Citrus Lane Review January 2013

I am so glad this box is here!  I always check the tracking website obsessively once I get my shipping email, and yesterday it said that my Citrus Lane box had been delivered.  I checked my front porch top to bottom, but no dice.  So I was very happy when I opened my front door this morning to find my box sitting there, all yellow and brown and pretty!  Ok, so technically it's not MY box, it's Dragon's.  But I get to open it first - Otherwise, there would be no pretty pictures for you all to see!

Like this! First glimpse inside!

For those of you who don't subscribe, Citrus Lane sends a box of curated, age-appropriate toys, books, dining or bath items to you once a month.  The items are generally eco-friendly and it's a great way to discover favorite products and things you've never heard of for your kids!  Previously, the boxes only went up to the age of 3, but starting next month, they'll go up to age 5.  For next month's box, I'm switching it up to Knight's age, and we'll see how those boxes are!  Generally, the boxes are $25 a month.  You can get that down to $21 a month by signing up for a multi-month subscription, but you all know I got a deal.  Back in November, they offered a 3-month subscription through Groupon for $35.  So I'm currently paying about $11.66 per box.  I'm glad I got the Groupon.  Although the retail value of the boxes consistently exceeds $25, if the most expensive item is something I never would have bought, then it makes the box not worth $25... know what I mean?

Ok, on to this month's box.  I'm pleased with the contents of this box, and I will use every item.  Here's what we got:

The first item is a Zoo Plate and Bowl Set from Skip*Hop:

Adorable!

We got the Monkey Set.  It also comes in Bee, Owl, and Puppy.  While aesthetically, I would have preferred ANY of the other sets, Dragon loves monkeys and he will enjoy using this set.  The items are BPA-free, Phthalate-free, and PVC-free.  This set retails for about $12.00 at most retail sites I researched.  They can be put in the dishwasher, but not the microwave, which is disappointing.  But, I know I will get some good use out of this set!  I do love the Skip*Hop brand, and I used my EcoMom voucher from the December box to get their Dino Lunch Box.  It's very cute, and not a bad price at $14!

Next, we got a:

Perfect for the purse!

This is a travel-size CleanWell disinfectant spray.  The active ingredient is botanical - it's Thymol, which is a component of Thyme Oil, per the Active Ingredients list.  This spray is perfect for when you go out to eat, and you see the busboy swipe your table with a rag of dubious origins.  Just spray the table (and/or high chair) and your little one is safe from 99.99% of germs!  The 1 oz. spray retails for $4.

The next item was in a darling sheer fabric bag:

I can't wait to upcycle this bag for a gift!

Inside was a full-size Episencial Soothing Cream and a trial size (foil packet) of their Playful Wash.  I love that this company has the Hungry Little Caterpillar on their products, and all items are made using organic ingredients! The Soothing Cream has probiotics for supporting skin immunity, and it's supposed to help winter eczema.  Dragon always gets really dry skin on his legs, and I'm happy to try something new.  The bottle has a flip-top, so it's perfect for using one hand to get some lotion while pinning down a squirmy toddler with the other! I did test the lotion on myself, it has a nice smooth texture, but it is much more of a thin lotion than a thick cream.  A little goes a long way, but it's quickly absorbed by the skin.  Oh, and it's unscented.  The cream retails for $11, and I don't assign any value to the foil packet (the full size of the Playful Wash is $9 for 8 oz/$24 for 20 oz).

Coupon code! Use EPICITRUS for $5 off!

The last item in the box was a book:

Love the illustrations!

It's Driving my Tractor, by Jan Dobbins, illustrated by David Sim.  The text of the book is also song lyrics, and there's an accompanying CD (that can also be popped into your computer to show an animated singalong!).  It's the paperback version, but it seems pretty sturdy.  I think that both Dragon and Knight will like this book, and I'll add it to the bedtime rotation.  The book retails for about $9, including the CD.

I like this month, but I'm not overly excited about it.  The total value this month was $36, so it was a good deal, even for the $25.  But only if all of these items were something that you would have bought anyway for full retail price.  Keep in mind, this box was curated for a 3-year-old boy.  Babies, toddlers, and girls may have received completely different items, and their box value could also be different.  I'm looking forward to trying out a box for a 5-year-old next month, and that will be my deciding factor on whether to continue with Citrus Lane after my Groupon subscription ends.  Still, if this seems like something you'd like to try, I'd be overjoyed if you'd use my referral link here to sign up!  You'll get $10 off your first box, and I'll get $10 off my next box! Awesome, right?

I hope you have an amazing day!  After all, it's Friday!

Love, Leigh

Disclaimer - I paid for this subscription with my own money.  Citrus Lane did not ask me to review this box, nor was I compensated for this review.  The only referral link is disclosed, all other links are to company websites.