Below is a guest post from Nicole Hubbard, owner of Hubbard’s Maid Service, a SouthernMamas.com advertiser. The post will make you want to sterilize your sheets immediately!

Everything You Never Wanted To Know About Dust Mites
By Nicole Hubbard, owner, Hubbard’s Maid Service

Dust Mites are some gross critters that you never can see but they can pack a punch in your home on the annoyance scale. The old style cleaning of taking rugs and household furnishings outside to smack with a broom are actually quite effective in reducing dust mites. Think of all those microscopic carcasses, feces, hair, and dead skin floating through the atmosphere, away from where you live!

“Frequent vacuuming is the key to reducing dust mites,” states local Oreck Store manager, Steve Bussius. “You can’t totally get rid of them, but vacuuming behind the headboard of beds, behind furniture, and between the mattress and bedsprings is a good way to reduce dust mites.” Steve also recommends using Oreck vacuum cleaners and their green HEPA filter vacuum bags as well as mattress & pillow protection covers, all of which Oreck sells. Steve also noted that typically when you purchase a brand new mattress, 5 years later it is 30% heavier due to the carcass and feces residue that dust mites leave behind. Yummy!

The feces of dust mites is what causes allergic reactions in human beings…To read the entire guest post, click here

Hubbard’s Maid Service, 912.961.9131, www.hubbardsmaidservice.com Hubbard’s Maid Service is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Here’s a list of children’s books on astronomy provided by Live Oak Public Libraries & distributed by the Oglethorpe Astronomical Association at the gazing in the garden January family event at The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens . (Who knew that Curious George author H.A. Rey also wrote books on the stars? See below.)

If you’re interested in taking your kids to other star-gazing events check out the Feb. 25 Dark Sky Star Party at the Okefenokee Swamp listed in SouthernMamas February 2012 events happening at state parks and historic spots .

“Night Sky Atlas” by Robin Seagell
“Astronomy” by Kristen Lippincott
“Black Holes & Other Space Oddities” by Alex Barnett
“Space” by Simon Holland
“The Solar System: An A-Z Guide” by Christina Wilsdon
“Cosmic Light Shows” by Bobbie Kalman & April Fast
“Find the Constellations” by H.A. Rey
“The Stars: A New Way to See Them” by H.A. Rey

Make It & Take It: Valentine’s Day at various Live Oak public library branches
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making a Heart Art Card! Ages 4 and up.

Bull Street Library, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 4:30 p.m.
Port City Library, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 4:30 p.m.

Scent of a Magnolia: A tribute to Billie Holliday, Her Life and Music
Southwest Chatham Library, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 6 p.m.
Actress/singer Nickki Rich, author Trisha Sugarek, and project manager Ronald Hazzard present a tribute to Billie Holiday. This one-woman show portrays the life of a black jazz singer in America during the 1930’s. As Billie tells us not only her story, but the nation’s story, she injects her tale with her most famous music as well as some of her more obscure songs. Her triumph was her music and her songs that will live on forever.

Time to explore Georgia State Parks.

Start planning your it’s-almost-spring getaway by checking out the SouthernMamas February 2012 events happening at state parks and historic spots across the state. Nearby events include Dinner with General James E. Oglethorpe at Fort King George Historic Site, Darien & Dark Sky Star Party at the Okefenokee Swamp.

The events are listed on the SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page by clicking here.

The pink Backus site at Victory Drive & Truman Parkway in Midtown Savannah will be undergoing renovations. We hope the high-end grocery store that is supposed to be housed in the former Cadillac dealership spot will be Whole Foods, as rumored.

The prospective buyers of the Backus property, Atlanta-area development firms Knightwood and S.J. Collins Enterprises, plan to convert the Victory Drive frontage to parking and construct three new buildings to house retail on the site.

The Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission approved the redevelopment plan last week. The largest building planned for the site will measure 35,000 square feet. The developers have been in negotiations with a “high-end retail grocer” to lease the spot.

Word on the street that high-end grocer is Whole Foods. Keep those fingers crossed. Stay tuned here for updates.

Savannah Black Heritage Festival Grand Festival Day, Saturday, February 11, 2012
a family fun day of top entertainment, Grand Festival Day is one of the highlighted events. It will be held in the Savannah Civic Center’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Arena from morning into the evening. In addition to the variety of activities for youth and performances by nationally famous recording artists, food and retail vendors will also be on hand with a wide variety of food, goods and services.

On Sat. Feb. 18, there will be a Mardi Gras parade at 3pm down Butler Avenue and a street party with music and festivities on Tybrisa Street. Join the fun, listen to authentic Zydeco music featuring Brad Randell and the Zydeco Ballers, All American All Star Dixieland Review and Jeff Beasley Band. The music starts already at noon. Admission to the street party and parade viewing is free. www.mardigrastybee.com

Armstrong Atlantic Youth Orchestra Benefit Concert
AASU Fine Arts Auditorium
11935 Abercorn Street at Science Drive
3 PM Sun. March 4, 2012
Featuring Soloist
Julia Sellman, winner of the AAYO Jr. Division Concerto Competition Concert and Gallery Reception
$25 per person
Tickets: available at the door
Advance reservations for the Reception requested.
Please email: savaayo@yahoo.com (RE:RESERVE)

“Lego Day” at the Hilton Head Branch Library, 4-5:30 p.m. 11 Beach City Rd. (843) 255-6529 or www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.

Children’s Movie Day for ages 3 and up with their families at the Hilton Head Branch Library, 1 p.m. Refreshments are served. Call for details and movie title.
(843) 255-6529 or www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.

Bedtime Storytime for ages 3 and up with their families at the Hilton Head Branch Library, 6:45 p.m. Wear your PJs and bring your favorite stuffed friend to enjoy stories, songs and surprises.

276th Anniversary of Fort Frederica Living History Encampment
Saturday, February 18, 2012, 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.
Fort Frederica, St. Simons Island
The National Park Service commemorates the 1736 founding of Frederica. Living history activities including historic weapons demonstrations, 18th century trades and crafts will bring the history of this British fort and town to life. Call Ft. Frederica at 912.638.3639 or visit www.nps.gov/fofr  for more information. Free and open to the public.

If you need a new heating & air system, there’s never been a better time to buy.

Be one of the next 25 residential customers to change out your system & be entered to win $5K in cash.

Galbreath & Sons Heating and Air is proud to announce that they will be giving away $5,000.00 to one of the next 25 customers that replaces their residential air conditioning system.

The next 25 change out customers will be entered into a drawing for up to a $5,000.00 cash prize!!! Call Galbreath for more info or a free quote.

Call Galbreath & Sons today for more information or a free quote. 843.200.0012. www.GalbreathAndSons.com.

Galbreath & Sons is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

We love Super Museum Sunday when museums & other organizations are FREE. This year, Super Museum Sunday is 12-4 PM Sunday Feb 5. The new SCAD Museum of Art will be among those local museums offering free admission this Sunday! 

From Statesboro to Darien, over 40 cultural institutions throughout coastal Georgia participate in this popular annual family event. Free and open to the public.

Click here for a list of some participating local museums, so you can plan your day and take advantage of free admissions.

MetalPressions.com is the quintessential American small business success story of Savannah Jewelry Designer and Artist, Elisha Argentinis and her husband Andreas.

The two teamed up three years ago to take Elisha’s jewelry designs to the next level and make huge waves in the online personalized jewelry market. Over the past three years while growing the jewelry business, they have developed a revolutionary online jewelry design tool that will change the way people shop for personalized custom jewelry.

The software is user friendly, highly intuitive and provides each customer the ability to design, online, the exact piece of jewelry they envision in their own mind. With no limitations and no restrictions, the online jewelry design tool goes wherever the customers’ imagination leads them.

At Metal Pressions you can add text, diamonds, and other embellishments to necklaces, bracelets, rings, cufflinks, tie clips and more.

Exceptionally designed & handcrafted gold and silver jewelry with an exclusive online design tool have set MetalPressions.com apart from their competition.

Visit or contact them today to get your one of a kind Metal Pressions original jewelry design.

For a limited time – Save 20% with coupon code SM20
1 use per customer – Expires February 6th – Cannot be combined with other offers.

MetalPressions.com is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser, www.metalpressions.com /

Consign with Kids 2 Kids Consignment seasonal sale at Savannah Mall in March and receive 70% commission.

Consign more to make more. Consign 100 items and receive 75% commission on all items. Registration is now open. kids2Kids Consignment is taking ALL Seasons of gently used clothing, toys, books, furniture, baby and maternity items. For more information, click here. 

 Kids 2 Kids seasonal consignment sale is set for March 8-11 2012 at Savannah Mall.

Sale Dates:
Thurs. March 8 3p-7p
Frid. March 9 10a-7p
Sat. March 10 10a-7p
Sun. Mar.11 11a-2p (Select Items will be 40% off)

Want to Shop Early? Volunteer and shop March 8 10a-3p

Drop Off is March 6 & 7.

Kids 2 Kids easy tagging system is NOW available. Click here to Register/ Start Tagging/ or Sign up for Volunteer Shifts.

The advantages to seasonal consignment sales are numerous:
•shoppers find better prices at seasonal consignment sales than at consignment shops
•the variety and quality is better than garage sales
•consignors keep a larger percentage
•it is fun and easy

Kids 2 Kids Consignment Sale, http://kids2kidsconsign.net/, March 8-11 2012, Kids 2 Kids Consignment Sale is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Congratulations Dr. Cara DeLeon, DMD Pediatric Dentist in Savannah. Dr. DeLeon recently completed her certification examinations and is now a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry!

Dr. DeLeon’s practice, Pediatric Dentistry of Savannah  is at 310 Eisenhower Drive No. 6. Tel: 912-349-4021. It’s an honor to have become a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry so early in her career.

The Mission of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry is to verify to the public and to the health professionals that a pediatric dentist has successfully completed both an advanced educational program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and a voluntary examination process designed to validate the knowledge, application and performance requisite to the delivery of exceptional care in pediatric dentistry. The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry is the only certifying Board recognized by the American Dental Association for the specialty of pediatric dentistry.

Pediatric Dentistry of Savannah, 310 Eisenhower Dr. Building #6 Savannah, 31406 tel: 912-349-4021 email: Drcara@pds-kids.com , www.pediatricdentistryofsavannah.com Pediatric Dentistry of Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

UPDATE: Serenity Safer is the winner! Congratulations Serenity!

Yummy! This week’s giveaway is divinely decadent: a Valentines Mini Box of 24 from Gigi’s Cupcakes of Savannah , valued at $39. (pictured here)

To enter to win, “like” Gigi’s Cupcakes of Savannah on Facebook by clicking here. Then answer this question on their wall: what’s your family’s favorite Valentine tradition? Or what are you giving your loves for Valentines Day?  Deadline to enter to win is noon Feb. 5. We’ll announce the winner here and on SouthernMamas.com Facebook on Mon. Feb. 6.

You and your sweetie will swoon over these adorable boxes of love. In addition to the mini box of 24, Gigi’s also offers the “Love” box with 4 mini cupcakes for only $10.99 & the “Lots of Love” box with 6 mini cupcakes for only $15.99. Both come in a beautiful Valentines Box with custom Valentines decorations.

Don’t forget: Gigi’s Cupcakes hand-delivers, too! 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 sponsor.

You’re invited to participate as a taster or baker in the Battle of the Bakers, 1-3 PM Sat. Feb 4 2012 at the Hoskins Center, 66th Street and Ranger St, on Memorial Health’s campus, Savannah.

The event benefits Ronald McDonald House, 4710 Waters Ave., Savannah Ga 31404

Baked goods – such as pastries, muffins, cakes, cookies, and more – will be judged in four categories: appearance; authenticity; taste; creativity.

No matter who “takes the cake” the real winner will be the Ronald McDonald House, because in addition to competing, contestants reach out to friends and family members to support their fundraising efforts. All proceeds benefit the House’s Share A Night fund.

Buy Tickets online here.

Participate as a Baker or Taster
Taster Tickets:
$65 Baker’s Box – Support RMHC’s Share a Night Campaign – Includes a large pastry box and champagne bar
$25 Taster Ticket – Includes a small pastry box and a glass of champagne
Baker Registration, Free.

Admission for Children
FREE for children 10 years old & younger
$10: children 11 years & older

All of the registration information can be found here Contact Alex Wysocki, alex@rmhccoastalempire.org, 912-350-7641

2012 Ronald McDonald House Charities Battle of the Bakers, The Hoskins Center at Memorial Health, 66th Street and Ranger St, Savannah, 31404

SCAD Soccer Clinic for Kids
10 AM- 2 PM Sat. Feb 4 & Sun. Feb 5, 2012
Abolt Obrien Soccer Field Sports Facility, Wilmington Is. Concord Rd
Savannah, GA 31410
The womens SCAD soccer team is raising money to go to Barcelona over spring break. To help raise money, they are holding a soccer clinic for the kids of Savannah. THE DAY(s) WILL INCLUDES BASIC DRILLS, TECHNIQUES, GAMES AND TRICKS
$40 for one day

$70 for both days

$20 for 4-6 year olds (half day)

$10 off total if signing up siblings

Ages 4-6 will go for 1 1/2 hours, 10am-11:30am. All players bring soccer ball, shin guards and water bottle.

Ages 7-12 will go for 4 hours, 10am-2pm. All players must bring a sack lunch, soccer ball, water bottle and shin guards.

Parents are encouraged to leave the children with us and enjoy their free timeYou can sign up on this page by putting your child/children’s names and your phone number. You can also sign up by calling/texting Shelby Dieckamp at 317-363-5531 or Ciara Thomas at 859-321-0727

Interested in putting your child’s name into the lottery for the 2012-2013 Savannah-Chatham public schools FREE pre-kindergarten program? Here are some important dates:

Applications for the 2012-2013 Pre-Kindergarten Program will be available Monday, February 27, 2012 through Friday, March 23, 2012. The child must be four years of age on or before September 1, 2012. Parents must provide proof of residence and a certified birth certificate when submitting the application. Please note: Contact Coastal Empire Montessori for that school’s application dates as the school has a seperate enrollment process.

Only one application per child may be submitted at a maximum of three sites. If applying at three sites, your first choice must be in your attendance zone. The application with the appropriate documents must be submitted to each school. Submission of more than 3 applications will result in the child being disqualified.

Children will be selected through a lottery drawing which will be held April 3, 2012 at school sites. Parents will receive written notification of acceptance or waiting list status at the end of April.

Parents may go to any of the sites with the program to obtain an application. The Information Desk at 208 Bull Street will also have applications. Click here for local schools that offer the free pre-K program. Learn more about the program here.

For open houses when you can check out the pre-k schools, click here.

Bilingual Speech Therapy & Language Center has only two student openings in the beginner afterschool Spanish class group for children!

Receive a 20% discount on the first two months of registration for children ages 5-12. Classes are 4:30-5:15 PM Fridays. Registration fee can be paid on the Bilingual Speech Therapy & Language Center webpage here.

To register, call 912.335.8486. For more info, click here.

For speech therapy sessions, Bilingual Speech Therapy & Language Center accepts Tricare Prime, Tricare Standard, Medicaid & Amerigroup Patients.

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.

 The Savannah Children’s Theatre added a “Seussical the Musical” show, 7 p.m. Thursday Feb. 2 because the theatre has had a wonderful turnout for the show.

Final showtimes are this upcoming weekend: 8 PM Fri. Feb. 3, 3 PM & 8 PM Sat. Feb. 4 & 3 PM Sun. Feb. 5.

The Mainstage production features both adult and children performers, along with a live six-member orchestra. The Savannah Children’s Theatre’s Mainstage productions are the theatre’s biggest shows of the year and are so popular they typically sell out by the final weekend.

Tickets can be purchased at www.savannahchildrenstheatre.org or at the theatre, 2160 E. Victory Drive, Crossroad Shopping Center, next to the Piggly Wiggly. 912-238-9015.

Auditions for The Twelve Dancing Princesses are at the theatre 6:30 Monday Jan. 30. (grades 2nd-12th.) The show’s playwright, Max Bush, will be in house for many of the rehearsals and shows. Show dates are April 27-29, May 4-6.