This kit comes with almost everything you need to make the jewelry.  There are so many supplies that you have an almost endless amount of creativity.  All you need are scissors, a little glue, and some water and you are ready to begin!

The jewelry pieces were great and offered a large variety of items to make.  There are no set instructions other that how to attach the paper to the wood, leaving you to explore your creative side.  They do offer you several tips for constructing and assembling the jewelry so there is no confusion on what needs to be done.

And the minimally-packaged supplies are high-quality, eco-friendly materials, many of which are recycled or made from renewable sources.

My almost five year old was able to do this project with little assistance.  This would be a perfect activity for elementary school kids and up.  The Arterro Collage Jewelry Kit is a winner in my book!

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WANT IT: Artterro Collage Jewelry Kit ($25)

So, for the past 9 months I’ve been picking up puzzle pieces that he’s thrown, chewed and hidden under the stove.  But somehow, magically, this summer he has gained an incredible interest in puzzles and mastered every one of our chunky puzzles and most of the ones at the library with the little peg-type handles.  The larger jigsaw type were way too challenging.  We needed something in-between and this Ready, Set, Go! Wooden Puzzle from Green Start is a perfect fit.

The puzzle itself is made with wood from sustainable forests and is actually four smaller jigsaw puzzles (train, airplane, fire truck and boat) with 4 pieces each.  This allows him to concentrate on just one puzzle at a time and not get overwhelmed by pieces he can’t figure where to put.  When he got too frustrated, I would put two pieces together so he could figure out the rest.  A neat thing about this puzzle is the the picture underneath the individual 4 piece puzzle.  For the airplane puzzle, the graphic is an empty sky, the boat an empty sea.  I liked that after we mastered putting the puzzle together, we could then talk about where it belonged.  The pieces fit together nicely so that once assembled you can pick it up and place it on the larger puzzle.  As he grows, we can mix all four puzzle pieces together and then put it back together.  He really loves this puzzle and I know he will come back it it time and time again… he already does every time we pull out puzzles!

The second item we tried out was the Green Start Book Tower: Little Learning Books.  These chunky little board books are great and are the perfect size for little hands!  They come packaged in a very sturdy carton that stacks all ten books.  So, of course, READING wasn’t the first thing we did with these books- stacking was!  When we finally got down to reading the books, I was most impressed with the quality.  The books are made with 98% recycled materials and are brown instead of the usual white, which one might think would dull the inks, but that is not the case!  The illustrations are bright, cheerful and fun!  Each book is six pages of cute kids, adorable animals and simple text that in a couple years my son will be reading to me as he bridges to more challenging books.  The concepts  included in this set (Counting, Opposites, Our Town, The Body, Busy Day, Shapes, Our Family, Colors, Baby Animals and On the Farm) lend themselves to further discussion about himself, his family and the world.  In the meantime, I’ll stash a few in the car, diaper bag, changing table… just about anywhere!

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WANT IT: Green Start Book Tower: Little Learning Books ($15); and Ready, Set, Go! Wooden Puzzle from Green Start ($10)

Language of the Leaf is a mom-owned business which started after Neeta and her husband traveled to India to visit a relative and master tea blender for Fortnum & Mason and Twinings. During her trip, had the chance to stay in the top three Darjeeling tea-producing gardens, and she became fascinated by the tea crafting process. This family vacation inspired her to start her own company and to bring exclusive tea blends to the North American market. Neeta explains:

“After this incredible experience, tea became an important part of my life, and I was so passionate about what I discovered that I needed to find a way to share it with everyone. I knew that people who strive to live a healthier lifestyle would love these naturally blended teas as much as I did.

At that moment, Language of the Leaf was born. Our goal is to elevate tea from an everyday cup to an affordable luxury. Focusing on flavourful blends and aromatic herbs, we wanted to offer a line of gourmet blends that you could enjoy no matter what the occasion.”

Language of the Leaf’s exclusive tea blends are available in silken tea bags and as loose teas. With over 100 blends available, there’s a delicious tea for all tastes at Language of the Leaf. For many blends, Language of the Leaf is the only supplier in North America to offer them. Many of her teas are organic, and all of them are made with only natural flavorings for a superior taste.  I tried about 20 different teas, and I really enjoyed them all. But here are a few of my favorites:

• Earl Grey: I know Earl Grey sounds boring since you can find Earl Grey tea everywhere. I’ve tried many many brands of Earl Grey. But this exclusive Earl Grey blend is the BEST I’ve ever tried. It has a hint of vanilla. Unbelievably good! (Here’s the official tasting notes: This blend of fine Ceylon Black tea has a fragrant citrus aroma and a hint of vanilla. It gets its well balanced taste from a judicious scenting with natural oil of bergamot.)
• Queen of Siam: Light & elegant blend. I really enjoyed this. (Here’s the official tasting notes: Flavorful Sencha green tea scented with lemon grass, ginger and chamomile with an elegant lemon-ginger finish at once calming and uplifting – a blend worthy of a Queen!)
• South Pacific: Yum. The scent of this tea was amazing. My husband really likes mango and tropical fruits, and he loved this tea. (Here’s the official tasting notes: Green Sencha & Assam teas infused with fragrant mango, passion fruit & pineapple, blended with hibiscus & chamomile. Evocative of the scent of an island paradise.)
• Calm: Really relaxing tea. Perfect to drink before bed or when mommy needs to calm down. (Here’s the official tasting notes: Organic SPA Blend Judiciously composed of Organic Peppermint, Chamomile and Rooibos, this SPA blend is soothing, restful and at once refreshingly calming. It is a harmonious herbal tea blend with mellow honey notes ending with a cool mint finish.)
• Summer Fling (Iced Tea): This is the best iced tea I’ve ever had! I’m not kidding. It was sweet without being too sweet. I served it alongside a light summer salad and chicken salad sandwiches. Everyone loved it. (Here’s the official tasting notes: Wonderful for those hot summer days, we use a high-grown Ceylon tea blended with juniper berries, black currants and cranberries and the result is refreshingly delicious, reminiscent of summer and all its possibilities.)
• Biscotti: When I really want a cookie but know I shouldn’t have one, I reach for this tea. Yummy and perfect if you have a sweet tooth. (Here’s the official tasting notes: Ceylon tea with comforting almond cookie overtones, adorned with cinnamon and almond slivers.)
• Wedding Blend: I make this is a clear glass teapot because it is just so pretty. Then I pour it into teacups using a little silver tea strainer I found at a flea market. If you’re looking for something to impress a guest, this tea is it. (Here’s the official tasting notes: The Wedding Blend is a delicious and beautiful White tea infused with peach nectar and adorned with pink rosebuds, representing new love’s promise. It is a delight to the palate and senses.)
• Chocolate Dream: It tastes like chocolate. That’s good enough for me! (Here’s the official tasting notes: Chocolate and tea? This combination may seem counter-intuitive, but remains a popular choice with chocolate loavers. The smooth chocolate flavour is emphasized nicely by cocoa bits. Perfectly balanced and sinful, but in a nice, delicious sort of way.)
• Spa Sunset: I’m a type-a person, but this tea relaxes me. It’s a nice blend of citrus and chamomile without being too-chamomile.  (Here’s the official tasting notes: A relaxing counterpart to our SPA Sunrise, this ‘after dark’ herbal tea has soothing citrus-chamomile notes. Composed of Chamomile flower heads (calming), nana-mint, refreshing lemon grass and hibiscus among other herbals. The overall effect calms the nerves, alleviates tension and eases you gently into a state of quiet contemplation.)

I’d definitely recommend trying a few different blends to find your favorite. Neeta gave me some free samples, but I’ve since become a paying customer.

Want It:
Get a free gourmet tea sample from Language of the Leaf. (Just sign up for her email list and select the tea you want to try.)

You can order teas in pretty decorative tea tins (perfect for gifts), silken tea bags (for convenience) or in air-tight pouches for the lowest price. If you’re order loose teas, you can either use your own tea strainer or  infuser or buy a Smart Tea Maker or single-use paper filters for a fool-proof cup of tea.

Since then, we’ve had lots of fun decorating his spaceship with stickers and crayons, and it has held up for many hours of
“make believe” play. My son enjoys peeking out from the shuttle windows and opening and closing the doors.  Since he loves the Toy Story movie and books about space travel, we’ve had many happy hours playing astronauts or Buzz Lightyear.

Moms can feel good about KidsCraft Playhouses too since these eco-friendly products are made in the U.S.A. using 100% recycled cardboard materials. Setup was fairly easy, and it would have been even easier if I’d  understood the instructions. I misread the instructions and initially put in the side panels upside down which meant that they didn’t line up with the roof and the floor. Once I realized my mistake, setup was a breeze. (Tip: Install the side panels with the circle windows  at the top not at the bottom to avoid my mistake.)  It took 20 minutes to assemble the whole playhouse, and I’m sure it would have been faster if I hadn’t switched the panels.

Want It:
Buy the Shuttle Imagination online for $69.95 at  KidsCraft Playhouses.

Win It:
For a chance to win a KidsCraft Playhouse, visit www.kidscraftusa.com or their Facebook Page and tell us something you like about the company or about its products. Leave a comment here by May 31st at 11:59pm EST. (Contest open to U.S. residents only)

(Disclosure: KidsCraft sent Mamanista.com a a Shuttle Imagination to review.)

Pick up 10-40% discounts on some of your favorite eco-friendly, natural parenting gear.

The sale includes popular cloth diaper brands like Rump-a-rooz and Fuzzi Bunz, reusable stainless steel water bottles by Safe Sippy and Klean Kanteen, and more!

Enjoy!

Children have such amazing imaginations. A small toy can become a prop for a big adventure, and a book or setting can inspire hours of play. This photo was taken at Longwood Gardens in PA. My son adored the topiaries- especially the dog. He ran around the garden pretending to be different animals, and one of his favorite games is pretending to be a mouse chased by a cat. (One episode of Tom & Jerry gave him the idea for this game.) What’s your favorite imaginary play or make-believe story?

RosieHippo.com , one of my favorite sources for green toys, is giving away a $100 gift certificate. To enter the giveaway, share your favorite imaginary play or pretend play story by sending a tweet to @rosiehippo or by entering the discussion on Rosie Hippo’s Facebook page. One winner will be picked at random on May 1st to receive a $100 RosieHippo.com gift certificate.

We love the book, Winter Trees, and my preschooler has become adept at spotting leaf shapes.

Although it is a bit pricier than our mass-produced wooden puzzles, I am very tempted to add this to the kids’ collection.

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WANT IT: wooden leaf shape puzzle ($25) from Just Hatched.

An amazing survivor and dedicated mom, Kim left the corporate world to pursue a dream of offering beautiful toys that inspire imaginative exploration. Follow her on twitter @RosieHippo or fan Rosie Hippo on facebook, where Kim shares many of her creative ideas for eco-friendly discovery and play.

Rosie Hippo selections top our Easter Basket goody list with toys by HABA, Maple Landmark, Kathe Kruse, and  dozens of exclusive items.

We are delighted to share a discount for this boutique offering Eco-Friendly Wooden European and Made in the USA Toys, Organic Bedding, Nursery Art, and more. Use Rosie Hippo Discount Code MAMA10 for 10% off until end of April 2010.

For an Easter basket that will survive beyond the big day, these lovely fabric Easter baskets (Blue Morpho – $14) are available in playful and chic patterns.
Start your basket off on an earth-friendly note: forget the plastic grass that gets everywhere (including the toddler’s mouth) and grow real grass for the Easter Bunny. With the Easter Grass Kit from Spots and Ladybugs ($10) you will have a lush basket of green grass in just seven days.
No Easter basket at my house is complete without a chocolate bunny–so how about a fair trade chocolate Easter bunny ($18 from Turning Life)? Theo Chocolate has a scrumptious-looking Easter Basket that is fair trade and gluten and soy-free. Global exchange also has a great selection of fair trade chocolates. For those, like me, who find themselves in the supermarket at the last minute, try picking up some Cadbury and then send them a note to extend their fair-trade sourcing policy to their chocolates available in the United States.
For Easter favors with a tad more sophistication, the adults (or future foodies) on your list will love TCHO carrots by the bunch (Tasting Pack – $32). You’ll get a carrot-shaped cone of chocolate-drenched honey roasted cashews, macadamia nuts, and rich cacao nibs. (H/T Help a Mother Out)
These foundling bunnies (Rosie Hippo – $16 small, $29 large), are handmade in the USA from organic cotton–the next best thing to adopting your own hippity hoppy friend. Possibly better, since you don’t have to clean-up after these long-eared friends. Use Rosie Hippo Coupon Code MAMA10 for 10% off until end of April 2010.
These bunny crayons (Colorfun on Etsy – $12 for a dozen) make a perfect Easter gift–plus they’ll keep the kids creatively busy after the egg hunt.
This plush Color Zoo Rory the Rabbit Stuffed Animal by Allen Ave will put a spring in your step with its vivid patterns. ($13-24)
Yes…one more plush bunny. How could I resist? These hand-embroidered wool bundle bunny dolls (Little A Shop – $15) would be the perfect cuddly friend. You can even have your bunny customized.
For a little educational Easter fun, toddlers will enjoy this handcrafted wooden duck puzzle, also available as a rabbit. ($10 – Rosie Hippo) Preschoolers will have fun with the more challenging Duck Pond Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle, which also features a dog and a rabbit and is made in the USA. ($19 – Rosie Hippo) Use Rosie Hippo Coupon Code MAMA10 for 10% off until end of April 2010.
What a great concept! The Funky Farm See Me Bunny Mirror By Skip Hop ($9 – Kangaroo Boo) combines two things a baby loves–a plush friend and his own adorable face. Plus it kinda has a space-age mod feel.
Stitching cards are a favorite of young children. This relaxing activity boosts fine motor control. I love the design of this Threading Rabbit from Estia (Kangaroo Boo – $14).
Don’t forget a toy for the baby! The Springy Rabbit by Hess (Kangaroo Boo – $13), Wooden Duck Ring (Rosie Hippo – $14), or Plush Bunny Rattle Ring (Rosie Hippo – $12) are sure to keep your bunny buddy entertained!
Our favorite gifts are books–they are always the right size and always in style. Debbie recommends The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes ($11) as an inspiring tale for young girls. Owen’s Marshmallow Chick ($10) is a sweet tale of friendship for babies and toddlers. And Grandpa Bunny (Little Golden Book) ($4) is a clever story about nature’s preparations for Spring.
A Mother’s Crochet has crocheted bunny ear hats in every pastel color $13. So, if you are suddenly seized by an Anne Geddes moment, you’re prepared.
I’m a complete sucker for a cute hooded towel and this funny floppy eared hooded bunny towel (SDKDesigns on Etsy – $30) also has a cotton tail.
While shopping for adorable new spring togs for your sprout, don’t forget the dolly’s wardrobe! Most of our dolls are Corolle and this Pastel Pants Set ($23) even has a cute little bunny!
If rabbits and bunnies are a year-round obsession at your household, you will love this David Klein “Bunny” – Limited Edition, Rosie Hippo exclusive print ($175 – available with other animal designs). Bright and engaging for babies, yet funky enough for animal lovers of all ages, these prints by award-winning artist David Klein are a unique mixture of the psychedelic and the traditional folk arts. Use Rosie Hippo Coupon Code MAMA10 for 10% off until end of April 2010.

Whether you celebrate Easter or not, we hope you have a great start to the Spring season with your family! Enjoy!