Looking for a unique birthday cupcake or cake for your child’s birthday party?

Gigi’s Cupcakes of Savannah specializes in custom-decorated cupcakes and party cakes.

Any other cupcake just can’t hold a candle to it.

Gigi’s Cupcakes of Savannah does cupcakes, mini cupcakes and cakes. Lots of smash cakes, too.

Stay connected with Gigi’s on Facebook here.

Gigi’s Cupcakes of Savannah is at 5521 Abercorn St., next to Petite Feet and across from the Publix Twelve Oaks Shopping Center.

Gigi’s Cupcakes of Savannah, 5521 Abercorn St, Suite 100,  912.349.2778 or email savannahga@gigiscupcakesusa.com , www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/savannahgeorgia. On Facebook here. Gigi’s Cupcakes of Savannah is a SouthernMamas advertiser.

Snapology Lego Minecraft classes for Homeschoolers will begin in Pooler on Thursday January 16, 10:30-11:30am at the Tom Tripplett Community Center. (Tom Tripplett Community Center is a quick and easy drive from Richmond Hill and Savannah). Registration and more information online at http://savannah.snapology.com/Calendar.html

Lego Minecraft:
Anything that you can dream of is possible in Minecraft. Travel to the Nether with Snapology, but watch out for those creepers! Come join us as we bring Minecraft* to life using Lego* bricks to build Minecraft characters, animals, worlds and much more! This 5 week session of classes will meet each Thursdays 10:30-11:30am 1/16,1/23,1/30,2/6,2/13.

**Snapology after school STEM classes take place in schools around the greater Savannah area. Ask your child’s school to call Snapology at 770-883-3024 to discuss the possibility of a class!

Have Snapology bring the party to you! Snapology’s dedicated party facilitator will bring the Lego® party to you.

More Snapology birthday info here.

Stay connected to Snapology of Savannah by liking them on Facebook here.

Snapology of Savannah, Richmond Hill, “Where Learning is a Snap” 770-883-3024, email Savannah@Snapology.com , http://www.snapology.com/savannahhome.php, Snapology is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Congratulations Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint in Savannah @ Abercorn and Mall for being awarded Best Pizza in Savannah by SavannahMenu.com!

Also, Uncle Maddio’s in Savannah is now officially ranked #2 out of 739 restaurants in Savannah on Trip Advisor.

Kids’ Make-Your-Own Pizza Birthday Parties

Have your child’s next birthday party in the private banquet room at Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint in Savannah.

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with friends … and pizza, drinks, desserts and party favors? Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint in Savannah has a private room perfect for make-your-own pizza parties. Kids can flip the dough in the air, spread on the sauce and put on their favorite toppings.

Contact Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint in Savannah for details and pricing. Call (912) 777-4479 or email abercorn@unclemaddios.com,

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint, 7805 Abercorn Street #2, Savannah, 31406, (912) 777-4479 email abercorn@unclemaddios.com, On Facebook here.  Uncle Maddio’s is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Bring the family to the Battle of Pocotaligo Civil War Reenactment at Frampton Plantation, January 25-26, 2014.

This living history program in nearby Yemassee, S.C. will include battles, artillery and period demonstrations, a Civil War encampment with Sutler Row and a life-size replica of the H.L. Hunley.

Confederate and Federal forces will clash once again when the Battle of Pocotaligo Civil War Reenactment returns to Frampton Plantation, January 25-26. Taking place on the actual 1862 battle site in Point South, this second annual living history event is hosted by the Sons of Confederate Veterans Colonel Charles Jones Colcock Camp #2100, the South Carolina Palmetto Battalion and the Lowcountry & Resort Islands Tourism Commission.

In addition to the afternoon battles, visitors are welcome to explore a Civil War encampment complete with Sutler Row and period demonstrations, as well as tour a life-size replica of the CSS H.L. Hunley, the first submarine in history to successfully sink an enemy warship.

Gates open at 9 a.m. with battle reenactments at 2 p.m. Daily tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for children; and free for ages 8 and under. Admission into the Frampton Plantation House/Visitor Center & Gift Shop and the Hunley Traveling Exhibit are free. For additional information on the Battle of Pocotaligo, please visit www.battleofpocotaligo.com . To learn more about Frampton Plantation and the Lowcountry & Resort Islands Tourism Commission, call (843) 717-3090 or visit www.southcarolinalowcountry.com .

History:

On October 21, 1862, a Union Force of 4,200 men under the command of General John M. Brannan sailed up the Broad River from Hilton Head Island and Beaufort and then marched on the village of Pocotaligo. Warned by Confederate pickets of this attempt to destroy the Charleston to Savannah Railroad and hinder a major supply line, Colonel W.S. Walker of Georgia telegraphed General Beauregard in Charleston. “I am holding & intend to hold my position at Old Pocotaligo,” read his urgent telegram. “Hurry up the reinforcements for Gods sake.”

Thanks in large part to a series of earthwork trenches General Robert E. Lee had ordered dug throughout the Lowcountry, a Confederate force of fewer than 450 men, including eight Confederate artillery pieces, two cavalry companies, three companies of the 11th South Carolina Volunteers and the First South Carolina Sharpshooters, managed to stall the Federal advance. Today, a portion of these earthworks are still visible behind the Frampton Plantation House.

Be sure to take advantage of the 2014 Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday.

Various Savannah-area museums will be FREE Sunday, Feb 9, 2014. Click here for a list of this year’s participating sites.

Experience our area’s rich history and cultural life as historic sites, house museums, art museums, and other points of interest in Savannah and coastal Georgia open their doors to the public, providing an exceptional opportunity to experience the history in our own backyard.

From Statesboro to Darien, over 40 cultural institutions throughout coastal Georgia participate in this popular annual Georgia Historical Society family event including. Participating sites include: Georgia State Railroad Museum & Savannah Children’s Museum, 655 West Louisville Rd.;  Savannah History Museum, 303 Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd.; Old Fort Jackson, 1 Fort Jackson Rd.; Fort Pulaski National Monument, U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah; Pin Point Heritage Museum, 9924 Pin Point Ave.

Free and open to the public.

Click here for a list of this year’s participating sites.

You’re invited to an open house at Savannah Honor Academy, which will be a new independent K-5 school in midtown Savannah. Please click here for more information.

Open House
Jan. 28th
5:30pm at 22 E. 38th Street (corner of 38th and Drayton). Reservations are required. RSVP to MarlaCocalis@yahoo.com .

Click here for more information.

Connect with Savannah Honor Academy on Facebook here.

Savannah Honor Academy, email marlacocalis@yahoo.com,  www.SavannahHonorAcademy.com, Savannah Honor Academy is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Telfair Museums provides many opportunities for families to visit the museum, learn, and make art together. Are you looking for a fun and educational activity for children? Check these out:

WCWM? (What Can We Make?)
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays / 1-4 PM
Jepson Center’s Melaver Studio
The studios are open for drop-in visits for all ages. Free to members or with museum admission. Open to adults and children accompanied by an adult caregiver. More info available here.
Join us as we open the studios for drop in visits for all ages. wcwm? (What Can We Make?) focuses on developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills through imagination. Explore your creative side with inspiring activities utilizing recycled materials, found objects, and traditional art supplies. In addition to the wcwm? project kits, the studios provide watercolor and collage opportunities as well.
New to the wcwm? program is Family Make, in which participants are assigned a theme each month and a secret ingredient or tool to make art from the most unexpected materials. Before joining in one of our wcwm? theme challenges, check out these talking points and activities you can complete as a family.
February – Light things up with LEDs
Explore sculptural creations and make them light up using LEDs.
March – Color wheels
Explore color mixing and various properties of color.
April – Recycled crafts and community gardens
Explore crafts that re-purpose materials and make treasure from trash.

Toddler Third Thursday (3rd Thursday of every month)

10–11:30 am

Toddler Third Thursdays are great for parents, grandparents, and caregivers with pre-school children. Designed especially for preschoolers ages 3-5 and their adult companions,this program allows toddlers to explore artwork from Telfair exhibitions and complete a fun-filled art project relating to their tour. A different tour and project will be offered each month. Time to play in ArtZeum is included.
Feb 20 – Toddlers and Technology
Mar 20 – Temperature in Color
Apr 17 – Recycled Gardens

Registration and adult supervision required. Call 790-8823 or click here to register. Enrollment is $5 per child. Adult admission is FREE for museum-members and $12 for non-members. Sponsored in part by JCB, Inc.

Click here to register online for Toddler 3rd Thursday >>

ArtZeum Located in the Jepson Center A great place to visit after school, on a rainy day, on weekends, or just anytime, the Telfair’s hands-on learning gallery and interactive exhibits provide an excellent introduction to big ideas about art. Click here to learn more.

Activity Downloads Download activity sheets here on the educational resources page before your museum visit and explore the museum with fun and educational search activities.

Family Days Telfair Museums family days are offered throughout the year. Enjoy music, artist demonstrations, hands-on art-making, and guided tours free of charge. Check here for themes, dates, times and locations.

Jepson Center, 207 W York St. Savannah, 31401 , http://telfair.org/learn/family-programs Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

FOR MORE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR BY CLICKING HERE.

You’re invited to a huge 50-cent inventory reduction clothing sale this Sat. Jan. 11, 2014 at 10 AM & Sun. Jan. 12 2014 @ Life is Full of Blessings children’s consignment store, 212 Johnny Mercer Blvd. Savannah, Ga. 31410, tel. 912-247-2624.

About Life is Full of Blessings

Inside the Life is Full of Blessings store, you’ll find everything from new to gently-loved clothing, school uniforms, new brands of cloth diapers and children’s furnishings, even boutique hair bows. You name it and you will see it in this store!

Life if Full of Blessings has a variety of items coming in and going out on a daily basis, so it is always exciting as a customer to see what new items have come in.

They offer three forms for consignor reimbursement: Cash, store credit or consignment. Designed to make resale easy for moms, this boutique accepts items of any season any time. Learn more by liking Life is Full of Blessings on Facebook here.

Life is Full of Blessings children’s consignment boutique, 212 Johnny Mercer Blvd. Savannah, 31410 tel. (912) 247-2624, https://www.facebook.com/Savannahsfavoritekidstore Life is Full of Blessings is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

The cold winter months are a great time for kids to take part in art classes at Scribble Art Studio , which offers children’s art classes & art birthday parties in Savannah & Pooler.

Winter 2014 classes include Drawing Dragons & other Medieval Creatures; Crafting Doll Clothes; and Creating Animals in Art.

For the details & full schedule or to register, click here.  Email info@scribbleartstudio.com or call 912-713-7376.

Scribble also now offers at-home Princess Parties! Princes Maggie Lee Hart will bring everything needed for a fun & magical birthday party. Create wearable crafts & learn a royal song & dance. Details here. Scribble also offers Superhero parties & Classic Art parties.

Scribble Art Studio, 212 E. 37th St Savannah, 31401, (912) 713-7376 email info@thescribbleartstudio.com , www.TheScribbleArtStudio.com , Scribble Art Studio is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Don’t want the boring Valentine cards for your kiddos? Come get personalized valentine cards for your kids to take to school with their pictures on them!

Photography by Julie Anne is offering Valentine Mini Sessions in her Studio that include 22 valentine cards, a 5×7 print, 5 digital images from the session and a Facebook timeline cover photo for only $99! Your child will love having their very own personalized card to give to all their friends!

Photography by Julie Anne is located in center of Richmond Hill with plenty of room for your little lovebug to be photographed! Visit www.photographybyjulieanne.com  or call 912-655-9497 for more information! Want even more deals through out the year? Become a fan at https://www.facebook.com/PhotographybyJulieAnne

Come by and visit Photography by Julie Anne’s brand new studio in Richmond Hill right on Ford Avenue.  Gift certificates are also available and they do offer a military discount! To view more of Julie Anne’s work, visit www.photographybyjulieanne.com or like them on Facebook.  You can get direct information at Julie@photographbyjulieanne.com or call 912-655-9497.

Photography by Julie Anne,  email julie@photographybyjulieanne.com,  (912) 655-9497, www.photographybyjulieanne.com ; On Facebook here.  Photography by Julie Anne is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Stroller Strong Moms will have a Grand Opening in our new Pooler location this Thursday, January 9th! Don’t miss it!

Pooler moms will have a chance to enter Get Fit for 2013 which will begin with fitness and body composition assessments on January 16th at Tom Triplett Park in Pooler.

For more information, email info@strollerstrongmoms.com

Stroller Strong Moms, 12 East Park Ave. Savannah, 31401, email info@strollerstrongmoms.com , www.strollerstrongmoms.com Stroller  Strong Moms is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Are your kids snow-deprived?

If they are longing to throw a snowball or build Frosty, check out the 2014 Hilton Head Snow Day on January 25, 2014 from 11am-4pm at Shelter Cove Community Park on Hilton Head Is.

The Island Recreation Association and title sponsor Hilton Head Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram will host this annual family event, which will have inflatable rides, pony rides and entertainment. There will be a “snow field” where little ones can build a mini snowman, make snowballs or even snow angels!   For the kids who have never seen snow, this is the perfect event!

Admission is $10 per person from ages 2-17. All food and beverage are sold separately.

For more information please call (843) 681-7273 or visit www.islandreccenter.org . You can also “like” Island Recreation Assoc. on Facebook for daily and weekly updates at https://www.facebook.com/HiltonHeadIslandRecreationAssociation

Dynamic new Savannah preschool, located at the Jewish Educational Alliance, is accepting enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year.

JEA Preschool Savannah will host an Open House for prospective and enrolled parents and caregivers on Wednesday, January 15 beginning at 9:30am.The new preschool, located at the Jewish Educational Alliance community center at 5111 Abercorn Street, serves children ages 16 months through 4 years.

During the event, parents will have an opportunity to meet preschool director Jodi Sadler and the faculty, as well see the classrooms in session. Please call 912-355-8111 (ext. 215) or email preschool@savj.org  for more information.

JEA Preschool Savannah was created to provide for the social, emotional and cognitive growth of young children in a Judaic setting. The age-appropriate curriculum, led by qualified and experienced teachers, focuses on literacy, writing, math, science, music, art and movement all within newly renovated facilities at the JEA.

“I am truly excited about the success of our program and its future,” said Sadler, director of JEA Preschool Savannah. “When parents and children walk into the school, I believe they see and feel two things: love and security. I know that the quality of the program, excellence of the facilities, and perfect location makes this one of the most attractive and vibrant programs in the area.”

The dynamic preschool includes spacious classrooms and an innovative outdoor space where children can explore, interact with and connect to the environment. The children also have the opportunity for extracurricular activities which include swimming, Crossfit for Kids, and outdoor exploration. The school is centrally located with easy parking and affordable tuition.

The preschool’s core curriculum is Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Children have the option of attending two, three or five days per week. Extended hours are available daily from as early as 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. to serve the needs of working families. JEA Preschool Savannah is open to both JEA members and non members.

About JEA Preschool Savannah
JEA Preschool Savannah, located in the Jewish Educational Alliance community center at 5111 Abercorn Street, opened its doors in August 2013. The school, which serves the needs of children ages 16 months through 4 years, focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive growth of young children in a Judaic setting. The core curriculum, led by qualified and experienced teachers, is Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Extended hours are available daily, beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. For more information on JEA Preschool Savannah, please call 912-355-8111 (ext. 215), email preschool@savj.org  or visit www.savannahjea.org .

JEA Preschool Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Savannah Tire Hockey Classic
January 16-17-18, 2014
@ Savannah Civic Center
http://savannahhockeyclassic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/savannahhockeyclassic

The STHC is an annual college hockey tournament featuring Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina, The Citadel.

Family Discounts:

Thursday, January 16th
Kids 12 & Under Free with Purchase of Adult Ticket
* Must be purchased at Box Office, not online.

Friday, January 17th
Four Pack: $40
Five Pack: $48
* Regular Mezzanine Tickets are $12 each (Saves $8-12)

Saturday, January 18th
Four Pack: $48 (Plus Fees)
Five Pack: $56 (Plus Fees)
* Regular Mezzanine Tickets are $14 each (Saves $8-14)

SATURDAY & SUNDAY: Cannon Firings at Old Fort Jackson, 1 Fort Jackson Rd. $6.00 for adults, free for children under 6 with a guardian. 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. (912) 232-3945 or chsgeorgia.org.

SATURDAY FIRINGS AT FORT PULASKI & DAILY INTREPRETIVE PROGRAMS SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY: Fort Pulaski National Monument offers visitors and guests daily interpretive programs including guided fort tours ( 40-50 min.) and musket and soldier demonstrations (15-30 min). Cannon-firing demonstrations are on Saturdays. Schedules are subject to change. Click here for more info.

Starting September 1, 2013 Schedule is subject to change. Call ahead to confirm: (912) 786-5787

Sunday – Friday
10:30 AM  Guided Fort Tour OR Trail Walk
12:00 PM  Musket Firing
1:00  “Ranger’s Choice” (Subject of program varies)
2:00  Musket Firing
3:00  Guided Fort Tour

Saturday
10:00  Guided Fort Tour
11:00  Cannon Firing
12:00  Musket Firing
1:00 “Ranger’s Choice” (Subject of program varies)
2:00 Cannon Firing
3:00  Guided Fort Tour

JUNIOR PARK RANGERS

When you take kids to tour national parks, you never know how much they are getting out of the visit. Especially for those of us moms who aren’t exactly history experts.

Which is why you need to pick up the Junior Ranger booklets at the visitor centers of national parks you visit. The Junior Ranger program kids engage more during the visits.

Junior Ranger booklets have activities about the national parks for ages 5-12. Junior ranger books are free to any visitor and usually are available at the visitors’ centers. Often, similar programs with more advanced activities are also available for older kids. Just ask at the site’s visitor center.

While doing the activities, children enjoy earning a badge and a certificate.

Various national parks that have Junior Ranger programs include:
*Fort Pulaski National Monument, on U.S. 80 en route to Tybee Island. Info on the Fort Pulaski Junior Program here.
*Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie national monuments, Charleston, S.C. Info on these forts Junior Ranger program here.
*Cumberland Island National Seashore, Ga. More info here.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. Learn more at www.nps.gov/fopu and visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS and Twitter www.twitter.com/FortPulaskiNPS.

Veritas Academy, meeting in the heart of the Savannah historic district, is committed to providing a Christ-centered, classical and covenantal Pre-K through 12th grade education. “That in everything Christ might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18) –Even, and especially, in the hearts and minds of our children.

Mission: The mission of Veritas Academy is to assist parents in teaching their children to think, speak, and act Christianly, and to seek, discern, and apply Truth all their lives by providing an education of excellence that is Christ-centered, classical, and covenantal.

Veritas Visits: Please drop by to observe classrooms, meet teachers, review curriculum, ask questions and get answers! For more information please contact Veritas Academy at 912-238-1222 or visit www.VeritasSavannah.org .

Veritas Visits

9:00-10:00 am

Tuesdays, January 7 & 21, 2014

Stay connected with Veritas Academy by liking their page on Facebook here. On Twitter @VeritasGryphons.

Veritas Academy , Pre-K through 12th grade, located at the Independent Presbyterian Church, 207 Bull St., Savannah 31401, 912-238-1222, www.VeritasSavannah.org Veritas Academy is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Petite Feet , Savannah’s children’s shoe and accessories boutique, is having a Season Clearance Sale.

BUY ONE PAIR SHOES, SANDALS OR BOOTS AT 25% OFF AND GET 40% OFF EACH ADDITIONAL PAIR/S

ALL ACCESSORIES GET A 10% DISCOUNT

Petite Feet, 5521 Abercorn Street, Savannah, 31405, www.petitefeetsavannah.com, Petite Feet is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

If you are interested in checking out the various specialty programs including kindergartens offered by Savannah-Chatham public schools, online application is available now and open house dates are set!  (These public schools such as Garrison Elementary, J.G. Smith Elementary, Charles Ellis etc either don’t have an attendance zone/neighborhood district or they also accept children outside of their attendance zone/neighborhood district).

CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE. Deadline to do so is Feb. 7 2014.

Savannah-Chatham County Public School System offers 23 Specialty Programs throughout the district from elementary through high school including kindergarten.

Specialty Application Timeline Specialty Applications is available beginning Jan. 8 2014.

• Specialty Program Applications for the 2014-2015 school year will be available online and at the school sites.
• The Specialty Lottery will be held electronically.  At its conclusion, an email will be sent to parents with a status update for their child.
• Each Specialty Program has entrance requirements, please click here for Specialty Program Entrance Criteria.

Parents may select up to three choice programs.

To view the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools Specialty Programs 2014-13 Open House Schedule, click here.  Contact information for each  school can be found under the Site List tab here.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE. Deadline to do so is Feb. 7 2014.

The Pre-K Lottery for Savannah-Chatham public schools is different & will be at a later date.

Questions? There is going to be a representative from the Savannah-Chatham public school system at the Pooler MOPS preschool/school fair Wed. Jan. 22 at First Presbyterian Church in Pooler. The school fair is open to the public. You do not have to be a MOPS member to attend. Details here.