Easter (April 12) isn’t far away and the daffodils are already blooming.

Check out these fun spring-is-here gifts for kids from Windowbox.com

Butterfly Garden Watch them grow then let them go! Raise 3 to 5 Painted Lady butterflies while learning all about metamorphosis with this Oppenheim Best Toy Award-winning butterfly raising kit! See each caterpillars transition as it matures, changes into a chrysalid, and finally emerges as a Painted Lady butterfly! After observing your butterflies, experience the joy of releasing them into your backyard! Absolutely safe to release into the environment. Includes colorful pop-up habitat suitable for hanging or free-standing on a countertop, pre-paid certificate for 3 to 5 butterfly larvae with special food, feeding kit and complete instructions.Notice! This kit doesn’t contain any live insects, but contains a mail-in certificate for the live critters. The kit with live insects is available elsewhere in the Insect Lore store.Three butterflies are guaranteed to be perfect specimens. Please allow approximately 3 weeks for your larvae to develop. During extremely hot or cold weather, delivery of live larvae may be delayed. Available only in the Continental U.S. and Alaska.

Flower Pot Painting KitTurn the ordinary into extraordinary! Customize these two terra cotta pots with your own decorations. Kit includes two 3.5″ terra cotta pots, non-toxic paints and a brush.

Butterfly Watering CanReady, set, water! These unique watering cans are the perfect mix of fun and mischief for your little gardener. Fun to use, the watering cans make a great gift for any child eager to help outdoors. The five different designs based on creatures found in the garden add to their appeal, making them perfect for anyone under 12. Galvanized for durability and a topside loop for hanging, your plants (and kids) will be in hydration heaven! Available in Manny Mantis, Webster Spider, Flutter Butterfly, Buzzby Bee or Dot Ladybug.

Nyokki – ChickeeNyokki means grow in Japanese, and that’s exactly what these Nyokki Pets do! These little pet plants are adorable and original and they are hand made in Japan from glazed ceramic. They are shaped like eggs with fabric legs. Filled with a growing media and rye grass seeds, these Nyokki pets are easy to grow – seeds germinate and grass grows to full height in less than two weeks. You can style your Nyokki’s “hair” or cut it and watch it grow again! Choose from Monkey, Chickee, Froggie, Panda, and Piglet.

Dinosaur Plant Grow KitThis one-of-a-kind marvel has lived on the Earth for over 290 million years and has had the ability to come back to life over and over again for hundreds of years! The Dinosaur Plant came to be just before the dinosaurs began to emerge, and it still lives on today! Place this seemingly dead ball of foliage in water and within hours it transforms into a vibrant green evergreen! Let it dry out and it will return to the dried state it ships in. This fantastic specimen can hibernate for up to fifty years and will spring to life every time it is given water. This complete kit contains everything needed for you to grow your very own scaly-leaved Dinosaur Plant: plant, display bowl, and real volcanic stones! Water not included.

Attention thrifty mamas.

An amazing sale is going on Children’s Place stuff at Amazon.com.

Dresses like this one for $1.49. Shirts or pants for $1.50. Click here.
Thanks to SouthernMamas reader Richard Barid (Yes! Daddies read us, too) for the tip on this sale!

This little stool of mine.
I use it all the time.
To reach the things I couldn’t.
And lots of things I shouldn’t.

When it comes to baby gifts, second and subsequent children are tough to buy for. Our newborn daughter had pretty much everything she needed thanks to hand-me-downs from relatives and second-hand baby gear our son used.
Which is why the personalized Kabooster child step stool we received for Frances was such a treat. Something her very own. Something practical. Something she would have forever. Something so cute and well-made.

Kabooster step stools are made of furniture grade birch hardwood plywood and coated with a long lasting protective finish.
The finest joinery techniques are utilized for a lifetime of safe use. Colorful handles make it easy for kids to move them around and explore.

The stools have a 10 year replacement warranty and come in three colors, green, blue and magenta. You can select from 16 different icons, baseballs to tulips. (Francie’s has a butterfly) Click here to check out the step stools and give the kid in your life a boost.

Kabooster is a sponsor of SouthernMamas

Alyson Beasley-Spinks.

Carin Behringer.
Congratulations. You each win one Lia Sophia jewelry item of your choice under $100 from the Spring/Summer catalog or the Kiam Collection.

February is Double Up time: purchase two items at full price and you can add two items for half price. When you purchase three items at full price, you can add three items for half price. And so on and so on. Even better, your half-priced items can be your HIGHEST priced items.

You can either place jewelry orders individually with Kristen or host a jewelry party (and receive amazing hostess benefits such as your choice of any catalog item under $100 or, during February, add $100 of jewelry to your order for only $19). See the jewelry here and check out the hostess benefits here.

Contact Kristen by clicking here and schedule your show today.

Ginger Heidel.

Congratulations, Ginger! She wins an “Off To The Hamptons” dress from Kookie, kids couture for girls only.

Thanks to everyone who participated. Don’t forget, from now until Feb. 28, enjoy free shipping on ALL Kookie orders! No minimum purchase is required. Start shopping by clicking here.

Kristen Grach, a Savannah advisor for Lia Sophia jewelry, is giving away two sweet Valentine’s treats .

Two SouthernMamas can each win one item of your choice under $100 from the Spring/Summer catalog or the Kiam Collection.

Just check out the rules below to enter to win:

We’ll pick two names at random and announce the TWO winners Friday.

February is Double Up time @ Lia Sophia: purchase two items at full price and you can add two items for half price. When you purchase three items at full price, you can add three items for half price. And so on and so on. Even better, your half-priced items can be your HIGHEST priced items. The jewelry comes with a lifetime guarantee. Contact Kristen by clicking here and schedule your show or place your order today.

Kookie, kids couture for girls only, is giving away an “Off To The Hamptons” dress to a lucky SouthernMamas subscriber.

Specifically, you can win the green pique design (shown in the photo). It’s a size 5, so even if your darling daughter is merely a few weeks old, you can save it for when she’s old enough to hobnob with her BFFs in style.

Just check out the rules below to enter to win:

We’ll announce the winner here Friday.

If you can’t wait for the giveaway and want to order from Kookie now, start shopping by clicking here. From now until Feb. 28, enjoy free shipping on ALL orders! No minimum purchase is required.

Kristen Grach loves well-made, beautiful jewelry.

But after the Savannah mother-of-three sold her upscale maternity boutique, Expectations, she had little reason to don her jewelry every day. Then she discovered wearing jewelry and getting dressed in something more than a tee and jeans – even just to go drop the kids off at school – helped her feel better, more put-together and as though she could conquer the world.

Now as an advisor for Lia Sophia jewelry, Kristen gets a chance to share her love for fun and fabulous jewelry, while earning a little spending money and setting her own hours.

You can either place jewelry orders individually with Kristen or host a jewelry party (and receive amazing hostess benefits such as your choice of any catalog item under $100 or, during February, add $100 of jewelry to your order for only $19). See the jewelry here and check out the hostess benefits here.

February is Double Up time: purchase two items at full price and you can add two items for half price. When you purchase three items at full price, you can add three items for half price. And so on and so on. Even better, your half-priced items can be your HIGHEST priced items.

The jewelry comes with a lifetime guarantee. Contact Kristen by clicking here and schedule your show today.

Wild Dill is our latest crush.

Organic. Free-trade. Sweat-shop free. Natural. And this handmade car is on sale for $19.

Check out the outfits from Lemon Loves Lime designer line. Lots of descriptions come to mind – whimsical, fun, and above all, available now at @ Island Child in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Is. or via the Island Child online store here. 1.888.705.5437 or 843.686.5437.

Island Child is a sponsor of SouthernMamas.com

The Junior League of Savannah is giving away two pairs of tickets to two SouthernMamas subscribers for this Friday’s thrift sale @ the Savannah Civic Center.

You can find appliances, electronics, children’s clothing and toys, home and holiday decor, books, accessories, house wares,
linens, furniture and more. Recently, two new sections have been added to the sale: New Boutique, featuring new-in-the-box merchandise; and Gift Shop, featuring high quality items such as crystal, china, jewelry, and designer goods.

To be eligible to win, email your name to anne@southernmamas.com by 9 pm Wednesday. We’ll pick two names at random and announce the two winners here Thursday. Winners will be able to pick up their free tickets Friday at the Savannah Civic Center box office.

The Junior League of Savannah Thrift Sale is 10 am-2 pm Fri. Oct. 3 to Sat. Oct. 4 @ the Savannah Civic Center. Entry is $5 on Fri. and $3 on Sat. Tickets at the Civic Center Box Office or 912.651.6556.

All proceeds benefit the Junior League of Savannah’s community projects.

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.

This year, you can enjoy first picks from the floor, hors d’oeuvres, auction items and cash bar @ the Thrift Sale Preview Cocktail Party and Auction Thurs. Oct. 2 from 5:30 – 10 p.m. Cost is $35 limited availability. (This giveaway doesn’t apply to the preview party tickets). Live and silent auctions includes such items as art, jewelry, designer clothing and gift certificates to top spas, golf courses and restaurants. Tickets for the Preview Cocktail Party and Auction are available by clicking here.

Elizabeth VonWaldner!

Congratulations, Elizabeth. She wins a gift package of nutritious treats teeming with Bellybar’s delicious, all-natural snacks for women before, during and after pregnancy – bars, chews, shakes and more.

Thanks to everyone who participated. Look for another giveaway from a different business to be announced here Monday.

The owners of Island Child on Hilton Head Island are more than just the duo behind the upscale boutique that’s been dressing children for generations.

Steve and Senny Powell – who have seven adopted children and have fostered seven children – also have designed their own line of children’s items produced solely for their store in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island.

Check out their very own THINK TINK collection on their online store here. The collection features Tinkerbell, a cute little teacup Yorkie. Picture this THINK TINK tank pictured here paired with these ruffled leggings or pink cowboy boots, both available @ the Island Child, for a fun fall look.

The Powells actually started in the retail business by creating children’s items and selling them to upscale boutiques in the Chicago area. Their dream was to produce their own line and sell it in their own store.

See, dreams do come true.

We’re thrilled to have Island Child as a sponsor of SouthernMamas.com. Watch for announcements on SouthernMamas.com about an upcoming Tink Tea Party to be hosted by Island Child.

Click here for more info or call 1.888.705.5437 or 843.686.5437.

Jen Williams!

Congratulations, Jen.

She wins a $50 Belly Bandit Couture , an abdominal compression binder to help flatten the belly and redefine the waistline post-baby. The wrap also helps decrease bloating caused by water retention, give support to legs and back, improve posture and reduce back and shoulder pain associated with breastfeeding.

Thanks for all your entries and for sharing your plans and tips on losing baby weight. Jen is due Oct 2 with her first baby. She writes her to plan to shrink her post-preg belly includes water aerobics class @ the Chatham County Aquatic Center, breastfeeding and eating right.

Even if you aren’t pregnant or a recent new mom, these tummy wraps make fun shower and baby gifts. Check out the wraps here.

Our wonderful sponsor Love & Blessings is giving away a FREE copy of The Baby Bonding Book to anyone who visits LoveBlessings.com and signs up to receive their monthly newsletter for savvy mamas absolutely FREE.

The Baby Bonding Book makes a terrific baby shower gift. While visiting the Love & Blessings Web site, check out the beautiful, organic gift baskets for baby and mama.

The folks @ Love & Blessings.com are pros at putting special gift baskets together, for moms, new moms, expectant moms. You can create your own gift basket or select one that Love & Blessings already has set up and filled with all their goodies.

Baby weight.

How do you lose it? Why is there so much of it? And why do other moms seem to banish their baby bellies immediately after giving birth?

Maybe their secret is Belly Bandits, an abdominal compression binder to help flatten the belly and redefine the waistline post-baby. The wrap also helps decrease bloating caused by water retention, give support to legs and back, improve posture and reduce back and shoulder pain associated with breastfeeding. Check out the wraps here.

Belly Bandit is giving away a $50 Belly Bandit Couture to a lucky SouthernMamas subscriber. See the giveaway wrap here. Even if you aren’t pregnant or a recent new mom, these tummy wraps make fun shower and baby gifts.

To be eligible to win, email us your name and your secret to losing baby weight (or your gameplan on how you will lose it.) Deadline is 9 pm Thurs. Sept. 18. Send email to anne@southernmamas.com. We’ll pick a name at random and announce the winner here Friday. The winner can select her size of Belly Bandit.

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

Ginger D. Thompson!

Congratulations, Ginger.
She wins a $50 gift card to use @ Just for Baby & More, which is in a new location @ 7701 Waters Ave. – right across from their former spot. Look for the polka dots.

Thanks to everyone who participated. Look for a different giveaway from a different business to be announced here Monday.

Just for Baby & More is in a new location @ 7701 Waters Ave. – right across from their former spot. Look for the polka dots.

And to celebrate their move with SouthernMamas, Just for Baby & More is giving away a $50 gift card to a lucky SouthernMamas subscriber! To be eligible for this week’s giveaway, just email your name and the answer to the following question to anne@southernmamas.com.

One example of the fun baby gear Just for Baby & More carries are adorable bottle pets – soft, plush bottle covers that turn feeding time into cuddle time. Bottle pets come in a variety of animals. Email us the name of the monkey – pictured here. Or the name of the turtle or the cow. Hint. Visit the Just for Baby & More Web site by clicking here. Then click on toys and scroll down.

Deadline is 9 pm Thurs. Sept. 11. We’ll pick a name at random and announce the winner Friday.

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

Melanie Barton wins the gift cube from Cry Babyz, a mom-owned and operated Webshop. The cube includes an original paci pocket and CryBabyz pacifier. Congratulations Melanie!

And Alexia Pittas Webster wins a free soccer team registration and soccer ball from Savannah Celtic, for her son, George. The league has different programs for children ages 3-8. Congratulations Alexia!

Look for another giveaway to be announced here Monday.

Has your couch seen better days?
If you have the ugliest couch in America, you could win a $5,000 living room makeover from SureFit slipcovers and HGTV.
All you have to do is send a color photo of your hideous couch to Sure Fit Inc., c/o “Ugly Couch Contest”, 6575 Snowdrift Road, Allentown, PA 18106.
On a separate piece of paper, include your full name, address, phone number and email address. Or you can enter online by clicking here.
Make sure your photo gets in before October 13, so HGTV’s panel of judges can decide just how ugly your couch is.

Tracey Erwin!!

Congratulations, Tracey. She wins a $29 baby cow footed romper from The Polkadot Patch Boutique, where they believe children’s clothing should be fun, unique, and let children express their individuality and their personality. The Polkadot Patch hand selects every item and each product must match their philosophy

Thanks to everyone who participated by picking out their wish item from the Polkadot Patch. Tracey’s pick was this funky unisex kids monster outfit – which was a popular item with many SouthernMamas!

Look for a different giveaway to be announced here Monday.

We’ve all visited many cute baby-kid product Web sites.

But y’all are really going to swoon over The Polkadot Patch Boutique, where they believe children’s clothing should be fun, unique, and let children express their individuality and their personality. The Polkadot Patch hand selects every item and each product must match their philosophy

This week, the Polkadot Patch webshop is giving away this adorable baby cow footed romper pictured here to a SouthernMamas subscriber in the size of her choice. The $29 unisex cow romper from Empress Baby is made of super soft velour.

To win, answer this: If you could have any item from the Polkadot Patch, what would it be? Would it be these personalized lunchboxes. Or this funky unisex kids monster outfit? You gotta love this colorful surf’s up children’s wall clock, too. Or would you select one of these baby gifts?

Email your answer to anne@southernmamas.com by 9 pm this Thurs. Aug. 14. We’ll pick a name at random and announce it here Friday.

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

Polkadot Patch donates a percentage of their gross yearly sales to Prevent Child Abuse.

Kate Kneisley.

You win a pair of kuuru shoes, designed to support babies and toddlers in their early walking years. Kate will be able to select her favorite pair from the variety of shoes see here.

Thanks to everyone who offered tips and questions about meeting other moms. If you haven’t checked out all the suggestions of activities, places and Web sites, be sure to read the comments under this post for some great ideas.

Look for a different giveaway to be announced here Monday.

I am not sure I can gush enough about the sales offered @ Fantaisiekids.com, our newest sponsor.

Currently, nursery, baby gear, and gifts are 20 percent off. Clothing items from brands including Fantaisie Kids, Neige, Seafolly Girl, le top, Tommy & Fern, Flora and Henri, and Tea Collection are now 30-60% off.

The summer rewards program extends all summer long. Spend $125 @ Fantaisiekids.com and receive a $25 gift certificate. Spend $250, and receive $50. Spend $500, and receive $100. Applies toward full-priced items only. Offer ends when August ends.

There’s also the alluring refer-a-friend program. Refer five friends, and receive a $25 Fantaisiekids gift card.

Below are some other reasons to check out Fantaisiekids.com. Now do you see why I am gushing?