Women can be divided into two groups.

Those who know exactly when to yell “Hold that line” and “Flag on the play!” during a football game. And those who are more concerned with sampling the best dips at tailgaters than deciphering the ref’s mystifying sign language.

I’m ashamed to admit I am in the latter group. I’ve committed every football faux pas in the book, including cheering “Defense! Defense!” when my team’s quarterback was on the field.

And if the start of football has you dreading another season of pretending to know the difference between a safety and a snapper, then you should check out Nancy Remler’s blog, “Learning the Dawgs: A Sport Idiot’s Quest to Become a Football Fan.”

Nancy is a local Coastal Empire mom, wife, teacher, UGA graduate and hilarious writer.

When Nancy married in 1990, she knew her hubby was a football fan, but she underestimated the extent to his zest for the sport. For 17 years, she suffered football widowhood before realizing that she couldn’t fight the Dawgs.

She’s resolved not only to watch the games, but to actually ENJOY them.

But first she needs to learn the game. She’s documenting her progress on her blog, er, blawg, here.

If you’re already a football expert and know quite well that split ends are about more than bad hair days, you should still check out Nancy’s blog and comment on her posts.

If you’re like me and want to finally understand what the appeal of football is beyond plaid blankets and cute earth-tone sweaters, then definitely visit Nancy’s blog. The glossary of football terms alone is a must-read before attending your next game party.

Click here to start talking like you know what the players are really talking about the huddle.

My 2-year-old’s new favorite spot is the Savannah Bee Co. Honey House, which has a kid-friendly play area in the back of the honey-and-bee themed Broughton Street boutique.

There’s a large a bee hive – called the bee skep – filled with books and toys and bee-themed flicks. There’s also a theater section showing documentaries on bees and honey, as well as a honeycomb playhouse, complete with doors and windows. Mom and dad can sip honey-lattes while the kids play.

The Honey House kids’ area is perfect when you need a break while shopping downtown with the kids. Or if you’re just looking for something different on a thunderstormy afternoon: the Savannah Bee Co. Honey House, 104 W. Broughton St.

Coming soon to Savannah: a new indoor playground and birthday spot.

Monkey Joe’s – which offers bouncing, sliding, and jumping fun for kids 12 years-old and younger – will open a Savannah location at 309 Eisenhower Drive next to Dr. Ramon Ramos’ office.

The exact opening date is not confirmed yet, but a spokesperson said the estimated opening time is the end of September/early October.

Monkey Joe’s features an inflatable play center including inflatable slides, jumps, and obstacle courses where kids can bounce, jump, slide, and have fun. Kids 3 years-old and younger have their own play area.

Read more here.

Daily Candy offered a fun tip this week for summer garden fun: Nature Bingo.

Here’s how it works.

Step One: Select 24 objects that can be easily found in your backyard or local park (or not so easily found, depending on how much of a break you need). Think seasonal flowers, plants, trees, bugs, even rocks.

Step Two: Have kids draw a grid (five across, five down, with a free space in the middle) depicting these objects using crayons or markers.

Step Three: Send your child out and about to find five in a row. Once mastered, mix things up by choosing new items to hunt for.

Step Four: Repeat as necessary.

Call Fun Faces Face Painting Services for your child’s next birthday party.

Fun Faces is available for all types of events; private parties, corporate events, grand openings, festivals and more. Service area includes Savannah, Statesboro, Jacksonville.

Fun Faces uses only water-based FDA compliant as a cosmetic face paints and cosmetic glitters that wash off with mild soap and water. No craft glitter. No acrylic paints or other paints which are not meant for the skin.

Fun Faces can paint about 10 faces an hour, depending on the complexity of the design.

Get in touch early for the best selection of available dates. Call 912.674.1830 or email sherrys.funfaces@gmail.com. Learn more here.

All aboard.

The Roundhouse Railroad Museum has a summer special: pay one price for a full day of fun.

The museum’s offering 45-minute rides in the vintage steam locomotive at 11am, 2pm, and 4pm through July 31. Rides on the museum’s human-powered handcar are available throughout the day. There also are guided tours of restored office cars at 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm.

Admission: $10 for adults and $4 for kids 6 and younger, and includes all of the activities listed. Admission to the Savannah History Museum next door may be added for an additional $3 for adults/no extra charge for kids 6 and under.

Call (912) 651-6823 for more information, or click here.

Supermoms, here’s your Hollywood break.

The LA-based production company, Pie Town Productions, is currently in the early stages of a project focused on moms who consider themselves (or others consider them) to be SUPERMOMS.

Are you president of the PTA or are currently vying for that position? Are you constantly shuttling your kids from one activity to another? Do you have STRONG opinions about everything from methods of parenting to how to advertise the next PTA meeting to what kind of brownies you should make for your kid’s birthday party? Are you surrounded by a lot of like-minded parents? Do you think you could have been (OR were / are) a CEO because you’re just that focused, smart, and organized?

The production company wants to hear your story. Those interested should email Ally at Ally_Weinberg@pietown.tv. Please put “Supermom!” in the subject line. Good luck. Don’t forget us little people when you’re famous.

This was a sweet summer evening activity we did in our backyard: releasing live lady bugs.

Yes, this what you have to do in city lacking fireflies. Import your own friendly insects. And ladybugs have almost as friendly a rep as fireflies. My toddler son loved feeling the ladybugs tickle up his arm. Releasing them onto the stems of flowers proved to be a bit more challenging. They didn’t want to leave us.

You can order the live ladybugs here. They are apparently a more healthy alternative to chemical bug spray. You release them at sundown (because they don’t fly at night) and they eat aphids and other bugs. Gnats? We’ll see. We’re also hoping they’ll lay eggs and we’ll see baby lady bugs in a few weeks.

Babble also has suggestions for 25 Nature Adventures for Kids, including things you can do in your backyard. I love the birdwatching tip to encourage kids to take part in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.

SouthernMamas is always telling you about free or low-cost Savannah area children’s activities.

Especially when it comes to finding fun, inexpensive ways to enjoy your summer staycation in Savannah with the kids.

But not until now did we have all those low-cost children’s summer activities in one place. Check out our new page entitled Low-cost Savannah summer kids’ activities. Check it out here.
Let us know what events you love or which ones need improving by sharing your comments.

Thanks to Lynn Adams for compiling this list.

Have a great SouthernMamas summer.

Show your kids how you used to watch movies in the days before anyone ever used the word “download”.

TYBEE DRIVE-IN returns for summer @ North Beach, featuring big screen and full radio broadcast sound. The First Movie is this Thursday, June 11: “BEACH BLANKET BINGO,“ Classic beach party film starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon.

“Economic Stimulus Package” for the whole family: $10 per vehicle, $5 per person.
Pack the cooler, drive, bike or walk in. Bring the kids for a picnic and some Leopold’s ice cream, or grab a bite to eat at North Beach Grill (byo alcohol).(Free Parking for movies in North Beach Parking Lot) Pets in parking lot welcome on leashes. Don’t forget the bug spray, radio and lawn chair if you’re on foot.

Where: North Beach Parking Lot, Meddin Drive on Tybee Island
When: Gates open @ 6 PM Thurs, June 11. Show starts at “dark.“
For more info, click here or call 912-323-7727
Benefits the Tybee Post Theater.

The u-pick blackberry field is now open @ the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens.

Cost is $3 per pound.  9 am-4 pm (or until picked out for the day)  Mon-Sat.

Call ahead to make sure the field is open. 912.921.5497. The field can be picked out quickly at the beginning and end of the season.

More information can also be found here.

Thanks y’all for reading SouthernMamas & supporting our Mama!

Love, Hart & Francie

You are going to love this giveaway. Two SouthernMamas subscribers will win FOUR FREE TICKETS each to
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey.

The show is playing @ the Savannah Civic Center Nov. 5-9. Ticket sales are already under way here. The two winners will each receive four free vouchers, which can be used for one of any of the shows.

The show invites children to join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on a journey into the magical worlds of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Peter Pan, and Lilo & Stitch. From Ariel’s enchanting undersea kingdom to Never Land with Peter Pan and his sassy fairy friend Tinker Bell, you child is sure to be captivated by the music, beauty and laughter in a journey so magical. You, too, may never want to go home.

To be eligible to win this giveaway, comment below on your all-time favorite Disney character or movie. Just click on comments and start writing. Be sure to comment by the 9 pm Thurs. Oct. 2. Don’t forget to tell us your name. We’ll pick a name at random and announce the winner Friday on SouthernMamas.com.

You have to be a SouthernMamas subscriber to participate. Subscribing is free. Click here to do so.

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

Children of all ages can take the “Day Out With Thomas Great Discovery Tour 2008” @ SAM Shortline Excursion Train depot in Georgia Veterans State Park on Oct. 17, 18, 19 and 24, 25, 26.

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

The train departs every hour on the hour, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Rain or shine. The park is @ 2459 U.S. Hwy. 280 West in Cordele, 9 miles west of I-75 via Exit 101. Tickets cost $18 for ages 2 and older.

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

So you want to trek to Atlanta to take in one last summer treat, but don’t want to pay rockstar prices.

Have we found a deal for you. The Atlanta Braves slashed 50 percent off their ticket prices for upcoming games. Cheer them as they take on the San Francisco Giants and Florida Marlins at the lowest prices @ Turner Field this season. Prices include Field Level for $18 (reg. $36), Outfield Pavilion for $11 (reg. $22) or Upper Box for $6 (reg. $12).

Watch Atlanta vs. the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 17-18 or the Florida Marlins on Aug. 26 & 28. To buy tickets, click here and use the promo code TRZOO to get the offer.

You’re invited to the release of the loggerhead sea turtle, Squirty 1:30-3:00pm Thurs. Aug. 7 @ the Tybee Island Pier.

Burton 4-H Center on Tybee Island has raised Squirty since he was one week old and weighed only 20 grams. He arrived as a straggler hatchling so he could be an ambassador to children. Since then, 12,000 students have seen him and learned more about endangered sea turtles. Squirty is now almost two years old and weighs in at an impressive 19 lbs.

Squirty’s “bon voyage” party Thursday will include educational booths with info about sea turtles and other animals; food and T-shirts for sale to help raise money for 4-H’s next sea turtle; and a 2 pm demonstration nest and contest. Then, Squirty will make his way to the ocean.

Burton 4-H Center is accepting donations to help fund the release. Donations can be made by clicking here

A big thank you to SouthernMamas subscriber Deborah Evans for letting us know about this fun event.

Know an accredited ticket holder to the Masters?

Now would be a good time to remind him or her of what wonderfully, well-behaved, golf-loving, Tiger-wannabe children you have.

Because for the first time this year, children aged 8-16 will be admitted free to Augusta National for the Masters, but only when they are accompanied by an accredited ticket holder, one whose name appears on the badge application. The aim is to boost youth interest in golf.

Chances are there are some ticket holders whose children or grandchildren are too young or too old to qualify for this freebie. So who knows? Perhaps they’d love to introduce your child to the sport. The tournament is April 7-13.

Also for the first time this year, the tournament’s entertaining, family-friendly Wednesday Par-3 event will be televised on ESPN.

Savvy moms know the importance of kids birthdays. So what better topic for our first post than a roundup of the best bets for parties.

Wild birthday with reptiles or birds

The Center for Wildlife Education & The Lamar Q Ball Jr. Raptor Center at Georgia Southern University offer four birthday packages. Each includes a reptile or bird program and reserved covered pavilion. Birthdays are held on Saturdays through the school year and Monday-Friday during June, July and August. Costs range from $100-$350 depending on the package. Special themed wildlife programs are available including Soft & Cuddly, Tails & Scales or Creatures of the Night. Gift bags and special gifts for birthday child are available. One package is a birthday overnight camping adventure and private wildlife program.

Party reservations are based on availability. Call Pam Harley at (912) 681-0831 or email pharley@georgiasouthern.edu.

Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum

Kids can play in the magic sand at the loggerhead sandcastle, pretend to prepare exotic meals in the international bazaar, trek across the rock challenge course or paint a picture and play instruments at this Hilton Head Island museum. Rental of the birthday party room includes plates, napkins, utensils and a special gift for the birthday child and guests. Rates range from $125-$225 and includes museum admission for up to 12 children. 18A Pope Ave. HHI (843)842-7645

Edible Art Party, Savannah Rum Runners

Each child gets to sharpen their baking skills decorating three items – usually a large cookie, cupcake and donut – using butter cream icing and different colors, chips, sprinkles, sugar, candies etc. Children take their goodies home. Call 355-4177. Located in Habersham Village, 4515 Habersham St. at 61^st St. 

Sea Turtle Cinemas

For the budding film buff. Watch a blockbuster, play in the theater game room and eat popcorn, soda and candy. Packages range from $12-$15 per child. For ages 2-12. Located at 106 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton. (843) 706-2888.

Caboose Party, Roundhouse Museum

Play in the conductor’s seat of a real caboose. Watch the model trains run through a miniature Savannah. Get an up-close look at diesel and steam engines. Catered train or character cake will be waiting with character plates and napkins set with a railroad lantern centerpiece. Lemonade, cups, ice, forks, candles provided. Parties up to eight children: $150. Add $8 for each additional child. Located downtown 601 W. Harris St. 651-6823

Puppet People
Themed birthday parties are held at the Puppet People studio Parties include: interactive studio tour; puppet show; make-and-take paper puppet that coordinates with the party theme; Decorations, utensils, paper napkins and table cloths. Prices at the studio start at $250 for up to 20 children and last up to two hours. Fees are different when Puppet People are hired to go to birthday parties at different locations from the party studio. Studio is at 3119 Furber Ave. in Thunderbolt. (912) 355-3366. E-mail puppets@puppetpeople.com

Animals for hire

The Double C Ranch:The traveling petting zoo from Ridgeland, S.C. comes to Savannah to do birthday parties.They have a variety of animals including sheep, goats, a cow and donkey. Cost is $150 for a minimum of two hours. (843)247-0428

Running Horse Ranch: The ranch in Hagan, Ga. brings the pony rides to your own back yards. Two ponies cost $150 per hour. (912) 739-7837

Kindermusik Party

Turn your child’s birthday into musical celebration. A Kindermusik birthday on-site at your location includes 15 minutes of exploration and free play with instruments plus 45 minutes of instrument exploration, instrument play-alongs, creative movement, storytime and circle dances. Also included is a free gift for the birthday child. Birthdays are given by licensed Kindermusik educators. Cost: $150 if child is enrolled in Kindermusik; $175 otherwise. Upgrades are available. (912) 352-2420.

Chick-fil-A and Build-A-Bear Party

The two Oglethorpe Mall businesses team up for kids’ parties. Each guest makes a stuffed animal they can keep at Build-A-Bear. Parties start at $10 per guest. (912)352-1876. The party then moves to the food court for lunch that includes kids meals, balloons and pictures taken with the cow. Cost is $6 per child. (912)352-1580

Air Force Party

 The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum birthday parties include a private party room, personalized cakes, drinks and supplies, goody bags, free gift wrap for purchases in from the museum store and guided tours. Located off I-95, exit 102, Pooler. 748-8888 ext. 106. E-mail education@mightyeighth.org