Build-A-Bear Workshop and the Huggable Heroes Program (Contest)!

Each year for the past seven years, Build-A-Bear Workshop, through its Huggable Heroes program, has searched for and recognized young leaders who make positive contributions in their communities or around the world. This year, ten Huggable Heroes, between the ages of 8 and 18, from the United States and Canada, will be selected and honored for their good deeds. Each of the ten Huggable Heroes will receive a prize worth $10,000 ($7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity of each Huggable Hero’s choice). In addition, the Huggable Heroes will win a trip for themselves and a parent to St. Louis, the home of Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters! During their visit, the 2010 Huggable Heroes will meet each other, be honored for their good deeds and participate in a photo shoot for the 2011 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes Calendar.

Projects have ranged from helping children in underdeveloped countries to supporting cancer and diabetes research, organizing toy drives and sending care packages to our troops overseas. Past Huggable Heroes have included such inspiring young people as:
Patrick Pedraja, 13, of Palm Harbor, Fla., who helped add 15,000 new donors to the National Marrow registry and raised $160,000 to support the effort. Patrick demonstrated uncommon creativity and entrepreneurship by selling ads on his bald head and by speaking to groups and businesses to encourage others to get involved.
Mimi Ausland, 12, of Bend, Ore., who created two Web sites to help collect donations to feed homeless dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country.
And Katie Stagliano, 10, of Summerville, S.C., who started “Launch Katie’s Dream” to help see to it that no child goes hungry. She plants vegetable gardens and donates the harvests to soup kitchens and organizations that help feed those in need.

Entries are being accepted through February 26, 2010 at Build-A-Bear Huggable Heroes or by picking up an entry form at a participating Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the United States and Canada.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the leading and only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in 1997, the Company and its franchisees currently operate more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. In 2007, the interactive experience was enhanced - all the way to CyBEAR™ space - with the launch of buildabearville.com®, the company’s virtual world stuffed with fun. The company was named to the 2009 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $468 million in fiscal 2008. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company’s award-winning Web site at buildabear.com ®.

Build-A-Bear Workshop (review & Giveaway!) Great Christmas gift~

Our family loves Build-A-Bear Workshop! I had never created a furry friend at the BABW before, and I was thrilled to be apart of that! We (Madelyn and I) got to see the new BABW movie: Holly & Hal Moose, and then go to the BABW and make Holly and Hal! What an experience! I love that Build-A-Bear gives children (and adults) so many options for what kind/type of animal/friend they want to create! Not only do you get to pick out your new friend, you can shop in the store for outfits, shoes, hats, coats, etc. for your new pal! I just got an adorable Black Bear Teddy to review. His name is Dimples, and he is sure a cutie!
Caleb is enthralled with his new friend, Dimples. He is really excited that Dimples is all decked out in uniform...DARTH VADER! Caleb has been getting excited about the Star Wars characters (mostly because his older brother digs them) and he was happy to get Dimples in the Darth attire. Build-A-Bear offers purchase options of bears/furry friends by theme, too.
The Darth Vader outfit comes complete with the suit (and there is a special opening in the back of the suit for Dimples ~ or other bears, tails), mask (completely covers his face), black shoes, and the light saber. Caleb really likes to pretend to use the light saber, too.
Dimples looks fierce and ready to challenge anyone, doesn't he?
Oh, but look at his face! He is absolutely adorable! All the Build-A-Bear animals are super cute!
My baby loves the Dimples Bear from Build-A-Bear, too. He loves to kiss Dimples, especially when Dimples has his mask on!
There are over 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores around the world, and BABW also has conveinient online shopping selections at buildabear.com. This is a great option for your holiday shopping. One thing that I want to do with my kids is go into BABW and have them each make a new "friend" for their sibling. They could pick out one they think that their sibling would like, hand "stuff it," comb it out, and pick out clothing/accessories for their new animal. Build-A-Bear Workshop is a great place for kids to have fun, design, and be creative. Build-A-Bear has some great new selections for this holiday round up:
Frosty the Snowman, Holly and Hal Moose, Lil’ Robot Hal, Alvin, Simon and Theodore, Brittany, Winter Hugs Bear, Polar Bear, Lil’ Chocolate Cub Dressed as a Boy Elf and Brown Sugar Bear Dressed as a Girl Elf, and more. You can always personalize any bear as you want just pick and choose. Build-A-Bear Workshop offers great selections of bears/friends for girls and boys, along with fun and stylish accessories. We LOVE Build-A-Bear and highly recommend them to you! Hey, if you are a "last minute shopper," Build-A-Bear has a great online checkout ready to roll!

Want the chance to win a DARTH VADER Dimples Build-A-Bear?
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until December 23rd, 2009.
To enter, leave a comment about what Build-A-Bear you would like to make(mandatory for entry)**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and comment about something you learned from visiting the Build-A-Bear Workshop. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Build-A-Bear Workshop, which provided me with the free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a BAB to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Build-A-Bear's New Movie: Holly & Hal Moose~Our Uplifting Adventure

I was invited to attend a special private premiere viewing of the new Build-A-Bear movie: Holly & Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Adventure. We went to the Mall of America and saw the hour long movie in the theater. Holly and Hal Moose were there to greet us. I was fortunate to go with two of my other blogging friends.

Madelyn just loved Holly Moose. She was so smitten with her. She was a bit bashful with Hal.
Holly and Hal were there to greet all the kids, and they were also there in the theater to introduce the movie. This is Build-A-Bear's first movie.
ABC Family and Build-A-Bear Workshop came together to create this movie. I thought the movie was super cute, and the animation was adorable. Holly and Hal are just cute! Plus, the other characters: Santa and Mrs. Claus, the elfs, Robot Hal, the reindeer...they are cute, too. Madelyn and the other kids in the theater were very drawn into the story. Holly & Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Adventure is about Holly and her little brother Hal. Holly is suppose to watch her brother, but she would rather be at her friend's party. Hal wonders off, and Holly goes on the search to find her brother. They find each other and end up in Santa's neighborhood. The story reveals so much about loyalty, believing in yourself, and making your dreams come true. I really like how the movie portrays Holly as an obedient child, even though you know she would like to do something different. This is an adorable movie, and I recommend it. After the movie, we went to visit the Build-A-Bear Workshop. We each made a Holly and Hal Moose. Maddie picked out the animals from the bin...we waited in line,
then, she got to work the foot pedal to stuff the bears/moose. She thought that was so cool!
I think the kids had a great time watching their Holly and Hal Moose animals fill up and look more like stuffed animals.
After Holly and Hal were stuffed, we put in the hearts. The kids kissed the hearts, so their moose pets were kissed/made with love. At this point, kids can add sounds to their bears. I choose not to add sound.
After the bears from BABW are stuffed, they get sewn up. Madelyn loves her new friends! She carries Holly with her everywhere. Holly ventured to the clinic with us yesterday.
We walked over to brush out Holly and Hal under the dryers. Madelyn loved this part. I think she thought she was really fixing/brushing their hair out.
This is my blogging friend, Jeannie's grandson, Christian. He had a great time with the fun day!
Madelyn was very happy with her finished result. We had to get Holly some clothing. We picked out her puffy red coat, and winter stripped hat. I opted not to get the jeans and UGG boats (even though those are super adorable). Maybe we will have to go shopping for more clothes for Holly in the future. Build-A-Bear has a great selection of clothing and accessories for your bears. Guess what? Hal's Christmas lights on his antler's really light up, and you can change the batteries when they run out of juice! He is super cute, too!
Christian, Madelyn and Sam had a great time in the BABW! Thank you Build-A-Bear Workshop for creating such a fun and engaging atmosphere for our kids! The picture below is my friend, Lisa's little boy, Sam. He is 4 1/2 months older than Madelyn.

Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure premiered last night on ABC Family (sorry I didn't post this earlier, but my daughter was sick). However, there is a second premiere on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 10 AM ET/PT. Today, Wednesday, Nov. 25, this DVD movie is available to buy, which includes a beary special Build-A-Bear Workshop offer, an exclusive virtual gift to use at buildabearville.com and a FREE download of the movie’s signature song. SRP: $14.99 Check it out!