Bluum Box Review: December 2013

This is my fourth box since deciding to try Bluum. Bluum‘s pricing is very similar to Citrus Lane, at $25 per box on a month to month basis, $23 per month for a three month subscription (less than CL), $21 per month for a six month subscription (the same as CL), and even less than that for a one year subscription. Also of note is that Bluum offers more ways to earn rewards and free boxes than Citrus Lane does (which is why I’m on the month to month plan at the moment, hoping to earn a free box!). I’m still pretty impressed with the box. I was told that Bluum would primarily send samples, but I believe it to be of phenomenal value.

My box this month was the box for sixteen month olds. Unlike previous boxes, it did not appear to have any particular theme (strong hands, balancing act, etc).

1. Socks from BabySoy
Price: $3.50
Status: Great
Comments: Here’s a truth: I hate buying baby socks. The stores I visit on a regular basis don’t have a good selection, and they always seem so expensive. I mean, they’re still just socks. So I’m always happy to get cute baby socks that fit Baby Girl from decent, eco-conscious companies in my boxes. That said, BabySoy promotes themselves as “style + nature’s softness” selling soybean fiber baby clothing for eco-conscious parents. That’s fine in theory, based on materials, but your products are still made in China…enough said. I like the socks though.

2. Cuddle! from Parragon Books
Price: $9.99
Status: Pretty Great
Comments: Always love getting books in the subscription boxes! I feel like you can never have too many. This is a sweet book about cuddling animals, and it fits right in with where my daughter is mentally and developmentally with hugs and cuddles. It’s a sturdy board book, so she can “read” it herself, and I know it will be treasured.

3. Soft Spout Cover from Dreambaby
Price: $6.67 (Amazon)
Status: Meh
Comments: An inflatable spout cover? Nah. We actually have the Boon spout cover and love it, and I actually dislike almost everything inflatable. Inflatable stuff never seems to last or do that great a job. Plus, unlike other spout covers, this one has to be removed when adults want to take a shower, so it’s one more thing to store. Much prefer my Boon flo. Guess this will go in the re-gift box!

4.  Pacifier Wipes from Dapple
Price: $2.99
Status: Not so much…
Comments: Too young! Too young! While Baby Girl still uses her pacifier at night and for naps, when they aren’t using it around the house or out and about, it rather negates the need for these wipes. They look like a great product, and would have been awesome to have in the diaper bag for those trips to her uncle’s swim and wrestling meets when you inevitably drop the pacifier in the stands and have to run to the bathroom to rinse it off…we have outgrown their usefulness. Time to pass them on to someone else.

5. Sensitive Baby Foaming Shampoo and Body Wash from Susan Brown’s Baby
Price: $13.50
Status: Meh…
Comments: While I appreciate always having tear free, ph balanced, “free”, sensitive skin shampoos, body washes, and lotions around, they’re starting to take over my closet! I’m always getting these things in my subscription boxes, and I just don’t go through them that quickly. Baby Girl isn’t big enough to use up all of this! I’ll put this in the closet with the rest, but chances are good if it doesn’t get used soon (we’re still using the same bottle of body wash I bought when she was born…sixteen months later) I’ll re-gift it.

6. Strawberry Preserves from Bonne Maman
Price: $0.69
Status: Awesome!
Comments: We’re already lovers of Bonne Maman fruit preserves (I actually just bought a jar for a holiday gift basket), so it was fun to get a mini jar of strawberry preserves this month. While it would have been cooler to get a full jar, we’ll put this one to good use!

So was it worth it? I think so. The total value of the box was $37.34 (so down a little from previous months), compared to a $25 purchase price. After subtracting the items I will probably regift, I got around $28 worth of value, which is still above the purchase price. Plus, now I have some really high quality items to gift my mom friends with tinier babies!

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Bluum Box Review: Strong Hands October 2013

This is my second box since deciding to try Bluum. Bluum‘s pricing is very similar to Citrus Lane, at $25 per box on a month to month basis, $23 per month for a three month subscription (less than CL), $21 per month for a six month subscription (the same as CL), and even less than that for a one year subscription. Also of note is that Bluum offers more ways to earn rewards and free boxes than Citrus Lane does (which is why I’m on the month to month plan at the moment, hoping to earn a free box!). I’m still pretty impressed with the box. I was told that Bluum would primarily send samples, but I believe it to be of phenomenal value.

My box this month was the Strong Hands box for fourteen month olds.

1. Slide and Sleek Safari from Melissa and Doug
Price: $5.99
Status: Pretty Great
Comments: We already have a few of these little wooden toys from Melissa and Doug, and they are all sweet. Baby Girl already likes it, but she’s a great problem solver, and something a little more advanced would have been nice.

2. Calming Cream from Circle of Friends Organics
Price: $14.40
Status: Meh
Comments: Second month in a row I’ve gotten an eczema friendly lotion in my bluum box. Definitely don’t need any more of these! I’m not familiar with the brand, but it certainly seems expensive.

3. Spill-Proof Cup from Lansinoh Momma
Price: $10.00
Status: Meh
Comments: Baby Girl is pretty obsessed with her Nuby cups, so I’m not sure we’ll get any use out of this one. The fact that it rocks on it’s bottom is interesting, but so far also annoying, as I can’t seem to set it down anywhere without being careful to set it on the tiny platform or letting it roll away!

4.  My Little Counting Bookby Priddy Books
Price: $12.99
Status: Meh
Comments: I have no picture on this one, and the price is just a guess, as I couldn’t find it on the Priddy Books website. It’s an okay book of okay quality, but definitely not the best book I’ve ever gotten in a subscription box. I feel like it’s something you could get at a discount store.

5. Carrot Cake Luna Bar by Luna Bar
Price: $1.25 each (sold in a box of 15)
Status: Interesting
Comments: I got a Luna fiber bar in my Bluum box last month, and it was a lifesaver when I was at work. I have yet to purchase any on my own, but I’m eager to try this!

6. Toddler Meal Bowl from Happy Family Brands
Price: $6.69 (Amazon)
Status: Not cool
Comments: I’m usually thrilled to get baby food in these boxes, now that Baby Girl is learning new flavors, and the things I make don’t always satisfy her tastebuds. Unfortunately, we are a vegetarian household, and they sent me the bowl with chicken in it. There is only one vegetarian option in this item, so I’m not surprised that we didn’t receive it. I guess I’ll be giving this one to my nephew…too bad.

Also included: A 50 cent coupon for more Luna Bars. May or may not be useful.

So was it worth it? I think so. The total value of the box was $51.32 (not nearly as good or impressive as last month’s box, but still alright), compared to a $25 purchase price. Even if you subtract things that I will probably regift, the value was still more than $30. We’ll see if the quality stays good, and if next month I get some different brands, as this month had many of the same ones as last month.

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Bluum Box Review: Movin’ and Shakin’

Okay, I know this is silly, but I decided that after subscribing to Citrus Lane for almost a full year, perhaps I should check out some of the other boxes out there! Because of that and a great coupon, I decided to try out Bluum. Bluum‘s pricing is very similar to Citrus Lane, at $25 per box on a month to month basis, $23 per month for a three month subscription (less than CL), $21 per month for a six month subscription (the same as CL), and even less than that for a one year subscription. Also of note is that Bluum offers more ways to earn rewards and free boxes than Citrus Lane does (which is why I’m on the month to month plan at the moment, hoping to earn a free box!). Anyway, I got my first box today, and I am very impressed! I was told that Bluum would primarily send samples, but I love my box, and I believe it to be of phenomenal value.

My box this month was the Movin’ and Shakin’ box for thirteen month olds.

1. Snack Trap by MossWorld Enterprises
Price: $4.99
Status: Pretty Great
Comments: I had already bought what I believe to be a better version of this that is manufactured by Munchkin, and I love the idea. It’s always great to have another one on hand, and I’m thrilled to have gotten one!

2. Calendula Baby Cream by Weleda
Price: $12.00
Status: Pretty Great
Comments: Did I need yet another baby lotion/cream? Nope. Am I excited to get this one? Kind of. I had already received some Weather Protection Cream by Weleda in one of my Citrus Lane boxes, and it is one of the brands I really like (along with Episencial). It isn’t always fun to have a baby with sensitive skin and eczema, so it’s nice to get these things! I’m even more excited that this was a full sized item and not sample sized as I had been told to expect.

3. Peek-a-Boo Panda by Melissa & Doug
Price: $7.99
Status: Pretty Great
Comments: I love Melissa & Doug products, and their little wooden toys are awesome. We actually had already received their Peek-a-Boo Turtle in a previous Citrus Lane box, and it had been quite a hit. I think I like the Panda even more, as he covers his eyes and really plays Peek-a-Boo!

4. Baby Play Day Book by Priddy Books
Price: $12.99
Status: Pretty Great
Comments: Is it the best board book for babies ever? Nope. Are the touch and feel features awesome? Meh. That said, I’m always happy to get books in these boxes, Baby Girl loves to read her board books, and this one is of a good quality and I know she will love it.

5. Vanilla Blueberry Luna Fiber Bar by Luna Bar
Price: $2.03 each (sold in a pack of 12)
Status: Interesting
Comments: Being used to Citrus Lane and how they do things, I don’t often receive items that aren’t for baby. This was timely however. I work a job that makes it hard sometimes for me to stop and eat, and with a lot of fiber, Luna Bars could be a great solution for me, and I don’t know why I hadn’t tried them before. I’ll definitely be packing this in my work bag on my next job!

6. 100 Best Fresh Salads Cookbook by Love Food, an imprint of Parragon Books
Price: $9.99
Status: Interesting
Comments: At first I was pretty excited about this item. I love cookbooks (have a bit of an addiction, in fact), and I love salads. I actually didn’t own a dedicated salad cookbook. But, being a vegetarian, I was a tad disappointed to find the book very meat and fish heavy. So I won’t be keeping it, but I know it will make a great gift!

7. $25 Voucher by Paper Culture
Price: $25.00
Status: Interesting
Comments: I’m not usually fond of these types of items in subscription boxes, but I can tell you why this one was different. This wasn’t a coupon, it is a voucher, and it wasn’t available to anyone who signs up, and it doesn’t matter if you’ve used the service before, you still get it. A nice touch, actually.

Also included: Two manufacturer coupons for Happy Family products. No real value, but perhaps useful.

So was it worth it? I think definitely. The total value of the box was $74.99 (higher than any Citrus Lane box I have ever received), compared to a $25 purchase price. Even if you subtract things that I will probably regift, the value was still a whopping $65.00! I will be continuing my Bluum subscription!

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