September 2013 Citrus Lane Review

Hello all!  I did not review last month's box because I received it the last day of the shipping window and although I'm always toward the end, it seemed like there were so many pictures and reviews out so I skipped reviewing it.  This month however, I actually received my box towards the beginning of the window (please keep it that way!) and I have been able to honestly sit back and think about this month's box contents.

 

 

I am loving this box!  No "gift cards" roping me into a subscription and getting my credit card info like the JustFab Kids promo and we got a box, toy, and mom gift!  I think N likes it too:

 

 

ABC book by Charley Harper. Retails for $9.95. We love this book. Awesome artwork and N keeps bringing me the book to read to him...4-5 times in a row! I'd say it's a winner.

Hape City Planner block, retails for $9.99. I love this brand because I've heard so many great things about the quality but this is our first toy by the company. Warning: the blocks are for 12 months and up but they are smaller than they look on the site. Kinda tiny and could be a choking hazard. N is 19 months and has just stopped putting things in his mouth, so I'm not worried. I have put these up for Christmas though, as a stocking stuffer since he's not "building" things yet. Boxes in this age group received either these blocks or the Numbers and Colors block set.

Happy Family Super Toddler snack bar, retails for about $1.49. Honestly, N does not eat cereal bars, so I did not expect him to eat this one..and he did not disappoint me lol. No worries, Hubby ate it..and it did taste pretty good.

Episencial Playtime Baby Wash, retails for a little under $4. I LOVE the Soothing Cream by this company and can't wait to try the wash.

The mom gift was awesome this month! A full sized bottle of nail polish from Julep, which retails for $14 (or $11 if you are a Julep Maven). I don't subscribe but I do own a couple of polishes which I like the formula and they are a 4-free company based in California. Monthly subscription is $19.99 a month and you can also skip months as you want. Learn more about Julep here. Better yet, use code FREEBOX to get your first box free!

I am very happy with this month's box.  My faith in Citrus Lane has been restored from some of the previous month's boxes.  I love that Citrus Lane sends out monthly surveys to get feedback from their customers each month. 

I am very happy with this month's box. Total retail value $39.43! Even with the $14 mom gift, Receiving a value of $25.43 of baby items definitely justified the cost of this box. We received a little bit of everything, which I love. My faith in Citrus Lane has been restored from some of the previous month's boxes. I love that Citrus Lane sends out monthly surveys to get feedback from their customers each month and it looks like they are putting that feedback to use.

Did you love this box and want to try Citrus Lane yourself? If you would like to subscribe you can save more by signing up for a 6 month subscription for $125 (savings work out to be $21/month). Save an additional $10 if you use my referral link (we both get $10) here. Thanks for reading!

Citrus Lane July 2013

This month's Citrus Lane box I got was for a 18 month old boy.  This month was much better than last month's box, which left many disappointed including myself.  Here is a first look at my box:

I love a full(ish) looking box!

I am very happy with these contents.  Upon first looking at it, this is a well-rounded box, the only thing missing is a book..oh well!

As always, included is an information card and this month a bonus gift (a "mom" gift) is 10 free Postagrams that you can send from your cell phone or computer anywhere.  I haven't tried this yet but plan to send a few out before summer ends and I go back to work!

I was ecstatic when I saw these were going out to my son's age group!  This is a Peg Puzzle by Melissa and Doug.  I have recently been obsessing over their products because I love the old- fashion made/ long-lasting wooden toys.  I had been recently looking at the larger knob puzzles made for 12+ months.  This puzzle is for 2+ and I considered saving it for Christmas when he'll be 22 months but decided to try him with it.  Of course he doesn't know his numbers yet and can't fit the correct pieces in the shape but he is playing with it and it is helping with his fine motor skills as well.  There was several variations that went out of this puzzle that included farm and zoo animals, which has less pieces and is probably a bit easier but I was secretly hoping for this one, although I am planning to purchase the others as well.  Retails at $7.99

Cool It Buddy Instant Cold Pack - Set of 2.  At first I thought these go in a cooler, but these are for injuries while out and about.  I definitely don't have anything like this in my fist aid kit and since N is now mobile and walking (and a boy!), I'm sure I'll need these sooner rather than later.  Retails at $2.99 

What baby doesn't love applesauce?  I'm all about pouches for on-the-go!  Retails for approximately $.78-$1

Zoli snack stacker..super excited to get this;  I love finding out about new brands through Citrus Lane..Zoli is one of them.   Retails for $18 on Zoli.com, but have found for $14.95 at various retailers.

Another look...you can also add an additional stacker to this one or purchase lids separately ($6-$10 depending on where you shop) if you need a smaller container.

In all, I am very pleased with this month's box.  Approximate retail is around $29.98, and although the shopper in me could probably find the same items for around $20, I still feel the value is there.  Could they improve?  Absolutely!  Although I love pouches, it would have been great to send a bag (or 2!) of snacks that could be transported in the snack stacker.  Some boxes did get individually wrapped Ella's cookies, but you get my point.  If including such a low volume item - the food pouch counts as the 4-6 items, I really wish they would include multiple pouches (i.e. a 4-pack or 2 snack items like they did in May) or another item, (sorry, I don't count the 10 free postagrams as the 5th item in this box).  Just my thoughts though...I am much happier this month than last month and will continue to subscribe.

Did you love this box and want to try Citrus Lane yourself? If you would like to subscribe you can save more by signing up for a 6 month subscription for $125 (savings work out to be $21/month). Save an additional $10 if you use my referral link (we both get $10) here.   

June 2013 Citrus Lane

Just received my Citrus Lane box for a 16 month old boy.  I have to admit after seeing spoilers I was not excited as I usually am nor was I looking forward to this box!

First look of the box.

The reveal of the contents.

I was really expecting a bucket style hat as I had seen others get.  Not feeling the hat, though it's probably not the flap style or orange..it's the huge blue peace signs all over it!  I Play hat retails for $14.

Love that this is SPF 50+!  Not loving the 6-18 month size for a 16 month old.  N's head is in the 99th percentile..soooo  this does not fit lol.

Haba sand castle mold.  Retails for $4.74.

Happy Tots plus pouch, retails for approximately $1.99.

A Citrus Lane exclusive...translation:  Episencial does not carry this size (1.5 oz.) on their site.  The 2.7 oz. tube on their site retails for $15, making this approximately worth around $6.50.  The tube feels half full, which it is because the tube is the same size as the 2.7 oz tube and filled with 1.5oz of product. (Thanks ladies on my FB group that pointed out the deceptive sticker!)

 

Total retail value of box: approximately $27.24.  To sum it up, I was indifferent to this box.  Very happy to get usable items, as N did not have any hats to fit him for this summer or any outdoor toys (this time last year he was only 4 months old!).  Unfortunately, if Citrus Lane would have added another low value toy or even a $3 snack, it would have really made a huge difference.  A four item box would really need to include another high dollar item to satisfy its customers and justify the $25 subscription cost.  I plan to give Citrus Lane a fair chance for the next few months, because I really do love them and hope that they get back to the boxes I first feel in love with.


Did you love this box and want to try Citrus Lane yourself?  If you would like to subscribe you can save more by signing up for a 6 month subscription for $125 (savings work out to be $21/month). Save an additional $10 if you use my referral link (we both get $10) https://www.citruslane.com/invitedby/nikkia.dowling 

Comment below and tell me what you would like to get in your next box!