How does a teddy bear make you feel?  I think the first reaction to receiving one is to give it a huge hug, squeeze it, and feel it’s fur against your face.  At Build-a-Bear Workshop, they believe that bears can change the world and create a feeling of love.  They remind us of when we were children, say “thank you,” “congratulations,” or simply “I’m thinking of you!”

The Love.Hugs.Smiles movement is to help spread the feeling of happiness and of course smiles to someone around you.

We were sent two brown bears and our mission was to put a smile on someone’s face.  The timing was perfect, my daughter was invited to a birthday party and wanted just one more thing to give the birthday girl as a gift.  “Mom, I know Leah will LOVE this bear!”  I knew it too.  We actually added an adorable outfit to the bear to personalize it, “she likes red mom, my daughter says!”

Carried to the party in it’s own official Build-a-Bear Workshop cub condo that can be used again and again as well as colored, right away one of the grandma’s stopped me.  “Is that really what I think it is?”  I nodded and she was so tickled, “we’ve been talking about that, Leah will be thrilled!”  It made me and my daughter smile.

Amongst all the little girls and all the dolls and clothes, Leah opened the box and said, “Yay it’s so cute, I can’t wait to introduce to my other animals!”  Mission accomplished, her smile was wide and she immediately did what I thought she would, she squeezed it and rubbed the fur on her cheek.

As part as being a Build-a-Bear Ambassador, we were sent two bears, one to keep and one to spread smiles with.