On Tacy’s sixth birthday, she wanted to go to Build-a-Bear Workshop.

We drove to the location where we thought there was a Build-a-Bear, only to discover that we were wrong. Thanks to the lousy weather that afternoon (snow…on April 9…ugh), we decided to forego looking for another location and went out for pizza instead.

But she hasn’t forgotten about Build-a-Bear. So when fellow blogger Average Jane asked if we’d like to check out Tropical Hello Kitty, courtesy of Build-a-Bear Workshop, I jumped at the chance. It’s not like we needed another stuffed animal around here, but unlike almost all of the others, I knew Hello Kitty would be special.

And she is. The girls ADORE her. We’ve had to draft a schedule for her sleeping arrangements. Clothing has been sacrificed by American Girl dolls so that Hello Kitty can change her clothes a dozen times a day. The little girl two doors down has a Hello Kitty too, and the two cats got together for a playdate yesterday.

What makes this kitty so entrancing? I’ve got to admit, she is extremely huggable. Much more huggable than any real live cat I’ve owned. Plus, I love her because she doesn’t shed. A huggable, hairless cat - my favorite.

Tacy agrees with the huggability factor. When I asked her, “Why do you love Hello Kitty?” she gave me a look as if to say, “Well, DUH. Why do you think?” When pressed for actual words to describe that love, she told me, “She’s beautiful and soft and cuddly.”

On the Build-a-Bear site, you can purchase your own Hello Kitty and dress her up any way you please. Check out all the furry friends there - personally, I love the donation animals, where a portion of the proceeds are donated to local pet shelters and rescue organizations.

I’ve got a $25 Bear Bucks card to give away to a lucky reader! Email me at mothergoosemouse AT mothergoosemouse DOT com by midnight PST on Monday, June 9, and tell me how you’d spend your Bear Bucks at the Build-a-Bear site. I’ll draw one winner at random (US and Canada only!) and announce on mothergoosemouse on Wednesday, June 11.

While I prefer to decorate my living spaces with more neutral colors, I do understand that bright colors and babies go together like peanut butter and jelly. And just like peanut butter and jelly, bright colors can be revolting if done poorly (like those PB&J sandwiches in the elementary school cafeteria), but they can be fabulous if done well.

Kushies knows how to do bright colors better than anyone. Their Zolo Toys have funky, offbeat designs with plenty of bright colors that are truly easy on the eyes. The Linko Clip Together Teether and Toys resembles other linking toys, but it includes lots of different textures and color combinations to keep little ones (and their aching gums) occupied.

The Mobilo Crib Carousel Mobile provides plenty of entertainment value too - the hanging stuffed animals are detachable (by parents, not by baby), the underside of the carousel canopy is mirrored, and it’s got the same fantastic variety of color combinations.

My favorite Zolo Toy has to be the Stacrobats Magnetic Stacking Acrobats. These five little guys stick together (and to the accompanying colorful balls) to form all sorts of poses on the magnetic base. I must have played with these Stacrobats for a good fifteen minutes all by myself. If they can occupy a thirty-something woman who really ought to be vacuuming, I’m certain that babies and toddlers will find them infinitely entertaining.

But it’s EQ - the Theory of Emotional Intelligence - that makes these toys really cool and unique. With the help of child development experts, Kushies created these toys to tap into kids’ self-expression and emotional self-confidence. The idea is that playing with toys that are geared toward EQ involves more and different brain cells than most other baby toys, which in turn “helps to create more open-minded and flexible thinkers.” Even after having three kids, I’m still no child development expert, so I’ll have to take Kushies’ word for it - at least until my youngest child grows up and I can evaluate whether his Zolo Toys helped him become a more open-minded and flexible thinker than his big sisters.

Kushies is about more than just toys. They’ve got a wide range of gear, including clothing, swimwear, and outerwear - including buntings, snowsuits, and the adorable Splish Splash Rain Jacket and Pant Set. Like the Kushies Zolo Toys, it’s the details of this set that make it so fantastic. The hood of the jacket has a visor (genius!), and both the jacket and pants have reflective strips to ensure that the wearer is visible, even in stormy weather. And the bright colors - including cornflower blue, petal pink, and sunny yellow - make the set all the more appealing.

Has Kushies converted me to the bright side? Well, that depends. If the brightness comes from them, I’m definitely on board. Just keep it confined to the adorable child and his nursery, that’s all I ask.

If I could be anything in the world - if there were absolutely no limitations on my career choice - I’d be an astronaut.

As it is, I couldn’t have been an astronaut, thanks to my nearsightedness and my apparent inability to earn an engineering degree. But neither of those constraints can stop me from exploring space right here at home - whether I’m reading, watching TV, or choosing toys for my kids.

Toys? Yes, toys. Like the Spark Talking Telescope, sent by the Discovery Channel Store via the Parent Bloggers Network.

I knew my girls would love the telescope. In true geek fashion, following in the footsteps of their geeky parents, they love to watch shows about space - whether it’s the Zula Patrol or any of the Discovery Channel shows. And we’re thrilled to indulge and encourage their interest.

Sure enough, the telescope has been a tremendous hit - both with my older daughter (who is not quite six), and my younger daughter (who’s just shy of three). We took it out of the box, popped in a slide, and started winging it. So much for the scientific method of reading the directions - but with this toy, you really don’t need to. It’s very intuitive. In fact, even though she doesn’t use it “properly” - going through the facts and taking the quiz - my younger daughter probably plays with the telescope more frequently than my older one. It’s that easy to use and enjoy.

My older daughter punches in the codes on the slides - full-color NASA photographs that are truly stunning - and listens to the facts and takes the quizzes. I love that she shows such interest!

But I have to admit that it’s even more fun to watch my younger daughter play with the telescope. She can remove and replace the drawer of slides herself, but needs help getting the slide inserted properly. She tends to push the buttons randomly, but she knows which one turns the telescope on and off. If I’m not right next to her, she calls every celestial body “MOON!” But if I am there, she’ll ask, “What’s that, Mommy?” and then repeat what I tell her. Again, I love that she shows such interest, and even though she’s only parroting me now, I’ll bet the knowledge will start to sink in soon.

Best of all, this toy is compact and apparently indestructible. The drawer of slides fits neatly in the base of the telescope, which I think is absolutely ingenius. And once, my younger daughter accidentally knocked the telescope off the kitchen table and onto the tile floor. Not a lick of damage. I could hardly believe it.

Given how much they enjoy the telescope, I’m tempted to get them the microscope next - perhaps for my older daughter’s birthday. Plus, considering how rugged it is and how much it appeals to both of them, I’m sure that it will still be around when their little brother is old enough to check it out.

We love the Spark Talking Telescope and would highly recommend it, even for kids younger than the target age range.