Ashley Unboxes: Citrus Lane May 2015 Package

The May 2015 package has arrived!  Our Citrus Lane package targets a young boy around the age of 12 months.  Let’s take a look inside.

The Contents

The first thing I noticed when we received this month’s package was our box was  a little bigger!

Citrus lane package

May’s package contents

Inside our May Citrus Lane package we found the following items:

• Baby Blowfish Graphic Tee from Tea Collection (MSRP $26.50)
• 5″ Playground Ball from Crocodile Creek (MSRP $9.99)
• Snack Container from Goodbyn (MSRP $5.50)
• Family Pack from Vaska

In addition to the items we also received 20% off teacollection.com (as I type this their website is offering a coupon code for 20% plus free shipping), 10% off crocodilecreek.com, and 20% off goodbyn.com.

First Impressions

Here are my initial impressions of each item we received this month.

Baby Blowfish Graphic Tea from Tea Collection

Baby Blowfish Graphic Tee from Tea Collection

This tee shirt is my first exposure to the Tea Collection.  I give the shirt gets two big thumbs up!  It’s well made, comfortable and best of all my little guy looks so cute in it.  If I was not overwhelmed with the current size of his clothing collection I would seriously consider ordering a few more shirts from the company.

5″ Playground Ball from Crocodile Creek

Playground ball from Crocodile Creek

This ball comes at the perfect time for us! My little guy adores balls! He took an instant liking to it.  This ball is my first exposure to Crocodile Creek.  The ball has a nice vibrant color with a cute print on it.

Snack Container from Goodbyn

Snack Container from Goodbyn

Snack Container from Goodbyn

The snack container from Goodbyn is my first exposure to the company.   We have not had the chance to use the container, but it seems pretty sturdy and the separated compartments should be useful!

Family Pack from Vaska

Vaska detergent samples

We received three product samples from the green cleaning company, Vaska.  This is my first exposure to the company as well.  I ran a load of laundry the baby detergent tablet.  I noticed a couple items did not clean well, but I am open to giving the products another try.

Final Thoughts

May’s Citrus Lane package was not as awesome as April’s, but it was still a good a month.   Here’s to hoping June raises the bar!

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Ashley Unboxes: Citrus Lane April 2015 Package

The April 2015 package has arrived!  Our Citrus Lane package targets a young boy around the age of 12 months.  Let’s take a look inside.

The Contents

This month’s hello message from Citrus Lane

April’s package contents

Inside our April Citrus Lane package we found the following items:

• Airplane from Green Toys (MSRP $14.99)
• Maracitos from Hohner (MRSP $8.99)
• Bear on a Bike from Barefoot Books (MRSP $6.99)
• Nutrition Shake from Elia’s

In addition to those items we received 15% off shop.greentoys.com, 10% off hohnerkids.com and as well few other coupon codes.

First Impressions

Here are my initial impressions of each item we received this month.

Airplane from Green Toys

Green Toys Airplane

Green Toys Airplane tag

I really like products from Green Toys.  We already own their dump truck and recycling truck, and my little boy enjoys playing with them.  Their airplane was a instant hit once he realized he could spin the blades and wheels.  The airplane is a good quality toy, dishwasher safe and I think it is really neat the toy is made from recycled milk jugs.

Maracitos from Hohner

Maracitos from Hohner

Making music with the maracitos

My little guy loves musical instruments.  The maracitos were an instant hit for him.  We are very happy with this item!

Bear on Bike from Barefoot Books

Bear on Bike is a really cute story about a little boy following a bear as he travels to various parts of the world.   I really missed the inclusion of books in our past Citrus Lane packages so this was a very pleasant surprise!

UPDATE:

This book has quickly become one of my favorites in his collection.   He really enjoys it too.

Nutrition Shake Ella’s

Elia’s Nutrition Shake

I cannot comment on the nutrition shake because we have not tried it yet.

UPDATE:

My little guy loves these shakes!  We just survived vicious round of teething!  Poor guy wouldn’t eat any solids and refused purees, but he would drink the shakes.

Final Thoughts

April’s Citrus Lane package was a great package for us!  I was really pleased with March’s package, but this month managed to surpass it.  I love our new instrument, airplane and I am super happy they included a book this month!

Here’s to hoping May is an awesome month too!

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Ashley Reviews: Uncle Goose Blocks

I love wooden toys. I wanted to purchase a set of wooden blocks for my infant boy. I originally planned on purchasing a set of generic blocks from HABA, but then I discovered a company called Uncle Goose.

Uncle Goose offers a large variety of wooden block sets all made in the USA. Their blocks are made from basswood and the inks they use are non-toxic. There are so many sets to choose from I really struggled settling for just one. So, I bought two.

The box the blocks arrived in

I purchased the Braille ABC with American Sign Language set. It comes with 28 blocks. I decided on this set over some of the other ABC sets because of its versatility. The blocks have letters in sign language, in Braille, in lowercase and in uppercase.

Braille ABC and American Sign Language Blocks

Close up on a block with Braille

Close up on a block with sign language

For the second set I purchased the Korean Character blocks. This set comes with 32 blocks. The different faces of the blocks include the Korean constants and vowels, animals, numbers 1 – 10, and a puzzle (the map of Korea). I will admit, I purchased this set more for myself than my son. (I am a big fan of Korean dramas, so I have started studying the language.)

Korean Character blocks

Alternative view of the Korean Character blocks

The blocks are well made and I am pretty happy with their quality. Unfortunately, I have discovered a few blocks with splinters on the corners. If you have a child that is likely to put the blocks in their mouth, be sure to inspect the blocks. A little bit of sanding will fix the issue.

A block with a splintered edge

We introduced the blocks to my son once he was able to sit up on his own. He really enjoys playing with the blocks. His favorite thing is knocking down the towers mom and dad build. We store the blocks in a basket and now that he is mobile, he will crawl to the basket and pour out the blocks to play with them.

Tiny hands grasping a block

Final Thoughts

Would Ashley purchase this again? Yes.

Pros:

• Well made
• Made in the USA
• Made from basswood
• Non-toxic ink

Cons:

• A few blocks have splinters on the corners

The Uncle Goose blocks are a welcomed addition to our wooden toy collection.

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Ashley Reviews: Janod Crazy Doggy Babywalker

Crazy Doggy Baby Walker Review

I recently discovered this toy company from France called Janod.  They have lots of really colorful and cute toys.  While browsing through their collection I came across the most adorable baby walker I have seen so far:  the Crazy Doggy Babywalker (there is also a totes adorbs bunny version).  I was sold.

The Assembly

Once it arrived, I immediately assembled it.   Putting it together was fairly straight forward.  You do need to have a screwdriver handy.  Screwing the dog’s head on place was the hardest part.  I think my screw was stripped or something, because any screwdriver head I picked would slip.

Disassembled crazy doggy baby walker

Assembled crazy doggy baby walker

A Problem Emerges

Up to this point, I was feeling pretty good about the walker.  That is, until I discovered it was not leveled!  The back wheel was suspended in the air and not touching the floor as the other wheels.  When weight was applied to the handle, the opposite wheel in the front was then suspended in the air.

Back wheel suspended in the air

The Problem Resolved

I was very disappointed to experience this issue, because I really had high hopes for the walker.   Fortunately, the customer service department for Janod is great!   I contacted Janod, explained my issue and they quickly remedy the situation.   My replacement base is perfect, and I am now a very happy customer.  I went from, “I’ll never purchase another product from Janod” to “that train set of theirs will make a nice gift.”

Crazy Doggy Baby Walker

The walker is just as vibrant and colorful as the pictures depict.  The wheels are really nice and glide smoothly across the floor.  The little man just loves the bell on the dog’s collar.  He has so much fun playing with it.

You can check out the walker in action below:

Final Thoughts

Would Ashley purchase this again (on a scale of yes, maybe and no)? Yes!

Pros:

• Cute and colorful (but not obnoxious colorful)
• Made of wood
• The wheels glide nicely
• Janod has great customer service

Cons:

• Initial base was poorly constructed

The post Ashley Reviews: Crazy Doggy Baby Walker from Janod appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

Freemie Collection cup assembled

Freemie Collection Cups Review

I dreaded having to pump. I used a Medela Pump In Style Advanced (PISA) with the horns. I could not get comfortable while pumping. Even with a hands free bra, I felt like I had to stay in an awkward position.

Because I was not comfortable, I could not relax. Because I could not relax, I became stressed. Because I had stress, my production was low and my letdown would not come. I started to panic because building my stash was slow going.

Freemie Collection Cup disassembled

One day while visiting a baby related forum I noticed an ad banner bragging about pumping with your shirt on. I was intrigued. I normally ignore ads, but this one really captured my attention. I followed it. That’s when I discovered the Freemie Collection cups. At the time, this was around July, I could not find many outside reviews. I was a bit nervous about ordering it, but I am so glad I did.

I purchased the Freemie Equality set and a connection kit for my Medela PISA. It was love at first use.

The image below is a Freemie cup connected to the PISA.  The red circle highlights a piece from the connection kit.   This connection kit allows for me to use my existing Medela electric pump instead of purchasing a Freemie electric pump.

Freemie Collection Cup connect to PISA

Pumping is no longer a stressful event. I can relax as I express milk. I am able to express more milk in less time with my collection cups vs using the horns.  I am especially thankful I can pump with my shirt on.  I have been walked in on twice and that has saved me from a potentially awkward and embarrassing situation.

You can watch this official video comparing the Freemie to your traditional milk collection systems:

The Freemie Collection cups are the best breastfeeding related purchase I have made.

 Final Thoughts

Would Ashley purchase this again (on a scale of yes, maybe, and no)?  Most definitely YES!

Pros:

• I can pump with my shirt on
• Comfortable
• Allows me to express more milk in less time
• Easy to setup and use

Cons:

• Frosted plastic makes it difficult to see milk while pumping
• No measurements on cups
• Pouring can be messy if not careful
• Freemie logo gone after a couple of washes

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Ashley Reviews: pipSquigz

pipSquigz is the most successful teether I have used to date.   The shape makes it easy for tiny hands to grasp.   My son loves this teether.  He likes that it rattles when you shake it, but his favorite use for it is chewing!

pipSquigz

Watch my video below to see the teether in action:

The video captures my son’s first day using the teether.  He was about 4 months old at the time this was recorded.

I purchased my pipSquigz here.   It costs $19.99 for the three shapes. The pipSquigz are BPA-free, made of silicone, and dishwasher safe.  I make sure I grab one before I leave the house.  We are very pleased with it!

Would Ashley purchase this again (on a scale of yes, maybe and no)?  YES!

Pros:

• Easy for tiny hands to grab
• Easy to chew on
• Rattles
• Easy to clean, dishwasher safe

Cons:

• Pricey

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Ashley Reviews: Green Tones’ Temple Blocks

I have purchased several items from the Green Tones collection,  Hohner’s  line of eco-friendly instruments.   Today I want to talk about their Temple Blocks
.

Green Tones’ Temple Blocks features 5 hollow wooden blocks (made from Rubberwood) attached to a plywood stand (made from Mangowood).  The Temple Blocks come with two wooden mallets that can be stored with the stand.    Each block produces a nice sound when struck by the mallet, the longer the block the lower the pitch.

The recommended age for the Temple Blocks is 3+ and the instrument is made in India.    The base is 12.5 inches wide.  This is the same width as the Beginner Drum Set.

Green Tones’ Temple Blocks

I bought this as another addition to our music collection for my young child.   He falls below the recommended age for the product.   He is very attracted to the sound it produces, but he has not acquired the motor skills necessary for using the mallets to strike a block.  He will hit the blocks with his hand and is very interested in eating the mallets.   This will be a toy he grows into, and one we will keep around for a while.

Close up of Green Tones’ Temple Blocks

The Temple Blocks are my favorite instrument I purchased from the Green Tones line thus far.  The instrument is very well constructed, loud, sound pleasant to the ears and the kids I have introduced it to have found it very enjoyable to bang away on.   I really enjoy playing with this instrument as well!

Check out my video below to hear a sample of the music the Temple Blocks produce:

My original Temple Blocks I had noticed some issues with chipped paint.   I sent a message to Hohner’s Customer Service and they very quickly remedy the situation for me.  I really appreciated how promptly they responded to my issue.   So here are two really big thumbs up for their customer service department!

Backside of Green Tones’ Temple Blocks

I am very happy with Green Tones’ Temple Blocks.

Would Ashley purchase this again (on a scale of yes, maybe and no)?  YES!

Pros:

• Great quality
• Great sound
• Great customer service from Hohner
• Includes a storage slot for the mallets
• Nice colors

Cons:

• Pricey

The post Ashley Reviews: Green Tones’ Temple Blocks appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

Ashley Reviews: HABA’s Roll ‘n roll ‘n roll Ball Track

I have a big love for wooden toys and thus I have become a bit of a fan girl for HABA toys and games. I am generally happy with most of my HABA purchases, and their Haba Ball Track Roll ‘n Roll ‘n Roll
is no exception.

I wanted to get my little guy a toy that teaches him cause and effect, and figured a ball track would be perfect for achieving that goal. The Roll ‘n roll ‘n roll Ball Track is made in Germany, from Beech wood and comes with 4 wooden balls. The targeted age for the ball track is 1.5+ years.   As the ball winds down the track it will encounter wooden hands, 2 pairs of bells, and a chatter track.

HABA’s Roll ‘n roll ‘n roll Ball Track

I introduced this toy to my little guy at 6 months. At first he would just passively observe the balls as they  rolled down the track.   Then he became attracted to the wooden hands and would just grab at them.  Now (about 3 weeks since introducing the toy) he removes the balls from the track and plays with them. The balls usually just end up in his mouth, but on several occasions he has placed the balls back onto the track.   This is one of my son’s favorite toys, and it is a toy we will probably keep around for a while.   Despite being advertised for 1.5+ year old, I would recommend it for children as young as 6 months.

Check out the ball track in action below:

I have noticed some reviewers were disappointed that the wooden hands sometimes prevents the ball from rolling down the track, but I actually like that.   When the ball stops at the hand it gives my little guy a chance to intercept it, and I find the more we roll the balls down the track the less frequent the the hands stop the balls.

I am very happy with this ball track.   It is of great quality and has kept the whole family entertained.

Would Ashley purchase this again (on a scale of yes, maybe or no)? YES!

Pros:

• Great quality
• Fun to use
• Teaches cause and effect
• Simple
• Keeps the little guy interested and entertained
• This adult likes playing with it too

Cons:

• Pricey

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Ashley Reviews: Green Tones’ Egg Maracas

If you have been keeping up with my previous reviews, you would know that I have been gradually accumulating a variety of musical instruments.  The latest addition to the family are the Egg Maracas from Green Tones.   The maracas come as a pair, one yellow and one green.   The maracas are made from rubberwood and the targeted age is 2+.

Green Tones’ Egg Maracas

I own several products from the Green Tones line and I felt pretty confident I would really like the maracas as well, but I am very disappointed to report I am not a fan!  The maracas are very quiet.  Even if I shake very vigorously, they barely make much noise.

Check out my video here to sample the sound the maracas produce:

The maracas are tiny for my adult sized hands, but for my little one they are the perfect size.   The finish is very smooth and I feel like the maracas are really good quality (sound aside).   I really wanted to like them, but I wish I put the money I used to purchase these maracas towards the purchase of maracas that sound a lot better.

Would Ashley purchase this again (on a scale of most definitely, yes, maybe and no)? No!

Pros:

• Smooth finish
• Easy for little one to hold

Cons:

• Sound very diluted

The post Ashley Reviews: Green Tones’ Maracas appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

Ashley Reviews: Green Tones’ Kokoriko Clatter

I’ve added a new percussion instrument to our music collection: Kokoriko Clatter
.   In my “parent and me” music class we used a similar instrument, the Clatterpillar
from Hohner.   I was very close to purchasing the Clatterpillar until I discovered Green Tones (which is a subset of Hohner) offer the Kokoriko.  I am a big fan of wooden toys, so this is right up my alley.

Kokoriko Clatter arrives in frustration free packaging

The Green Tones’ Kokoriko Clatter is made of rubberwood blocks connected together by a leather strap.  The recommend age is 3+ and it is made in India.   I am very impressed with the sound it produces.   The sound is nice, crisp and fairly loud.

Check out my video to hear a sample of the sound it produces:

YouTube link here.

My son falls below the recommended age for this product and does not have the motor skills necessary to use it.   Despite not being able to use the instrument, he is very attracted to the sound it makes.   For now, mom gets to have all the fun playing the instrument.

I am disappointed to report I noticed small paint chips in a few spots on the handles before we even had a chance to use it.   The image below is the most noticeable of the chips:

Chipped paint on Kokoriko Clatter

The good news is that is the only negative thing have I to say about Green Tones’ Kokoriko Clatter.

Would Ashley purchase this again (on a scale of most definitely, yes, maybe and no)? Most definitely!

Pros:

• Great sound!
• Made of wood
• Fun to use

Cons:

• Chipped paint

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