Thursday, December 8, 2011

oh my!



We are BIG HUGE GIGANTIC SUPERCALAFRAGILISTICEXPEALIDOCIOUS lovers of handmade.  We proudly support handmade goodness from across the globe, from our beautiful signature tote, to original rattles, to beautifully crafted mobiles, to socially responsible jewelry.

So you can only imagine our excitement when our very favorite site (and fellow Canadian) announced their incredible New Biz for the New Year Ultimate Entrepreneur Giveaway.  Ah-may-zing!

Not only is this a chance for all the small guys and gals to win a fantastic prize package, but it's also a chance for us all to connect and discover each other and the talents we offer.  

A great big MWAH to Jessika from oh my! handmade.  A genius idea!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Support National Adoption Month


We love a good cause.  And what better cause than to have children find homes and homes welcome children.  That's why we hooked up with The Sparrow Fund.  And November is National Adoption Month.  

Show your support and get something beautiful while you're at it.  The Sparrow Fund handmade, one of a kind bracelets and earrings make amazing gifts for yourself or a loved one.  

Support adoption and get some Christmas shopping done.  It's a win-win.

Happy day.
Friday, November 18, 2011

Walk Like An Animal


We are so, so, so, so, so, so, so very excited!

After months of working to get these here, finally Kiko+ Ashiato Sandals have arrived!

Super fun, super cute, and super environmentally responsible.  Kaz, the creative genius behind Kiko+, bases her creations on the simple principle of kids, trees, and art. Her line of wooden toys are unique and inspiring.

We will be introducing more of Kiko+ products in the new year.  And we promise they will be just as amazing as these.

Happy day.
Monday, November 14, 2011

Happy Birthday Monkey


What a party that was!  This is one tired monkey.

Thank you to everyone who has supported, loved, shopped, referred, supplied, contacted, suggested, and reached out over this past year.  We would not be here without you, and we want you to know how honored we are that you choose to spend time with us.

Happy 1st birthday to The Spotted Monkey!  This little shop is our passion.  And we hope that some of that passion for all things kids comes through in what we do.

Happy day.
Friday, November 4, 2011

Movember


We're getting our Movember on!

Help raise awareness of men's health, particularly prostate cancer, by supporting Movember participants. 



Happy Movember!


Monday, October 31, 2011

Good News, Bad News


We have some good news, and some bad news.  First, the good news.  Christmas will be here in fifty-five days. The bad news, all Christmas shopping must be completed in fifty-four days.

We want to make life a little easier for you.  So, from now until Christmas, we will be featuring a variety of products at discounted prices to help your wallet recover from all the Christmas cheer quicker.

Plus, we want to take the guess work out of shipping times, so we've posted Canada Post's guidelines right on our website (see Shipping & Returns).

And, if you live in the Waterloo Region, you can catch us in person at the KW Mom Show, The Baby & Bump Show, and our very own Holiday Open House.

Happy day.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Yoyomama = Sale


We are so honored and excited to be featured in yoyomama's fall style editorial section today!

We're so excited in fact that we have put all Spotted Monkey hats on sale.

Find out for yourself what yoyomama discovered for less.

Happy day!
Monday, October 24, 2011

Momma Maven Review


Meet Momma Maven.  This spectacular gal gave The Spotted Monkey a fantabulous review.  Last December!

I was completely unaware of Maven's review until I came across it while doing a Google search.  I couldn't believe it!  She even put together that awesome collage of product pics.  This girl doesn't mess around when it comes to reviews.  

So a great big THANK YOU Momma Maven!  Your kind words, and amazing patience, has us loving you.

Happy Day,


Sunday, October 23, 2011

New Blog Design


As we are closing in on our first year in business, we thought we'd spruce up the place.

Voila!  A new look for our blog.

We hope you like it.  And since we've made it all pretty, we're going to use it more too.

So keep checking back for updates on shows, new products, reviews, and lots of other goodies.

Happy new blog day!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Animals Are Coming!

I have been working closely with Kaz.  Kaz is someone you might not have heard of yet, but you will.  She is the creative genius behing Kiko+.  Kiko+ is an amazing line of children's goods based in Osaka, Japan.  Good thing for us we both like late nights and early mornings.  

I absolutely fell in love with Kiko+ the minute I laid eyes on their creations.  And while they went worldwide in May, worldwide failed to include North America.  So I'm here to remedy that.

The Spotted Monkey is so proud to announce that we are the only Canadian retailer of Kiko+, and one of two retailers in North America.  We will be carrying Kiko+'s Ashiato Sandals soon, with the remainder of the line coming in early 2012.

This has been a long time coming, but so worth the wait.  We hope you love Kiko+ as much as we do.  Stay tuned for updates on product arrivals on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Happy Shopping!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

My New Obsession


I spend a lot of time on the internet.  A lot.  Even saying a lot may be an understatement.  The biggest challenge I find is keeping all of the cool and amazing things and ideas I find organized.  My bookmarks bar is a nightmare to navigate.  But not anymore.

My newest obsession (and love) is Pinterest.  Imagine tearing a recipe or hair style or craft idea out of a magazine and pinning it to your corkboard.  It's just like that.  But virtual.  I love it because once you find an idea and pin it, you can go back at anytime, click on your pin and be taken right to the page you were looking for.  So easy and brilliant.  And it's going to save me a ton of time trying to find links in my bookmarks bar.

So if you're looking for me and can't find me, I'm probably pinning.  

Thursday, September 1, 2011

PEACE

Hope, opportunity and freedom have long been associated with birds and flight.  These birds are made through a program called PEACE, a grassroots cooperative of women from semi-rural, economically disadvantaged areas in Mexico.  PEACE’s line of art and crafts are mostly created from recycled materials. Proceeds from the sale of these products provide income to help lift families from a life of poverty to prosperity and gives them the hope and freedom to fly.
Children Inspire Design supports PEACE by purchasing their handcraft birds and designing them into these mobiles and ornaments.  Perfect for a nursery, a playroom or entryway, the bird collection gives rise to opportunity and hope for the community that makes them and love for the home that receives them.
Each bird mobile unit includes 6 handcrafted birds and a Kikkerland metal mobile unit.  Measures approximately 24" high by 30" wide.  Some assembly required.

Happy shopping!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Inspired Art Giveaway

I love good photography.  And I adore great photography.  You know, the pictures that are candid and capture the true essence of the subject. I have been told this is especially hard to do when photographing people.  But you wouldn't know it when you take a look at Tara's work from Art and Design.

This uber talented photographer and design artist makes me want to pack up the family and take a road trip just to have her photograph us!  And the personalized nest egg prints?  Ah-may-zing.

If you would like the chance to win one for your very own, click here to enter the giveaway at Oh My! Handmade Goodness.

                                                                                                                                 Good luck monkeys!

Monday, August 15, 2011

The Sparrow Fund


These past few months have been busy ones as we have been working hard to introduce some amazing new products.  And while we are proud of all of the products we offer, The Sparrow Fund holds a special place in our hearts.


Thousands of U.S. families adopt internationally each year. The Sparrow Fund is an organization committed to encouraging and supporting these families as they prepare for the adventure of adoption. We do this by providing grants to families in financial need to enroll in programs specifically designed to provide counsel and comprehensive medical reviews of their referred child.

Adoptive families can become overwhelmed by the financial costs of adoption. Participating in a program like this is an added expense that is difficult to manage. There are so many unknowns when it comes to adoption, and we believe that preparation plays a significant part in making the unpredictable road of adoption a little more smooth. These programs offer invaluable services to help prepare the adoptive family as well as their child.

The Sparrow Fund was started because we do not want anything to be an obstacle in the adoption process. We are committed to see ONE MORE child with a forever family and ONE LESS orphan in the world.



The Spotted Monkey now offers The Sparrow Fund Bracelets, which are entirely handmade by refugee women currently living in Kenya - women broken from war and HIV, and caring for orphans in their community, but made whole together.  The individual hand-rolled paper beads are made from recycled magazine and calendar pages, and take approximately 15 minutes each to roll and varnish.  

Each bracelet is a one of a kind, so don't hesitate if you see one you like.  Once it's gone, it's gone.  

We will also be offering earrings in support of The Sparrow Fund, so check back in a couple of weeks.

Happy shopping!


Friday, July 29, 2011

School Days


It's not even August, and already we have had so many back to school orders!  

It is an inexplicable annual phenomenon each summer just how quickly the sunny days turn into fall.  So we thought we might be able to help with our top back to school sellers.





Lunchskins are by far our most popular eco friendly back to school item.  Environmentally friendly and  dishwasher safe, Lunchskins are an easy way to reduce our carbon footprint.  Plus, they were developed by four Mom's.  We will be introducing four new designs in August, so stay tuned for updates.




Dabbawalla Bags are our most stylish back to school product.  Whether it be a lunch bag or a back pack, these bags are flying out the door.





Clementine Art supplies seem to be the choice for kids entering kindergarten or returning for grade one.  All Clementine Art supplies are naturally made too, so now allergy worries.





Our Jeeto allergy stickers and patches have been a surprisingly big seller.  What better way to ensure people take note of your little one's needs than  a patch on their back pack or a sticker on their desk.






Kinderville's Little Bites Storage Jars are a new product for us.  We're in love with them, and apparently you are too (we've already had to restock).  The lids on these jars do not come off unless they are meant too, which means no finding food bits at the bottom of their back packs (or my purse).



Back to school just isn't complete without a note from Mom.  Lunchbox love offers 8 volumes to choose from, each card with a lovely note on one side and some fun trivia on the other.

We hope this helps you get your littles suited up for school.  If you have any questions regarding any products, please don't hesitate to drop us a line.

Happy shopping,

The Theta Mom Community



If Theta Mom is a new term to you, then it is definitely a term that should be added to your daily vernacular.

Heather from Theta Mom is has created the sisterhood that's redefining motherhood.  And it is this kind of ingenuity that makes it such an honor to be featured in Theta Mom's community and marketplace.

Heather's mission does not only define what a Theta Mom is, but invites you to join her as a Theta Mom.

"What makes you a Theta Mom?
I invite you to join forces with me to revolutionize the way we think about our role as mothers. We need to begin the dialogue about what it truly means to be an authentic mom. Nobody said that motherhood would be easy. Theta Mom is the perfect space to share your story, your experiences, your life and your voice. Throughout this website, you will find that I share my life experiences as a Theta Mom which begins the conversation of how I live as a true, authentic mom."
A great big hug to Heather for the amazing review and for allowing us to be a part of such an important group.


Thursday, July 28, 2011

Look What Flew in From Germany!


Snug has arrived!

Snug was founded in 2010 by Kerstin, and interior designer, and Berit, and architect.  These two ladies opened their small studio in Hanover Germany, where they create design products inspired by their own childhood memories.

The Snug songbird mobile is a collection of six beautiful wooden birds made from all natural materials.  Each bird is handmade from two layers of colored wood.

Simple, fresh and fluid, the Songbirds Mobile is a work of art that can be enjoyed for all of childhood.





Monday, July 18, 2011

Children Inspire Design






Happy shopping!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Star Mompreneur


Super exciting news!!! We are July's Star Mompreneur at The Three Momketeers.

The Three Momkeeters are the beauties behind Mom N Tot Deals, a ridiculously awesome site to find any and all deals relating to Moms and kids.

We are so honored to be featured and have the opportunity to work along these amazing ladies.

Thank you again for your interest and your time Momketeers!

Sunday, July 10, 2011
We are uber excited to be nominated for SavvyMom's 2011 Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award!

This is an amazing opportunity for small, Mom run businesses to gain priceless mentoring and knowledge (not to mention some reinvestment cash from PayPal) that would otherwise be unattainable.

We are up against some tough competition.  So many amazing Mom-preneurs out there!

We would be honored, and sincerely appreciate your vote.  The top 10 finalists are determined by the greatest number of votes.  We need your help!  Simply click here to vote.  And you can vote everyday!

Thank you so much for your continued support.  We wouldn't be able to do what we do without you!

Sincerely,

Monday, July 4, 2011

Back To What?!


We know, summer just started for most students last week. But we all know how short summers seem to be.  And it's even shorter if you're in retail.  

We are so excited to announce that The Spotted Monkey will be featured in yoyomama's Back to School guide!  Such a fantastic honor to be included in this amazing national online publication.

If you don't already subscribe to yoyomama, check it out and get in the know.  Fabulous articles, great guides and amazing recipes.

Happy summer!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

We have been busy beavers (that's a Canadian joke...heehee) over here.  You guys continue to rock our world. And we want you to know how much we love that!  So far you all seem to like the new products we have been bringing in.  The Totseat has been a huge hit, and we've already had to reorder inventory. A lot of littles out there are sitting comfortably on their new Cocoon Couture bean bag chairs, and Kinderville is taking over most of your plastic at home.



So how do we top those amazing products?  By finding new ones!





Over July and August, we will be introducing two more lines to The Spotted Monkey.  The first is Children Inspire Design's wall cards.  I absolutely love that they are made from 100% recycled card stock, printed in soy ink, and wrapped in biodegradable celophane.  These cards are not only art, they are teaching tools as well.  




We will also be carrying the PEACE Recycled Bird Mobile.  Hope, opportunity and freedom have long been associated with birds and flight.  These birds are made through a program called PEACE, a grassroots cooperative of women from semi-rural, economically disadvantaged areas in Mexico.  Proceeds from the sale of these products provide income to help lift families from a life of poverty to prosperity and gives them the hope and freedom to fly.





Another product flying into The Spotted Monkey in July is the Songbird Wooden Mobile from Snug.  Snug is based in Hanover Germany and is the company of two amazingly talented women designers.  They believe in using natural materials and mixing simple with traditional.  

We are also busy working on bringing lines of hand crafted wooden toys from Lithuania and Korea.  Not to mention a few others you haven't heard of, yet.









Happy shopping,

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Gone Bananas