April 2009 Archives

Besides getting something for your own mom this Mother's Day, it's highly likely you'll be involved in selecting something for your mother-in-law and maybe a grandmother or two. One thing's for certain: Mom doesn't want you to break the bank to do something for her this year. Here are some affordable ideas that are fun and practical:

*Magnet message just for mom

The "Mom Rocks" magnet shown here is an allowance-friendly option. For six bucks, Mom gets an uplifting message for the fridge to remind her of your admiration. This cute magnet is by Birmingham artist (by way of Belgium) Veronique Vanblaere, Vero for short. She is founder of Naked Art, a gallery at 3815 Clairmont Avenue. Naked Art is fun gallery that is straightforward enough for kids and husbands. No art appreciation lecture is required here; the items are functional and just plain happy.

Note: This is indeed a recycled jar lid. Imagine if you could have refashioned all the jar lids you've disposed of just since you had kids. You'd have a monument from the spaghetti sauce alone!

*Sketch of the kids

What is more personal than an image of the ones we love most? Mom already has beautiful professional photos (who among us hasn't written a big check or even paid in installments for a fabulous portrait?). Now give her an artist's rendering of a special memory.

Sometimes the most unforgettable moments are those when we have our camera in hand and manage a casual snapshot. Those first steps, the gap-tooth smile, and sleepy time are the shots that Mom is best able to capture.

Turn a simple print or digital photo into something extraordinary with an artist's rendering.  This sketch was created by artist Ursula Stroebel from a snapshot. As you can see from the original photo, the sketch is an excellent reproduction, but the artist's touch elevates it to something much more distinctive and timeless. You can have one created for your mom or yourself for $50; the artist, who was introduced to me by a friend, has generously offered this special price for BirminghamMoms. Each additional child in the same sketch is $5; contact the artist directly at ustroebel@yahoo.com and mention BirminghamMom to receive this offer through May 2009.

Planter for Mom's patio or deck

Instead of fresh flowers, invest in a patio container she can enjoy for years to come. These containers are sturdy mexican pottery large enough for a single specimen, a collection of blooms and foliage, or herbs.

Small- to medium-sized pots start around $55 at Frontera (Old Hwy 31 in Hoover and 3rd Ave. South downtown). 

The biggest factor with a container is transporting it. If the mom you have in mind is an avid gardener or has definite ideas about her landscape, she will want to determine where it is placed. If she doesn't have time for yardwork but would appreciate a dose of seasonal color, surprise her with this planter - already filled - on the corner of her porch or deck. All she'll have to do is water it, and perhaps that won't be too much trouble since most of the work has been done.

You'll have to fill and plant it at her house since it will be too heavy to move once it's full. Grandmothers who no longer have the elbow grease for planting generally love to tend an established plant and it can be therapeutic to watch an ever-changing live plant and be reminded of an affectionate family. Since this is a project that can require heavy lifting, it's a natural to assign it to he husband (especially if it's for his mom!).

Mom can enjoy any of these gifts without worrying that you've spent your hard-earned money frivolously. Isn't saving a mom from worry a gift in itself? 

This is the time of year when lots of daughters are getting ready to make good on their promise to grow up and move out of your house. The senior year has flown by and you've found yourself ordering graduation announcements and wondering if you will hold yourself together for the graduation ceremony. (Which is more difficult, the thought of your little girl moving out or the thought of her tuition bills? Better bring a big hanky.)

On the other hand, this is such an exciting time for her. If she's moving to a dorm room, she's no doubt as eager to personalize her new space as you are to make it an extended hug from home.

Sheri, a BirmighamMom of two, has a no-fuss answer to giving your girl a send-off in style, especially if she's already identified a roommate for this new adventure. DormSuiteDorm offers the gals an option to perk up their builder-beige, standard-issue, ho-hum dorm room.

Look at  how cinder block walls disappear next to the cheerful prints of a bed tricked out DormSuiteDorm style! Designer fabrics and dressmaker details make these a step up from the usual bed-in-a-bag options. 

Don't underestimate the heavy use a set of dorm room bedding will get. This is the pillow she'll prop against as she studies (you hope), the fabric that will be the unintended background for all those arm-in-arm dorm room photos with friends, and the comforter she'll curl up in when she gets the first cold without the benefit of your chicken soup. 

DormSuiteDorm has online gift certificates available, so she can get word out to those aunts and uncles who are looking for an appropriate graduation gift. Then she and her roommate can choose their preferred look from those that are already available or customize their own coordinated looks.

Who wouldn't want to start out with the instant room makeover a bedding set can offer? Of course she'll get homesick occasionally - won't she? - but she'll have a welcoming dorm room to call home base. Remind her the next time she gets a custom bed set, she'll be doing it on her own, thanks to that fine education she'd better be getting.

BirminghamMom Tip: Sheri, founder of DormSuiteDorm, has two boys; thus, she channels her girly creativity through her company. If your daughter isn't bound for college just yet but it's time for a twin bed makeover in her room, check out Sheri's options. Then you can both enjoy all this style in your own home for years before she's packing to leave the nest.

Recently I viewed an exhibit of antique books. What really caught my eye was this book: Mothers Encouraged, "Containing hints on their particular situation, duties, and cares" published in 1845.

This is a thought-provoking artifact. Obviously, mothers have been seeking hints on managing their duties for generations. I wonder, what were the cares of mothers in 1845? How has our "situation" changed in almost 160 years, and how is it same? Isn't it interesting that the title implies mothers need encouragement (that aspect certainly hasn't changed!). Was the book written by a mother or was it some sort of propaganda written by a man about how mothers should be managing their situation?  Where is the companion book for fathers? (Guess the fatherhood genre was invented later by Bill Cosby and Paul Reiser).

I suppose this book is proof that motherhood in any age of time is a challenge that does require encouragement. We've always been sharing hints, whether they've been passed along via a book, internet, or quilting bee.

With Mother's Day approaching - perhaps our biggest collective day of encouragement - here are some timeless hints I've received:

"You're all just growing up together"

Mrs. Leola is enjoying her great-grandchildren after raising six of her own. We were passing time at a kids' birthday party when I began to state some childrearing regret with, "Well, maybe I should have..." Mrs. Leola quickly reminded me, "Honey, you're all just growing up together," and isn't that some wisdom?  None of us knows exactly what we're doing, we're just figuring it out as we go. Your children move through phases and so do you. That's life. I suppose no one taught Mrs. Leola how to be a great-grandmother, either. We're all still growing up. 

"Doing something good for one of my kids is as just as good as doing it for me"

Do a favor for my mother-in-law and she'll be appropriately thankful. Do something for one of her kids, however, and she'll adore you forever. Her regard for you is multiplied by at least a factor of two. This has always been her motto in appreciating any kindness offered to her kids, from a piece of candy to an encouraging shout-out at the ballgame. Now she applies this philosophy to anything done for her grandkids, and that makes for a goodwill factor of three.

"Every child is born into a different family"

Versions of this quote are in all the childrearing literature and it's a good reminder. When you're expecting a second child, you really do ponder ridiculous questions like whether you can love another little person as much as the one you already have. After all, your life changed so profoundly with the first one that it's hard to imagine what could be in store next. How can you possibly give another baby its due attention?

Of course, after you have the second child you can't believe you ever wondered how you would accommodate another; you find that your emotional capacity just expands naturally. Now you think, "What were we doing before?"

The next children won't know life without an older sibling, and that's okay. Except for when they see their pitiful baby scrapbooks next to big brother's volumes from months one through thirty-six.

 

Any other hints or encouragement to share? We all need them! Comment or send to info@birminghammom.com.

 

When the Plaza Fiesta development was first built, the bright facade was a shock compared to the more sedate neutrals of typical storefronts. Now the development seems right at home with its bands of color simmering against the treetops along Lorna Road. Perhaps because the neighboring supermarket and laundromat were geared toward the hispanic market (El Mercado, Lavanderia), the Iguana Grill itself was initially viewed with curiosity. Would it be the the familiar Mexican fare we're accustomed to, or would it be so authentic we wouldn't even recognize it? 

It didn't take long for diners to catch on to what Iguana Grill has to offer. Yes, it has the expected menu of Mexican meals (there's even the obligatory "Speedy Gonzalez" lunch entree consisting of an enchilada, rice, and beans - what self-respecting southern Mexican restaurant doesn't offer one?). But honestly, the food is almost eclipsed by the atmosphere.

You know those commercials where you open a door and suddenly you're in a whole other world? This is one of those places. It's like stepping inside a giant pinata. 

Starting with the iron balcony above the massive front doors, then passing the curving staircase and copper water fountain of the entryway, the interior is a wonderland of workmanship. Every booth is punctuated with a punched-tin lantern, and an abundant "sky" of Mexican star lights is suspended from the ceiling. Beyond the layers of texture (copper nail heads, pebbled leather, glazed tile) and saturated colors is a giant mural covering the far wall. A personal favorite is the table with an ironwork palm tree growing up through its center bearing lights. This most definitely is not your garden-variety strip mall restaurant.  

If you're looking for inexpensive dining thrills around Birmingham, you must include Iguana Grill. As BirminghamMoms know, other than burger joints and chicken finger shacks, Mexican restaurants have to be the most kid-friendly of places to dine. The music is usually cheerful and loud enough to camouflage a tantrum; chips and salsa are quickly delivered; service is indeed speedy; and any accidental blob of cheese dip is scooped away without a trace. Since the food is generally inexpensive, you can leave a larger tip as a cowardly apology for the corn chip crumbs on the floor.

If the Mexican Riviera or even Epcot Center in Orlando are not practical destinations for your family this year, the Iguana Grill can offer you a brief moment of immersion in another place, maybe even another culture.  

BirminghamMom tip: If you have a young child who is old enough to want a chip to dip but not toothy enough to chew one, bring some saltines. Ask for a small bowl of mild enchilada sauce and your kiddo can play along dipping away while you keep the hot salsa and crunchy chips to yourself.

Like everyone else who bought a PACT contract, I'm thinking, "Now what?" with a building sense of panic. It felt so good to have a big red mental checkmark next to even one category among the Things Moms Worry About. Regardless of how the situation is resolved, Alabama's PACT scare illustrates that one method alone is not sufficient for planning major future expenses like college costs.

Patti Black is BirminghamMom of twins and a Certified Financial Planner. Patti typically works with high net worth individuals but she is generously sharing some tips that any average mom can use in planning for the costs of college. These are accessible to all of us and require only a modest commitment to get started.

Patti's Easy Tips on Saving for College

With the economy in trouble and account values declining, including the assets funding Alabama’s PACT plan, you may feel that trying to save money for your children’s education is hopeless. Or you can take another point of view and decide that continuing to save in today’s environment is like buying things on sale. (A really good sale, like one where you can “buy one get one free” and use your coupon.)  

Just like making a grocery list, what you “buy” when you are saving for education depends on what you can afford. Even if you don’t feel like you have any cash to spare for savings right now, you can still take advantage of Upromise® rewards. It is a free service that helps you earn money for college by giving back a percentage of what you spend with hundreds of America’s leading companies when you use a registered credit card or grocery card. You can save when you shop online (be sure to install The Upromise TurboSaver™ to get the most Upromise® bang for your online shopping), at your favorite stores, at the grocery or drug store, when traveling, dining out and more.

 

This money, which accumulates in a Upromise® account, can be automatically transferred to a Section 529 plan (more on it in a minute) on a periodic basis, subject to a $25 minimum transfer amount. Visit www.Upromise.com for more information and to enroll.

If you have at least $25 to set aside regularly for your child’s education, you can utilize a Section 529 plan.  These plans allow you to save for qualified education expenses (tuition, fees, books, room and board, supplies, etc.) and, as long as the withdrawals are used for these purposes, they are not subject to federal income tax.

However, (you knew that was coming, didn’t you?) you will have to pay both income tax and a 10% penalty on the earnings of any withdrawals that are not used for qualified education expenses. The penalty does not apply if a child receives a scholarship. In addition, you can avoid the penalty by changing the beneficiary of the plan to another family member. A 529 plan may make it more difficult to obtain financial aid, but keep in mind that most financial aid comes through loans, which must be repaid.

Just as your child wrestles with the decision of which cereal to select at the grocery store, you may also be overwhelmed with which 529 plan to select. This task will be made a little simpler with a visit to www.savingforcollege.com, which has a tool that allows you to compare the plans.

Like the advice not to grocery shop on an empty stomach, you should not save for your children’s education until you have an adequate emergency fund (3-6 months of expenses set aside in a money market fund) and you have paid off your credit cards. But you already knew that, right?

Any views or opinions are solely those of the individual author and do not necessarily represent those of Charles D. Haines, LLC.

Thanks, Patti, for sharing these ideas. We BirminghamMoms are glad to learn from a professional who understands the temptation to enjoy takeout for dinner today vs. deferring for college tomorrow. It's good to be reminded that those empty-stomach shopping decisions can be wallet-busters down the road.

 

Most home economists would tell you that eating in is more economical than eating out 95% of the time. But what about the other five percent? Surely there are times when a restaurant, because of bulk purchasing, special promotions, and overall efficiency, has an advantage over the home cook.

Here are BirminghamMom's picks for deals that are as good or better than cooking at home. When you need a break from meal prep or don't have time to cook, these are the meals that let you relax knowing you couldn't have done better in your own kitchen:

1. Jason's Deli

At upwards of $7 for a sandwich and chips, Jason's may not strike you as a bargain. However, think about the size of the larger sandwiches and the quality of ingredients. A single sandwich such as a Beefeater or Yankee is large enough for two. Unless you're a legend like Dagwood or Jethro (forgive the old school references), you'd never put that much meat on a single sandwich at home.

These meats and cheeses are premium quality and would sell for $7 to $10 per pound in any deli. At Jason's Deli, you can choose from any variety of these meats, which due to the volume of sales never have a chance to age in the fridge as they might at home. Add fresh baked bread or a roll up and the option of fresh fruit as a side instead of chips - giant, luscious strawberries! - and you can't make two sandwiches of that quality at home for the same price as one sandwich there. Order to go or dine in with no tip and no clean-up required (don't forget the soft serve ice cream).

2. Costa's meal for four to go

Choose from baked lasagna or baked spaghetti for four including fresh salad and bread for around $32. At first glance, $8 per person doesn't sound like a steal. However, these portions are so generous you will have more than four servings. These are the dishes that are just as good, if not better, as leftovers the second day, so you're bound to have a enough to take for lunch at work or a couple of frozen-dinner sized portions for the next night.

In particular, the lasagna is a value because of the variety of ingredients. By the time you purchase Italian sausage, stewed tomatoes, all the spices, and simmer for hours, you'd need an Italian grandmother working that stove for free to come out ahead. Add the ricotta, parmesean/reggiano, and the hour it would take to bake in your oven, and you've put in close to $20 bucks yourself. Now consider fresh lettuce for the salad and the trimmings like pepperoncini peppers, black olives and feta cheese. Unless you intend to prepare several meals, it's not likely that an investment in all these ingredients can pay off before they spoil.

Costa's to-go salad dressing portions are large enough to handle a few more of your own salads later in the week. The house dressing is good enough to sip, and their ranch dressing is the tangy, fresh kind that could make any tired crudite taste good. The bread loaves are perfectly crusty outside, chewy inside. Why bother making it from scratch when you can have all this and pick it up in a drive thru? Re-use the aluminum pans for another time when you cook ahead.

3. Little Caesar's Pizza

No, this isn't gourmet pizza, but you will not find a better deal anywhere. First of all, a frozen pizza from the grocery is $5, a fresh deli pizza is more. Frozen pizzas at promotional prices of 3/$10 are 10" pizzas, but a Little Caesar's Pizza is 14", so it's still a better value. And it's hot-n-ready! Entertainment by dancing sign holder is included.

We can credit Little Caesar's with making feeding kids easier at sleep overs, end-of-season team events, and birthday parties.  Almost nobody remembers the old Pizza! Pizza! square pies they were known for before one-price/volume became Little Caesars' dominion. Thankfully, kids love the stuff and don't know the difference.

4.  Rotisserie chicken from Sam's or Costco

Rotisserie chickens from grocery stores are fine, but the warehouse store versions are often a pound larger and often cheaper. A typical warehouse price is $4.99 for a seasoned, roasted bird that is ready for you to take home and devour. Pound for pound, most moms can't do any better with a raw bird from the poultry section. By the time you have prepped, seasoned, and roasted it for three hours (heating the kitchen in the process), you could have had your store-bought bird at a negligible difference in cost at a fraction of the trouble.

Rotisserie chickens have become so popular that Betty Crocker has published a cookbook dedicated to rotisserie chicken recipes. Imagine, a whole cookbook on this versatile item!  The value is even better when you consider that you are likely to have chicken left over for a chicken casserole, stir fry, or stew, and if you're really industrious, you can use the carcass to make a savory stock (use your slow cooker during summer to generate less heat).

The easiest possible side for rotisserie chicken besides a salad is a large can of Allen's green beans and potatoes. If you add seasoning and cook as you would green beans, you'll have both a starch and a vegetable for the effort of a single one. (Unless your young kids insist none of their foods touch - then you have a little more work on your hands.)

Consider the cost-benefit analysis above, which doesn't factor in the value of convenience to you and your family. By working meals like these into your regular menu planning, you can avoid cooking burnout and still meet your budget.   

It's a fact that shopping moms are also saving moms, and we see no conflict with this mindset. We embrace oxymorons like "Shop and Save" and sometimes have to be reminded that you can indeed go broke saving money. No wonder I am drawn to the tagline, "Shop your way to wealth," and I suspect many of us harbor the secret fantasy of becoming financially independent based on our shopping prowess alone.

Realistically, it doesn't seem likely that you can ever shop your way to wealth, but the folks at BondRewards.com are onto something. The site is based on the same premise as other affiliate-based shopping sites such as Upromise, in which a percentage of the purchases you initiate via its website are set aside so that you may redeem your rewards for U.S. Savings Bonds.

For the risk averse folks out there (and who hasn't developed a good deal more aversion to risk since last fall?), Bond Rewards lets you park your shopping credits for redemption in the ultimate safe harbor for investing, the grandaddy of them all, U.S. Savings Bonds. These little certificates used to be old-timey gifts from grandpa that ranked right up there with horehound stick candy, but they aren't sounding so bad since we've been stung by our own Great Recession and and the previous wishful thinking that good times wouldn't end.  Turns out grandpa knew better.

This site has scores of major retailers for clothing, office supplies and household items but also includes sellers of pet meds, contacts, appliances and insurance. In other words, not all of these are retailers that would induce a fit of post-purchase guilt and you are probably spending money with some of them already. If so, why not purchase through Bond Rewards and enjoy an additional benefit?

If you or your children have moved out of the college savings days, routing regular purchases through this site might be a great option for you to set something aside for the future. If you've got a kid starting out on his own (Congratulations! may he fly your nest but still visit often), Bond Rewards is a way he can do something painless and prudent while making those first expenditures.

Maybe you can't shop your way to wealth. But if you had started making as many regular purchases as you could through a site like this years ago, how many bonds could you have put away by now? If we must shop anyway, let's agree to shop our way to a better, safer savings plan in the future.

 

Few things are as uplifting as a visit to a preschool or elementary classroom. The bulletin boards, "job charts" and schedules make the world seem orderly and controlled for just a moment. I suppose this is the way teachers establish the classroom habitat and keep natural chaos at bay.

Eventually the kids get the idea that their room is their own habitat and they want to protect it as such. It's obvious they need a way to display their art, keep up with lists and belongings and intimidate their siblings with dire warnings (see photo of bedroom door). Even if you're all about labels and individual expression, it's tough not to draw the line when fresh-painted walls and trim are at stake. Heck, even an old paint job is worth preserving, since there are ample opportunities for them to scuff and blight the walls in other ways.

Mavalus Tape is the school teacher's secret to keeping walls fresh and ready for re-arranging again and again. This "marvelous" tape is smooth enough to write on like a label and strong enough to hold up heavy weight poster board and signs. You can hardly see it here, but this sign is held in place with a single piece of Mavalus Tape that stands up to the opening, closing, and rare (unsanctioned and eventually punished) slamming of this frequently used bedroom door.  

Mavalus Tape's smooth surface gives young writers a 1" width for writing names or labels and even a crayon will mark easily on the surface. It adheres without wrinkles or bumps (unlike masking or painter's tape) and removes cleanly. It can be torn by hand although it is obviously more attractive with a cut edge.

The Parent-Teacher Store in on hwy 31 in Hoover stocks this tape and a worker claims "it's all we use" on walls for displays and signage. It's more precious than masking tape ($3.49 a roll), but it's greater durability and contrast give it a neater finish for taping signs, photos, etc. to the wall.

With Mavalus Tape you can let the kids have a little freedom of expression and pride of artistry with no harm to your paint job. When you or the kids have tired of last week's art or the menacing door messages, just pull them down and file them for the scrapbook. Think of the "keep out" signs as healthy boundaries that may preserve the peace until the siblings surprise you by voluntarily deciding to room together in college.

 

Even before the economy took a nosedive, it was becoming fashionable to lighten our environmental needs by reusing as many things as possible, including clothing. This is nothing new to moms, who have been wardrobing for their kids via hand-me-downs for years. In fact, the standard reply when a mom shares that  she's expecting another boy is to say, "Oh, you're all set! You've already got all the boy stuff!" 

There can also be residual value in all those clothes, provided they haven't become too worn or out of fashion. Moms have learned that clothes can be outgrown so quickly they are still almost as good as new when the size has become too small. I know some moms who justify purchasing better brand clothing because they know they can recoup 1/4 to 1/3 of their cost through consignment. Likewise, some moms justify purchasing a greater variety  of clothing because they find a deeply discounted selection through consignment. Either way, consignment is an outstanding method for recouping costs or spending less for your children's clothing.

If you've missed the big "blitz" type consignment sales this season but would like to take advantage of consignment, you have many options available. Karol Leggett of Kids Closet in Vestavia offers several tips on how to make the most of working with a consignment reseller.

1. Call the store for their policies on with questions such as: 

How man items can you bring?

What is the "split" on the sale proceeds between you and the store? (60/40, 50/50, etc.) Some stores may increase your percentage if you use your balance inside the store as a credit.  

Are there any brands that are not accepted (usually less expensive, value brands)

Do you need an appointment to drop off clothes?

How will you be paid? Some stores pay up front for clothing and some accept clothing on consignment only, meaning you only make money if your item sells.

Items that sell best are in great condition, still in style, laundered and pressed. Most stores only accept the current season's clothing. It is a good sign if the store is particular about which items it will accept; this makes for a better shopping experience and store reputation.

2. Shop often. Most stores are putting out new items every day, so come in the store frequently to see the newest clothing. 

3. Snag it. If you see something you love and you feel it's a good price -snag it. It's the only one they have and it will probably be gone soon.

4. Take your Time - Look over the selection and take time to review the brand labels. Brand name is an important factor in the price of the item and employees can usually answer questions about the significance of a brand.

5. Find out when sales take place. Some stores have a certain day in the month when everything in the store is discounted. This is to help move merchandise and make room for new items being brought in.

6. Find out the return policy. Many do not offer "returns" in the retail sense but may have an approval policy which gives you a limited amount of time to take the clothing home, try it on, and return it if you don't wish to keep it.

Sometimes you save clothes for the next child only to find you have the wrong size for the season. It is not unusual for some articles in consignment stores to have the original tags still attached, an indication that the size wasn't appropriate or the item was a gift that went unused. Convert these items into cash via consignment and lbe on the lookout for clothes for your kids. Remember, one kid's growth spurt could be your snag of the season.

The hunt is on for the best summer in Birmingham can offer, and McWane Science Center has to be on your list. You have no doubt visited the halls of McWane Science Center or attended a party there. But let me bring you in on a little secret: McWane is one of the best values for summer activities, hands down.

A year-long family membership at McWane Science Center costs no more than two meals out at a sit-down restaurant ($90), but gives you tons of options:

Climate Control. Scoff if you will, but when the heat index tops 100 or the thunder is rolling in, you'll be delighted to be strolling among the cool and steady exhibits inside. With four floors to explore, you and the kids can roam for hours and never feel a moment of cabin fever or heat stroke.

Free Wi-fi. If your kids are old enough, you can bring your laptop and watch them out of one eye while you catch up on e-mail or assemble your online photo album. Now, I'm not advocating letting your kids run wild - heaven knows that's not what the McWane staff needs - but if you can supervise them and wedge in a little productive time for yourself, that's a two-fer.

Covered Parking and Elevators. Your hip gets a rest as toddlers can walk on their own and strollers can wheel right out of the elevator and into your trunk. No hot car to pile into! This alone is worth 10 positive points on the Mom's Mood  scale.

Regular Exhibits and Special Programs for All Ages. Besides the regular favorites like the bed of nails or the giant piano keys, there are rotating exhibits of all sorts to keep things interesting. If you're a city girl with no intention of wading in a creek or riverbed, take the kids to the lower level's Cahaba River Tank so you know you've at least introduced them to aquatic life. Let them touch a horseshoe crab while you keep your distance.   

Imax. (Additional charge). All advantages above except children are confined to their chairs in a dark, quiet place. Excellent!

Food. You don't have to leave the building for snacks or lunch. Pizza Hut and Subway are here but there are also deliberately healthy choices like smoothies. Burgers are broiled and fries are prepared with a hot air fryer which doesn't use oils or grease to produce equally crispy results (when will George Foreman license this technology for home use?). Your membership entitles you to a discount in the cafe. Yum!

Discounts on gift shop purchases and summer camps. The gift shop isn't full of the usual allowance-scamming souvenirs. There are science-related toys and games at all price points and your membership means a 20% discount. If your kids will attend a summer camp, your membership fee is easily recovered, since your discount means a $50 difference on a single week of full day camp.

Finally: Reciprocal benefits at educational museums all over the country. This is the membership feature that super-charges your value. Whether your vacations will be a bit more modest this summer or your young children have you foregoing long trips in the car, McWane lets you enjoy other venues that are perfect for the kids. 

Space and Rocket Center - Huntsville - less than a two-hour drive from Birmingham, straight interstate (I 65 to I565). If you haven't been since you were a kid, you will be shocked at how quaint the original space suits appear now.

Gulf Coast Exploreum and Science Center - Mobile - if you're heading to Gulf Shores, here is your rainy day plan, already paid for via your McWane membership.

Emerald Coast Science Center - Ft. Walton Beach - Prefer the Florida Panhandle for your beach vacation? Likewise, your rainy day plan is covered. Send hubby and kids to the Science Center while you explore the equally significant Retail Science Center, i.e., the outlets in Destin. 

Several other reciprocal museums are within a few hours' drive from Birmingham, most in larger cities (Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta) that are likely on your short list for weekend trips already. If you travel to visit family during the holidays, don't forget that you may have privileges at a museum on or near your route, perfect for taking a break and avoiding car fatigue.

You won't beat ninety bucks for this much access to "edutainment." There are other membership levels to suit your needs (grandparents, caregiver, guest, etc.) and increasing benefit options. Enjoy an annual McWane Science Center membership this summer and you'll realize it's one of the best deals in any economy.

 

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Great news for BirminghamMoms! McWane Science Center is offering us a $10 discount on an annual memberships through 12/31/09.

Just reference code bhammom at the ticketing counter or via mail (not available through online membership application).

Now an already great value is even better!