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National Teddy Bear Day

How could we not blog about National Teddy Bear Day this week? It is the day we look forward to every year (alongside Christmas, obviously). Please, don’t tell us you forgot! Whether or not you still have your childhood teddy, or simply know a little one who loves their teddy bear, today is the perfect time to celebrate!

September 9, National Teddy Bear Day…  

Honoring the history of one of childhood’s most favourite toys, September 9 is made for both children and adults to celebrate. As a child, we have all had that one special cuddly teddy that stuck out from all the rest. And even some of us still have that loved one, treasured at home.

And as a parent, it’s essential to find and look after your little one’s best friend with them. Making sure they’re not lost at school or left anywhere, not any different from the last cuddle! I remember my mum washing my favourite bear ‘Rosie’ and I felt like the world was turned upside down!

In our previous blog, we discovered the history of the world’s first teddy bear. Originating from the events of American President Roosevelt and the bear hunt to the published cartoon and finally Michtom creating the new toy. Just over 100 years later, the ‘Teddy Bear’ of 1902 has a whole day full of extra love and celebrations.

How can the day be celebrated?

If you are one of over half of adults who still have your childhood bear, you could celebrate the day by getting her or him out and spending your day with it. If you are with children or grandchildren, you could show them the teddy bear you grew up with. Tell them a story! If you are feeling really adventurous and have the time, you could start sewing your own teddy bear. Why not give one to a child in need? There are plenty of books or TV shows that you could spend the day with, with characters such as Winnie-the-Pooh and Paddington. Or, movies such as Ted may be more suitable for adults.

Search #NationalTedyBearDay on social media to see what people around the country are up to!

 

National Teddy Bear Day is observed next on Wednesday, September 9th, 2020. It has always been observed annually on September 9th.

Back To School: Kids In The Kitchen

Now that the sun is starting to play hide and seek, what can we do to still spend time with the kids? The summer holidays may be over, but their energy and excitement levels are not. We promise! After their first few days back to school and their favourite after school clubs, they will be back to their normal crazy selves! Autumn may mean less time to play outdoors and run around at the park, but the fun isn’t over!

After doing our research, testing, and tasting, we are going to share with you a few easy recipes, so the monsters stay busy inside while learning cooking skills… Keeping the food colourful so that summer isn’t completely forgotten!

How can we get the kids in the kitchen after school?

Main – Rainbow Layered Salad Jars

Rainbow Layered Salad Jars

What is great about this recipe is that you can make it custom to you and your family’s tastes. If you don’t like cherry tomatoes, swap them for red peppers! It doesn’t matter what’s inside, but we think the rainbow coordination is so cool we want to be keeping this!

Ingredients:

350g pasta shapes

200g green beans, trimmed and chopped into short lengths

160g canned tuna in olive oil, drained

4 tbsp mayonnaise

4 tbsp natural yogurt

200g cherry tomatoes, quartered

1 orange pepper, cut into little cubes

195g can sweetcorn, drained

You will also need:

4x Clear jars (e.g Mason Jars, or equivalent. Keep it clear for the rainbow effect!)

Making:

  1. Cook the pasta following pack instructions and drain well. Cook the green beans in simmering water for 2 mins, then rinse in cold water and also drain well. Mix the tuna with the yogurt and mayonnaise.
  2. Grab 4x clean and empty jars and tip the pasta inside. Spoon the tuna dressing over the top of the pasta and its time to add veg. Add a layer of green beans, followed by a layer of cherry tomatoes, then the pepper and sweetcorn. This part is adaptive as it is up to you guys what order and ingredients to use, these are just fab suggestions! Cover and chill until you’re ready to munch.

Other filling ideas:

Mexican style with rice and chilli beans

Pasta with tomato sauce and chicken

Pasta with chicken, bacon, and mayo

A fruit salad rainbow jar with strawberries, mango, banana, and kiwi…

 

 

Dessert –  Frozen and Dipped Banana Lollies

Frozen, Dipped Banana Lollies

Here is a sweet and healthy treat to follow the awesome rainbow salad jars you guys have made (and maybe eaten!). Similar to before, these recipes have room for adaption. Want to swap hundreds and thousands for a different decorative topping? Want to try peanut butter, not chocolate? It may be messier but give it a go!

Ingredients:

2 bananas

100g natural yogurt

200g dark chocolate

1 tbsp hundreds and thousands

You will also need:

4 wooden lolly sticks

Making:

  1. First is preparing the banana pops. To begin, peel the bananas and chop each across the middle so that your bananas are shorter, not thinner. Next, thread and push on the pieces of banana.
  2. Lay the uncovered pops on a baking tray and put it in the freezer for 1 hr.
  3. Put the yogurt (or other desired topping) into a tall glass or jug then dip each banana pop into the glass to coat, then place back onto the tray to refreeze until set.
  4. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second bursts (stirring after each session) then pour it into a mug. Dip the end piece of each banana pop in the chocolate. Finally, sprinkle over the hundreds and thousands!!!
  5. The chocolate will not take long to set, but you can keep them in the freezer until you want to serve them for up to 1 week.

Other decoration ideas:

Small nuts

Raisins

Strawberry jam

Peanut butter

 

Toy Street

Well, we have reached the end of the yummy cooking blog. We want to say good luck back at school and we hope that you get on with our recipes, having fun and yummy snacks. Let us know how you got on by tagging us in your food pictures on social media. Or tell us in the comments.

Twitter – @ToyStreetUK

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Our Favourite 5 World Record Bears

At Toy Street, we are incredibly passionate and proud of the diverse bears we have to offer. Our aim is to offer a teddy bear perfect for every single one of you out there. This week, in our Bear Blogs we have decided to take a step back from our own fluffy ones to look at world-famous, record-breaking, and history-making bears to celebrate the beloved teddy. After some exciting research, we have gathered five bear profiles that will amaze you! From the story of the first-ever bear to the record holder of the largest bear collection, this blog of world record bears will amaze you!

 

  1. Worlds First Teddy Bear

Firstly, can you guess who the first Teddy Bear was invented in honor of? Did President Theodore Roosevelt pop into your head? Because he is the one which started the creation of our fluffy loved ones!

It all began on a bear hunting trip in Mississippi, 1902. Theordore had been invited on the hunt but was the only person who had not yet located a single bear. Later in the hunt, this progressed, and Roosevelt even refused to shoot a bear which led to articles and news stories being spread all about the shocking event! The public could not believe their eyes!

The teddy bear isn’t with us yet though! Next, a political cartoonist named Clifford Berryman, took a turn to read the article and satirised the event in the papers with a cartoon sketch. Finally, Morris Michtom, a sweet shop owner, saw the cartoon and had an idea. He and his wife also made stuffed animals, and Michtom decided to create a stuffed toy bear and dedicate it to the president who refused to shoot a bear. He called it ‘Teddy’s Bear’. After receiving Roosevelt’s permission to use his name, Michtom mass-produced the toy bears and soon founded the Ideal Toy Company as the bears were so popular.

 

  1. Most Expensive Teddy BearFrom the most historic teddy bear, next, we give you one of the most luxurious bears. Meet the Louis Vuitton Stieff bear. Can you guess how much she is worth?

Louis Vuitton Bear –  €1,978,000

Competing against historic bears in commemoration of the titanic, to bears with pearl eyes, we find the Louis Vuitton Steiff bear scoring highly in the most expensive bears. This fuzzy fashionista is decked out in Louis Vuitton’s finest; we just NEED the LV purse to match! Her designer clothes and matching luggage made her price soar above the competition previously mentioned. She was purchased in 2000 for nearly 2 million euros at a charity auction in Monaco. In fact, you can pay her a visit at the teddy bear museum in JeJu, South Korea.

If she was yours, what would you call her?

 

  1. Largest Teddy Bear

In contrast, the next plush toy we have to show you comes all the way from Mexico. Measuring at more than 6ft-long (19.41 metres), this bear earned the new world record in April 2019 for the Largest Teddy Bear. Named by the residents after their town, meet Xonita the bear. The 4.4-ton stuffed toy was measured at a soccer stadium in the town of Xonacatlan as a part of the town’s Children’s Day festivities where Guinness World Records were then able to confirm it was larger than the 55-foot teddy bear created by Kansas resident Dana Warren in 2008.  Three months of hard work and stitching and Xonita is officially the world’s largest teddy!

 

  1. Smallest Teddy Bear

We have shown you the world’s largest teddy so, of course, we need to show you the world’s SMALLEST teddy bear! Meet Tiny Ted… The bear is sewn exactly like a bigger bear and is fully jointed with a moveable head, arms, and legs.

Name: Tiny Ted, 2006

Height: 4.5mm, 0.17inch

Creator: Cheryl Moss, South Africa

Residence: Teddy Bear Museum, Jeju Island, South Korea (living with the most expensive bear, the Louis Vuitton Steiff)

 

 

  1. Largest Teddy Bear Collection

The largest collection of teddy bears is 20,367 items. This world record was achieved by Arnóczki Istvánné (Hungary) in Harsány, Hungary, on 27 April 2019.

So, what is the story behind her collection? How can we get our collection to grow like hers? Well… As a child, Arnóczki grew up in poverty and never owned a teddy bear. Of course, she was a young girl with a dream to have one that she could cuddle at night. Arnóczki’s collection was set off when she bought her first-ever teddy bear in 1978, in her twenties. Since then, she simply never stopped buying more!

Now, her personal collection made up of items she has purchased and received as donations are stored in the Teddy Museum her local village in Hungary.

How To Host A Teddy Bear’s Picnic

In our third and final Teddy Bear picnic blog we are looking at how to plan the perfect picnic. Previously we have had a look at the top teddies to take to a picnic, as well as the best picnics being held around the country. However, if there isn’t one local to you, or you haven’t been able to attend one yet this summer, then we thought we would do one more blog. The idea behind this blog is to help bring the picnic to you. Teddy Bears Picnics can be held anywhere, and some of the best may just be held in your very own garden.

Step 1 – Choose a location

The location of the picnic can be anywhere. This can range from your local park, wood or even back garden. Wherever you choose to make sure that it is easily accessible for everyone you want to attend. If you choose a local park, make sure there is parking and toilet facilities nearby for any younger picnic goers. Many locations are weather dependent, so if you can avoid this and find somewhere with a shelter that may be advisable.

Step 2 – Choose a date and time

Similarly to the locations, you need to make sure you choose a date that is good for everyone. Weekends work particularly well during term time. During the summer holidays weekdays may be your best option. Have a chat to the people you are planning on inviting and make sure they are free.

Step 3 – Invite your guests

However you choose to invite your guests make sure they all know the date, time and location. Remind everyone that this is a teddy bear picnic, so they don’t forget to bring their furry friends along too!

Step 4 – Get a picnic together

Little finger sandwiches and mini sausage rolls always go down very well. Food quantity varies depending on the number of guests you are expecting. Try and include some pieces of fruit and some carrot and cucumber sticks. Cakes and chocolate treats always go down well. You could bake a few fairy cakes or chocolate chip cookies.

Step 5 – Organise some games and activities

It’s a good idea to have some activities to keep the children entertained. ‘We’re going on a bear hunt’ is always a classic story to read at any picnic. You can create a lot of fun around this story, and even create a little bear/treasure hunt for the picnic goers. There are lots of other games you can play. For example, you could create some teddy bear relay races, where the children play and compete in mini obstacle races alongside their teddy. Make sure you also take lots of adorable little prizes to hand out to the winners of the games/races.

Step 6 – Have fun

When the day of the picnic finally arrives just remember to have fun. Everybody, no matter their age loves a teddy bears picnic so just remember that. Check the weather and make appropriate plans/adjustments. Get all the food together and try to be early to the picnic so you can get everything set up before your guests arrive. Finally, remember to take your furry friends along with you!

Teddy Bear Picnics can be held to celebrate a whole range of events. This can vary from a children birthday party to just an excuse to get together. Whatever your reason be sure to have fun!

Find your teddy bear picnic companion today…

Best Teddy Bear Picnics This Summer

The summer holidays are now in full swing. Children have been off school for a couple of weeks now, and many parents are planning how they are going to spend the rest of the time, before the term begins again in September.

If you are looking for great events and days out, then look no further. To give you a helping hand, we have created a list of the best Teddy Bear Picnics that are being held up and down the country. Take a look, there might be one happening close to you!

10th August – Gnoll Country Park, Neath

This Saturday from 11:00 – 17:00 Gnoll are hosting a Teddy Bears Picnic. This year they have a very special guest attending… Goldilocks. You can join her on an interactive Bear Hunt story and help her find the 3 missing bears. With props, rhymes, movement, music and lots of furry friends you are guaranteed to have a great time. This event is free for everyone, so why not pop along? Don’t forget to take your furry friends with you as there are prizes to be won for the oldest, cutest, scruffy and most handsome bears.

13th August – The Scarborough Spa’s Suncourt, Scarborough

Due to a massive demand the Scarborough Spa Orchestra Teddy Bear’s Picnic will return again this summer. This picnic is going to be held every Tuesday throughout August and will start at 13:30. Not only will there be a great picnic, this event also has lots of music and musical activities to get involved in. You can sing, dance and play alongside the UK’s last professional seaside orchestra. Tickets are available to purchase in advance so why not take a trip to the seaside.

21st August – Slidon Estate, West Sussex

The National Trust are hosting a very popular picnic this year at Slindon Estate in West Sussex. On Wednesday 21st August hundreds of Teddy’s (and their owners) are planning to gather at this ancient downland estate to enjoy a lunch time picnic. The picnic will start at 11:00 and run until approximately 14:00. Booking is essential at this popular event and luckily tickets are still available, so make sure you don’t miss out!

26th August – Turton Tower, Chapeltown

Turton Tower in Chapeltown are hosting a Teddy Bears Picnic on Monday 26th August. There will be lots of storytelling, songs and games. The activities will be held both inside and outside the tower. Both children and teddy bears go free on this special day. The picnic has been registered on Eventbrite so you can register your interest to attend.

28th August – The Botanical Gardens, Birmingham

On Wednesday 28th August from 11:00 – 15:00 the main lawn at Birmingham’s Botanical Garden will be full of Teddy Bears. This annual event always brings lots of fun and excitement. There will be arts and crafts, a bouncy castle, fairground rides and a Teddy Bear trail. Why not pop along and see for yourself the fun to be had.

30th August – Buckland Abbey, Devon

This Teddy Bears picnic is another one kindly hosted by The National Trust. This time the location is Buckland Abbey in Devon. This picnic is going to be Tudor themed and will take place on blankets under an Elizabethan tent. There is no need to book for this event, and entry to attend the picnic is free! Buckland Abbey are also hosting a number of other picnics throughout the summer make sure you check those out too.

Find your teddy bear picnic companion today…

Top 5 Outdoor Toys for the Summer Holidays!

School’s out for Summer! If you’re looking to keep entertained and away from the TV, let us go through some of our top outdoor toys perfect for the summer holiday school break. Just because the children are away from the classroom, this doesn’t mean that they are away from development and learning. There are many key benefits to outdoor play:

  • Firstly, outdoor play builds physically healthier children. There is no better place for running, jumping, lifting objects, throwing and catching!
  • Unstructured outdoor play also contributes to cognitive, social and emotional development. Learning to share, communicate, co-operate and much more is involved and vital to little ones.
  • Sensory skills are improved. An optometry and vision science study showed kids who play outdoors regularly have better distance vision than children who are always indoors.
  • Attention spans are increased as regular outdoor play leads to more curious and self directed little ones.

Let’s take a look at the top five outdoor toys to help you and your little ones have fun this summer!

1. Giant Space Hopper

Let’s begin with a classic. You can’t go wrong with the orange space hopper!! Better yet, this is a giant version that inflates to a diameter of 80cm! This toy is perfect for a child or an adult! Bounce with joy all day long…

Giant Space Hopper

 

2. Mini Water Pistol (Toy)

An ideal little treat to be bought with pocket money. With funky multicolored components, revealed by the transparent casing, this aquatic ammunition is measured at 7cm. Therefore, you can pull it from your pocket and be ready for a surprise attack.

Colourful Mini Water Pistols

 

3. Kickmaster One on One Folding Goal Set

No more need to use jumpers as goal posts! Made from UV resistant frames with anchor pegs, these goals (set of two) are designed to be tough. In addition, the clever locking tab mechanism means this set is easy to set up… Simply unfold and play!

Kikckmaster Folding Goal Set

 

4. U Move Mini Compact Led Scooter

With a total of six different colour ways, we can assure you we have the prefect LED scooter for you. The premium three-wheel tilt scooter is adjustable for customised steering and has a removable stem and under deck handlebar clip for easy storage and transportation. Built, but adjustable, dimensions are 51cm / 61cm / 66cm with a maximum user height of 50kg. But most importantly, the LED front wheels mean you can roll in style !!

U Move Mini Compact Led Scooter – Pink /Teal

 

5. Inflatable Boxing Set

Including helmets and gloves for two contenders, these oversized inflatable boxing gloves are perfect for parties, or just a laugh! Easily deflated for storage, there will be no hassle or tears.

Inflatable Boxing Set

Check out our full outdoor range!

Favourite Teddies to take to a Teddy Bears Picnic

Last week we celebrated national Teddy Bear Picnic day. We were fortunate enough to have lovely weather, which allowed people up and down the country to take part in teddy bear picnics! With the school holidays shortly arriving, we are sure that there will many more teddy bear picnics taking place very soon. So we thought we would take a look at the most popular bears to take to a teddy bear picnic and share the adventure with!

1.)  Sprinkles Teddy Bear

Sprinkles has proven very popular among children. This magical and mystical teddy is from Steiffs Soft Cuddly Friends range. This gorgeous bear has black glossy eyes, a plush nose and a hand stitched smiley mouth. The unusual appearance of this bear makes it more attractive. The soft blend of turquoise and white fur and the Steiff ear tag truly make this bear a one of a kind. The popularity of Sprinkles comes from the idea this bear can be anything you want it to be and aids imaginative play.

Soft Cuddly Friends Sprinkels Teddy bear

2.) Brownie Monkey

Despite not being a bear, Brownie monkey is a very popular favourite to attend teddy bear picnics. He measures 30cm tall and loves climbing anything and anywhere! This cheeky monkey is very adventurous, as seen from his grin and raised eyebrows. He is super soft to touch, and is made from a combination of both short and long cuddly plush. If Brownie is at your teddy bear picnic, you better keep an eye on the bananas!

brownie monkey

3.) Jumbo Teddy Bear

Jumbo is a beautiful brown teddy bear, who has grown to a giant 2 feet x 2 feet. He is made from an incredibly soft, fury fabric. He has a very classic teddy bear look. This over-sized bear is the perfect picnic guest, as can provide you with a lovely plush friend to snuggle up to. Jumbo is a timeless teddy, both children and adults of all ages adore him.

jumbo teddy

4.) Oliver Bear

Oliver bear is a very handsome teddy. When seated he measures an impressive 25cm. He has curly golden-brown fur, brown eyes and a little brown stitched nose. Oliver has a satin bow neatly around his neck. This traditional teddy is a must have at any teddy bear picnic, he is suitable for ages 1 year and above and is machine washable for if the picnic gets a little messy.

oliver bear

5.) Classic Pooh Bear

Winnie the Pooh is hundreds of children’s and adults favourite bear of all time. This classic Pooh Bear Soft Toy is adorable and is sure to make the perfect companion for anybody. Pooh is 20cm and wears a tag around his neck which reads ‘Classic Pooh’. If its Pooh you choose as your picnic companion, then you better make sure you take lots of honey!

Classic Pooh Bear

Find your teddy bear picnic companion today…

Top 5 Toy Story 4 Toys

We’re very excited about the release of Toy Story 4! To celebrate, we’ve added a fantastic range of Toy Story 4 toys and games to our online store. As well as that, we have decided to share with you our top five favourite toys from the range!

Toy Story Mini Quad

This bright and exciting Toy Story Mini Quad is one of our absolutely favourites! It is easy to use and is controlled by a foot operated pedal. The quad comes with a red moulded seat and handlebar grips, to make for a comfy ride.

It uses a 6V battery and comes with a charger. The battery should last approximately 45 minutes, which means there is plenty of time to cruise! The quad features images of all your favourite Toy Story characters too! This mini quad is great for children up to 25kg, guaranteed to have your little ones racing around!

Toy Story 4 Quad

Toy Story Teepee

This Toy Story Teepee is sure to house many adventures and imaginative games. It has fully printed panels, with colourful character graphics. The whole gang feature on the outside. It comes complete with an integrated floor and closed top. The back doors tie back to allow both an open play space and a closed off hideaway.

The best part is that it can be used by your little ones inside and outside. It is both water and UV resistant, making it the perfect shelter.

Toy Story 4 Teepee

Toy Story My First Trike

This tricycle is the perfect first ride for any Toy Story lover. The bright colours create fun and friendly riding. The trike has adjustable and removable parent handles for push-along riding. The easy switch front wheel clutch mechanism allows kids to rest their feet on the pedals in parent push-along mode. The trike has a rear bucket for storage of all your favourite characters, so they can enjoy to ride too.

Toy Story 4 Trike

Toy Story 3-in-1 Scootin’ Suitcase

We absolutely love this clever piece of kit! It is a 3-in-1, tripling up as a carry case, trolley case and scooter! What could carry more fun? It’s perfect for scooting through the airport to ensure you make that flight on time. Once folded it is the perfect cabin size bag, at H55cm x W35cm x D30cm.

It is also great to use at home or trips to the park. Not only can you child scoot about, they can also carry their own toys and even a picnic!

toy story scooter

Toy Story 4 Top Trumps Match Board Games

Top Trumps Match, the Crazy Cube Game, gets a Toy Story 4 makeover! Be the first to match five Toy Story 4 characters to win. But wait, the game’s not over yet! Can your opponent super Top Trump you in the final moment? If they match their Top Trumps card with the winning character, they WIN the game!

This is fantastic for memory development and is jam-packed with new characters. Toy Story 4 Match is the perfect travel companion and can be played anywhere with its all-in-one carry case design!

Toy Story Top Trumps

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