Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Oompa Toys {Review & Giveaway} Endless Imaginative Possibilities with a Bilibo

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

Usually when I'm on a great store's website and I see that they have a retail location or a list of their stores, I don't hold my breath that there will be a location near me. Here in Wisconsin, we don't seem to get as many of the fun shops that those of you out in Los Angeles or New York City are accustomed to finding on a day to day basis. What? Things just aren't as exciting here? Do they think all we have are cows?

So, one year ago, when a sign went up for a new children's retail shop five minutes from my house, I didn't really think it would end up being all that thrilling. Little did I know that my city had been chosen as the home for the one and only Oompa Toys Retail Store and we now had something that those big flashy cities didn't...

And going inside can only be described as pure, jaw-dropping amazement.

You know the way that the kids felt when they first stepped into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory? How at first they almost froze and were speechless but still wanted to run around and touch absolutely everything? Imagine that, except with the most wonderful toys, gear and furniture for children of all ages and you have Oompa Toys.

"Look at all the toys, Mommy," Big Sister E whispered to me. And I did. Everywhere we turned there were bright colors and natural, beautiful materials and items that any parent would be more than happy to allow their child to play and learn and imagine with.

A friendly Oompa employee came right over and chatted with us about the store and the Monday morning story time that they had been holding (we'll definitely be there if they start it up again after the holidays!) and she even sat and built a miniature tower for Little Sister B... or tried to, as Little Sister B only gave her a very serious look and continued to move Gobblet Gobblers to the floor (see right).

We checked out the blocks and the train table and the stuffed animals and the artwork and the play food and the crib bedding and the store seemed to go on and on. I had to encourage Big Sister E to put down the item she had or climb off of the gorgeous wooden rocking horses just so that we could see everything there was to offer.

In the end, I'm not sure which of the three of us was the most impressed. Both Big Sister E and Little Sister B could have played for hours with all of the kitchen and store items ("Look, Mommy! Pizza!") and I could have perused the selection of strollers and diaper bags and baby gear and accessories forever.

Did I wish that I could trade in most of the things in our house for an Oompa replacement? Something well-crafted and high quality and beautiful? Yes. Will we be back to the Retail Store to play and dream and imagine again? Definitely. "That was a fun store, Mommy," Big Sister E told me as we were finally leaving. "That was a REALLY fun store."

After returning home from our fun outing and having lunch, the girls proceeded to play with the toy that has been a part of pretty much all of their activities since it's arrival, the Bilibo from Kid O that Oompa Toys sent us. What is a Bilibo? Why, it's a chair, a hat, a car, a drum, a turtle shell, a spinning top, a sled, a bowl, a...

It's anything your imagination wants it to be.

Designed in Switzerland for children ages 2 - 7 (although we have found that Little Sister B, at 1, loves it, as do Mommy and Daddy, who are slightly older than 7), the Bilibo can be played with alone or in a group, as it inspires creativity just by looking at it. Strong enough to hold any of us standing on it and containing no sharp edges or corners, I imagine that the Bilibo will last forever. Really, the question should be: What isn't a Bilibo?

So far, Big Sister E's favorite thing is to sit in the Bilibo, spin around and topple herself over, laughing the entire time. However, she has also gotten a kick out of using it as a rocking chair to sit in and read books as well as sliding herself with a scoot-scoot motion around the floor and calling herself a school bus driver. She's even pleased with herself when she finds a "good parking spot" for the bus, which I assume is hard to do with something that large, right?

Little Sister B heads right for the Bilibo when entering the play room and I'm always interested to see what she might do with it next. Sometimes she must see herself as the drummer in a band, as she flips the Bilibo right over and taps away. Other days, she methodically moves play food in and out of it, obviously doing some important grocery shopping. One day I sat and entertained her for quite a while by sticking My Little Pony heads in and out of the holes from underneath the Bilibo and she loved every minute of it.

Right on Oompa's website it states, "No batteries. No blinking lights. No cartoon-themed toys. Period." Whether you're shopping for a newborn, a toddler or an older child, they have an amazing variety of items that will spark creativity and imagination and delight all ages, as well as be loved by kids and parents alike for years.

On top of the high quality, Oompa only sells toys that come from companies that care about their employees (they go to great lengths to ensure humane and safe working conditions) and will withstand generations of use. They strive for 100% customer satisfaction and, from my experiences at the Retail Store and with our Bilibo, I find it hard to believe that they could ever fall short. Thanks to their generosity...

One lucky person will win their choice of color* Bilibo from Kid O courtesy of Oompa Toys! ARV $29.99!


To enter to win: Visit Oompa Toys and tell me which of their amazing items(s) you would love to own AND which color Bilibo you would choose.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted)

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Oompa Toys on Twitter and/or sign up for their newsletter (found at the lower right corner of their site).
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Oompa Toys offers endless creativity and imagination with a BILIBO @thxmailcarrier from @oompatoys! http://bit.ly/7kj3dt #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Oompa Toys. Please leave an address where it can be found.

*Depending on availability of stock. Oompa will of course try their hardest to get you your first color choice, though!

Giveaway will end on January 14th at 11:59pm CST. Please do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile. I have to have a way to contact the winners. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only (no P.O. Boxes, please).

A huge thank you to Brianna at Oompa Toys for providing a yellow Bilibo by Kid O for review as well as a Bilibo of choice for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

503 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   1 – 200 of 503   Newer›   Newest»
mverno said...

the techno baby carrier mverno@roadrunner.com

Jill said...

I love the Chalet Dollhouse. Very cool for my girls. The Bilibo would be pink.

tutucuteforme(at)hotmail(dot)com

Amy said...

I love the Shape & Sort
from Plan Toys, and I'd choose green. amythomas at gmail dot com

Amy said...

Following Oompa on twitter @atrane

Amy said...

Google friend connect #1

Amy said...

Google friend connect #2

Amy said...

Email #1

Amy said...

Email #2

Amy said...

Entered Evolve

Madwoman-doing-cartwheels said...

Love the City Chic diaper bag found here:

http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/S410001

rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

Madwoman-doing-cartwheels said...

signed up for their e-news at urnews4me/gmail


rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I love the pink color and I also like the Multi Use Easel-White from Pkolino
amypugmire@live.com

Unknown said...

i follow oompa on twitter
1amypugmire. amypugmire@live.com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog. amypugmire@live.com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog. 2. amypugmire@live.com

Unknown said...

email subscriber. amypugmire@live.com

Unknown said...

email subscriber. 2. amypugmire@live.com

Unknown said...

I have your button. amypugmire@live.com
#1

Unknown said...

I have your button. amypugmire@live.com
#2

Unknown said...

I have your button. amypugmire@live.com
#3

Unknown said...

follow on twitter and tweeted. amypugmire@live.com
http://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/7178197386

Rebecca Orr said...

I really like the Hedgehog Rattle from ImagiPLAY as well. I like the green color. THanks for the chance! bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

Follow on twitter: bekki1820cb
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/bekki1820cb/status/7178321464

bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

following Oompa Toys on twitter: bekki1820cb
bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

I get the Oompa newsletter
bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

Entered the Elk Kids giveaway
bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

gfc follower bekki1820cb at gmail
entry1

Rebecca Orr said...

gfc follower bekki1820cb at gmail
entry2

Rebecca Orr said...

rss feed subscriber entry1
bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

rss feed subscriber entry2
bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

Email subscriber entry1
bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

Email subscriber entry2
bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

I have your button on my blog (middle column): http://2everythinginbetween.blogspot.com/

bekki1820cb at gmail
entry1

Rebecca Orr said...

I have your button on my blog (middle column): http://2everythinginbetween.blogspot.com/

bekki1820cb at gmail
entry2

Rebecca Orr said...

I have your button on my blog (middle column): http://2everythinginbetween.blogspot.com/

bekki1820cb at gmail
entry3

Rebecca Orr said...

I blogged about this giveaway: http://2everythinginbetween.blogspot.com/2009/12/two-giveaways-at-thanks-mail-carrier.html

bekki1820cb at gmail
entry2

Rebecca Orr said...

I blogged about this giveaway: http://2everythinginbetween.blogspot.com/2009/12/two-giveaways-at-thanks-mail-carrier.html

bekki1820cb at gmail
entry3

Unknown said...

I would love to own the Eco-Friendly Cookware and Dining Set from Green Toys - and my fave color of Bilibo is the yellow one!

Unknown said...

follow Oompa Toys on Twitter - aitmama

Unknown said...

signed up for their newsletter

Unknown said...

Entered the soap nuts giveaway

Unknown said...

Entered the Activeion giveaway

Unknown said...

Entered the socks giveaway

Unknown said...

Entered the Evolve giveaway

Unknown said...

Entered the Mitetees giveaway

Unknown said...

Entered the ELK giveaway

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/aitmama/status/7180926442

Unknown said...

follow with Google Friend Connect 1

Unknown said...

follow with Google Friend Connect 2

Unknown said...

subscribe to RSS feed 1

Unknown said...

subscribe to RSS feed 2

Unknown said...

subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email. 1

Unknown said...

subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email. 2

Dawn said...

I like the Look-Me chair set and I would get a pink bilibo.

Dawn said...

I follow on google friend.

susan said...

I love the Surfin' Kids Easel and I'd love one in red.

susan said...

I follow Oompa Toys on Twitter.

susan said...

I follow and tweeted. http://twitter.com/susanlanai/status/7182780781

Dawn said...

I follow oompa toys on twitter @dawn408

susan said...

I follow via Google Friend Connect 1.

susan said...

I follow via Google Friend Connect 2.

susan said...

I subscribe by email 1.

susan said...

I subscribe by email 2.

Vicki C. said...

I have fallen for the Sakrada Building Blocks!

and if I was lucky enough to win I would prefer the blue!

iwantbuddy at hotmail.com

Molomatic said...

I'd love to own the Rouge Pencil Case from Allerhand! If I win I'd love to get a pink Bilibo, fun!

Molomatic said...

I subscribe to your RSS feed!

Entry #1

Molomatic said...

I subscribe to your RSS feed!

Entry #2

Molomatic said...

I entered your Soap Nuts giveaway!

Molomatic said...

I entered your Activeion Pro giveaway!

Molomatic said...

i'm following Oompa Toys on Twitter!

Molomatic said...

I follow on Google Connect!

Entry #1

Molomatic said...

I follow on Google Connect!

Entry #2

Laureen said...

There are too many amazing items to choose from, but I have been searching high and low for non-toxic chalk and I heard it's made in France, so I would love to have the 5 Color Chalk from Prang.

I would choose the Blue Bilibo. Thanks for the chance!

lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

Laureen said...

I follow you on Twitter and Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/statuses/7186012479

lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

Andrea Kruse said...

What a great giveaway! I also love teh Tree House from Plan Toys from their site and would love a Bilibo in vibrant red. Looks like a lot of fun.
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com

Andrea Kruse said...

I am following Oompa Toys on twitter (notimeMom)
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com

Andrea Kruse said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andrea Kruse said...

I follow you on twitter (notimeMom) & tweeted
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/7186652240
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com

Andrea Kruse said...

I follow you on Google Friend Connect
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #1

Andrea Kruse said...

I follow you on Google Friend Connect
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry #2

Kari said...

i'd love the biofino grill set and the bilibo in orange!

adamsblankie@gmail.com

Andrea Kruse said...

I subscribe by email
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry#1

Andrea Kruse said...

I subscribe by email
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry#2

Kari said...

follow oompa on twitter @adamsblankie

adamsblankie@gmail.com

Kari said...

follow via google #1

adamsblankie@gmail.com

Kari said...

follow via google #2

adamsblankie@gmail.com

Andrea Kruse said...

Your button is up on my blog
http://adventuresinallthingsfood.blogspot.com/
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry#1

Andrea Kruse said...

Your button is up on my blog
http://adventuresinallthingsfood.blogspot.com/
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry#2

Andrea Kruse said...

Your button is up on my blog
http://adventuresinallthingsfood.blogspot.com/
andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
entry#3

Kari said...

entered elk kids shoes giveaway.

adamsblankie@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would LOVE to get my daughter some of the play food like the play veggies
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com

I would choose PINK

Unknown said...

I follow oompa toys on twitter
@LynnAnnMatthews
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com
I also get oompa toys emails

Unknown said...

i get the oompa newsletter too
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow you on twitter and I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/LynnAnnMatthews/status/7186902244
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com
@LynnAnnMatthews

Unknown said...

i follow on friend connect
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

i follow on friend connect
entery 2
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

i subscribe to your rss feed
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com
entery 1

Unknown said...

i subscribe to your rss feed
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com
entery 2

Unknown said...

i subscribe via email
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com
entery 1

Unknown said...

i subscribe via email
lynnnjoe@hotmail.com
entery 2

Sarah said...

I love the rocking horse - arabian. And I would choose a green bilibo.

mommietj said...

I would love own a Frog Stroller in Black from Bugaboo and the Bilibo in red from Kid O. Thanks for the giveaway!

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

I followed Oompa Toys on Twitter as mommietj.

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

I followed via google friend connect #1

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

I followed via google friend connect #2

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

email subscriber #1

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

email subscriber #2

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

followed and tweeted
http://twitter.com/mommietj/statuses/7188287647

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

I have your cute button #1
http://mommietj.blogspot.com/

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

I have your cute button #2
http://mommietj.blogspot.com/

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

I have your cute button #3
http://mommietj.blogspot.com/

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

Blog #1
http://mommietj.blogspot.com/2009/12/one-lucky-person-will-win-their-choice.html

mommietj at yahoo dot com

mommietj said...

Blog #2
http://mommietj.blogspot.com/2009/12/one-lucky-person-will-win-their-choice.html

mommietj at yahoo dot com

Amy said...

I like the Stacking Monkey Nepomuk from Haba. I would like the Bilbo in green.
laprochaine@gmail.com

Amy said...

I follow Oompa Toys on Twitter, #1
laprochaine@gmail.com

Amy said...

I follow you on Twitter and I tweeted, http://twitter.com/laprochaine/status/7192284253
#2
laprochaine@gmail.com

Amy said...

Google Friend Connect
laprochaine@gmail.com
#1

Amy said...

Google Friend Connect
laprochaine@gmail.com
#2

Amy said...

email
laprochaine@gmail.com
#1

Amy said...

email
laprochaine@gmail.com
#2

Amy said...

I have your button on my blog
www.socialstudiesmomma.blogspot.com
laprochaine@gmail.com
1

Amy said...

I have your button on my blog
www.socialstudiesmomma.blogspot.com
laprochaine@gmail.com
2

Amy said...

I have your button on my blog
www.socialstudiesmomma.blogspot.com
laprochaine@gmail.com
3

Terri Dell said...

I'd love the game Capt'n Look (Kapt'n Kuck) from Haba for my nephew

The red bilibo is my favorite color

Terri Dell said...

Google Friend connect Follower 1

Terri Dell said...

Google Friend connect Follower 2

Terri Dell said...

Following feed on MyYahoo Reader 1

Terri Dell said...

Following feed on MyYahoo Reader 2

Terri Dell said...

email subscriber 1

Terri Dell said...

email subscriber 2

Terri Dell said...

I entered the Hazelaid giveaway

Terri Dell said...

I entered the Uprinting giveaway

Terri Dell said...

I entered the Activeion Cleaning Solutions Giveaway

Terri Dell said...

I entered the Patient Style Giveaway

Terri Dell said...

I entered the Evolve Showerhead Giveaway

Terri Dell said...

entered the Mitetees giveaway

Terri Dell said...

I entered the ELK Kids giveaway

Kim said...

love this: Discovery Balls Set of 4
from Haba and I would get green!

Kim said...

follow blog #1

Kim said...

follow blog #2

Kim said...

rss subscriber #1

Kim said...

rss subscriber #2

Kim said...

email subscriber #1

Kim said...

email subscriber #2

Kim said...

entered mite tees contest

UrbanGard said...

I was so impressed with their toys depicting family members. I really liked to see the Flexible Doll: Grandpa from Kathe Kruse,

UrbanGard said...

I am following Oompa on Twitter. Subscriber #1

UrbanGard said...

I just entered the UPostit.com postcard giveaway. Extra entry #2,

Anna D (Admin) said...

WOW what a cool store! My grandkids would love to go there, you are so lucky.

There are so many neat items in their store, it is hard to pick a single item. I think I would like to buy some of the Kitchen & Store play items to go with the Kitchen set we got my granddaughter for Christmas.

As for the Bilibo color, I think Orange would be best so both boy or girl could play with it without feeling like it was his or hers.

bloggermommies at gmail dot com

Anna D (Admin) said...

I follow @Oompatoys on twitter. I am @BloggerMommies

bloggermommies at gmail dot com

Anna D (Admin) said...

I have entered your Evolve Water Lily Eco-Luxury Showerhead Giveaway.

bloggermommies at gmail dot com

Anna D (Admin) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anna D (Admin) said...

I have entered your Chenille Lounge Socks from PatientStyle Giveaway.

bloggermommies at gmail dot com

Anna D (Admin) said...

I have entered your MiteTees Personalized Gifts Review & Giveaway.

bloggermommies at gmail dot com

Anna D (Admin) said...

I follow you on twitter (of course) and I tweeted! http://twitter.com/BloggerMommies/status/7198132886

bloggermommies at gmail dot com

Anna D (Admin) said...

I subscribe! bloggermommies at gmail dot com

#1 entry

Anna D (Admin) said...

I subscribe! bloggermommies at gmail dot com

#2 entry

Anna D (Admin) said...

I have your cute button on my blog!
http://bloggermommies.blogspot.com

entry #1

Anna D (Admin) said...

I have your cute button on my blog!
http://bloggermommies.blogspot.com

entry #2

Anna D (Admin) said...

I have your cute button on my blog!
http://bloggermommies.blogspot.com

entry #3

Dee said...

I like the Eco-Friendly Cookware and Dining Set and I think I'd want red...or orange..either one! :)

Dee said...

follow on google friend 1

Dee said...

follow oompa on twitter

Dee said...

entered shower head

Dee said...

entered active ion pro

mom2lttl said...

What wouldn't I want from Oompa? It's my favorite place to shop!

I would love to get my little one the training bike.

Bilibo color red.

mom2lttl said...

I follow Oompa on Twitter @webaddict78

mom2lttl said...

I get Oompa'a newsletter

mom2lttl said...

Following you on Twitter and retweeted. @webaddict78

mom2lttl said...

Following you on Google Friend Connect

mom2lttl said...

Subscribed to your RSS

mom2lttl said...

Added your button to http://www.parentsr.us

moushka said...

Yellow Bilibo.

I also like the Marrakesh Room Tent from Haba Toys.

moushka said...

1 google friend

moushka said...

2 google friend

fancygrlnancy said...

I also like the Seat Cushion Frog from Haba. I would pick the orange Bilibo
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

follow oompa toys on twitter
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

signed up for their newsletter
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

follow you on twitter
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/7206309747
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

follow #1
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

follow #2
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

subscribe to feed #1
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

subscribe to feed #2
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

subscribe to email #1
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

subscribe to email #2
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

entered soap nuts
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

entered uprinting
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

fancygrlnancy said...

entered activetion pro
bwneyes100 AT Hotmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I really like the Multi Use Easel-White from Pkolino
Thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Unknown said...

I follow oompa on twitter
Thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Unknown said...

I signed up for their newsletter
Thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Unknown said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/tatertot374/status/7207586111
Thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Unknown said...

I follow
Thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Unknown said...

I subscribe
Thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

mogrill said...

I am intrigued by the Bilibos. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net

fancygrlnancy said...

entered chenille lounge socks
bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

Mary A said...

The blue is our favorite color. We also like the Orchard game from Haba.
Thanks for the giveaway.
maryDOTavingerATgmailDOTcom

clynsg said...

The Dancing Alligator pull toy, and I would choose the color yellow.

clynsg at yahoo.com

clynsg said...

Entered the Soap-Nuts giveaway.

clynsg at yahoo.com

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