Eileen, a BirminghamMom of three boys (now grown), recalls that she was given a guitar as a young girl but did not receive professional training. Although she taught herself well enough to enjoy the instrument, she told her boys that if they wanted any instrument they would also have to commit to lessons. All three of her sons took guitar lessons and two still play for their own enjoyment. However, one son went on to major in music at Montevallo and now plays and instructs professionally in New York City. Long term, Eileen has had the satisfaction of seeing her son nurture a talent and develop a career that he can take anywhere. Even if you don't have a future professional on your hands - Taylor Swift hopes aside - music education will benefit your child even after the instrument is packed away. 

Lisa, a BirminghamMom of three, took guitar lessons along with her oldest son starting when he was nine years old.  Their lessons were scheduled back-to-back and they worked with the instructor for a total of an hour each Saturday. With her son beginning the lesson with his chords and Lisa finishing the lesson working on her own selections, Lisa says that this helped both of them reinforce their learning during both the lessons themselves and their practice sessions at home. Their mutual interest in the guitar became a shared learning experience for both.

Music stores typically keep a listing of  their recommended instructors. Ellis Piano has a list of helpful questions to ask when selecting an instructor. Other sources for instructors are the music departments at UAB, Samford, or Montevallo (instructors and graduate students often teach private lessons) and even houses of worship. Congregations often have musical staff who offer instruction and some have formal programs (see Arts Academy at Hunter Street Baptist Church).

Imagine, years from now your family could be singing "Silent Night" with your child as the accompanist.

Plant the bulb in the pot according to the directions - you can do this at your kitchen sink - and place it near a moderately sunny window. You and the kids will enjoy watching your bulb bloom much more than you ever enjoyed the preschool paper cups with the marigold seeds, and you'll have longer lasting and more impressive results.

Once the bulb has bloomed, use the pot for ivy or another small houseplant. Let the bulb go dormant in a cool, dry place (a paper bag in the basement works fine) and bury it in a sunny spot in your yard this spring. It will bloom again in the summer and you'll enjoy a dividend from your $9.99 purchase, probably year after year.

Plant by Thanksgiving to ensure a bloom during the week of Christmas, and if the flower becomes too heavy and starts to bend, it will still make a beautiful statement as a single cut flower in a vase.

This kit is packaged for gift giving and would also be a simple, no-fail hostess gift. If you spot Amaryllis bulbs after the holidays with blossoms trying to peek out from their boxes, snap them up at deep discounts. Maybe their timing is off for this Christmas, but you'll still enjoy the blooms in the winter days of January and will love having them back around as a bolt of color for your yard in the summer. 

If you like the idea of sending a hand made card (not necessarily made by YOUR hands), check out these cute cards from Red Rain in Homewood. You can see there are versions suitable for winter or holiday greetings, as well as a plain old hometown hello.

If you're sending cards to far-flung friends, particularly to anyone who has a soft spot for Birmingham, you can bet your recipients will enjoy receiving a shout-out from the Magic City. A simple, graphic card like one of these will show up among all the other greetings and will feel like a big handshake from friends back in the 'ham. If you miss the neighbors who relocated to another state, have friends deployed overseas, or have family who are connecting flights apart from you, odds are they would light up to hear from you and your hometown. Just be sure to enclose a photo.

A box of 10 cards is $7 and is available in the Red Rain store on 18th street in Homewood.   

Kung Fu Panda was just released and is $15.97 at Wal-Mart; this is a cute movie that even grownups can enjoy 

Brady Bunch (early seasons preferred) - Why not take a trip down memory lane yourself? You'll be surprised at your new perspective on the shows you used to watch in the afternoons after school. A BirminghamMom tells me her family cruised through a 12-hour drive and the Brady blended family was surprisingly good company. The confessions made by many of these actors in the post-Brady years will seem even more incredible, as will the fashions.

I Love Lucy is the all-time classic for all audiences; the episodes are funny even if you (not to mention the kids) don't recognize the inside jokes related to the contemporary guest stars of the time (Bob Hope, Tennessee Ernie Ford, etc.). Lucille Ball is an undisputed pioneer as a comedian and  television performer, but she seldom gets her due as one of the first working moms to integrate her family and professional roles. The real heartbreak? Despite having produced enduring work that is commercially viable 50 years later, her family does not benefit from "I Love Lucy" royalties (no video distribution rights to negotiate in those days). Rent episodes from the library for spite.

For some unplugged entertainment, the Kids' Road Atlas pictured here is $3.95 at Rite Aid and probably available at many other stores. This atlas has excellent educational material and a variety of activities and games to keep the kids engaged. Surprise them with it mid-trip and it won't feel like another homework assignment but rather a welcome diversion.

DVD players, new material, and perhaps even earphones for the kids?  For these may we be truly thankful.

Surely you have marshmallows for your sweet potato casserole or a fall evening of s'mores.  Place them in a clear jar and use Expo or Vis-a-Vis markers (these are the type used for whiteboards or overhead projector films) to dress them up with a snowman face.

You can put a snowman face on any number of clear containers that hold white contents: sugar or flour canisters in the kitchen, cotton balls in the bathroom, the salt shaker on the kitchen table.  Does an elf make mischief at your house during the holidays?  Bet he or she is going to find this trick and use it to surprise the kids. 

The painted-on face will wipe off with the faintest touch, so it will need refreshing, but let the kids add subsequent faces and see what they come up with.  

BirminghamMom Tip: Don't let those naughty elves get their hands on your markers or they might leave holiday messages for the kids on your bathroom mirror, glass storm door, or even on the car windows next to their seats!

These are only $1 at Dollar General. They are hollow, so they are perfect for tucking a little surprise or two inside.  In our family, a pack of gum or a dollar bill are still small thrills, but stickers, wrapped candy or rub-on tatoos would also be fun. The ornaments pop against a bright green plate, as shown here, and this color green is commonly available in paper products.

Besides brightening a place setting, these ornaments would make great little gifts for the kids in your scout troop or classroom.  Tuck an encouraging note or a favorite easy recipe inside for an extra-personal touch. 

A photo envelope is a practical solution for so many of the little papers a BirminghamMom has to manage, including those that are generated day after typical day. Designed to hold 4x6 prints, photo envelopes are more serviceable as a repository for:

• Receipts and store credits
• Gift Cards
• Scripts for prescriptions to be filled
• Stamps
• Department store coupons and special offers
• Invitations - especially those needed for directions or signed releases (Pump-It-Up invitations, for example)

Most moms try to tuck all these into their wallets or a purse side pocket, but the effort becomes ridiculous after awhile. If you change your bag, your entire filing system may be disrupted by a new hierarchy of internal/external pockets. With a photo envelope for all the little papers, you can change bags easily and your wallet has a chance of staying organized. 

Find a photo envelope in Birmingham at Target, Hallmark, or Michael's (don't forget to use the 40% coupon that is usually in the Sunday paper) for less than $7 in the stationery section. Look for a bright color so you can spot it easily inside your purse, and remember that a magnetic closure will let you open and close it easily with one hand. Thin versions are preferable to expanding versions, since you want to avoid anything bulky.

The envelope pictured above came from Target, but it isn't hard to find a broad selection of colors and materials, including leather versions, which cost around $30.

Using a photo envelope, you'll find it much easier to clear out your receipts, submit expenses, or locate and use your gift cards before they expire. You may also find a photo envelope helpful for carrying other things, too, like...photos.  

If the kids are younger, you'll have to spend your time attending to them and likely will not be able to do a project of your own.  Make up the time by calling up some girlfriends and reserving the party room for an evening; individual studio fees are waived for a party of 8 or more in most studios.  Bring finger foods and beverages and catch up while you paint and before your schedules are booked with holiday festivities.

If your kids are small, paint both their hands and then have them clasp one of the large round ball ornaments.  You'll never regret having prints of both hands on one piece. 

If your kids are older, they can tackle a piece with obvious outlines like a snowman mug or candy cane dish. Short attention span?  Stick to a flat ornament that's easy to handle and can be painted quickly.  My son once painted a blue candy cane.  I grimaced at the time, but now it's one of the most sentimental ornaments in our collection.

Some Birmingham ceramic painting studios are: 

• Painted By U in Hoover, across from the Galleria next to Toys R Us (relocated from Vestavia) - why not walk the kids through Toys R Us afterward and get an idea of what interests them for Christmas?
• Ceramic Creations in Hoover off John Hawkins Parkway (across from Super WalMart and a few doors down from Tortuga's, a favorite Birmingham pizzeria)
• Homemade Bisque Its on 39th Street South in Forest Park
• Do It Yourself Crafts in Homewood at 1909 Oxmoor Road 

There's something that arrests your attention at the sight of hand lettering, which is rare these days.  Katherine's stamps offer a practical way to address envelopes and still retain a beautiful, personal touch.  She has many designs to choose from, and all are completely customizable. Besides a stamp for your own use, imagine what a thoughtful and useful gift one of these stamps would make for a Chirstmas, housewarming or wedding gift.

The stamps are two inches wide. If you would like to see examples of available fonts and sizes in person, visit The Nesting Place in Cahaba Heights or Grassroots in the Lee Branch shopping center on Hwy 280.  You may also order a stamp on line at www.katmadeit.com; the $65 charge includes shipping.  You receive two proofs to review and the stamp can generally be produced, boxed and shipped to you within a week of your final approval.    

For one thing, the cameras will be rolling on Christmas morning and the kids will be subject to more shapshots than any other day of the year.  It only makes sense that they should be attired as thoughtfully as they are for any professional portrait, even if they do have bed-head. 

You can hardly expect them to hold still for grooming when Santa 's treats are just down the stairs. They'll be photographed from every angle, and sharp-looking PJs at least help offset the bright but puffy eyes and a head full of cow licks. Since they'll be living these Christmas pics down among siblings for years to come, at least level the future heckling opportunities by outfitting all of them.

When the kids are still young, it's a special indulgence for them to be able to stay in pajamas all day if they wish, and you'll instantly recognize the photos that belong with a certain year. If you're hosting family or visiting family overnight, all the more reason to have nightclothes that are as presentable as their playclothes.

Now's the time to scoop up PJs before your sizes are gone: 

• Children's Place - 2 pair for $25, striped long john style
• Old Navy - baby candy cane versions would work for boys or girls; only sleep pants in kid sizes
• Gymboree - $29.50 - classic red plaid button-front for boys, plaid pants and pullover top for girls 
• Hanna Andersson - $39.50 - online; red and white w/ green neck band, long john style. This company makes clothing that will last for years and is hand-me-down worthy; they also offer these pajamas in adult sizes but do consider that most average-shaped adults can't wear vertically striped long johns with dignity...

Finally, if the kids are older or matching PJs are just a little too cutesy for your taste, opt for the college sleepwear uniform: flannel pajama bottoms and long-sleeve T-shirts.  You can find flannel pants at Old Navy, Target, and most department stores for $15 or less. 

Long-sleeve t-shirts are easy to find and you can have the shirts monogrammed with the family initial for $6 to $8.  Consider benefitting Birmingham-area children by purchasing holiday T-shirts designed for Kid One Tranport at J Rag.  You'll be able to wear the T-shirts throughout the holiday season, and flannel PJ pants will last all winter long (just stick to seasonal themes like snowflakes rather than holiday themes).

Whatever you choose, give everyone their festive PJs Thanksgiving evening and notice how such a simple thing can jump-start the holiday excitement in your home even before it's time to smile for the camera.

If you're less interested in the name than you are the attributes of the product itself, take a look at this surprisingly high-quality cookware sold at WalMart.

This cookware has the same features as brands that cost two times the price:

• 18/10 Stainless Steel
• Tri-ply with aluminum core on all sides (not just the bottom), a feature of the most expensive brands - this distributes heat throughout the pan
• Lifetime Warranty
• NSF Certified
• Riveted handles designed to stay cool
• Dishwasher Safe 

The stainless steel set manufactured by Tramontina is $144.97 for 8 pieces at WalMart, but some pieces, like the deep pasta pot shown above, are sold individually.  Although there are other cookware sets by Tramontina, the stainless steel set is the finest.

If you are trying to cook at home more often to save money or just to have more family time around your table, this cookware is a great investment.  It will last for years and probably doesn't cost much more than your weekly grocery bill.  Find this set at WalMart Supercenters on John Hawkins Parkway (Hoover) or off Montevallo Road (Irondale).  The set is also available online with the option to ship to a store.  

Emily, a BirminghamMom expecting her second child, decided she couldn't wait on all these factors to get her pictures properly hung. With a husband working long hours during his residency and a toddler dictating much of her time at home, it was time to take matters into her own hands with the Herculean Hook. 

When I decided to try Herculean Hooks for myself, I knew Emily was on to something because the gentleman at the Walgreens counter quickly told me, "These things are great!  I hung a mirror I could hardly lift using two of them, and it hasn't budged."  He instructed me to insert the hook into the sheetrock slightly above where I

The results were as good as promised.  The hook creates a hole in the sheetrock but it is no bigger than a regular nail, and because the hole is much cleaner it will be easier to patch over later.  As for patching the sheetrock,  that's a job the husband can get to after football season, especially now that he's relieved of picture-hanging duty.

Thanks, Emily, for sharing this Find with other BirminghamMoms!   

If evenings already find you with permission slips to sign, agendas to check, and dinner to put on the table, then you can appreciate the help Spelling City offers both your child (spelling practice) and you (time).

A Birmingham grandmother recommended this fabulous, free resource for those of us who spend a portion of many evenings helping kids prepare for their weekly spelling tests.  Just enter the spelling words into an easy interface and you can let your child take the mouse from there.  Choices start with "Test Me", "Teach Me", or "Play a Game."  Take practice spelling tests, hear and see the words spelled, or explore the words through an assortment of games like crosswords, word finds, missing letters, sorting...on and on.   

You could invest hours of your time and never think of all the spelling tricks this site can generate in just one click. If you homeschool or teach, Spelling City can be a key resource for you, especially if you have auditory learners. 

For busy BirminghamMoms, the best feature is that the voice on Spelling City retains its ever patient, steady tone, never escalating even when the dog barks, the phone rings, or/and the water boils over.  Delegate the practice tests to Spelling City and save your own efforts to focus on your child by reviewing quiz scores and discussing the school day.  

This giant warehouse of a store is full of pieces with the interesting textures and uniqueness that handmade items offer.  I spotted the olive jars right away and thought of the imitation jar I purchased from a home store catalog that arrived with "made in China" stamped across the box.  I could have had the real thing here, and in my choice of sizes.  The smallest jars start at less than $15, and a single piece or a small collection would beat the usual mass-produced accessories hands-down.

Colorful hand-loomed rugs come in all sizes; it was explained to me that they do not come in the precise standard sizes, since the final dimensions depend on the size of the artisan's loom.  Many sell for $225.

Finally, anyone can enjoy the imported olives, olive oil, sea salts, and other products here.  Tsitailia is owned by the same family that owns Birmingham's Southside Fish Market, so the food products are a natural fit. 

Don't let the rows of massive clay pots outside fool you; there are plenty of smaller, accessory-sized items indoors.  It's worth your time to peek inside for inspiration and some interesting earthenware you won't find at the mall. 

BirminghamMom tip:  Give in to the craving and head to Fish Market for lunch.  The cypress trees outside and lemon tree inside will feel like a micro-vacation, and the grilled chicken salad is just as good as the shrimp salad if you're not a seafood fan. 

I had a bright fuschia boa I had gotten as a party favor and couldn't bear to throw it away (although what was I going to do with it?). I thought of all the feather wreaths I had seen and decided to give the boa a shot.

This was so easy!  I took a wire coat hanger and stretched it into some semblance of a circle, leaving the hook intact.  Then I found the loop at one end of the boa (buried within the feathers, but one is there, trust me) and placed it over the hook of the hanger.  I wrapped the boa around the circumference of the hanger again and again until it reached the other side of the hook. Then I slipped the remaining end loop over the hook, and bent the hook down and out of sight on the back of the wreath.  After attaching a ribbon onto the wreath with a bread twist tie, I hung it on my daughter's door with - what else? - a removable hook. 

You'll need a feather boa around 6 feet long, a standard length, which can be purchased in almost any color for $4 to $9 if you don't already have one at the bottom of a dress-up box somewhere.  What is great about this wreath is that it requires next to nothing to create and the boa can always be removed for a later play date with no damage.

This version admittedly isn't as sturdy as those that are professionally created, but it will hold up fine for display.  The fluffy feathers are very forgiving and don't require exact placement to look great.