I'm always amazed at how the daffodils never fail us, emerging when it seems premature but proving themselves perfectly on cue for warmer weather. I have learned that you can never take these daffodil days for granted, as this span of time between the Alabama seasons of "cold" and "hot as farr" (to borrow the name of Jack's latest hamburger) is mighty slim. Spring is a wonderful time in Birmingham – you must get out and enjoy it.  Here are some ideas: 

Rediscover your State Parks (www.alapark.com) and your local library (cheap! close! fun!).  There were too many activities to list them all, but here are a few in addition to events at our favorite spots like McWane and the Alys Stephens Center. 

Oak Mountain State Park

March 16 at 7pm – “Going Batty:  Bats of Alabama”

March 17^th at 10am – The Legend of St. Patrick (this presentation will also include some crafts for kids)

March 20^th at 10am – The Weather

Tannehill State Park

March 20^th-21^st – Trade Days at Tannehill State Park.  Shoppers and swappers from far and near come to Tannehill in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, furniture and treasures. 

McWane Science Center

March13^th – The IMAX film Bugs and the NatureScope Exhibit open.  This is sure to be an exhilarating, creepy crawly experience for your budding scientist.

March 14^th from 2pm – 4pm – Forecast: Science. This is a presentation for children ages 7-15 on the Weather. 

March 15^th – 18^th - Meet Dora the Explorer.  Picture times are at 10, 12, 2 & 4. 

Southern Museum of Flight

March 13^th – March 19^th (except March 15^th) from 10am to noon – Young Flyer Activities include a tour of the Wright Brothers plane, face painting, bounce house and crafts.  The day also includes the opportunity to pilot a simulated flight of the Wright Brothers aircraft. 

Aldridge Botanical Gardens

March 15^th – 19^th from 9am to 4pm – “Hooks in the Gardens”.  Bring your kids and a rod/reel and enjoy a day of fishing for only $5.  If you don’t have a rod and reel, just rent  one from the Gardens.  On Wednesday, March 17^th fisherman will be on-hand to answer questions.  Free Bait on the 17^th also.

Alys Stephens Center

Saturday, March 27^th at 10am, 1pm and 3pm – “Down the Yellow Brick Road” and Original ASC Theatrical Production

Sunday, March 28^th at 3pm – Peking Acrobats.  Kids tickets are just $10 for this awesome performance.

Emmet O’Neal Library

March 13^th (and every Saturday morning) at 10:30am – Storytime with Mr. Mac

March 15^th from 6 to 7:30 pm – Chess Club (ages 7 & Up) Get tips from the coach

March 16^th at 10:30am – Activated Storytellers present “American Legends”

March 16^th at 3:00pm – Activated Storytellers present “World Tales”

March 17^th at 3pm – St. Patrick’s Day Movie with a special appearance by a leprechaun.

March 18^th at 7pm – Movie on the Lawn.  Bring a blanket and the family to watch everyone’s favorite Mark Twain rascal.

March 19^th at 10:30 – Kids and Komputers for grades 3-6. Call to register at 879-0497

Hoover Public Library

March 16^th –  Teen Game Tournament at 4pm – Super Smash Brothers. Register in advance

March 17^th at 10am – Wear Pig Out Pink as you fill your tummy with tasty treats from your favorite books

March 185^th at 10am – Book Arts – Wear Well-Read Red as your favorite books inspire you to create a masterpiece

March 18^th at 4pm – Teen Game Tournament – Mario Kart.   Register in advance

March 19^th at 10am – UAB Bookends present The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

April 10^th at 10:30am – Go Green at the Kid Zone.  Start your summer by planting your very own seeds. Decorate flower pots, plant seed and keep them growing all summer. Register in advance.

We BirminghamMoms are lucky to have several options for grooming on a budget. If you don't have a regular stylist, stretch to afford the services of an established stylist, or just can't justify a manicure unless it's really cheap, you should consider the what our nearby beauty schools can provide.  

Essentially you are offering yourself as a human mannequin for the student's practice in return for deeply discounted services. On the down side, you aren't going to be able to develop a long-term client relationship since the student will be moving on once his/her education is complete. However, an instructor is always at hand and actively checking in to oversee the student's work.

Of course a student won't yet have developed the speed and skill of a professional stylist, so you will need to allow for a little extra time. Your services will cost a fraction of what they would elsewhere and, honestly, isn't the salon the only place you get to really dig into an issue of People magazine?

The Aveda Institute (pictured left) just opened in Hoover, and it must certainly be the Taj Mahal of cosmetology schools in Alabama. The interior is every bit as impressive as any day spa and it's full of product displays as in any Aveda retail store. The emphasis on natural ingredients in the products is carried out in the sleek interior as well. This former movie theater offers several light-filled styling galleries that feel like a department store sales floor.

A 30 minute manicure at Aveeda Institue is $12, a haircut & style is $15, and a 30 minute facial s $20.  The Institute is closed on Sundays and Mondays. If you're looking to walk in, Friday and Saturday are not recommended, as these are the busiest days, but earlier in the week your chances are good.

The Xcell Academy, a Paul Mitchell partner school, is also in Hoover just north of I459 on higway 31.

At Xcell, a basic manicure is $8, a haircut & style starts at $10, and a basic facial is $20.    

(One important note is that children must be five years or older for services. For safety reasons, they are not allowed on the floor unless they are receiving services, and they can't wait on you in the lobby. So in other words, this isn't the place to bring the kids unless you're bringing them for their own hair cuts.)  

Virginia College in Homewood has trained many a local stylist and has been offering bargain prices on grooming for years. Perms start at $30, haircuts are $8 and a plain manicure is just $5.  I recently learned that they have monthly specials on top of their already affordable prices. For example, through April 16th, Virginia College's Student Cosmetology Services is offering a "bring a friend" buy one, get one free promotion on services priced at $10 and above. Appointments book quickly and can be made at 205-943-2139.

Although students are not paid, they do gratefully accept tips. Who knows, you may discover an up-and-coming stylist you can follow to his or her next salon.

Looks like visiting a beauty school has gotten more attractive.  

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer has been selected as this year's Big Read, a program designed to revitalize the role of literature in our lives. The fun of participating in the Big Read is that it's like being part of one giant book club, with an abundance of downloads and supporting material available and all area libraries providing excellent programming.

You can read about Tom's adventures along with your kids and enjoy the shared experience. Although you were probably required to read the book as a student, read it again now and you'll find whole new meanings that you missed the first time around. 

There are too many events to list, but here's a sample: 

* A Musical Afternoon with Bobby Horton and Mark Twain, Sunday March 14, 2 - 3:30, Alys Stephens Center - the musician who produced and performed music scores for ten Ken Burns films, including the documentary on Mark Twain. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 13.

* Family Night on the Lawn Music Special, Tuesday April 13 at 5:30, Emmet O'Neal Library in Mountain Brook. Bring a blanket and enjoy old time games and an "Up the Lazy River" musical presentation.

* Tom Sawyer Day at Cathedral Caverns, Saturday, April 10. Scenes from Disney's movie Tom and Huck were filmed at this cavern in Woodville. Bring a picnic and enjoy the cave, music, stories, and children's activities. (The caverns were closed for years and recently reopened as a state park. The facilities are nicer than you may expect.)

* Alabama Book Festival, Saturday April 17, Old Alabama Town, Montgomery. Over 4,000 people come to meet with and hear from favorite authors. 

* Last Page Event, Saturday, April 24th, 11:30 - 12:30, Linn Park (coinciding with the Magic City Art Connection) - Jim Aycock will present a one-man show about Mark Twain and a fence will be set up nearby for children to paint.

There are too many family-friendly programs for you to miss out on all this ready-made fun. Every library branch will have several events that are bound to offer entertainment that will bring this story to life for you and your kids.

It seems that Proctor & Gamble, the marketing behemoth that owns so many of the consumer brands on our shelves, has  launched an ad campaign in France for young girls age 13 - 17 who may have reservations about using tampons. 

They've introduced a singing, talking tampon named "Max le Tampax" who offers advice to young girls first getting their periods. The idea is that the girls may be uncomfortable with this change in their bodies, so they can friend this tampon - apparently a grown male dressed in costume - for credible advice. Oh, and he has a whole group of singing friends.

I wish I were kidding. No, this is not a Saturday Night Live skit.

This has to be the most bizarre concept ever for engaging with an audience. I thought "pledge to your behind" by Cottonelle (not a  P&G brand) was pretty lame, but this is much worse. Remember when every marketing major's dream was to be a brand manager for Proctor & Gamble? The cachet is gone, I'm afraid. I'll be stunned if I learn a woman was behind this ridiculous concept.

I get that Max is for a young crowd and is supposed to be quirky humor. Also, this if France, a country that regarded Jerry Lewis as a comedic auteur. But doesn't this seem a bit disconcerting and freakish to you? Would our daughters ever really accept advice - or even seek entertainment - from a talking tampon?

Moms, talk to your daughters. Make sure they are getting information about their bodies from you and other trusted sources, not a mega brand with a spokesman that is even goofier than some of their male peers.

Note: A good resource is My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nailbuff. It's an anthology of stories from women around the world about their first periods (did anyone prepare you for it?). The proceeds from the book are being donated to charities promoting women's health and education. Take that, Max!

While we BirminghamMoms might be confident preparing our own taxes or consulting with a professional tax preparer, there are many Alabamians who forfeit hard-earned dollars by claiming their tax refund through a check cashing, refund loan, or similar service. As is always the case, it is those who can least afford the fees who often use these services.

What many don’t fully realize is that they’re being charged an outrageous interest rate for what amounts to a cash advance on their return. They receive relatively little benefit, because although they do get a portion of their tax refund right away (what's left after fees and interest), they could file electronically and receive their full amount in only a few short days.

The United Way's Financial Stability Partnership of Alabama is offering free tax preparation by certified tax preparers in locations throughout Alabama. Reminding clients, “You’ve earned it, now keep it,” the FSP aims to educate more citizens about the program in hopes they will realize it’s worth waiting a bit longer to receive their full refund.

Most of us moms are in frequent and regular contact with the sometimes struggling, low-to-moderate income earning citizens of our communities. Consider an average day, when we might converse with our child care worker, volunteer alongside school lunch room employees or custodians, and chat with a familiar food service worker or store clerk. If you know someone who you suspect could benefit from free tax preparation service, why not tell them about the tax preparation service available to them?

All they need to do is dial 2-1-1 or call 1-866-869-4921 to find a local certified tax preparer. They’ll receive instructions on what they need to bring to their appointment. In addition, if they made less than $58,000 in 2009, they may qualify for tax credits for dependent care, earned income, and Making Work Pay, a program specifically designed for those who are in low wage earning categories.

Every day we rely on hard workers whose efforts we may personally value beyond their compensation in the marketplace. Share this free tax preparation information with them so they can keep what they’ve worked so hard to earn.

It's hard for a museum exhibit to compete with the entertainment kids expect nowadays (Universal Studios Orlando will soon unveil Wizarding World, a Harry Potter inspired section of its themepark). Ancient books and woodcut illustrations under glass didn't sustain my kids' attention as I had hoped, but the exhibit was fascinating for this BirminghamMom nontheless.

* Parallels with the Harry Potter stories are outlined along the far end of the exhibit and show how author JK Rowling included themes from Renaissance medicine in her work. You'll recall some have objected to these books because of references to witchcraft.

Looking over the exhibit, you're reminded that modern medicine began with witchcraft, astrology and alchemy as practitioners tried all sorts of remedies in a desperate effort to heal. Not until the development of the scientific method and it's insistence on reliability and replication of results did we drop some of these notions. Even still, I will admit having tried many an old wives' tale to remedy colic in a young baby here in the 21st century.

* Ironically, to not believe in witches was considered heretical back in the day. There were actually manuals on how to identify witches (displayed is Malleus Maleficarum, or "Witch's Hammer", published in 1489). Imagine finding this in the bookseller's self-help section!  This manual even asserts that Satan "endeavors to propgage the unbelief of witches," all the better to keep you on the hunt for them. What does all this have to do with medicine? It seems physicians were brought in as expert witnesses at witch trials, since they were to diagnose whether symptoms were caused by natural or supernatural causes. If the physician declared the symptom caused by supernatural forces, it was likely someone was going to burn at the stake or be thrown in the river with some stones as weights. Talk about medical ethics! Awkward. 

* You may chuckle to learn that magnets were considered magical (how else to explain them back then?) and to see serious references to unicorn horns and dragons among the medical texts on display, but my money says the state-of-the art protocols employed at UAB  today will look just as primitive to our decendants in 400 years.

* Look for first edition books and highlights from pioneers of modern medicine:

William Harvey (discovered circulation of blood and the function of the heart);

Roger Bacon, said to be a pioneer of the scientific experiment;

A first edition of the Principia, Isaac Newton's most famous work. Though Newton is revered today for his mathematical discoveries related to laws of motion and gravity, I was surprised to learn he quietly wrote a great deal on the occult and alchemy, topics which were of interest during this time before scientifically based studies. Much of this writing was later repudiated by scientists, but hey, nobody holds this against him.

* Clearly, some topics have had universal appeal since the dawn of the printed word. One book from 1683 is titled, "The Cure of Old Age and Preservation of Youth, Shewing How to Cure and Keep Off the Accidents of Old Age; and How to Preserve the Youth, Strength and Beauty of Body, and the Senses and All the Faculties of Both Body and Mind."  Ah, but now modern medicine offers plastic surgery, at least for the youth and beauty aspects. As for the "accidents of old age," I suppose we have The Clapper and Depends.

If you're a grown-up Harry Potter fan, and even if you just have an interest in science and civilization, this exhibit is worth your time. There is no admission fee and the most difficult aspect is locating a parking spot, as street level is the best option.  

Check it out at the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences, 3rd floor of Listerhill Library, 1700 University Boulevard (next to an elevated crosswalk across University).

Interesting note: Look for the exhibit case dealing with mandrakes, a plant mentioned in Harry Potter but better known as part of an interesting little exchange between those madcap sisters in Genesis, Rachel and Leah.