Offer your child (and family) a musical experience that is both fun and rewarding!

Whether joining your child in a parent-and-me Family Music class, or listening to them play what they learned in keyboard class each week, there is much music to be made!

Make A Joyful Noise offers engaging music and movement experiences for babies and parents up to 5 years of age. Also offered: group classes for just the kids from ages 5 – 9, including keyboard classes where over 20 folks songs are learned by ear, and kids sing, move, play instruments, and develop music literacy skills each week.

For 8-14 year olds, the Sounds of Praise Children’s Choir provides vocal training and performance opportunities in the community. Choir rehearsals begin Sept. 2.

Early childhood & keyboard classes begin the week of Sept. 20. Register by Sept. 8 and take $10 off any class! Class, tuition and payment details can be found by clicking here or call 912-920-6542 for more information!

You’ve heard that seasonal consignment sales are a great way to find inexpensive, high-quality kids’ clothing.

Now you can find boutique brands at low prices at Upscale Kids Clothes Sale in Bluffton.

The Upscale Kids Clothes Sale, held twice a year, offers a new way to buy quality children’s and maternity supplies without paying those high retail prices. Merchandise consists of gently-used children’s clothes, shoes, toys, nursery items, infant furniture and maternity clothes.

Dates of the Fall 2010 SALE are:
Fri. Sept. 10
2 PM – 8:30 PM

Sat. Sept. 11
8 AM – 12 PM

For info how to cash in by selling your children’s gently-used items, click here.

The sale will be in Shell Hall, at the northeast corner of Buckwalter and Bluffton Parkways
in Bluffton, S.C. If you have any questions or for exact location of the sale, please contact Fran at: fran@upscalekidsclothessale.com or call 843.227.8208.

Looking for a way to introduce your preschooler to Savannah’s downtown historic architecture?

Check out  “Savannah Safari,”  a $6 booklet that takes kids on a quick and easy walking adventure through Historic Savannah. Today, I took my 20-month-old daughter and 3-year-old son on the tour. Although my daughter may be a little young to “get it”, my 3-year-old son really enjoyed the search for architectural animals in gardens and squares (horse hitching posts, lion statues, frog fountain, dolphin downspouts, gargoyles)  

You can order a copy on the Savannah Safari Web site. The illustrated booklet complete with a map is also available at  Girl Scout First Headquarters, 330 Drayton Street, or the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (10 E. Oglethorpe Ave).

For more info on another kid-friendly self-guided downtown Savannah walking tour/scavenger hunt, click here

Nourish, a yummy natural bath products store at 202 W. Broughton St., has products that are good for your and your children’s skin, inside and out.

Products are homemade and handcrafted in Downtown Savannah using the best ingredients that mother nature has to offer. No parabens, no harsh detergents. Only nourishing natural ingredients to treat your and your children’s skin. As a side note, Nourish owners Corey and Shoshanna Walker will be featured on HGTV’s House Hunters! at noon Sept 19 and at 7:30 PM Oct. 30. Congrats Corey and Shoshanna. Click here for their HGTV story.

Nourish, 202 W. Broughton St., Savannah, Ga 31401 912/232.3213, email: contact@nourishsavannah.com, www.nourishsavannah.com

Toddler Tuesdays are back at Oatland Island Wildlife Center after a summer hiatus!

This season, there will be TWO Toddler Tuesdays timeslots each week, as opposed to one. Same topic and activities for each one. One program will be at 10 AM and the second at 11 AM.

Michele Mazzei, the beloved leader of the popular weekly programs, said the goal of having two sessions is to keep the classes small and intimate.

Preregistration via phone at 912.395.1500 $3 program fee per child and adults free!

The theme of Tues. Sept. 7 is Welcome Back Toddlers! and will feature a visit from Daisy, Oatland’s resident opossum.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center is located just outside Savannah. Click here for info.

Group art fall lessons in Savannah for the pre-K set!

Savannah artist Carrie Christian is now hosting Saturday Pre-K art classes.
10:30-11:30AM
10 classes offered
$10 a class (includes all supplies)
Sign up now!

Lessons are designed to help create a foundation on which your child’s artistic education will grow and blossom. Students will learn basic concepts such as color, composition, and perspective, while creating drawings, paintings, sculptures, and mixed media projects.

Students will work with a variety of materials, including colored pencils, oil pastels, acrylic, watercolor, and collage.

Dates:
Sept. 11-Nov. 6. Please call or email with any questions!

Carrie’s studio – pictured here flooded with natural light and some extremely busy preschoolers – is located at 212 E. 37th St., directly behind Bella Mia (bridal shop) at the corner of 37th and Abercorn Streets.
Phone: 912-323-0123
Email: carrieachristian@hotmail.com

Artist Carrie Christian

Carrie Christian received her MFA in Painting and her BFA in Illustration from Savannah Collage of Art and Design. Her works have been exhibited nationally and internationally.

She was included in the 2007 & 2009 Southern Editions of New American Paintings publication. Her work has been exhibited both in the Mobile Museum of Art and the Ogden Museum in New Orleans and included among many private collections.

The Islands MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group meetings will start again soon.

All mothers of children ages 0 – Kindergarten are invited and welcome to join us at Islands MOPS! At Islands MOPS you will enjoy a time of encouragement, friendship, great food, and fun while your children are cared for in our MOPPETS program.

Islands MOPS meets at First Baptist Church of the Islands, 6613 Johnny Mercer Blvd, Savannah, GA 31410. Contact Connie at 349-2959/connie_rt@hotmail.com or Christine at 898-1364/lipianc@att.net for more information.

Islands MOPS meetings are from 9:15-11:30 AM on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday from Sept-May. Meetings dates for this year will be:
Sep. 8 & 22
Oct. 13 & 27
Nov. 10
Dec. 8
Jan. 12 & 26
Feb. 9 & 23
Mar. 16 & 30
Apr. 13
May 11

For more info on local moms groups, click here.

Lots of Lowcountry fall workshops for children offered at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Is., S.C.

Here are the highlights. For details, click here.

• After-school art club for ages 6-10. Oct. 18-Nov. 22. Culminates with an exhibit at the Arts Center.
• Fall home-school art for ages 5-12.
• Fall home-school art for ages 13-17. Sept. 21-Oct. 19.
• Beginner acrylics for ages 11-15. Oct. 7-28.
• Puppet sculpting for ages 9-14. Nov. 11-Dec. 9.
• Nutty Nature Drawing: Using natural objects, kids ages 8-12 create original work of art using chalk pastels and colored pencils.
• Artstart classes designed to help children ages 2-5 (accompanied by an adult) develop fine motor skills and encourage creativity while creating one-of-a-kind artworks.
• Suzuki Violin Classes  for ages 3-5. Sept. 14-Oct. 26.
• Juggle Stuff for children ages 8-12 to learn basic and advanced three-ball juggling patterns and tricks, as well as the foundations for four and five-ball juggling.

Pre-registration is required for all classes and must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Instructor bios can be found by clicking here. To register, contact the Education Office at 843.686.3945 Ext. 233 or email jrichey@artshhi.com. Or download a registration form from the Website here.

The Museum Mile Weekend in Charleston looks interesting and includes The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.

The 2nd Annual Museum Mile Weekend is Sept. 25-26, 2010. Here’s the deal: you buy a Museum Mile weekend pass ($20 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under). Put on your walking shoes and hit the streets. Your pass allows you to visit 13 sites in the Meeting Street area in historic downtown Charleston during this special weekend.

The one-mile section of Meeting Street includes six museums, five historic houses, four scenic parks and a Revolutionary War powder magazine, as well as numerous historic houses of worship and public buildings including the Market and City Hall. For more information call 843-722-2996. Fore more info or to buy tickets, click here. Tickets also available at all Charleston Visitor Center locations including the downtown location at 375 Meeting St. Online purchasers will receive their passes in the mail.

Participating Sites include The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, located at 25 Ann St., which offers eight hands-on interactive learning environments for children 3 months to 10 years.

Other kid-friendly highlights of The Museum Mile weekend include:
Aiken-Rhett House – 48 Elizabeth St.
Built in 1820 and greatly expanded by Gov. and Mrs. William Aiken, Jr. in the 1830s, this house and its outbuildings have survived as a time capsule virtually unaltered since 1858. Children are invited to enjoy a scavenger hunt throughout the weekend as they explore the house, grounds and outbuildings and learn more about the people who lived and worked on the property.

The Charleston Museum – 360 Meeting S.
America’s first museum showcases the cultural and natural history of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. On Saturday, The Charleston Museum will feature children’s crafts from 10 AM-noon.

Powder Magazine – 79 Cumberland St.
South Carolina’s oldest public building, The Powder Magazine (circa 1713) served as an arsenal within the old walled city of Charleston. Living history programs will be offered all weekend. A special performance of the original production The Gentleman Pirate will be offered on Saturday at 3:30pm. Call ahead for ticket information (843-722-9350) or visit www.PowderMag.org

Now that we all have those school schedules, time to think about planning those upcoming school breaks!  Edgewood Travel in Savannah can help.

Lot of great travel deals out there:
All inclusive Sale including the Occidental and Now resorts where Kids stay free!
Cruises: Have you heard about Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas? Call Edgewood Travel to get rates on the Worlds Largest Cruise ship!
Europe: the exchange rate is great right now! How about a tour of London or Ireland? Great first Europe destination for families!

Edgewood Travel is here to assist you plan your perfect vacation!

Edgewood is open Monday through Friday 9 AM-5:30 PM. Visit is www.edgewoodtravel.com or call 912 -351-0570. Please take a look at Edgewood’s website and send an email or pick up the phone, they’d love to hear from you!

Live Oak Public Libraries storytimes are a wonderful FREE way to expose your child to storybooks read aloud by a librarian as well as songs and fingerplays. Plus, attending storytimes regularly helps your child to become accustomed to visiting the library. Here’s the breakdown of regular storytimes at Live Oak Public Libraries. For branch locations, click here.

Bull Street Library, 652-3630
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3 and 4
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 0 to 2

Forest City Library, 238-0614
Tuesdays at 11 a.m. for ages 3 to 4

Hinesville Library, 368-4003
Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3 and up
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 0 to 2

Islands Library, 897-6233
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 0 to 5

Oglethorpe Mall Library, 925-5432
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 0 to 4

Pooler Library, 748-0471
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3 to 4

Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 1 to 2

Port City Library, 964-8013
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3 to 4

Rincon Library, 826-2222
Wednesdays at 10:15 for ages 1 to 2 years
Wednesdays at 11 a.m. for ages 2 to 4 years

Southwest Chatham Library, 925-8305
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 0 to 2.
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 0 to 4
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3 to 5

Springfield Library, 754-3003
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 2 to 4 years

Thunderbolt Library, 354-5864
Tuesdays at 11 a.m. for ages 0 to 5

Tybee Library, 786-7733
Tuesdays at 11 a.m. for ages 0 to 5

JC Davis Hair at Park West Salon in downtown Savannah across from Forsyth Park is offering SouthernMamas readers a great deal: $15 off any Hair Cut and Color Service Combination.

JC Davis has been a hair stylist for 9 years and is American Board Certified Hair Colorist. She has training from Vidal Sassoon, Paul Mitchell and Bumble & Bumble. She was with Greener Grass Hair Color and Design for the past 6 ½ years and is pleased to announce her return back to the downtown area at Park West Salon.

JC Davis is offering $15 off any Hair Cut and Color Service Combination to Southernmamas.com readers.  Just mention you read about JC Davis on SouthernMamas to receive your discount at the time of service. Offer good until Oct. 2, 2010.

JC Davis Hair at Park West Salon is located at 106 West Gwinnett St Suite 1A, 912-349-4856, www.parkwestsalonsavannah.com
or email ccarol_s@yahoo.com

Sad that your children are starting “real” school and are longer  preschoolers?

MOMSnext (Mothers of School-Aged Children) is currently registering new moms and will meet the 1st Monday of each month, 10am-11:30 at the Islands YMCA starting Oct. 4, 2010.

MOMSNext is a group for mothers with children in grades K-12. The group focuses topics that are relevant to mothering a child entering elementary school all the way through high school, as well connecting women in our community who are in the same season of life.(Childcare available upon request.)

For more info, call (912) 441-5036 or (912) 210-0491 or email gbcon2@comcast.net

For more local Moms Groups, click here.

You love the classic look of Kelly’s Kids girls and boys’ clothing.

Now you can buy Kelly’s Kids without the hassle and guess-factor of ordering online. You’re invited to a Kelly’s Kids Trunk Show in the Savannah-area hosted by local Kelly’s Kids sales rep Jennifer Brown. Kelly’s Kids specializes in quality, custom matching children’s clothing.

The Kelly’s Kids trunk show will be 6:30-8:30pm on Thurs. Sept. 2, 2010 in The Preserve at Godley Station Clubhouse at 1265 Benton Blvd, Pooler.

At the show, you will find clothing sizes from newborn to adult, monogramming, matching hairbows, adorable boy stuff, too! And introducing children’s bedding! Children’s shoes and accessories will be for sale as well.

Ask Jennifer Brown how to host your own show for lots of FREE CLOTHES! Contact Jennifer Brown at 678-378-2969, or e-mail jennbrown1104@gmail.com

Kelly’s Kids is a children’s clothing direct sales company that set a precedence for selling children’s clothes in home parties throughout the United States through its Sales Rep program. Now, with over 1,000 reps nationwide, Kelly’s Kids is one of the largest children’s clothes home party companies, providing quality custom children’s clothes for boys and girls, sizes 6m-16.

Attention teachers and home-schooling parents: archaeology workshops are available to come to elementary schools or homeschool groups to teach Georgia Performance Standards in a variety of subjects, using archaeology as the hook.

ArchaeoFest is an educational program sponsored by the Coastal Heritage Society in Savannah that uses hands on-activities and the excitement of archaeology to teach a range of Georgia Performance Standards in 4th and 5th grade Language Arts, Science, Math, and Social Studies.

Participants practice critical thinking, observations and inferences, identification, classification, matching, measuring, logic, and inductive & deductive reasoning.

Choose (Each program accommodates 25-30 students):
•2 hour program, given three times in a day at same location ($500 Flat Rate for all three programs) [averages $5.50-$6.70 per student depending on number of students]
•3 hour program, given twice in a day at same location ($450 flat rate for both programs) [averages $7.50-$9.00 depending on number of students]

Programs available for Chatham County area Sept. 13-Oct. 8, 2010.

Reservations required and can be made beginning Aug. 12. For more info, contact: Rita Elliott, relliott@chsgeorgia.org; 912.651.6850.

Brought to you by Coastal Heritage Society, Savannah. www.chsgeorgia.org

The winner of the The Coastal Kids Market $30 gift certificate giveaway is triplet grandmother Mary N.

We loved reading everyone’s comments about your favorite finds at seasonal upscale children’s consignment sale in Pooler or what you’re hoping to find there this month.  Winner Mary N wrote she “hoping to find Strasburg, Kelly’s Kids, or Bailey Boys girl’s or boys outfits for my triplet grandbabies.”  Happy shopping Mary and all SouthernMamas readers!

Coastal Kids Market Fall 2010 Sale dates
Thurs. Aug. 26 6 pm – 8 pm
Fri. Aug. 27 9 am – 5 pm
Sat. Aug. 28 9 am – 12 pm
**Select items will be half price on Saturday

The Coastal Kids Market’s seasonal sale is at The Shops at Godley Station, Pooler Parkway Suite 202. Coastal Kids Market is teaming up with The Next Generation, a volunteer organization that Benefits the Backus Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center. Coastal Kids Market will donate a portion of proceeds to their organization and will also have the sale as a drop location for a character band-aid drive. To find out how you can be allowed into the Coastal Kids Market sale before the public by helping The Next Generation, click here.

1st Annual BBQ, Brews and Bluegrass Fundraiser for Memorial’s Children’s Hospital at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum
Organized by The Next Generation
3-7 PM Sun. Oct. 3
Music by Steward & Winfield and fantastic food for the whole family. Children’s activities include train rides, face painting, bouncy houses, pumpkin patch, arts and crafts and more! A large pumpkin patch will offer pumpkins and mums, with local photographer Lyn Bonham on hand for photos. Tickets: $20 per person for adults and children over 13; KIDS 12 and UNDER ARE FREE! Tickets available at www.nextgenerationsavannah.com or can be purchased at the door.

The Junior League of Savannah Thrift Sale at the Savannah Civic Center
Oct. 1 and 2
Admission:$5 on Friday and $3 on Saturday. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Savannah Civic Center’s box office or at www.jrleaguesavannah.org. Children under 2 are admitted free. No strollers or carts are permitted. Items sold on Saturday are half-price. All sales are cash only. Parking is free.
Thrift Sale merchandise, which is donated by League members and supporters, includes appliances, electronics, children’s clothing and toys, home and holiday decor, books, accessories, house wares, linens, furniture and more. New-in-the-box merchandise and high quality items such as crystal, china, jewelry, and designer goods will be sold in the JL Boutique.

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE TRAIN RIDES in Cordele in SOUTHWEST GEORGIA
Oct. 23, 24 and 30, 31 2010
Day Out With Thomas Celebration Tour 2010 visits SAM Shortline Excursion Train depot at Georgia Veterans State Park, 2459 U.S. Hwy. 280 West, Cordele (Nine miles west of I-75 via Exit 101)
Children of all ages can take a 25-minute real train ride, meet and take photos with characters such as Sir Topham Hatt, play with Mega Blocks, join in on storytelling and crafts, live music, food vendors.
9:30 AM – 3:30 PM., rain or shine.
TICKETS:
Call 866-468-7630 or www.SamShortline.com
Ticket prices are $18. Buy before September 20 and save $2 per ticket. Non-refundable.
INFO:
For more information and directions, contact southwest Georgia’s excursion train at www.SamShortline.com or 1-877-GA-RAILS.

Santa Train 2010 @ the Roundhouse Railroad Museum
Sat. Dec. 4:

Safe Kids Savannah, a local coalition of organizations and concerned individuals with the common goal of preventing accidental childhood injuries and deaths, holds child car seat safety inspections every Wednesday from 9 AM-4:30 PM by appointment only. Call 912-356-2160 to schedule and appointment. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available to help examine child safety seats for recalls and to insure correct installation.

Safe Kids Savannah FREE Car Seat Classes are on the last Tuesday of every month from 7-9 PM at The Midwife Group and Birth Center at 1692 Chatham Parkway in Savannah. Classes are taught by Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians and topics include choosing the right car seat, installing a car seat properly, and using a car seat properly. Call 912-629-6262 to register.

Get involved: Safe Kids Savannah holds meetings the second Tuesday of every month from 11:30 AM to 1 PM. Anyone interested in attending should visit www.safekidssavannah.org or call 912-353-3148 for more information and meeting locations.

The full line of the wildly popular Belly Bandit for new mothers is available at the Telfair Mommy and Me Boutique for less than most Internet prices. And you don’t have to pay shipping costs.

The Mommy and Me Boutique inside Candler Hospital offers the Bamboo ($66), Couture($55) and Original ($45) Belly Bandit abdominal compression binders.

The Belly Bandit helps new mothers reduce uncomfortable uterine swelling, aids in decreasing bloating and gives additional back support.

The Belly Bandit Collection also includes the Mother Tucker, and the Bosom Bandit. The Mother Tucker is a compression tank that is made to get rid of “muffin top” and is specifically designed so that it does not roll up when wearing. The Bosom Bandit is a breast wrap that is used to support painful, engorged breasts and can be used to decrease or even stop milk supply.

The Mommy and Me Boutique at Candler is a unique store specializing in personal service to moms-to-be or new moms. Staff includes board-certified lactation consultants that can assist you with your breastfeeding purchases.

The Mommy and Me Boutique at Candler Hospital, Suite 301, (912) 819-8231 , Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday

Homeschool extracurricular activities/classes

Homeschool gymnastics and tumbling classes at Summit Gymnastics. Summit can tailor classes to fit your schedule. Summit Gymnastics, 74 W. Montgomery Crossroads Savannah, (912) 921-1034, email: summitgymnastics@yahoo.com, www.summitgymnasticssav.com

Homeschool music at Crossroad Music. Musical instruction on three levels (beginner, intermediate & advanced). Opportunities for students to perform, as well as leadership opportunities for older students who assist the directors and teachers.
Crossroad Music: music lessons, music studio, music store. www.crossroadmusiconline.com, 106 E. US Hwy 80, Bloomingdale, (conveniently located near Pooler, West Chatham and Southbridge) 912.330.0985, kris@crossroadmusiconline.com

Homeschool associations and support groups

The Classical Conversations group of Savannah helps equip, encourage, and support parents in their homeschooling endeavors. Contact Kristin Bigalke, Director of CC Savannah, at 912-655-8173 or rkadb004-education@yahoo.com.

Savannah Unlimited Homeschooling Network, SUHN, an all-inclusive homeschool group supporting Savannah and surrounding area. Provides educational and social opportunities through co-op classes, clubs, field trips, social get-togethers, weekly park days, etc. Open to anyone who homeschools or unschools and those who would like to learn more about “teaching at home”. www.SavannahUnlimitedHomeschoolNetwork.com

Family Education for Christ is a Christian homeschool support group serving Savannah and surrounding areas. http://www.fefconline.com/

Effingham Christian Homeschool Organization, (912) 728-3813, E-mail: dero5@juno.com

Fort Stewart Homeschool Group can be contacted through the SLO (School Liaison Officer) by clicking here.

For more homeschool info, click here.

Looking for top-quality gymnastics classes provided in a safe environment? SouthernMamas readers receive 10 percent off your first session at Summit Gymnastics . Fall session classes start Aug. 23.

Summit Gymnastics on Savannah’s Southside offers classes for a variety of ages including preschoolers (ages 18 months to 5 year olds); recreational and tumbling classes for children ages 6 and up; as well as active babies Saturday sessions for children 24 months and younger.  The Fall 2010 session starts this upcoming Mon. Aug. 23 and runs until Oct. 17.  Click here for more info.

 The preschool classes are split into different age groups including a separate group for 18 months to 2 year olds. For class times, age groups and costs, click here.

For parents who work during the week or don’t want to commit to a full fall session, there’s an active babies class, a 90-minute open gym class offered one Saturday per month. Cost: $7 per child or $10 per family. This class is for 24 months and younger, but older siblings are encouraged to participate as well. Come explore and interact with Summit’s fun, safe, padded gymnastics area for tiny tikes!

Recreational and Tumbling classes for ages 6 and older include beginner, intermediate and advanced classes that are each 60 minutes long and focus on tumbling skills, strength and flexibility. The Beginner class works up through the standing back handspring. It is great for correcting bad habits and learning proper technique. The Intermediate class focuses on developing skills further and teaches up through the round-off back handspring. The Advanced class (instructor approved) works standing back and front tucks, etc.  For tumbling class times and costs, click here.

Special Events at Summit Gymnastics

Open Gym: Every Friday from 2-4 PM.
Cost: $7 per person per day

A treat for busy parents: Parent’s Night Out! Drop off the kids at 7 PM and pick up at 11 PM. Kids get adult-supervised gym time: trampoline, snacks, pit time, games. Reservations required. Check at the gym for the next date. Cost: $20 for members; $15 for team members; $25 for non-members

Birthday Parties: Parties consist of 60 minutes of gym time with an instructor and 30 minutes for cake and presents. Cost: $100 for up to 10 kids; $10 for each additional child. Call today to reserve your day and time.

Classes for Home Schoolers:  Summit Gymnastics offers specialized classes specifically for home schoolers and their particular needs. Having a flexible schedule, Summit can tailor classes to fit your needs.

Mention SouthernMamas to receive your 10 percent discount off your first session. Summit also provides a 20 percent military discount.

Summit Gymnastics, 74 W. Montgomery Crossroads Savannah, (912) 921-1034, email: summitgymnastics@yahoo.com, www.summitgymnasticssav.com

You want to remember every last detail of how your kids looked this summer – every dimple, curl and smile – before they grow up and their childhoods are a blur.

Enter LeeAnn Ritch Photography.

LeeAnn has an intimate session style, turning out unfussy photos that shine. Her warm beach portraits alone make you want to step inside them and never leave. And this new mom is currently offering SouthernMamas readers a summer special – $300 for a session and CD. (Regular price is $575) so you can get your hands on every last dimple, curl, and smile.

If you aren’t familiar with this Savannah family portrait photographer (and mother of two including a brand new 2-month old – begging the question “How does she do it all?), check out some of her work here. LeeAnn Ritch specializes in newborn, baby, child, and family photography.

Click here to book a session. Be sure to mention SouthernMamas to take advantage of the summer special.

 LeeAnn Ritch Photography, 912.308.9327 or email leeann@leeannritchphotography.com

Below is a guest post by Dana Livingston is a writer for a culinary arts website where you can browse schools and the latest trends in the culinary arena.

You’ve tried every possible activity to keep your kids and their friends entertained. They are sick of movies and bored with board games. They’ve outgrown dolls and the desire to play dress up. Even riding around on the back of your Great Dane has lost its appeal. And yet, you aren’t quite ready to send them off to the park or the mall on their own to get into who knows what kind of mischief. If you’ve run out of ideas for ways to keep your children occupied when they have play dates, then perhaps a little time in the kitchen should be on your menu. There are plenty of reasons why a cooking play date is just the thing to keep your kids occupied for the afternoon.

1. They’ll learn a new skill. The ability to prepare food and a basic knowledge of nutrition is essential to life. And while kids may be reticent to help around the house when they see it as a chore, turning cooking into a fun activity that they can perform with their friends will make it appear infinitely more inviting. They’re going to have to learn to cook eventually, so why not start them young by making it fun?

2. Making food is multi-functional. We all know that cooking is a way to fulfill our need for nutrition while creating the variety that we crave. However, there’s a lot more to having your kids help you cook. It is not only a way to engage idle hands and minds, it can also serve as an outlet for creativity, a way to save money (make personalized pizzas at home instead of going to a restaurant), and an avenue of success that will improve your child’s confidence in their abilities.

3. You’re there to supervise. Sure, you could let them run around the neighborhood like wild banshees or lock themselves in their bedroom with an Xbox for hours on end, but wouldn’t you rather keep an eye on them? Although allowing them access to the stove and microwave could be dangerous if they were left unattended, getting involved in teaching them new recipes will offer you a built-in excuse for close proximity.

4. It’s a positive way to interact with your kids. All parents want to feel like they are imparting useful knowledge to their children. And kids, whether they admit it or not, are eager to learn anything and everything they can. Get them involved in every step of the process, from choosing recipes to shopping at the market, measuring and mixing ingredients, and getting creative with the plating. Don’t forget to let them do it for themselves, even if they make mistakes, and encourage them try new things and make a dish their own.

5. Everyone needs friends, including you. Cooking is not only a good way for you to interact with your kids and for your kids to interact with their peers. It can also be a great way for you to get in touch with other moms. If you make it a play date for both kids and parents, you may make a new friend and squeeze in a little adult conversation on the side.

Dana Livingston is a writer for a culinary arts website where you can browse schools and the latest trends in the culinary arena.

 The Coastal Kids Market is coming soon.  This week, you can win a $30 gift certificate to the favorite seasonal upscale children’s consignment sale in Pooler, just a short drive from Savannah.

The Fall 2010 Sale dates
Thurs. Aug. 26 6 pm – 8 pm
Fri. Aug. 27 9 am – 5 pm
Sat. Aug. 28 9 am – 12 pm
**Select items will be half price on Saturday

The Coastal Kids Market’s seasonal sales at The Shops at Godley Station, Pooler Parkway Suite 202 are an amazing way to find designer kids’ clothes at bargin prices.

To enter to win the $30 gift certificate, visit the Coastal Kids Market Facebook fanpage  by clicking here, “like” the page and write a comment there, telling us what great gem you’re hoping to find at Coastal Kids this month or tell us about the wonderful deal you’ve found at the sale in the past. Or you can enter to win by commenting below this post on SouthernMamas (just click on comments).

Coastal Kids Market is teaming up with The Next Generation, a volunteer organization that Benefits the Backus Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center. Coastal Kids Market will donate a portion of proceeds to their organization and will also have the sale as a drop location for a character band-aid drive. To find out how you can be allowed into the Coastal Kids Market sale before the public by helping The Next Generation, click here.