Citrus Lane review - May 2015

Olivia got her Citrus Lane box last week, I've been pretty busy so it took me a while to get around to this post. Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for babies/toddlers. You pay a certain price per month depending on how long you want to subscribe (it’s cheaper for the longer subscriptions). Every month you receive four to five items for your child and sometimes something for you as well. The boxes are age and gender appropriate (or you can pick neutral). This box is for a 27 month old girl.

Everything Olivia got in her May Citrus Lane box.

 

Hape sand toys: These are really cute and we don't have many sand toys so I'm glad we got this set. It comes with three ice cream cones, three bowls, a scoop and a bucket to carry it all in. I can't wait to go to the beach now, I'm sure these toys will keep Liv busy. We also have some kinetic sand at home, so this will be perfect for a rainy day too. Retails for: $4.99

 

 

Tea Collection dress: I think this dress is so adorable! I love the colors and the print but I was disappointed to see that they sent a size 3T. Olivia is tiny, she still wears 24 months and 2T (which is a little big on her). She wont be able to wear this dress until next year. I wish they had let me pick the size but this wasn't the item we got to customize, which doesn't make much sense to me. I ended up emailing Citrus Lane about it and they are sending me a new one, I wasn't expecting that so I'm really excited. I am very pleased with the customer service and I decided to add on another two months because of it. Retails for: $29.50 (Wow!)

 

 

Goodbyn portions to go: I was so glad we got this because I've been meaning to buy her some snack containers for daycare. This is the item we got to customize, the choices were purple or green. I love the color and they are really sturdy. The two smaller containers are perfect for Liv's snacks, I've been using them a lot. Retails for: $14.95

 

Plum Organics mighty sticks: These snacks will be great to throw in Olivia's lunch bag. They are organic and made with fruits and vegetables. Olivia has been super picky lately so I'm not sure if she will like them but it's always possible. Retails for: <$2

 

 

I really liked the box this month, the dress was my favorite! The total value of this box is about $51, a really great value. I used coupon codes and only paid about $15, so I'm very impressed this month. If you're interested in getting a Citrus Lane subscription for your child, you can use my referral link to get 50% off your first box - Melissa's CL referral. Please keep in mind that it's a subscription so make sure you cancel after your receive your boxes or you will be charged again.

NatureBox review - April 2015

NatureBox is a subscription box for healthy snacks, there are no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors in the snacks that they send. I got the trial box a while ago and I liked it so I decided to try the three month subscription. If you decide to pay monthly, it's $19.95 per month and slightly cheaper if you prepay for 3, 6 or 12 months. They also donate one meal for every box they deliver through Feeding America®, which is awesome. I was really excited because this time I got to pick my snacks. There were so many to choose from, I wanted to try it all! It was hard to narrow it down to just five.

Dark Cocoa Almonds - I ate the whole bag of these within a few days. They were really addicting, salty and sweet is my favorite combination so I knew these would be a hit. I would pick this snack again.

White Truffle Popcorn - This popcorn is so yummy! I had some of it already but I am going to save the rest of it for movie night. I would pick this again but there's a few other popcorn flavors that I want to try first.

Strawberry Greek Yogurt Pretzels - These were my favorite! Olivia and I ate these within a few hours, she loved them just as much as I did. I would definitely pick these again, I already added them to my box for next month.

Big Island Pineapple - I was overly excited to try this and I was slightly disappointed. For some reason I was expecting it to be crunchy but it was vey chewy, I don't think I would pick this again.

French Toast Granola - I liked this, I add it to my yogurt and it's pretty good. I don't think I would get it again just because I don't eat yogurt much and that's the only way I like granola.

Pineapple Coconut Bar - This was an add on snack, I added it to the box for $1. I didn't like it, I love pineapples and I love coconuts but this just tasted gross to me. I wouldn't pick this again.

All in all, I liked the box. Most of the snacks were really good and I'm excited to get my next box.

Citrus Lane review - April 2015

Olivia got her box pretty early this month, I wonder if they were trying to make up for last months shipping delay. Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for babies/toddlers. You pay a certain price per month depending on how long you want to subscribe (it’s cheaper for the longer subscriptions). Every month you receive four to five items for your child and sometimes something for you as well. The boxes are age and gender appropriate (or you can pick neutral). This box is for a 26 month old girl.

Everything Olivia got in her April Citrus Lane box.

 

Green Toys flower set: I was so excited to get this for Olivia! It comes with a bunch of little flowers, leaves and stems that you can build and arrange to your hearts desire. I think it's a really fun/cute toy and she will love it, I kind of want to play with it myself. I love Green Toys, they make their toys out of recycled milk jugs and they don't contain any BPA, PVC, phthalates or coatings. This is only half the set so the price is just an estimate. Retails for: $14

 

 

Eco Kids finger paint mix: I saw spoilers (per usual) and I was hoping we would get this, it's finger paint mix. All you have to do is add water, we can use just what we need and save the rest, this will last us a while. I'm sure Olivia will love to get messy with it, she has never used finger paints before. We got two colors, blue and yellow. The mix is just white so it will be interesting to see it change into a pretty color. The ingredients are food-based (carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, etc.) so that's pretty cool. It's also supposedly easy to clean up but I'm sure Olivia will test the limits on that.  Retails for: $8

 

 

Barefoot Books - If You're Happy and You Know It: We haven't gotten a book in our box since December so I was happy to see this. The cover is so bright and happy, I love it. The book is basically just the song, the last page has different kids from around the world saying hello in their own language. I'll read this to Liv but I'll have to keep it out of her reach since it's a paperback. She hasn't ripped any books in a while but she still might be a little rough with it. It also comes with a CD, I was teasing Paul and told him that we should bring it with us on our road trip to South Carolina. I said we could just play it on repeat for Liv, he gave me a dirty look so I guess that's a no. Seriously though, I'm going to bring this in my car and play it for her, I think she will like it (even though I might not). Retails for: $8

 

 

My Super Cookies whole grain cookie - Chocolate heroes: I used to hate getting snacks for Liv but now I like it. She eats much better now and the snacks they send us are usually quite tasty. These cookies don't exactly taste like chocolate to me but they are still pretty good. Liv had one and seemed to like it, I packed the rest in her lunch box for tomorrow. They are whole grain and made with some healthy ingredients (quinoa, chia, flax, super fruits, etc.) so that's always a plus! Retails for: <$1

 

 

This box was great, I am really happy with it! I'm glad we got it earlier than we usually do because I am so impatient. The total value of this box is about $31, not a great value if you're paying the full $29 per month. I used coupon codes and only paid about $15, so it's not a big deal to me. My subscription runs out next month and I still don't know if we will continue or not. We don't really need extra toys or books but I still think t's fun. I also love discovering new products but lately they have been sending a lot of items from the same companies. I have had Citrus Lane for over a year so that's probably why but I wish they would start introducing some new brands. Anyway, If you're interested in getting a Citrus Lane subscription for your child, you can use my referral link to get 50% off your first box - Melissa's CL referral. Please keep in mind that it's a subscription so make sure you cancel after your receive your boxes or you will be charged again.

Nibblr review

Nibblr is a subscription box for snacks, you get four portion controlled trays and you can choose how often you get a box (weekly, biweekly or monthly). You pay $6.99 per box, you can also pay for four or twelve boxes at a discounted price. You don't get to choose which snacks you get but you can rate them and they will send you snacks that you will likely enjoy. 

 

Nibblr box. I love the packaging.

 

Olive You - Mini crisps with pumpkin seeds, dates and olives: I honestly thought I was going to hate these. They aren't terrible but they definitely weren't my favorite. I have more of a sweet tooth and these are quite savory. They have a strong olive taste and they are very crunchy. I don't think I would pick to have these sent to me again but I did eat a few.

 

Cocoa Nuts - Dark chocolate almonds and coconut flakes: I knew I was going to like these, you can't go wrong with chocolate and coconut. I've been on a coconut kick lately so I had to try this snack first and I was excited. It was very yummy and I ate the entire box, this is where the portion control comes in handy. The only issue I have with this one is that it's high in saturated fat so for that reason, I wouldn't pick this one again.

 

Stuck on Flax - Pretzel bites dipped in honey and coated in flax: These are a great combination of salty and sweet. I ate the whole box pretty quick. They were my favorite snack in the box and luckily they are low in saturated fat. I would totally buy these again.

 

Ginger Paradise - Ginger brittle, coconut slivers and graham cookies: I didn't really like this one. At first I did but then it started tasting weird to me. I think I would have liked it if the brittle was a different flavor, the ginger was too strong for me. The graham cookies were pretty good though.

 

It also came with this cute poster.

"Life's too short to be hangry."

 

This wasn't my favorite snack box, I've liked others a little better but it wasn't terrible either. I'm not going to continue with my subscription mostly because I'm trying to eat a bit healthier these days. I love trying new subscription boxes though, It's always fun!

Citrus Lane review - March 2015

There were some major shipping delays this month but we finally got our box today. Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for babies/toddlers. You pay a certain price per month depending on how long you want to subscribe (it’s cheaper for the longer subscriptions). Every month you receive four to five items for your child and sometimes something for you as well. The boxes are age and gender appropriate (or you can pick neutral). This box is for a 25 month old girl.

Everything Olivia got in her March Citrus Lane box.

 

Begin Again elephant family puzzle: My first impression was "ugh, another puzzle" but this one is a little different from what we currently own. Olivia is getting to be a pro at all her chunky puzzles so when I gave her this one, it was a challenge. I sat with her and helped her put it together (about ten times). She seems to like it but it might take her a while to be able to do it on her own. I think this puzzle will be a great stepping stone to jigsaw puzzles (for toddlers of course). It's also good quality, the wooden pieces are really thick and sturdy so she would have a hard time destroying it. Retails for: $13

 

 

North American Bear Co. goody bag - bunny: This is kind of a repeat for us. I got Livy a mystery box a few months ago and it came with the poodle goody bag. When I saw this, I was thinking about how she never plays with the poodle version so I might as well sell this one. Low and behold I walk into the living room and she had the poodle bag around her arm with her play cell phone in it. After seeing that, I decided that I will just add this to her Easter basket. It's actually pretty cute and soft, she loves bunny rabbits so I think she will love it. Retails for: $12

 

 

Baby Bow Tie barrette: This is the item that I got to pick this month. I wanted to pick one that would match her Easter dress but I didn't know what she would be wearing at the time so I decided on the pink. She has a lot of pink in her wardrobe so I figured we would get the most use out of this one. She actually wore it today for her picture with the Easter bunny (I will post about that soon). It's a pretty good sized bow, it looked big on Liv. She usually wears the little mini bows in her hair but she looked adorable with this one on. I love the design and the back of the clip is velvet so it stayed in place really well. She tried taking it out a few times but somehow it lasted until we got home. Retails for: $12.95

 

Back to Nature mini chocolate chunk cookies: Our card actually says we should have gotten the honey graham sticks. We have gotten those before and they were really good but I am so glad we got the cookies instead. I've seen people get these before and I've been eyeing them for a while now. I'm pretty obsessed with cookies (my husband likes to make fun of me for that) so I couldn't wait to try these. I gave them to Olivia and secretly hoped that she wouldn't like them. She loved them but she shared a few with me so I was happy. They are so delicious! I have to find out where I can get more because I need these in my life. They are also made with good ingredients, no artificial preservatives or high fructose corn syrup, always a plus. Retails for: $1.25

 

 

When I was looking through spoilers, I was hoping that Liv would get the box with the animal magnets and snack container but I like this box for the most part. I was frustrated that there was a shipping delay but I'm glad that they e-mailed me to let me know about the issue. The total value of this box is about $39, I feel like that's a higher value than I've seen in a while. I used coupon codes and only paid about $15, so right now I'm satisfied. I really can't see myself paying $29 for these boxes though. My subscription runs out in two months and I'm starting to think about if we will continue with this or not. I've really enjoyed getting these boxes for Liv but our living room is starting to get a bit cluttered. Anyway, If you're interested in getting a Citrus Lane subscription for your child, you can use my referral link to get 50% off your first box - Melissa's CL referral. Please keep in mind that it's a subscription so make sure you cancel after your receive your boxes or you will be charged again.



Citrus Lane review - February 2015

We got our box a little later than usual this month but better late than never. Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for babies/toddlers. You pay a certain price per month depending on how long you want to subscribe (it’s cheaper for the longer subscriptions). Every month you receive four to five items for your child and sometimes something for you as well. The boxes are age and gender appropriate (or you can pick neutral). This box is for a 24 month old girl.

Everything Olivia got in her February Citrus Lane box.

 

Skip Hop Zoo Lunchie - ladybug: This is the item that I got to pick this month. Olivia already has the ladybug backpack so now she has the matching lunchie to go with it. The other animals were really cute too, I love the Skip Hop zoo stuff! This is adorable but we probably wont use it that much right now. I think it will come in handy when Liv is a bit older. It's really great quality and it's also insulated. Retails for: $14

 

Alex Hoops for the Tub: I saw a lot of spoilers this month for Liv's age group and everyone was getting Boon links or Boon pieces. I am so glad we didn't get those because they would have been repeats for us. I was hoping we would get this, I actually almost got it for Liv with our Pampers reward points and now I'm glad I didn't. She wanted me to open it right away, she was throwing the balls around and playing with them. Today I actually put it in the bath for her and she kept putting the balls in the hoop and taking them out, it kept her busy for a while. She has a lot of other bath toys but I think she started to get bored of them because we haven't gotten anything new in a while, we got this at the perfect time. Retails for: $10

YumEarth sour beans: These are little sour jelly beans and they are all natural. There aren't any artificial dyes in them, they are also gluten free, fat free, nut free and soy free. Olivia doesn't have any known allergies so I don't look for this kind of stuff much. I tried a few and they are actually pretty good. They aren't too sour and they are smaller than other jelly beans. I normally don't give Olivia sticky candy but once in a while isn't a big deal, I think she will like these. Retails for: $1.49 per bag

Stephen Joseph Little squirts - ladybug: It's interesting that we got another ladybug product, it matches her lunchie and ladybugs are so cute. This drink pouch is freezable and dishwasher safe. I haven't given this to Liv yet but I tried it out and I have a few issues with it. It took me over a minute to get the top off, maybe I'm just weak but I doubt a child could do it. Also, it doesn't seem to leak when the top is on but once opened and turned upside down, the water just pours out. Olivia is still a toddler so turning something upside down is inevitable. This might be great for when she's older but I don't think it will work well for us right now. It's not a big deal though, I rather get things that are too old for her than too young. She will eventually be able to use it. Retails for: $4.99

This box was pretty good, I really like the lunchie and hoops for the tub. The jelly beans will be a special treat and the drink pouch will be useful eventually. The total value of this box is about $32, not a great value this month if you are paying the full $29. I used coupon codes and only paid about $15 so I am happy with it. My subscription ran out this month and I was going to cancel but they offered me another three months at $15 per month so I decided to continue it (for now at least). Anyway, If you're interested in getting a Citrus Lane subscription for your child, you can use my referral link to get 50% off your first box - Melissa's CL referral. It's a subscription so make sure you cancel after your receive your boxes or you will be charged again.

Citrus Lane review - January 2015

It's officially been one year since we first started getting Citrus Lane boxes and I still love it! I think it's the anticipation of wondering what we will get, it's just really fun. Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for babies/toddlers. You pay a certain price per month depending on how long you want to subscribe (it’s cheaper for the longer subscriptions). Every month you receive four to five items for your child and sometimes something for you as well. The boxes are age and gender appropriate (or you can pick neutral). This box is for a 23 month old girl.

Everything Olivia got in her January Citrus Lane box.
 

Petit Collage Beginner Puzzle Set - Pets: This puzzle is adorable! I really love this brand too, all the stuff they make is so cute. These little puzzles are great because they each have a different amount of pieces (3, 4, 5 & 6) so Olivia can start with the easiest and then move on to the next when she's ready. I'm glad we got the pets version because she's slightly obsessed with cats and bunnies. I'm not quite sure if she will be able to figure these out yet so I am going to save them for Easter. I love getting stuff like this because I rarely have to buy presents now, it makes life a little easier. Retails for: $14

 

 

JJ Rabbit Cuppie: Hmm, not sure if Liv is ready for an open cup yet. Judging from the way she drinks from her straw cup (she hurls it around and turns it upside down), I might hold off on this. My plan is to give this to her in the Spring when she is playing outside, at least if when she spills it everywhere it wont matter. She needs practice and outside seems much easier to me. Anyway, the cup is pretty sturdy and I think it will hold up well. There is also a cute little rabbit inside of it, I'm not sure if this will help her drink faster to see the rabbit or if she will decide to just dump out her drink to see it. Retails for: $8.99

 

 

Eco-Kids Eco-Dough: Olivia is not a fan of play-doh and she doesn't seem to be much of a fan of this stuff either. It's great that it's made from natural ingredients and is safe for her to play with. Although, I still wouldn't want her to eat it (obviously). When I first let her hold it, she put it up to her lips and said "mmm", so I had to let her know that it was not food. After that, she wasn't interested. She did have fun taking off the lid and putting it back on (ten times) though. It has sort of a weird smell to it but it still doesn't smell as bad as play-doh. Retails for: $8 (estimate.)

 

B4 Products To Go Hand Sanitizer Packs: I can't believe this actually counts as an item. This is just a sample pack of hand sanitizer. I guess it's because the other three items cost a bit more. Oh well, I'm sure I'll use these at some point. I will say that It's pretty awesome that this company gives 50% of their profits to children-focused causes. Retails for: < $1

 

 

I didn't really love this box but it's not bad, the puzzle is my favorite and the cup may come in handy soon. The total value is about $32, not a great value this month. Luckily I got a six moth subscription (running out next month) and with coupons, I paid about $15 per month so I'm happy with it for that price. Although I have to say that I really miss all the coupons and deals that Citrus Lane used to have, they haven't been doing that as much and I'm bummed about it. Anyway, If you're interested in getting a Citrus Lane subscription for your child, you can use my referral link to get 50% off your first box - Melissa's CL referral. It's a subscription so make sure you cancel after your receive your boxes or you will be charged again.

Citrus Lane review - December 2014

Liv got her Citrus Lane box today. Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for babies/toddlers. You pay a certain price per month depending on how long you want to subscribe (it’s cheaper for the longer subscriptions). Every month you receive four to five items for your child and sometimes something for you as well. The boxes are age and gender appropriate (or you can pick neutral). This box is for a 22 month old girl.

Everything Olivia got in her December Citrus Lane box.
 

Melissa & Doug alphabet nesting and stacking blocks: I was disappointed to see these at first because Liv already has tons of stacking toys but these are pretty nice. Melissa and Doug is an awesome brand, the quality is great. You can stack or nest them and the colors are so bright, I love them! There are letters and pictures on all the sides so that will be great when it's time for Liv to learn the alphabet. I'm glad we got these and I think Livy will really like them. Retails for: $11.99
 

 

Green Toys stockpot and utensils: We got this at the perfect time! I was up till 2am the other night putting together Olivia's play kitchen. I wont be giving it to her until Christmas but I wanted it to be assembled before I wrapped it, that way she can enjoy it right after she opens it. Anyway, this will go great with her kitchen, I know she will love it! The pots and pans that actually came with her kitchen are kind of cheap looking, these are much more sturdy. She loves playing with stuff like this at the library so it will be a big hit. Retails for: $8.00 (estimate)

 

 

Chronicle - Little Pea book: I love this book, it's adorable! It's about a little pea that only likes to eat vegetables but his parents want him to eat more candy. The illustrations are great and the story is super cute. This is actually the item that I got to pick so I knew we were getting it. I'm going to save it until I think Olivia is ready to handle paperback books, I don't want her to rip it apart. Retails for: $7.99

Juice Beauty green apple age defy moisturizer: More lotion, sigh. This smells great but I really don't need anymore and I still have the Juice Beauty moisturizer we got last time. It's not a total waste though, I gave it to my mom, she likes it.  Retails for: $12.00

 

 

Even though there were only three items for Liv this month, I still like this box because everything is high quality. The total value of this box is about $40. That is a great value (my prices might be slightly off). I got a six moth subscription and with coupons, I paid about $15 per month so it's definitely worth it to me. If you're interested in getting a Citrus Lane subscription for your child, you can use my referral link to get 50% off your first box - Melissa's CL referral. It's a subscription so make sure you cancel after your receive your boxes or you will be charged again.

Citrus Lane review - November 2014

It took a while this month but Liv finally got her Citrus Lane box today. Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for babies/toddlers. You pay a certain price per month depending on how long you want to subscribe (it’s cheaper for the longer subscriptions). Every month you receive four to five items for your child and sometimes something for you as well. The boxes are age and gender appropriate (or you can pick neutral). This box is for a 21 month old girl.

Everything Olivia got in her November Citrus Lane box.

 

Melissa & Doug chunky puzzle:  This is the item we got to pick this month. All the choices were really cute, I almost picked the ballerina but I liked the mermaid a little better. The flash wasn't working on my camera when I took this picture so you can't tell but the colors are so bright and pretty! I really like Melissa & Doug toys, they are great quality. Even though Olivia has a lot of puzzles, I'm still glad we got this. I'm going to stash it away for her birthday, it's for ages 2+ anyway so it will be a nice little gift for her. Retails for: $9.99

 

 

Plan Toys veggie play set:  I love these, they are adorable and I can't wait to give them to Liv (another toy I'm saving for Christmas). It will be fun to see her pretend to cut veggies and cook them. We got her a play kitchen for Christmas and I wanted to buy some play food to go along with it anyway so it's perfect timing. Retails for: $10.00 (Just an estimate, the whole set comes with five veggies and a cutting board.) 

 

 

Barefoot Books - Bear Takes A Trip:  This is a really nice book but I feel like we have so many right now. Olivia has only been letting me read her certain books lately so I decided that I'm gifting this one. I definitely don't mind getting them though. Retails for: $6.99

 

Annie's snack mix:  These are yummy. Livy likes the cheddar bunnies and I like the pretzels. I don't mind getting snacks in the boxes but I don't think they should count as an item (it's more like a sample). In my eyes, we only got three things this month but they are a little more expensive so I guess it evens out. Retails for: <$1

 

 

Add ons: I got both of my add ons practically for free this month (thanks to credits and coupon codes). The Boon fleet bath boats are a little young for Liv but I got them as a gift for a friends baby, they are really cute and sturdy. We already have the Zoli bot cup in pink but the straw is starting to fall apart so I was very excited to see the purple one. Sippy cups were a challenge for us so we went right to straw cups and this one is awesome because no matter how Olivia tilts the cup, she is still able to drink from it. Even though it leaks from time to time and the straw only lasted for 6 months, I would still recommend it. I'm pretty sure you can buy replacement straws too.

 

 

I loved the box this month and I can't wait to give Olivia the toys! The total value of this box is about $28. Not a great value this month (but maybe my prices are a bit off). I also think the items we got are really cute and good quality, enough to overlook the value (for this month at least). I got a six month subscription and with coupons, I paid about $15 per month so it's still worth it to me. If you're interested in getting a Citrus Lane subscription for your child, you can use my referral link to get 50% off your first box - Melissa's CL referral. It's a subscription so make sure you cancel after your receive your boxes or you will be charged again.



NatureBox review

NatureBox is a subscription box for healthy snacks, there are no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors in the snacks that they send. I was able to find a deal and get my first box for free! I was pretty excited because I've been wanting to try NatureBox for a while. A subscription is $19.95 per month or cheaper if you prepay for 3, 6 or 12 months. They also donate one meal for every box they deliver through Feeding America®, which is awesome. Before I got my box, I was drooling over all the snacks on their site. You can either pick what you want or let them surprise you, I chose the latter.

All the yummy snacks!

 

Cashew Crumble - I am so glad that they gave me this one as my full size snack. It was basically just cashews mixed with cookies but it was so good! I'm not embarrassed to say that I ate the entire bag last night while watching TV. I really want to buy more of this but that might be a bad thing.

 

The rest of the snacks were just trial size pouches. My favorite (after the cashew crumble) was the coconut cashews and then the cinnamon swirl kettle kernels. The other two snacks, I wasn't crazy about. The sea salt sun crunch had sunflower seeds in it and I'm not a big fan of those. I have to admit that I didn't even try the garden tomato crunchies because they didn't sound appealing to me. Next time, I will probably choose the snacks I want but I am still happy with what I received!

e.l.f Beauty Bundle review - August 2014

My last bundle came in the mail a few days ago. There are a few different options for the e.l.f beauty bundle. You can order a monthly subscription (you get a box every month, pay every month and you can cancel anytime). Then there is a 1 year gift or 1/2 year gift. I ordered the 1/2 year gift package, you get three boxes (one every other month) and you don't have to subscribe for a monthly box so you also don't get charged again because you pay up front for all three boxes. The only downside with this box is that you have to pay for shipping, a lot of other subscription boxes include the shipping. I really love this one because the boxes are always packed full!

e.l.f Beauty Bundle for August - 10 Beautiful Years!

Baked eyeshadow palette - Texas : This is my favorite item in the box. Eyeshadow is what I use most often and I love all the colors (gold, grey & pink shades) on this palette. I can't wait to try some of these! Retails for: $10

Glitter primer: I've never used primer for my eyes before, apparently this helps glitter eyeshadow stay on longer and it's crease proof. It's also supposed to help the eyeshadow go on smoother. Interesting, I will definitely be trying this. Retails for: $2

Natural lash kit: I have pretty long eyelashes already, plus mascara makes them even longer. I don't think I'll be using these, I have never been a fan of them. Oh and they always remind me of a scene from a movie (forgot which one) where a couple is out to dinner and the girl has a fake eyelash stuck to her cheek, no thanks! Retails for: $1

Moisturizing lipstick - Party in the buff: I tried this on and I really like it. It's moisturizing and the color is subtle, which I love. I'm not a huge fan of lipstick but I'll be using this on occasion. Retails for: $3

Contouring blush & bronzing cream: Okay, I have no idea how to use this. Maybe I need to spend some time watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. Wish me luck. Retails for: $3

Mineral booster - Sheer (large): Another product that I don't have much experience with. I'm not sure if I'll be using this, writing this review makes me realize that I'm pretty bad at being a girl. Retails for: $8

Mineral infused face primer - Clear: I feel like I got a face primer in my first box. I'm not sure if it's exactly the same though. I haven't used that one yet so who knows when I will use this one. Retails for: $6

3 in 1 - Base, top & strengthener: Awesome, something I am familiar with.. finally! This will be put to good use and it's perfect timing because I just ran out of the top coat I normally use. Whenever I don't have time to paint my nails, I just quickly put on a clear coat so this is perfect. I love that it will help strengthen my nails too, that's a huge plus! Retails for: $2

Kabuki face brush: I've been wanting a brush like this so I was excited to see it in the box. It's antibacterial and can be used with wet or dry products. I can't wait to try this out! Retails for: $6
 
I know this is hardly a review, I just wanted to share everything that came in my August box. Seriously though, YouTube makeup tutorials is going to be my homework for tonight. The total retail value of the box came out to $41 and it cost about $26 per box including shipping. I think It's a good deal, you can also find e.l.f products at Target and everything is pretty inexpensive. I liked the box this month but I'm also glad that it's my last one. I don't wear makeup enough to purchase another subscription but I like most of what I got and I know it's going to last me a pretty long time.

Graze review - August 2014

Graze is a subscription box for healthy snacks. You get to pick what you like and dislike on the Graze website and they customize (sort of) what they send to you but it's still a surprise because there are tons of options. You can pick between getting a box every week or every other week, each box is $6.49 and shipping is free.

My Graze box this week.

Salted fudge & peanut cookie - This was my absolute favorite snack in the box! It had salted peanuts, redskin peanuts, vanilla fudge & mini chocolate cookies. I ate this pretty quick and Olivia helped me (she stole most of the chocolate cookies). Next time I have to wait till she's sleeping, the cookies were so good and the fudge was pretty good too. I love any snack that is salty and sweet, it's my favorite combination!

Brooklyn bites - I liked this snack too! It had poppyseed pretzels, cheese cashews & roasted pumpkin seeds. The pretzels were yummy and so were the cashews. I was a little scared to try the pumpkin seeds because I've never had them before. My husband said they were good so I tried them and they were!

Summer berry flapjack - I was excited to try this so it was the first one I opened. There were three rustic rolled oat flapjacks with berry-infused cranberries. I always think of pancakes when I hear the word flapjack, this was more like a granola bar to me but it was pretty delicious regardless so I don't care what it's called. I had to share with Olivia again (ugh) and she approved. I thought this was going to be my favorite snack from the box until I had the salted fudge & peanut cookie but this comes in second place.

Triple berry smoothie - I was pretty sure I would love this but I didn't. It had mini strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, and banana. I love banana chips but these weren't really like the chips, they were not as crunchy. All the fruit was dried but it was still kind of soft, I don't really know how to explain it but it was a strange sort of texture. The taste wasn't bad though, not the worst snack I've ever had but my least favorite from this box.

I think they did a great job of sending me snacks I would like, I would have bought some of these if I saw them in a store. I really enjoyed this box and I like how you can go on the website and rate what you get. It's a good thing these are sent in balanced portions because if I got a whole box of that salted fudge and peanut cookie, it would be gone already. I'm glad I got to try this box, unfortunately I had to cancel it already due to my strict budget right now (boo!) but hopefully within the next couple of months things with start to pick up and I can get it again! If you want to try Graze, you can use my friend code: YML76TQXB and you will get your first and fifth boxes for free. It's a subscription and you will automatically be charged again so don't forget to cancel if you dislike it.

Love With Food review - July 2014

Love with food is a subscription box for all natural and/or organic snacks. The best thing about this box is that every box you get, you are donating a meal to feed a hungry child in America. For that reason alone, I had to try it. This box isn't too expensive, it's $10 per month which is a pretty good deal. I actually was able to get it for free with a deal they had last month. I got this box a few days ago, I would have done this review earlier but I wanted to try all the snacks so I could give my honest opinion.

All the goodies that came in my July Love With Food box. 

The theme this month is: Happy Camper!

Bar by 2 Degrees: Eh, I did not enjoy this. It looked good but I just didn't like all the different seeds and whatever else was in it (apparently fruits and grains), I only took one bite and threw it away.

Sea Salt Lentil Crackers by Mediterranean Snacks: Yum! These were really good, I just wish I had some hummus to go with them, that would have been amazing.

South Asian Snacks by Zoug: I have to be honest, I didn't try this trail mix. It just doesn't look appetizing to me, it's kind of a strange mix so I'm passing on it.

Butter Crisp Love Minis by Ginnybakes: These were pretty good! They tasted like little shortbread cookies (I think that's what they were). These disappeared pretty quickly and I enjoyed them.

Kids' Oragnic Mixed Berry Chews by Honey Stinger: I really liked these too, I'm still a kid at heart so I love fruit snacks/gummy bears etc. I wouldn't give these to Olivia yet because I'm paranoid about her possibly choking but I gladly ate them.

Dutch Cocoa by Somersaults: Bleh! I did not like these at all. I actually spit out the bite that I took, it was pretty bitter. I guess I was expecting more of a chocolate taste so I was caught off guard.

Chocolate Chip Fluff by Madyson's Marshmallows: This yummy marshmallow had chocolate chips inside. It was the first thing I went for and it was so good! By far my favorite thing in the box. I wish I had a whole bag of these to make s'mores with.

White Cheddar Puffs by Beanitos: The name kind of confused me, I kept thinking beans but they were just white cheddar puffs. They tasted like mostly all other white cheddar puffs I've had and they were good, I liked them. I actually ate the whole bag already.

I really love the idea of this box and how they donate to hungry children, that is so awesome! Since I didn't like half the stuff in this box, I won't be getting it again because I definitely don't want to waste food. I'm not the healthiest eater, I try my best to be and I wish I liked snacks like these a little more. This box would be great for someone who loves organic, healthy and all natural snacks! If you want to subscribe to Love With Food, I'm pretty sure the deal is still going on. You can get your first box for free by using the code YUMMY, you just have to pay for shipping. Don't forget to cancel after you get your box or you will be charged again!

The Surviving Momhood box review

The Surviving Momhood box is a new subscription box service for moms, it's $30 a month or a bit cheaper if you subscribe for more than one month at a time. They have different age ranges for your child and I believe it goes up to 13 years old. I picked the under 2 age range of course, most of the items are for mom but there a few for your kid/s. They sent me a box to review, so here it is..

Here is everything that came in the review box.

Orange polka dot socks - Okay these are super bright, not the cutest socks but they are pretty soft. I can't imagine wearing these anytime soon because it's been so hot out but I will wear them in the winter just around the house.

Spa Day air freshener packet - This smells pretty strong, not a bad smell though.. just strong. On the back of the package it says that it can be used in bath rooms, vacuum bags, trash cans, closets, automobiles and gift baskets. I may put it under the seat in my car and see how I like it.

EOS lip balm - I was pretty excited to get this until I realized it wasn't packaged, kinda bummed because I don't think I'll be using it. *Surviving Momhood reached out to let me know that the EOS has never been opened and is new, they were not in a package because they were sent in bulk from EOS. They even offered to send me a new one in a package but I didn't think it was necessary.

Beech Nut applesauce - This is a pretty small jar and it's only stage 1 but Olivia will still eat it.

Better Homes candle - This is another very strong smelling item. As soon as I opened the box this was all I could smell. The scent is wooded mountain trails and it's pretty accurate. I don't use candles too much because I'm paranoid that I'll forget to blow them out but I'll probably use it eventually.

Animal wall decals - These decals are really cute but they don't exactly go with the theme in Liv's room, I may save them for the next baby though. ;)

Jolee's Boutique stickers - Stickers for scrapbooking (I think). I am not sure what I will use these for because I am not into scrapbooking but maybe I can find another use for them. Any ideas?

Spork - I have no idea what company makes this, it's just a blue plastic spork and it wasn't in a package. I have been trying to teach Olivia to eat with a spoon and fork more lately so this may actually come in handy.

Mini green loofah - I buy loofahs all the time because I don't use bar soap. It's a little strange to me that it didn't even have a tag on it though.

La Dolce Vita: Whipped body frosting (exotic coconut) 1.6oz - This smells amazing! I love anything that smells like coconut, it reminds me of being on vacation somewhere tropical. I have no idea what "body frosting" is so I'm going to assume that it's lotion.

OPI Avojuice skin quencher (violet orchid) 1oz - Another lotion, this one also smells really good. Both of the lotions are pretty small but they will be good for travel.

Sample and miscellaneous items - Small round gems (the kind you put in a vase but there was only 9 so I'm not sure what I'll do with them), Dream zone sign (very tiny), Extra spearmint gum, Emergen-C (I always use this stuff), Organic peppermint tea, Crystal Light packet, Vactive soft chews, Vanilla roast almonds.

Okay, so first off I want to just say that I really love this idea. As a mom, I often forget to take care of myself because I'm so busy catering to Olivia's needs. However, I'm not super impressed with this box. Instead of all the little samples, I would have liked to see maybe 4-5 higher quality items. Possibly some bubble bath, nail polish, foot scrub, hair ties, maybe even some cute slippers to wear around the house. This is just my opinion of course, not everyone would love what I'm suggesting but my neck, back and feet are constantly hurting and I'm always losing hair ties (keeping my hair up is essential around Liv). I think the Crystal light and Emergen-C packets are great but would have loved 3-4 of them. Things like that are really good for when I'm in a rush. Also, any snacks I can just grab and go are good too. I don't think I will be buying a subscription right now but I will be checking back and looking at spoilers to see if it's something I'll be interested in later on. I really appreciate them sending me a review box and their customer service has been excellent. I'm sure it's hard starting a brand new subscription box and I hope to see them do well!

Citrus Lane review - June 2014

Olivia's Citrus Lane box came in the mail yesterday! Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for babies/toddlers. You pay a certain price per month depending on how long you want to subscribe (it’s cheaper for the longer subscriptions). Every month you receive four to five items for your child and sometimes something for you as well. The boxes are age and gender appropriate (or you can pick neutral). This box is for a 16 month old girl.

Everything Olivia got in her June Citrus Lane box.

(Terrible lighting in all my pictures today, sorry!)

Bumkins wet bag - Minnie Mouse:
I already knew we were getting this because we got to pick the design. There were three different Minnie Mouse patterns to choose from and I liked this one the best. We got this at the perfect time because we are going to be at the beach and pool a lot this summer. This will be great for Liv's wet bathing suit and towels. It has a zipper and a snap with a handle to carry it. It's a pretty good size too. Retails for: $10.95

Hape little vehicle - mini van:
Ehhhh... okay. I don't love this. It's 10m+ but I don't think Liv will be interested in it, it just looks a bit young for her. I would have liked this around 10-12 months but not now. I will probably try to trade this or maybe gift it. Retails for: $9.99  (really?!)

Chronicle Books - Taro Gomi Hide & Seek book:
I will never complain about getting a book. I may save this for Christmas (I know, it's a long way off) but only because each page asks you to find the hidden object and right now she will have no idea. I think it will perfect when she is closer to two. If not, I will still read it to her. It's a cute book. Retails for: $6.29 

Episencial playful wash:
This smells amazing! It smells like fresh oranges. With that being said, I wasn't too excited to get it because we have tons of body wash and shampoo right now. I am still using the kind I got for my baby shower (two huge bottles). I tried this out today anyway and it seemed sort of watery when I poured it into my hand but it lathered up pretty well. Then when I rinsed Olivia's hair out, like I normally do.. she started crying. I don't know if it burned her eyes or some water got into her eyes but she was very upset. Her eyes didn't really look red so I'm not sure, I'll have to try it again. If she starts screaming next time I do it, I wont be using this anymore. Retails for: $6.50  

Plum Organics Stage 2 veggie pouch:

After seeing other spoilers, I really thought we would get the Plum Organics fruit bars. I was pretty confused as to why younger kids got them and we got a purée pouch. Liv will eat this so it's fine, she would have definitely liked the fruit bars better though. Retails for: $1.89

Add ons:
I love Citrus Lanes add to box feature because you can get items for free shipping. I hate paying for shipping and rarely do. I got seven add ons this month because they had some awesome deals and I also had credits. I think I paid around $10 for everything. I got the Skip Hop ladybug towel since Olivia has outgrown all her baby towels (sad) and she really needed this, it's the perfect size for her. I also got some Julius stroller cards which I thought were adorable, perfect for when we go for walks or eat at a restaurant. I picked two little stroller toys, you pull them down and they vibrate and go back up, Liv is a bit old for these so I will probably gift them. The other two items are missing, which are Eric Carle stroller cards and a Hape watering can. I actually got the watering can today and I heard the stroller cards were back ordered so I'm just waiting on those.
 

This months box was just okay. I think this is my least favorite box so far, the food pouch and mini van were a little too young and I'm not crazy about the body wash. The total value of this box is about $35. I got a six month subscription and with coupons, I paid about $15 per month. It's still worth it even though I didn't love everything. If I paid the full price of $29 per month, I would be disappointed this month. However, something I really love about Citrus Lane is that they offer discounts all the time, I have yet to pay full price for a box or shop item. If you're interested in getting a Citrus Lane subscription for your child, you can use my referral link to get 50% off your first box - Melissa's CL referral. It's a subscription so make sure you cancel after your receive your boxes or you will be charged again.

e.l.f Beauty Bundle review - June 2014

I got this box last week, it comes right at the beginning of the month which makes me happy because I'm pretty impatient. There are a few different options for the e.l.f beauty bundle. You can order a monthly subscription (you get a box every month, pay every month and you can cancel anytime). Then there is a 1 year gift or 1/2 year gift. I ordered the 1/2 year gift package, you get three boxes (one every other month) and you don't have to subscribe for a monthly box so you also don't get charged again because you pay up front for all three boxes. The only downside with this box is that you have to pay for shipping, a lot of other subscription boxes include the shipping. I really love this one because the boxes are always packed full!

e.l.f Beauty Bundle for June - Pre-summer survival kit.

28-Piece beach beauty palette - Night : I love these palettes because I get to test all different colors and see which ones I like and don't like. I tried a few of the lip colors and like them, the eye shadow colors are really fun too but I don't think I'll be using all of them. Retails for: $6

Waterproof lengthening & volumizing mascara - Black : Perfect for me. I only wear black mascara and waterproof is awesome. When I wear my contacts with eye makeup, my eyes usually end up watering so this works well for me. Retails for: $3

Baked highlighter - Moonlight pearls: I am really excited to try this, I've never used a highlighter before. Hopefully this can hide the dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep. Retails for: $3

Waterproof eyeliner pen - Black: I tried putting this on earlier (in a rush) and it was kind of difficult to apply. I had to go over the line a few times and then I just got frustrated. I will try it again because it looks like it would be great for very thin lines and black is the only color I like for eyeliner. Retails for: $2

Mineral moisturizing lip tint - Guava: I know I went on a rant in the last review about how much I hate lipstick but I might actually like this one. It's a really pretty color and moisturizing is always a plus! I will definitely give this a try. Retails for: $3

High definition powder - Shimmer: I'm not exactly sure if I'll be using this or not. I might use it for a night out but who knows when I'll ever be going out so we'll see. I do like the shimmer look though and it's a nice color. Retails for: $6

Makeup mist & set: I have never used anything like this before, I didn't even know it existed but I am really excited to try it. It's supposed to keep makeup in place all day so hopefully it works well! Retails for: $3

SPF 45 Sunscreen UVA/UVB protection: I never wear powder so I probably wont be using this, pretty cool that it's a sunscreen powder though. Retails for: $6

Signature bag - Pink: My favorite item in the box! This pink makeup bag is adorable, it has a zipper and two sides, one side has some mesh compartments to hold brushes or whatever your heart desires. This will be great for traveling, I can just throw all my makeup in it to keep it separate. Retails for: $8

I know I am not the best at reviewing makeup but I try. The total retail value of the box came out to $40 and it cost about $26 per box including shipping. I think It's a good deal, you can also find e.l.f products at Target and everything is pretty inexpensive so if I really love something, I can just pick it up there. I really liked the box this month and I am interested to see what items will be in my last box!

Citrus Lane review - May 2014

We had a very busy weekend (I will post about that tomorrow) but I finally have a minute to do this review. I got Olivia's Citrus Lane box yesterday. Citrus Lane is a monthly subscription box for babies/toddlers. You pay a certain price per month depending on how long you want to subscribe (it’s cheaper for the longer subscriptions). Every month you receive four to five items for your child and sometimes something for you as well. The boxes are age and gender appropriate (or you can pick neutral). This box is for a 15 month old girl (I think). I’m not sure when their cutoff date is, she turned 15 months on the 16^th so I don't know if this is a 14 or 15 month box.

Everything Olivia got in her May Citrus Lane box.

Crocidile Creek 5" jungle orange playball:
We finally got to pick an item! I kept reading comments about other people getting to pick something in their box and this is the first time we were able to pick, I was overly excited. We had the choice of different patterns for this rubber ball and I liked this one the best. I actually picked it because it's gender neutral. I figured that I should stop buying so many girly things in case the next one is a boy (if we even have another kid). Olivia loves this! She has been carrying it around, rolling it, throwing it and kicking it. It's small but it's perfect for her little hands, she's been playing with it a lot. Retails for: $8.99

Goodbyn snack container:
I know this will get used but I think we are all set on plates/bowls/tupperware. Olivia has gotten one or the other in pretty much every subscription box (not just Citrus Lane). I have yet to buy her one at the store, hopefully we don't get too many more because the cabinets are filling up quick, there's not much room left. Anyways, I like this and it's good for on the go so it will come in handy and dishwasher safe is always a plus. Retails for: $5.50

Green Toys stacking cups:
At first I wasn't too excited about getting this, we already have a few stackers but this one is a bit different. It's thick sturdy plastic, the cups are star shaped and I like the colors. I think this will double as a bath toy and apparently they are volume accurate. When she is older, they can be used to teach her some math skills, which I am terrible at but I'll try. I actually saw these at the store the other day and debated buying them, glad that I decided not to. She has been playing with these a lot, her favorite thing to do is bang them together but she was stacking them too. Retails for: $10.99

Back to Nature - Honey graham sticks:
I have yet to give Olivia anything with honey in it (paranoid irrational mom) because I know it's one of the high allergen foods but I'm sure it will be fine. I saw some spoilers and was hoping we would get the chocolate chip cookies, these look good too though. I like having snacks that I can just grab and throw in the diaper bag on the way out the door. Retails for: $1.60

Jasmine Seven - Fresh feet wipes :
Okay Citrus Lane, what are you trying to say hm? My feet don't smell! Well.. I hope they don't. These are.. interesting. I guess I will try them. Possibly after wearing flip flops at the park or beach, they could come in handy. I'm not loving the scent though, peppermint is not my favorite. Nothing exciting but still useful ..I guess. Retails for: $3 (they only had a 3 pack on the website so that's just an estimate).

 

I really loved the box this month and so did Olivia! The total value of this box is about $30. I got a six month subscription and with coupons, I paid about $15 per month. It's definitely worth it to me. However, if I paid the full price of $29 per month, I would be a bit disappointed with the value this month. With that being said, Citrus Lane always has coupon codes and awesome deals so keep an eye out. If you're interested in getting a Citrus Lane subscription for your child, you can use the code TAKETEN for $10 off your first box or you can use my referral link to get 50% off your first box - Melissa's CL referral. It's a subscription so make sure you cancel after your receive your boxes or you will be charged again.

 

It's so hard to take pictures when she just wants to play but I tried. (Happy customer!)