Build-a-Bear - February 29, 2008

For those of you not familiar with Build-a-Bear, it's a store that is designed to suck money from a parent's wallet. It is a neat concept, but the cost adds up QUICKLY. Hannah's first experience was at a birthday party back in December, and she's been wanting to go back since. You enter the store, and choose a unstuffed bear or other animal (approx $10-$20). Then the nice lady has you pick a voice for your creature (this is an extra $5), which is placed inside the paw. Then you move to the stuffing machine, and the animal is filled with stuffing to your specification, squishy or firm or something in between. Next, you push a button and a shower of fabric hearts shoot through a tube (for an extra $5, you can get a plastic heart that beats). You are invited to catch one for your critter. You rub it between your hands, give it a kiss, then it is stuffed inside your new friend. Now it's time to dress your creation (this is where it can get expensive!!). A t-shirt is about $5, a ballerina outfit is $10, and so on. I saw Sketchers brand shoes and Colts gear, but I didn't bother to look at the price tag!!
So, the kids got Build-a-Bear gift cards for Christmas, and Hannah was dying to get her purple hippo, Clara some clothes. She got Clara at the previously mentioned birthday party (where some poor mom shelled out enough cash for each child to get a $15 animal). Hannah was out of school today, so we went as soon as the mall opened since BaB can get crowded. Elijah picked out a white bear covered in green shamrocks (and it was $5 off!). He picked out a giggle for it's voice, got it stuffed, and chose a dinosaur t-shirt for it. Hannah picked out a pink ballerina outfit for Clara. When we got to the cash register, I gave them a $5 off coupon, 2 gift cards, and $5 of Hannah's allowance. The grand total out of my pocket?? Only 40 cents! Not bad :)
Oh, I forgot to mention that you sit down at a computer and give this company your mailing address and name your critter so a birth certificate can be printed out for you. Elijah named his bear 'Cupper'.
Then we went to the mall playground, and they ran around for half an hour.