Link Roundup: Mom’s Day Crafts, an Owl Costume & More

Momtastic shows off 5 vases that kids can craft for Mother’s Day.

Handmade Charlotte discovers an amazing DIY owl costume via Mom Inc Daily perfect for year round dress up play.

Petit Eco Kids rounds up a group of striped and dotted organic kids fashion we love.

Lil Sugar shares 5 sweet Martha Stewart crafts for Mother’s Day.

Maya Made takes us on a …

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NEW! Handcrafted Wooden Baby Bowl and Spoon Set

The Wood Garden’s sustainably harvested, handcrafted maple baby spoon and bowl set is just the thing for little ones who are experiencing their first foods and for their parents, who can feed baby without worrying about toxins leaching from the bowl into the food.  Both spoon and bowl will double as toys for tea parties and imaginative play time — we can see …

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Kids’ Exposure to Toxins and Pollution Costs the U.S. $76.6 Billion Annually

According to new research published in the May issue of the journal “Health Affairs,” the health expenses of children who were sick due to toxic chemical exposure and air pollution, cost the United States a whopping $76.6 billion – and that was just in 2008 alone. The new research focuses on the costs related to lead poisoning, prenatal methylmercury exposure, childhood cancer, asthma, intellectual disability, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Principal findings of this research show that chemical factors in the environment continue to contribute greatly to childhood morbidity and quickly rising health care costs. Worse, it’s not as if we haven’t seen this coming.

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Slovenian Architect Transforms a Shipping Container Into a Temporary Classroom

Slovenian architect Jure Kotnik, recently provided a quick fix for a space shortage issue at a local kindergarten by transforming three steel shipping containers into a kid-friendly temporary building annex. Thanks to a trend in container architecture, shipping containers offer much more than a way to transport goods. Kotnik manufactures small container models named Conhouse to create instant housing for numerous applications, and here they work perfectly as a sustainable solution for a temporary classroom space for 14 children.

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Top Baby Names for 2010 Announced, Is a Nature Name Trend Coming Soon?

The US Social Security Administration announced the most popular baby names of 2010 yesterday and just like last year Jacob and Isabella are the number one boy and girl names. The rest of the list includes classics like Michael, William, Alexander, Emma and Emily, along with trendy new hits like Madison, Chloe, Jayden and Aiden. But what if you don’t want your child to end up in class with three other going by the same name? Are nature-inspired names a unique way to go? Read on to find out and to see the top 100 baby names for 2010.

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5 Ways to Enjoy Homegrown Vegetables With Your Family

Having a family vegetable garden requires a fair amount of work between planning, watering, and tending to your crops, but luckily you’ll reap some pretty fantastic rewards too. You can enjoy the fruits, or homegrown vegetables, of your labor with your family by cooking your crops and eating them together at mealtime. Even better, cooking, serving, and eating the vegetables that you and your family worked so hard to grow gives you a great opportunity to share new memories, creating a sweet video or snapping photos along the way. Read on for five fun ideas for enjoying your vegetables with your family.

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Citizens for Fire Safety Astroturfing Site Advocates Against Chemical-Free Furniture

Ah, brominated flame retardants, the chemicals that not only coat kids’ pajamas but also your TV, your couch cushions and mattress—even your baby’s bouncy seat. They’re probably the hardest household pollutant to keep away from babies and toddlers, who have been shown to have the highest levels accumulated in their little bodies from both ingesting household dust and from breastfeeding. In response to California’s attempt to allow consumers to buy healthy furniture free of these nasty chemicals, the bromine and flame retardant industry put up an astroturfing website, which features kids advocating fire safety.

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Rainbow Rain Garland for a Green Nursery

Add a little bright color, whimsy, and something fun for Baby to gaze at from her crib with the eco-friendly rainbow rain garland from Etsy designer BHBKidstyle. The three little blue clouds are crafted from recycled t-shirts and brilliantly stuffed with clean, shredded recycled plastic bags. We bet, if given the chance, your little one would love to get her hands on the rainbow-colored ribbons the second you decide not to hang it in the nursery any longer.

+ …

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HOW TO: Make a Recycled Wind Chime

One of my favorite parts of springtime is the many breezy, windy days that come with it. What could be sweeter than sitting outside on a warm spring day with the wind blowing through your hair and the birds chirping in the distance? Nothing -- except maybe the twinkling sound of a lovely little wind chime that your child made. I recently made a wind chime with my son and we have been enjoying the sweet music every afternoon. The best part is our simple wind chime is made using items from the recycling bin and found items in your home. Also, wouldn't a wind chime make a fun Mother's Day gift for Mom or Grandma? Read on to learn how your child can get started.

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GIVEAWAY: WIN a gDiapers gStyle Set + Green Diapers Worth $110

gDiapers just introduced their latest stylin’ green diaper solution — the gStyle collection of patterned gPants with adorable coordinating tops for boys and girls. Sure you love the ease of letting your little one run around in nothing more than a diaper in the spring and summer, but what if you have to leave the backyard? gStyle tops and bottoms coordinate to make dressing your tot easy peasy. Put on a green diaper (gStyle gPants are so much cuter than disposables!) and a top and you’re ready to roll. To celebrate this green diaper awesomeness gDiapers is giving away one gStyle gPant and your choice of either a coordinating camper tee or flutter dress. Plus, they’re throwing in 2 gPants and a package of gCloth refills just in case you’re not already hooked on gDiapers. The entire prize pack is worth $110. If you’re not familiar with the brand, read our review of the amazing flushable diapers so you can understand just how much you want to win this prize. Then, find out how to enter to win a gStyle set and starter kit after the jump.

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NEW! Green Eats BPA-free Kids Dishes by Green Toys

Green Toys is going from the playroom to the dining room with Green Eats, a new line of eco-friendly tableware for kids. We’re always psyched when we hear that Green Toys is coming out with something new. Whether it be the makings of a pizza parlor, stackers for the littlest of hands, or the latest vehicle for our junior construction crew workers, their products always …

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7 Creative Ways to Experience your Local Farm this Spring

Beyond simply stopping by to view the animals at your local farm, there are many other hands-on and creative activities you can do with your family -- and the spring is a great time to go. Visiting your local farm during the spring comes complete with baby animals, plus the weather is warming up and it's the perfect opportunity for outdoor learning time with your children. To get the most out of your springtime visit to the farm, you'll want to explore it with a different lens and look at your local farm as more than just a place that keeps animals and agriculture. Read on to learn seven creative ways to experience your local farm this spring with your family.

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Safe and Natural Pregnancy Symptom Soothers

Most women experience their fair share of aches and pains during pregnancy. That said, there's no reason to run straight to the medicine cabinet. There are many natural, safe and eco-friendly remedies for issues such as heartburn, dry skin, an achy back, morning sickness, headaches and more. Keep in mind that no one remedy works for all women. Also, use any remedy carefully. Natural doesn't always mean safe for everyone. Before using a pregnancy remedy, always run it by your midwife or doctor.

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GREEN BOOK REVIEW: The Green Mother Goose: Saving the World One Rhyme at a Time

Why is Old Mother Hubbard’s dog demanding organic, local food from the farmer’s market and beggings for tofu? Old, beloved nursery rhymes have gotten a new eco-friendly twist in Jan Peck and David Davis’s new book, The Green Mother Goose: Saving the World One Rhyme at a Time. Whether reading about how Jack nimbly turns off the tap and …

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7 Green Toy and Clothing Companies That Give Back

Buying new clothes and toys for babies and toddlers can be slightly overwhelming, even if you subtract all the shiny paints and talking electronic gadgets that most green parents avoid. Sure, those tiny tutus look adorable, but fast-growing kids seem to burst out them within days, and the toy that they were pining for on Monday is already lost in the toy chest by the weekend. While buying secondhand or doing clothing swaps are a great way to expand your kids’ wardrobes and toy collections, there are some great green companies to consider when buying new. Shelling out all that dough for new gear feels a little better when you know that the company is committed to giving back. Here are seven companies whose missions include benefiting a charity, striving for the highest in ethical and sustainable standards in production, and building communities, both here and across the globe.

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HOW TO: Make a Recycled Mother’s Day Greenhouse

Children love to surprise Mom on Mother's Day and what better way to surprise her then with a project that her children made all by themselves. This Mother's Day, your children can impress Mom with their gardening skills by surprising her with a miniature greenhouse. This simple project only requires a little help from Dad and everything that you need can be found in your recycling bin and gardening shed. This is a fun project for little kids because they have complete creative control and it is stable enough for them to carry it to give to Mom and help her move it from sunny windowsill to windowsill. Read on to learn how your child can brighten up Mother's Day while getting his green thumb dirty in the process.

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