CITRUS LANE Review: October 2013 5-Yr-Old Gender Neutral

We have been subscribing to Citrus Lane for a few months now and I have really been enjoying the boxes.  This is a subscription service for kids 0-5.  It has given me the chance to discover new products that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

We changed our subscription from "Boy" to "Gender Neutral" this month.  Here is what is in the October box:

The first item in the box was a blue/green "Dreamz to Go Octo" from Cloud B. (makers of the Dream Turtle)  This is very cute and my son was charmed by it.  It projects stars and fish on the walls and can light up in either a blue or green color. It automatically turns off after 45 minutes. While I love the nightlight idea, my son has never used a nightlight and this seems a little young for him. Still, I doubt he will give it up . Retail price: $19.95

The second item was some BOPS organic chips. I love finding new organic snack options so I am looking forward to trying this one.  Retail price:  about 75 cents

The third item was a harmonica from HOHNER KIDS.  This is a really nice harmonica. Much nicer than the cheap one I bought at Pier One awhile ago.  The sound is really nice.  Retail Price: about $10.00

The fourth item was a copy of LADYBUG magazine. I love kid magazines like these.  This one is especially for ages 3-6.  A print subscription would be 9 issues for $33.95 or about $3.75 per issue.  It also came with a coupon code for three free digital issues.  A value of about $6.

Retail value of the box:  $40.45

This wasn't my favorite box.  Probably my favorite item is the harmonica.  The nightlight is adorable but felt a little young for my child.  The magazine is nice but we don't have a digital reader so we won't be using the free digital issues. Still, it is always fun to get a box.  Can't wait to see what November brings!!!

If you would like to order your own subscription, follow this link for $10 off!

Citrus Lane September 2013: 5-yr-old Boy

We got our Citrus Lane box today and it was a fun one. Even had something for me!

The add-on this time was an Aden + Anais blanket. We used the muslin wraps A LOT when Noodlebug was a baby. I tell people all the time that I continue to find uses for those blankets even though he is 5 now.  This time, I ordered a Dream Blanket as an add-on.  Noodlebug is quite the aesthete and loves comfort.  He immediately wrapped up in his new blanket:

We have another Dream Blanket for the car that is perfect for cold Winter mornings.  I was hoping this one could be for the other car but I'm not sure he will give it up. This blanket was about $31.  The retail price is usually about $49.95.

Here is a look at the other goodies:

1. We always love getting books in our boxes!  One of the hints this month was a Charley Harper picture and I was hoping our book would feature Charley Harper but this one featuring Alexander Girard is also charming.  Retail price: $16.95

2. Two Bamboo Cars from Hape Toys --We have had many HAPE toys over the years. I love their sustainable focus and these cars will be fun.  Retail price: $6.99 each

3. 3.4 oz Peaceful Bubble from Episencial--We are HUGE Episencial fans and were out of bubbles so this came at the perfect time!!!  Retail Price: approx $1.50

4. Something for mom!  Nail color from JULEP in a fun Fall color.  Retail Price: $14.00

Approximate value of box: $46.43

I thought this box had some really fun items in it and I can't wait to try the nail color.We are so enjoying Citrus Lane and I hope they start offering boxes for older children!

Citrus Lane August 2013: 5-Yr-Old Boy

Hooray! We got our August Citrus Lane box. I think this was a really good one!

FabKids is a subscription clothing service similar to StyleMint.  It automatically bills you $39.95 for a three-piece outfit each month.  In this month's box, we got a code for a free outfit but it automatically subscribes you to the service. If I don't want to continue, I'll have to remember to cancel.  Retail value:  $39.95

We love Annie's Organics! This is going in my son's lunch!  Retail value:  about 88 cents

An adorable pirate puzzle from Barefoot Books. I am very familiar with this puzzle because I am a Barefoot Books Ambassador!  We love their products!!!  Retail value: $14.99

I love carrying hand wipes like these in my car.  And I love that they are alcohol-free.  Retail value: about $4.50

These Ouchies Jr. "band-aids" feature images from Jon Scieszka's TRUCKTOWN book which we own and love.  Adorable!!!  Retail value: $5.00

This cute travel activity book comes with high quality Faber-Castell markers. My son started using it right away!  Retail value: about $10.00

I loved this box. I thought it had great variety.  I can't wait to try all the products.  Approximate retail value of box:  $75.00

I'm not sure if I'm going to redeem the oufit because I haven't had much success with websites that do subscription clothing services. Still, it's a neat idea.

Citrus Lane Review: July 2013

It always feels like Christmas when we receive our Citrus Lane box!  We subscribe to the 5-yr-old boy box.  You can tailor your subscription by age and gender or even choose a gender-neutral box.  There are boxes for ages 0-5.  I enjoy this particular subscription box because it introduces us to fun new products every month.  And I love the emphasis on natural products.  This month, I decide to do an add-on and bought this wet/dry bag. I had been wanting to get one for awhile to put wet swimsuits in and thought this was a good opportunity.

I paid $16 for this Bumkins wet/dry bag.  I had looked at ones for $19-$20 online.  I didn't get any special deal with this one but I didn't have to pay for shipping.

Then, we got a credit for ten free Postagrams with the Sincerely Inc app.

As far as I can tell, this is worth about $9.90.  But it's something new and fun that I didn't know about before.

Next up, Me4Kidz Cool It Buddy.  I wish I had had this when Noodlebug hit his head on concrete last week!

This item retails for about $3.00 but it is something I think we'll really use.

Next, we have a Melissa and Doug Decorate-Your-Own Race Car.  Noodlebug is really excited to try this one!

This item retails for about $5.  It is definitely something we'll have fun making.

Next, freeze-dried banana snack from Just Tomatoes.

This item retails for about $1.50 and will be perfect for Noodlebug's lunches or a snack on the go.

Next, a bento "Bynto" box from Goodbyn!

I am always looking for more sustainable ways to do lunches so I was really excited about this one!  It has a great little handle on top so the whole thing doubles as its own lunchbox. It retails for about $9.50.

Along with the "bynto" box, we got some Goodbyn dishwasher-safe stickers to decorate the box with.

Noodlebug will have so much fun decorating the box with these stickers! These retail for about $3.50.

All in all, I thought it was a really fun box full of things we will definitely use.  Especially with school coming up.  The retail value of this box was about $32.40.  We pay $26.81 per month for the box but I still think it was worth it.  Some months you come out ahead on the value of the box and sometimes you break even.  But we ALWAYS enjoy the surprise.  If you would like to try Citrus Lane and receive $10 off your first box, follow this affiliate link. Already looking forward to next month's box! Hope it has a "back to school" theme!

Citrus Lane Review: June 2013

This is my second Citrus Lane box.  I have to say that it is a lot of fun for Noodlebug and I to get these boxes.  We subscribe to the 5-yr-old Boy box.

Citrus Lane offers a monthly subscription box of items for children ages 0-5.  You can tailor your box to boy, girl or gender neutral. The boxes are $25 per month for a monthly subscription.


This month's box had a "fun in the sun" theme. 

The first thing I pulled out was a Crocodile Creek space-themed water bottle. This water bottle retails for $11.99.

Then, I pulled out a Mole Hand set from Haba.  This will be perfect for digging in the sand at the beach this Summer. The set retails for $6.00.

Next, there was a full-size Top to Toe Body Wash from Bathtime Kids.  Perfect timing because we were all out of body wash. This wash retails for $15.95.

Finally, there was a trial-size Sunny Sunscreen from Episencial. We love Episencial products so I am always happy to get anything by them.  Since this size was specially made for Citrus Lane, I figured out its worth based on the cost per ounce listed on Amazon. I came up with $6.59.

The box usually comes with about four items and list of discount codes for buying more.  I'd say this box's value was about $40. And these are all things that we will definitely use.  The water bottle will be great for the new school year. 

If you'd like to try Citrus Lane, follow any of the links within this post to get $10 off your first box!  I'm already looking forward to the next box!

Citrus Lane Review: May 2013 for Five-Year-Old Boy

We got our first Citrus Lane box last week.  I decided to take advantage of a discount code and got our first box for $13.41.  I wish I had known about this when Noodlebug was younger.  Citrus Lane is a subscription box service that sends an assortment of age-appropriate goodies for children each month.  It covers ages birth through 5.  We just squeezed in!

I'm happy that our first box arrived close to Noodlebug's birthday.  In the first box we received:

1. A sample size of Barbara's Bakery organic Snackimal cereal  (retail 50 cents)

2.  Some Sunny Patch Gardening Gloves  (retail $5)

3. Barefoot Books' GIGANTIC TURNIP book and CD  (retail $17)

4. Green Toys Planting Kit  (retail $6)

5. Clean Well Disinfecting spray and Deep Steep lavender moisturizing balm  (retail $7 and $4)

The retail price of the contents was close to $40 and I really liked everything we got. I appreciate the inclusion of an organic sample.  We LOVE Green Toys and pulled on the gloves and planted the seeds in our pot right away. Our favorite item was definitely the book.  Book and CD combos are big in our house.  All in all, I would say I really enjoyed this box.  I like how the box had a gardening theme.  Looking forward to the next one already.

You can choose not only the age range of the box but also whether you would like it tailored for a girl, a boy or gender neutral.  Cool idea!

If you would like to try Citrus Lane, follow this link to get $10 off your first order!