Blossom is 16" High and only $18.00

What is it about Build A Bear that drives little kids crazy? I can ask my girls to practically do anything if I promise them a trip to Build A Bear!

Seriously…they go crazy. Carefully choosing their very special animal, the clothing, the shoes…everything to make “the” perfect best friend! Most of the time Build A Bear is all about the little kids but I have to admit…ahem, I have my own, ahem collection too! Albeit, yes, mine is quite smaller then the twins’ collection but I am very proud of my three Build A Bear friends!

Now…you may wonder why would a grown up love Build A Bear? Well, here are my reasons:

1. Animals start at only $10!
2. It is a fun experience to share with my children
3. When asked by the twins to play … I don’t get stuck with the yucky stuffed animals…because I have my own
   
4. They make great cuddling partners when I get to sleep alone in my own bed.
   
5. I am still a child at heart and enjoy the whimsy of it all
6. The Build A Bear clothes are so rockin’ cute…how can you not want  your own animal to dress?
7. The twins feel extra special if they get hurt and can cuddle with one of mom’s BABW friends
8. Everyone loves a stuffed animal!
9. You can personalize your own animal with clothing, sounds, personalization and more!
   
10. They last a lot longer then flowers!

How’s that for a list?

Not bad, huh?

I was super excited to create this review because I received the adorable *New* Blossom Bunny (seen above). She is just beautiful. Her fur is ultra soft and she is so very colorful. Dressed in her hot pink Easter dress she is the perfect little lady.

I will admit that when I first saw her and learned that I would be reviewing her…I thought I’d give her to the twins. But then I learned that the twins were to receive their very own Twin Kitchen Mascots courtesy of Build A Bear. So, I was able to keep Blossom all for myself!

Most of the time when I talk about Build-A-Bear it is in reference to how much my children enjoy the experience and love their animals. In fact…you can see their latest Twin Kitchen Video dedicated to Build-A-Bear right “here”. Since they were able to create their own review…I wanted to share how much adults love them too!

Mother’s Day is May 9th and a Build A Bear animal with a personalized greeting would make a phenomenally special gift. We purchased bears with personalized greetings for the twins’ grandmas two years ago and they still talk about them!! In fact my mom says that whenever she gets lonely she pushes the button and hears “We love you Grandma” and it makes her smile. Flowers and chocolates can’t do that!

Speaking of flowers and chocolates…Spring is in the air and that means EASTER! Check out the great deal below from Build-A-Bear. Don’t you think a soft, plush, squeezable friend may be a better alternative to a basket full of cavities, um I mean chocolate and candy. Ok, ok…throw in a few peeps, chocolate eggs and bunny…but don’t forget Build A  Bear!

Birthday, Holidays, New Babies…even weddings…every occasion can be extra spectacular with Build A Bear.  Yes, it is the perfect place for your children…but isn’t it a great place for the kid in you too? “I” can’t wait to go again! I sooo want the Cross Bear…..

Easter is right around the corner. If you are not ready then now is the time to do it!! Get yourself over to a Build A Bear store or BuildABear.com and receive your FREE Easter Basket and Candy!!!

Whether your loved ones loves a traditional Ducky is infatuated with Otters and Rhinos…you are guaranteed to find the perfect friend .

Experience Build A Bear Workshop.

One Lucky IE Mommy Friends will *WIN* a $25 Gift Card to Build-A-Bear Workshop!

To Enter:

1. Follow  IE Mommy on Twitter and Build A Bear on Twitter and  tweet RT Enter to win the Build A Bear Gift Card Giveaway @iemommy @buildabear http://www.theiemommy.com/2010/03/27/build-a-bear-workshop-giveaway (One Tweet Per Day)
2. Join the Twin Kitchen Subscriber List
3. Enter The Jewelry Whisperer Grand Opening Giveaway
4. Which is your FAVORITE Build A Bear Animal?
   

Contest Ends – April 7th

Open to the U.S. Only

Review Opportunity Provided by Build A Bear Workshop
Opinions are strictly those of the Blog Owner.
*Information obtained from Press Release and/or website

Can you believe that when you wake up tomorrow it will be 2010!!!
Remember the hoopla of Y2K?

Yikes! I do! Every one was sure that the world was going to end…yet here we are starting the end of the 1st decade…amazing!

I thought it would be fun to look back on 2009 and revisit some of favorite reviews, photographs, features and articles.

During this year…I have created and posted over 2000 articles and today I gave myself the task of narrowing down my favorites. I am sure your favorites may be different but for various reasons…these are my favorites from 2009! I did not have the energy or the heart to put them in any particular order. They are randomly listed.

I have had the honor and privilege to work with some of the greatest companies, PR firms, literary publicists, publishing houses, social media forums and sales personal that exist. I am deeply grateful for a fantastic year for the IE Mommy.

So….”CHEERS and Thanks” to everyone….you guys ROCK!

Happy 2010!!

Christine

P.S. If I forgot to thank anyone …with all my heart…I’m sorry!

My Faith:

1. Let Go Monkey
2. My Hands
3. A Pounding Heart
4. You Can’t “Wing” Jesus
5. …and so She Slept
6. Reading With My Heart
7. I’m Trying to Remember
8. Thorny Ground
9. I Am Weak
10. Goodbye Vacation
    

Sing Along Sunday:

1. You are Holy – Michael W. Smith
2. Mighty to Save – Laura Story
3. One Reason – Chynna & Vaughn
4. Slow Fade – Casting Crowns
5. Closer to Love – Mat Kearney
6. More Beautiful You – Jonny Diaz
7. Bring It On – Steven Curtis Chapman
8. He Is With You – Mandisa
9. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – TV AllStars
10. Christmas Don’t Be Late – Alvin & The Chipmunks
    

Word Filled Wednesday:

1. Many Waters
2. Living Water
3. Firmly Planted
4. My Footprints
5. Whose Son? – 1 Samuel 17:58
6. Taste – Psalm 34:8
7. I Am – Exodus 3:14
8. The Gate – Matthew 7:14
9. Plans – Jeremiah 29:11
10. Our Words
11. No Fear – Isaiah 41:10
12. Flowers Fade
13. Psalm 89:9
14. Walk with Me
15. Psalm 27:8
    

Best Shot Monday:

1. Weathering Rough Times
2. Dreaming of Prince Charming
3. Pink Sprinkles
4. Courage
5. Paradise
6. The “Eyes” Have It!
7. Here, Kitty…
8. Pride
9. What Santa Did Not Bring
10. Drenched
11. Prayer
12. Wings
13. Eyes of an Angel
14. Too Soon for Fast
15. Something about Blue Eyes

Wordless Wednesday:

1. Too Cold?
2. Dear Santa…
3. The Season of Summer
4. Me and Mini Me
5. Who Me?
6. Don’t Like Painting?
7. Sweet
8. Please
9. Beauty
10. Hungry?
11. Yum
12. Deep in Thought
13. Swinging Away
14. Why???
15. Dance With Me Already!!

You Capture Photo Challenge:

1. Happy
2. Still Life
3. Happiness
4. Up Close
5. Something New
6. Food
7. Peace
8. Black & White
9. Shapes
10. Summer 2009
11. Emotions
12. Nature
13. Family
14. Sweet
15. Letters

The IE Twins – Giggles & Grins:

1. Is It Ovenable?
2. A Kids’ Soap Opera
3. What Kids Say
4. Half Mexican & Half New  York
5. Handle Bar Mustaches
6. Kohl’s in my Stocking
7. Out of the Mouths of Babes
8. Build A Bear for a Diamond Ring?
9. The Mystery Girl
10. Straight to the Point
    

The Twin Kitchen:

1. Fruit Salad
2. Chocolate Pretzels
3. Making a Gingerbread House
4. Uncle Guy Cookies
5. Reindeer Food

Professor of Protection:

1. ICE Your Mobile Device
2. How Thieves Make $300 in Under 4 Minutes…
3. Why You Should Never Use A Combination Lock
4. 3 Reasons to Retire “Stranger Danger”
5. The Last Zebra
6. Missing Child…Who’s Fault…Mom or Dad?
7. Jessie James Reveals “All”
8. Mysterious Piece of Metal That Protects Your Registration Tags
9. 2 Types of Distraction Crimes That Suck You In
10. Don’t Make These Mistakes When You Have A 9-1-1 Emergency

TotalBeauty.com:

1. Quiz: Is Your Skin Clean Enough?
2. Best and Worst Celebrity Looks for Curvy Girls
3. The Best Mascaras. Ever.
4. Top 10 Drugstore Acne-Fighting Products
5. 11 Hairstyles We’re Sick Of
6. 10 Worst Drugstore Shampoos
7. Are These Celebrities Lying About Their Age?
8. Celebrity Mother-Daughter Duos We Love Most
9. Can You Spot Trends?
10. Holiday Tipping Cheat Sheet
    

Aloha Fridays:

1. Dora Anyone?
2. Who Are You?
3. What Would You See?
   
4. Low Rise?
5. What Did you Dream?
6. Favorite Blog?
7. Jury Duty
8. MEN!!
9. Time to Shop
10. What Would Others Change about YOU?
    

Book Reviews:

1. Waking Up in the Land of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo
2. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
3. Voices of Christmas by Nikki Grimes
4. Halfway to Each Other by Susan Pohlman
5. Mortal Friends by Jane Stanton Hitchcock
6. Daniel X – James Patterson
7. The Noticer by Andy Andrews
8. Along Came You by Karona Drummond
9. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
10. The Princess and the Three Knights by Karen Kingsbury

DVD Reviews:

1. The Strawberry Shortcake Movie: Sky’s the Limit
2. Hotel For Dogs
3. Dive Olly Dive
4. Hero of the Rails – Thomas the Train
5. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs – Diamond Edition
6. Wow Wow Wubbzy – Wubbzy Goes BOO
7. Wow Wow Wubbzy – Christmas Adventure
8. Happy Holidays WordFriends – Word World
   
9. Word World – Lots of Letters
10. My Little Pony Twinkle Wish Adventure

CD Reviews:

1. Imagination Movers
2. Jonny Diaz – More Beautiful You
3. Baby Banana by Debi Derryberry
4. Harry Connick Jr. “Your Songs”
5. Michael Buble – Crazy Love
6. Bari Koral Family Rock Band
7. Sweet ‘n’ Treats by Tracey Singer
8. My Baby Loves the 80’s
9. Hannah Montana 3
10. Los Lobos Goes Disney

Exercise & Health Reviews:

1. PowerHouse Hit The Deck
2. Spin Gym
3. Banglz from FitnessUWear.com
4. SPIbelt
5. Moving Comfort
6. Hippie Rehab
7. Break Pal
8. Coursing Around
9. KINeSys
10. VICKS & Braun

Children Product Reviews:

1. Elfing Around
2. Daisy Greenway Interactive Camper
3. FairyTale Wishes
4. Karito Kids’ Dolls
5. Bendaroos
6. Safety Tats
7. Zhu Zhu Pets
8. Flipper
9. Crayola
10. V.Smile Motion Active Learning System
11. 50’s Diner by Step 2
12. PLAY-DOH
13. Build A Bear Workshop
14. PlayMobile
15. AniMagic

Food & Restaurant Reviews:

1. Chiquita Smoothie
2. Minute Rice
3. Fruit 2 Day
4. Guyot Designs – Squishy Bowls
5. Sonic Drive Thru
6. Nature Valley – Nut Clusters
7. Molli Coolz Shakers
8. Restaurant Favorites
9. Giant Fortune Cookies
10. Cake Vase

Gadget & Tech Reviews:

1. Days Ago
2. Ifrogz Ear Pollution Crew
3. RocketLife
4. Pink Tooth by ChicBuds
5. EcoGear
6. Internet Password Organizer
7. CASIO EX-S5 DIGITAL CAMERA
8. RCA SMALL WONDER
9. Skooba Design
10. CoverBee
    

Home & Family Reviews:

1. Nature’s Notebook by Courtney Noelle
2. Union 28
3. The Glory of Christmas
4. Bibleco.com
5. Days Steps Personal Lifestyle Planner
6. Ecostore.com
7. Busy Body Books
8. Sun & Earth
9. 1-800-Flowers
10. Cape Clogs
11. Disney on Ice
12. Festival of Children
    

Jewelry Reviews:

1. Timex Ironman Watch
2. Lauren Nicole
3. West Coast Jewlery.com
4. Fumi – Purse Hanger
5. Affirmation Jewelry
6. BLISS LIVING
7. Penelope Poet
8. SouthPaw
9. Phenominoes
10. Bead Trends

Hair, Makeup and Skin Care Reviews:

1. Clarisonic
2. Hana Flat Iron
3. Exact Eyelights by Covergirl
4. Morrocco Colors by Dazzle Dry
5. Caress Skinwear
6. Dimitri James & SKINN
7. Barbar Hair  3800 Ionic Charger Blow Dryer
8. Ageless Perfume
9. Proactiv Solution
10. Lumiere Cosmetics
11. Vaseline Sheer Infusion with Stratys-3
12. Adovia

A Mom in Red High Heels (Makeup) Reviews:

1. Gillette Venus Embrace
2. L’Oreal Paris HiP Jelly Balm
3. PCA Skin Brightening Therapy with True Tone
4. RAW Minerals Active Mineral Foundation
5. Goldfaden Skincare’s Daily Gem
6. Crabtree and Evelyn Cleansing Body Polisher
7. Estee Lauder’s High Gloss
8. Korres Natural Mascara
9. L’Oreal Paris HiP Eyeliner
10. EOS the Evolution of Smooth

Shoes, Accessories & Clothing Reviews:

1. SlimPressions
2. Topless Undershirts
3. Stop Staring
4. Slim Perfect
5. T.J. Maxx & Marshalls!
6. 191 Unlimited
7. Joey Junior
8. Kokopax
9. My Hip-T
10. Vincent Shoes

Holiday Showcase 2009:

A huge thanks to all the companies that made it a success!

1. Things Remembered
2. Zonderkids
3. WowWee Toys
4. No Slippy Hair Clippy
5. Get Healthy Hands
6. Play Doh
7. Peace Toys
8. Karito Kids
9. Dittany Baby
10. ProActive
11. SheerCover
12. Skinn by Dimitri James
13. CleanLogic
14. Stop Staring
15. Hasbro Toys
16. Thomas & Friends
17. EA Games
18. Build A Bear Workshop
19. Bob the Builder
20. Klutz
21. Scholastic
22. Spin Master
23. Nature’s Notebook
24. Now That’s Music
25. Little Debbie Snacks
26. The Give Card
27. Minute Rice
28. Dazzle Dry
29. Debi Derryberry & Baby Banana
30. Liv World Dolls
    

Frosty the Snowman -

Build A Bear Workshop

What little girl does not love stuffed animals? Especially a stuffed animal that she has specifically chosen and brought to life.  I know my girls definitely do. We recently did an inventory on our Build A Bear Workshop family and we have 50. Yes, 5-0 stuffed animals from Build A Bear Workshop.  Well, 51 if you include my Hannah Montana bear.

Why do two little girls have so many stuffed animals? The answer is simple they are little “girls”…it is what little girls do and love…besides Build A Bear Workshop ROCKS!

Personally I could spend a lot of hours and dollars at any of their shops. If you have never been to a BABW store then you might be wondering if I am crazy. Rest assured I am not. But I encourage and urge you to get the “experience” that is Build A Bear.

It is nothing at all like just picking up an animal at the store. At Build A Bear you first choose your animal from a wide selection that starts at only $10!

Then you take your animal to the stuffing section where the BABW attendant fills it with stuffing. You can choose the amount of stuffing depending on how huggable you’d like your animal.  Next, they lead your child through the cutest pledge about taking care of their BABW creation and loving it. Place a heart inside your animal and he/she comes alive!

Now you can pick out outfits and accessories! While you are there…don’t forget to sign up your new friend on the computer…it generates their birth certificate!

Thanks to BABW the IE Twins received a super adorable and cuddly Frosty the Snowman! Perfect for the Winter season and Christmas time.  *This cute and cuddly stuffed snowman gift makes the perfect Christmas surprise! This adorable stuffed Frosty the Snowman™ is wearing a gray hat and comes with a red scarf, plush broom and pipe. Plus, his cheeks light up and make a magic sound!

Frosty is one of my favorite Christmas characters and I am sure that he has become one of the twins’ favorites as well. Make your Christmas season extra special…build the memories at Build A Bear Workshop!

• First ever Holiday Special airs tonight 11/24!
• BABW make Pawfect Holiday Gifts
• Free Shipping on Gift Card Orders
• You can play for FREE at Buildabearville.com
• You can find Beary Limited and Beary Exclusive Animals at BABW on-line
• You can send customizeable E-Cards!
• Join the Beary Newsletter and get the deals and news first!

*Review Opportunity Provided by BABW

The IE Mommy

Holiday Showcase!

Woohoo!! Our List is Growing and Growing…reserve your SPOT TODAY!!!

Want to know what the Hottest, Greatest and Most Fabulous Finds of the Season are?

The IE Mommy has them for you!

Join us November November 22nd to November 28th as we highlight and showcase ONLY the Best!!

Giveaways and Reviews that will knock your socks off! We want to you to get your Holiday Shopping list crossed off quicker then ever!

Check out the list of phenomenal companies, PR firms and individuals that will be a part of the first ever Holiday Showcase at The IE Mommy!

Want to know why “YOU” should be a part of this fantastic opportunity?

Drop me a line at theiemommy (at) gmail (dot)com or use the contact form below!

Review Opportunities provided by the above companies and/or their affiliates: