Step2

Step2 and Infantino joined together with Mom Central to host an “Afternoon Playdate” on Thursday, August 4 as part of the pre-BlogHer 2011 festivities. The afternoon began with the arrival of over 30 mommy bloggers, including Leanne of Rave & Review, Shelly of Glitterful Felt Stories, and Jill of Musings from Me, to a beachfront home in Coronado, California.

The event included a variety of activities such as mood boarding, where bloggers sifted through home magazines and cut out images that inspired their own kitchens, a gifting area, where bloggers took their hand at the new Infantino “Give a Bundle” campaign, and a “Candy Bar” to accommodate any sugar cravings.

Since the theme of the event was a “playdate,” it was only natural that the hors d’oeuvres were grown-up versions of kids’ favorite snacks – PB&J sandwiches (with no crust of course), tempura chicken fingers, and gourmet mac & cheese.

New toddler toys from Step2 and infant toys from Infantino were on display. New this fall from Step2 is the multi-level counter top Legacy Kitchen (available at Toys”R”Us this fall), a toddler-sized climb and slide elephant, a multi-purpose activity table that works with Legos, and the adorable foot-to-floor Wild Side Riders Giraffe (available now).

Near the end of the event, all attendees were asked to select a rubber ducky to act as their entry into the grand prize drawing for a Step2 Grand Walk-In Kitchen (each duck had a number on its belly).

Congratulations to Amy of Grinning Cheek to Cheek! We hope that her two boys enjoy their new play kitchen.

We’d like to extend a big “Thank You!” to all the bloggers who attended the “Afternoon Playdate.” We admire and appreciate all that you do!

For more photos of the event, visit the Afternoon Playdate album on Facebook.

Step2.com is proud to have been recently certified by TRUSTe. The TRUSTe Web Privacy Seal, which indicates that TRUSTe has reviewed Step2.com’s privacy policy and it adheres to TRUSTe’s privacy program requirements, is now present at the footer of the Step2 website. To comply with this program, Step2.com also participates in TRUSTe’s privacy dispute resolution services and is subject to site privacy scans to detect vulnerabilities.

About TRUSTe

TRUSTe helps people click with confidence by guiding them to trustworthy websites. Companies that display the TRUSTe seal on their website’s privacy policy comply with the highest standards for protecting your personal information.

We’re continuing our Quarterly Assembly Video Sweepstakes for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree at Step2.com. To make the entry process easier, we have added an entry tab to the Step2 Facebook page. To enter to win, just provide your name and email, and upload a video of your Step2 toy assembly directly on Facebook. For all the information, check out the official rules.

The next winner will be selected on October 1, notified via email on October 3, and announced on Facebook on October 5.

Take a look at last quarter’s winner!

Good luck!

Step2 has partnered with Recycle Solutions to reduce our carbon footprint. Each Step2 employee has been provided with a desk container to recycle computer paper, pamphlets, envelopes, magazines, newspaper, catalogs, and other cardboard and paper items.

Why Step2 recycles:

• A typical office generates one pound of paper per employee
• 77 percent of what is wasted in offices across the country is recyclable
• Paper makes up approximately one-third of landfill waste
• Making paper creates both air and water pollution, but recycling techniques have been refined and mills can recycle paper with less pollution than when making new paper
• It takes up to 40% less energy to recycle paper than it does to create paper
• Recycling aligns with our ambitious goal to increase our energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions as a Save Energy Now LEADER

Step2 is proud to be included in ABC’s “Made In America” map, which highlights key companies that manufacture their products in the U.S.

Step2 is now on Tumblr! Follow us to learn about new products (before they’re even released!), company events, Step2 Store events, and parenting quotes. Plus, get a behind the scene glimpse at photo shoots, read snippets from Creative Play Plus and the Step2 Blog, and take a look at the unofficial Step2 mascot Orange Kitty.

If you’re not familiar with Tumblr, it is a blog platform that can be used in a variety of ways – for quotes, images, links, audio, video, and full blog posts. We are excited to join the likes of other companies that are on Tumblr such as Juicy Couture, Ruelala, and The Today Show.