May
10
2012

posted by

Gisela Voss

Moms helping Mamas, Mamis, Muttis, Mères, Ahms, and Omas

One billion children (1 in 2 children in the world) miss out on their childhood as a result of poverty.

Those are stark, ugly numbers. They are the reason we at B. are so connected and committed to Free The Children. As sad as the thought of those children makes me, with mother's day approaching I feel a profound sorrow for their mothers. I cannot fathom the crushing feeling of not being able to feed, keep safe, or educate my kids. Or the devastating loss of not ever being able to see my beloved three thrive.

The moms (and aunts) of B. want to share with you large and small ways to help. A year ago we told you about "Mamas to Mamas". A year later 137 million more babies were born into the world. Our blog post from last year is worth repeating...

* * * * *

What do you want for Mother’s Day? Some peace and quiet? Flowers? Handmade cards? A new vacuum cleaner? Breakfast in bed? (I once got ALL my favorites combined onto one English muffin: cream cheese, strawberry jam, and tomato with salt and pepper — yuck! Ehem…I mean YUM, of course!).

We at B. wish all moms, grandmas, aunts, caregivers, and all who mother whatever it is THEY wish for on this special day.

But we also dare wish for something much much bigger—a more fair world, one in which all mamas get a chance to raise healthy kids…and wish a little for themselves too. We have big, medium and little ways you can help another mom far away. Today.

BIG
Buy her a Mamas to Mamas goat, beehive, or training program that could completely alter the course of her life and her dreams. Baa Baa or beehive does not matter. This is a true direct gift. 100%.

MEDIUM
Support her handicraft alternative income effort by buying yourself or someone you love a gorgeous, individually (and ethically) handcrafted gift from Me to We Artisans. Free The Children’s Adopt A Village sustainability model helps not just children overseas go to school and have access to clean water and health care. It also helps their mothers bring about change for their family and community through alternative income projects. With the hard work of mothers, whole families are empowered and lifted from the cycle of poverty.

Founder Roxanne Joyal, a founding member of Free The Children was inspired to found Artisans after witnessing talented Maasai beaders forced to travel daily to small tourist markets flooded with similar products, where they would sometimes sell their intricate beadwork at a loss. Today, the mamas are able to earn twice as much as before—without giving up their traditional way of life.

Gathered under acacia trees with their young children in tow, the Maasai mamas bead using art forms passed down mother-to-daughter through the generations, turning their traditional handiwork into a livelihood. By joining Artisans, each woman is empowered to build her savings and do things she never would have believed possible: improve her home, buy food and medicine for her family, send her children to school, and believe that her skills and her voice have value.

SMALL
Buy a B. toy for the little person who made you or someone you love a mother in the first place. Bring some joy to a child, knowing 10 cents of your purchase goes to support the work of Free The Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children. May not sound like a lot, but as dimes add up they change the world. See for yourself how powerful you can B. in even the smallest of ways. Asante Sana (“thank you very much” in Swahili).

Little by little, the same way our babies grow, generosity can change everything. A gift from a mama to a mama, a mom to a mami, an abuela to an oma. A daddy to a mommy. No matter. Every little bit counts. We thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for what you already give by buying our toys.

Warmest wishes come true for you.

—Gisela

Apr
18
2012

posted by

Gisela Voss

Earth 911

If Mother Earth could dial a phone, surely she would. We all know the damage pollution causes, the dangers of global warming, the disapperance of animal and plant species. It's sometimes easy to get discouraged and wonder what you can do. We at B. firmly and whole-heartedly believe in the words of English philosopher Sydney Smith:

"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little—do what you can."

To us it's Earth day every day! We try in all we do to B. good—to kids, their parents and our planet. This often means making choices about materials for our packaging that cost a little more money: whether that is PET #1, the most recyclable plastic, polypropylene PP for our reusable bags, 100% recycled Kraft paper for our boxes, soy inks for our printing, or simply sometimes foregoing packaging altogether. It always always means using recycled and recyclable materials and encouraging parents to do the same.

We have fun with this. Take a look here at a collection of B. Green messages from our packaging. The words of our übertalented (and überhilarious) copywriter Amy Flanagan infuse our brand with mirth and merriment. Not a day goes by we don't giggle around here!

And we get serious too. We promote Earth911.com on our packaging because this website is one-stop source for where you can recycle almost anything, at a location near you! It's the largest and most comprehensive recycling directory in the USA. Try it; you'll be amazed. I used it to find a place to recycle a dozen tangled, mangled strands of non-working Christmas lights that had been taking up space in my basement for years.

This Sunday, April 22, is Earth Day 2012 and the Earth Day network is mobilizing a billion acts of green. Millions of people around the globe of all nationalities and backgrounds will Mobilize the Earth by voicing their appreciation for the planet and demanding its protection, standing united for a sustainable future and calling upon individuals, organizations, and governments to do their part.

Join in? Even by just showing our kids how to shut the lights or the faucet off we help a little. And lots of littles add up to a lot.

—Gisela

Mar
28
2012

posted by

Gisela Voss

You, yes YOU, are changing the world.

Every time you buy a B. toy 10¢ get set aside to help children on the other side of the world who, by the mere stroke of fate, are less fortunate than our own. When you hold a dime in your hand it seems oh so small. So inconsequential. How can that little coin make a difference?

It does. It makes a BIG difference. Those dimes add up. They go to Free The Children to build schools, and water wells, and clinics, and alternative income programs. The four pillars of this holistic Adopt a Village model (Water—Health—Education—Alternative Income) are what sets Free The Children apart from many other organizations who help in only one of those areas. Building a healthy community through the Adopt a Village model is like building the framework of a house. Each pillar provides crucial support, without which the whole thing would eventually crumble. The Adopt a Village four pillars for community development are all based on the idea that no problem and no solution stands alone.

I have seen the work of Free The Children with my own eyes. Taken my kids to Kenya to mix cement and carry bricks with our own hands. Watched my 14 year old daughter carry a 40 pound jerrycan of water on her own back. I can vouch for these dimes personally. In a deeply heart-felt and committed way. Truly committed. So committed that now, after these two years of working with Free The Children through B., and after my own personal travels, I sit proudly on the USA board of directors of Free The Children. (Oh, the many places these toys have taken me…)

I hope that every time you play with a B. toy you will remember that you sit there with me. Every one of you who has chosen to support this quirky toy brand with the kraft paper packaging and the earthy colors and the big heart.

We whole-heartedly live by the words of 18th century cleric Sydney Smith: "It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little."

I want to share with you a story by Loren Eiseley that will stick with me forever.

One day a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
”I made a difference for that one.”

For this one and this one and this child who cannot thank you personally…we echo Marc Kielburger, co-founder of Free The Children, thanking YOU for your help. And we share with you Robin Wiszowaty's Asante Sana message all the way from Kenya. As program director in Kenya for Free The Children, Robin, more than anyone, sees daily how much B. funds are able to help children have hope for the future—and a childhood now.

We proudly show you a glimpse of the first Kenyan village Battat, B. toys and YOU are helping through the generous B. donations, a little at a time, a dime at a time. Meet Ngosuani, a remote village deep in the Maasai Mara where currently 98% of the women and 90% of the men are illiterate, families live on less than $1 dollar a day, a third of the children are in situations of child labor, and the average age for a first-time mom is 15. This is Free The Children's newest community in Kenya and exactly where your B. contribution is going.

My daughter Sydney traveled there last summer with a MetoWe trip to bring back the photos in the video above, to actually dig ditches and to meet the Kindergarten children who are so excited to go to school they could not stop hugging her as if she represented every one of those dimes, every one of you. (It is not lost on me that she was 14 at the time and by sheer cosmic fortune was born in Boston rather than there, where she would not know how to read or write, would carry water for hours a day, and would this year be married.)

Sydney brought back those hugs, and if I could post them all here I would. But all I can do is thank you. Thank you. Thank you. For being a part of the solution.

ASANTE SANA, GRACIAS, MERCI BEAUCOUP.

—Gisela

Feb
07
2012

posted by

Carly Hagins

Sweet Treats

There’s nothing quite like Valentine’s Day in grade school. Friends exchange small gifts and there are classroom parties with festive decorations. One of the first holidays since late December, it’s an excuse to let people know you care. And maybe eat a candy heart or five.

The B.ig day is only a week away. Are you still searching for creative ideas about what your wee ones can bring to school on February 14? If so, you’re in luck! We’ve combed the internet to come up with these suggestions just for you.

For many, Valentine’s Day is all about candy. The options are endless: there are heart-shaped boxes full of chocolate, lollipops wrapped in red, and conversation hearts printed with sweet sayings.

Personalized matchboxes from inchmark are adorable—and hold a perfectly petite portion of your favorite sweet treat.
Gabrielle Blair, better known as Design Mom, always has ingenious Valentine’s ideas. We’re blown away by these portraits-turned-lollipop-holders. (Bet they’d work with pencils too!)
These See-Through Valentines (made by Kelli Wilson) are elegant enough to bring to a big kid’s party—or gift to your sweetheart.

Maybe you prefer to think outside the (candy) box? Lots of schools have started enforcing sugar-free celebrations. We love the idea of Valentines that last a little longer than a candy stash.

Mer Mag’s color theory cards make our designer hearts sing. We’re considering making a set for every holiday this year.
Simply wrapped, bouncy balls become a unique and very boy-friendly treat. Thanks to Super Mom Moments for the super idea.
These beautiful painted rocks from Aesthetic Outburst are a fun craft and a sweet memento. There’s no better way to say ‘you rock!’
Do you have a drawer full of crayon nubs? Cottoncandycastle’s heart-shaped mishmash crayons look soooo cool, are fun to use, and can teach a valuable lesson in recycling.
Little ones will feel like the head zookeeper with these wild cards from Design Mom. Don’t miss the free printable!
Food coloring and shaving cream come together to make these awesomely crafty cards from Modern Parents Messy Kids. Our recommendation? Put the kids on shaving cream duty, keep the food coloring in adult hands, and have a camera close by!

Valentine’s Day can also be the perfect time to teach your little ones about the importance of helping others. What better way to show your compassion than by providing opportunities to people who might not have them otherwise?

Me to We has many Artisan-made gifts that would be just right to give to your loved ones. Our favorite? The mood elevator!
Bee mine? A gift of honey bees via Free The Children can be life changing for families in need. If you ask us, that’s sweeter than any box of chocolates.

And if you’re looking for a gift for the loved ones in your life who have graduated from the days of pencil cases and milk in mini cartons, we suggest sharing the wisdom of your wee ones with our online quote maker. Quotes can be downloaded, emailed, tweeted, printed, and framed. The incredible insight of the most precious little people in your life is truly one of the greatest gifts around.

—Carly

PS- This year I’m sending Valentines from tattly—makers of awesomely design-y temporary tattoos—to my friends near and far. You’re never too old for a little treat!

Oct
03
2011

posted by

Gisela Voss

Me to We

How do we teach our children something as BIG as generosity?

We hold the opportunity of a lifetime in our hands. Literally. The formation of a little human being is our legacy, our gift to the world. Who our children become happens in the daily decisions, in the fleeting moments of everyday life—from using cloth napkins, to sharing favorite toys, to holding a door open for someone, or picking up trash at the beach. These are the life lessons that mold our little ones into the people they are going to be. There, when we least expect it, by our example, by the choices we make, they learn to B. Good.

"Good." That short word seems so vacuous. And yet what do we all want our kids to be?

HONEST
KIND
FAIR
HAPPY
GOOD

What toys they play with make a difference. That's why we try to infuse goodness into ALL the product decisions we make. We truly strive every single day to B. good. To kids—all kids—their parents, and our world.

And that is why we are deeply humbled, every day, by the work Free The Children does around the world. Their holistic Adopt-a-Village model is proof, as Craig Kielburger says, that: "the greatest gift is to help someone never need charity again."

And that is why we are honored, every day, that you invite our toys into your homes and into the hands of the most precious little people in your lives. It's a privilege we don't take lightly. And it's a decision you are making at the store that makes a little difference every time. You, yes YOU, are helping Free The Children too.

This week I took my daughter and some of her friends to WE DAY, an incredible sight to behold. 60,000 teens joined together in a can-do spirit to make a difference in their world, in our world, locally and globally.

THIS is the reason we chose Free The Children to receive a small donation from every B. toy sold. Of course because of their international success building 650+ schools and opening clinics and water wells. But, more importantly, because as a company of products for kids, as parents of kids, we were deeply moved by the Free The Children's other mission: the understanding that by awakening the spirit of activism in young people, anything is possible—injustices can be stopped, our local and global communities can be transformed for the better, and hope for the future can be sustained.

The world needs our kids to pitch in and make our world a better place for all kids. To open their hearts from "mine" and "me me me" to a spirit of WE.

Join me in taking our kids there?
You already have.

-Gisela