To celebrate the start of March, Petite Feet – Savannah’s newest children shoe store and a SouthernMamas sponsor – is giving away your choice of a pair of Tsukihoshi (pronounced Skee Ho She) children’s or babies shoe that is stock at Petite Feet.

That’s right, you get to pick out the free Tsukihoshi shoe for your child while visiting Petite Feet, Savannah’s newest shoe store for children. Petite Feet’s location at  5521 Abercorn next to Fresh Market and across from Publix has easy  in-and-out parking.

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

 Shopping at Petite Feet  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. 

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.

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

Your March is already filling up with activities, and the month hasn’t even started yet.

Don’t forget to make plans to attend the children’s concerts at the Savannah Music Festival.

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.

Mud Runs – military-style obstacle course races in mud – have become popular with adults.

Now kids are joining in. The “MS Mud Run Jacksonville” at at Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville will also include a Mud Fun Run for Kids. The children’s event will at 2 PM March 20.

Boys and girls ages 7-12 will run a three-quarter of a mile course featuring three to five obstacles, including the large Slip ‘n’ Slide. Registration fee: $30 per child and a signed notarized waiver by a parent/guardian will be required.

Teens 13-18 may run the full-course 10K course if accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times; they will also be required to submit a signed, notarized waiver by a parent or guardian. The full course consists most of the obstacles surrounded by (or consisting entirely of) mud. Individuals, teams of two and teams of five will compete for prizes and the satisfaction of a doing a dirty job very well. It will be 9 AM – 3 PM Sat. March 20.

For more info, click here, where you may also register for the event. Registration closes at midnight on March 18. One hundred percent of fundraising contributions are donated to the North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Sister Mary Alvin Seubott of Saint Mary's Home with two of her resident boys Royce, left, and Quevon, and their pet dog Millie. (John Carrington/Savannah Morning News)

You can help keep seven children in their home.

St. Mary’s Home, a legacy in Savannah for the nurturing and development of children for 135 years, will be closing their doors. For the seven children who currently live at St. Mary’s on Victory Drive this means a change to their whole lives.

They will now have to move from their home, their care-givers, and the other children that have become their family and friends. It’s likely that they will have to change schools and their lives all together.

Over time, St. Mary’s, which was opened in 1877 by three Sisters of Mercy to help children who were abandoned or orphaned, has cared for children from many different circumstances- orphans, one-parent homes, abandoned children and dysfunctional homes.

Because of changes in federal and state laws, there have been a reduced number of placements of children in the home and with that a reduced amount of funding. These laws are affecting child care agencies that place children in-need into a new environment, focusing on foster homes and single family homes instead of group homes. While this does mean that St. Mary’s will not have any new children placed in their care, it does not mean that the children who currently reside there have to leave.

Of the seven children who live at St. Mary’s it will take approximately seven years for them all to graduate from high school. Seven more years of St. Mary’s Home existing in its current form and these children, who have found their safe haven, can continue on their paths uninterrupted.

Email savestmaryshome@gmail.com to find out how you can help prevent St. Mary’s from closing their doors on June 30.

Thanks to Casey Welsh of Just for Baby & More for providing this info.

Meagan Mangelsdorf wins a $25 gift certificate and two tickets to the preview party for High Cotton Kids , Savannah’s newest seasonal children’s consignment show specializing in gently-used boutique and trunk show brand spring and summer clothes.

The two-day High Cotton Kids sale will be at 6700 Waters Ave., next to Byrd Cookie Company, in the former spot of Carole’s Boutique, March 5 & 6. Congratulations, Meagan!

High Cotton Kids fine children’s clothing consignment sale, March 5-6;  6700 Waters Ave., next to Byrd Cookie Company, in the former spot of Carole’s Boutique.  Contact Paige Cook or Ashley Lewis at info@highcottonkids.com

SouthernMamas reader Amanda Williams wins the child’s Stars & Stripes hat from Konjono, a Brunswick-based mom-owned company that designs and manufactures children’s hats. Congratulations and thanks for entering, Amanda!

Of the top 10 things that make parents anxious, the search for reliable childcare is No. 1.

Your model babysitter or nanny is a mix of Jo Frost and Mary Poppins, with a dash of Julie Andrews’ Maria von Trapp for levity.

For a blend of all of the above, check out Babysitters & Nannies, serving Savannah, Tybee Is., Wilmington Island, Bluffton, Hilton Head Is., Beaufort, Charleston and surroundng areas.

 Babysitters & Nannies pairs families with child care providers for babysitting, part-time nanny or live-in nanny jobs. Babysitters & Nannies has an arsenal of vetted candidates who are CPR certified and have undergone DMV checks and extensive criminal records checks.

After you pay a membership fee that comes out to less than $1 a day, you can request a babysitter 24 hours-a-day via phone, email or by filling out a Babysitter Request Form through the Babysitters & Nannies website.

Babysitters & Nannies offer a variety of enticing discounts – of which the best is 10 percent off to SouthernMamas readers! Make sure you mention SouthernMamas sent you.

Babysitters & Nannies Give Back Program allows you the option of donating 10 percent of your membership fee back to a participating school or charity of your choice.

Even Mary Poppins can’t beat that.

Babysitters & Nannies, Owner/Operator Jenna Lucas, Phone: 843-384-4317; Fax: 843-757-8294; email info@babysittersandnannies.com  or jenna@babysittersandnannies.com ; www.babysittersandnannies.com, 6 Victory Point Circle, Bluffton, SC 29910

Stacy and Michelle run Spoiled Rotten Pet Care Services in Savannah

Happy as a dog’s tail. That’s how your Fido and Fifi are supposed to be.

But with your busy schedule, do you feel like your pets aren’t getting that tail-wagging attention you would like to give them?

Meet pet sitter extraordinaire Michelle Stevens, mom of four dogs of her own.

Michelle often felt that her dogs never received enough attention or exercise due to her late working hours. So, after 14 years as a professional chef, Michelle and her sister, Stacy, decided to turn their enthusiasm for animals into a business: Spoiled Rotten Pet Care Services.

Spoiled Rotten Pet Care offers a variety of services for pet owners, ranging from 30-40 minute walks to overnight stays at Michelle’s home or yours.

For cats, Spoiled Rotten offers a “look-in” service to make sure your favorite feline is fed and watered. They also provide, on a limited basis, a doggie day care, usually from 9-5.

Michelle and Stacy are both pet CPR certified, have excellent references and are competitively priced. These two dog lovers even bake their own peanut butter dog treats which can be purchased directly from them or at Polk’s Fresh Market.

Now that’s certain to give your pets something to wag about.

Spoiled Rotten Pet Care Services. Email m.stevenspetcare@yahoo.com or call 912.257.6644

Spring Break is closer than you think. How fun does a week-long camp at the museum sound?

After exploring the Telfair’s permanent collection, special exhibitions, and ArtZeum, participants will complete related art projects in the education studios.

Throughout the week, campers will work with accomplished, local artists who will help them process and apply their ideas and responses to the artwork in the galleries. The course will touch upon a variety of media including collage, painting, and 3-D sculpture.
March 29-April 2
10am-4 pm
Session A: Ages 6-8
Session B: Ages 9-11
$150/member, $175/non-member
Limited Space!

790-8823 or email kistt@telfair.org to register

The Telfair will also offer SPRING STUDIO ART CLASS for ages 10-14.

The class, Portfolio Builder: Youth Drawing III, is designed to help upper-elementary and middle school students improve their drawing skills. New students welcome!
Thursdays / 4:30-6 pm
April 8-May 13
$100/member, $125/non-member
5 students minimum / 12 maximum

Chances are you’re going to like Eliza Welch, a former fiction writer-turned-mom-blogger played by Uma Thurman in MOTHERHOOD.

The comedy, co-starring Anthony Edwards and Minnie Driver, comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray today (Feb. 23) We’re giving away TWO of the DVDs this week. But you have to read this post to the end to find out how to win.

Thurman’s Eliza, an urban, stay-at-home mother of two, makes me want to emulate her, at least a little. I appreciate her lists, her humor and especially her honesty about the paradox of motherhood – that desire to savor every minute of our kids’ fleeting youth while also longing to carve out time for our other ambitions. In Eliza’s case, she wants to be a hands-on mom but she also wants to return to her pre-mom passion: writing.

This film, that premiered at Sundance Film Festival premiere last year,  is perfect to watch after a long week of toddler tantrums and household budget fiascos. You’ll enjoy Eliza’s take on what it really means to be a mother. With the exception of the prince-to-the-rescue ending, MOTHERHOOD is worth watching.  And even more worth winning. 

To win a copy this week, comment below. Just tell us how many kids you have. That alone deserves winning something, right? We’ll pick a name at random and announce the winner Fri. Feb. 26.

This week’s giveaway: boutique bargains at High Cotton Kids . Win a $25 gift certificate and two tickets to the preview party for High Cotton Kids , Savannah’s newest seasonal children’s consignment show specializing in gently-used boutique and trunk show brand spring and summer clothes.

The two-day High Cotton Kids sale will be at 6700 Waters Ave., next to Byrd Cookie Company, in the former spot of Carole’s Boutique, March 5 & 6.

The sale features upscale brands of childrens’ clothing as well as shoes, accessories, bedding, art work, baby necessities, toys, maternity clothing and more. New merchandise will be available from local vendors.

Here are the rules on how to win the $25 gift certificate and two tickets to the sale preview party 5-7 PM Thurs., March 4.

High Cotton Kids fine children’s clothing consignment sale, March 5-6;  6700 Waters Ave., next to Byrd Cookie Company, in the former spot of Carole’s Boutique.  Contact Paige Cook or Ashley Lewis at info@highcottonkids.com

Win this hat this week!

Here’s fun, spirited giveaway to honor the Winter Olympics.

This week, a SouthernMamas reader will win this child’s Stars & Stripes hat from Konjono, a Brunswick-based mom-owned company that designs and manufactures children’s hats.

See more of the adorable Konjono hats here.

The $26.50 Stars and Stripes hat features striking ribbons in stars and stripes joined with more red, white and blue ribbons on cozy navy fleece.

Win by commenting on this post. Tell us which Olympic sport you’d love to see your child compete in someday. We’ll pick a winner at the end of this week and announce it here.

Now get back to cheering for the USA.

You can learn how to share the benefits of yoga with children in a two-day Savannah Yoga Center workshop.

The Childrens Yoga Teacher Training Certification Workshop, taught by Joanne Spence, is open to all yoga practitioners who desire to share the benefits of yoga with kids -yoga teachers, parents, classroom/PE teachers, counselors and para-professionals.

The workshop is Sat. March 27, 10 AM-5 PM and Sun. March 28, 10 AM-5 PM. Cost: $185 if registered before Feb. 22 and $210 after Feb. 22.

You do not have to be a yoga teacher or even have the desire to be one to participate in this workshop. The Yoga Playgrounds Workshop is about discovering how to live your yoga in your professional and parental life. For more info on Yoga PlayGrounds, click here.

To pre-register, click here or call (912) 232-2994 or email kelley@savannahyoga.com.

Savannah financial advisor Marsha Woelber

Savannah financial advisor Marsha Woelber knows money. Which is why we love her frequent guest posts on SouthernMamas about  becoming financially savvy. To read her previous posts, click here.

Marsha Woelber will respond to your financial questions. Email/call with your questions: Marsha Woelber; marsha@iissav.com, 912-650-2852. Here’s a recent question she received from a SouthernMamas reader: How do college savings accounts impact financial aid eligibility?

Below Marsha Woelber’s response:

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, work-study, and loans. The Department of Education conducts an analysis based on financial information, such as income, assets and other household information.

It is important to know the implications of your children’s savings accounts on any financial aid they may need in the future.

Need-based financial aid depends on whether an asset is owned by the student or the parent. College savings plans such as a 529 plan are reported on the FAFSA as an asset of the account owner (usually the child is the beneficiary, not the owner). When the parent is the account owner, these plans have a low impact on financial aid eligibility. If the 529 is owned by a third party (ex: a grandparent), it is not reported on the FAFSA at all.

If you’ve saved money for your child using a traditional custodial UGMA or UTMA, you may want to consider rolling the money over into the custodial version of a 529 college savings plan. For financial aid purposes, custodial accounts (UGMA/UTMA) are considered assets of the student. This means that custodial bank and brokerage accounts have a high impact on financial aid eligibility.

*This answer addresses federal, state and college-sponsored financial aid only; private loans or scholarships will have different guidelines.

Marsha Woelber is a Partner at Independent Investment Services, LLC/Securities Offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. She can be reached @ marsha@iissav.com or 912-650-2852.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

You’ve heard that seasonal kids consignment sales have become THE places to shop. Especially in this economy.

You’ve been meaning to check one out. Now you can. High Cotton Kids is Savannah’s newest seasonal children’s consignment show specializing in gently used boutique and trunk show brand spring and summer clothes.

Even better. This sale is going to be VERY centrally located in Savannah.

The two-day High Cotton Kids sale will be at 6700 Waters Ave., next to Byrd Cookie Company, in the former spot of Carole’s Boutique, March 5 & 6.

Expect to find upscale brands such as Kelly Kids, Chez Ami, Hannah Kate, Just Ducky, Daisies and Doodlebugs, Orient Expressed, Hannah Anderson, Lilly Pulitzer. The sale will also include shoes, accessories, bedding, art work, baby necessities, toys, maternity clothing and more. New merchandise will be available from local vendors. Click here to learn more about the vendors.

To find out more about the show or how to become a consignor, click here. You don’t have to be a consignor or volunteer to attend the preview party. Send an email to at least 10 of your friends and copy High Cotton Kids on it at info@highcottonkids.com. Tell them about the show, when and where it is and you’ll receive two preview party tickets to shop early!

High Cotton Kids fine children’s clothing consignment sale, March 5-6;  6700 Waters Ave., next to Byrd Cookie Company, in the former spot of Carole’s Boutique.  Contact Paige Cook or Ashley Lewis at info@highcottonkids.com

SouthernMamas loves Tickle Bellies’ fun and whimsical stationery, birth announcements, stickers, notepads, labels, luggage tags, invitations and bookmarks.

You will too. From now until March 1, you have a chance to win a Tickle Bellies personalized bookmark of your choice  and a variety pack of personalized labels of your choice. (See the adorable examples pictured above)

To enter to win, sign up as a Tickle Bellies Facebook fan by clicking here and write a Facebook wall post telling Tickle Bellies you read about Tickle Bellies on SouthernMamas and which bookmark and labels you’d select if you won.

Tickle Bellies will pick a random entry and we’ll announce the winner March 2.

WaterBabies classes for infants ages 6 weeks to 3 years will be offered in March at the Candler Wellness Center Pool , 5353 Reynolds St. , Savannah.

The session runs for six classes and costs $30 for the course. The course teaches infants to become accustomed to being in and surrounded by water, practicing floating on their backs, reaching for toys, jumping into the water, going under, and blowing bubbles.

The next WaterBabies session will be 10-10:30 AM, Saturdays beginning March 20. To pre-register, call 912-819-6463. Because this class is brand new, 8 to 10 participants are needed in order to hold the class.

Savannah Danse Theatre will present Peter Pan at the Lucas Theatre, 3 PM April 10.
Tickets are available at 525-5050.

From the extraordinary flying sequences and the belief in fairies, to the evil Captain Hook and his pirates, you’re sure to be entertained from beginning to end.

This ballet is for the youngest of children to the oldest adults. Join Peter, Wendy, Tiger Lily, and the Lost Boys for the sights and sounds of this delightful live performance.

Islands Dance Academy, the official school of the Savannah Danse Theatre, offers a wide range of classes for all ages in its two-studio facility.

The pre-school division gives young students an opportunity practice moving with rhythm, memorizing steps, and introduces them to the French language of ballet. The early grade school division focuses on the joy of movement while building a solid foundation of technique. The high school division gives the dancer the opportunity to fully express themselves through performance while rising to the physical and mental demands that becoming a dancer requires.

Win a $20 gift certificate this week to use at The Wee Ones Seasonal Children’s Consignment Sale in Rincon.

The Wee Ones sale is March 3-6 and includes a SPECIAL pre-shop/pre-sale time for consignors ONLY 4-6 PM Wed. March 3. To find out how to prepare your items for sale and to learn more about becoming a consignor, click here.

Here are the rules on how to win the $20 gift certificate.

At the sale, expect to find speciality boutique items, smocked Easter dresses, a large selection of infant-12mths clothing and select quality maternity clothing as well as a rare find at consignment sales – cute boys items. Visa and Mastercard and Visa debit cards accepted.

Sale dates:
11 AM-6 PM March 4-5
8 AM-noon March 6 when select items will be 1/2 off

Wee Ones Resale, 135 Goshen Road, next to Verizon and Baibry’s (next to Studio 21), Rincon
912-826-7019, email weeonessale@hotmail.com

Enjoy a short stack for a tall cause.

You’re invited to a pancake breakfast benefiting Island MOPS (Mother of Preschoolers).

The Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser is a community all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with sausage, juice and coffee for only $5! Proceeds benefit Islands MOPS. The breakfast will be 8:30-10:30 AM Sat., Feb. 27 @ Applebee’s on Whitemarsh Island
4705 US Hwy 80 E.

For more information, contact Laura at 898-0869 or Connie at 898-4344

Kara Williams!

Parents fed up with their kids’ schools for pushing sugary snacks and junk food are banding together to fight for healthier school menus through groups like Better School Food and Edible Schoolyard.

But the problem isn’t just with notoriously unhealthy lunch menus in elementary schools and older, but also in preschools that dole out cookies and lollipops to appease the tots.

Which is why I want to do a shout-out in praise of my 3-year-old’s preschool, Discover Montessori on Whitemarsh Island, known as the best kept secret when it comes to quality Savannah preschools.

Director Margie Carfrey goes above and beyond in encouraging healthy eating in various ways such as:  limiting sugary snacks; planting a garden with the kids; and even occasionally offering organic snacks such as local organic eggs and veggies. For the Valentine’s Day tea party, she gently suggested that parents who want to bring something opt for snacks other than frosting-laden treats and candy.

But the school does this all without going overboard or being overly strict. For example, parents can bring in special treats for a child’s birthday etc. And there’s certainly no shortage of fun school parties and celebrations. Holiday festivities include hay rides, costumes, games, performances and a last day of school circus show – all without a tidal wave of sugar.

Now, if only we can find an elementary school that values nutrition and healthy eating  as much as Discover Montessori does.

Any parents out there frustrated by your child’s unhealthy school menus – preschool, elementary or higher – or these questionable partnerships between schools and fast-food restaurants (Little Caesars Pizza Days, Chik-Fil-A fundraisers)? If so, please email anne@southernmamas.com to comment for a potential newspaper article on this topic.