My Last Day at Build-a-Bear!

Yesterday, I “celebearated” (haha, get it??) my last day at Build-a-Bear.  Well, celebrated seems a little too happy.  I am very sad to be leaving.  I have worked with some really awesome people, and I am going to miss them immensely!!  They have made working there SO much fun!!

Build-a-Bear is one of those awesome jobs where you can totally goof around, and it’s okay.  Not only is it okay, but it’s encouraged!  I mean, as long as you still pay attention to the guests and you don’t get too out of control!  But in between guests, we’d dance (well, a few of us would, anyways), we’d tell silly stories, we’d joke around with the kids in the store… it was awesome!  Making a fun experience for the guests can become an even FUNNER (I am MAKING that a word) experience for you!  

So, for those of you unaware of the Build-a-Bear experience, I will quickly explain it:  

Step 1) Pick out your bear.  There are several different options of bears, kitties, monkeys, dogs, cartoon characters, etc.  So you pick the one you like the most, and you grab an unstuffed one.

Step 2) Pick out a sound.  Sounds were my favorite thing to sell, and I have no idea why.  But I was really good at it (if I do so say myself) 😛

Step 3) Stuff your bear.  One of the employees helps you stuff your animal, adding more things inside if you want, like a sound, heartbeat, or a scent.  AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL:  A heart.  The heart is SO important, there’s a whole ceremony that goes with it!

Step 4) Wash your bear

Step 5) Pick out clothes/accessories and dress your bear.

Step 6) Make a birth certificate and take it home!  (after you pay, of course)

It’s a really fun process, and the Bear-Builders like to make it as awesome as possible.  And one of the ways this is accomplished is by performing a super cool heart ceremony.  Each employee has their own version, and sometimes we’ll change it up depending on the situation or the guest.  But here is my standard one:

“Okay, so take your heart, hold it tight, and make a BIG wish!  Now hold it up to your head so that wish you’re thinking of goes straight from your brain into the heart!  Now rub it on your head so your animal is SUPER smart.  Rub it on your face, so she is so beautiful, just like you!  Rub it on your nose so she knows you love her!  And jump up and down to get the heart beating!  Now hold it close to your heart so it fills up with love….. and give it a great big kiss!  Yay!  Now put it inside your bear!”  

Of course, this gets changed around… I doubt a little boy would be very interested in his bear being “beautiful.”  😛

And the kids can be so freaking adorable and say the funniest things.  Here are some of the highlights:

(2 brothers ages 4 and 6 are talking about Star Wars)

Me: Darth Vader’s kind of scary, though!

4-year-old:  He’s not scary to me! Be-because, if-if he was gonna hit me with his lightsaber, I’d just run up and kick him in the penis!!!

 

(5-year old girl approaches me to get her bear stuffed)

Me: Hi!  What’s your name?

Girl: Ava.

Mom: No, you’re name’s not Ava.

Girl: Sarah.

Mom: Ava is her zombie-fighting name she uses when she plays with her brothers.

 

(Little girl, about 10-years old, explaining all about her Christianity)

Girl:  I’m a missionary, you know!!

Me: Really? Wow! That’s awesome!!

Girl!  YEAH!  I tell EVERYONE about Jesus!  I’ve converted SO many people!  Like HUNDR—.. Or like… like 1 or 2.

 

So those are just a few of the cute things that have stood out in my memory!  

It has been such a fun job!  And I’m going to miss everyone I’ve gotten the pleasure of working with!  Both in Texas and California!  You all are amazing, and thank you all so much for making it one of the most awesome jobs on the planet!!!  It wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun without such cool people!  

“My bear is special. I brought it to life, I chose it, I stuffed stuffed it, now I’m taking it home.  Best friends are forever! So I promise right now to make my bear my #1 pal!” –The Bear Promise

 

I Worked a 12-Hour Day!

I worked a 12-hour shift.  And I’m sick.  And I just took some sleepy-time cold medicine, so please forgive me if this post becomes increasingly less coherent. lol

Now, for many people, working a 12-hr shift is not a big deal (I’m thinking of you, all you Disney Cast-Members whom I’ve known to work unspeakably long hours! I tip my hat to you).  I, however, have NO stamina whatsoever when it comes to long days like that.  Any shift I’ve ever worked over 10 hours has, for one reason or another, ended in tears.  

Unfortunately, today was no different. And it’s not that it was a BAD day, it was just long and I was tired.  And I got sick.

My day started with 2 back-to-back sessions with the Center for Autism, working me from 9:00a-4:30p.  They were both rather exciting sessions.  Both kiddos I was working with seemed to be having difficult days (who wouldn’t??  I mean, who wants therapy on a SATURDAY?!??!?), making my job very interesting.  And regardless of where I was bit, scratched, what was thrown at me, or what I was hit with, I still maintain that I have the best job in the universe.  I LOVE this job and I adore these kids I work with!  And when they are not laying on the floor being non-compliant, they really can be the cutest kids you’ll ever meet. 🙂

After my sessions, I had a shift at Build-a-Bear Workshop (where I’ve been working part-time, but will be leaving after this weekend) from 5:30p-9:30p.  I had just enough time between shifts for my AMAZINGLY AWESOME INCREDIBLE husband, David, to meet me outside the store.  WITH IN-N-OUT.  YES.  I love him so freaking much!  So I was able to have a quick, delicious meal before starting work; an excellent pick-me-up from feeling so drained!

The shift at Build-a-Bear was pretty good, despite having to blow my nose every 20 seconds.  I met a super cute little girl (about 4 years old).  I was talking her through the Heart-Ceremony, and I told her to make a wish.  Most children will think of it in their heads, keeping it a secret, while a cute few will say their wish out-loud.  This little girl closed her eyes and said “I wish… I could be a believable princess!”  So that was cute. 🙂

So I’m home now, and despite feeling sick, I feel like I had a very productive day!  So now I’m going to drink up lots of fluids and hopefully feel better for my last day at Build-a-Bear tomorrow!  🙂