Category: Lifestyle Tips

Essence Magazine /

Chase and ESSENCE Expand Economic Opportunities for Black Women with Launch of Currency Conversations Campaign

Chase and ESSENCE today announced the launch of Currency Conversations, a new campaign created to help black women across America achieve financial success. This campaign, which is an early example of Chase’s recently-announced Advancing Black Pathways commitment, will foster local communities of black women to inspire each other and provide digital access to a national network of experts and coaches helping with education, inspiration and vital solutions that support their financial goals.

“Black women are often the CFOs of their households, and as a result, play a crucial role in the financial well-being of both their families and the black community at large,” said Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking and Executive Sponsor of Advancing Black Pathways. “Through Currency Conversations, we’re engaging black women in a discussion about what it takes to achieve financial security while providing encouragement and actionable steps they can take to ensure they’re on a path to long-term financial freedom.”

Women who join the movement can access digital resources and a national network of experts that will help them stay on track with their financial goals. The initiative will also include live engagement at the ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans and original content on Essence.com and across ESSENCE social platforms —all of which encourage women to join the national challenge toward smart saving, spending and investment strategies.

The Currency Conversations campaign will encourage women to have a day out with ESSENCE and Chase to connect with each other and engage in dialogue with experts about what it takes to achieve their personal financial goals. Women will have the opportunity to relax with each other and be challenged to pledge their personal commitment to savings, debt reduction and investment goals.

Although women everywhere will have the opportunity to digitally engage with Currency Conversations, Chase will host in-person events in five U.S. cities starting next month: Atlanta, April 13; Oakland, April 27; Washington, D.C., May 4; Detroit, May 18; and New York City, June 8.

“We are proud to join forces with Chase in its commitment to serving black women and championing economic inclusion and wealth creation,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications Inc. “We know that 80% of black American households rely solely on a black woman’s income[1], so our Currency Conversations campaign will not only inform women as leaders but will position more than 20,000 families in communities nationwide for prosperity and success.”

Overall, the program is designed to bring together a community of women who are committed to lifting each other up and collectively saving toward personal goals such as homeownership, college funds, rainy day funds, retirement or even dream vacations.

For more information about Currency Conversations, visit ESSENCE.com/CurrencyConversations.

About Chase

Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.6 trillion and operations worldwide. Chase serves nearly half of America’s households with a broad range of financial services, including personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans, and payment processing. Customers can choose how and where they want to bank: Nearly 5,000 branches, 16,000 ATMs, mobile, online and by phone. For more information, go to Chase.com.

 

 

About ESSENCE Communications Inc. 

ESSENCE Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 17 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent Black-owned, technology-driven company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.

Birmingham /

Spring Break Fun and Excitement at the Birmingham Zoo

Spring Break is the best time to have fun and enjoy exciting places like the Birmingham Zoo! Join us from March 23-31, for the opening of seasonal favorites and special activities. Guest will enjoy the Children’s Zoo Splash Pads, happenings at the Predator Zone, interact with animals in the Contact Yard and do so much more. Starting Saturday, March 23 will be the return of Giraffe Feedings* and Camel Rides*.

Guests are invited to feed the lorikeets in the Schaeffer Eye Center Lorikeet Aviary*, take a ride on the Red Diamond Express Train*, spin on the Protective Life Carousel* and zip down the Full Moon Bar-B-Que Wild Slide*. Enjoy watching a Wildlife Show or meet an Ambassador Animal at the UAB at the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital Wildlife Stage. Participate in up-close fun with our sea lions at a Red Diamond Sea Lion Show.

Our All Adventure Wristband* will be available to purchase for access to unlimited rides on the train, carousel, and slide, in addition to one camel ride, one ticket for giraffe feeding and one ticket for lorikeet feeding. Just in time for the warmer weather, guests can soak up the sun while creating lasting memories with a visit to your favorite Zoo!

*All rides and various activities are an additional cost – plus tax and are weather dependent.

SPRING BREAK DAILY ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE: March 23–31

All Adventure Wristbands

Cost: $17 plus tax

Access to unlimited rides on the train, carousel, and slide, in addition to one camel ride, one ticket for giraffe feeding and one ticket for lorikeet feeding.

Camel Rides

Daily

9am – 4:45pm

Cost: $5 plus tax – per rider

Children under the age of 3 MUST be accompanied by an adult and reach over the safety bar.

Weather dependent

Children’s Zoo Splash Pads

Daily

9am – 4:45pm

Weather Dependent

 Full Moon BBQ Wild Slide

Daily

9am – 4:45pm

Cost: $3.50 plus tax

Riders must be 4 years of age and 40 inches tall to ride

Protective Life Carousel Rides

Daily

9am – 4:45pm

Cost: $3.50 plus tax

Children under two, receive a free ride on the carousel with a paid accompanying adult.

Children two and older must have a ride ticket.

 Red Diamond Express Train Ride

Daily

9am – 4:45pm

Cost: $3.50 plus tax

Children’s Zoo Contact Yard

Daily

10am – 12pm

 Goat Walk

Daily

9:30am

Schaeffer Eye Center Lorikeet Aviary

Daily

10am – 4pm

$2 plus tax

Weather dependent

Red Diamond Sea Lion Show

Daily

10am

2pm

Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter

Daily

10am – 3pm

Cost, $3.50 plus tax

Weather dependent

UAB Callahan Eye Hospital Wildlife Show

Daily

11am

Predator Zone Lion Training

Daily

11:30am

3pm

Animal Greetings at the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital Wildlife Stage

Daily

2:30pm

LINKS

Admission Tickets

https://tickets.birminghamzoo.com/Sales/Admission/TicketSales.aspx?_ga=2.84040912.817116577.1553013169-277242370.1553013169

 

All Adventure Wristbands *Click March 23 on Ticketing Calendar.

https://tickets.birminghamzoo.com/Sales/Admission/TicketSales.aspx?_ga=2.84040912.817116577.1553013169-277242370.1553013169

Lifestyle Tips /

#Lifestyle How To Start A Budget When You Are In Debt: Financial Freedom

I’m going to let you into my secret about budgeting.  Budgeting doesn’t necessarily translate into restriction, you but when viewed from a different perspective it is freedom. Yes! Budget is freedom. Having a fancy dinner on weekends or take outs just for ease may be what you want now but it’s something you are doing unconsciously and may regret it at the end of the month. Budgeting gets you focused on what you want from life and helps your dream become reality.

Maybe the debt you are facing now could be something you feel isn’t even important now. The life-and-death situation was just in your head. But now you are left with debt. It’s something that is stressing you out.

Featured Photo from Marie Claire

Stressing out isn’t going to help you out. What you need is a clear plan of action on how to pay off your debt. That’s where budgeting comes in. It will help you save money to pay off your debt, and still enjoy the better things in life.

Your Earning

Start by listing all your income sources along with them the amount you earn. This includes; wages, alimony, child support or any other income you have. Once you have this list, it is clear that how much money you make in a month and that’s a target to start with. You must now plan accordingly.

Realistic Spending Plan

The second step is to list down the expenses that you cannot forego. These are the necessary items such as utilities, grocery (take a step down if necessary), transportation or parking to work, rent or mortgage, medication and so on. This is where you focus on the definite expenses that cannot be neglected and expenses such as cable TV and other particulars that must be let go. Now you know the amount of money you are spending. Just create a realistic spending plan that you follow until you are debt free.

This plan is totally based on priority; you must prioritize your spending. Here are some tips that cut down the niceties from your monthly spending. First of all, you should consider forgoing expensive drinks or planning out weekends for some time. Use your mobile phones for calls only and cut down the extra packages you use for entertainment. Pay with cash. Don’t use credit cards!

Finding the Buffer

If the amount of money earned is 20% more than your realistic spending plan than that’s an ideal situation. You have that buffer needed for saving. But if it is equal or unfortunately less than you’re earning. then you need to either cut down your necessities or find one more source of earning. Find a business you are passionate about. If capital is what’s stopping you, then you can always get a loan with bad credit. But before you consider investing, make sure your business is low risk and its something you are passionate about.

Savings

Saving is the most important step as this will help you pay off your debt. For saving, you need to create a separate account. Do not touch this account, except in extreme emergencies. Needing a new dress for an office party doesn’t count as an emergency.

I’ll be honest with you, if you do not focus on your saving, then you will keep using your credit line to deal with your debt. The debt would still be there five or six years later. Not a fancy situation. And once you have enough money in your saving account, start looking for a financial planner. Invest for your future.

Updated List of Spending and Saving

Create an excel sheet for your spending and saving. Update it on a periodic basis. This helps you check which category has more spending in a month. You can then balance it by cutting your expenses in some other area. This check and balance will help you maintain your savings. Learning to manage your monthly expenses takes time, patience and a lot of compromises. But do not lose patience. Be persistent and you will see results for yourself.

Debt that Fits Your Budget

Ideally, you need to lower your credit utilization ratio so that your credit score increases. This is going to automatically lower your debt. If your credit utilization ratio is 10%, then you need to lower it. For this, you need to note down your credit limit and divide it by the number 10. This is your target which you need to achieve. Pay of as much as you can to get to this number. For this, you need to budget again.

Making a budget has many benefits. It transforms stress into a feeling of empowerment. It helps reveal the money you are wasting and direct your priorities. Not only does it direct priorities but creates a habit of saving and makes a person sensible enough to think ahead of time. Plan for the future.

Collaborative Post

Lifestyle Tips /

5 Steps Towards Perfect Valentine’s Celebration

Life spins at warp speed, so it’s more important than ever to make time to show your loved one that you adore and cherish them. Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion.Sleepletics7199-BEDDING-CHALK.jpg

You know how you want to celebrate – just the two of you, spending a cozy night in, ending the evening with cuddling in bed, enjoying the sheer luxury of Celliant® Performance Sheets. More than beautiful and sleek to the touch, these sheets also show you care. Made with mineral-infused fibers that convert body heat into infrared light and reflect it back into the body’s muscle and tissue in a natural, safe way to promote a temporary increase in blood flow and local circulation. Just imagine how good you’ll both feel.  For a limited time, you can buy one set and get a second set half off with the promo code: LOVE at sleepletics.com.

Featured Photo from French Institute Alliance 

As to the important details that come before? Flowers, cards, dinner, chocolate and such that set the stage for that perfect time together? Not to worry, Sleepletics™ has scoured the country for what may be the best of the best in each category. Pick your favorite and enjoy the most romantic Valentine’s Day ever:

FLOWERS

Flowers speak volumes — and never make a sound. Yet since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans they’ve represented love. Choose something classic or talk to the florist about a personalized arrangement. You can’t go wrong with flowers. Two top-of-the-line flower vendors are presented here:Session 2-009.JPG

The definitive symbol of romance, roses are the specialty at Ode à la Rose. Co-founded by two Frenchmen, the flowers are sourced from eco-friendly farms and arranged à la Parisienne. Colors range from the descriptive Snowball to Black Magic and many in between. Verifying your Valentine will like the flowers, you’ll be sent a photo of the bouquet before it leaves the workshop. Same-day delivery in NYC and Chicago, and next-day delivery to over 1,400 cities in the Northeast. odealarose.com, 646-660-4351.

For something more offbeat, a bit rustic in style, contact Farmgirl Flowers of San Francisco, that ethically sources its blooms, 80 percent of them in the U.S. Listed in Architectural Digest’s 2018 “7 Best Local Flower Shops Across the Country with Beautiful Design,” each of its bouquets are one-of-a-kind, and most are delivered in owner Christina Stembel’s signature burlap wrap. Delivery is available to the lower 48. farmgirlflowers.com.

CARDS

A surprise is one of the most important elements of a Valentine card, and what better way to achieve that than to make it yourself or find one so unique it’s truly a keepsake. Two faves:

With Duco® Cement glue a pretty vintage key to the front of folded, white card stock, and surround it with the phrase, handwritten in red, “You hold the key to my heart.” Then write your personal message on the inside. Make it totally unforgettable by using a key that fits a new car’s ignition or a jewelry box containing a gift-wrapped trinket or two._DSC5545.jpg

You can find instructions for making sliceform kirigami cards online, but the easier thing to do is to buy a Lovepop® card. The intricate 3D paper sculptures, of which there are myriad formats, from a bouquet of flowers to a fluttering butterfly, are designed by naval engineers on software and then handcrafted. Either way, they are truly works of art. lovepopcards.com, 888-687-9589.

DINNER

The essence of the perfect Valentine’s dinner is to serve something that while exceptional, will definitely please your loved one such veggies for a vegetarian, or salmon if they like fish. Two easy-to-prepare meals that look gorgeous and taste incredible are:

Eggplant Florentine with Fire-Roasted Tomato Sauce & Toasted Ciabatta. Colorful and architectural in presentation, it’s completely vegan, yet so scrumptious meat lovers enjoy it just as much. The recipe can be found on purplecarrot.com.

Steak au Poivre. Nothing is more refined than this dish, a renowned favorite of 5-star restaurants around the world. Fast prep gives you more time with your love, few ingredients mean less time in the kitchen. Find the recipe on epicurious.com.

CHOCOLATES

Chocolates have evolved enormously over the past few years. There are still plenty of extraordinary classics, but also a multitude of new ones using offbeat ingredients and looking more artistic than ever before. Two companies with choices galore that you should consider:

ROYCE’ has been making exquisite confections in Hokkaido, Japan, an ideal location with its cool climate and clean air, since 1983. Available in stores throughout the US, vdabannerbox-775x800.pngthe selection ranges from the unusual – Prafeuille Chocolate Maccha – to such straight shooters as Pure Chocolate Venezuela Bitter.  For store locations, visit https://order.royceconfectusa.com/pages/royce-store-locations. They’re also a member of the World Cocoa Foundation, which promotes social and economic development as well as environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.

MarieBelle, established in New York’s Nolita neighborhood by Maribel Lieberman in 2000, and singled out by Oprah as a “favorite thing,” suggests such items as champagne truffles and single-origin chocolate ganache for Valentine’s Day. Not only mouthwatering delicious, the chocolate’s packaging is tongue-in-cheek fun. mariebelle.com.

BED LINENS

As noted, there’s only one choice when it comes to bed linens when you want to end Valentine’s Day on a high, Celliant Sheets. Not only elegant, available in sophisticatedSleepleticsTan.jpg blue, chalk, tan and light grey, but they are also an FDA- determined medical device and general wellness product that helps people fall asleep easily, stay asleep and wake up refreshed and energized. Could there be a lovelier way to start a new day? And, don’t forget the promo code: LOVE.

Make this Valentine’s day, and night, to remember with gifts of joy for your love’s body, mind, and spirit.

Beauty /

Talk of Alabama Lifestyle Segment: Last-Minute Holiday Gifts from JCPenney, Burlington, Neutrogena, and More

During the holiday season, I hosted a Lifestyle segment on Talk of Alabama, ABC 33/40.  The theme for the show was Last-Minute Holiday Gifts.  Retailers that were featured included JCPenney, Burlington, Popsocket, Neutrogena, Zelle, and Hopper.  

Several of the products showcased were a hit amongst families in the local community.  As stated during the segment, JCPenney has a wide range of merchandise and affordable options for loved ones.  Burlington is another one-stop shop for families; carrying toys, pieces of furniture, and even cologne!

Products that captured a tech-savvy audience were Popsockets which is an innovative phone accessory that allows gripping while watching movies and taking selfies.  Additional tech features included were innovative apps such as Zelle and Hopper.

For those that are skincare obsessed, Neutrogena has a new cleanser that transforms from a cream to foam when massaged with water on the face or hands.

To learn more about the products see the listing below and enjoy the segment!

Family Retailers:

JCPenney

Burlington

Skincare:

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Activated Cream-to-Foam Cleanser

Tech Toys:

Popsockets

Cellphone Apps:

Zelle

Hopper

CLICK HERE:  Talk of Alabama 12/20/18 – Kimberly West

Lifestyle Tips /

Blog Design Trends For 2019

Another year has almost been and gone. 2018 was a year of monumental change in website design. New trends came to the fore, whilst particular styles and tactics were cast away. 2019 is going to be no different. As long as the Internet continues to grow at the rapid pace it currently is, we can expect changes in the industry to be frequent. Keeping that in mind, read on to discover some of the best trends for your blog during the months ahead…

Security first

There is only one place to begin, and this is with website security. Internet users today are more careful than they ever have been, and rightly so. It is up to you to make them feel safe when they enter your blog. You need to look for tools like identity verification services that are dependable to make sure that this is the case. Security is only going to get more and more important as time passes.

Videos

The popularity of videos is set to soar over the coming months, let alone the coming year. Nowadays it is all about providing individuals with easy, convenient and effective ways to find out information. Many companies are in favor of videos because at the end of the day, why read something when you can watch it? This is particularly beneficial when trying to show off one of your products on your e-commerce website.

Storytelling

This is a trend that seems to be growing year on year, and in 2019 we can really expect to see it reach its peak. User interactivity and animation have allowed storytelling to be taken to an entirely new level. So, how does it work? It’s quite simple. The idea is that as a user scrolls down your blog page, the page morphs along the way to tell a story. This visual concept is being embraced by a lot of the best companies. It offers an easy, effective and enjoyable way of explaining a procedure or what your business is all about. It’s definitely a lot more exciting than reading a block of text.

Flat design

Flat design is definitely going to be embraced throughout 2019. This all began with Apple making the move away from gradients and drop shadows to provide customers with a completely flat design. More and more sites are embracing this now. It looks cleaner, neater and many will agree that it is more visually appealing. Moreover, if Apple has set a trend, you can guarantee there will be plenty of followers.

So there you have it – some of the top trends to embrace throughout the coming year. From flat design to storytelling, there are some exciting changes happening in the industry. And, as always, you have to be ready to adapt to them.  Nonetheless, remember, you should never just implement a trend for the sake of it. Think carefully about what it is going to offer your client’s website.

Collaborative Post

Blogging Tips /

Using Technology To Promote Your Blog: 3 Easy Marketing Tips

Technology continues to creep up on us, growing faster than anyone could have predicted just a few short years ago. One of these ways is in the field of marketing. And if you’re a blogger, short of getting yourself a marketing qualification or doing online MBA programs no GMAT, it would be almost impossible to know how to do all of the things that you need to do in order to promote yourself. Well, here are some ideas on how to get your name out there using technology as your voice, in particular, social media.

There are ways of growing to a million people in a year by using Pinterest, for example, but you need to know where to start. When you say social media, you are actually talking about a big thing. There are so many different types of networks offering a variety of options. So much so that knowing where to start can be a lot harder to judge than you might first expect. Well, let’s break down the main players and what they have to offer.

  1. Facebook

Facebook is the logical place to start. It has the most users of all of the social media companies and is continuing to grow by buying other companies and integrating their service into the Facebook way of networking. As a blog, you should create your own Facebook page and use it as a platform to interact with your readers. Word of mouth has always been one of the best ways to market a brand, and Facebook is where the most amounts of mouth and eyes are online. One of the brands that Facebook bought is Instagram, a photo-sharing network, which you will want to explore as well.

  1. Twitter

Sometimes considered a rival to Facebook, but not likely to ever overtake it, is Twitter. This social media website prides itself on allowing its users to take part in a wider conversation in a concise way. It encourages people to speak to each other on a range of topics and you, as a blogger, should be getting in on that action. Keep an eye on popular hashtags and add your voice to the topic so that you are getting noticed. Your content on Twitter matters, the more interesting and engaging it is, the more retweets you will get leading to interactions and gaining followers.

  1. YouTube

Bloggers weren’t around long before the Vlogger started to take over. These days video content is considered by some to be as important as the written word. YouTube is a good place for you to get your face out there. You should create content which links viewers to your blog such as reviews of products, movies or advice. One of the keys with all of the social media is creating synergy between your accounts. Link one to the other and create a spider’s web for your brand in order to catch as many readers as possible.

Collaborative Post

Lifestyle Tips /

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island Expands Sales Force Adding Two New Sales Managers

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island welcomes Julianne Dirks and Courtenay LaMountain to its sales team at the award-winning property.

In her new role as a sales manager at the resort Dirks will be responsible for booking small meetings, wedding room blocks, golf groups and all government/military groups. Her vast experience in hospitality began seven years ago at The St. Louis Union Station Hotel as a front office agent, rooms controller, and assistant front office manager. Dirks continued her career with Omni Hilton Head Ocean Front Resort as a sales administrator and The Homewood Suites by Hilton North Charleston as an opening sales manager.

LaMountain joins the resort as a senior sales manager where she will handle group sales in the South Carolina market and ConferenceDirect accounts. Her extensive hospitality experience encompasses over 20 years including roles as conference services manager, sales manager and destination sales executive for Westin Hilton Head and a senior sales manager for Sea Pines Resort.

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island seeks team members who will eagerly work to enhance the overall Sonesta experience for guests and associates as well as adopting our core values, “We look forward to Julianne and Courtenay providing our guests with unprecedented customer service,” said Jay Wiendl, general manager of Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. “They both bring tremendous experience in the hospitality industry to our sales force which will enhance our wonderful staff.”

Award-winning Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is a premier destination for getaways, gatherings or business. Recognized among area resorts–Hilton Head and beyond–Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island knows how to cater to individuals, businesses and most notably weddings and events. With 11 beautifully landscaped acres leading up to its seaside courtyard and space for up to 1,100 guests, it is the perfect choice among Hilton Head hotels on the beach to host your event.

To learn more about the hiring of Dirks and LaMountain, or other career opportunities with Sonesta Resorts, please visit www.Sonesta.com/careers or more information on Sonesta visit Sonesta.com/HiltonHeadIsland.

###

About Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island 

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is a AAA approved Four Diamond resort offering 340 guestrooms and suites overlooking lushly landscaped semitropical gardens, with spectacular beach and lagoon-style swimming pool. Its first-class amenities include several dining options, health spa, fitness center and lap pool. The resort also features 22,500 square feet of meeting and event space, including a beachfront Pavilion and a 24-hour business center. Complimentary transportation is provided to and from the world-class golf and tennis offerings available within Hilton Head’s Shipyard complex. The resort is situated 45 miles from Savannah, GA, and seven miles from Hilton Head Island airport, in an area surrounded by outdoor recreation, shopping and fine dining.

About Sonesta
Sonesta is a growing, global hospitality brand with more than 80 properties in 7 countries, centered on a corporate dedication to delivering a guest experience that provides more than just a place to stay. With a portfolio of diverse and distinctive properties as individual as its guests, there is no typical Sonesta. With a full range of exceptional experiences found in many of the most memorable destinations in the world, Sonesta proudly exceeds guest’s expectations time and time again.

Discover Royal Sonesta and Sonesta Hotels & Resorts in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Hilton Head Island, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Jose, St. Louis, St. Maarten (2), Chile (2), Colombia (7), Ecuador, Peru (5), and Egypt (3 + 2 cruise ships). Sonesta ES Suites is an extended stay hotel brand managed by Sonesta and can be found in 42 locations near Boston, Atlanta, Baltimore, Burlington, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Detroit, Flagstaff, Houston, Memphis, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Parsippany, Princeton,Philadelphia, Portland, St. Louis and Tucson. For more about Sonesta, visit Sonesta.com or call +1.617.315.9200 or 800.Sonesta (800.766.3782) in the U.S. and Canada.

Birmingham /

Surprise Guests and Joyous Performances during ZooLight Safari

ZooLight Safari present by Wells Fargo will feature special nights with surprise guests to help spread the incredible holiday magic! Be amazed by enchanting illuminations and sparkling lights. Enjoy the sounds of seasonal songs and holiday classics as you sing along with our Singing Santa during performances at the Safari Peak. Delight in delicious treats and decadent desserts at the S’mores & More station!

Guests will be captivated by the festive décor as they join Santa and characters, for the lighting ceremony of our nearly 30 ft. tall tree of lights. Take a merry ride on the Shipt Candy Cane Train, go for a spin on the Jingle Bell Carousel, dash down the Yuletide Slide, hop on the Santa Rollers, and enjoy fun holiday-themed games on Henley Park!

Love Santa? Capture the joy of your loved ones in a photo with Santa at the Holiday Card Photo Op. Get creative making crafts, decorating ornaments, and writing letters to Santa. Dance and sing the night away under the stars with spectacular live entertainment. Start a new holiday tradition with the Birmingham Zoo during the 2018 ZooLight Safari presented by Wells Fargo!

 

ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS

TREE LIGHTING

December 7 – 7:00 pm @ Safari Peak in Trails of Africa

 

ENTERTAINMENT

Singing Santa Show

6:00 pm every night @ Safari Peak in Trails of Africa

Magic City Literacy Council

December 7- 9 –  Storytimes each night at 5:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm, 8:30pm @ Henley Park

*Bring a baby or children’s book to donate to our cause, Books for Babes, and you will get ONE FREE Zoo Ride ticket per guest at the entrance! Baby books will be donated to families at UAB hospital to promote family literacy.

Santa & Showstoppers Promotions Singers

December 9

Beverly’s Dance Studio Night

December 15 –  6:00pm – 8:00pm @ Safari Peak in Trails of Africa

Bella Prima Dance Studio Night

December 18 @ Safari Peak in Trails of Africa

Blue Grass Christmas Featuring The Allen Tolbert Project

December 20

Americana Christmas Featuring Durand Robinson

December 20

Santa & Showstoppers Promotions Singers

December 23

 

SPECIAL GUESTS

Birmingham Children’s Theater

December 7 –  5:30pm – 7:30pm

*Characters from the current BCT productions, Peter Pan and The Snowy Day

Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen Night

December 8

Your Favorite Holiday Mouse

December 14

International Crane Foundation: Whooping Crane Mascot

December 15

Miss Alabama Night featuring 2013 Chandler Champion

December 16

Cinderella Queens

December 16

National American Miss of Alabama

December 19

Santa and Mrs. Clause Night

December 22

Miss Appalachian Valley-Greeter

December 22

International Crane Foundation: Whooping Crane Mascot

December 29

 

SANTA

Pictures with Santa

5:00 – 5:45pm and 7:00 – 8:45pm every night @ Safari Peak in Trails of Africa

Singing Santa Show

6:00 pm every night @ Safari Peak in Trails of Africa

Santa & Showstoppers Promotions Singers

December 9

December 23

 

RIDES

Shipt Candy Cane Train, Jingle Bell Carousel, Yuletide Slide, & Santa Rollers

5:00 – 8:45pm every night

*all rides are an additional cost

 

GAMES

Mistletoe Maze, Reindeer Ring Toss, & more!

5:00 – 8:45pm every night @ Henley Park

CRAFTS

Letters to Santa

5:00 – 8:45pm Dec 7 – 23 @ Children’s Zoo

Ornaments

5:00 – 8:45pm every night @ Children’s Zoo

Holiday Sensory Bins

5:00 – 8:45pm every night @ Children’s Zoo

ZOO GIFT SHOP

Open every night from 5:00 – 9:00pm

FOOD & BEVERAGES

S’mores & More

5:00 – 8:30pm every night @ Safari Peak

*Alcoholic Beverages Available — ages 21 up

Nourish 205 Restaurant

5:00 – 8:30 pm every night with a holiday menu available @ Children’s Zoo

Wild Burger Restaurant

5:00 – 8:30 pm Sunday – Thursday for snacks & drinks ONLY @ Safari Peak

5:00 – 8:30 pm Friday & Saturday with a limited food menu @ Safari Peak

Side Track Snack Station

5:00 – 8:30pm every night @ train depot

 

HOURS & PRICING

WHEN

December 7 – 9

December 14 – 23

December 26 – 31

*The Zoo will CLOSE EARLY at 4 pm every night of ZooLight Safari.

 

TIME

5:00 – 9:00pm

 

WHERE

Birmingham Zoo

 

PRICING

*Members  Free Admission

Non-Members  $10 Admission

Ride Tickets  $3.50 — not included with admission

Unlimited Attraction Wristband  $10 — not included with admission

 

PARKING

Parking at the Zoo is FREE

**Purchase a Premium Parking Space for $10 — Parking spaces must be purchased in advance. Guests must have printed parking pass in the dashboard of car.

WEATHER

**Weather Permitting –  ZooLight Safari and all related activities are dependent on weather conditions and are subject to change.

Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator /

Holiday Cleaning Prep with Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator

The holiday season is full of surprises from gift-giving to the sparkling decor.  One of the most unexpected surprises for any mom includes household stains.

Before putting ornaments on the tree or laying out the garland, we must incorporate time to beautify the home.  A lot of household cleaners can only be used on certain surfaces.  Even worse, a few products leave a greasy film!  This defeats the purpose of cleaning at all.

Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator can be used in the bathroom, kitchen, patios, and decks.  The cleaner is perfect for shower stalls and countertops.  This is really important for my home because the kitchen counter is the central station for everything!

To create a solution, mix Biz with a bucket of warm water.  Then apply the mixture to whatever surface needs cleaning.  Afterward, do your normal wipe down.  It’s just that simple!

A really big tip if you own a garbage disposal is to pour 3/8 cups of Biz down the drain.  Let it sit for 15 minutes and flush with hot water.

Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator is a one-stop shop for cleaning your home during the holidays.  Remember, before you set the table or lay out the ornaments use Biz to clean and deodorize your home.

 

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