Butterfly in a Jar

MY BUTTERFLY FOR INQUIRING MINDS

author — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:25:54 +0000

My Butterfly can be much more than a delightful gift for a child. Peering into the jar and watching the colourful creature’s antics may inspire your child to find out more about butterflies in science, in stories and songs.

For example, did you know that butterflies taste with their feet and smell with their antennae? The butterflies taste leaves to check if they are suitable for laying their eggs, and that the leaves will provide nutrition when the eggs hatch into caterpillars. The importance of caterpillar nutrition can’t be understated, because some butterflies don’t eat as adults – as they have no mouths – and have to survive on the energy from food eaten when they were in caterpillar form. Butterflies can range in size from as small as an eighth of an inch to a massive 12 inches. The top speed of a butterfly is 12 miles an hour, although its less colourful neighbour, the moth, can attain 25 miles an hour. Monarch butterflies migrate from the Great Lakes in Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of about 2,000 miles. Although there are over 24,000 species of butterfly, there is only one place in the world you will never see one – Antarctica.

There is a wealth of fascinating information and stories to be found about butterflies. My Butterfly gifts are certainly fun, but more than that they can open a child’s mind to wonderful new worlds.

Show Kindness with My Butterfly

author — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:31:55 +0000

On November 13^th is the International Day of Kindness and you can prepare by getting a couple of beautiful butterflies from My Butterfly. Butterflies make people happy and simply by playing with one or watching it flutter can change their mood. On this day it is important to show the people special to you that you care, plus spread some kindness even to people you don’t know.

Perhaps there is someone that you always pass by on your way to work asking for loose change, why not show them some kindness and invite them to lunch. You will be surprised how happy that will make them, and certainly you will learn something from them. You can benefit from any type of connection, whether it is the man that has lost his job begging for money on the corner or your co-worker sitting next to you. On this day you need to open your heart to everyone and show them some kindness. Whether it’s in the form of simply holding the door opened or taking someone out to lunch.

One thing that this modern world is missing is a bit more kindness, and this is the day to remind everyone that it hasn’t died just yet. If you want to do something extra special for the people closest to you, get them a butterfly from My Butterfly and they will be able to enjoy this kind gift far into the future.

Show Kindness with My Butterfly

author — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:31:51 +0000

My Butterfly for an “Enriched” Office Space

author — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:01:40 +0000

Enrich your office space with My Butterfly to increase employee productivity. A recent study by the University of Exeter office productivity is increased by more than a 3^rd if the office is enriched and especially if the employees have a chance to take part in the development. The work environment has a big impact on the employees and if they are not comfortable where they work and cannot associate with it they will not be as productive. Improving the office space may be expensive, but if you get the employees involved, you may save a lot of money as they will show what they want rather than you spending money on something they may not enjoy.

The study took 2,000 office workers and explored their productivity and the office space they worked in. In the past the minimalistic and lean office was most popular as it was thought that it minimized distraction, however it has proved to actually lower productivity. By adding art, plants, or other accessories that enrich the office employees feel more comfortable, about 15% more comfortable. Also, if you choose to allow your employees to take part in enriching the office, such as choosing the plants and art, or perhaps adding personal souvenirs and family photos the productivity could jump to 32%.

With an enriched office the employees can identify with the office and feel comfortable in it. They will enjoy it and be more productive. My butterfly is a great addition to any office, it adds life and colour, and can relax even the most overworked employee.

UK’s Butterfly Girl

author — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:42:27 +0000

Recently in the news was a story of brave little girl, Hollie Shaw. My Butterfly wants to bring light and awareness to this very difficult and rare condition where sufferers’ skin is described as butterfly wings as they easily tear even at the slightest touch. `This little girl has endured so much and is still very determined to live life as any other child would. She plays with her friends, skates, and even takes horseback riding lessons. Her mother, which stays at home to take care of her, encourages Hollie to live life to the fullest and not miss even a second of her childhood.

This condition, Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), is thought to occur in only one in a million babies, and can be discovered almost immediately after birth. As it is untreatable, most suffers of this condition do not live past 30 either due to infections or certain cancers which it leaves them susceptible to. You can do your part and take part in spreading the word or simply helping out these beautiful little butterflies by visiting DebRA, the national UK charity for EB sufferers. Her mother will be raising money next year through a bike ride to John O’Groats from Lands End and you can sponsor her through visiting the Just Giving website and find Hollies Team.

My Butterfly is known for bringing you inspirational stories, and this one truly inspired us to take a look at life a little differently.

Summer Activities with My Butterfly

author — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:26:27 +0000

Summer is coming to an end soon, so if you haven’t had a chance to enjoy the warmth and take pleasure in the outdoor activities, grab My Butterfly and make the time. Butterflies are the representation of summer, flowers are blooming and butterflies can be seen everywhere. They represent the warmth and the overall summer spirit. So, here are a couple of outdoor activities you can enjoy together with the family.

Take it to the park: Enjoy a picnic or a simple walk in your local park, but this time make it a bit more different and educational. Take pictures of the different trees you see and the animals and bugs you meet. Discuss them and contemplate what they are, and then when you head home for the evening check them up online.

Bike Races: This is fun for both big and small. This also can be done at the park and a fun way for the whole family to bond. Race around the park, have competitions, and let your competitive side shine. Race your spouse to see who will wash the dishes in the evening, or your child for a chore. It’s a fun and healthy way to release energy and workout.

Take it to the beach: Though not everyone has the option of a beach nearby, it doesn’t mean that you still cannot enjoy a beach day. Whether its at a lake, a pool, or even a sandbox. Get the beach spirit going with castle making with sand, beach ball tossing, and a dip. This can even be done in the backyard with an inflatable pool and a couple fun beach accessories.

My Butterfly celebrates the summer, and with one of these little butterflies at hand you can enjoy it every day, even in winter as they bring warmth in your home.

Son and Daughter Day

author — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:34:50 +0000

Our Butterfly Collection is the perfect gift choice for the upcoming Son and Daughter Day on the 11^th this month. We hope that all people will have the chance to see their children born and to raise them in good health and surroundings. Your kids are the joy of your life. Everyone has to take the time to spend with their kids. This is what they will remember from you, the special time you shared together. Everyone is busy working, but making money for your family should not substitute the time your kids need with you. They need to see who you really are, and they will learn a lot from you if you spend time with them. Go to a soccer game with your son or take your daughter to a ballet. You may inspire them to uptake a new sport. Read them a book, they will always remember it. Take them out for a walk in the park, buy some ice cream, show them where you work, or take them to your favourite places in the city. Your kids give you the purest love and affection and they need you. You can make them a gift. Give your daughter a necklace she can always wear, give your son a new soccer ball. You can also choose something from our collection and give them a butterfly. They can play with it and then place it on their desk. Check out our Butterfly Collection.

A Rare Butterfly

author — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:08:58 +0000

Our Butterfly in a Jar collection features four different types of very beautiful butterflies. Our team has just received the news, that in the London’s History Museum a rare butterfly hatched. We are always thrilled when we hear news about these beloved flying beauties, but this time we were really astounded. The butterfly that hatched is a Great Mormon from Asia. It is half male, half female. You may wonder if that is even possible. It is possible, but it a very rare occurrence. Some scientist reveal that they have never seen anything like this in their 30 year careers. This one is a pure bilateral gynandromorphy. This thing happens when the sex chromosomes fail to separate when the egg is being fertilized. It can also happen if there is an egg with two sex chromosomes and two sperm happen to fertilize the egg. This is a unique and extremely rare, especially among insects. If you have a chance to go to the London’s History Museum you may be able to take a closer look at the butterfly. It is amazing how one half of it has the male colouring of the wings, ant the other half the female. One is darker, while the other one is lighter with colouring on it. Even the antennas have different length. Half male, half female, or just a normal butterfly – these creatures are always fascinating. Get a Butterfly in a Jar from us and enjoy it!

Anti Boredom Month

author — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:03:16 +0000

The My Butterfly team is always in the search of the most interesting holidays around the world. This time we discovered that July is considered the National Anti-Boredom Month in the USA. This is a very interesting concept and we think that we may have to adopt it too. July is in the middle of the summer, it’s hot and sometimes it seems that there isn’t much going on. Why not change that? You can strive to make this month one of the most interesting months throughout the year. You can divide the month into 4 weeks and think of something fun to do each week. Like that it does not seem as a 30 day month, but more like a four weeks plan. The first week we can organize a house party – invite some guests over, play some music, dance and laugh with your friends. This party will keep you going for a few days, because you will be so much emotionally charged you won’t even realize the week is over. The second week you can organize a picnic – a nice, outdoor activity. For the third week you can plan a visit to an art gallery, the opera or the theatre. For the fourth week you can do something different. Bring some joy to another person – give your friend or a child a butterfly in a jar. Imagine how happy they will be. You will change their whole week – they will feel special and loved.

My Butterfly team encourages you to make July an anti-boredom month.

Our Butterflies

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:57:02 +0000

This month we received an email from an 11 year old butterfly enthusiast named Brandon. In one short email he put all our combined butterfly knowledge to shame and it’s for this reason that we have recruited him to write a blog post for us filled with great facts all about Butterflies.

The following is written by Brandon:

“In these paragraphs, I will tell you about the species of electronical butterflies you are selling.

The Monarch is one of the two North American milkweed butterflies, along with the Queen as well. A Monarch’s wingspan is three to four inches. The caterpillars eat many milkweeds and milkweed vine. Those caterpillars may look like lemon, liquorice, and peppermint to you, but to birds they are colors of DANGER. These bright colors warn off predators such as birds away, and so does the orange and black on the adult Monarch act as a warning. The adults are found almost anywhere with milkweed, but they drink nectar of many other flowers, too. Groups of Monarch butterflies also called “wanderers” have “built in clocks” to help them know it’s migration time. They can fly at up to seventy miles per hour! They rang as north as the Great Lakes down to the very bottom of Argentina. Sightings of monarchs are also reported in the Indo-Australian region (South east Asia, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands).

Tiger swallowtails have those tails to fool birds into thinking they are the antennae, and attack the tails instead. Those tails don’t grow back, but a lost tail is better than a lost head! Although they are sluggish fliers. The wingspan of a Tiger swallowtail is three to five and a half inches. They slurp nectar of many flowers and shrubs, but males need sodium from

water to smell nice for female tiger swallowtails. This is known as “mud puddling”. The caterpillars eat the foliage of mostly willows, poplars, cottonwoods, and wild cherries. They are stout, and have eyespots to frighten birds. If it’s scary eyespots don’t frighten the predator, wham! An orange “Y” shaped organ called osmateria gives off an odor that smells like rotton cheese (Gross!).

The Blue morpho is pretty and strange at the same time! They have a wingspan of four to six inches. Blue morphos prefer rotten fruit, rotten meat, bird poop, and even ketchup over flower nectar! They have a metallic blue upper-side, and a brown underside for camouflage. They can be very pretty as they glide through the dense, steamy forests of Central and South America. There are very many, many species of Blue morpho, but just calling them “Blue morphos” is enough.

Pink morphas do not exist because they are a fantasy inspired species. These fantasies can be popular, and most are pink or purple. You could make up one of your own, too!”

If you have enjoyed Brandon’s blog post as much as we have then please feel free to comment and hopefully if we ask nicely enough he will write another.

Thank You Brandon!