Her name is Ravioli and she is sitting proudly on the shelf in my office. She's a black bear and she's wearing a pink bikini and white glam sunglasses. And I love her.
I made her yesterday at Build-A-Bear. It was the first time I ever stepped foot in a Build-A-Bear, even though I used to work literally in the very same building as the location we visited.
Here's what I discovered. Build-A-Bear is FUN. Really fun. Kids (okay, and adults) can select from a huge assortment of "hides," help to bring their new animal to life with stuffing, hide a heart, a wish or even an outgrown binky inside and then dress and accessorize their bears. Or dinosaurs. Or bunnies. Remarkably, you can get out the door, new friend in hand, for under $20, depending on how carried away you get with outfits and accessories. And kids' b-day parties start at $10/kid.
An energetic team of bear builders, who offer good advince and seemingly endless bear puns, is on-hand to help make the experience fun and simple. With more than 400 locations across the country, chances are there's a Build-A-Bear near you. It's worth the visit. And, trust me on this, go ahead and make one for yourself.
