Filed under: EVENTS!, KIDS!, Non-Profit of the Month
October Donation Drive Benefiting: Share Our Spare!
During the month of October, Eye Spy Optical will be collecting new/gently used items for babies and children age 0-5. Drop off your donation and receive a $25 discount on a pair of glasses!!!
In 2011, ten Chicago mothers realized that they had more than enough “stuff” for their own children to grow and thrive and that there were plenty of other women in their community who could use the strollers, baby clothes and extra toys that their children had outgrown. They banded together to create a non-profit organization that would help mothers in Chicago who couldn’t afford to gather all the essentials for their babies and young children and Share Our Spare was born.
How Can You Help:
There is a greater need for the following NEW items:
- Diapers size 2, 3 and 6
- New packages of boys and girls underwear size 2T-5T
- Pacifiers
Have additional items to share? Share Our Spare will also be collecting:
NEW OR GENTLY USED: |
NEW / UNUSED ITEMS: |
- All Clothing and Outerwear (ages 0-5T)
- Baby Carriers
- Baby Swings
- Pack and Plays
- Blankets (Stroller or Swaddle Size)
- Bundle Me
- Exersaucers
- High Chairs
- Play Mats/Activity Gyms
- Strollers
- Books
|
- Diapers (all sizes)
- Baby Soap and Lotion
- Bottles
- Burp Cloths/Bibs
- Diaper Cream
- Pacifiers
- Wipes
- Small Educational Toys
|
For more information, please visit www.shareourspare.org or contact info@shareourspare.org.
“Nearly ½ of all children living in greater Chicago live below the federal poverty level. Sadly, parents are faced with heartbreaking decisions such as reusing diapers and going without food. Chicago offers an unparalleled network of social service agencies to support these families in education and training, job placement, housing and food. However, no organization provides reliable cost-free essentials for the early years like diapers, clothing and gear.”
Share Our Spare also collects donations at their River West warehouse located here. They work with over 20 community partners to distribute newborn kits and other collected items to families in need and put all that “spare” kid gear to good use.
Visit Share Our Spare’s website and follow on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated and inspired!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, HEALTH!, KIDS!
Three Cheers for Lake, our Customer of the Week!
Lake’s mom brought her in for an eye exam with our amazing Eye Doctor. Lake was a teensy bit nervous, but our doctor is great with kids and made it really fun and easy. Lake found out that she was going to need glasses she couldn’t have been more thrilled! As it turns out, she was hoping that she would need them – she LOVES glasses
The Optical Oracle helped her try on kids frames until she found just the right one – a red metal frame that fit like a dream and made her feel like a million bucks!
We LOVE it when kids get excited about their glasses and as you can see, Lake is beaming!
Let’s learn a little more about Lake!
- What is her favorite color? Aqua
- If she could be any animal, what would she be and why? Reindeer so I can fly (Here are 11 things you might not know about Reindeer!)
- What is her favorite thing to do in the summer time? Surf on vacation
- What is her favorite activity or subject at school? Reading
- How many siblings does she have? An older brother and younger brother
- If she were in a talent show, what would her talent be? Play guitar and dancing
It is almost time for Chicagoland kids to head back to school and all kids entering school for the first time are required to get their eyes examined by an eye doctor. Our docs are low key and make it painless – your kids don’t even need to know their letters or numbers! So visit our website to schedule your little one’s appointment.
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Filed under: EVENTS!, KIDS!
Join us on February 20th for a day full of kid friendly fun!
Shake off those winter blues and get out of the house for a day at Eye Spy!
*826Chi will be in the store with a selection of spy gear from their spy shop The Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co. (formerly the Boring Store). They will also have info about their kids writing workshops for you to peruse as well as some writing samples by some of their very talented young authors to read.
*Get a jump start on your spring cleaning by bringing in books that are ideal for kids 8-18. It is cold out there and this is perfect reading weather – bring in your old books and exchange them for something new to cozy up with.
*Snacks for nibbling and some hot cocoa to wash it down and warm you up.
*Girl Scouts from will be hanging out selling those cookies you have been waiting all year to buy.
A portion of all purchases will go to 826Chi, so get those stir-crazy kids out of the house and help support a great Chicago organization!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, EVENTS!, KIDS!, Swissflex
We saved the best for last…Welcome Noa and her new purple eyeglasses to the prestigious Customer of the Week Club!
Noa came in for an eye exam with our fabulous eye doctor one Saturday morning and was HAPPY to find out that she needed prescription glasses.
Both of her bespectacled parents have excellent taste in eyewear, so she was brimming with excitement at picking out a fun pair for herself. As it turns out, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…she also has an eye for eyewear and found a pair that put a smile on her face.
With a little help from Clara, the Optical Oracle, she tried on a handful of frames for kids and decided to select a lovely lavender Swiss Flex Kids frame in a simple rounded rectangular shape. Noa knew exactly what she did and didn’t like and once she put on that purple frame, she wouldn’t have changed her mind if you had offered her a box of the world’s softest kittens and snuggliest puppies.
We think Swiss Flex frames are a great choice for kids like Noa because they are available in a big variety of bright colors (you know how we love bright colors!), and a bunch of easy to wear shapes & sizes that will fit most children. The temples were custom fit so they curve perfectly around her ears and won’t budge no matter how much running around she is doing – which is a lot!
Noa and her dad Ari bringing the sass in their excellent Eye Spy Optical eye wear.
And the best part about Noa’s new spectacular specs…she can now see clearly! It is easy to forget what it felt like to get prescription glasses for the first time, but seeing the world go from a blur to crystal clear thanks to a pair of glasses is always a joy to witness!
Noa and her fam are now a walking endorsement for Eye Spy Optical…who doesn’t love that?!?
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, Caroline Abram, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, KIDS!
Our customer of the week this week is another pint-sized person…say yay yay for Mary Morris!!!
She came in for her very first eye exam and was so so so excited to hear that she needed glasses. She has an eye for style and was very sure about what she liked and didn’t like when she tried on frames. Anne et Valentin just came out with a new line of eyewear for children earlier this year, so Mary Morris had a lot of cheerful frames to choose from. Anne et Valentine’s glasses come a bunch of fun candy colors, some of the shapes are new and some are mini versions of their existing frames. Mary Morris tried on a few and quickly decided on a pretty pair of Mia frames in red and blue.
Mary Morris wanted to add a little something fun to her glasses and picked out a little Bijounette accessory by Caroline Abram that is shaped like a slice of cake to dangel off her new specs. If you feel like you want a little goodie for your frames you should come by and see our other treat charms.
We think she is just the cutest and that her glasses are a perfect fit for her personality (she dressed up to match her glasses when she came in to pick them up – seriously, we can’t get enough of this kid!)
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, HEALTH!, KIDS!
Our Customer of the Week is a kid who knows a thing or two about sunglasses. Raise your juice boxes for Will!!!!
Will is an energetic little guy who loves to be outside so his parents picked up a pair of Julbo Looping sunglasses for him a couple of years ago. He loved them so much that when he grew out of them, it was time to come back and pick up something new. He has grown so much since his last pair that he ended up going home with a cool blue pair of Julbo Bubbles sunnies and we think he looks amazing!
Julbo makes great sunglasses for babies and kids. They are durable and comfortable and we LOVE the bright colors! They also will protect against UV rays, which is ULTRA important in kids since their eyes are still developing and need some extra protecting.
Will is excited to be just like his dad and tags along to give his opinion on Curt’s picks. He just might be an optician in training!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, KIDS!, Swissflex
Give three big cheers for Derek, our new Customer Of The Week!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!!!
Derek is an awesome kid who was super excited to get his first pair of glasses (just like his dad!). It didn’t take him long to decide on a colorful pair of SwissFlex Kids frames in kelly green – which just so happens to be his soccer team’s color this year (fingers crossed that he gets green again next year)!
SwissFlex is a great brand for kids frames because they are flexible and can stand up ruff-and-tumble play time that kids get into. Derek learned how to put his glasses on with two hands and how to clean his lenses so that they will last a long time, but I am sure that he will put those frames to the test!
Derek is a sporty kid, so he also got a pair of silver Rec Specs sport frames. They have an adjustable elastic sport band in the back and a padded nose pad so they won’t move around while he is on the run. He needed something that could do double duty so he can wear them when he is outside playing soccer and when he is shooting hoops inside, so we hooked him up with some transitions lenses that change to sunlenses when he goes outside.
Derek is thrilled with his new glasses – just look at that smile! Hi-Fives for Derek!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Italee, KIDS!
Say hi to Andrew, our newest customer of the week!
Andrew is the 4th person in his family to wear glasses and he couldn’t be happier. This 6 year old was so excited to get his first pair of specs that he did a little shimmy when he finally got to put them on!
He chose a pair of Italee 2.5 frames in his favorite color, blue, and he LOVES the way he looks with them on…just look at that smile!
Andrew is fast as a cheetah and a champion at tag so he can’t wait to get out of the classroom for recess everyday. He also loves to play chess with his dad and competes in tournaments with kids of all ages…he beat a 3rd grader yesterday!
2.5’s are perfect for a kid like Andrew. They are light weight and comfortable so he can wear them all day, and they won’t fall off when he is playing since they have cable temples that curl around his ears.
Watch out world…Andrew is coming for you…and now he can see!
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Filed under: HEALTH!, KIDS!
We love them so much, that we even have a couple ourselves:-) Our eye doctor has two girls…and the Queen of Specs has two girls!! But don’t worry, we like boys at Eye Spy also…as long as they are well-behaved!?!
Dr. LaBrosse and her two clones!
The Queen of Specs’ family, as drawn by Beatrice.
Illinois law states that all children entering public schools for the first time (kindergarten or otherwise) are required to have an eye examination by an eye doctor. As luck would have it, Eye Spy is a great place to bring your little human for his or her eye exam! We are super-friendly and very low key, so we keep exam jitters minimal. We also have a waiting room that looks like your grandma’s living room, complete with movies…just in case *someone* needs a little distraction.
Dr. LaBrosse has lots of experience examining children of all ages from a few months old to 99 years old! Your child does not have to know letters or even speak at all to obtain very useful information about their eyesight. Dr. LaBrosse uses many different non-invasive techniques to determine what the eye can see, how they work together, and how healthy they are. Eye drops are not necessarily needed for good results, so there is no need to worry if your little one is squeamish. The goal is to make the exam fun so your child responds to the best of his or her ability and wants to come back!
Dr. LaBrosse has convenient evening and Saturday appointments available for busy families, so make your appointment today! Come on…just do it!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, KIDS!, Lafont
Our Customer of the Week is Chris!!!
Chris was not too happy that he needed to start wearing glasses. To the surprise of his parents…his eyes lit up when he tried these blue Lafont frames. The frame model is Rock and its easy to see why. They really do rock!
Chris is so handsome wearing the iridescent blue frame, which is such a contrast against his dark hair and big brown eyes. We love that these frames fit him like a glove since fit is so important with children. Kids are rough on their frames so they can’t be slipping and sliding around.
Congrats Chris, you are our Customer of the Week!
Stay tuned for a posting about the Lafont trunk show on Saturday, November 26th. Phillipe and Laurence Lafont started their company in Paris in 1972 with the goal of creating a line that was timeless. They have a great eye for balancing shape and color and are known for their exquisite patterns.
We are officially open on Mondays from 11am-7pm, now through the end of January. No need for an appointment…just stop on in!!!
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