You’ve loved Petunia Pickle Bottom (PPB) products for years. Who can resist their distinct, unique and decidedly fashionable fabrics and cuts?
Take for instance their new line of organic gift sets that SouthernMamas is giving away this week– a 3-pack of onesies and a 3-pack socks each available in 3 different color schemes that I won’t be able to do justice trying to describe. Instead, the giveaway goodies are pictured here.
My 2-year-old’s new favorite spot is the Savannah Bee Co. Honey House, which has a kid-friendly play area in the back of the honey-and-bee themed Broughton Street boutique.
There’s a large a bee hive – called the bee skep – filled with books and toys and bee-themed flicks. There’s also a theater section showing documentaries on bees and honey, as well as a honeycomb playhouse, complete with doors and windows. Mom and dad can sip honey-lattes while the kids play.
The Honey House kids’ area is perfect when you need a break while shopping downtown with the kids. Or if you’re just looking for something different on a thunderstormy afternoon: the Savannah Bee Co. Honey House, 104 W. Broughton St.
Here are some safety tips from SafeKids when it comes to leaving kids in vehicles.
As temperatures increase and family schedules change, parents and caregivers should avoid leaving children unsupervised in or near vehicles.
Children in vehicles under extreme heat conditions are vulnerable. Heat stroke, a life-threatening emergency, can occur in temperatures as low as 80 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on humidity levels. Body temperatures higher than 105 degrees Fahrenheit can cause permanent brain damage or even death, especially among children.
Other serious injuries occur when children get entrapped in trunks or when they set a vehicle in motion leading to crashes. Recommendations include:
Make your car safer. Always keep car doors and trunks locked, even in the garage or driveway, to keep kids out. Treat it as the multi-ton, fast-moving enclosure and piece of machinery that it is. Keep the rear fold-down seats closed to prevent kids from getting into the trunk from inside the car
Supervision is key. Even if the windows are down, never leave your child unattended in a car. Never leave your car keys where children can get them. Teach children not to play in or around cars. If a child is missing at home, check the car first, including the trunk
Adopt safety-focused behaviors. Consider placing your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car. Be sure everyone leaves the vehicle when you reach your destination
Notification plan. Consider having your child’s teacher or childcare provider call you if your child does not arrive when expected
Get involved if you see a child alone in a vehicle. If they are hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible and call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Another important aspect of car safety is making sure that your car itself is safe. If it’s older and might not be the most up to date vehicle you should consider selling your car to Ecology Cash For Cars. They are a company that will purchase your car from you even if it’s old.
Catherine Edmonds!
Congratulations. Catherine wins a photo session from Savannah-based photographer LeeAnn Ritch (a $225 value) and online proofing . The CD and prints are not included.
Examples of LeeAnn’s work are pictured in her blog and her Web site. Click 
here to contact LeeAnn. Or call 912.308.9327 or email leeann@leeannritchphotography.com
Thanks to everyone who entered last week’s giveaway. Check out the comments section below the initial giveaway announcement post for 40 ideas from SouthernMamas readers on how to savor the last days of summer.
Coming soon to Savannah: a new indoor playground and birthday spot.
Monkey Joe’s – which offers bouncing, sliding, and jumping fun for kids 12 years-old and younger – will open a Savannah location at 309 Eisenhower Drive next to Dr. Ramon Ramos’ office.
The exact opening date is not confirmed yet, but a spokesperson said the estimated opening time is the end of September/early October.
Monkey Joe’s features an inflatable play center including inflatable slides, jumps, and obstacle courses where kids can bounce, jump, slide, and have fun. Kids 3 years-old and younger have their own play area.
Read more here.
Your idea of music (twirling to Tchaikovsky, moving to Mozart) isn’t quite the same as your little one’s (using the toy piano as a tap dance stage).
Get everyone in perfect harmony with Make A Joyful Noise early childhood music classes. Think singing, dancing, and instrument playing, plus activities that improve motor skills and rhythm.
Attend the Make A Joyful Noise open house Sat. Aug. 8 for a free preview of a class (babies to 6 years) at 10:30 AM as well as drawings for FREE CLASSES; and an 11:30 AM audition for the Sounds of Praise Children’s Choir
Contact Vicki to pre-register for the preview class. 912-920-6542. Click here for more info.
Sending a child off to school can be scary. Sure moms joke about back-to-school being “the most wonderful time of the year” but that doesn’t mean it’s not also anxiety provoking.
Will the teacher like my child? Who will be the new classmates? Will they be good influences — or bad? Will my child struggle to make friends or deal with bullies or endure teasing? And most of all, will my child be safe?
What 175,000+ moms around the world have discovered is that back-to-school anxiety and fear can be replaced with peace and hope. And yes, even joy. Moms In Touch International impacts children and schools worldwide for Christ by gathering mothers and other interested women to pray. Learn more how you can become involved by visiting www.momsintouch.org or contacting Stacy Cerone at 228-4270, scerPM@comcast.net.
Your kids are sun-kissed. You’re rested. And your husband’s rocking his beach bronze. What better time to book a photo session so you can be so-very ahead of the game with a sun-drenched family portrait when the holidays roll around.
Lucky for you, this week on SouthernMamas, Savannah-based photographer and natural-light aficionado LeeAnn Ritch is giving away a photo session (a $225 value) and online proofing to a lucky SouthernMamas subscriber. The CD and prints are not included.
Examples of LeeAnn’s work are pictured here and in her blog and her Web site.
Click here to contact LeeAnn. Or call 912.308.9327 or email leeann@leeannritchphotography.com
Tired of assembly line invites and stationery? Just your luck: Savannah-based graphic designer Emily McCarthy gives new moms and baby shower-throwers alike a fresh take on the old baby announcement and invitation.
Emily has been in the invitation and stationery industry for more than eight years. While still employed as Senior Designer for one the largest invitation retailers in the country, Emily has created emma j design – an exclusive offering of custom invitations and stationery. Mixing modern and traditional, Emily adds her flair to any event.
A firm believer in setting the mood of your event with the invitation, Emily works one-on-one with each client to create a unique invitation that can only be found at emma j design. All of her illustrations and artwork are completely custom and are drawn specifically by the artist. Emily, originally from the Atlanta area, was a newcomer to Savannah three years ago and is excited to offer her talents and services to the South.
emma j design offers custom invitations {couture wedding and letterpress, birthday parties, dinner parties, baby and bridal showers}, baby and moving announcements, custom stationery and monograms, wedding styling {logos, invitations, programs, favor tags}, corporate branding and logos, business cards, catalogs and product design.
Contact Emily McCarthy today to set up an appointment or to place an order. Email inquiries to emily@emmajdesign.com .
Visit www.emmajdesign.com for an online gallery of work and to visit her popular blog: A Savannah Redtop.
Sometimes we all need to be reminded to appreciate how fortunate we are to have healthy children.
Which is why you should check out my newspaper column this week about a Savannah baby who needs a new heart to survive.
Amy and Brad Stewart have to miss out on so many joys of first-time parenthood as they try to help their 7-month old son while he waits for a donated heart. But the worst part is having to see their son, Cabell, sick, hooked up to tubes and confined to a hospital.
Read Cabell’s story here and follow his progress on by going to CarePages.com where Cabell’s site is IHeartCab.
Help is available for Savannah-area women struggling with infertility.
A new infertility support group is starting this month at Savannah Christian Church. The first meeting will be 6:30 PM Aug. 8. Meetings will be every month.
The goal is to provide support and resources for women in the Savannah area struggling with infertility or pursuing/or have been through adoption.