It’s time once again for our Bad Santa Photo Contest!

We want to see the funniest, scariest, most over the top entertaining or downright awkward photo of your child with Santa for a chance to win a Holiday Prize Pack, includes:

2 tickets to the McWane Science Center
1 ticket to Magic of Lights
Target Gift Card
Cowfish Gift Card
Starbucks Swag.

Email your pictures to angie@birminghammommy.com or message it to us through Facebook, no later than December 20th, 2019. We will narrow down to the 5 best entries, then open to reader voting.

Fine Print: By submitting your photos to BirminghamMommy for this contest you are agreeing to allow us to use them across our social media outlets and our website

So, real talk time. It’s been a REALLY long time since my last eye exam. Think a decade, add a couple of years and that’s how long it’s been since I’d had my peepers checked. It’s also about how long I’ve gone without being able to see clearly.

I grew up wearing contacts and glasses but once I got pregnant with my first child, I noticed that my vision started changing for the better so I counted my blessings and went with it. It wasn’t until a couple of years after my second pregnancy that I noticed my vision changing again, this time not for the better and back to having difficulty in seeing things clearly. As a new mom with a single and twins (3 under the age of 3!!) my vision wasn’t really a priority and I found it super easy to keep putting off getting an eye exam and a new prescription. Fast forward through the creation of my new website which required spending the majority of my time on a laptop and phone, I soon came to the realization that I wasn’t able to really ignore my blindness any more.

I partnered up with MyEyeDr, in which I made an appointment and tried to hide my embarrassment of how bad my eyesight had gotten as a result of my neglect. And as with most things, I wish I had done this so much sooner. My experience with Dr. Kaplan at the Mountain Brook office was amazing. She did a great job of not making me feel embarrassed, while explaining to me why it’s important to have regular eye health exams, even if you don’t necessarily need glasses. Much like regular checkups with your GP, eye exams are important and can detect medical conditions such as high blood pressure, macular degeneration, myopia, glaucoma and more.

After my eye exam with Dr. Kaplan, and her reassuring me that I was not in fact legally blind and could still drive, she walked me out to the lobby to help me choose some frames. Due to my indecisive nature, this process could have been difficult. However, an eyewear specialist was there to help, and showed me the beautiful frame selection that will fit every personality and preference. She helped me pick out a style that would work best for my face shape, coloring, etc. We had it narrowed down to 3 choices in about 15 minutes. I was taking selfies, texting friends and after a little deliberation and some voting from the staff and my friends, I had myself a stylish new pair of specs. And to further solidify my excellent choice, my kids, not knowing which ones I had picked, chose the same ones when I showed them the pictures. Score!

So, if you’ve been putting off getting an eye exam, like I had been for so long, take it from me, don’t wait. You’ll be so glad you went, especially when you can see clearly again, and you’ll have the peace of mind that you don’t have any underlying issues lurking around.

If you’re unsure of what your insurance will cover, MyEyeDr. can help explain your benefits plan to help ensure you’re getting the most out of them. With 2019 coming to an end, and vision insurance benefits and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) expiring, this is a great time to schedule your eye exam, update your prescription and, get a pair of back-up glasses or computer glasses. An added bonus? Now through Dec. 31, 2019, frames are buy one, get one 50% off on select brands.

MyEyeDr. has many locations located around Birmingham for your convenience. To find an office near you visit their website. MyEyeDr. welcomes all insurances, and their trusted network of community doctors and insurance experts are there to help you maximize your benefits so you can see, look and be your best.

About MyEyeDr.

MyEyeDr. has re-invented the eye care and eyewear experience. Their approach to vision care unifies the science of optometry with the art of helping patients live their best life so that they can see, look, and be their best. Their trusted community doctors and eye wear consultants have worked hard to foster an environment that always puts the patient's needs first while also providing them with an ideal selection of eyewear and contact lenses, at prices for every budget. By welcoming all insurance plans, MyEyeDr. believes you shouldn’t have to choose between optimal vision and looking great in your unique style. For more information, visit www.myeyedr.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

Air ducts are the lungs of your home – whatever they breathe in, you breathe in too. An air duct system not only circulates air but also particles like dust mites, dirt, and mold. Being out of sight, it may not be top of mind to have them professionally cleaned, but we’re here to tell you why regular air duct cleaning should be top of mind and top of your priority list. If you’re not convinced air duct cleaning is necessary, check out these reasons why the investment is worth it.

Air Duct Cleaning can get rid of dust mites and allergies

Each year, the average house collects 40 lbs of dust, dirt, and allergens! This pile-up adds weight to your ducts and pollutes the air you breathe with irritants like dust mites. According to the EPA indoor levels of dust mites are higher than outdoor levels. And our friends at AAFA say that dust mites may be the most common trigger of year-round allergies and asthma. This means your home traps allergy and asthma aggravators until you get them out.

Cleaning your air ducts is a great way to get rid of dust mites and get back to fresher breathing. However, be sure to research what air duct cleaning methods a company uses. Some air duct cleaning methods use chemical sealants to clean air ducts. This can lead to more irritation once the sealants break down over time and start circulating back into our air ducts. At Stanley Steemer, we use a powerful HEPA-filtered vacuum to clean furnaces, evaporator coils, blowers, and vent covers for a safe clean.

Reduces air pollution in your home

It’s important to understand that indoor air pollution comes from a mix of contamination sources and affects your indoor air quality. IAQ is the nature of air as it affects our health and well-being in our homes. It is impacted by your indoor environment with factors such as inadequate temperature, poor air circulation, and ventilation system issues. Air contaminants like chemicals, dust, molds, bacteria and others also play a role. If your home has poor IAQ, you may experience symptoms including: dry or irritated eyes, nose, throat, and skin; headaches, sinus congestion, coughing, sneezing, and other related symptoms.

Any handling of chemicals, smoke or gas can create polluted air. Specifically, the EPA estimates that during and hours after certain activities, such as paint stripping, indoor levels may be 1,000 times higher than outdoor levels. With people spending 90% of their time indoors, it’s key that we prioritize air duct cleaning to reduce the air pollution that is dispersed throughout our home. For extra protection, our air duct technicians can install an in-duct air purifier that uses UV light to sterilize the air being circulated to prevent the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria.

Increases the efficiency of your HVAC System

Years of buildup can hinder the flow of your HVAC system, making the system less efficient and much more costly. Air duct cleaning helps to maximize the efficiency and flow of air in your home by unclogging heaps of dirt and debris. When you get your air ducts cleaned, you allow the fans in the system to work with ease, circulating clean air. If you’re unsure about the condition of your air ducts, we offer free inspection of all the air ducts in your home to assess if you’re due for a service.

Refreshes your home for buying or selling

Air duct cleaning is essential if you’re buying or selling your home. If you recently bought a home, you are moving into a space where the previous owner’s buildup and debris are circulating your vents. It could possibly be the first time the home has had the air ducts properly cleaned. Additionally, if you’re selling your home, air duct cleaning ensures that you are leaving the place in the best possible condition and helping the HVAC system work efficiently. Lastly, with buying and selling typically comes renovations and construction is a big source of dust and irritants entering into our home’s airways.

Saves you money

Wondering how often to clean air ducts? NADCA recommends having your air ducts cleaned every 3-5 years. Furnace cleaning is invaluable to the way your home breathes and performs. Making sure your HVAC system is well-maintained makes it more likely to last longer, which reduces the need for costly repairs. Air duct cleaning may seem like a big expense, but it’s a smart investment compared to the cost of replacing an HVAC system which can average between $4,800 to $9,300 in installation. With 40 lbs of dirt and allergens accumulating every year, you should be sure to flush out your air ducts regularly to save money in the long run.

Stanley Steemer provides professional deep cleaning services including carpet, tile & grout, upholstery, hardwood and air ducts. We also provide water restoration services. 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. Stanley Steemer is the first carpet cleaning service certified asthma & allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, removing an average of 94% of common household allergens from carpet. 24/7 scheduling available!

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

National Adoption Awareness Month is a time to celebrate families growing through adoption, and SAFY of Alabama is working to raise awareness for the more than 123,000 children and youth nationwide who are waiting to be adopted from Foster Care.

While all aspects of the adoption related issues are important, the focus of this month is on adoption of children who are currently in foster care and hoping to be placed in their forever homes.

Each year, more children enter the system than are adopted. The typical child who has been freed for adoption is at least 8 years old, moves three or more times in foster care, may have been separated from siblings, and will wait five years or more to be adopted. Tragically, tens of thousands will never be adopted and will leave the system at age 18 without families.

One in five of the children in foster care are teens, and at risk of aging out with no permanent family (according to ChildWelfare.gov). Older youth – kids ages 15-18 years old – represent only 5 percent of all
adoptions that take place each year.

Why does this matter? Not only because of the grim statistics facing teens who age out of foster care – which include increased risk for homelessness, human trafficking and incarceration, but also because every youth deserves to have a forever family who will be there as a support in navigating all life’s milestones – high school, college, finding a job and learning the life skills needed for an independent, successful adulthood.

All children deserve loving, permanent homes and there is a critical need for people to become involved. For families thinking about adoption there is no doubt a lot to consider, and that’s were programs like SAFY can help. SAFY provides specialized supports for families adopting youth from foster care. When a child is unable to return to their biological family, SAFY walks with them on their journey to a forever family by supporting families looking to adopt through foster care.

To learn more, visit www.SAFY.org