#bct Things to do in Birmingham with children @bjCC @bct123org

I don't know about you, but I am forever looking for something fun, cheap, easy, and especially local- to do with my kids. Usually when you think BJCC, that is; the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center you think mostly adult themed activities, such as concerts or more recently, Paw Patrol visited there. But it would have been a little costly for the 5 of us to attend . At the tune of about 30 on average or more per ticket; it would've cost us over 150 to all go. I just don't usually have that kind of expendable funds. Like most, I live hand to mouth.
Although it would've been great to take them to that, you might not realize there are more things to do with kids at the BJCC. Today we attended a wee theatre showing that was around ten dollars per person.

This Saturday the 15th kicks off the public showing of the youth play of the Birmingham Children's Theater : Rumpelstilskin.
Showings : September 15th, 22nd & 29th @ 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM

My family got to attend a more private showing this morning, and we were blown away. Very ironically, my child's father and I had a discussion about this Brothers Grimm tale some years ago when I was pregnant  with our first child.
I remarked, "Rumplestilskin will take our first born!" To my amazement he replied "who?" He had never ever heard this fable before. Today I got to watch it with said baby our first born son, who is now 3 almost 4. So strange.

Fed UP about schools lunch habits? Make a change w Katie Couric! #kickstarter

Fed UP!~

Hope you are well! I'm reaching out on behalf of FED UP, the film that explores the truth about the food industry in an effort to get people eating healthier. Executive Produced by Katie Couric and Laurie David, the film has been a resource and tool for parents, teachers, and student to learn the truth about real food. 

I know you are very busy but I'm reaching out to you today, because I thought you and the Outnumbered 3 to 1 community might be interested in joining our mission to bring Food Education to Schools. Our goal is to provide a Fed Up Education Kit to every school in America, at no cost to schools and teachers.

It's been shown that once children learn the truth about the food they're eating, where it comes from, and how it affects their bodies, they're likely to make better food choices. We know teachers want to teach food nutrition but they need the resources. 

8c38a02f9cf1c3bbc667ba8407089cb9dcb03fb2e121c1167f

Get $5 off at Blurb this month with the code EARLYFALL5! #ad #BlurbBooks

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@PBJfoods #SAM + #charity: This Christmas consider helping others, such a small amount to you, can make such a BIG difference in the lives of others. #ad

Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is the number one killer of children under five years of age. Nearly 20 million children around the world suffer from SAM.  In fact,  SAM kills 3.5 million children each year. That’s more than HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria combined.
 PB + J stands for peanut butter plus Jesus.

PB+J Foods Program Development Director Haley Hunsaker distributes PB+J fortified peanut butter paste to the parents of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition in Malawi, Africa. One jar of the paste is a therapeutic food treatment that will provide all of the nutritional requirements for one child for one day.  PB+J Foods distributed nearly 16,000 pounds of the paste during it first seventeen months of operation, enough to save the lives of nearly 1,200 children (see more http://www.pbjfoods.org/animation)

In March 2012, 5 unique individuals from Orange County, California got together and pooled their personal time and money to fight SAM in undeveloped nations.  In just 17 months, the non-profit organization they created, PB+J Foods, saved the lives of nearly 1,200 children in Malawi, Africa, who were suffering from SAM.

In March 2012, Stan Smith recruited his friends Brian Hunsaker, Donna Wertz, Heather Premac, and Haley Hunsaker, to create PB+J Foods, Inc., a non-profit organization designed specifically to eradicate Severe Acute Malnutrition in underdeveloped nations, like Malawi.

“To beat SAM we were going to have to do more than what typical humanitarian organizations do to feed the hungry,” Smith explains.  “We had to develop a way locally manufacture Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic-Foods (RUTF), to distribute RUFTs to remote villages, to provide locals with medical treatment and health care education, and we had to create a localized, self-sustaining economy that could provide for its people on an on-going basis.”

            From April 2012 to August 2013, they did exactly that … with their own money, on their own time, and with a few contributions from friends.  During the seventeen month period, the five members of PB+J Foods traveled to Malawi, Africa multiple times and accomplished the following:

·         Partnered with Nkhoma Hospital to create a RUTF manufacturing plant, to establish RUTF distribution sites, and to develop and operate medical and SAM treatment clinics throughout the region;

·         Created an educational program to provide villagers with basic knowledge about food safety and storage, malnutrition management, hygiene and sanitation, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, childcare, nutrition, and agriculture;

·         Began the formation of a local farmers co-op, intended to have at least 800 members, in order to grow local ‘ground nuts’, one of the most valuable nuts in the world, with Opportunity International Bank of Malawi, Afri-Nut, and World Vision which provides a cash crop for the local farmers, creating economic growth, and a steady supply of nuts for the RUTF peanut paste.

  

PB+J Foods has an ambitious goal for 2014. It is now working to secure financial donations to expand its infrastructure to: manufacture and serve RUTFs to 11,000 children suffering from SAM; to provide medical treatment to 1,000 children at Nkhoma Hospital and area clinics; to increase employment at the local PB+J RUTF production facility; and, to sell locally produced RUTFs on the open market to create revenues that will enable the PB+J programs in Malawi to become self-sustaining and provide RUTF products at no charge to their patients.  Donations may be contributed at http://www.pbjfoods.org/animation or by calling 949-702-3187.  

PB+J Foods is a non-profit organization designed to eradicate Severe Acute Malnutrition in underdeveloped nations. Their programs provide specially fortified foods for children suffering from SAM, medical treatment, and health education to those in need. Moreover, the programs they have developed help build local self-sustaining economies that can eventually provide the necessities of a better life in the future.

 PB+J Foods White Board Animation


Please consider contributing to this great cause. If ever there was a charity I feel proud to stand behind it is this one. Do the right thing this holiday season and give the gift that keeps giving. Life. Anything can help so donate now. Even as little as 1$, but I would hope you'd consider giving up a value meal or two and donate a little more. To help one child is 30$, a family is $100 and you can also donate $500 if your feeling extra generous.



Twitter.com/PBJFoods

PB+J Foods Program Development Director Haley Hunsaker gathers children in Malawi, Africa to prepare for distribution of PB+J fortified peanut butter paste. One jar of the paste is a therapeutic food treatment that will provide all of the nutritional requirements for one child for one day.  PB+J Foods distributed nearly 16,000 pounds of the paste during it first seventeen months of operation, enough to save the lives of nearly 1,200 children.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by BlogDash and PB + J Foods. Regardless all opinions are my own.

Facebook.com/pages/PBJ-Foods/548942998497709

@ZayconFoods 40lbs of chicken for me? For FREE????

I found out about Zaycon Foods from U.S. Family Guide Bloggers.
US Family Guide has been great and hooked me up with tickets to the Harlem Globetrotters, Alabama Splash Adventure, Makit Plates and even a theatrical performance of Sesame Street: Elmo Makes Music (which my kids LOVED!)

They told me about this program where you buy meat in bulk at a discount. The program is all throughout United States (not all areas of course!) But the deal for us was 77$ (70$ w/ 7$ tax) for 40lbs of chicken breasts.

Chicken is such a versatile food. Like Bubba said in Forrest Gump when he starts naming off all the dishes you can cook with shrimp. I can also name off hundreds of dishes you can make chicken with...

King Ranch Chicken Casserole, Herbed Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Fingers, Chicken Kabobs, Chicken w/ Rice & Mushrooms, Chicken Cordon Bleu,  Chicken and Broccoli Casserole, Chicken Stir Fry,  Asparagus and Chicken Carbonara, Kung Pao Chicken, Chicken and Broccoli w Noodles, Chicken Enchilda, Chicken Burritos, Chicken Tacos, Chicken Quessidillas, Chicken Gnocci Soup, White Chicken Chili, Chicken Tamale, Chicken Taco Salad, Chicken Marsala, Pan-Roasted Chicken, Baked Chicken,  Three-Cheese Chicken Penne Florentine, Chicken Tetrazzini, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Chicken-Corn Chowder, Quicje w/ Chicken. Asian Chicken Noodles..

(Feel free to add more in comments underneath this post-- lets see how many we can come up with!!!)

My GPS has been giving me some issues so I actually had to stop and ask local police where the location was, even though it was only 10 miles from my house. It is a town in the direction I do not usually go. I know absurd because I grew up around here...

Anywho: it was at a church and not inside it- as I assumed it would be. But in the parking lots, with little cones set up- driving you up to a van where two men in Zaycon Foods stood loading the heavy meat into cars.
I pulled up and said "Is this like "Church's Chicken"?  Ha!

We chuckled at that for a minute.  You know- I was picking up chicken at a church...
Well- it's probably only funny if you know there is a fast food chain in the south called Church's Chicken.. like KFC. :)
I chuckled at that joke for days. Maybe you had to be there? Moving on...

When I got the box opened a little bit later it wasn't what I was expecting.

First of all, I assumed the chicken would be frozen & pre-packed into individually wrapped breasts. The website doesn't really specify. I was not aware that I would literally be cutting HUMONGOUS double breasts that were not split. And bagging them. So before I could even start on the task I had to locate my kitchen scissors and go to the store to buy an abundance of Ziploc bags.

I didn't realize I would be "handling meat" .. *immature chuckle*  I REALLY need to grow up. (Nah... NEVER!)

All in all- the task took about 30-40 minutes once I started trimming up the meat.
 I put some breasts 2 to a bag and some singles. It made 6 "two packs" and 16 singles. 
We usually do not eat meat unless it is in a dish. So with the size of these breasts (that sounds slightly perv-y) singles would be fine.
28 single breasts or 14 double breasts before they're cut in 1/2. Even though the box was big- it actually fit in my freezer which I wasn't expecting it to.

Thank goodness it was before the trip to the grocery store.

I have so much chicken in fact- we have been eating it every night almost. It tastes great! I plan on using quite a few of these breasts for upcoming Thanksgiving instead of our traditional Turkey.

"  How does Zaycon Foods manage to provide such high quality super fresh meat and produce to its customers at such low prices? The answer is strength in numbers. And not our numbers, yours!

Zaycon Foods can sell its products at bulk rate prices to individual consumers and families because our unique sales event business model brings lots of people together, adding all their purchasing power into a combined bulk food purchase. And when you buy as part of a group that’s committing to such a large purchase, the power is in the hands of the purchaser! It’s the ultimate group buy in terms of both price and consumer empowerment.

You can pre-select exactly what you want to order from a given Zaycon sales event – sometimes you may want to stock up on our amazing meaty back ribs and sometimes it might be all about the Zaycon bacon – and then, on the day of the sales event, you and a whole big bunch of your neighbors will find yourselves in a nearby parking lot watching as an entire tractor trailer’s worth of high quality natural food is unloaded into all of your cars! You will be amazed at how quickly one of our refrigerated trucks goes from being filled with natural, fresh chicken or hundreds of gallons of grade A non-homogenized milk to being empty and back on its way to the farm!

A Zaycon Foods truck sales event often lasts less time than you would spend on a trip to the grocery store, yet you will leave with a whole lot more food than you’d get at the market, and for much better prices, too!

When you use the Zaycon Foods sales event as your preferred place to purchase meats, milk, and any of our other fine products, you get advantages even beyond the bulk pricing that comes with our special sales model. You also have the peace of mind of knowing exactly what you’re going to get! A trip to the grocery store can involve wasted time wandering around looking for various foods spread out across the store; at a Zaycon Foods parking lot meat truck delivery (or milk or berries or fish delivery, too!) you have pre-ordered your foods, so all you have to do is show up and wait for our friendly staffers and volunteers to load up your car. 

Also, unlike in the grocery store, the prices you will pay for a Zaycon Foods product are locked in on our website, so you will know how much you are going to spend before you have committed to a purchase. 

At a supermarket, you might pay one price for chicken on one day, and then a higher price on another day. With Zaycon, you decide that you want to order a case of our fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts, you check the price and then you commit to it, knowing that from that moment on, we are committed to getting you your fresh, natural food!

To Get Started Click on this link "

Thanks for reading my review of Zaycon Foods Chicken.

Zaycon Foods also has other foods you can buy in bulk. 

They currently have the following products for sale in many areas of the US. Scroll down the page to see if they are available in your area. If you do not see a location near you, you can easily search for events in other areas.

Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Fresh Premium Hickory Smoked Bacon

Pork Sausage Links

Fresh Strawberries

Natural Non-Homogenized Whole Milk

Rotisserie Seasoned Turkey Breast Roast

Orchard Peaches

Raw Wildflower Honey

Smoked Pulled Pork

Order now!  

Thanks,

Casey Colette

Mommy Blogger @ Locomotion of Expressions 

on Twitter @1caseycolette

@zayconfoods
Pinterest.com/ZayconFoods
Pinterest.com/1caseycolette
Facebook.com/zayconfoods
Facebook.com/LocomotionOfExpressions

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Your experience with the product may differ from mine. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment and will be shipping the winner(s) their prize(s). For more information read my rules/disclosure policy.

#SmilingItForward - Why are you SMILING IT FORWARD™? #ad

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What does it mean to you as a mom to see your child smile after they have been sick? (You know, that “feel better” smile that means they’re ready to run around again!) For me, it means no more worries of germs, doctor's visits or fevers. We all sleep a little better, and a well rested child and mother can contribute an all-over better feeling to any household!!

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#DrZizmor #Win the advanced skincare set from @DrZizmor $250+ value #giveaway ends 10/3

Dr. Zizmor Skincare GIVEAWAY EVENT

hosted by:  AnaB Social | Sponsored by DoctorZizmor.com

Prize Details

There will be one prize awarded to one winner: Dr. Zizmor Advanced Skincare Set ($250+ ARV)

We all want healthy and vibrant skin, a clearer complexion, and to keep the signs of aging at bay. Every year women spend hundreds of dollars on finding the right skincare products. Today we want to share with you the skincare products available exclusively from Doctor Zizmor, an expert in cosmetic dermatology. 

Dr. Jonathan Zizmor is well known for his expertise in anti-aging procedures and has trained other physicians. His state of the art methods are perfect for those who want to look younger but do not want to risk costly surgical procedures. Jonathan has created his own line of skincare based on years of experience, the healthy, non-toxic ingredients are perfect for women seeking a beneficial and rejuvenating skin care routine with proven results.

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Purchase: You can only purchase this skincare set directly from Dr. Zizmor, these products are not available online.

Win It! Dr. Zizmor is sponsoring a giveaway for a skin care set of four products listed above worth over $250!

Special thanks to AnaB Social for hosting this giveaway. Huge thanks to doctorzizmor.com and all the fabulous participating bloggers as well! Giveaway ends October 3rd at 11:59 pm, open to residents of US, ages 18+. See detailed terms and conditions on entry form. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below (see directions on how to enter here). Thank you!

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Disclaimer: AnaB Social and all participating event bloggers are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. 

My Trip to #AlabamaSplashAdventure #waterPark lots of pics!~

I recently; as in just 4 days ago, got to visit Alabama Splash Adventure Park; which of course is in Alabama, my home state. I will describe this theme park to you as describing it to a friend. You readers are my friends, after all.

Now that you've seen the trip pictures.. I gotta say There isn't much to it. It is more for kids than for adults. Smaller children preferable. The splash pad is a sight to be seen though, and very impressive.  That is by far my 8 and 3 year old little girls fave place in the whole park.

There are 2 major water slides, one being a straight drop-off/free-fall, and the other being similar to a toilet bowl. You go through a blacked out tunnel/pipe and swirl around a bowl before dropping like a turd in the bottom into an 8 ft cup (so to speak) that really frightened my friend and my child. There is another one similar but it sweeps and turns in a blacked out tunnel but you ride a tube in it. It was called Neptunes Plunge. I liked it because the line to it went fast as 8 people could be set up to be pushed down 4 different (but similar) slides/tubes at once. I think my old butt hurt my back a little bit on that one.

 I loved the lazy river- but thought it was very stupid that they would make you pay for an inner tube to use in it. A "rental" that if someone walks off with.. well - you know the end to that story. If you return it you get 1/2 of your money back, which in this case would be 5$ (but they do have double tubes) but still. Seems to me that should be included in the price of the ticket.

There are quite a few places to eat and shop there. One being a nice popular local deli brand, McCallisters + there is also:
Emporium Souvenirs To help you remember your magical day, our gift shop is fully stocked with Cameras, Sundries, Souvenirs, Gifts, T-Shirts, Jewelry and more.   Funnel Cake? Who can say no to your personal Funnel Cake? Select from a tasty assortment of toppings. I found a candy store with candy necklaces for 50 cents, and candy bracelets too. Of course we got some of those. Also in the candy store we found fresh candied apples and caramel apples (no nuts though) We ate at  Fin’s Surfside Grill Featuring 1/3 lb Sirloin Burgers, Crispy Chicken Tenders and Grilled Chicken Sandwiches   Mama Lizetti’s and Mutt’s Hot Dogs Your favorite Italian treat served by the slice and all beef chili cheese hot dogs   Chubbie’s 1/2 lb. Steak Burger., Salads and Desserts available. Coke Corner Soft Serve Ice Cream, Fresh Popcorn and Ice Cold Beverages.. I loved the Dippin Dots stand, and even got the girl there to take a picture of me and the girls, but I didn't appreciate the ca$h only. I use a debit card for everything- I rarely have cash on me.
We didn't get any ice cream, as I had to have what little cash I had for the 8$ parking (also excessive) and for the locker to put my keys and phone and clothes in so they wouldn't get wet.

Overall, we had fun. It wasn't too crowded- and the wave pool was really neat.
I love that from 4-8 you can get in for cheaper. Military gets in all day for $19.99 and if you buy season passes ($60 instead of paying daily $29) you save even more money. If you are going to go more than once, and you have a family of at least 3, that would be the only way to go really. It was very easy to find (without a gps even) just following signs on 1-20 right past downtown Birmingham, towards Bessemer. The staff were nice and The kids really enjoyed their new adventure course/obstacle course called WIPEOUT. It's like a mini Gladiator, you are attached overhead by a cable and have to go through these "obstacles" while keeping your balance and getting squirted. While I was there I saw no one "wipe-out" in fact it looked almost too easy- but that is preferable to being hurt any day. I thought it was great of the park, and of USFG bloggers to hook us up with 4 free tickets. it saved us a ton of money. Had it not been for that, I don't think I would've been able to justify spending that much money for one visit to this park.

Quick fact: I grew up outside of this area, so I actually remember as a pre-teen or teenager when it was being built it was actually VisionLand, and had several roller coaster rides, which are still there, but not operated/functioning. I have never even been until my birthday (this trip) August 2nd when we went. I know the kids really had a blast. I loved that the park was small so easy to navigate and not get lost. I think the maze was really cool too. There is a maze that looks pretty hard. You can observe and squirt the contenders as they try to get through. Took my kids 2 minutes and 46 seconds!!

LOL!

The zipline was closed, but like I said, I loved the splash pad, with it's baby slides and tunnels and even had bouncers and see saws. Too stinking cute!

Alabama Splash Adventure on Facebook
@SPLASHADVENTURE

Disclosure: I posted this blog because the park gave me free tickets. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.