We love Mary's Soft Dough so much...

that we are reviewing it again!

We first reviewed Mary's Softdough in March 2008. Arielle was 3 1/2, and Linnea was 16 months old. We loved it then, and we love it now.

Normally, I mix dough myself. But, sometimes I'm busy or I don't want to do the dishes or I need an emergency gift or something fun to pull out right away.

Mary's Softdough is just as healthy and natural as dough I make myself. It has the perfect dough texture and it smells good.

It is made of flour, water, salt, cream of tartar, soybean oil, food coloring (all stuff we have at home) and sodium benzoate (a food preservative that keeps it from getting moldy so it can be used for up to a year). It comes in so many colors and scents and even with sparkles.

The Playful Pink Glitter Softdough is the favorite here.



Mary's Softdough is available in a big, 18 oz,. rainbow tub ($8.95), big single color tubs ($9.95), and small 4 oz. single color tubs ($3.35 plain, $3.95 for glow in the dark or scented).

Linnea just came up to me, "Mommy, I'm good! Can I do play dough? Pease pease pease pease?" Playing with dough is one of her favorite things. And, now that she doesn't eat the dough, it means she stays in one place for an hour or so... long enough for me to write this.

Linnea does mush colors together. This drives Arielle nuts. If this is a problem for your children, I suggest a big, single color tub.



Hard at work.








Masterpieces.





Terrapin Toys offers a Soft Dough Tool Set ($7.95) for extra fun. Like the dough, the tool set is made in the USA. The girls love the roller and cookie cutters. Check out the squirrels.



We also like to use small kitchen utensils (an old garlic press is awesome, as are plastic pizza cutters), cookie cutters, blunt tip scissors, tiny plastic figurines and dinosaurs, toothpicks, textured rollers and sometimes small hammers and golf tees for dough-play variations.



You can purchase the whole line of Mary's Softdough products directly from Terrapin Toys.

Dolls from HABA, at Petit Baby

Every once in a while Arielle gets to choose the toy we review. After looking over all the wonderful toys on the Petit Baby website, this doll was her first choice. It was love at first sight. Once she saw the doll, nothing else would do.

HABA Lotta Soft Doll ($44.99)



And, since she is (usually)a nice big sister, she looked over the other dolls, and chose this doll for Linnea.

HABA Paola Soft Doll ($44.99)



When the dolls arrived, everyone was so happy. I knew these were 15" dolls, but I was still surprised at the large size. I was expecting something like Groovy Girls.


Linnea was thrilled to have "my big-girl" doll. She decided to rename her Anna.

Arielle stuck with the name Lotta since she can read boxes.

Both dolls have removable clothing and accessories, so of course the first things their new mommies did was undress them. The dolls have belly buttons! But no underpants.


And, then they dressed them again. No pants for Anna-Paola; like her Mommy, she believes that pants are "Yucky!"

Playing...






After a yummy dinner of wooden food, the mommies tucked their big-girl dollies in tightly. Goodnight, Lotta.


The dolls are made in China under HABA supervision. I think Arielle loves the funky hair and cool outfits - they look like clothes she'd pick out. I was impressed with the quality. These dolls are made to be loved and cuddled by little mommies and daddies who aren't always gentle.

They are a nice gift for the child who wants a "big kid" doll. Trendy-cool, but not inappropriate like some dolls out there.

Petit Baby has offered our readers 10% off all regularly priced items. The code is "Sara10", and the code can not be used on sales items. But, it can be used on Lotta, Paola (Anna) and their friends Amelie and Lukas.

Natural Pod, tree blocks and a coupon code

Natural Pod is a Canadian company offering beautifully natural toys for open-ended, imaginative play -- like Tree Blocks.

Tree Blocks ($29.95 CAD small set - $79.95 CAD large set, shown)



My older children, Merlin and Elspeth (now college students!), played with tree blocks when they were little. These tree blocks are made of kiln dried locally sourced alder with a wax finish. The ends are smooth, so no splinters. This set is unique in that it has half round pieces that work as beds, roofs, or bridges.

Even if you already have nice blocks, there is something about the natural feel of tree blocks that inspires a different type of more magical, nature-oriented play. They go well with animal figures or gnomes.

Gnomes ($3.50 CAD)



Natural Pod's tree blocks were just named one of the top ten eco-toys in North America.

Also, check out the sale prices on Fagus trucks!

Natural Pod has offered our readers 10% off until December 31, 2009. The code is "NPSaraTB09". Prices are in Canadian dollars, but Natural Pod does ship to the U.S. Currently one Canadian Dollar is equal to about 94 cents.

Ten Dollar Treasures

Ten toys for ten dollars or less. In support of handmade toys, these are all from Etsy.

1. Pocket Gnomes ($7.50)



These little gnomes from lillipilli are handmade out of wool and cotton. Each gnome is about 2 inches tall, just the right size to carry in a pocket or ride in a toy truck. They are available in a whole rainbow of colors. The gnomes are made in Australia, so leave extra time for shipping. I think they are the friendliest little gnomes I've seen.

2. Felt finger puppets($8 each)



Puppets are still such a big deal for Arielle, and these ones are so festive. The puppets are made of eco-felt or rayon/wool felt. Stayawake also has a very cool space set (not $10).

3. Modeling beeswax - citrus colors ($8.20)



Twinkle of my Eye makes modeling beeswax using local (British Columbia) beeswax, organic oil and non-toxic pigment. Beeswax can be challenging for younger children who are used to working with dough, but a lot of fun for older kids. The wax has to warm up in your hand, but then it is very flexible and it smells yummy. It's really not like dough at all, but a whole different modeling experience.

4. Wooly acorns ($10.00)



Little Seedling makes a variety of natural toys and super cute clothing for Waldorf doll. But, I have a thing for acorns. I bet all the imaginary squirrels out there are thinking these look awfully tasty. The acorns are made of felted wool attached to real acorn caps.

Mamaroots makes wooden acorns ($4.00)

5. Moondrop ($10.00)



Linnea has several of these. The dolls are very very soft and very cuddly and a good grasping size for little ones (4"). They deal well with toddler love, and are available in a rainbow of colors.

Moonchild Studio also makes the absolute cutest shoes for Waldorf dolls.

6. Wooden helicopter ($7.00)



Imagination Kids makes toys in Indiana using sustainably harvested wood, AP certified non-toxic paint, and homemade natural wood polish made from beeswax, jojoba oil, and essential oils. The helicopter is 3.5 inches by 5.25 inches, and is available in seven colors. Check out the small, but very cute rainbow stacker ($13.00).

7. Felted wool hedgehog ball ($10)



These fun hedgehog balls are made from 100% wool and are about 3" in diameter, so they fill a good section of stocking. In addition to felted toys, Beneath the Rowan Tree also sells bold, bright, beautiful play silks.

8.Teether ($10)



The husband-wife company Finns and Flowers makes natural toys from wood and wool in Maine. These three inch diameter teethers are finished with beeswax, and the bumpy texture is great for sore gums.

9. Secret Decoder ($9 for a set of two)



When I first married my husband, my youngest step-son was nine. He loved everything to do with spies. This secret decoder would have been a big deal. It uses a Caesar cipher and comes in a pair, so a friend can decode the message. Makes a great best-friend gift for eight to ten year olds.

Wood Toy Shop also has a large selection of wood vehicles under $10.

10. Felt cupcake ($8.00)



These cupcakes are big -- cupcake size. Arielle has a couple of Sugar Chic Baby cupcakes that are a few years old. Because they are so pretty, they are a favorite with visiting little girls.

Remember that this is Etsy, so if the listing is sold out, click on the store site as the item is often re-listed. Many Etsy artisans are great about doing custom work, so if you want something slightly different, send them a message with your ideas.

I noticed that many of my old favorite Etsy artisans are no longer selling their toys. Last year, I wrote about the CPSIA. Since then, I've learned a lot about American toy makers (both good and bad) and the difficulties they face. Many have gone out of business either because they cannot afford testing fees or because the law is so convuluted, it is hard to know if one is in compliance. To learn more about handmade toys and the CPSIA, visit the Handmade Toy Alliance.

Fun with Story Time Felts

Story Time Felts are felt board stories, accessories, dress-up dolls, masks, puppets and other felt games ans materials meant to encourage learning and imaginative play. They are all made in the Utah out of pre-shrunk felt printed with non-toxic, colorfast inks.

Arielle and Linnea tried out the Jenny and Rosa girl dolls with precut clothes ($27.98, $22.98 uncut clothes, extra doll $5.99). One set of clothes was more than enough for two dolls.

Arielle shows off Jenny. She is all dressed up for a fancy party.



There's an excellent variety of clothes. Everything from Halloween costumes to sports clothes to ballet outfits and everyday wear.



Here's a close-up. All the clothes have such bright colors. That has to do with the heat printing process. And, they are washable. Sets of career clothes, international clothes and vintage clothes are also available.



My girls adore paper dolls. I don't like that paper dolls always seem to lose their bits. "Mommy her hand fell off!" Or, they have complicated slots for attaching the clothes. "Help me! I can't get this on."

I like the simplicity and sturdiness of these dolls.

Rosa is getting ready for softball practice.



Jenny has a more dressy style.



Additional outfits ($12.99-$21.98 per set). We definitely need the international set for Christmas ;o)





Story Time Felts offers a huge variety of felt products. I stole this picture of the Three Little Pigs story set from the website ($77.99 for large felt board, CD and 5 stories). This would be a unique and fun way of telling interactive bedtime stories, and would also be great in a home school classroom. There are several sections of educational boards as well.



Check out the dinosaur set! ($50.99 with precut pieces)

The board is a big 23"x31". What a great gift for a dinosaur-obsessed four year old (or 40 year old).





There are so many more wonderful toys and learning activities on the site. Lots and lots! Check them out!

Yes, girls love firetrucks! And, this one is so cool.

Arielle loves fire trucks. Daddy is a volunteer firefighter and going to the firehouse to sit in the trucks is their special thing. Ever since she saw the Wooden Fire Truck ($47.95) on the Down To Earth Toys website, she has not stopped talking about it. So, she was particularly happy to have a chance to review this toy.

We love Down to Earth Toys because Down to Earth Toys specializes in offering high quality natural toys, organic toys and especially toys made in the USA. The firetruck is made in the USA by Montgomery Schoolhouse.

These are good, solid trucks (almost three pounds, so not for hitting your sister on the head, please!) made of durable, hardwood American maple. The truck is labeled Mongomery Fire Dept. Engine #1. It includes two removable ladders and two yellow firefighters for lots of firefighting play. And the bright red color and painted details come from non-toxic paints and finishes.

Arielle especially liked taking the "people" in and out and making them climb up ladders. She had a complicated scenario with the firefighters from the truck rescued some other little peg people and puppets. When I asked her about the firetruck, she said "It is a good toy, and kids should like it."

Arielle wasn't available for pictures, but, fortunately, Mulan said she'd help out :0)








Linnea says "I wuv firetwucks, too! Firetwucks are fun!" "


Thank you so much, Down to Earth Toys.