway or artistically placed pavers will draw you into otherwise unused portions of your yard. Consider an inexpensive bench or chair placed at the back of a lazy path. Yard sales and online marketplaces can be great places to find inexpensive furniture and other treasures.

Landscaping doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars. Look for native plants and inexpensive materials, then use your imagination. Your yard will reflect the same beauty as your home.

Thank you to our site sponsors, Sophia Leece and Scott Boudreaux with LAH Real Estate. For more information on what’s happening in the Birmingham Housing Market, or to schedule a free home buyer/seller consultation, you can reach them:

Sophia Leece, 205.895.9120 | sleece@lahrealestate.com
Scott Boudreaux, 205.835.9787 | sboudreaux@lahrealestate.com

Spring cleaning never felt so good! We’re here with a 4-week cleaning challenge to give you the motivation to get your home as fresh as the springtime air.

Let’s kick off week one and get organized! It’s always easier to clean when starting with a blank canvas. By organizing first, you’ll make it more manageable to clean rooms and surfaces with less clutter.

Bathroom
– Organize cabinets & drawers – Discard products no longer being used – Organize medicine cabinet & pitch expired bottles – Replace toothbrushes – Replace old towels

Pro Tip: While normally used in kitchens, Lazy Susan’s are also a great hack for bathroom storage. Never lose sight of bathroom products or cleaners!

Kitchen

– Organize food storage containers – discard any that no longer have lids – Discard expired items from fridge and pantry – salad dressings, spices, baking items, etc. – Minimize countertop clutter by storing away what you don’t use on a daily – air fryers, crock pots, etc. – Replace water filters

Life Hack: An ideal time to clean your fridge is before you go shopping, as this will allow you to dispose of any unusable food and free up more space for new items.

Living Room

– Organize entertainment center and untangle outlet cords – Pitch old magazines, used candles, etc. and store other items away – Store away seasonal decor

Did You Know: Decluttering and organizing can also help release stress. A clear space helps to also clear your mind.

Bedroom

– Clean & organize nightstands – Organize closets and donate clothes that you no longer use – Store winter wardrobe and bring out spring & summer clothes

Rule of Thumb: Don’t keep clothes that you haven’t worn in 12+ months, kitchen or bathroom products that have expired, or any inventory that has not served you well in the last 12 months

Any Part of House

– Remove items from desk drawers, clean, & organize – Organize entryway/coat closet – Discard, donate, or sell unused/damaged items – For clutter that can’t be cleared, compile like items and devise storage solutions – baskets, bins, hooks, etc. – Empty trash in all rooms

Check back next week for all things revamping and refreshing!

Schools across Alabama may now schedule virtual safety programming through Children’s of Alabama to help children avoid accidental injury.

This programming, which has traditionally been held in person, is conducted by the Safe Kids Alabama Division at Children’s of Alabama. The Safe Kids Alabama mission is to prevent unintentional injury in Alabama children under 19 years of age, with a focus on motor vehicle safety. According to the Alabama Child Death Review System, vehicular fatalities are the single largest category of accidental child deaths in Alabama.

To inquire about scheduling programming at your school or youth-focused community program, please contact Julie Farmer at 205-638-9804, via email at julie.farmer@childrensal.org or visit www.childrensal.org/SAFEKids.

Current educational sessions focus on brain and spinal cord injury and teen driver safety:

·         The Think First Alabama program addresses safety for youth through the prevention of common traumatic injuries, such as bicycle safety and helmet use, concussion awareness and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety.

·         The focus of the Teen Driver Program is to reduce teen driver injuries and fatalities by providing an interactive educational experience through teen driver safety events around Alabama. The program provides education for teen drivers as well as research on risk behaviors for the state.

Safe Kids Alabama programming is supported by funding provided by Kohl’s Cares. Kohl’s has been a supporter of Children’s of Alabama for nearly 20 years.

Since 1911, Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children, offering inpatient and outpatient services throughout central Alabama. Ranked among the best pediatric medical centers in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s provided care for youngsters from every county in Alabama and 42 other states last year, representing more than 567,000 outpatient visits and more than 11,000 inpatient admissions. With more than 3.5 million square feet, Children’s is one of the largest pediatric medical facilities in the United States. It is a private, not-for-profit medical center that serves as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) pediatric medicine, surgery, psychiatry, research and residency programs. The medical staff consists of UAB faculty and Children’s of Alabama’s full-time physicians as well as private practicing community physicians.

When it’s time to begin our home search, WHERE we choose to purchase our home is just as important as the home itself. Whether you’re a first time home buyer or this is your second or fourth home, a crucial part to your home search is learning the neighborhood and surrounding areas.

Buyers can be very emotional when it comes to buying and selling their home but it’s important to look at your purchase from an investment standpoint. Find out what the housing market is like in your area of interest, is it on a financial incline or decline?

Research. Spend some time researching the area online. Your Realtors website will be a valuable source for information on specific areas of town. Many town’s also host sites with information and happenings.

Visit the area. Spend some time getting the feel and the lay of the land, if possible. This might be difficult if you’re in the middle of a cross country location but if you’re able, take a drive through the different neighborhoods, walk through downtown, and try a local restaurant. This will help you see yourself as a local and see how you’ll be spending your time and weekends.

Drive through the neighborhood at different times of day. What might seem like a quiet serene neighborhood during the afternoon could be anything but in the evenings.

Pay attention to the homes around you. What is the outside like? What are the neighbor’s properties like? Are the neighbors too close for comfort, or would you like your neighbors to be closer?

Consider your lifestyle. Another important thing to take into consideration is your lifestyle. Is your family active? Is it important that you are in a neighborhood that is good for walking, running or bike riding? Do you need to be near areas of cultural interest such as museums, universities, restaurants and shopping? How important is it to you that you are near a grocery store, bank and gas station. These might seem like small issues, but to a busy mother of a large family, proximity can be everything.

Make a list. Make a list of what’s important to you. Just as you make a list of what you would like to have in your home, make a list as of what you would like to have in your neighborhood – be sure to note what’s crucial and what you can sacrifice. Do you have a family or do you plan on starting one? Is the school system important to you? Even if children aren’t a factor for you, keep in mind that homes located in a good school district hold onto their value more than those in less highly regarded districts.

Often when you are buying a home you are buying into a neighborhood. It might take some legwork on the front end, but it will be completely worth it when you find the perfect home in a location that suits your lifestyle and interests.

Thank you to our site sponsors, Sophia Leece and Scott Boudreaux with LAH Real Estate. For more information on what’s happening in the Birmingham Housing Market, or to schedule a free home buyer/seller consultation, you can reach them:

Sophia Leece, 205.895.9120 | sleece@lahrealestate.com
Scott Boudreaux, 205.835.9787 | sboudreaux@lahrealestate.com

From Spring break trips to carpooling to ALL of the extra-curricular activities, our car is bound to be messy and in need of a thorough cleaning from time to time. From the lost goldfish crumbs to the candy wrappers and dog hair, our friends at Stanley Steemer have some tips to get our car back in shape!

How to Clean Car Seats
Fabric car seats endure constant traffic and inevitable accidents. When your seats need a refresh, try this DIY to spot clean on single-area messes.

Clean Immediately – For best practice, spot clean as quickly as you can after a spill happens. This helps to make sure the spill doesn’t set into the fabric and becomes permanent.
Use a Microfiber Towel – Grab a clean cloth to pull up as much of the liquid or food as possible.
Make a Cleaning Solution – In a spray bottle, combine a tablespoon of dish soap with a cup and a half of water.
Spray & Blot – Spray the spot and blot it up with a clean towel.
Repeat – Repeat until the stain has lifted.
Let Dry – Make sure the area is dry before use.
If spot cleaning and DIY remedies aren’t enough, it may be time to call in the pros. With a deep clean on your upholstery, your car will look like when you first got it! See the difference yourself.

How to Clean Car Carpet
Cleaning your car carpet can improve the overall smell, look, and appearance of your car. To get the carpet in your car looking spiffy again, check out these tips.

Pick Up Trash – Being on-the-go means you don’t always make time to pick up all your garbage. Make sure to clean up any food scraps, drinks, napkins and other waste lying around the floor.
Shake Out Floor Mats – Take out all the floor mats and give them a good shake to get off dirt and crumbs. Leave them out as you continue to clean so you can get everything underneath where they usually lie.
Vacuum – With a handheld vacuum and a brush attachment, vacuum away! Get every corner of the carpet you can reach like under seats and around the pedals.
Spot Clean As Mentioned Above – Using the mixture of dish soap and water you created for car seats, you can use this to spot clean your car carpet. Additionally, you can schedule professional services if your carpet is overdue for a deep clean.

How to Get Dog Hair Out of Car
Cleaning out dog or cat hair is no easy task especially if your pet excessively sheds. In addition to vacuuming, here is a DIY method for getting dog hair out of your car.

You will need a paint roller, duct tape, and a pair of scissors.
Next, cut strips of duct tape that are long enough to cover the paint roller. Reverse the duct tape to have sticky side face up and wrap around the roller.
Finally, roll on car seats and flooring that’s covered in fur and viola!

How to Clean Car Windows
Cleaning car windows differs from cleaning the windows at your home. Car windows are exposed to more elements than windows in your home such as dirt and insects hitting your windshield at 60 mph. If you go to clean your car windows, avoid household cleaners and opt for a specific solution for car cleaning. Household cleaners can cause streaking and the ammonia in these cleaners can break down the tint on your car windows. For a homemade cleaner, try this car window solution for streak-free cleaning.

Make a Cleaning Solution – Create a solution with one cup of rubbing alcohol and one cup of water in a bucket.
Use a Microfiber Towel – Use a clean, white microfiber towel with the solution and wipe smudges off of the glass.
Unroll Windows For a Better Clean – While cleaning the side windows, unroll your windows to clean every square inch you can including the tops!
Shine and Protect – Last, for extra shine and protection, use a glass shiner with another, clean microfiber towel.

How to Wash a Car
On a sunny day, washing your car can be a refreshing pastime. Make sure you’re using the right method for the best results with these steps on how to wash a car.

Get 2 Clean Buckets – Fill 2 separate buckets with water and add car wash soap to one of the buckets.
Rinse-Off Car – With a hose, rinse off your car to loosen up dirt and grime.
Use a Wash Mitt to Clean – Using a large wash mitt, wash your car section by section using the bucket with water and soap. Rinse the mitt in between sections in the bucket with plain water.
Rinse Each Section – As you complete a section of your car, be sure to rinse it off after washing to clean away any soap or suds.
Save These For Last – Save washing headlights and lower body for last so any grime that got flushed to the bottom of your car gets cleaned off.

How to Clean Tires
Just like you need a special cleaner for car windows, it’s important that you use a specialized cleaner for your tires. Don’t use car wash soap to clean your tires since it’s formulated to clean and protect paint and clear coat. Applying car wash soap on tires can leave a film around them and keep the tires from shining. Instead, follow this guide on how to clean tires.

Rinse-Off Tires – Like car washing, use a hose to rinse tires off to loosen excess dirt.
Use Specialized Cleaner – Spray and apply a tire cleaner of your choice to the tire wall
Clean with a Stiff Brush – With a stiff nylon-bristle brush, scrub your tire thoroughly.
Rinse & Dry – After scrubbing, rinse the tire with water and flush out the cleaner. Then, dry with a microfiber cloth.
Repeat – Continue these steps for the rest of your tires!

In need of interior car cleaning services? We come to you to clean out dirt and debris to give you a renewed car that’s ready for the next adventure. Call 1-800-STEEMER to find our services near you.

Stanley Steemer of North Central Alabama services the greater Birmingham Metro Area and surrounding counties, spanning from Cullman to Clanton and from the Mississippi state line to the Georgia state line.

All Stanley Steemer water restoration specialists have Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the most widely recognized and accepted certification program in the industry. These individuals are highly trained and prepared for any emergency water removal task they encounter. In addition to certification, our technicians attend IICRC-accredited continuing education and training programs throughout the year. We provide the time and money to train our people, and we supply them with the best equipment available.
For more information on their 24/7 Emergency Water Resmoval visit their site

Stanley Steemer provides trained technicians and state-of-the-art equipment you can’t get anywhere else. When flooding occurs, why muddy the waters? Call Stanley Steemer.

Use Code: Mom30 for $30 off any service. (Minimum charges apply)

Red Mountain Theatre camps teach theatrical craft while providing performance opportunities for youth. The curriculum includes vocal, dance, and drama training and culminates in a sharing where students perform for live audiences. Here are their options for 2021 Summer Camps:

Play Making: Fancy Nancy
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. This week’s theme is based on the popular children’s book Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor.

July 5-9 Morning: July 5th to 9th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 3 payments of $54.66, paid every four weeks

Play Making: How to Train Your Dragon
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. This week’s theme is based on the popular children’s book How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell.

July 5-9 Afternoon: July 5th to 9th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 3 payments of $54.66, paid every four weeks

Theme Camp: All Aboard the Hogwarts Express
$300
Ages 7-12

By cultivating original characters’ students will explore what it would be like to attend Hogwarts. They’ll participate in defense against the dark arts and potions classes, in addition to being sorted into one of the four houses. This year, we’ll collaborate and creatively problem-solve to discuss what it’s like your first year at Hogwarts. Through imagination, we’ll travel beyond the pages of the books.

July 19-23 (Session 1): July 19th to 23rd, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

July 19-23 (Session 2): July 19th to 23rd, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

Play Making: Agrabah Adventure
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. In this week’s class, students will pretend to have adventures in the eastern city of Agrabah, home to flying carpets and magic lamps!

July 26-30 Afternoon: July 26th to 30th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $41.00, paid every four weeks

Play Making: Celebration in Arendelle
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. In this week’s class, students will pretend they live in the land of Arendelle and are ruled by a queen with ice powers!

Session 1 – July 26-30 Morning: July 26th to 30th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $41.00, paid every four weeks

Session 2 – July 5-9 Morning: July 5th to 9th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 3 payments of $54.66, paid every four weeks

Summer Sprouts (Week A)
$300
Ages 7-8

Sprouts is a preparatory education program for young people wishing to learn performance skills.  During the week-long camp, students will learn 3-5 production numbers to be performed at the end of the week for friends and family.  In preparing for a performance, students learn discipline and memorization skills that they can take with them to their scholastic work.  Sprouts is designed to be a pre-Conservatory program, but it is not a pre-requisite to audition for the Conservatory.

July 12-16: July 12th to 16th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 3 payments of $91.66, paid every four weeks

Summer Sprouts (Week B)
$300
Ages 7-8

Sprouts is a preparatory education program for young people wishing to learn performance skills.  During the week-long camp, students will learn 3-5 production numbers to be performed at the end of the week for friends and family.  In preparing for a performance, students learn discipline and memorization skills that they can take with them to their scholastic work.  Sprouts is designed to be a pre-Conservatory program, but it is not a pre-requisite to audition for the Conservatory.

Session 1 – July 26-30: July 26th to 30th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

Session 2 – July 26-30: July 26th to 30th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

Play Making: Where the Wild Things Are
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. This week’s theme is based on the popular children’s book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

Aug 2-6 Morning: August 2nd to 6th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $41.00, paid every four weeks

Theme Camp: Camp Half-Blood
$300
Ages 7-12

By cultivating original characters, students will explore the innovative world of Percy Jackson and Camp Half-Blood. Through collaboration and creative problem-solving, they will invent the world around them, living out adventures just like Percy and Annabeth, and use their imaginations to travel beyond the pages of a book.

Aug 2-6: August 2nd to 6th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

Camp Discounts available before April 30th. For discount pricing visit the Red Mountain Theatre Company website