For those who know me, they will know how much I adore Build-A-Bear. Not only are these bears utterly fantastic, but the experience from visiting a workshop is something else altogether. I had the joy of bringing my two boys to a Build-A-Bear workshop, and to see their little faces light up from just walking into the store made it a perfect day in itself. Seeing them make their bears with total glee and excitement, and then bring the bears to life is completely priceless. It is a memory that will stay with me for some time, and an experience I highly recommend to any Mother. I have reviewed these gorgeous little bears for a while now, and just can’t stop myself from sharing Build-A-Bear’s newest releases to our readers.
Last year, Build-A-Bear introduced the delightful limited edition line called SmallFrys. These are basically a ‘baby’ version of the average bear, but have got the ultimate cute factor. And now I am very happy to tell you that SmallFrys are back with their 2nd edition. Look how incredibly sweet they are:-
They stand at a small 7” high, and I can guarantee that this will be your child’s favourite ‘baby teddy’ for a long time to come. And, you can get some very cute outfits for them too! Build-A-Bear say:-
“Feed your friendship with build-a-bear smallfrys. 1 serving of this endless hugs teddy contains 100% of your daily allowance of hugs, fun, laughter, friendship and self expression!”
My youngest received a SmallFrys Bear last year, and it has been his best companion since. Whenever he is feeling poorly, or about to get into bed, his ‘baby’ is the first thing he grabs. He really is so soft a cuddly (and so is the bear!), you will want to cuddle him all night.
I urge Iconic Gift readers to give their child an experience of a lifetime, and treat them to the most ultimate gift they could have. You can get your SmallFrys at stores nationwide or at http://www.buildabear.co.uk, the teddies are priced at a tiny £8 each and the outfits are £5 each.
We all know that to get the most of your child’s bedroom (i.e. to keep them in it for longer), it should look fantastic, or ‘cool’ as my boys would put it! Boring plain walls is no longer the easy way out of decorating, as it can be made just as easy with the help of Walltastic! Walltastic offer the most fantastic range of wallpaper Murals that any child would be proud to have in their bedroom.
You can choose from one of 12 Classic and 9 Character License wallpaper murals from Walltastic. You will be sure to find the perfect mural which will make a bedroom, nursery or playroom into a place of amazement and inspiration. And it couldn’t be easier to do. Walltastic Murals can be put up in 12 simple and easy steps by and will cover an area of up to 8ft x 10ft. All Walltastic murals are made of sustainable, eco-friendly materials and can be recycled. They can also be painted over or covered with a new mural when individual tastes change. Now that all sounds great!
With Walltastic, you can transform a boring room in under an amazing £50. The Walltastic Classic range has the best-selling Sea Adventure mural; at just £34.99 – it really is extraordinary!
Choose from many designs such as Dinosaur Land, Fairy Princess, Scooby Doo, Peppa Pig, Ben 10, plus so much more. To see the full range, check out http://www.walltastic.com.
Baby signing is something that is becoming more and more popular throughout the country, and it’s not hard to see why. At just 6 months old, a baby’s motor skills are sufficiently developed to make simple gestures – making this the perfect age to start your baby signing.
And to help us Mum’s get your little one of to the right start, a new, beautifully illustrated basic guide to baby signing, Signing Hands: Baby Signing Basics, is out now. This book is completely fantastic, with cute little drawings it is very appealing and will be a must have for all new parents.
Signing Hands; Baby Signing Basics not only gives parents first signs to get started with, but includes tips for success from experienced baby signing teachers as well as crucial development information and what to expect from your baby.
Shelley Ensor, Founder of Little Learner Books state’s:-
“Little Learner Books was founded in 2010 and we believe we have found a niche in the provision of educational resources for baby signing and Early Years signing. ‘Signing Hands: Baby Signing Basics’ can be enjoyed by your baby alongside mum, dad, siblings and other relatives or care givers. It’s fun to flick through the colourful pages together and put into practice the signs that have been beautifully illustrated. Older brothers and sisters can also be a part of the fun by helping to read the stories and sing the songs we have included”.
I think this book is great! It is very simple to follow, and with the bright, colourful pictures, it is very enjoyable to look at. Baby Signing Basics is a fantastic book to buy for yourself, or even better to give a new mum as a present. Including first signs, engaging pictures, tips and exercises, this book will very quickly show your baby how to communicate through signing. I love it!
Here is a sample of what the book will give you:-
Signing Hands: Baby Signing Basics costs £10.99, and find out more about Little Learners Books go to http://www.littlelearnerbooks.co.uk
To find out more about learning to sign, classes near you and how to become a Little Signers teacher check out http://www.littlesignersclub.co.uk.
Those who know me will also know how much I adore Build-A-Bear teddies. Cute, adorable, completely charming and the workshops is something truly amazing to do with your children.
Build-A-Bear Workshop will be spreading a little love this Valentine’s Day by introducing beary cute Valentine’s Day products. Just take a look at how sweet these are:-
Start your loveable furry friendships with Marry Me Read Teddy £15.00, and available for a limited time only is Love Bear £13.50 and Love Bug Bear £13.50.
Either go yourself to make up your unique teddy, or bring your loved one to one of the many workshops in the UK to experience the excitement for themselves. Build-A-Bear says:
“As February approaches, Guests can find the perfect gift to cele-bear-ate Valentine’s Day at Build-A-Bear Workshop. Build-A-Bear Workshop provides an experience that the recipient and gift giver can share together, making personalised gifts from the heart to give to loved ones”.
As part of the Build-A-Bear Workshop bear-making experience, each Guest selects a small satin heart – a Build-A-Bear Workshop trademark, adds to it his or hers own love and wishes and carefully places inside their new furry friend.
Upon creating a love-themed bear and reciting the promise to love and adore their new furry friend, Guests are then able to dress their bears in personalised outfits and high fashion. The friendship by no means ends at the store however, as guests can bring new friends to life online at http://www.buildabearville.com, the company’s virtual world.
I have two young boys who like me, are totally in awe of these teddies. They had the ultimate experience of building their own bear, and these now live on their beds – and will for a long time to come. The bears have been admired by many, young and old, and no matter what age the recipient is, they will be sure to love it too.
You can accessorise your bear with many items. This Valentine’s, your new bear could include any of these:-
• Love Bug Dress (£10.00)
• Red Bow Purse (£4.50)
• Heart Fairy (10.00)
• Heart Antennae (£2.50)
• Love Bug PJ (£8.00)
• Bee Mine Costume (£8.00)
• Heart Fairy (£10.00)
• Huggable Polo (£4.50)
• Rose Bouquet (£2.50)
• Love Bug Slippers (£4.50)
• Black Dressy Loafer (£5.00)
I urge our readers to check these out for themselves – you will find them irresistible. To find you’re nearest store, and for further details check out http://www.buildabear.co.uk.
I absolutely love OXO for their fantastic range of utensils, which make life simpler around the home. So, you can imagine how excited I was when they introduced their new ‘Tot’ range. Forget the grown-ups, this one is especially for the kids, and it is a great range indeed. From the kitchen to the bathroom, OXO is here to help mum and dad with every day life within the home.
The Tots line of feeding products are specifically designed to help you baby grow into a ‘big kid’. Independence is very important, and I know from experience that once they hit toddler stage, not being able to do ‘grown-up’ things can leave your child feeling very frustrated. Feeding can be a big issue – it can get very messy in the highchair when they want to start feeding themselves. So, with the help of the OXO Tot 4 piece feeding set (£15), it can be a lot easier! The Plate has a removable, curved ring and the Bowl features straight sidewalls, each designed to help guide food onto utensils with ease. Both have a non-slip bottom to keep them stable on the table. OXO Tot’s Fork and Spoon feature curved handles that are non-slip and easy for little hands to hold. Tines on the Fork capture food effectively and a deep Spoon shape makes it easy to scoop food and liquid – fantastic.
Or, for ease in the bathroom, OXO Tot has a few great products. From a whale pail that teaches your child to clean up bath toys to a stopper (available in the US) that keeps them from escaping down the drain, bath time can be now more enjoyable. The OXO Tot Whale Pail is another really good idea. Use the Whale’s wide mouth to fetch toys out of the bathtub. The soft, non-slip handle makes it easy for little bathers to help scoop and rinse toys, even with wet hands. Store the Pail on the holder, which suctions to the wall and sits on the bathtub ledge for added security. Holes along the side of the Pail help increase ventilation and dry toys. A translucent window will show you which toys are being stored. My boys love the new Whale in our bathroom, and so do I! At last, my kids love to tidy up after themselves – heaven!
The OXO Tot collection is now available nationwide, including John Lewis stores, Amazon, or check out the full range at http://www.oxo.com.
