Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Giveaway: Build-A-Bear Workshop Giftcard

I have been a fan of the Build-A-Bear Workshop for a long time. I love how friendly they are and how you can personalize your bear with everything from the sound you put inside to the outfit to the name you give on the birth certificate. The store is so friendly and inviting, and there's always something new. I suppose there's a reason Little Miss's bed is completely covered in animals. And Mister Man's, too.

The Build-A-Bear Workshop regularly comes out with new animals from those that support a particular charity such as Turner the Owl, who supports literacy and education programs and the new Star Wars bear. This holiday season, there is a whole line from Rudolph, including Rudolph himself, Clarice, and Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster. Hal and Holly Moose are also back, as is their holiday special.

Just as Build-A-Bear Workshop supports charities with the specially designated bears they sell, you can help, too. Through the end of November, you can donate $1 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In December, you can donate $1 to support Toys for Tots. The weekend of December 3-6, there will be a toy drive for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in all stores if you have any new and unwrapped toys to share.

Mister Man and I visited a Build-A-Bear Workshop near us to make a new bear for Mister Man from one of their new lines. Not surprisingly, Mister Man immediately gravitated towards the Star Wars collection. He decided upon the Midnight Teddy immediately, but the clothing was a more difficult choice.

Fortunately, I forgot my camera, so we had to head back to my car to retrieve it, giving him more time to think about his choice. Of course, it wasn't in my car either, so I was reduced to using my phone, but it works.

Once we returned to the store, Mister Man finally decided on a Darth Vader costume, and we were ready to stuff. Interestingly, we had yet to be approached or even acknowledged by any of the four people working at Build-A-Bear in either of our trips into the store or around the store. Mister Man actually had to walk up to the counter and interrupt three of them having a conversation (and not about a work topic, mind you) to ask if he could stuff his bear. Fortunately, he wasn't bothered by it, but it definitely was not their usual above and beyond customer service this time around.

As always, he did the extra special wishes for his bear's heart before he put it in, rubbing it on his muscles to make it strong, on his cheeks so his bear would always smile, on his ears so his bear would always be there to listen to him, and the like. He loves all the ways he makes that heart really mean something rather than it simply being a piece of the puzzle.

Once his bear was adequately stuffed, he gave it a bath. I cracked up as Mister Man held it under the "shower" and made the water noise before using the brush to scrub it. The imagination brought out by Build-A-Bear Workshop is always precious to me.

The Darth Vader costume Mister Man chose included the (correct color!) light saber, a cape, a hood, and the main costume. Because it had multiple pieces, it requires an adult to carefully remove the tags to ensure the costume doesn't rip before you get it out of the store. Getting it on is fortunately something that Mister Man can do (mostly) himself. We did discover that the costume would have better fit the smaller $10 bear, but we got it on. It gives me leverage for a $10 bear next time! And you know there will be a next time - the two Star Wars costumes I've already purchased and have hidden away in the basement are testament to that.



Once his bear was fully costumed, Mister Man went to create his birth certificate. I learned the last time we went to Build-A-Bear workshop to make a bear that I want to leave myself plenty of time so we aren't rushed at any particular spot. Creating the birth certificate is something that Mister Man is old enough to do, but it takes him time as he thinks about what each question is asking and then has to find the keys on the keyboard. I love giving him this bit of independence, and kudos to Build-A-Bear Workshop for making it simple enough that a child can do.


The process may have taken us longer than I anticipated (partly due to my own forgetfulness with the camera!), but Midnight the bear is now a happy member of our home. And Mister Man couldn't be prouder.


Yes, I have lots more photos, but I'm still waiting for them to arrive from my phone to my email - I'll update as soon as I can!

Are you jealous? Build-A-Bear Workshop has exclusive offers available on their Facebook page, and they now have an iPhone app, too! I've heard that there will be great offers on Thanksgiving Day and Black Monday online, as well as in stores throughout the weekend. I advise you go check it out.

Oh, did I forget to mention that I have a $25 gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop to give away? Silly me. Apparently it's not just my camera that I'm forgetting!

So what do you have to do to win the gift card? First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Tuesday December 7 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 24 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: What furry friend would you create from the Build-A-Bear collection?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest with the following tweet: "Win a $25GC from @buildabear from @honestandtruly. Details: http://honestandtrulyreviews.blogspot.com/2010/11/giveaway-build-a-bear-giftcard.html" (leave a link to your tweet as your comment and make sure you do all the steps!)
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a $25 gift card from Build-A-Bear to purchase a bear for review purposes. I received no compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

54 comments:

  1. I'd love to make the 17 in. Awesome Alien Orange
    nieceyd(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I follow you on twitter and tweeted
    http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/7284188906520576
    nieceyd(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I follow this blog via google friend connect - Niecey

    nieceyd(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I follow your regular blog via google friend connect - Niecey

    nieceyd(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would make Hello Kitty - I love her!

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  6. I bet my daughter would make the Brown Sugar Puppy.
    pbjmama(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I follow you on Twitter as http://twitter.com/pbandjmama and tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/pbandjmama/status/7503342267797504
    pbjmama(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I follow your other blog via GFC!
    pbjmama(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would creat a reindeer!!
    shopgurl101 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I follow this blog
    shopgurl101 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I follow your main blog
    shopgurl101 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. http://twitter.com/shopgurl/status/7549522389504000

    shopgurl101 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would make some kind of unicorn for Jillian. She just loves them :)

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  14. I would definitely choose the cuddly corduroy puppy! Too cute, and so unique

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  15. I follow your "regular" blog (I think publicly, but I don't remember for sure?)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I follow you & buildabear on twitter, & I tweeted: http://twitter.com/psmom/status/7609875399966720

    ReplyDelete
  17. Clarice from the Rudolph the Red Nose Raindeer Collection

    --Meagan
    cheercfa07 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Followed and Tweeted http://twitter.com/vivalameaganx3/status/7618669160964096

    --Meagan
    cheercfa07 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Follow via GFC

    --Meagan
    cheercfa07 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I follow your other blog via GFC

    --Meagan
    cheercfa07 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. OMG I would totally makethe abominable snowman from Rudolf!! My 7 year old dressed up like him a couple years ago-easy costume.

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  22. stalking you on twitter--whats4dinnermom laura sampson
    Win a $25GC from @buildabear from @honestandtruly. http://honestandtrulyreviews.blogspot.com/2010/11/giveaway-build-a-bear-giftcard.html
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. following your "normal"? blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I could create the Angelic Sweet Cuddles Teddy Pink!
    Thanks!
    fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Google Friend Connect Follower of this blog! {mom2anutball}

    fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I follow your other blog too!

    fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Twitter follower {@mom2anutball}, and tweeted!

    http://twitter.com/mom2anutball/status/9094785730093056

    fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I would love to make Clarice or Rudolph for my niece
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. http://twitter.com/meeyeehere/status/9337454863585280
    follow and tweet
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I follow this blog
    Your son is super cute
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Follow you other blog too
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I would buy clarice for my cousin, that is her favorite.
    wakechick25(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I follow this blog on GFC.
    wakechick25(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I follow your Regular blog on GFC
    wakechick25(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I WOULD PICK THE MOOSE WITH THE LIGHT UP ANTLERS.
    CHADWICKWITHERSTINE AT GMAIL DOT COM

    ReplyDelete
  36. I would love Rudolph or clarice!!

    afrugalfriend (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I want the new bear that you can plug your mp3 player into.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Here's my tweet and yes, I do follow. http://twitter.com/#!/WeaselMomma/statuses/10672030005334016

    ReplyDelete
  39. It's all about Rudolph!

    six_one_nine_girlie86 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  40. i would create the brown sugar puppy for my daughter!

    danav27 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  41. i follow Honest and Truly via GFC

    danav27 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. following your “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

    ReplyDelete
  43. FOLLOW AND TWEETED @BANI127 http://twitter.com/bani127/status/11891790588153856

    ReplyDelete
  44. I would love to get my son the 14 in. Brown Sugar Puppy


    giveawaymommy at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  45. twitter follower @giveawaymommy

    tweet http://twitter.com/#!/giveawaymommy/status/11904566207455233

    giveawaymommy at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Already a gfc follower Melissa r


    giveawaymommy at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  47. gfc follower of your regular blog Melissa R


    giveawaymommy at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I would definitely choose the cuddly corduroy puppy! Too cute, and so unique.Thanks for nice sharing its a cool blog
    plastic card printing

    ReplyDelete

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