Archive for the ‘family’ Category

GelGems window contest

Vote for LittleBits and The One Fund!

VOTE HERE!

 

GelGems has asked local stores to partner with a charity of their choice for their 2013 window contest. Stores are asked to make a work of window art which promotes that cause and the winner will get $1000 to give to their chosen charity! Since we are on the Marathon route and some of our customers ran that day, we have chosen The One Fund Boston.

Vote for our One Fund window at gelgems.com between June 3rd and 14th! If we win, $1000 will go to the One Fund! Do your part by telling your friends to vote!

“The One Fund Boston was established through the generosity of businesses, foundations and individual donors. It was created at the request of Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. The Victim Relief Fund of The One Fund Boston will be used to assist those families of the victims who were killed and the victims who were most seriously affected as a result of the tragic events during the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013 and related events on April 18th and April 19th.” — The One Fund

We want to thank our staff who helped create this window–everyone was eager to pitch in!

GelGems are colorful, jelly shapes you can use to make imaginative scenes on your window. They are thicker than regular window clings and kids love their tactile quality and jewel-like appearance. We have them in basic shapes as well as themes, numbers, and letters. Call or stop by to see our selection!

GelGems are safety-tested and approved for children ages 4+. They are non-toxic, but should not be ingested and pose a choking hazard for small children.

 

 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Something for Mom

We want to thank each and every mom on Mother’s Day because we know how tremendous you are! We will be giving away a little something to Moms this Sunday. We hope there are no birthday parties, but both stores will be open 10 am – 5 pm. THANKS, MOMS!

Wellesley Food Pantry Day

Trade a can for 20% off one item

Tomorrow, May 11th, the Wellesley Food Pantry is collecting donations through their “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. Bring a donation to LittleBits on Saturday and trade it in for 20% off any one item! (One per family, please).

The food drive is collecting non-perishable items that have not passed their expiration dates. Items of particular need right now are canned meats/fish, meals in a can, canned vegetables, ketchup, coffee, oil, cereal, peanut butter, jelly and mayonnaise. Non-food items like paper towels and laundry detergent are also collected.

If you can’t make it to LittleBits and you are a Wellesley resident, please consider putting a donation in your mailbox! Wellesley Letter Carriers will be picking up food for the Wellesley Food Pantry when they come to deliver your mail! Please put out non-perishable food by 9 AM tomorrow and do your part to help Wellesley families in need.

Reminder! Reserve a spot to have your child’s silhouette made

Few spots left!

Silhouette artist, Erik Johnson, has decided to stay an extra hour on Wed. May 7th. Sign up NOW for a spot to have your child’s silhouette made–there are only a few left! Visit our eventbrite page to make a reservation.

Erik Johnson will be at the Natick store on 5/7 from 11am to 6pm. The cost for an original portrait is $25, duplicates are $15, and framing is available. Each session lasts 5 minutes. Watch Mr. Johnson make his art before your eyes!

Events for kids during vacation week

Get in on the fun!

It’s school vacation again and we have fun events all week, starting with Marathon Monday and ending with a book signing on Saturday with the creators of An Octopus Named Mom! Check out the details below.

Mon - Marathon Day. All day. Drop by either store during the race for a free USA pinwheel! Go racers!

Tues - Parachute and Duck-call Making. 2-3pm. Make things soar through the sky and learn the art of duck calls!

Wed - Game Day. All day. Come in and play a game and take it home for 20% off!

Thurs - Story time and Craft w/ Mackenzie. 2-3pm.

Fri - Wooden Train Derby. 11am-12pm. Bring your own train and race for the best time for prizes!

Sat - An Octopus Named Mom Book Signing / Story time. 2-6pm Join us for this very special event with the creators of the new book, An Octopus Named Mom. Meet the authors, hear the tale, and craft octodoodles!

Silhouette artist coming to Natick store, May 7th

Your child's silhouette

We are very excited to have the talented, 3rd generation silhouette artist, Erik Johnson, coming to our Natick store on Tuesday, May 7th from 10am-5pm! Mr. Johnson cuts freehand silhouettes to get an exact likeness of your child. You can reserve an appointment to have your child’s silhouette made at eventbrite. The cost for an original portrait is $25, duplicates are $15, and framing is available. Each session lasts 5 minutes. Watch Mr. Johnson make his art before your eyes!

Silhouettes make incredible keepsakes. They are a unique item to have of your child–from a time past. They are also wonderful gifts.

The Easter bunny is coming…

Easter baskets! $4.99

Easter is this weekend and we can help you put together a basket! We have goodies for the insides and we can wrap it all up for you with beautiful tulle, ribbon, plastic, and an included reusable basket or box for $4.99. Here’s a few tips for what you can stuff it with: plush toys, dessert themed erasers, candy, lego minifigures, pencils, sitcky mosaics, jewelry kits, glitter body tattoos, Easter stickers, puzzles, stomp rockets, bunny books, kids’ CDs and so much more!

Family Game Night this Friday

3/22

Join us this Friday, 3/22 from 6-8pm for Family Game Night at the Natick store! As always, we have some new games to try out… so bring yourselves and your kids for a night of fun and then take 20% off any one game!

Earth Day 2013

Calling young artists!

We will be participating in the Natick Kid’s Art Walk to recognize Earth Day 2013! Starting Monday (3/10), we will have markers and paper available in our Natick store for kids (grades 1-4) to create artwork on an ongoing basis that shows what they love about our planet. The drawings will be displayed in stores around Natick Center for two weeks in April leading up to Natick’s Earth Day Festival, and then will be showcased at the festival on the Common on Sun. April 21, 11am to 3pm, where there will be food, music, kids activities, and more!

So in all the color you can inspire, draw us some pictures of why you love Earth: plants, animals, water, food, natural resources, nature parks… or what we could do better to care for Earth: recycling, limiting pollution, using less energy, caring for endangered species. Part of our window will be used to display the artwork made by children, and on Wed. 3/27 we will have a special Earth Day workshop from 3:30 to 4:30pm. We hope you join us!

 

Toy Fair Highlights 2013

Tenzi $14.99

As usual we were overwhelmed at Toy Fair 2013. We saw a ton! We are starting to bring in our favorites already… more to follow as the year rolls out. Here are some games we liked the most:

Tenzi, $14.99
Ages 3+, 2-4 players 

Each player holds a set of dice. Players hold all ten dice in their hands. Someone shouts “go!” and everyone rolls at the same time. Be the first player to get 10 of your dice to show the same number. So simple, so fun! And almost anyone can play and win.

 

 

 

This one is new from one of our favorite companies, Educational Insights:

Raccoon RumpusRaccoon Rumpus, $14.99
Ages 3+, 2-4 players

We welcome new games, especially for this age group. Raccoons have raided your closet and now they’re having a party! Help these masked bandits get dressed; the critter that collects the most costumes wins! A crazy, fun game of memory and matching.

 

 

And for those of you who like to bend your brains…

Kyro 5, $14.99
Ages 7+, 2 players

This game was created by games inventor Joe Weatherall. ”Joe infused his love of Egyptian artifacts and ancient civilizations into KYRO5™—he also loves the contrast of its simple set up and the advanced ‘over time’ strategy of the game. One of the industry’s most prolific inventors, Joe has recently logged his 1,000th invention—including toys and games like KYRO5 and Scrabble® Slam.” (from the Educational Insights site).

First choose a color and collect your pyramids. Players then take turns placing one pyramid at a time, each touching another pyramid on at least one side or corner. Once all pyramids are placed, remove and relocate played pyramids, one at a time. The first players to line up five pyramids in a row wins the game! This game would make a great gift for kids studying Egypt!


Trifacta–two new math games:


Trifacta Addition/Subtraction
, $16.99
Ages 6+, 2-4 players

Make addition and subtraction fun! This math fact game builds fluency like never before. Pass out the numbered playing cards then take turns filling in the mising spots to complete fact families. Be the first player to play all your cards and call out “tri-Facta!”

Trifacta Multiplication/Division, $19.99
Ages 8+, 2-4 players

A fun way to make multiplication and division make sense. Plays the same way as the addition/subtraction version.