The Tilty Cup is a sippy cup with a new angle on cup design. A chamber inside the cup forces liquids to flow toward the mouth piece so that the cup does the tilting, not your child's head.
I know what some people are thinking: A kid's gotta learn how to drink out of a cup sometime. But I see this as a bonus for mom as much as the child. Admit it, you've held up a cup plenty of times for your frustrated child who didn't yet understand that water runs downhill. We adults have straws for this. ($5.99 for two 7 -oz cups)
There are several diap & wipe bags out there to carry a few diapers and the essential wipes. But this one by My Royal Heinie is the best I've seen because of the built-in Smart Wipes dispenser that allows one-handed operation. Obviously a mom who wrangled a fidgety kid realized there had to be a better way to pull a wipe, and she's found it.
You know times are tough when the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce is hosting a seminar on couponing. It just goes to show that we're all trying to get the best value for our buck, no matter what part of Birmingham we call home.
The March 24th seminar, Go & Grow: Meet Your Local Grocers, will feature the grocers and pharmacies of Mountain Brook as well as expert couponing instruction from Holly Syx, a homeschooling BirminghamMom with a family of eight. The grocers and pharmacies will be discussing how to maximize their own in-store deals and services, while Syx' couponing guidance will apply to shopping with any retailer.
The Mountain Brook Chamber has made a concerted effort to encourage residents to shop local, and it shows in the care and connection between the residents and their retail stores. The Chamber wisely points out that dollars residents spent within the community ultimately benefit them again as they help support their services and the overall quality of life in the area.
Registration is required and there is a fee; all materials will be provided. Visit the Chamber's website to learn more.
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.
Imagine if we hadn't had mentors with reliable advice. Navigating on our own would have been much more difficult. The Young Women's Empowerment Conference was created so that promising young women between 14 and 19 could receive instruction on topics like preparing for college, financial awareness, and business etiquette in a one-day program that is of no cost to them.
The event is invitation only so that attendees who are intentional about their goals and objectives are able to get the most from the experience. This year's conference is scheduled for March 27th from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Birmingham YWCA. Candidates can apply online and the deadline is March 15th.
If you know a girl who would benefit from networking with other teens and receiving valuable advice in preparing for her future, let her know about the conference application. Then be sure to offer your continued insight and support as she enters adulthood.
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are the original Bad Boys of American literature, the mischievous-minded trouble makers we can't help but love. Mark Twain (i.e., Samuel Clemens) gave us these characters back in 1876 and they still define our image of childhood.
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.