A thoughtful woman wanted to make travel possible for her friend who is battling cancer and sent him on our NYC Love Tour! As a symbol of him never being alone, she included a photo of herself in order to join his trip and the pair explored the great city of New York together, something they may never get to do otherwise. For this reason, we included tons of “en route” photos to create the ultimate experience. For example, on the way to the Brooklyn Bridge we passed the Freedom Tower and got a great shot of the two in front of the growing sky scraper, the ultimate representation of hope and strength.

This was a particularly meaningful tour that reinforced our mission: To create smiles around the world. We know that when this woman’s friend saw himself in the middle of Times Square, riding a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park and checking out the Ferrari Store… he smiled and that folks, is what we are here for.

After printing the photos out, we drove back to Eastchester to present Mirai with a recap of “her” fun-filled day. She was ecstatic. Our hearts melted. Mission accomplished:

There are so many ways to give this holiday season. Please join us in supporting 5P- by visiting: http://www.fivepminus.org/index.htm

Music Monday – Bare the Bear’s music choice of the day
Transit Tuesday – our tribute to the train system that gets us around!
Wacky Wednesday – this one is our favorite!
TDIH (This Day in History) Thursday – we hope you like history
Florence Friday – learn something about our tour destination in Italy!
Spontaneous Saturday – we’ll surprise you!
Sharing Sunday – we ask you to share your opinion on a topic!

Which day of the week is your favorite?

So many beloved stuffed pals are left in play pens across the globe while families gather for food and fun. Toys need lovin’ too, which is why all orders placed in November will be at 20% off using this code: TGIVINGTOY. We will be holding special Thanksgiving activities including turkey dinner and extra tour stops in Brooklyn (due to popular demand) to ensure that toys have something to be thankful for this year… YOU!

Exhibit A
Gertrude preparing for her day as a bungee jumper (she likes to get in character):

While heights definitely add a spook factor to the 31st, what we like most about Halloween is: The anticipation. The creativity. The show. It’s the one holiday that doing wrong is impossible. This sounds very much like what toy travel offers since the “anything is possible” mentality is why Stuffed in the City exists!

What Bare likes most about this day? The freedom to choose! Since this year’s costume is still in the decision making stage, we need your help:

We’ve talked about us and Bare- now it’s your turn to spill: What’s your favorite thing about Halloween?

Bare has learned that while traveling to Italy you may want to bring your own toiletries. You NEVER want to run out of hair gel before hitting the clubs:

Bare knows that you always need to look “fresh to death.” Sunglasses? Check. Chain and watch? Check. Check. Fist Pump? Check plus:

And, of course, it never hurts to have a little piece of home with you, in case you get homesick. Bare is proud to represent the New York Mets by wearing our favorite Italian player, #31 Mike Piazza:

With all of these pointers you are now ready to pack your bags and head to Florence. So order now because we look forward to meeting you there, but until then we have to go because the “cabs are here!”

Similar to the New York City packages, toy travelers will be able to tour Florence and be photographed on their adventure without stepping onto a plane! Upon completion, the tourists are sent back along with a CD of the photographs taken, 4×6 print-outs, a travel certificate, and a surprise souvenir. A digital package is also available for those who would like the Stuffed in the City: Florence experience without the shipping and waiting, and at a reduced price. Photos of the traveler are sent via e-mail to Stuffed in the City, which are printed and mounted onto a stick. All photos taken, as well as the travel certificate, are sent to the customer electronically to create an equally enriching experience.

“This is an exciting time for Stuffed in the City. We’re looking forward to bringing our service to Italy and making it even more accessible through the Digital Package offer. Now people from all over the globe will be able to enjoy this experience with an immediate effect. It’s ‘molto bene’!” says co-founder, Tara Prout.

With vacation season coming to an end, a Stuffed in the City toycation offers a creative way to fulfill one’s desires to get away. See more by visiting their website, http://www.stuffedinthecity.com and be sure to “Like” their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/stuffedinthecity) and “Follow” them on Twitter (@stuffdinthecity) to stay informed on the company’s arrival to Italy.

Born and bred in New York, Bare was the perfect candidate from the start: smart, funny, enjoys long walks on the beach and outgoing. With an impressive resume that includes experience as a kindergarten teacher, peanut butter taster, and rocket scientist, we are certain that Bare’s background will be infinitely helpful in our toy travel endeavors.

Bare’s official role as Toy Travel Operations Officer means that each tour will have the expertise of a seasoned pro there to ensure that travelers are comfortable and having a blast. We are in great hands and look forward to expanding our Stuffed in the City family with this furry addition.

A recent winner hails from the Houston Independent School System. She is not a native English speaker and her name is Anna. The assignment? Write a creative essay as your favorite toy explaining why you deserve to go to New York City. The prize? Extra credit points for Anna and a free “New York: Full Throttle” tour for her beloved dog, Toby! Check out her great work:

Dear Stuffed in  the City,

Hello, My name is Toby and I’m a puppy. I think I’m the perfect person you can choose. First of all, I have had a long time without taking a vacation. I have had so long without a break because my owner doesn’t have a lot of money; he lost his job six months ago and sometimes I don’t even have anything to eat. I have to look in the trash can for food and go to restaurants for the bread crumbs.

Second, I work very hard protecting my owner from the bad guys and other dogs. Sometimes I don’t sleep because I have to take care of the house the whole night, because the neighborhood I live in is very dangerous at night. If you choose me, it will be a great experience for both you and me, because I have never been to New York City. It would be my first time there! You can show me all the famous places in New York.

I hope you make the best decision and choose me. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter.

Sincerely,
Toby

Thanks, Anna. Toby was a great traveler and we were glad to host him on our tour! Here’s a shot of Toby with his new friend, Teddy:

If you are a teacher/school representative who would like to create a contest for your students, email us: info@stuffedinthecity.com.