Sticky Mosaics + Music = FUN!

This year the University Village Sounds of Summer Concert Series might well be the biggest and best yet! 

Last week's activity at the Kids Club table was Orb Factory Sticky Mosaic play day kit -- and it was a BIG hit! The pictures were all a mystery, with no way to really tell what it was before you got started. Each bag was packed with a cardboard picture, sticky mosaic tiles, and a color chart. The kids had lots of fun following the chart and filling in the numbers. Most followed the color chart, some made up their own unique designs (see photo below).

Many kids had never heard of or tried Sticky Mosaics before, and now they LOVE them! Many parents asked about their availability in the store. Let me tell you -- we do have them in-stock now! And yes, they make FANTASTIC travel activities! These pages keep kids focused and quiet for at least 30 mins if not more like an hour! Our table was elbow to elbow all night long with kids working on their pictures.

Awesome seahorse!

Completed clown fish (aka Nemo)

Employee of the month: Kelly!

[one of her favorite gifts to suggest: Shrinky Dinks Fairy Garden]

July Employee of the Month: Kelly!

Kelly has been at Kids Club since May 2010

Here is what Kelly's co-workers had to say about her:

'Kelly is a very positive person. She is a ray of sunshine!'

'She is always ready to do a project and learn something new.'

'She is fantastic with children and at helping customers make really good gift selections.'

'She is a team player!'

Fun fact about Kelly: She is an anthropology major at UW and she has really been enjoying digging bones out of dirt in her labs.

GREAT JOB KELLY!

You can bring your pooch to Kids Club!

It's true! Kids Club is a dog-friendly store, and so are most of  the stores in U Village. Feel free to bring your dog(s) along with you on your next shopping trip. We love when doggies visit us! We even keep treats under the counter for any pup that's allowed to have some. 

Got Tricks?

If your dog knows any tricks, let us see them! One of our favorite pups, a standard poodle knows how to 'bow to your sensei'. My dog Brutus has been seen dancing in the store on his hind legs quite often, once while wearing a tutu!

A while back, a cute pair of dachshunds strolled on into the store in the basket of an UPPAbaby Vista stroller, giving us yet another reason why we love this stroller; It can carry 3 kids at once, and 2 small pups!

If you find yourself walking around the Village with your dog and you aren't sure which shops are okay to bring him/  or her into, look for this decal in the window:

DOG EVENT COMING UP!

In a few short months, on Sept. 25, it will be time for the annual U Village FidoFest! Stay posted by liking us on facebook! Register for the Seattle Humane Society's walk HERE 

Walk for the Animals - 9 to 11 am

FidoFest at U Village - 11 to 4 pm

Come on over the Kids Club table to make a free and fun doggie craft!

(Brutus will be there!)

Don't forget to visit Katie M. Simmons in front of Sole Food for amazing dog portraits. She will be donating a portion of the sales to the Seattle Humane Society! Please visit the events page of her website HERE to see photos from FidoFest 2010.

Introducing the dogs of Kids Club:

[Amy's dog]

[Mindy's dogs]

[Kathleen's dog]

Kelly is a Groovy Girl!

Groovy Girls by Manhattan are seriously the grooviest dolls on the planet! From their funky hair to their crazy clothes, these girls will brighten anyone's day. Personally, these were my favorite dolls when I was younger. 

I had so many of them! Remember when they were poseable? I do! 

My mom had to go to all sorts of stores to find me the ones I didn't have. She still says that Kids Club always had the biggest and best selection when I was a tyke, and guess what? We still do! From the beloved ladybug girl, to the purple haired ballerina, to the pretty in pink princess, you can find any Groovy (fashion-forward) Girl your heart desires. 

I am also super excited to say that Manhattan is now making corresponding costumes, so your little one can be as funky as her favorite Groovy Girl. Too bad they didn't have these when I was little!

-Kelly

New party games from Gamewright!

My friends and I have a weekly tradition of getting together, having dinner, and playing games. Last, Sunday I brought over two new 12+ party games from Gamewright, and they were a big hit: JOE NAME IT, not your average party game, and WHO WOULD WIN, the ultimate celebrity showdown. The boxes are very small, maybe 4"x4"x2", so they are easy to throw in a purse or messenger bag for traveling. I'm planning on bringing them camping this summer.

JOE NAME IT is a fun twist on classic trivia party games. Flip a card, roll the die, input number in the blank. See photo on left. If the top of the card says 'ANY JOE,' everyone gets a chance, the first person who answers correctly wins. If the card says 'JUST JOE,' only the player whos turn it is gets to play. No possible correct answer? Shout out 'NO JOE!' to win the card. If a correct answer isn't giving within a reasonable amount of time, Joe wins the card. The first player, including Joe, to win 10 cards is the WINNER!

Name a word with 2 vowel(s).

Easy, Great, Vowel

:)

WHO WOULD WIN was the favorite of the evening. Probably, because my group of friends is very opinionated and like to debate. This is also, by far, the more original and unique of the two games. Players take turns flipping over a character card, choosing an opponent, they flip over a character card, and the debate begins. We, of course modified the rules to fit our own group arguing style, if you have a more civilized group of friends you can follow the instructions and use the timed debate rule: 20 seconds each, with a 5 second rebuttal. We just yelled across the table until we felt we had made our point. The rest of the players then get to vote on who they feel is the winner. The winning player keeps the event card. First player to collect 5 event cards wins.

Who would win in a dog training competition between Lance Armstrong and Bruce Lee?

-Amy

A Great Big Thanks from Mr. Belly Bank

If you shop at Kids Club surely you know our trusty door greater: Mr. Belly Bank!


 He sits right outside our front door, rain or shine. Kids have lots of fun putting coins in his mouth and watching them zig-zag down into his tummy. Did you know that all of the coins collected are donated to local charities? And we match every penny 100%, doubling every donation! About $200 worth of coins are collected from his belly every month! We rotate the charities, picking ones that focus on youth, children and women's causes. 


This month our featured charity is:

 Youth Suicide Prevention Program of Washington. 

Why did we pick this organization? 

Although suicide is a difficult topic to talk about, it is extremely important. With recent cuts in federal and state funding YSPP is finding themselves with a much smaller budget to work with. We are committed to helping them continue critical programs to reach out to youth and parents in need of their services. 

For more info about YSPP and the services that they provide, and to donate, please visit: http://www.yspp.org

Past charities have included; 

Rise N' Shine -- Since 1988, Rise n' Shine, has been providing emotional support programs, stability, advocacy, and AIDS education for children and teens affected by HIV/AIDS.  This includes children and teens who have been orphaned by the disease, children and teens who live with a  parent or other close family member with HIV/AIDS, and those who are infected themselves. For more info and to donate please visit: http://www.risenshine.org

Treehouse -- Offering support and resources for foster families. With the goal of giving foster children a real childhood as well as hope for the future they offer six core programs; Tutoring, Educational Advocacy, College and Career Planning, Little Wishes, Summer Camp, and the Warehouse - where kids can shop several times a year for new and like-new clothing, shoes, school supplies, books, toys, bikes and other essentials to help them feel good and fit in. For more info and to donate please visit: http://www.treehouseforkids.org/

Friends of Youth -- In addition to operating the only overnight youth shelters on the Eastside, FOY offers youth development initiatives, in-home family support for young parents of newborns, parent education, youth and family counseling, substance abuse counseling, thereputic foster care, residential treatment and transitional housing for homeless young people and teen mothers. For more info and to donate please visit: http://www.friendsofyouth.org

We want to give a great big THANKS to everyone that has dropped a coin or two into Mr. Belly Bank over the years and we hope that you will share your spare pocket change with the next time you shop at Kids Club. Together we can help our community, one coin at a time!

Kelsey's Top Ten Green Products for Baby

It seems like almost every baby product on the market today is somehow 'green' or 'eco-friendly' and twice the price of the regular version. Great for mother nature and your baby's health, but not so great for your pocketbook! 

In a sea of 'green', it's hard to know what is truly worth your extra green. 

Here is a list of my top ten favorite eco-friendly baby products, that are well worth the added expense.

10. Kicky Pants Bamboo Newborn Gift Set  [$39.90*]

Super soft, and made from one of the most sustainable fabrics available, Bamboo! This outfit will make a great gift at your next baby shower.

9. Dandelion Busy Block  [$27.90*]

Made from organic cotton, this toy will keep any baby busy!

And a portion of the proceeds from this product will help support breast cancer research.

8. Natursutten Chill-It Teether  [$12.90*]

This teether will soothe your baby's gums while keeping mother nature happy. It is made from EVAtane (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) a material used for medical products. It is free of BPA, PVC, and Phthalates and filled with purified sterilized water.

7. Manny & Simon Wooden Step Stools  [$94.90*]

Made from sustainably harvested wood, these super cute stools will help your potty trainer reach new heights. We have one to try out in our family-friendly restroom at Kids Club!

6. Kumquat Elephant Onesie  [$28.90*]

This brand uses recycled fabric to fashionably fashion your baby. With such bold designs who can resisit?

5. aden + anais Bamboo Muslin Wraps  [$42.90*]

These swaddle blankets are super soft and made from bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource, making them a 'eco-friendly' choice over traditional cotton.

4. Robeez Organic Booties  [$25.90*]

Robeez recently added an organic line to their already impressive collection of booties for your baby.

3. Green Toys Blocks  [$24.95*]

All Green Toys products are made from 100% recycled plastic. Lightweight, durable, and green!

What could be better?

2. Manhattan Toy Natural Skwish  [$16.90*]

Curiously clutchable! Made from replenishable rubberwood and a water based non-toxic finish,

 this toy will be a favorite for years to come.

1. Feather Baby Organic Kangaroo Romper  [$45.90*]

A new line at Kids Club, these adorable organic outfits will make all the other parents on your block jealous of your beautiful bambino!


-Kelsey


* Prices subject to change