The winner of the Playhouse Disney Live! family-four pack of tickets is Megan Hulsey. Congrats Megan! Thank you to everyone who entered.

Monkey Joe’s Savannah  – a sponsor of SouthernMamas – is just days away from opening at 311 Eisenhower Drive.

The first official day of business will be Fri. Oct 2. Then the GRAND OPENING festivities will be Sat.
Oct. 3. 

The new indoor playground and birthday spot offers bouncing, sliding, and jumping fun for kids 12 years-old and younger.

The Monkey Joe’s party coordinator will be available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday  – ALL DAY! – to book parties and answer questions. Swing in and let your kids go BANANAS!

912-349-2528. For Monkey Joe’s Savannah business hours and more info click here.

Hooray! Your tot’s finally hit the birthday circuit. Too bad gifting is now a never-ending chore.
Make it fun with a visit to Four Kids, Savannah’s hippest new store for children.
Toy connoisseurs Doug and Debbie Haupt pack the store at 10 Whitaker Street in downtown Savannah with everything from wooden toys to dolls, shoes and accessories.
There something for everyone on your list – even some “green” product toys and classic toys.
Hurry before the holiday rush.
Mention you saw Four Kids on the Southernmamas and receive a 10 percent DISCOUNT before Dec. 31, 2009 (Sale items are excluded).
912.238.1919

Playhouse Disney Live! has two shows at the Savannah Civic Center this Sunday, Oct. 4, 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM.

You can win a family-four pack of tickets to the show and blast off to adventure with the Little Einsteins and all your child’s  favorite Playhouse Disney friends from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, and Handy Manny.

Because the show is Sunday, there isn’t enough time to get the tickets to the winner. So the show’s promo folks will leave the winner’s name at the will-call at the Savannah Civic ticket office. If that’s cutting it a little close for you, this might not be the giveaway for you. However, if you’re OK with that, then read on…

Check out the rules below to enter to win:

 Join the fun with Handy Manny his Tools, and your child’s favorites from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, and Little Einsteins. Playhouse Disney Live! tickets range from $14-$40. To order tickets: 912- 651-6556 or click here

Jingle bells, twinkling lights, blah blah blah.

Every holiday season you pray for a little gift-giving inspiration, only to buy another boring CD for Dad, another book for Mom.

Here’s a solution: Savannah photographer Britt Anderson – who specializes in newborns, children, teens and families – is offering special holiday sessions. Find out more about the specials on Britt’s Web site here.

Mention that you read about Britt on SouthernMamas and you will receive a free 8 x 10 portrait of your session.

Britt is an on-location phographer who enjoys photographing at the beach, local park or at the clients’ home. As a mother and photographer, Britt seems to tell an entire story through each picture. As you can see from her photos, Britt’s work is hardly one-dimensional.

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

A lovely photographer, a free portrait and special gifts for all.

The perfect thing to make holiday gift-giving a little less blah.

Contact Britt via her Web site.

In one of my favorite books, Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird,” Lamott tells a story about her then preschooler son Sam’s cursing. One day Sam pretended to lock himself out of the house, and then proceeded to try to unlock the door with his toy keys.

When he couldn’t fit the keys in the lock, she heard him say, “Sh-t.”

She made the silent Munch painting scream and then told Sam that both of them absolutely had to stop using that word right away.

He said, “OK,” but then asked, “Mom, do you want to know why I said ‘sh-t’? It was because of those f-ing keys.”

I know how Lamott feels. In my newspaper column today, I write about what happens when my toddler starts mimicking Mommy’s verbal indiscretions. Read the column here.

Thanks to all the SouthernMamas readers who shared their cursing kids stories!!

When the ultimate SouthernMama Paula Deen appeared on “The View” on ABC Tuesday, host Barbara Walters questioned her about pushing fattening food for children. Deen was on the show to plug her book, “Paula Deen’s Cookbook for the Lunchbox Set.”

“This is a cookbook for kids. Obesity is the No. 1 problem for kids today. Everything you have here is enormously fattening,” said Walters as she sat by the famous chef. “You tell kids to have cheesecake for breakfast. You tell them to have chocolate cake and meatloaf for lunch. And french fries. Doesn’t it bother you that you’re adding to this?”

All things in moderation, counseled Deen. “No, I’m not saying they should eat like this every day,” she said.
Walters said Deen’s book is hardly a lesson in moderation. “Not when you’re giving them this!”

Sounds rough. But if you actually watch the clip, Barbara’s comments don’t sound nearly as scolding. Still, some are making a big deal out it and saying Walters accused Deen of contributing to childhood obesity.

Perhaps Barbara was just using the childhood obesity questions as a way to pick on our homecooking queen for another reason: the report that Paula Deen shot the pilot for an in-the-works syndicated talk show that will have a format similar to the “The View,” but with a focus on parenting and motherhood. Paula is supposed to be in the matriarch role on the show, similar to Barbara’s role.

What do y’all think?
Was Barbara right to ask some tough childhood obesity-related questions?
Or did Barbara appear a little bit hungry and perhaps a tad jealous about the possibility of having Paula Deen as a daytime talk-show host rival?

Are you a SouthernMamas fan on Facebook? If not, you’re missing out on helpful tips and comments from other SouthernMamas readers.

For example, recently an out-of-town reader asked for suggestions for a Savannah spot where she can host a baby shower for a friend. What follows is an interesting conversation about restaurants that are good for a baby showers and ones that aren’t.

Read that conversation and others by becoming a fan of SouthernMamas on Facebook. Click here to do so.

Here are a few of our readers’ suggested spots to host a baby shower:
45 Bistro inside of The Marshall House
Vics on the River
Lulu’s Chocolate Bar
Cha Bella.
Soho South Cafe

Time to start indoctrinating your kids with your love for all things Star Wars.

Star Wars: In Concert – a multi-media event featuring music from all six of John Williams’ epic Star Wars scores – will play 7:30 PM Oct. 29 at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

Tickets for the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena go on sale Fri. Sept 25 at 10 a.m. (tommorrow!) at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena box office, by phone at (800) 745-3000, and online here.

Narrated live by the actor who portrayed C-3PO in all six films, the production features a full symphony orchestra and choir, accompanied by specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen.

Accompanying the concert is an exhibit of Star Wars costumes, props, artifacts, production artwork and specially created behind-the-scenes videos from the Lucasfilm Archives.

When photographer LeeAnn Ritch read about little Cora Garola’s battle with leukemia, LeeAnn immediately wanted to reach out to Cora’s parents, Rob & Mandy Garola of Isle of Hope.

LeeAnn offered to donate a photo shoot of the Garola family. LeeAnn gave the Garolas a free shoot and CD once a year indefinitely. How sweet is that?

Pictured above is just one of the lovely results of LeeAnn’s first of many portrait sesssion with the Garolas. See more photos of Cora and her family on LeeAnn’s blog here.

As you can see, Cora is doing really well and looking as adorable as ever! You can follow Cora’s progress here, where Cora’s mom is beautifully documenting their family’s fight against leukemia.

The winner of this week’s SouthernMamas giveaway, a free session of Savannah Celtic’s  Early Goals soccer program, is Allison Maher!

Congratulations. Allison wins a free season of toddler soccer for her little one.

 Savannah Celtic’s  Early Goals soccer program is for players ages 2, 3 & 4.

The toddler soccer session starts next week, the week of Sept. 28, and runs through Nov. 2.  

The $50 registration fee includes a 6 week program, practice t-shirt, end of the season finale with a medal and certificate.

All session will be held at the Salvation Army fields on the corner of Washington and Bee Rd. (3000 Bee Rd). All practices are approx. 30-45 minutes. Early Goal players will attend one practice session a week. Days to chose from:

5 PM Mondays
9 AM Tuesdays
5:30 PM Tuesdays
5:30 PM Thursdays

To register your toddler for Early Goals, contact Michell Laing michell@savannahceltic.com, call 912.495.9996
or click here.

Get ready to bounce.

Monkey Joe’s Savannah is set to open Sat. Oct. 3 at 311 Eisenhower Drive, next to Dr. Ramon Ramos’ office.

The new indoor playground and birthday spot offers bouncing, sliding, and jumping fun for kids 12 years-old and younger. 912-349-2528. Find out more here.

Have you checked out Petite Feet yet?

Shopping at Savannah’s newest shoe store for children is a relaxed and enjoyable experience, thanks largely to the fact that it’s a child-friendly store with a comfortable atmosphere.  Puzzles, TV, children’s book and toys keep the tots busy while you shop.

Petite Feet’s knowledgeable personal service ensures that each child is fitted correctly. And you don’ t have to fight for parking spot. Petite Feet at 5521 Abercorn next to Fresh Market and across from Publix is in a super convenient location with easy in-and-out parking.

But best of all are the popular brands Petite Feet carries – all the ones you’ve been searching for, but have a tough time finding in our area: Lilly Kelly, Keen, Merrell, Michael Kors, Morgan & Milo, Naturino, Ralph Lauren, Robeez, Roxy, Sanita, See Kai Run, Simple, Sketchers, Sperry Top-Sider
Teva and many more.

Visit their website at www.petitefeetsavannah.com for more brands and information

Ready to enjoy some fondue?

The Melting Pot on Broughton Street in downtown Savannah opens Wed. Sept. 23

The Melting Pot offers a four-course dining experience, relaxed atmosphere, private tables, fine wines, attentive service and exceptional fondue dinners.

Start with a creamy cheese fondue. Then choose from four flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of entrées including filet mignon, lobster, blackened chicken, duck, shrimp, salmon and more. For dessert, enjoy chocolate fondue served with dipping items including fresh strawberries, cheesecake, marshmallows, pound cake and brownies.

Sign up here for Club Fondue. Club Fondue members receive free chocolate fondue for two on your birthday and wedding anniversary. You will also receive monthly emails about The Melting Pot’s grand opening, ladies night out, wine tastings and other fun events.

Forget about getting your child’s flu shot at the Chatham County Health Department.

The Health Department has seen a record demand for seasonal flu vaccine, providing more than 2,700 doses thus far to the community. As a result of a delay in shipment of expected doses ordered, the Health Department will temporarily be unable to provide seasonal flu vaccine as a walk-in service at its Eisenhower and Mid-Town facilities effective Sept. 22.

The Health Department does not have a firm date for expected arrival of the additional vaccine, but will let the public know as soon as the flu vaccine is again available.

It is still early in the year. The Health Department anticipates the ability to offer the seasonal flu vaccine in time for individuals to develop immunity before the peak of the flu season.

This week, a lucky SouthernMamas subscriber will win a free session of Savannah Celtic’s  Early Goals soccer program, which caters to players ages 2, 3 & 4.

The toddler soccer session starts the week of Sept. 28 and runs through Nov. 2. Normally, registration costs $50. But you can win a free soccer program for your toddler.

Check out the rules below to enter to win:

The $50 registration fee includes a 6 week program, practice t-shirt, end of the season finale with a medal and certificate.

All session will be held at the Salvation Army fields on the corner of Washington and Bee Rd. (3000 Bee Rd). All practices are approx. 30-45 minutes.

Savannah Celtic already offers programs for older children. But also has a this fun, action-packed toddler program for players ages 2-3 & 4. There are no games. Instead, coaches work on simple motor skills and ball familiarity.

Enter to win even if you already registered your child. If you win,  Savannah Celtic will give you a refund and your tot will play for free.

Early Goal players will attend one practice session a week. Days to chose from:

5 PM Mondays
9 AM Tuesdays
5:30 PM Tuesdays
5:30 PM Thursdays

To register your toddler for Early Goals, contact Michell Laing michell@savannahceltic.com, call 912.495.9996
or click here.

Alyson Beasley-Spinks and Deanna Marie

Congratulations.

Each wins a Friday ticket to The 62nd annual Junior League of Savannah Thrift Sale. The sale is 10 AM-2 PM Fri., Oct. 2 and 10 AM-3 PM Sat. Oct 3 at the Savannah Civic Center.

Admission to the sale $5 on Friday and $3 on Saturday. Items sold on Saturday are half-price. Parking is free.  

Tickets can be purchased at the Civic Center box office or online here.

Dollar Tree stores have $1 pirate wear just in time for The 5th Annual Tybee Island Pirate Fest, one of Tybee’s most wildly popular events.

Pirate weekend is Oct. 8-10. This year, the celebration is bigger than ever, with the “Buccaneer Ball,” Fireworks Extravaganza, Thieves Market, multiple concerts – including the world-famous Marshall Tucker Band – Pirate Victory Parade, Kid’s Activities at Little Matey’s Cove and much more.

The most popular event, by kids’ standards, is the FREE Pirate Victory parade, which will be at 3 p.m. Sat. Oct. 10 along Butler Avenue The pirates and their buccaneers share their wealth of trinkets and doubloons with the crowd along the parade route.

Live music will be playing all day and at 9 p.m. Sat. Oct. 10, the Marshall Tucker Band will take the stage. Tickets to Pirate Fest are $10 weekend admission for the festival area and children 12 & younger are free. Click here to purchase advance tickets.

Other events include:
–The Crab Shack’s Buccaneer Ball, Thurs. Oct. 8. Officials will crown the Pirate Fest King and Queen. Appetizers, cocktails, and music by “The Fundamentals” plus a costume contest for the best pirate and wench. Tickets: $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Click here to purchase tickets online.
-The pirate invasion begins in the shadow of the Tybee Pier and Pavilion at 5 PM Fri. Oct. 9 The pirates will party Friday night with live music. At 7:30 PM the cannons will fire and the Fireworks Extravaganza will begin. The Thieves Market will be open with treasures for all ages, food and drink, plus The Little Matey’s Cove that will be filled with children’s activities.

On Fri. Oct. 9, activities in The Little Matey’s Cove kids’ activities include:
6-9 PM Critters to Go
6-9 PM Whale Exhibit
7-8 PM Mr. Magic (magic show and balloon making)
8-9 PM Lacey (local teen singer)

On Sat. Oct. 10, activities in The Little Matey’s Cove kids’ activities include:

10 AM-6 PM Petting Zoo
10 AM-6 PM Bouncy Rooms
11 AM-12 PM Free professional face painting for kids by The Puppet People
NOON-1 PM Angela Beasley Puppet People Show
1 PM-2 PM Gretchen Greene Dancers
2 PM -3 PM Angela Beasley Puppet People Show
3 PM Pirate Victory Parade (Butler Avenue)
4:30 PM Children’s Costume Contest
5:30 PM Pet Costume Contest

Thomas the Tank Engine fans get ready. The beloved storybook character is chugging into to Cordele, Ga. for two weekends in October.

Children of all ages can take the “Day Out With Thomas Great Discovery Tour 2009″ @ SAM Shortline Excursion Train depot in Georgia Veterans State Park on Oct. 23, 24, 25 and Oct. 30, 31 & Nov. 1. Cost: $18 for ages 2 and older. Click here for more info

Take a 25-minute ride on real train that looks like Thomas the Tank Engine; meet and snap photos with Sir Topham Hatt and Fifi Forget-Me-Not; join in on storytelling and crafts; and enjoy live music, mini-golf, bouncy inflatables, food vendors, wildlife displays and more.

The train departs every hour on the hour, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Rain or shine. The park is @ 2459 U.S. Hwy. 280 West in Cordele, 9 miles west of I-75 via Exit 101.

For tickets, call 1 (866) 468-7630 or click here. For more information and directions, click here or call 1 (877) GA-RAILS.

Summer’s end means the popular raptors flight show is back at  The Center for Wildlife Education and The Lamar Q Ball Jr. Raptor Center in Statesboro.

The raptors flight show – with falcons, owls, hawks and more – is at 3 PM Saturdays, following a 2 PM reptile show, that includes insects, tree frogs, snakes and more. The flight show was on hiatus during summer.  

Other features of the Wildlife Education Center include a Discovery Trail which includes a opossum and skunk; a Habitat Walk includes a live bald eagle in her nest; 10 displays housing several live birds; a wetland preserve with ducks and wading birds, a playground; and “Discovery Logs” where kids can crawl inside and see encased ladybugs, grasshoppers, frogs, beetles and more.

Large groups, including school field trips, moms-tot groups and homeschool groups, can request a weekday raptors show. Call 912.478.0831.

The center also offers several birthday party packages that include the reptile show or bird show. There’s also a Birthday Overnight Camping Adventure.

The center is open 1- 5 PM  Saturdays during the school year. For more info, click here or call 912.478.0831.

Kindermusik has added a new children’s music class to the fall schedule because of a large demand.

The additional class – for ages 18 months to 3.5 years – will be at 11:10 on Mondays at Marshview Senior Living, 7410 Skidaway Road. The class was added because the 10:20 AM class for that age group was full.

There are still spaces left in the Tuesday Wilmington Island class (9:30am) and Saturday’s Southside class (10:20am).

Online registration is available NOW for this new class, that begins next week Sept 21.

Kindermusik offers parent-and-me classes for children ages 0-7. Classes will run for 15 weeks and go through late January.

For more info, click here or call Marina Lindblom
at 912.728.KEYS (5397). Don’t forget to tell them SouthernMamas sent you!

Here come the holidays – and it’s only September.

Get a jump on the holiday spirit with a visit Oct. 13 to Savannah’s Amtrack Station for Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” Train Tour. The FREE interactive Train Tour will make a stop from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Savannah’s Amtrack Station, 2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive. Again, it’s FREE.

The train tour, crisscrossing the country with its own colorfully painted diesel engine and cars, features a clip from the 3-D “A Christmas Carol” to be released Nov. 6, as well as Charles Dickens memorabilia and displays.

The train tour is part of the marketing for “A Christmas Carol,” an animated 3-D movie Jim Carrey. Among the features of the tour is an inflatable 100-seat movie theater that will be erected near the tracks. Audiences don 3-D glasses to watch scenes from the movie.

For more information, click here.

Thank you, SouthernMamas reader Emily Khalil for the tip about this fun FREE event!

The feature film “The Conspirator,” which will be directed by Robert Redford, is seeking those interested in working as extras for filming in the Savannah area. Filming is set to begin in mid-October and will continue into December.

Casting call will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM Sat., Sept. 19, in the Center Court at the Oglethorpe Mall on Abercorn Street.

The production company is looking for a large number of adult males, of all types between the ages of 18 and 80, to be included as extras. There is a special need for young adult males with slight builds, as well as men with facial hair, to portray Civil War-era soldiers. Production will also need adult females.

Those interested must bring a NON-RETURNABLE CURRENT SNAPSHOT of themselves, as no photos will be taken at the casting call. Photos can be a basic snapshot printed at home.

“The Conspirator” is a story that revolves around the trial of Mary Surratt and her alleged involvement in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

For more info, email conspiratorasst@gmail.com

EmmAva Photography will host several pint-size autumn picture sessions.

Pint-size sessions are just a smaller versions of portrait sessions. These pint-sized sessions are 30 minutes for $30. They will be in Forsyth Park on 2:30-5:30 PM Oct. 4 and 9:30 AM-2 PM Oct. 10.

With your session, you will receive 20 pictures in color and in black and white, with a copyright release, along with a free 5×7 print. If you refer someone new, you will also receive a 5×7 print.

EmmAva Photography also is available for newborn, children, family, engagement, bridal shoots and weddings.

For prices, click here or email EmmAvaPhotography@yahoo.com.