Sunday, September 25, 2011

What do you pack for lunch CONTEST!


I used to be a really really organized person before I had kids.

My grocery list was a printed out and laminated sheet of everything I ever buy, with checkboxes next to each item.
Every week i would meal plan each meal my husband and I would make (breakfast, lunch and dinner plus snacks) and I would create the master grocery list by checking each thing on my laminated "master" grocery list, with a dry erase marker.

Then, I'd go to the grocery store, and slowly rub off each thing that was checked as I purchased it.  It worked great, and I never needed to waste millions of scrapes of paper jotting down things I'd need to grab at the store.

That of course, all changed when we had our first child.  Now I have two, and food planning is a luxury that my very overloaded brain occasionally remembers I need to do, and sometimes I even remember it would make my life easier.
At my house, you will find many scraps of paper, here, there and everywhere, with little things jotted down that i suddenly remember we need, and then always loose.  Eggs, and Almond Milk.  Written on the back of an overdue bill on my desk.  Kale, Cherry Tomatoes, Cheerios.  Written on a crumpled up old receipt on the arm of the couch.  You can imagine.

So now I find  myself here.  Every morning at 7:00am staring into the fridge.  Thinking the same thought, "what on earth do I pack for lunch??" (I removed the profanity so as not to offend)

I've been graced with a picky eater, as I'm sure many of you have as well.  She only likes certain things depending on the day, or week, of phase of the moon (it could be, right??), and of course even if she does like something THAT day, it's absolutely disgusting tomorrow, and she's totally sick of it.

So, I've decided to tap into the collective motherhood (and fatherhood/grandparenthood) of my customers, blog readers, facebook and twitter fans.  There's a lot of you in this exact same position.... maybe it's easier for some than others (we want you people that make it look easy to especially help us!).

1.  I'm asking anyone and everyone to enter a week's worth of school lunches that you pack for your little people.  Do you have more than a week?  You rock.  And if you tell us, we'll be extra nice to you.
2.  Give us any recipes you'd like to share of your lunch box winners.

So, we're looking for IDEAS and/or RECIPES!  And be real, if you make PB & J's every day, it's ok to tell us that too.

You can do this by adding it as a comment to the end of this blog, or by entering it on our Facebook page, or even a simple email.

Here's the exciting part!  We're turning this into a contest to make it extra fun and enticing to participate.  After we gather enough recipes/ideas to put into a nifty little COOKBOOKLET (everyone will get a copy once it's done, if we get enough entries), we'll be selecting 2 winners at random to win $50 each to Bumblebee Toys, just in time for some holiday shopping!


Here's 3 different places/ways to enter:
Go to our FACEBOOK PAGE and enter there in a comment field.
or
Email us at info (at) bumblebeetoys (dot) com (spammers be gone!)
or
Comment at the bottom of this blog post

Contest will close on November 15th 2011 (or earlier if we get a bazillion recipes/ideas overnight)

Thanks and good luck!!

(PS... All these photos are courtesy of Lunchbots, and if you haven't heard of them, you simply must go check them out!  Or at the very least, go like their facebook page.  You will NOT be disappointed with all their amazing and inspirational bento box photos!!


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

How does our Facebook Party work?


With Bumblebee Toys and Jilly Bo Billy's approaching Facebook party coming up, we've been getting this question a lot!  Anyone can participate in this party, and it will be happening on our Facebook page.


When: April 8th 2011 from 12:30pm - 2:30pm PST
Where: Bumblebee Toys Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/bumblebeetoys)



There is also a Facebook Party "Event" to RSVP to through Facebook.  If you RSVP to our party, you will be entered to win an ADDITIONAL prize on top of all the prizes we're giving away during the party!

In addition to our Facebook Party, there are now two chances to Pre-Enter for the "grand prize"!  This has commenced on both Bumblebee Toys' and  Jilly Bo Billy's Facebook page.  so be sure to come on over to enter:
www.facebook.com/bumblebeetoys
www.facebook.com/jillybobilly


How it works:
You will go to our facebook page on April 8th at 12:30pm PST, and we will begin posting frequent posts.  You can refresh your page as much as you like (every few seconds) and each time you refresh your page, there will be lots of new postings and activity.  Feel free to join in the chatter!


Every few minutes we will be posting a giveaway with instructions on how to enter, ie "liking" a sponsors page, posting a photo, leaving a comment, etc.  There will be approximately 12 giveaways during our party, with a LARGE GRAND PRIZE as well, worth over $1100 in products.
Most of our sponsors have generously donated two items;  one for the individual giveaways during the party, and one for the Grand Prize at the end, so the Grand Prize will be massive!

There will also be a "promote your own business" window of time, with a special giveaway just for those who do so!  Yoyomama is generously donating a $150 ad for whoever wins!

Just for fun, we're including our list of sponsors for you to see.  Many of these prizes are in the Grand Prize pot as well.  It's going to be fabulous folks!  Hope you can make it!!!

(See our Contests page on our website for pics of the prizes!)

  • Guidecraft - Child's Table and Chair set  ($220)
  • Bamboletta - Serendipity Doll  ($180)
  • Sarah's Silks - Rainbow Silk Scape and Fairy Dress with Rainbow Streamer ($100)
  • Kiss Naturals - Soap, lip balm, perfume, and bath fizzle making kits ($84)
  • Green Toys - 2 Tea Sets ($54)
  • Jilly Bo Billy - Pick a party dress!  ($50)
  • Artterro - Collage Jewelry and Art Doll Craft Kits ($50)
  • Pixiekids Toys - Eco-felt Tea Set ($40)
  • Bakerella -  Cake Pop Cookbook  ($40)
  • Loves Me Not - Tea for Two Tank ($40)
  • Luna Organics - 2 Make-Up Sets ($36)
  • Eco-Kids - 2 All natural egg dyeing kits  ($34)
  • Princess Poppets - Waldorf Doll Outfit ($30)
  • Bumblebee Toys - Wooden Pastry Set ($25)
  • Notes (by Redletter Design Studio) - Set of Personalized Invitations  ($20)
  • Once Upon a Bedtime - Bedtime stories for children on CD  ($15)
  • Lil Doodlers - Tea Pot Shaped Crayons  ($10)
  • Ribbon Candy - Tea Party Felt Hair Clip  ($7)

Grow your own Easter grass!



All-Natural Living Grass Easter Basket! 


Tired of the plastic "grass" we typically use to fill our children's Easter baskets?  Try an easy and environmental alternative; growing your own Easter basket grass! 
Not only is it incredibly easy and fun, but children will be delighted when they get to be a part of the project.

Children are inherently born with an appreciation and curiosity for nature and the world around them. They gain so much by watching something they plant in the earth, with their own hands, grow to become something much different than the seed they started with.  It's natures' magic, and children are drawn to it!

As well, Easter is a celebration of rebirth and renewal.  What a wonderful way to further honour the meaning of Easter.
Start at least one week in advance (two is even better), and you will have a beautiful and lush living basket of grass right on time for the bunny!

Directions
  • If you only have one week to grow the grass, soak spring wheat berries in warm water overnight. If you have two weeks before Easter, proceed to the next step; soaking the berries isn’t necessary.
  • Line your Easter basket with aluminum foil, all around the bottom and up the sides.  Alternatively you can find a glass pie pan, jar, or other container, to fit inside the Easter basket.  Then, put at least 1 1/2 inches of potting soil into the bottom of the container and spread evenly. Scatter the soil generously with spring wheat berries and cover lightly with soil.
  • Gently yet thoroughly water the seeded soil and place in a warm sunny location.
  • Make certain the soil remains moist at all times during germination.
To add to the beauty of your grassy creation, you can decorate the handle of the basket with ribbons or dried flowers. 
 

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