Super Saver Holiday Sale

Email “add me” to info@bitsybirdie.com to receive your unique discount code and sign up for email updates. Unique, non-transferrable discount code good for 20% off all non-sale items through 12/29/08.

Visit www.BitsyBirdie.com for the best in innovative, high-quality, earth-friendly toys.

One Day Sale - Cyber Monday

Stop in and visit our Cyber Monday Sale. Today only. Special pricing ends at midnight. www.BitsyBirdie.com

Happy Thanksgiving

Just in Time for the Holidays - Free Priority Shipping

Visit us at www.BitsyBirdie.com for more great offers.

Plan City Adventure Set on Sale

The fun Plan Toys Adventure Set sets the scene for a tropical mountain adventure, palm trees and 4x4 included. It's one of Plan Toys' most popular new sets this year, and we've put it on special sale just in time for the holidays. Don't miss out - Sale Ends 11/30/08.

Visit us at www.BitsyBirdie.com to see this and other sets from Plan Toys.

Kate Quinn Organics Luxury Hooded Towels on Sale

We've just put our ultra soft Kate Quinn Organics Luxury Hooded Towels on sale. They're a great match with our Zoo Zuds soaps. Pair the two for a fun gift under $30.

Visit us at www.BitsyBirdie.com to see both.

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub There's a Chimp in the Tub

Our Zoo Zuds soaps have just become a featured pick on Cool Mom Picks! Check it out here: http://www.coolmompicks.com/2008/11/scrubadubdub_zoo_zuds_in_the_t.php

Find them here at www.BitsyBirdie.com.

Our Holiday Sale Is Here

Please stop in and visit us at www.BitsyBirdie.com. We'll be open all hours. Feel free to shop in your pajamas while sipping a cup of hot cocoa. : )

Timeless Toy Safety Tips

WGAL news report following last year's toy recalls providing excellent (and timeless) toy safety tips.

Visit us at www.BitsyBirdie.com to view our selection of safety conscious toys made in the USA and Europe.

Kathe Kruse Towel Dolls Soothe Baby in Organic Cotton Comfort

The adorable organic towel doll from Kathe Kruse is one of my favorites. Soft and cuddly, it is an ideal companion for baby. It adopts familiar smells, calms, and simply is always there.

Available as a bunny or lamb, it comes in pink, blue, or natural, and is finely crafted in Germany to meet high European quality standards.

In addition to their reputation for producing the highest quality dolls, the Kathe Kruse company is a dedicated steward of the environment, coming forward with a new line of organic products and working to reduce environmental impact of its operations and products through the promotion of pollution reduction and recycling where appropriate.

Visit us at www.BitsyBirdie.com to see this and other Kathe Kruse products.

Frosty the Snowman

We've Added Toy Recall Information to the Site

To help you find the most up-to-date toy recall information, we've added the US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Recent Child-Related Product Recalls RSS feed to our blog in the column on the right. For a full list of recalls visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html.

Great Green Crafts!

Michelle Kaufmann offers a fun eco-friendly craft project perfect for kids and parents on a rainy afternoon or cold winter night.

Holgate Toys Baby Blocks Featured in 2008 Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy Guide

Our Holgate Toys Baby Blocks have been featured in the 2008 Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy Guide. These gorgeous heirloom quality wooden blocks are made in the USA and thoroughly safety tested.

See them here at www.BitsyBirdie.com.

Free Coloring Page - Hey Diddle, Diddle, The Cow Jumped Over the Moon

(Free for personal private use only.)

Please visit us at www.bitsybirdie.com.

Plan Toys Tree House Makes "The Natural Wishlist" Kiwi Magazine's Picks for this Season's Best Eco-friendly Toys

On "The Natural Wishlist" Kiwi Magazine's picks for this season's best eco-friendly toys.

Try as we might to create a world of complete gender neutrality, there are still boys who cringe at the idea of playing with a "dollhouse." For those little boys and for girls too, there's the Plan Toys Tree House, a three-story tree house hang-out with a tent at the top and a real working pulley.



Plan Toys gets top marks across the board. Its toys are safety-conscious, educationally sound, and environmentally responsible.

Toy Safety

Plan Toys products are made using non-chemically treated, kiln-dried rubberwood, non-formaldehyde glue, and non-toxic water-based dyes containing no heavy metal elements. It produces 100% of its toys in its own factories to insure quality and safety, and toys meet or exceed ASTM (American) and EN71 (European) toy safety standards.

Designed with Education in Mind

Plan Toys' many awards include Parenting Magazine's Best Toy of the Year, Parent & Child Teacher's Pick, Germany's Reddot Design Award, The Belgian Toy of the Year, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards from Practical Pre-School in the United Kingdom, and many, many more.

Environmentally Responsible

Plan Toys is a green company from start to finish. From the wood used, to the manufacturing processes, to the water based and soy inks used on printed materials, it operates with our environment in mind. Integrated use of alternative energy and conservation through reforestation are included in its green approach to business.

To see our full selection of Plan Toys, please visit us at www.BitsyBirdie.com.

Make Your Own Yo-Yo, A Fun Recycling Project

It turns out colored cardboard food boxes make pretty cool yo-yo's. Not quite as elegant as the ones above, but so very fun.

Here's what you'll need:

- One brightly colored box at the end of its shelf life in your freezer or pantry (We used an Eggo box, but an Amy's Organics or Annies's Bunny Grahams box or similar should work just as well.)
- One corndog stick or similar
- One piece of embroidery floss about 3 feet long
- Hot glue gun and glue (for use by an adult or with adult supervision only)

Here's how:

1.) Cut the stick to approximately one inch in length.
2.) Cut eight circles from the box - 4 two inches in diameter, 4 one and one half inches in diameter.
3.) Place two of the smaller circles between two of the larger circles and center them. Glue together. Then punch a hole large enough for the stick through the center of the circles. Repeat with the remaining circles.
4) Tie a loop large enough for one finger in one end of the embroidery floss. Then tie the other end around the stick, just loosely enough that it can spin.
5) Place one set of circles over each end of the stick, pushing stick just through so that the circles do not hinder the movement of the string.
6.) Glue ends of stick to circles.
7.) Allow glue to set.
8.) Play.


Thanks for reading. Visit us anytime at www.bitsybirdie.com.

This Just In - Ecoleekos Are Here!

This adorable new line just arrived in store today. The Ecoleekos are here! Until now, I've never carried a line without seeing it in person first, but when I saw these in Cool Mom Picks, I knew they would be a great fit. They didn't disappoint. They are simply adorable, the cutest little faces and handcrafted little bodes. It's quite possible there isn't a cuter green toy on the market.

Visit us at www.bitsybirdie.com to see our line of Ecoleeko Organic and Eco-Friendly Plush Toys.

The New Retro -- Safer Toys, Happier Holidays

Since the spate of toy recalls last year there has been a reexamination of the types of toys we give our children. Plastic, painted, battery operated toys are being edged out by new favorites.

Wooden toys durably designed and thoughtfully crafted are making a comeback. Quality is king, and attentive store owners are offering more information about companies, manufacturing processes, and the toys themselves.

Making an especially strong comeback are wooden toys, a hot ticket item this holiday season. Our Plan Toys are very popular, sturdily constructed of eco-friendly wood and materials, always with an eye toward education. The retro styling offers a bit of 70's flare, and I can't deny that seeing them starts me reminiscing about my own childhood. My daughters have the Plan Toys Airport, and it has been a consistent favorite since the day we opened the box four months ago.

Another new favorite is our Holgate Toys line. They've been producing great wooden toys in the USA since 1929 and have seen a resurgence in popularity following the recalls. The styling of their Baby Blocks and Rocky Color Cone is timeless, and their Handeez wooden cars are ingeniously designed for toddler play. (One of their early designers was Jarvis Rockwell, brother of Norman Rockwell.) These toys are built to last.


Visit us at www.BitsyBirdie.com to see our selection of Plan Toys and Holgate Toys.

Because We're Cool . . .

Priority mail shipping for just $8 at BitsyBirdie.com.

Making Gift Ideas Easier - New Categories for Gifts in Every Price Range

With the holidays well on the way, we've created new categories at Bitsy Birdie making it quick and easy to find gifts in every price range. Browsing by price is especially fun for stocking stuffers and small gift items (which we'll be adding more of this weekend).

Free Coloring Pages Now Available

Check out our Bitsy Birdie Free Fun Page for coloring pages and more.

Exactly Why We Love Green Toys

And yes, the toys really are those gorgeous colors in person.

Stocking Up On Stocking Stuffers: Five Stocking Stuffers Under $5

The economic downturn is hitting everyone where it hurts. So we're pitching in to help with these great deals on stocking stuffers. More to come as the season draws near.

1) The super soft and super cute 100% Organic Cotton Under the Nile Baby Buddy Doll in Aqua Stripe:

2) The super soft and super cute 100% Organic Cotton Under the Nile Baby Buddy Doll in Garden Print. These two are like the fraternal twins:

3) The who-knew-math-could-be-so-cute Haba Summa Bracelet, gorgeous colors and fosters math brilliance:

4) Baby blocks have never been cuter than on the Haba Summa Keychain in bright blue, orange, and green. This would even be a nice stocking stuffer for the new dad.

5) The Haba Elisa Flower Keychain makes a great pull for backpacks and zippers for girls, and even a sweet little stocking stuffer for Mom, especially if attached to the keys for that new hybrid ride.

BitsyBirdie Featured on ModernMums.com in Dr. Geary Recommends: Healthy Resources

We're delighted to receive the recommendation of Dr. Natalie Geary, MD. Bitsy Birdie is featured in her October 23 "Dr. Geary Recommends" column for healthy resources. She especially likes the Green Toys Cookware and Dining set, "One of my favorites is the Green Toys Cookware and Dining set that provides your kids with a colorful set of cookware, plates, bowls, cups and utensils. Cooking toys are an important learning tool for children to learn about pouring and mixing, as well as pretend play . . . " To read the full review click here.

Bitsy Birdie in Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy Guide

Bitsy Birdie has been honored as one of the 2008 Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy Guide's featured toy sellers. We're absolutely giddy with glee, so we're offering you, our Bitsy Birdie blog readers, a special 10% discount. Use discount code "bbblog" at checkout through 11/15/08.

Treat Them Well - Ten Healthy Halloween Treats

A couple of years ago, mommy guilt overwhelmed me and I could no longer bear to pass out candy bars and gobstoppers to impressionable little ghouls and goblins on Halloween night. Two giant Costco packs of David Sunflower Seeds sat ready, and I steeled myself for being Halloween blacklisted by the neighborhood kids. Much to my surprise trick-or-treaters smiled and exclaimed "Sunflower Seeds!" as we dropped them into their bags.

Even kids dig healthy when it's done right.

If you're nervous about experimenting with healthy treats or just looking for some new ideas, here's a list of ten healthy Halloween treats to get you started:

1) Sunflower Seeds
2) Yogurt Covered Raisins
3) Banana Chips
4) Trail Mix
5) Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
6) Pretzels
7) Animal Crackers
8) Mini Flashlights
9) Mini Playing Cards
10)Mini Footballs

For the bonus round, keep a little cash in your pocket. The first Halloween after we bought our home, I ran out of candy. We didn't really know any of the parents in the neighborhood well and expected few, if any, trick-or-treaters. As I saw a great throng of witches and warlocks and ballerinas gathering at our front door, I realized the candy in our biggest bowl wouldn't make it through the round.

As I opened the door, they realized it too, and the bigger kids and teenagers pushed their way to the front. As they walked away with their candy bars, I reached into my pocket and handed each of the little trick-or-treaters left standing disappointed a dollar. I'll never forget seeing one of them running back to his parents yelling, "She's giving away dollars!"

Because You're Never Too Old to Have Fun

When I saw these Weplay toys at the spring toy show in Pomona, I couldn't wait to get my hands on them. They didn't disappoint. They are as much fun to play with as they look.

The toy designer was at the show, and I got to speak directly with her. Her enthusiasm for the design of each toy was rivaled by her sheer joy at demonstrating them. As she explained them I realized they were meant for much more than just fun.

Weplay focuses on developing the whole child, the mind as well as the body by incorporating the principles of Tai Chi into their designs. Their developmental value is so great I almost hesitate to call them toys, but they are so much fun to play with, how could I not?

The Too Cute Kimono in Totally Eco-Chic

Made of buttery soft organic cotton in rich fall tones, the Kate Quinn Organics Kimono dress is one of our most popular items.

It's one of the pieces that sold me on carrying this line. The styling and colors are subtly sophisticated, and the cotton is so soft you'll want to snuggle up and sleep in it. Kate Quinn's designs have been featured as top picks in USA Today, Parents Magazine, Baby Couture, and more.

The company is located in Seattle, and Kate is real mom with real dedication to organic children's apparel and environmental awareness. Each garment is crafted with care in India from organic cotton.

There's lots of good Karma here.

Upcycling, Martha Stewart Style

Here's a great opporunity to earn double brownie points by doing something good for the environment and creating something adorable at the same time.

Martha's offering free templates online for turning those old sweaters into adorable little stuffed animals and ornaments. Patterns are complete with step-by-step instructions and simple enough to be hand-sewn.

To check out this eco-friendly craft idea at MarthaStewart.com, just click here.

Take A Ride In The Lovebug

When I saw this little hardwood beauty, I knew we had to have it. It's made in the USA by Holgate Toys. Easy rolling wheels and an easy-grip handle make it a great fit for toddlers' little hands. It's fuel efficient and built to last.

Find Your Conductor Hat, It's Time to Play!

When I saw this Plan Toys Railway Station Set, I couldn't wait for it to come in June. It's new this year and sure to please moms and kids alike. With Plan Toys' excellent safety history, innovative designs, and awards for educational design, this is a great option for parents looking to buy kids their first train set or looking to replace trains tainted with lead paint.

The railway station is a complete set and even stores in its own box that becomes a small bench seat! Great for making clean-up easy.

Supporting the Environment through Green Advertising

In our ongoing effort to walk the walk, as well as talking the talk, we're focusing our advertising efforts online and working with environmentally conscious partners. Bitsy Birdie is now a retail member of the Surfrider Foundation, is listed on OrganicLinker - The Organic & Eco Directory, and is running featured advertising on Cool Mom Picks.