Gift List Day 26: 'Tis the Season for Footwear

In 2006 Blake Mycoskie came up with an innovative concept of the ol' "one for all and all for one" motto, when he developed the mission for TOMS, where every shoe purchased a new pair of shoes will be donated to a child in need.  Today, TOMS has given away more then 2 million shoes.  Why not make a difference with your gift giving and hook your little bird up this holiday season with these cool sneaks that are helping children globally. 

From Top: TOMS canvas, corduroy, cotton and wool sneaker, $42; silver swirl with suede insole, $34, all available at TOMS, toms.com

Gift List Day 25-'Tis the Season for Oeuf

Dressing up bebe birds has never been so fun when dressing them in Oeuf.  These eco-friendly/ethically made 100% alpaca pieces are sure to ignite your child's imagination-and their wardrobe.  Here are some fun holiday picks we just love: 

 From Top Down: Oeuf's alpaca angel sweater, $96; alpaca owl mask, $48; alpaca garland, $64; alpaca reversible animal hoody, $148; alpaca crown, $38 alpaca animal mittens, $48, all available at Oeuf, www.oeufnyc.com.

Gift List Day 24: 'Tis Teddy Bear Season

Aspire to Inspire: As children we are taught that sharing means caring.  So, why not show a bebe bird you care by gifting them a soft cuddly bear from the Teddy Share Bears collection where each bear purchased benefits the lives of children around the globe.  Currently, the Teddy Share Bears is made up of three bears.  The Teddy 2 Bear, above, in partnership with the Theodore Roosevelt Association Teddy Bear for Kids Program donates an identical bear from each bear sold to a sick child in the hospital. God Bless!  And the FEED 3 Bear, 8" tall, will provide PlumpyNut treatment, a therapeutic paste providing nourishment, to three children. There is also the Feed 5 Bear, currently sold out, that offered 5 children PlumpyNut treatment. A gift of a teddy bear is the gift of a forever friend.  In the words of Peter Bull, "To a child, Teddy is a bridge between a human and an animal.  He doesn't mind being dressed in ridiculous hats, or even being read to.  You can blame him for anything, and he wont deny it.  His marvelous face expresses anything a child wants to feel or hear." 

From Top Down: Teddy Share Bears plush Teddy 2 Bear, $28, at Teddy Share Bears; plush FEED 3 Bear, $35, at FEED

Gift List Day 18: 'Tis the Season for ever/after

Aspire to Inspire: Today we are excited to share that a happily ever/after does exist for high school sweethearts-now entrepreneurs, Gary & Christy Winston.  I've written about them before (I've actually written a similar line about them on W's blog).  Gary & Christy are the owners and creators of the casual lifestyle brand ever/after, inspired by their daughter Ever.  The concept of the line is to create clothing for kids (and now adults) that they would wear & made with the softest pima cotton. What we love most about ever/after (besides the Vneck onesies and new hi-lo skirt) is the simple fact that with each purchase 25% of the net profit will go directly to a charity of your choice-from a list of charities ever/after has paired up with and designed to create sustaining change in the lives of children in need.

If you're looking for some cool gear for you and your bebe bird to rock this holiday season or awesome gifts to give that can help "change the story". Look no further. Here are some of our favorite ever/after picks this season:

From Top Down : ever/after's boys pima cotton t shirt, $28; denim bag, $140; girls pima cotton t shirt, $38, all available at ever/after.

Gift List Day 17: 'Giving a World of Good

Aspire to Inspire: This season give the gift of sight, of service, of education & of opportunity.  This season make your holiday gift giving change your world and the world of those around you.  Seva, meaning selfless services, is an organization created in 1978 that focuses on the prevention of blindness' Native American community health, creating sustainable solutions to end poverty and disease and opportunities for women and girls, as well as other services helping improve the lives of others.  Seva, offers gift giving opportunities starting at $20 and upward. They offer 4 to 10 pack gift card sets and a beautiful calendar photographed  by international photographer Jon Kaplan.  Seva, making a world of a difference!  

*photograph courtesy of Seva Foundation

Gift List Day 15: 'Tis the Season to Help Change the World

Aspire to Inspire:  We are big fans of UNICEF, an organization dedicated to creating a better future for children globally. They are active in 190 countries and help promote education for girls.  They work to prevent the spread of AIDS and help those living with AIDS have a life of dignity.  UNICEF works on having all children immunized and to make sure that children are well nourished. They work for the Millenium Development Goals and for the progress promised by the United Nations. UNICEF is a universal advocate for children globally.

This year  I did a handful of our holiday shopping on UNICEF's online boutique where 15% of the retail price from our gift purchases go to the US Fund for UNICEF's global efforts.  What a thrill it was when the package arrived knowing that our purchases made a difference.  It truly made my heart swell.

Here are some of the wonderful children's toys  offered on Unicef's Online Boutigue  (note-they also sell incredible gifts for adults too)

From top down: UNICEF's set of 8 hand bells with sheet music, $30; wooden school bus set, $25; sturdy cardboard matching game set, $13.50, all available at www.shopcardsandgifts.unicefusa.org

Gift List Day 3: 'Tis The Season to Give Loans

As the season of giving books, barbies, ipads and the like fill our shopping lists how about consider filling those stockings with a greater gift, a gift that gives hope, a future and opportunity to another human being.  Kiva, founded in 2005, is a non-profit organization working with microfinance organizations around the world to provide loans to various people so they can build a business and create a better way of life for themselves, their families and their communities.  This loan is empowering and you can give as little as $25.  Eventually, your loan is repaid by the borrower and you can choose to then use that money to provide another loan to someone else.  It's truly a gift that keeps on giving.

Here's How Kiva Works:



So, go ahead and GIVE a little and allow your gift giving this year to change lives around the globe.

Gift List Day 2: 'Tis the Season for Scribbling

Today, in honor of "Small Business Saturday" we'd like to introduce Scribbler-The Drawing Robot by Makers Toolbox.  The Scribbler is an awesome electronic device where children 8 years and older can construct their very own drawing robot. The Scribbler is currently sold at one of our favorite independent toy shops,  Norman & Jules, located in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  The best part about this purchase is having the ability to give a gift that gives-10% of sales of the Scribbler will be donated to Red Hook NYC Recovers, an organization focused on rebuilding Red Hook, Brooklyn after the damages caused by Hurricane Sandy. So get out there and support small businesses.  And remember you don't have to be a resident of Brooklyn to purchase Scribbler-The Drawing Robot from Norman & Jules.  Simply give them a call and they will take care of the rest.  Credit information below.

From Top: Scribbler- The Drawing Robot by Makers Toolbox, deluxe set $45 which includes a wooden box, glue gun and robot kit; standard set $25 which includes a robot kit-you can purchase a hot glue gun for an additional $7 both available at Norman & Jules, 347.987.3323.  

Gift List Day 1: 'Tis the Season to Feed

Have a heart and "Give a Gift that Gives" this holiday season.  As some of our readers know Feed is one of Bebe Birds favorite companies.  This season we thought it best to start off the season of giving introducing such an incredible organization where purchases made benefit the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).  Here are some of their holiday highlights:

From top down: Feed's paper mache & twine ornament, $22; cotton & burlap small teddy bear, $35; cotton & burlap stocking, $25; cotton and burlap wine carrier, $20 all available at Feed Holiday Gifts

or visit Feed shops at http://www.feedprojects.com/feed-shop.