November Citrus Lane Review

I have continued to be a Citrus Lane subscriber since the boys were two months old (going on 20 months of boxes now!)

I LOVE Citrus Lane.  I have been exposed to so many products that I would have never imagined trying.

November's box arrived last week - I had already decided to use most of the items as stocking stuffers for the boys (knowing that I would have to order a few "extra's" so we had two of each....some twins share - mine don't!)

First up: 

Stock Pot & Utensil Set from Green Toys   ($16.99) We have tons of Green Toys!  We especially love their bath toys.  So, I was super excited for a few "kitchen toys".  The boys, yes the boys, have their own play kitchen which they adore!  They will be just like their daddy cooking up a storm!

Zoo Plate from Skip Hop  ($6) The boys love to eat off of divided plates so this was perfect!   This will be one of our stocking stuffers and I have already ordered a second.  It is very sturdy and is dishwasher safe!  

Reusable Snack Bags from Bumkins  ($6.95)  Another stocking stuffer!  I plan to put a few treats in each for the boys in their stocking.  We are firm believers of reusable snack bags - I have not tried this brand in the past but look forward to using it!

Lip Comfort from Pur-lisse ($16.00)  First and foremost let me just say OMG!  LOVE THIS STUFF!! Only down fall  is the cost - not sure I will be spending $16 on my lips....but we shall see!

Organicasaurus Baked Organic Corn Snack from Good Boy Organics   ($1)  This was another brand that I had no exposure to in the past.  I opened these up the day our box arrived and the boys ate them right up!  I tasted one and I will say they had a great flavor!   Extra plus - #glutenfree

Four Sets of Address Labels and Free Shipping from Tiny Prints I have used Tiny Prints in the past for our holiday cards and for baby shower invitations - they are a little on the pricey side but I do like their quality.

Overall this box was worth $46.94!  Awesome deal considering I paid $25 for the box.  

Citrus Lane makes a great gift from family!  Grandparents your grandchildren would love this!!

You can click here to order.  Use code "TAKEHALF" to save 50% off your first order.  They are also running a special on a 6 month subscription for $105! Normally $150

Did you receive your November box?  If so what did you have in yours?  

relayfoods.com

This past year our growing season was awful, actually it was nonexistent.  In March we prayerfully decided to put our house on the market.  We knew that we had outgrown our little space and we both have dreams of land and water!  Long story short we found our dream home - however we were out bid (it was a foreclosure) and our home did not sell.......

In the midst of all of that we decided it was not in our best interest to plant our normal garden - this was a HARD decision.  We have had a 30 x 60 garden for the last 7 years that we have been together with everything from tomatoes, corn, pumpkins, squash, asparagus, cucumbers, beans, every pepper imaginable, to watermelon and cantaloupe.....you name it we had.  I HATE buying veggies at our local Food Lion - you never know where they are from and the quality just isn't the same as local/home grown.

Ok so enough of my rant....and to the meat of this post.  In October I stumbled across relay foods.  Relay foods "Relay is the online grocery store where you'll find stuff you need from the best local store, restaurants, and farms right in your own neighborhood.  We've partnered with folks you already know to provide all your grocery shopping needs - from basics, to speciality foods, to local produce, to....you name it!".  I decided to give it a try!  They were advertising a $1 special on their local bounty share.  I simply went to their website - selected to local bounty share - entered my code and selected my pickup location.  There were SOOOO many options for pickup.  All very convenient.  I selected one that was close to work so I could just grab it on my way home (saving fuel and helping the environment!).

Local Bounty Share

Pie Pumpkin from Harvest Time Farm

Weyers Cave, VA

Apples and Asian Pears from Saunders Brothers Orchard

Piney River, VA

Salad Greens from Baywater Greens

Salisbury, MD

Assorted Potatoes from Heartland Harvest

Mount Solon, VA

Sweet Potatoes from Kirby Farms

Mechanicsville, VA

Apple Cider from Showalter's Orchard

Timberville, VA

Winter Squash and Braising Greens from Local Food Hub

Ivy, VA

***I loved knowing exactly where my food came from!!

Comparison picture - left RelayFoods bounty share Pie Pumpkin from Harvest Time Farm, right Pie Pumpkin from local Food Lion (all pretty and shiny - sprayed with who knows what and grown who knows where!)

I enjoyed my veggies so much that I decided to try their Artisan Cuts 5-day dinner pack - mine included sausage, chicken breasts, thighs, flank steak and pork chops.  There is NO comparison to the taste.  It is fresh and hearty.  So far I have cooked the pork chops (ranch chops in the crock pot), chicken things (spicy things with garlic rice) and the chicken breasts (chicken teriyaki).  

Why I love relay foods:

1. fresh 

2. local

3. exposure to new foods/veggies/meats

3. you never know what you exactly get (with the bounty share)

4. couldn't beat it for $1.02! (used code "1010")

I used code "1010" for my first box of veggies and below is a referral code if you would like to try relay foods yourself!  Enjoy and leave a message if you have already tried or once you do!

relayfoods.com/friend/l349qq

Toddler Busy Bag Swap

Keeping two almost two year old busy.....well lets just say they keep me busy!  I am always looking for new ideas and activities.  So.......I recently hosted a Toddler  Busy Bag Swap.  I organized a Facebook invite and asked for RSVPs - the concept is simple.  Each mom was to bring a different toddler activity to replicate for 7.  Most put each activity in an individual gallon Ziplock bag.  Our original plan was to meet at a local Children's Museum but some last minute illnesses change our plans - no worries though, I organized pick up and drop off so each family got their bags.  

I have set aside a few bags to keep for outings/restaurants and long car trips.

To make a good busy bag here are a few suggestions:

1. One container, easy to grab and go - few supplies

2. Transportable (see #1)

3. Inexpensive 

4. Reusable 

I have posted pictures below of each activity that we swapped.  

Pipe Cleaner Sorting (using sippy cup to insert pipe cleaner into straw hole)

Felt and Velcro

Lacing Cards

Button Snake

Felt Pumpkin Decorations

Apple Tree Counting

I Spy Bottle

Marble Maze

Special thanks to my mommy friends that participated!  Jessica, Allison, Helen, and Erin!

Have you hosted/participated in a Busy Bag Swap?  What did you make?