We love learning about new mom-run businesses opening in Savannah like J&P General , an Art Exchange supporting emerging artists, crafters and vintage collectors. J&P General offers online retail and a monthly showcase of work at various venues both locally and regionally.

You’re invited to J&P General’s first EXCHANGE on Tuesday, May, 8th. J&P General will be filling the studio with works, wares, and goodies from all of their artists. It is a chance to hear more about what J&P offers as well as meet new people. There will be music, food, drinks and conversation.

Tuesday, May, 8th, 5-8 @ J&P General-Art Exchange 518 E. 41st St. Sav., Ga. 31401. Check out J&P General on Facebook here or www.jpgeneralarts.com.

J&P General is seeking new work from emerging artists, crafters and vintage collectors. J&P General supports you, from Savannah to Park City and all the way down to Tallahassee.

The Southern Mama behind J&P General

Katie Culler is a Southern Mama. Raised in North Carolina, graduated from SCAD, she has remained in Savannah. She is the mother of two fantastic daughters, Wilhelmina and Lucia. J&P General-Art Exchange is a project that has been brewing for years. Katie has always wanted to offer a place where working artists could come to sell and show their work. She wants to be their voice, get their name out there. Being able to offer online retail allows Katie to also work on relationships with venues both locally and regionally. Katie also needed to create a venture that would allow her to raise her children how she saw fit, having them included in the daily doings, they are as much a part of this company and its decisions as Katie is. They ARE J&P. June and Pearl, their middle names.

J&P General-Art Exchange 518 E. 41st St. Sav., Ga. 31401. Check out J&P General on Facebook here or www.jpgeneralarts.com.

We love learning about new mom-run businesses opening in Savannah like J&P General , an Art Exchange supporting emerging artists, crafters and vintage collectors. J&P General offers online retail and a monthly showcase of work at various venues both locally and regionally.

Check out J&P General on Facebook here or www.jpgeneralarts.com.

J&P General is seeking new work from emerging artists, crafters and vintage collectors. J&P General supports you, from Savannah to Park City and all the way down to Tallahassee.

The Southern Mama behind J&P General

Katie Culler is a Southern Mama. Raised in North Carolina, graduated from SCAD, she has remained in Savannah. She is the mother of two fantastic daughters, Wilhelmina and Lucia. J&P General-Art Exchange is a project that has been brewing for years. Katie has always wanted to offer a place where working artists could come to sell and show their work. She wants to be their voice, get their name out there. Being able to offer online retail allows Katie to also work on relationships with venues both locally and regionally. Katie also needed to create a venture that would allow her to raise her children how she saw fit, having them included in the daily doings, they are as much a part of this company and its decisions as Katie is. They ARE J&P. June and Pearl, their middle names.

J&P General-Art Exchange 518 E. 41st St. Sav., Ga. 31401. Check out J&P General on Facebook here or www.jpgeneralarts.com.

Do you have has a summer league swimmer or a child who would like to brush up on their strokes? The national championship SCAD swim team – along with their coach – is teaching a swim clinic starting Monday night (May 7 2012) at the Chatham Aquatic Center, 7240 Sallie Mood Drive Savannah, 31406. The clinic is a community outreach/fundraiser for the team. If you can’t start Monday you can pay by the night and start on Wednesday.

Ganesha’s Place, Savannah’s new therapeutic yoga studio offers the following June workshops:

Dream Circle Workshop
Come and learn to by-pass the chatter around core issues which occur in your dreams.
Understand the language of your dreams.
Discover what recurring dreams mean.
Join Kate Jacobson RYT, LISW-CP
Ganesha’s Place
2323 Barnard St. Savannah
Saturday, June 23, 2012 – 1-3:30pm
$25
Kate@ganeshasplace.com  to register

Flow Into iRest®
A workshop geared to balance body & mind
ONLY at Ganesha’s Place!
Sunday, June 3
10:00-12:30
$20 . .
10-11 AM
Empowerment Yoga: Release tension during this 60 minute practice. Youwill move with your breath, stretch and
strengthen your body while cultivating balance in your mind. This practice will help to release any
tension while enhancing your clarity and focus. Prior yoga experience is not necessary,
Sue Finkle, RYf 200 .
11:15-12:30pm
Integrative Restoration or iRest@
‘This modern adaptation of yoga nidra will flow you into a form of meditative self-inquiry.
iRest is a research based practice that transforms you to develop thought patterns that
will assist you to be able to meet any and all circumstances that you may encounter in
your life. A brief history and overview will be given about the iRest protocol to prepare
you for this rich practice. Prior meditation or yoga experience is not necessary.
Stepbanie Moon ERYT2oo/ Level II iRest Teacher

To register or for more info, call 912-665-4199 or click here. 

Ganesha’s Place, at the corner of Barnard & 40th St. @ 2323 Barnard St., 912-665-4199, http://ganeshasplace.com/ Ganesha’s Place is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Brandy Williams of Savannah, who lost her leg while texting & driving, poses with her team of therapists at Memorial Health University Medical Center.

No text is worth losing a life or limb over.

Just ask Brandy Williams. A year ago this month, Brandy, 21, of Savannah lost her left leg and suffered a stroke after her Chevy Malibu veered off the road and into a tree. She was texting a friend at the time of the wreck.

Brandy is the focus of my Savannah Morning News column this week. She hopes sharing her story will help you see that texting while driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving. Brandy’s story is definitely one worth sharing with any teen drivers you know or drivers who regularly text while at the wheel. Read Brandy’s story here.

Learn more about distracted driving dangers at www.distraction.gov.

 For more information, contact artist Carrie Christian at 912-323-0123 or email ScribbleArtStudio@hotmail.com . Click here for more info. Scribble Art Studio a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

It’s coming soon, Southern Mamas: OUR DAY to celebrate! Put the word in with your husbands or surprise your own mama with beautiful, ever lasting photos for Mother’s Day.

Savannah photographer LeeAnn Ritch is offering a fabulous Mother’s Day special: A photography session, online proofing and high-resolution CD of the best images for $400 plus tax (Regular cost is $575)!

The Savannah family portrait photographer and mother of two specializes in newborn, baby, child, and family photography. LeeAnn is known for shooting warm, candid portraits like these pictured here.

Check out more of her work by clicking here.

Click here to book a session.

Be sure to mention SouthernMamas to take advantage of this Spring deal.

To follow LeeAnn Ritch’s work and stay updated on her specials, be sure to “like” her Facebook page by clicking here.

LeeAnn Ritch Photography, 912.308.9327 or email leeann@leeannritchphotography.com , www.leeannritchphotography.com LeeAnn Ritch Photography is a SouthernMamas.com sponsor

Telfair Museums announces the opening of four new exhibits especially designed for preschool children and families.

You are invited! Telfair Museums opening celebration will take place on Saturday, May 19 beginning at 11 am, with activities in the ArtZeum and museum studios continuing through 2 pm.

Admission is free to families during this event, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Telfair Academy Guild.

The ArtZeum is in the Telfair Museum’s Jepson Center, 207 W York St, Savannah GA 31401 More info here.  Telfair Museums are a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Looking for active summer classes for your little one?

Coach Val’s Tumblegym has just the thing in a safe, air conditioned, bug-free environment! Their experienced staff will keep your little one moving while having a great time.

Coach Val’s Tumblegym  provides fun, imaginative exercise programs for children walking through 10 yr olds. Their curriculum integrates physical skill acquisition with social and cognitive learning concepts. Basic gymnastics and tumbling, ball handling skills, strength, balance, and all around coordination activities part of every class.

Children “Build More Than Muscles” through group games, obstacle courses, music activities and more.

Testimonial:
“Coach Val,
You’re doing a WONDERFUL job with the kids! I did a lot of gymnastics and music classes with my boys when they were little, and your class is by far the best one I’ve seen. You do a great job of engaging the little ones while throwing in plenty of creative learning exercises. Ella absolutely loves the class, and I agree, she’s gained lots of skills in a short time!”
– Misty H. from Savannah

Please “like” Coach Val’s Tumblegym on Facebook here to keep up with latest news and specials.

Gift Certificates available: What great way for grandparents and family members to give child gift that invests in child’s future and development.

Classes available this summer:
Wiggle Worms: 30min classes ages walking – 2yrs
This “Parent and Me class” is designed to incorporate the earliest aspects of physical fitness, enhance fine and gross motor skills, body awareness, and muscle coordination while promoting physical, mental and social development. Music, basic gymnastics movements, and games create a fun and healthy atmosphere for you and your child.

Grasshoppers: 45 min classes ages 2-3yrs
This toddler class is open to children who enjoy having parents close by and are ready to learn to follow instructions from another adult. We ask parent/guardian to assist until their child is ready to participate on their own. This class continues to enhance your child’s fine and gross motor skills, social skills, strength and coordination through the activities and obstacle courses that emphasize eye-hand coordination, climbing, hanging, jumping, running, and rolling in a fun and safe environment.

Bumble Bees : 60 min classes ages 3-4yrs
This class continues to enhance and challenge your child’s physical, social and cognitive development. Basic tumbling and gymnastics skills, ball handling skills and preschool concepts are taught. Group activities, teamwork, and fun theme-based curriculum keep your child engaged and excited to participate.

See website here for schedule and rates. Registration online available by clicking here.  

Additional Programs Available for Summer (see website here for details)
Cartwheel basics: ages 5-8yr olds. Skills, drills, and strengthening to learn how to do a cartwheel! (Several other basic tumbling skills will also be practiced)
Sport Readiness Training: ages 6-10yr olds. This class is a perfect opportunity for your child to increase strength, speed and agility with this age-appropriate circuit training course. Ideal for kids who play (or want to join) football, soccer, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, and baseball.
Inclusion class: Adult, child with special needs (ages 5 – 10), and siblings – Contact for more information.

FREE TRIAL CLASSES available. Unsure your child will participate? Want to see Coach Val in action before you commit to class time? Fill out our free trial form here and try out a class at no cost.

Mention you saw on SouthernMamas.com site, and annual registration fee of $25 will be waived. New customers – register with a friend and both receive additional $10 off class or camp.

Coach Val’s Tumblegym, 310 Johnny Mercer Blvd in the Wilmington Island Shopping Center (with Dollar Tree, Ace Hardware, and Goodwill) Tel: 912-268-6003, www.coachvals.com, On Facebook here. Coach Val’s Tumblegym is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Starting Sat. May 5, the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston will have a special exhibit about Madagascar, the world’s most biodiverse island. Guests can see lemurs, chameleons and colorful fish.

The exhibit, Madagascar Journey, opens for a three-year run on Saturday. It features creatures from Madagascar including ring-tailed lemurs, a Nile crocodile, giant geckos, boa constrictors stingrays and parrots. The island of Madagascar is home to 250,000 species, but today less than 15 percent of the original native forest remains due to burning and cattle grazing.

The aquarium has just completed a 15-year master plan that includes, among other things, moving its sea turtle hospital from behind the scenes to the public galleries.

South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401, (843) 720-1990 Hours
March-August Open Daily 9 AM-5PM (building closes at 6 PM); September-February Open Daily 9 AM-4 PM (building closes at 5 PM) Closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 and half day Dec. 24)

What do Japanese Taiko Drumming, Cortes and the Aztecs, African Cave Drawings, Spoken Word Poetry have in common?

These are just some of the activities youth will be able to participate in at The Salvation Army Summer Arts Program. The Summer Arts program will be held June 11-August 17, M-F 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The sessions will be broken up into two week periods, covering arts performance, history and other knowledge from four different regions of the world (Asia, Africa, Latin America/Carribbean, United States). Campers will have various activities in music, dance, writing, visual arts, and drama.

Breakfast, lunch, and snack will be provided. Experience the world at the low price of $85/wk. A non-refundable registration fee of $45 is due no later than May 25. Please call 352-7584 for more information.

For a listing of summer camps in Savannah & Hilton Head Is., visit the SouthernMamas.com Summer Camps 2012 page here.

Do you have has a summer league swimmer or a child who would like to brush up on their strokes? The national championship SCAD swim team – along with their coach – is teaching a swim clinic starting Monday night (May 7) at the Chatham Aquatic Center, 7240 Sallie Mood Drive Savannah, 31406. The clinic is a community outreach/fundraiser for the team. If you can’t start Monday you can pay by the night and start on Wednesday.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in nearby Columbia, S.C. will, for the first time in Zoo history, exhibit a pair of juvenile Komodo dragons beginning this Friday, May 4.

Komodo dragons—also known as Komodo monitors—are the world’s largest living lizards. Male dragons have been known to reach lengths of 10 feet and weigh more than 200 pounds. The largest Komodo on record weighed 366 pounds.

Guests visiting the Zoo will find the young Komodos—as well as Riverbanks’ five Galapagos tortoise babies born last October—on display beginning this Friday in the Desert Gallery of the Aquarium-Reptile Complex. The dragons will reside there until they are large enough to live in a spacious outdoor exhibit.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210, http://www.riverbanks.org/

It’s official—a lucky Georgia baby has won $5,529 toward her college savings plan as part of the 2011 Newborn Sweepstakes. Path2College 529 Plan will announce her name and present her with a check soon!

In an effort to continue to raise awareness about the importance for saving for college, the Path2College 529 Plan is excited to once again offer a Newborn Sweepstakes for 2012, and one Georgia child born this year will win $5,529 for his or her college savings.

Path2College’s 2012 Newborn Sweepstakes

The Path2College 529 Plan will award one child born in Georgia during 2012 with $5,529 toward his or her college savings. Parents, grandparents or guardians may go to www.Path2College529.com until April 14, 2013 to enter for a chance to win a prize that will put their loved one on the path toward a college education and a brighter future.

Visit www.Path2College529.com  for official rules and details. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

You’re invited to the showing of the film “Mother Nature’s Child” which explores the essential ways contact with the natural world promotes children’s health and well-being. In addition to the moving expressions of the children themselves, the film includes interviews with Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods; tracker Jon Young; authors Stephen Kellert and David Sobel; outdoor educators Brother Yusuf Burgess, Misha Golfman and Amy Beam; Nancy Bell of The Conservation Fund; and teachers of every age group.
Friday, June 1st, 6:30 PM
Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens
2 Canebrake Road,
Savannah, GA. 31419
Please call to RSVP (912) 921-5460
$8.00 per person

Here’s a great way to meet other moms.

Join Pooler MOPS, which is currently accepting registrations for the 2012-2013 year! The group meets twice a month September through May from 9:30-11:30am at First Presbyterian Church of Pooler. Interested mothers can email poolermops@gmail.com.  Check out Pooler MOPS on Facebook here.

For more local moms groups, visit our Connect with Moms page here.

Bring the family to Lovin’ Spoons for a groovy Cosmic Night in Richmond Hill on Friday, May 11th from 7-11PM.

Lovin’ Spoons will be turning the lights down and cranking the music up with a fun party atmosphere that will be out of this world!

In addition to a cool cosmic vibe and party favors, you’ll get 20% off your yogurt all night! (may not be combined with other offers)

Lovin Spoons Richmond Hill frozen yogurt store is at 60 Exchange Street in the Kroger Shopping Center on Highway 144, next to Jalapenos, Richmond Hill, 31324 tel: 912.459.1490. Lovin Spoons is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Bring the family to Lovin’ Spoons for a groovy Cosmic Night in Richmond Hill on Friday, May 11th from 7-11PM.

Lovin’ Spoons will be turning the lights down and cranking the music up with a fun party atmosphere that will be out of this world!

In addition to a cool cosmic vibe and party favors, you’ll get 20% off your yogurt all night! (may not be combined with other offers)

Lovin Spoons Richmond Hill frozen yogurt store is at 60 Exchange Street in the Kroger Shopping Center on Highway 144, next to Jalapenos, Richmond Hill, 31324 tel: 912.459.1490.  Lovin Spoons is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo & speech and hearing month, Bilingual Speech Therapy and Language Center will run weekly contests for children this month.

The first is a sombrero decoration contest for children ages 3-5 years of age. All work must be done by children, they can color, glue and add decoration to it, the more decoration, the better. Parents need to let children’s imagination and creativity run wild.

The prize is a $25 gift card to Jalapeno’s Restaurant.

 The printable sombrero can be downloaded here . All entries need to be submitted by May 10 to Bilingual Speech Therapy and Language Center at 9100 White Bluff Road Suite 202. They can also submit them this Saturday May 5 at the 5 de mayo celebration. Winners will be announce May 15 on Bilingual Speech Therapy and Language Center‘s facebook page.

You and your kids are invited to the First Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Bilingual Speech Therapy and Language Center, Saturday, May 5, 2012.

Enjoy Spanish-themed activities and snacks from 12:00pm – 4:00pm; StoryTime 12:15pm, Music and Games 1:00pm & 2:45pm and a “Break the Pinata” 1:45pm. All Activities are Free and Open to the Public! 9100 White Bluff Road, Suite 202. For more information call (912) 335-8486 or click here.

Bilingual Speech Therapy & Language Center, 9100 White Bluff Road Suite 201, Savannah, 31406. On Facebook here. 912.335.8486, www.bilingualspeechtherapy.net/ Bilingual Speech Therapy & Language Center is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

University of Georgia Marine Extension Service Aquarium

World Oceans Day Celebration, Cousteau Birthday, and Sea Jellies Exhibit Opening

 June 9, 2012

In celebration of World Oceans Day, Jacques Cousteau’s birthday and the new “Sea Jellies of the Georgia Coast” exhibit, the UGA Marine Extension Service will host FREE hands-on education programs from 10am-4pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012.  Free aquarium admission and educational activities are sponsored by NOAA’s Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary in honor of the birthday of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. 

The day’s activities will focus on the issue of marine debris and how it affects Georgia’s coastal waters and the ocean.   Visitors can learn more about sea jellies and participate in marine debris and sea jelly crafts, a marine debris program, a salt marsh clean-up, an aquarium treasure hunt, and ocean stories.

The new exhibit “Sea Jellies of the Georgia Coast” will open at 10AM with a half hour introduction to the exhibit at 11AM and highlighting the local and global importance of sea jellies and water quality.  The exhibit will honor the late Dr. Peter Verity and his research at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and will  present data from  a scientific publication entitled “Temporal and spatial patterns of abundance and size of Appendicularians and Ctenophores in the Skidaway Estuary, and relationships to important environmental variables,” by Laura M. Birsa of the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. Laura was a graduate student of Dr. Verity and currently works at the Institute where she continues to collect samples of ctenophores. The exhibit will also provide information about how water quality and coastal health play a vital role in the economy of coastal areas. 

The species of ctenophore being highlighted in this exhibit are Mnemiopsis leidyi.  Cteonphores are clear, non stinging jellies, commonly referred to as comb jellies.  These delicate spherical or ribbon like organisms drift in all oceans, including the Atlantic.  They are named for the lines of cilia found on the organism’s surface that beat like small paddles to help the animal swim weakly.

 Activities Schedule
Marine Debris Program and Salt Marsh Clean-up: 8-10AM
Treasure Hunt (on-going): 10AM-4PM

Marine debris and sea jellies crafts (on-going): 10AM-4PM
“Sea Jellies of the Georgia Coast” Exhibit Opening: 11-11:30AM

Ocean Stories (15 minutes long and on the half hour): 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30

Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens in Savannah offers several fun camps this summer:

Roots and Shoots Camp
Ages 5-7
9AM – 1PM
June 4th – 7th, 2012
July 9th – 12th, 2012
The popular educational program has been expanded to a summer camp! Students will spend the week learning how plants grow, all about pollination and photosynthesis, checking out the greenhouse, working in the garden, taking nature walks and exploring our 50+ acres of garden and bamboo.

Bamboo Camp
Ages 8-10
9AM – 1PM
June 18th – 21st, 2012
July 23rd – 26th, 2012
It’s all about bamboo at this camp. Explore the many bamboo groves in the gardens as we learn about the history, varieties and many uses of the world’s tallest grass. We will make bamboo crafts, tour the bamboo museum, build a bamboo hut and fish with bamboo poles. We may even see Louie, our resident “guard” cat who likes to hunt in the bamboo!

G.S.I. (Garden Scene Investigators) Camp
Ages 10-12
9AM – 2PM
June 11th – 14th, 2012
July 16th – 19th, 2012
Students will don lab coats, latex gloves and use the microscopes in our “lab” while investigating clues in the garden to solve a mystery. We’ll be spending time in the greenhouse and throughout the gardens using observation skills to learn about the ecosystem of gardening, how plants affect our everyday life.
All camps are $150.00 with a $50.00 non-refundable deposit due on registration.
$100.00 balance due 2 weeks before camp. Checks or cash ONLY (checks made out to Bamboo Farm).

To register, click here. Deposit for camp is $50 due at registration and the balance is due two weeks before the first day of camp. Discount: If you register for more than one week of camp, you will receive a 10% discount for all weeks after the first week.

For a listing of summer camps in Savannah & Hilton Head Is., visit the SouthernMamas.com Summer Camps 2012 page here.

Haven’t figured out your summer yet? Good news: UGA Marine Extension Service Summer Camps have a few openings left for students in the following Summer Camps:
Mommy and Me (Age 2-3 + Adult) June 12-15
Fish Fry (Age 4) June 18-22
Sea Sprites (Age 5) Session I June 25-29 and Session II July 16-20
Sea Squirts (Age 6) July 23-27
Sea Camp Session I (Ages 7-8) June 4-8

Learn more and download registration forms by clicking here. Tell them SouthernMamas.com sent you!

For a listing of summer camps in Savannah & Hilton Head Is., visit the SouthernMamas.com Summer Camps 2012 page here.