Local moms who work outside the home often tell SouthernMamas they wish there were more weekend mommy-and-me programs.

Wish granted.  A monthly mommy-and-me program for working parents will start @ UGA’s Marine Education Center and Aquarium soon. 

The first Saturday Mommy and Me will be 10-10:45 AM  April 10.

The educational programs for children between the ages of 1 and 4 include learning techniques that allow for the development of motor skills, understanding of different sizes, shapes, weights, and movements among a variety of marine animals native to Georgia waterways and the ability to identify the difference between fish, crabs, turtles, and invertebrates. The programs will include hands-on experiences with different animals, arts and crafts, a story time, and a game.

Advanced Registration required. Maximum of 15 children. $6/child for non-season pass holders, $4/child for season pass holders.  UGA’s Marine Education Center and Aquarium is at 30 Ocean Science Circle, Skidaway Island.

To register, call 912-598-2496, email fish@uga.edu.

Easy, breezy, beautiful.

That’s your idea of a spring portrait session with your kids. Spring is the perfect time to have new portaits taken before the not so easy-breezy summer heat.

One of our top local shooters, Savannah photographer Britt Anderson , makes kids portrait sessions click. Even better, Britt offers SouthernMamas a discount.

Anyone who mentions Southernmamas.com when booking will receive a $50 print credit with any basic session, or an additional $100 print credit with any collection session booked before April 30th (Sessions must be completed prior to July 31st).

A whiz with natural light, Britt takes advantage of the wonderful natural backdrops our area has to offer for relaxed shoot sites. She serves the Savannah, Rincon, Pooler, Richmond Hill areas, as well as Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head Is. areas. 

Britt playfully captures the natural connections between loved ones, the sweetness of a newborn, the energy of a child. She specializes in maternity to newborns, toddlers to teens.

Chances are you’ll agree with Britt that while quality portraits are an investment, they are a valuable investment of memories for today, tomorrow and forever.

To keep up to date on Britt’s regular photography specials, become a fan of Britt Anderson photography on Facebook here or visit her Web site

Contact Britt via her Web site or email contact@brittandersonphotography.com.

That gold necklace from a less than golden ex-beau has been collecting dust in your jewelry box for too long.

At a new business in Savannah Mall - Coastal Gold Exchange - you can exchange  jewelry you never wear anymore for quick cash. Coastal Gold Exchange buys gold/silver/platinum jewelry items.

Do you have a broken necklace, bracelet or missing earring? Coastal Gold Exchange buys those as well. They will buy any gold, silver or platinum jewelry, no matter the kind or condition.

Gold jewelry has become one of the more popular items on the market as of late, as the price of gold has increased and people are finding that they can turn their old and broken jewelry into jewelers and refineries for cash.

Just be sure to do your homework and find out what that piece of gold is worth before you decide to sell.

Coastal Gold Exchange is an alternative to the long-distance, mail-in cash for gold companies and pawn shops.

To find out more about Coastal Gold Exchange, click here.

Win FREE tickets to the the Savannah Music Festival children’s concerts this week on SouthernMamas.

Thanks to Savannah Music Festival, we’re giving away FOUR tickets to Shake up Your Brain with Roger Day and FOUR tickets to The Amazing Musical Rescue with RJ & The Upbeats. Winners of the Roger Day tickets will also receive a free copy of Roger Day’s new CD “Why does Gray Matter?”

Here are the rules on how to win this month long contest.

THE AMAZING MUSICAL RESCUE: RJ & THE UPBEATS will be at 12:30 PM Sat. March 20 at CHARLES H. MORRIS CENTER
Tickets: $10 adult 18 and older, $5 age 6 and older, under 6 are free. Buy tickets by clicking here.
Open your imagination and enter the wonderful world of The UpBeats. Mischievous forces have sabotaged the creativity of music and it’s up to RJ & The UpBeats to save music.

SHAKE UP YOUR BRAIN: ROGER DAY, 12:30 PM Sat. March 27 at CHARLES H. MORRIS CENTER
Tickets: $10 adult 18 and older, $5 age 6 and older, under 6 free.
Two-time Parents’ Choice award-winning singer/songwriter Roger Day urges kids to reach their potential by using “body and brain, mind and muscle.” In this program for the entire family, he performs songs from his new album “Why Does Gray Matter? And Other Brainy Songs for Kids.” Buy tickets by clicking here.

1. Tara Feis Irish Festival
Featuring the Cathie Ryan Band in Emmet Park, downtown Savannah. An outdoor, family-friendly celebration of Irish culture with live stage performances, music, dancing, crafts, food and more.
11 AM-5 PM Sat. March 13
Free!
(912) 651-6410

2. Storytime at The Roundhouse Railroad Museum, 601 W. Harris St., Savannah
10-11 AM March 10
The monthly family-friendly event features fun crafts and stories for kids with a theme related to the season.
912-651-6823
Please register to ensure enough supplies and refreshments for each child who attends.
Tickets/Cost: $4.00 per child with regular adult admission
To register, call 912.651.6823 or email childrensevents@chsgeorgia.org

3. Coastal Kids Market @ The Shops at Godley Station, Pooler Parkway
A seasonal, upscale children’s consignment sale in Pooler just outside Savannah featuring designer brands, local venders, new overstocks from designers and local boutiques.
The spring sale is March 11-13. Credit cards accepted.
The first 200 customers will receive goody bags filled with promotions and coupons from 20-plus local businesses. SPRING 2010 Sale Dates:
Thurs., March 11 6-8 PM
Fri., March 12, 9 AM – 5 PM
Sat., March 13, 9 AM– noon
*Select items will be half price on Saturday
912.312.5800 or email contact@coastalkidsmarket.com

4. The Spring Little Lambs Sale, a fund-raising sale at First Presbyterian Church, 520 Washington Ave. on the corner of Washington and Paulsen
9 AM- 2 PM Fri. March 12
9 AM-noon Sat. March 13, with many items one-half off
912-351-0609
Proceeds benefit First Presbyterian Preschool and the Ferst Foundation, which supports childhood literacy

5. Toddler Tuesdays @ Oatland Island Wildlife Center
10:30-11:15 AM Tuesdays
This week’s theme: Wooly Friends: Sheep! Come to Oatland and visit resident sheep Cloud, Storm and Dottie. See what they look like before getting their annual “hair cuts” at Oatland’s Sheep Shearing Day Sat. March 13 .
Tues. March 9
Free with Oatland Island admission.
912.395.1212

6. Mommy and Me program Tuesdays and Thursdays @ UGA’s Marine Education Center and Aquarium, 30 Ocean Science Circle, Skidaway Island.
Every Tuesday & Thursday from 9-9:45 AM  for children between the ages of 1 and 4. Hands-on experiences with different animals, arts and crafts, a story time, and a game.
Maximum of 15 participants. Cost: $6/child for non-member; $4/child for members. Adults get in free with a paid child. To register, call 912-598-2496, email fish@uga.edu or click here.

7. FREE storytimes at Live Oak library branches. Click here.

8. Tea at Mrs. Davenport’s
Learn about tea traditions and experience an early 19th century tea at the historic Davenport House Museum, 324 E. State Street, downtown Savannah.
5 PM Thursday, Friday and one Wednesday afternoon in March (March 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25)
The one-hour program includes tours of areas of the home and costumed interpreters.
Cost: $18 per adult, $14 for students ages 8 to 17. There is a 14 person maximum per program.
For information or reservations, call 912.236.8097 or email jcredle@savbusiness.net. Reservations must be received 24 hours in advance.

9. Sizzlin’ Bacon - The Story of the Three Little Pigs @ The Savannah Children’s Theatre Dance for Musical Theatre, 2160 E. Victory Dr.
8 PM Fri & Sat. March 12 & 13
(912) 238-9015

10. Greening of the Fountain
Annual Savannah St. Patrick’s Day “Greening of the Fountain” in Forsyth Park,
Noon, Fri. March 12
(912) 233-4804

11. Tybee Island Irish Heritage Celebration Parade
Featuring Irish families, bands, bagpipers, floats and the Alee Temple Shriners,
3 PM Sat. March 13.
The parade begins at Memorial Park, proceeds down Butler Avenue to Tybrisa Street and ends on the Strand.
(912) 786-5444

12. Sheep Shearing Day at the Oatland Island Wildlife Center
10 AM-3 PM Sat. March 13
Watch as the sheep get their annual haircuts with crafts and activities for the kids and demonstrations by the Fiber Guild of Savannah.
711 Sandtown Rd.
(912) 395-1212.

Hilton Head Is/Bluffton area

13. Imagination Hour @ The Sandbox, an Interactive Children’s Museum, HHI
10:30-11:30 AM every Thursday starting March 4
Featuring a story time followed by a related arts and crafts or science project, with a different theme each week. For ages 5 and younger; older siblings and guests are welcome as well. Classes are designed for parents and caregivers to interact and assist their child with each project and they are encouraged to stay and play in the museum following the program.
Cost is included in the regular admission or annual membership fee.
18-A Pope Avenue, next to St. Andrew’s by the Sea United Methodist Church.
843.842.7645 or email cpfeffer@thesandbox.org

14. The 12th Annual Kid’s Shamrock Hunt at The Salty Dog Café in South Beach Marina Village, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Is.
10 AM Sat. March 13.
Children ages 12 and under are welcome to find four-leaf clovers redeemable for Salty Dog T-shirts, in addition to prizes, treats, children’s entertainment, free photos with Jake the Salty Dog and a special Irish lunch for the whole family.
(843) 671-2233

15. The 27th Annual Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade
3 PM March 14 at Coligny Circle
More than 100 floats, marching units, bands, local dignitaries and animal contingencies will make their way down Pope Avenue, turn onto Office Park Road and finish at Park Plaza.
(843) 384-4035 or 304-4956.

The Mommy and Me program Tuesdays and Thursdays @ UGA’s Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island is just one of the local educational programs at risk of being cut.

Because of the state’s potential $1.1 billion shortfall, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents is at risk of undergoing severe cuts include closing half of the state’s Cooperative Extension offices and eliminating its widely popular 4-H youth program.

This month, the University System of Georgia proposed $300 million in cuts to higher education, including 4,000 layoffs and dozens of program cutbacks. Locally, that would mean closing the Burton 4-H Center at Tybee Island and cutting other educational centers that provide invaluable information to thousands of area youth.

You can help save our local education centers and keep the doors open at @ UGA’s Marine Education Center and Aquarium and other kid-friendly spots. Let the Board know you disagree with these proposed closures by signing this petition

Those of you who’ve shopped at Coastal Kids Market, a seasonal, upscale children’s consignment sale in Pooler just outside Savannah, already know the amazing deals you can find there when it comes to high-end, gently-used boutique & trunk show clothing.

But did you know that Coastal Kids will accept CREDIT CARDS at this month’s upcoming spring sale March 11-13 @ The Shops at Godley Station, Pooler Parkway? No more dashing to the ATM or hitting your friend up for cash because you didn’t plan on finding so many quality brand bargains.

Brands you can expect to come across at Coastal Kids Market include Hannah Kate, Orient Expressed, Chez Ami, Kelly’s Kids, Bailey Boys, Ragsland, Strasburg, Matilda Jane, Lilly Pulitzer, Hannah Andersson, Potato Saks, and lots of NEW L’amour shoes.

Plus, the sale will be teeming with NEW overstocks from some local boutiques and designers.

Eight local vendors will be at the sale including: Miles of Crafts, Stella and Dot, Arts-Anne-Crafts, Bella Reece, Touchstone Crystal, Kris’ Krinkles, Thirty-One and Babe Sak.

Be sure to arrive early. Because the first 200 customers will receive goody bags filled with promotions and valuable coupons from 20-plus local businesses. So it pays to be first in line!

More than 75 consignors are already registered, with room for more. Hurry, registration ends this Sat. March 6.

Happy bargain-buying, SouthernMamas.

SPRING 2010 Sale Dates:
Thurs., March 11 6-8 PM
Fri., March 12, 9 AM – 5 PM
Sat., March 13, 9 AM– noon
*Select items will be half price on Saturday

Coastal Kids Market, March 11-13, The Shops at Godley Station, Pooler Parkway, Suite 202; 912.312.5800 or email contact@coastalkidsmarket.com

Get ready to swoon over Classic Kids clothing.

Classic Kids is a locally-owned children’s clothing company made up of moms that have a passion for creating unique and captivating clothing for their children and yours.

Each custom-made outfit is made from top quality fabrics with special attention to detail.

Lucky girls will get decked out in wrap skirts in bright colors or sweet ribbon-top and pillow case dresses. For boys: madras shorts, personalized crab tees, and timeless preppy JonJons.

Classic Kids specializes in classic and funky styles for both boys and girls.

Designs range from time-honored standards to custom-made. CK will work with you to create your perfect outfit. Just drop CK a line at classickids@hargray.com.

Scheduling for CK home shows is under way though out the southeast.

All home show guests will receive up to 20 percent off their home show order.

All hosts will receive up to 50 percent off their home show order and a continuous 20-percent off for the remainder of the season.

To see more examples of Classic Kids,  click here. Order online at the Classic Kids Web shop. Classic Clothes can also be found La Dee Da boutique in Rincon.

Classic Kids, Classic Clothes for Everyday Kids!, www.ClassicKidsGA.com. Email classickids@hargray.com

“La Dee Da” is an upscale children’s consignment boutique located in the heart of Rincon, Georgia, specializing in brands such as Kate Mack, Gymboree, Ralph Lauren, Feltman Bros and many more!

In addition to children’s consignment apparel, La Dee Da supports our local women in business by showcasing and carrying their beautiful and unique work. Custom boutique clothing, hairbows, diaper bags, quilts, tutu’s, diaper cakes, purses, tutu bow holders, headbands etc; created by local artisans such as Classic Kids, 4 Angels Boutique, The Polka Dot Lady, Pretty Please Quilts,and Wild Olive Kids, just to name a few!

Whether you are a consigning mom or grand mom, or simply shopping, La Dee Da welcomes you to stop in for a visit or visit La Dee Da’s Web site: www.ladeedakids.com or find La Dee Da on Facebook.

La Dee Da looks forward to serving you and your child! La Dee Da - where consignment shopping is anything but typical! Proud retailers of Mudpie, Jewelry by Lorena and The Fizzy Baker.

La Dee Da upscale children’s consignment boutique , 912-295-5470. Tues- Fri 9:30am - 5:30pm and Saturday 10 am - 3:30 pm
Hwy 21 North, Rincon. Located in Burns Station next to the Bank of America and across from The Curiosity Shoppe

It’s here.

The SouthernMamas Easter Guide 2010: A listing of Easter Egg Hunts, Bunny visits and photos, and other kids’ Easter events in the Savannah-Hilton Head Is./Bluffton area.

For your convenience, the link to the Easter Guide will posted in the column to the right throughout the season. Enjoy! Please share this link with all the local parents you know. To have an event included in the SouthernMamas Easter Guide, send the info to anne@southernmamas.com.

A favorite Savanah Easter tradition, the annual Chick Hatchery @ Oglethorpe Mall, will start later this month. 
10 AM-8 PM Wed. March 31 and through Fri. April 2.
Located in the mall indoor courtyard Barnes & Noble and Belk’s.
FREE! Kids can watch the chicks and ducks emerge from their eggs and hold a newly hatched chick.
For more than two decades, Chatham County Cooperative Extension has run the display hatchery during the Easter season.

CORRECTION: No Easter egg  hunt at Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens, Annual Spring Garden Festival!.

61st Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Tybee Island
1 PM Sat. April 3 at Jaycee Park. Sponsored by American Legion.
About a thousand eggs scattered on and around the park. Five age groups ranging from toddlers to 10 years of age. ALL children in the age groups are welcome. This has become a popular annual event with parents and grandparents having as much fun as the kids.

Easter Blast at Skidaway Island State Park
1-3 PM Sat. April 3
Family-fun includes HOPPY hayrides, EGG hunt, feather in the haystack and lots of other fun games and crafts.
52 Diamond Causeway
$5/vehicle, $1/person on hayrides
912-598-2300

For more Easter Egg Hunts in Savannah, Hilton Head Is. and surrounding areas, visit the SouthernMamas Easter Guide by clicking here.