Friday, June 11, 2010

Review and Giveaway: Cate & Levi CLOSED



Walking down the toy aisle in any retailer, we are bombarded with shelves full of the same thing. Licensed characters like Elmo and Dora sprawled across plastic toys with strobe lights and noisemakers. While these toys are indeed stimulating and entertaining, Mommy can only handle them in small doses. I appreciate the simple, unique toys that encourage my son to use his imagination rather than toys that do everything for him at the push of a button. I also look for eco-friendly varieties that won't leach wanton chemicals. Which is precisely why I was so happy to come across Cate & Levi.

When dad, Josh Title, was awaiting the birth of his first child in 2008 , he discovered there were no responsibly made yet beautifully designed products for children. So, he set out to create a unique collection of products that would be intricately crafted and environmentally friendly. Thus, Cate & Levi was born.

Cate & Levi
offers handmade puppets, pillows, stuffed animals - even wall art! - using reclaimed wool. Their materials are sourced as close to their Toronto studio as possible so as to (1) lower production costs and reduce demand for new materials, and (2) reduce their carbon footprint by cutting down on shipping. Each product is handmade by the owner and production team. But perhaps the greatest thing is that no two Cate & Levi items are exactly alike; all colors and textures from the reclaimed wool are individually selected for a one-of-a-kind creation made just for your child.

Check out some of these adorable pets from the Cate & Levi collection:




I love the vivid color combinations and uncommon animal choices such as the stingray or the platypus. You don't see those everyday!

We were sent the Walrus hand puppet to review. As soon as I opened the package, I knew this was something that had been made with love. The construction and composition are so attractive and well done. The details are impeccable. Looking at "Wally", you can't help but smile.



When I first introduced Nate to "Wally", he couldn't take his eyes off of him. He especially loved the long teeth, which endured endless tugging as he inspected them thoroughly (maybe we have a future dentist on our hands?). "Wally" would sing, dance and make faces, to which Nate would try and imitate. I loved watching the wheels in his brain work as he figured out all the ways we could play with our new toy.



"Wally" loves to chomp on Nate's chubby arms and legs to elicit giggles. Sometimes he'll even sneak a kiss on the neck or peck on the cheek. Nate's favorite thing though is when "Wally" tickles Mommy. (She's so silly, that Mommy!)

Overall, I have been very impressed with our new friend from Cate & Levi. This is a quality toy that is not only good for the environment but for your child's language and cognitive development. Since Nate is a bit behind on his speech for his age, I plan to use "Wally" to stimulate vocabulary as well as inspire creative play. He will also come in handy during storytime or playdates, as puppets tend to raise toddlers' attentiveness.

And when your child is grown, his/her puppet can be passed down to future generations or kept as a keepsake.

I can't wait to adopt some new pets from Cate & Levi. I think "Wally" would love a Moose friend. What do you think?



BUY IT: Love what you see? You can purchase Cate and Levi hand puppets (ARV $35) and other handmade products online at www.cateandlevi.com. They are also sold on Amazon.com! If you would prefer to see them in person, just email the company for a complete store list.

And as if the company isn't appealing enough already, they donate 10% of profits to children's charities! So, you can feel good about your investment.

WIN IT: Cate & Levi is generously offering one lucky winner the hand puppet of their choice!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Visit Cate & Levi and tell me which puppet you would choose if you won. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the following tweet or come up with one of your own:

Encourage creative play with an adorable, eco-friendly handmade puppet from Cate & Levi @kris10chumley ENDS 6/30 http://bit.ly/czh19R

Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry per day max)

3.) Add my button to your site and comment with a link where I can find it. (1 entry)

4.) Become a fan of Cate & Levi on Facebook. (1 entry)

5.) What is an animal you would like to see from Cate & Levi that is not currently offered? (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on June 30, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. and Canada. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received the puppet above free of charge from Josh at Cate & Levi to facilitate my candid
review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed are purely mine. Your experience may differ.

106 comments:

Kristen said...

Hi Kristen from Kristen!

I'd choose the Walrus.

couponboss at gmail dot com

Kristen said...

I'd like to see them make an ostrich!

couponboss at gmail dot com

cloud10277 said...

I'd choose the dog.
cloud10277@hotmail.com

cloud10277 said...

Following with GFC
Tracy P
cloud10277@hotmail.com

cloud10277 said...

Email subscriber
cloud10277@hotmail.com

cloud10277 said...

Following on twitter
@cloud10277
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/16001164738
cloud10277@hotmail.com

cloud10277 said...

I'm a fan of Cate & Levi on Facebook
Tracy P
cloud10277@hotmail.com

cloud10277 said...

I'd like to see Cate and Levi make a Pelican or a pig.
cloud10277@hotmail.com

wildcat32 said...

I would choose the Frog.
monster6236 at gmail dot com

wildcat32 said...

email subscriber
monster6236 at gmail dot com

wildcat32 said...

follow and tweet http://twitter.com/5memb/status/16001325067
monster6236 at gmail dot com

Andrea said...

I would choose the Frog puppet! So adorable!
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

Andrea said...

I'm a follower!
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

Andrea said...

I subscribe in google reader!
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

Andrea said...

I follow you on twitter and tweeted! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16018156781
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

Andrea said...

I would love to see a Toucan! They are such colorful birds that would make great puppets and stuffed animals!
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

Monica said...

The Parrot is really cute.

Thanks!

Beth said...

I'd choose the frog puppet.

aledol said...

EM

aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/16050451972

aledol said...

CL
~FB

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16080334212
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

cloud10277 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/16085704614
cloud10277@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I'd choose that goofy Walrus.

Anonymous said...

I follow.

Anonymous said...

RSS subscriber.

Anonymous said...

Email subscriber.

Anonymous said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Getalonghome/statuses/16087709267

Anonymous said...

Cate & Levi FB fan: Cindy Dyer

Anonymous said...

An Elephant would be fun!

Terra Heck said...

I'd choose the Dog hand puppet. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Terra Heck said...

follow your blog
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Terra Heck said...

email subscriber
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Stuff Parents Need said...

It was seriously hard to choose, but I think I'd go with Dog!

Stuff Parents Need said...

I just added your button to my blog roll http://stuffparentsneed.blogspot.com/p/blog-roll.html

Stuff Parents Need said...

I would love to see a Hippo!

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16163491697
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

cloud10277 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/16174442045
cloud10277@hotmail.com

Sandon and Othea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/16217337801

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16244555378
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

cloud10277 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/16312144507
cloud10277@hotmail.com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16321627152
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

coliebear said...

The giraffe is my favorite puppet.
lenz.nicole(at)gmail(dot)com

Amber said...

I would choose the Moose hand puppet!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Amber said...

I follow your blog publicly with google friend connect!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Amber said...

I would love to see Cate & Levi create a horse or zebra hand puppet!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Darcie K. said...

I would choose the frog!
dmkayes@gmail.com

Darcie K. said...

I subscribe via email!!!
dmkayes@gmail.com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16404174614
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

mverno said...

pillow pals mverno@roadrunner.com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16486548739
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

kdkdkd said...

I would choose the dog for my boys, they would love it

Meredith said...

I love the monkey

Madeline said...

The giraffe would be my pick.

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16556616094
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/16579273413

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16634867814
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16703736157
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

cloud10277 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/16712534829
cloud10277@hotmail.com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16787071100
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

cloud10277 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/16787195679
cloud10277@hotmail.com

orangefukurou said...

I would choose the giraffe
tomokofive AT gmail DOT com

orangefukurou said...

follow your blog
tomokofive AT gmail DOT com

orangefukurou said...

I would like to see owl puppet.
tomokofive AT gmail DOT com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16873488269
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

cloud10277 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/16936612387
cloud10277@hotmail.com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/16952986506
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/17005794998

cloud10277 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/17042924393
cloud10277@hotmail.com

Bao said...

I'd love to have the Moose hand puppet!! Adorable indeed!

giabao.ng @ gmail dot com

Bao said...

I vollow your blog via Google Reader.

giabao.ng @ gmail dot com

Bao said...

A fan of C&L on FB!
giabao.ng @ gmail dot com

Bao said...

How about a tiger? My kiddo is born in the year of the tiger and I think she'd love to have a tiger toy :)

giabao.ng @ gmail dot com

contestcrow said...

I'd choose the Walrus.

sinhead83 at hotmail dot com

cloud10277 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/17117482257
cloud10277@hotmail.com

aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/17138468911

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/17172332568
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

cloud10277 said...

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cloud10277 said...

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Kimberly said...

I'd pick the frog!
kirbycolby at gmail dot com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/17291130976
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I think my son would love the monkey the best.

hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com

Unknown said...

I'm a follower.

Unknown said...

I subscribe through Google reader.

aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/17299304641

Unknown said...

I'd pick the Giraffe

macd9900 at gmail dot com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/17335779311
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

Barbara Bee said...

Hard to choose just one, but I think I'd choose the moose.

3oink63moo484 (at) gmail(.)com

Louis H said...

I really like the Cat hand puppet

Louis H said...

Following publicly as Louis on Google Friends Connect

Louis H said...

I subscribed to your feed via email (same email as in my profile / this post)

Louis H said...

following you on twitter @rosidentevil
http://twitter.com/rosidentevil/status/17372668636

Louis H said...

I like Cate & Levi Collection on FaceBook (louis huff) :)

aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/17385945951

mutchkin21 said...

I'd choose the Walrus or the cat. Hard to decide!

clc_little_britches@yahoo(dot)com

mutchkin21 said...

Became a fan on facebook (stephanie hodges)

clc_little_britches@yahoo(dot)com

cloud10277 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/cloud10277/status/17411350145
cloud10277@hotmail.com

Steph said...

I would choose the Dog.

mail4rosey said...

I would choose the dog. msurosey@yahoo.com

mail4rosey said...

I think a hippo would be a good edition to the collection.

msurosey@yahoo.com

Andrea said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/17435795862
andreapaetkau at gmail dot com

trixx said...

I love the cute Giraffe puppet!

trixx said...

I'd love to see a Hippo puppet!

liliesrnice said...

i like the dog!

Heather S said...

Frog or Moose

hmahan_0529 @yahoo dot com

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