CLOSED:Build a bear (R&G)

1997, a 'beary' big store was birthed....a store that was more than just your run of the mill toy store...it was a store with an entertainment face....a store that's uttered with a smile on every child's face.....the Build-A-Bear Workshop!

We were given the opportunity to review a Build-A-Bear product that would be sent to our home or go to the store and soak in the experience while we chose our product for review. Now we've never ever been to a Build-A-Bear store so we really wanted to see what the buzz was all about......and wow....that sure was a fun experience.

I have to admit that walking into a Build-A-Bear store for a child (and a few adults...like me!)is like walking into a candy store....errr lets change that to a chocolate store (Bunny girl doesn't like candy and we're all choco-lovers!)

We were greeted by a very friendly sales associate who asked Bunny girl to choose a bear/dog/horse/character she wanted to stuff. She chose this cute little 13" floppy eared pooch (She loves dogs) that got stuffed right before us. Bunny girl was asked to hug her puppy to see if he was soft enough and after a few stuffings here and there, the puppy was just the right huggable size!

We then went through my favorite part of the whole experience.....choosing the puppy's heart and preparing it to be placed inside the little pooch. I just adore the heart ceremony! It was so cute watching Bunny girl rub that little barking heart on her nose (so the pup knows who she is), muscles (so the pup is super strong), cheeks (so the pup is happy to see her), forehead (so the pup is super strong), heart (so the pup is brave and has lots of love) and other parts of her body.

To complete the heart ceremony, Bunny girl then had to hold onto the heart, close her eyes tight and make a wish for her puppy.....now how cute is that? The pup was then officially 'heart-stuffed', sewn up and all set to be cuddled. I thought that was it but nooooooo......the sales associate asked how we could take the pooch out without a bath and clothes to keep her warm? ....Oooooooooh!

Now those Build-A-Bear plush fellows sure do have more clothes options than I think I do....and please note this was only one wall. There were racks behind where we were standing with little Disney costumes as well!!

Now it doesn't just stop with clothes....you have shoes, intimates, a drawer full of matching bows and a whole bunch of other accessories. Now don't you wish you were a Build-A-Bear plush?

Once Bunny girl's pooch was fitted with a hep pink jacket, a skirt, shoes and bows she then had to name her pooch. (Now ever since Bunny girl has wanted a sister, she has wanted to name her baby 'G'.....but we've said the name was way too long so since then she has named every thing she has come across 'G'...including this new pooch!)

With a little help, Bunny girl got G's birth certificate ready, printed out and there...we were all set to take G to her new home.

What an experience! I know Bunny girl enjoyed herself and I sure did too! I think every child should try and visit the Build-A-Bear workshop atleast once in his/her lifetime....it will be a visit he/she will remember for a very long time.


Buy it:

Build-A-Bear plush toys range from 10-25 US$. They will be stuffed at any workshop for free and the little bath you give the plush is also free. You can stuff your plush with an animated heart for 5-8 US$.
Clothes, shoes and accessories, on an average, range from 2-15 US$ a piece.
(If you do keep a look out, you can get some fun promotions to make your overall package a little more economical.)


Win it:

One reader will have the opportunity to win a 15" Alvin plush from the Build-A-Bear workshop.


Here's how you can win it:

1. Mandatory entry (without this, all other entries will be disqualified)-

Look around the Build-A-Bear site and tell which product you think is the cutest.

Additional entries:

- 2. Subscribe to my blog (remember you need to activate the subscription if you subscribe via email) or Follow my blog & leave a comment stating that you subscribe or follow.

- 3. Blog about this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your blog post)

- 4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway and add the hashtag #ebmr at the end. (You can tweet daily. Each daily tweet counts as an additional entry)

- 5. Add the link to this giveaway on a Mr Linky on a blog giveaway site, forum, carnival. (leave a comment with the link)

-6. Snag my Blog button and leave a comment with the link.


This giveaway is open to US residents, 18 years and above.

1 winner will be chosen with the random.org generator on January 2 2010 at 10 pm Central time, so enter before that. The winner's name will be posted thereafter. Please note if any winner does not get back to me 48 hours after his/her name has been posted, I will pick a new winner.


** EBMR Disclaimer: Build-A-Bear workshop arranged for Bunny girl to receive this cute puppy for review purposes only. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.**