Build-a-Bear Workshop

Yesterday, Lydia and I had a hankering for Chinese food, so we headed to Masonville mall to Manchu Wok, plus she wanted to check out some x-box game that another friend of hers has. So as we were wandering around the mall, we noticed a new store. It's a Build-a-Bear!!!!! Here's how it works: You go in, and there are un-stuffed plush animal skins in bins, with a stuffed example sitting on the shelf above to see the finished product. You pick a skin (after carefully examining the features, the texture, the eyes, etc.). Lydia fell in love with this velvety soft beige bear, and I just LOVED the orange striped kitty, so we just HAD to pick them up. Then you go to the Sound station, and you can add any sound you want. There are barks, meows, giggles, lullabyes, I Love you's, lion roars, monkey sounds, etc. I think it's 16 different sounds... we had a great time listening to all of them and finally made our selections. Lydia's bear has 5 different sayings, such as "Hey girlfriend" or "it's great to have a friend like you", and my kitty has a lion's roar!!!! It was very busy in there, it was their first day open, but we had staff come up to us, to entertain us while we were standing in line for the Stuffing station.
When you finally get there, there is a girl standing by this huge machine full of fluff. You can pick where the sound will go (paw, head or belly), then the fluff gets blown into the plush animal skin through a thick metal pipe, (you can choose how soft/hard you want your animal to be). Then comes the fun part. You get to pick up a small fabric heart, the girl asks you what you want your animal to be like and you get to rub the heart, kiss it, jump up and down to "put energy" in it, sing a song to it, or whatever you want to do, and then make a wish. Then the girl puts the heart into the bear, takes half of the ID UPC code off the tag on the animal, and sfuffs that inside as well. The ID can be scanned and the animal can be returned to its rightful owner if lost and submitted to any Build-a-Bear store. Then the animal gets sown together on the back, and you proceed to the Fluffing station, which is basically just a blast of air blowing out of showerhead-like things. After your animal is nice and fluffy, you go to the "Dressing Room". I kid you not there are at least 200 different outfits to chose from, Buzz Lightyear gear, Firefighter helmets and workboots, Harley Davidson t-shirts and jeans, ballerina, bride and hip chick outfits and even baby layette. And the SHOES! Now I have a shoe fetish to begin with on my own, but honestly, who can resist mini flip-flops, fuzzy slippers, jean sandals, ballerina slippers, cowboy boots, and even light-up sneakers! Of course every item you add carries a discreet but none-too-shy price tag and the staff is more than happy to help you pick out accessories for your pets (lingerie - real panties and boxer shorts, with appropriately placed hole in the back for the tail to stick out - backpacks, purses, MP3 players, cell phones, lunch box - now THAT was adorable - sunglasses, even wigs!) Then you go to the computers and get to name your animal (Lydia's bear is Heidi, my cat is Alley) and print a birth certificate. Then comes the painful part at the cashier (hello, Visa), and your animal gets packed into this HUGE house-shaped box, and any outfits you bought get put into a cardboard wardrobe, and you're all set! All the staff is incredibly upbeat and happy, in a cheerleader kinda way, which can get annoying after a while, but the kids love it! And heaven forbid if it happens to be your birthday, then they all sing to you and make a big fuss over you and your animal.

"My furry friend is special. I brought it to life. I chose it. I stuffed it. I made it my own. I promise to love it and give it a home."