Archive for the ‘for the environment’ Category

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!

 

Back to school and we’ve got it all!

Organizer $7.99

Well, it’s Labor Day, which means it’s time to go back to school and to look forward to the crisp smell of autumn. We are fully stocked to get your kids back to school in style with durable products they can use over and over again. Here’s a handful:

This year, we picked Crocodile Creek to supply us with most of our back to school goods because they make beautiful products that are solidly constructed, eco and kid-friendly, and free of BPA and Phthalates. Same goes for SnackTaxis, in stock now, and Vapur bottles, which we’ll have back in store soon!

 

Backpack, $24


Backpack organizer
, $7.99

Lunchbox, $16

Drinking bottle, $8.95

Sandwich Keeper, $6.49

SnackTaxis, $6.99 sml, $8.99 lg

Vapur bottle, $9.99 – $11.99

Red, white, and blue

Made in America

Here’s a sampling of some of our favorites that are Made In America–just in time for the fourth.

Harrisville Designs Potholder Loom, Ages 6+
$16.95

A favorite of ours since we opened our doors ten years ago.
This kit includes enough multi-colored loops to make 2 potholders, a sturdy 7 x 7″ loom frame made of metal not plastic, and 2 helping hooks. Woolen yarn has been spun in the water powered, brick mill town of Harrisville since 1794. This small village is nestled in the Monadnock Highlands of southwestern New Hampshire and is the only industrial community of the early 19th Century that still survives in America in its original form. In 1977, the Department of Interior designated Harrisville a National Historic Landmark


Green Toys Tugboat,  6 mo.+
$14.99

We love this 100% recycled Tugboat from Green Toys, all of which are made in the USA.

Embark on a cruise across the bathtub. Navigate the wading pool. Even splash around in the occasional mud puddle. There’s no end to the Good Green Fun™ young sailors can have with the Green Toys™ Tugboat. This colorful craft floats great, and has a wide spout to scoop and pour water. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, our trusty Tugboat is both good for the earth, and – most importantly – safe for the busy little folks who play there. No BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings. Packaged using only recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks.

 

My Own Lemonade Stand (Daydream Play), Ages 2+
$39.95

“My Own Lemonade Stand™” is a foldable, ready-to-go storefront for your kiddies. It is tough and colorful: the top is laminated so it can handle an occasional spill. It’s easy to assemble, easy to clean, easy to store. The sharp design will attract customers and please the kids. It comes in three designs: Blue, Pink, and Green and Yellow Striped.

See our previous post about our contest throughout July to win a free Daydream Play lemonade stand. Post a photo on our facebook wall or to our twitter page of your family’s lemonade stand by August 1st to be entered!

100% American Made
Sustainable Materials
Phthalate & Lead Free

 

We want to see your lemonade stands!

Win one of these!

Phew! It’s hot! Why don’t you cool down with some ice cold lemonade? July is a great time for kids to have a lemonade stand, and we want to see them! To encourage your kids’ entrepreneurial enterprises, we’re giving away a Daydream Play “My Own Lemonade Stand” with waterproof top–a $39.95 value (pictured above)! Post a photo of your lemonade stand on our facebook wall and you’ll be entered to win! Drawing will be on August 1st, so you’ve got the whole month of July.

The Daydream Play stand is 100% made in America and is free of phthalates and lead. It’s also made of sustainable materials, and to top it off the company donates 30% of their net profit to Rainforest Foundation. The “My Own Lemonade Stand” comes in 3 colors.

Lemonade stands are not only a great way to kill boredom on a summer day, but they are an opportunity for children to earn a little bit of money and to feel proud of their businesses. Plus, they’re so darn cute. So get squeezing and show us what you come up with! Winner will be announced August 1st on facebook.

It’s time for our annual BIG sale!

20% off everything

This weekend is our annual BIG sale. Take 20% off everything in the store all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – Nov. 18, 19, and 20 (Wellesley and Natick). Kick start your holiday shopping and get it done early. As always, we offer free gift wrapping and our staff is eager to help you find just the right gift.

 

For instance, one of our recent favorites is the new Fastrack elastic band hockey game from Blue Orange. The goal is to see how many discs you can get on your opponent’s side by sliding them across the board with your elastic trigger. A little action contained in a board game. Ages 5 to 105. PLUS, Blue Orange is an environmentally responsible company who plants 2 trees for every tree they use.

 

Finally, November 26 is a big day for local businesses. It’s the second annual Small Business Saturday, when people across the country shop to support their favorite local stores. We hope you will join us on this day! We can not express how important our customers are to us and how much we value our relationships with each of you. Show your commitment to local retailers in lieu of big box chains to get your holiday shopping done, and support the local economy.

Plus, American Express customers can get a one-time $25 statement credit when they register their American Express card and use it on Saturday the 26th for a purchase of more than $25 at any small business. We hope to see you there. Visit the Small Business Facebook page for more info.

Our service is out of this world!

A Star Wars Halloween

Check out our stellar employees showing off their Princess Leia garb on Halloween in front of the Star Wars themed window. With all the other staff, Whitney and Shannan provide service that is out of this world!

Speaking of windows, we are switching out the Halloween window for the winter holidays right now. Can you believe it’s that time already? To kick start the gift-buying season, we will be having a HUGE SALE in November: 20% off everything in the entire store. Details to follow. Stay posted.

Also, we are about to get our first shipment of Vapur water bottles, which are reusable and foldable which makes them hyper-portable. They’re made in the USA from BPA-free materials and are constructed to survive daily use and cleaning. They are also dishwasher safe! A great gift for an environmentally conscious friend or for a child who is always on the go!

Celebrate Sustainable Energy Day in Wellesley!

SnackTAXI $6.99 sml / $8.99 lg

SnackTAXI snack size and sandwich size pouches.We love snackTAXIs – they’re little and cute and reusable and… well, owner Erin Kelly-Dill of Plainfield, MA explains it best:

“I invented SnackTAXIs way back in 2003 as a way to stem the tide of plastic ziplock bags that flowed from our house to the landfill when our 3 kids started school! We pack over 500 lunches every year, and had definitely fallen prey to the easy appeal of the ziplock bag.

SnackTAXIs are easy too – really! They are made in our home-based workshop by talented (and fun!) local sewers – we are committed to keeping our business local, and will never outsource our labor.”

As our way of joining the celebration this Saturday, September 24 of “Sustainable Energy Day” in Wellesley, we will be offering 20% off all of our snackTAXI bags, regular $6.99 for snack size and $8.99 for sandwich size. SnackTAXIs can be washed by hand or machine and come in so many patterns! So pick some up today and curb your plastic baggy use.