Citrus Lane review (November box)

      My November Citrus Lane box arrived on Thursday and I wanted to share all the goodies we received in this month's "Fun with Food" box. Owen is 19 months old so we got the younger-range toddler box, I think. The boxes are filled with items based on your child's age and gender, so Owen receives different things than an 8-month-old or a 3-year-old might get. 

     Here's the description of the theme for this month from Citrus Lane: "With Thanksgiving around the corner, we can't stop thinking about food! This month, we've gathered up some of our favorite food-inspired toys as well as practical, useful, and adorable items for feeding. Gobble gobble." This month it seemed like Citrus Lane did a better job of executing their theme and pretty much everything in the box fit with the theme well. 

     Owen, of course, adored opening the box and pulling out all the items. There was only one toy this month so his favorite thing in the box was probably the squeezie pack of baby food. He grabbed that pretty quickly and insisted on eating it immediately. 

      Here are some cute pictures of him opening the box and exploring what he found inside. Scroll further and you can see pictures and descriptions of each of the items inside.

Here's what came inside our box this month:

• Plan Toys Fruit and Veggie Play Set: These sturdy, sustainable wooden fruits and veggies by Plan Toys really add to the fun of imaginary play with their bright colors and satisfying crunch when they are cut with the toy knife. This is a super cute toy and a fun play on words for the theme of the month. We received the pretend knife, a tomato, a kiwi, and an orange. Others I've seen online received other fruits and veggies. I haven't let Owen play with his yet because I am saving them for his Christmas stocking. But I am excited to see how he will like them, particularly if I bring them out when I'm making dinner so that he has something to occupy him while I cook before Tim comes home from work. Retails for $8.50.

• Green Eats set of four snack bowls: These bowls are made in the USA from recycled milk cartons and sized perfectly for a little one's hands. Made by Green Toys, these BPA free bowls are tough and can handle anything a kid can dish out. We received the blue set of bowls and they seem really sturdy and cute. They are great for when I give Owen cut up fruit or Goldfish crackers as a snack. It's really funny because after Owen finishes his snack, he will go in the kitchen into his drawer and pull out another bowl and bring it to me for a refill. A coupon code for 10 percent off an order with Green Toys was also included. Retails for $6.99.

• Goodbyn Small Meals container: This BPA free container keeps food fresh and protected from being crushed. It is lightweight and comes in a variety of colors. I received the red tray. It seems like it will be great for if I need to pack a lunch for Owen if we will be eating outside of the house or for traveling. We haven't had the opportunity to use it so far. Includes a coupon code for 25 percent off at goodbyn.com. Retails for $6.49.

• Plum Organics Tots Mish Mash (strawberry flavor): These combinations of fruits and grains are made for older palettes and are full of natural ingredients. We have bought these before and Owen really likes them. They are great for a snack on the go. Retails for $1.69.

• Juice Beauty Nutrient Moisturizer: This organic moisturizer is calming, hydrating, and packed with all-natural oils and antioxidants. I don't really come to Citrus Lane for products for me and I'd rather receive stuff for Owen generally. It's the first time in six months of receiving boxes from them that I got something for me though, so it's not that common. But now that I've tried it, I really like Juice Beauty and I would love to have some more products from them. It's a really thick moisturizer and it has a pleasant fruity scent. Includes a coupon code for $10 an order with Juice Beauty. Retails for $9.00.

• Tiny Prints coupon code for 20 percent off and free shipping on holiday cards: Tiny Prints features premium-quality photo prints, an easy-to-use website, and helpful customer service. This is a really great addition to the November box, but I noticed when I was checking out the card designs from Tiny Prints that they had a 20 percent off special advertised on the website for anyone to use, so this isn't that special. 

   Overall, I was pleased with this month's box. I hope they will ease up on the number of containers for the next couple months, but they are useful. I was disappointed to not receive a book this month since I've gotten one in each of my last three boxes. But I understand that not everyone loves to get books. We are definitely in the pro-book camp. Do you subscribe to Citrus Lane? Leave me a comment and tell me what you think of this month's box. 
     If you would like to check out my previous reviews of Citrus Lane, check them out here: June, July, September, and October. 
     If you don't subscribe and want to, check out these deals. They are available through December.

• For existing customers, use the code GIFT4U for a six month subscription for $90. That's $15 dollars a box! A discount of about $10 per month and $35 less than a normal six-month subscription. It's a 40 percent discount!
• For new customers, use the code GET3 to receive a three month subscription for $65. That's just over $21 a box and a discount of $10 from the normal three-month subscription. 
• For new customers, use the code GET4 for a six month subscription for $99. That's just $16.50 per box and a discount of $26 off the normal six-month subscription. 
• If you would rather get just one month to try it out, use the code TAKEHALF to receive your first month for half off. That's just $12.50. Your subscription will renew each month unless you e-mail or call to cancel. 

      Use this LINK to sign up today! (It's my referral link and I'd be so happy if you used it!)

Random Friday

1. Cute pics of Owen

          The two photos of Owen from this week that were super cute are from our fingerpainting session last week and a dinner late last week. Owen used his paints made from powdered vegetables which are safe and nontoxic for babies. Which is a good thing because Owen did taste them and rubbed them all over himself. He is big on rubbing stuff into his hair at the moment. Peanut butter, paint, whatever. He enjoys painting, but more on other surfaces than the paper in front of him. His finished painting is on our fridge. The other photo is from pizza night. We put Owen on the countertop so he could help put toppings on our pizza. He loved throwing cheese on the pizza, but when it came to pepperoni, none of them made it to the pizza, just his mouth. Haha. What a stinker. 

2. Julep polishes of the month.

       I received my November Julep Maven box recently. I chose the It Girl box which included two nail colors: Hailee, a khaki green suede and Nora, a silver aubergine suede. The box also included a matte top coat and three nail polish remover pads. The colors are really gorgeous and the suede finish is really neat by itself and with a shiny topcoat. The problem with the polishes is that they chip very easily. So it almost makes them unusable unless you are willing to touch them up on a daily basis or change your polish frequently. I have tried all the tips and tricks to try to make the manicure last longer, but nothing seems to make a big difference in their ability to last. 

     I am really looking forward to seeing Julep's nail colors for December. From the sneak peaks I've seen on Facebook, I think they are going to be glitter polishes and they are going to be so beautiful. If you want to join in time to get a December box, you need to do so before November 20. It's the best (and cheapest) way to buy Julep products because you get discounts on everything and access to colors before everyone else! Plus, you can join now for just a penny (see the code below). Here are some others benefits of the Julep Maven program. 

• $40-$60 worth of nail products delivered to your door each month for only $19.99.
• You get to preview the colors you will receive each month.
• You can skip receiving a box if nail polish isn't in your budget for the month or you dislike all the colors. 
• You can earn a free month by referring two friends to the program using your referral link. (Mine is below and I'd be so happy if you used it!)
• You can cancel at anytime simply by giving Julep a call.

     Sound good? Then fill out a style quiz HERE so Julep can tailor your boxes to your personal style and use the code COLOR2012 or PENNY to receive your introductory box for just a $0.01. 

3. House projects.

       We haven't done much work inside our house for a while, but we were able to finally do some more painting this past weekend. I have had our hallway taped off with painter's tape since August (embarrassing, I know) and we finally just now got around to matching the paint color from our kitchen/dining area through the hallway. The previous owners had painted the kitchen and dining area a dark green color and the hallway was a yellowy beige color. We thought it looked weird since the walls connect to have them painted two different colors, so we decided to paint it the same color as our kitchen. We also bought paint for our living room so I hope we will be able to tackle that job soon. 

4. Christmas planner.

        Last year I made a Christmas planner to keep track of all my purchases, to do lists, and menus for the holidays. When I saw online that the bloggers who created the design for my planner last year had made a new design for this year, I was excited to make another. But then the realities of my lack of time and Owen's now shorter naptime made me realize that making an entirely new planner was kind-of silly. Instead, I just tore out the pages from last year and replaced the 2011 decorations with the new 2012 ones. And what was a couple hour project last year became a five minute project this year. Bam! If you are interested in making a similar planner, check the blog Eighteen25. 

5. Advent update. 

        Now that I have all the books I need for our Christmas book advent, I have started wrapping the books up and labeling them for each day. I am also starting to investigate some craft ideas and recipes to go with some of the books so we can have even more fun with our advent idea. I also figured we could watch some of the movies based on the books too, like Polar Express and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I found the numbers on Pinterest and if you are searching for printable colored numbers, you can find them here. 

6. What I'm reading now. 

      I am finished reading "Broken Harbor" from last week and boy, did it not disappoint! It was such a suspenseful creepy book to read before bed. And it definitely ended completely different from how I thought it would end. I recommend it. Now, I decided to switch it up with something a little lighter - "When In Doubt, Add Butter" by Beth Harbison. Here's the synopsis: "As far as Gemma is concerned, her days of dating are over. In fact, it’s her job to cater other peoples’ dates, and that’s just fine by her. At thirty-seven, she has her own business, working as a private chef, and her life feels full and secure. She’s got six steady clients that keep her hands full. For Gemma, cooking is predictable. Recipes are certain. Use good ingredients, follow the directions, and you are assured success. Life, on the other hand, is full of variables. So when Gemma’s takes an unexpected turn on a road she always thought was straight and narrow, she must face her past and move on in ways she never would have imagined. Because sometimes in life, all you need is a little hope, a lot of courage, and—-oh yes—-butter." It is pretty funny so far and I'm definitely digging the sense of humor of the main character's romantic interest as well. 

7. We won!

      Earlier this week, I submitted a photo of Owen for a contest on Facebook for the company Stork Stack and was surprised when I found out that we were one of the winners. Stork Stack had joined with Funny Face Cranberries to give free product to 10 randomly selected winners. Everyone was asked to post a photo of their child making a funny face so I sent in a photo of Owen making his "sour face." And then on top of that, they chose Owen's photo when they announced the winners. Check it out! 

The Honest Company Review: Part 2

    

      Now that I have been a subscriber to The Honest Company since July, I have been able to try out a ton of their products and I thought I would post a review of my thoughts on each of the ones that I've tried. I have tried at least 14 of their more than 20 products. I haven't found one product that I disliked enough to never want to order it again. And many have become my favorites, particularly their healing balm and bubble bath. We are also still loving our diapers and wipes bundle. The diaper line has recently released new patterns that are really cute and a new limited edition holiday diaper with snowflakes is available now. 

From left to right, hand soap, dish detergent, and fruit and veggie wash. Not pictured: Honest Rinse Aid.

• Honest hand soap: This 12-ounce hand soap is infused with organic lemongrass oil and grapefruit seed botanical extracts to protect, clean and soften hands. The low-suds lather is non-toxic, ph neutral, safe, and effective. The lemongrass scent is clean and refreshing. I really like this handsoap. It doesn't seem like it leaves my hands feeling dry after I wash them time after time all day long. And the scent is really pleasant. It's not overpowering, but makes my hands smell clean. Retails for $5.99.
• Honest dish soap: This 16-ounce dish soap easily penetrates foods, milk and formula residue, and general household messes. The ultra-concentrated formula features tons of suds. It is hypoallergenic and free of synthetic dyes and fragrances. It leaves dishes streak free and spotless. I love the white grapefruit scent. And it's gentle on my hands while still getting my dishes squeaky clean. You could also use it as hand soap if you prefer the grapefruit scent to the lemongrass scent of the hand soap. Retails for $5.95.
• Honest Fruit + Veggie Wash: This 8-ounce 100 percent plant-based non-toxic fruit and vegetable wash safely removes toxic pesticides and chemical residues along with pathogens, waxes, dirt, oils, and bacteria surface contaminants. It leaves no taste or odor behind and is significantly more effective than rinsing foods with water alone. It also inhibits browning and helps produce to last 200 percent times longer. I am in love with this fruit and vegetable cleaner. It is super easy to use. Just throw the produce in a colander, spritz it with the cleaner, wait a few minutes and then scrub and rinse off with water. It has a pleasant citrus-y scent. Retails for $6.99.
• Honest Rinse Aid: This pure rinse formula safely cleans and adds sparkle to dishes, eliminating haze, spotting, streaking, and calcium deposits. Dishes and glassware come out clean without any chemical residue left behind. Its gentle enough to wash china, silver, and porcelain. The bottle contains enough rinse aid for 75 loads depending on your dishwasher's average release amounts. This rinse aid works okay. I have noticed a difference in our glasses since I began using it. We do have an older dishwasher that needs replacing though so I can't speak to how well this would do with a better dishwasher. Retails for $5.95.

The Honest Company dryer sheets and laundry detergent. Not pictured is the all purpose spray cleaner.

• Honest Laundry Detergent: This 70-ounce laundry detergent cleans stubborn stains, dirt, food, and other messes. It's also suitable for more delicate laundry and rinses away clean leaving clothing softer, brighter, and cleaner. The detergent is unscented and dye-free to avoid causing reactions in those with sensitive skin and babies. The 2X ultra-concentrated formula can wash 70 high efficiency loads using just a small amount per load. This detergent is great. I can feel a difference in the softness of my clothes and I am so impressed with how little I need to use to clean my clothes. I ordered a bottle in my first family essentials order back in July and still have not run out. I also like that it scent-free so that it is hard on dirt, yet gentle on our clothes and skin. Retails for $12.95.
• Honest Dryer Cloths: These innovative "wet" dryer cloths are specially formulated with plant-based ingredients to gently infuse softeners directly into fabrics. They are free of animal by-products which can leave a sticky, gummy residue that causes fabric colors to dull over time. Clothing feels extra-soft, naturally fresh, and static free after use. Each pack contains 32 dryer cloths. Each one can be used up to two times. These dryer sheets work really well with the exception of being a little fragile. In a load of heavy towels, they sometimes get completely destroyed and turn into fluff. And remembering to find the dryer sheet and reuse it after the first time is a little inconvenient. But otherwise, they leave my clothes feeling really soft and static-free. I just wish that more came in the package. Retails for $6.95.
• Honest Multi-Surface Cleaner: This 24-ounce plant-based cleaner effectively penetrates and emulsifies dirt, grime, and fingerprints. Great for cleaning all surfaces and leaves no toxic residue behind. Grapefruit scent. I really love this cleaner. It works well and smells great. I keep it on the counter so that I can wipe down my kitchen counters throughout the day and clean up all kinds of Owen-related messes. Retails for $5.95.

From left to right, sun screen, shampoo and body wash, bug spray, conditioner, and face and body lotion. Not pictured is the healing balm/diaper rash cream and bubble bath.

• Honest Sunscreen: This 3 oz. sunscreen is broad spectrum SPF 20, fragrance free and water resistant. It contains no petrochemicals like those in most conventional, mass-market sunscreens. The zinc-oxide formula is safe for use on infants. This sunscreen is really great. The SPF isn't as high as I would normally like, but that's fine if I reapply to Owen frequently. The formula is really thick and creamy and can leave a white-ish residue look to his skin, but it seems to soak in well and isn't greasy. We had no baby burns when using this in Florida. Retails for $13.95. 
• Honest Shampoo and Body Wash: This 6.8 fl. oz. shampoo and body wash smells like sweet orange vanilla. It is ph-balanced, and non-irritating and contains vitamin E, aloe, and calendula to moisturize and hydrate hair and skin. It contains no harsh chemicals and is sensitive enough for daily use. This shampoo and body wash is one of my favorite Honest products. It's especially important because we like to give Owen a bath before bed every night to calm him down and this doesn't dry out his skin with daily use like other baby washes we have used before. Plus, it smells absolutely delicious! My only problem with this product is the small size of the bottle. If I were to use this on myself, Tim, and Owen, we would run through it really quickly and have to order at least a couple bottles each month. [Update: The Honest Company recently increased the size of the bottle for the shampoo and body wash.] Retails for $9.95.
• Honest Bug Spray: This 4 oz. bug spray DEET-free bug spray contains no harsh, synthetic or petroleum-based ingredients. Formulated with essential oils to naturally repel buys, it smells like rosemary, citronella, and wintergreen. It repels bugs like mosquitoes and stable flies for up to four hours. I love this bug spray because it is so hard to find one that is safe for use on small kids. This one smells pleasant and is effective from what I could tell when using it on Owen. Retails for $12.95.
• Honest Conditioner: This conditioner compliments the shampoo and body wash. It contains no harsh chemicals and is hypoallergenic and tear-free. I have used it on my hair and it really works well. It leaves my hair feeling really soft and I don't have to use a ton of it.  Retails for $9.95.
• Honest Face and Body Lotion: This 6.8 oz. lotion uses calendula and botanicals. It is hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested and approved, and non-toxic. Appropriate for babies and adults. I really like this lotion for me. The only problem I have with the one I received is that is smells like roses, which really ruins Owen's yummy creamsicle scent when I use it on him after baths. The Honest Company website states that this lotion is unscented so maybe they have changed their formula and it no longer smells like roses. I don't use it on Owen, but on myself currently because I don't like the rose scent for him. It isn't too thick and rubs in well. It isn't greasy and leaves no weird feeling on my skin after I apply it.  Retails for $9.95.
• Honest Bubble Bath: This 12 ounce bubble bath smells like tangerines. It is ultra-pure and soothing and will not dry or irritate skin if used daily. This is the best bubble bath ever! We love it. It only takes a few capfuls to fill the tub with bubbles and I don't have to agitate the water with my hand to make them appear, just pour it under the running faucet and it does the trick itself. The bubbles last the whole bath and don't disappear once I start using soap on Owen and he loves them. Retails for $11.95.
• Honest Healing Balm: This 3 ounce fragrance free diaper rash cream is filled with USDA certified organic essential oils like sunflower, olive oil, chickweed, and tamanu. Castor oil helps to heal existing diaper rash and serves as an excellent urine barrier. It contains no preservatives or synthetic scents to soothe delicate skin. It is also versatile and can be used on minor scrapes and burns as well. This healing balm is one of my absolute favorite Honest Company products. It works so very well and doesn't have a disgusting scent like most other diaper rash creams. And it works so well. Owen had an raw place on his boy parts a couple months ago and after using the healing balm, it only took three days for it to be completely healed! It was a miracle. I cannot recommend this product enough. Retails for $12.95.

Owen sporting The Honest Company's reusable swim diaper in the breton stripe pattern.

• Honest Swim Diaper: This swim diaper is made of stretchy, waterproof, and hygienic polyester knit. It works better than disposable swim diapers and meets health standards for all public pools. It is chlorine and fade resistant. It has an adjustable waist with ties and non-chafing elastic around the legs for a custom fit. It can be machine washed and air dried so it can be used over and over. Comes in two patterns. It can also be used for potty training. We really love our reusable swim diaper. It worked great when we went to Florida this year and Owen looks super cute in it. It doesn't get super bulky and waterlogged like disposable swim diapers. Retails for $12.95. 

      The next new products that I have ordered and that are set to arrive soon are the body oil, hand sanitizer, and lip balm. The company is frequently releasing new products and making improvements to old ones. For instance, the next round of baby wipes are supposed to be interlaced to make them easier to remove from the wipes container. The company has also changed the increments by which you can receive your bundles. Now you can change your schedule to receive bundles on a monthly, 6-week, or 8-week basis. I love this because we have never used an entire month's supply of diapers before we receive new diapers so I've spread our deliveries out. The company has also recently started a gifting program where you can buy 1, 3, or 6 months of the bundles for a friend or family member. This would make a really great baby shower gift. Another bonus for this company is their great customer service. If you want to make a change to your bundle that isn't an option on the website, you can just call and ask. For example, I was able to split my diaper bundle into two sizes when I was trying to see if Owen was ready for size four diapers so that I got half size threes and half size fours. I was also able to add one package of size 1 diapers into my order one month when I wanted to gift them to a friend who is having a baby. 

      If you are interested in trying The Honest Company, they offer a free trial pack of products and diapers and wipes for just $5.95 shipping. If after seven days, you decide you love the products, you will be automatically enrolled in their monthly delivery system. If you decide the products aren't for you, you can just cancel before the week is up. To check out The Honest Company for yourself, click here. The link will take you to my referral so I can earn money toward my subscription. I'd be so happy if you used it! For a limited time, if you sign up with my link, you will earn a $10 credit to your account after making your first purchase. 
      Are you an Honest member? What are your favorite products? 

UPDATE: I have tried out even more Honest Company products now and you can see the reviews HERE.

Menu Monday

       This week's menu includes some new recipes and some old favorites. I am still enjoying trying out recipes from my new Pioneer Woman cookbook and of course, Skinny Taste has tons of great healthy recipes for fall. I can't wait to try her most recent recipe which is a turkey potpie with a sweet potato crust. It sounds really yummy. My in-laws are coming to visit this weekend for a pre-Thanksgiving get-together so we'll be having a "Thanksgiving" type meal, though not a traditional one since we'll both be having turkey later in the week. 

• Monday: Chicken spaghetti casserole. This is an older recipe from Pioneer Woman's blog that I haven't made since we lived in Washington. It was one of the recipes that I made when we were expecting Owen and froze a bunch of it for after he was born. It is really tasty. Or at least my version of it is. I leave out the green peppers and pimentos in exchange for chopped green chiles to give it a more mexican-type flavor and some heat. It is really warm and comforting and will be great for our parenting class's casserole night where each couple brings a different type of casserole to share. 

• Tuesday: Italian meatball soup. This is a recipe included in Pioneer Woman's new cookbook. It looks really delicious and is packed with vegetables. This will be the fourth of the seven soup recipes in the cookbook that I will try. We are soup fanatics at this house and could eat soup pretty much every day of the week once it gets cold. Even Owen loves eating soup, though we mainly have to feed it to him because he still doesn't understand why gravity doesn't hold the food to his spoon even when he holds it vertically. I also love making soups on Tuesdays because Tim always has to work late and I never know when he'll come home so I can have the soup made if I have to feed Owen early, yet the soup will still be warm and ready for whenever Tim comes home. 

• Wednesday: Leftover soup.
• Thursday: Skinny chicken enchiladas. Enchilada perfection. I have never made this for someone and had them not say that they were the best enchiladas they had ever eaten. And they are relatively healthy! This is one of my favorite Skinny Taste recipes and one that I will continue to make forever and ever. Amen.

• Friday: Chicken pot pie soup with easy garlic cheddar biscuits. This is a really easy and tasty soup from Skinny Taste and a way to have the chicken pot pie flavor without as many calories. Also, the biscuits are a copy of the Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuits which are delicious too. I am curious to see if Owen will like this soup and if it will allow us to sneak some more vegetables into his diet. He's been pretty vegetable skittish lately, though he did eat brussels sprouts twice last week. Weird, huh?

• Saturday: Tangy tomato brisket with mashed potatoes and roasted garlic brussels sprouts. This will be our Thanksgiving-ish meal with Tim's parents. It is a Pioneer Woman recipe and one that looks super easy and super delicious. Only three ingredients for the brisket and then you just let is roast away in the oven for seven hours. Since there will only be the three adults and one toddler, I didn't plan to make a ton of side dishes or anything. We will most likely have my apple pie for dessert because Tim requested it. I am a little nervous about the brisket because I know that the ideal brisket is smoked and I've never made this before. But I have never been severely disappointed by a Pioneer Woman recipe and hopefully the first time won't be while my in-laws are visiting. 

• Sunday: Homemade pizza night with side salads. For an easy dinner the night before my in-laws head back home, we will have a homemade pizza night. I can make a few pizza dough balls early and then we can top them however we like and clean-up should be pretty easy too. I am thinking that we will make a plain pepperoni pizza, Pioneer Woman's steakhouse pizza, and a third that will feature whatever toppings my in-laws enjoy best. The last time we made pizza at home, Owen had a great time helping put cheese and toppings on. Though for some reason, he wasn't able to put pepperoni anywhere but in his mouth! 

Random Friday

1. Downton Abbey.

      After hearing so much about the television series Downton Abbey, I finally decided to check it out last weekend when I was sick. It is my new favorite show and I am busily trying to catch up on the first two seasons before season three begins in January in the U.S. The show begins in the years leading up to World War I with the drama centering on the wealthy Crawley family of the estate Downton Abbey and their servants. If you are a fan of period drama or of Pride and Prejudice, then chances are you will love it too. I love all the characters and the forbidden romances, and the great writing (particularly the biting one-liners of the Dowager Countess, played by Maggie Smith.) If you're interested in trying out this series, Netflix Streaming has the first season online and you can rent both seasons through their mail system, Hulu Plus has both seasons online, and you might even be able to find them at your local library. The third season (which is already underway in England) begins on PBS on January 6.      

2. What I'm reading now.

      I am currently reading "Broken Harbor" by Tana French. Here's the synopsis from Amazon: "On one of the half-built, half-abandoned luxury developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children are dead. His wife, Jenny, is in intensive care. At first, Detective Mick Scorcher and his rookie partner, Richie, think it's going to be an easy solve. But too many small things can't be explained. The half dozen baby monitors, their cameras pointing at holes smashed in the walls. The files erased from their computer. The story Jenny told her sister about a shadowy intruder who was slipping past all the locks. And Broken Harbor holds memories for Scorcher as well. Seeing the case on the news sends his sister Dina off the rails again, and she's resurrecting something that Scorcher thought he had tightly under control: what happened to their family one summer at Broken Harbor, back when they were children."
     I first started reading Tana French with her first novel "In the Woods" several years ago. I also loved her second book "The Likeness." This is her fourth novel and her signature blend of police procedural and psychological thriller is really fascinating to read. I have never been able to guess the ending of one of her books before I read it. She is a writer that truly surprises me every time.        

3. 31 Days of Loving Your Husband

      I finished my 31 Day challenge, but I haven't had the time to blog about it. It was definitely a challenge toward the end when I started having trouble coming up with something to do for every day. But rest assured, I figured it out and I think Tim had a really great month. A few of the things that I did in the last week were preordering him Halo 4, renting him a "man" movie full of explosions and guns instead of another romantic comedy, and putting away his clean laundry instead of just folding it and waiting for him to put it away. The whole experience has been really fun and I have seen improvement in the way that Tim and I both take time for one another even when we're busy. 

4. 45 Days...

     Not to stress you out, but there are only 45 days until Christmas. I have been starting to buy presents for our family to spread out the spending over a longer period of time and scouring the Internet for deals. I have already bought gifts for my father-in-law, my brother-in-law, and one of my sisters-in-law. And a couple for Owen. Hopefully this weekend, I can sit down with Tim and brainstorm some ideas for our own Christmas wishlists and also come up with some ideas for the rest of the people in our family. 

5. Coffee Lovers Cravebox

      Drawings for the limited edition Coffee Lovers Cravebox are now open. I signed up in hopes of winning one for my coffee-loving husband. You have to fill out a survey when you sign up and it gives you a few hints as to what is in the box. I think it will come with coffee (of course), flavored syrup, cereal, and maybe some other type of coffee related snack like biscotti or something. Cravebox has two other boxes currently open if you're interested: the holiday spruce-up box of cleaning supplies and the Ultimate Thanksgiving box. You can click here to check them out. 

Owen's Christmas List

     At the request of several people, here is Owen's Christmas list again this year. He is of course always in need of new clothes and shoes. Books are always a good idea for our little reader. And of course, I put some ideas for toys. We love Green Toys, Hape Toys, Plan Toys, Melissa and Doug and Skip Hop brands.

1. Clothes- size 18-24 months or 24 months

2. New books - Owen loves books about animals and vehicles (The one below will fit in great in our bedtime routine so I plan to buy it for him myself)

3. Monthly subscription box for toddler - Citrus Lane or Stork Stack both offer gift subscriptions and you can typically find discounts on their Facebook pages particularly when a holiday is coming up. Owen loves our subscription to Citrus Lane (which runs out in December) and comes running to open his box whenever it comes in the mail. It's a great way to discover new products.

4. Green Toys Tool Set

5. Green Toys My First Blocks set

6. Shoes - Owen currently wears size 6.5 Wide. He needs shoes to wear to church and he will of course need larger sizes for next year.

7. Winter accessories - mittens, hats (maybe something with a snap or velcro under the chin to make Owen keep it on), jackets, coats, etc. The one below is from L.L. Bean, which has some affordable, well-made ones. 

L.L. Bean fleece critter hat and mitten set

8. Pajamas and slippers - size 18-24 months and slippers size 6 to 7

Children's Place sells my favorite pajamas. 

L.L. Bean Animal Paws moose slippers

        I have already bought Owen a couple Christmas gifts from us. I bought him the Green Toys dump truck and a boxed set of the books "Little Pea," "Little Oink," and "Little Hoot" by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. 

Owen is nineteen months old!

      No official doctor's appointment this month (or until he is 2!), but since he has to get a second round of his flu shot soon, I may be able to find out how much Owen weighs and I can update here later. He is about 25 pounds though, if I had to guess. He continues to impress us with his ability to learn new things every day and we frequently have people comment on how smart and cute he is. 

Eating:

• Owen eats three meals a day and an afternoon snack normally. 
• He still eats basically whatever we eat unless we are having something spicy. 
• He is not a big fan of most vegetables, though he did surprise us by eating all of his brussels sprouts the other night. What?!?!
• Owen's favorite foods are pizza, Goldfish crackers, turkey sausage, my homemade veggie pasta, and yogurt.
• Owen loves to "dip" his food, fingers, and pretty much anything else in ketchup or other sauces. He frequently asks to "dip it?"
• Owen drinks whole milk with each main meal and water in between. He has also enjoyed some apple cider this month.
• If you ask Owen what he wants for breakfast, he will most likely say, "Uh, sausage and uh, muffin?"

Sleeping:

• Owen naps in the afternoon and generally goes down just after lunch around 1 p.m and sleeps for between an hour and a half to two hours.
• Owen goes to bed at night at 7:30 p.m. 
• He wakes up at around 8 a.m., sometimes earlier, sometimes later.
• Owen has gone back to sleeping through the night now that he is done teething for the time being. 
• Owen's going to bed routine consists of a bath, pajamas, reading a few books, and then snuggling and rocking in the chair with either mommy or daddy for a few minutes before putting him in his crib. We have about 5 books we alternate between for our bedtime routine and Owen basically has most of them memorized now. 

Things He Knows:

• Owen has a super large vocabulary. 
• Owen is a champ at stringing together words to communicate. Some of his frequent phrases are: "Daddy at work," "Don't want that," "Want my mommy" "Thank you mommy" "Sit on printer" "Read book?" 
• Owen still says "I sorry." 
• Owen will say "Bless you" whenever someone sneezes. He will say "thank you" if you say bless you when he sneezes.
• Owen can count to 10. He can even do it when we take turns filling in numbers for him.
• We have started teaching Owen the alphabet. He fills in a few of the letters when we say the alphabet, including I, P, and Z. 
• He still occasionally uses sign language, but knows the words for all his signs now and uses words more often or in conjunction with the signs. The signs he uses most are thank you, all done, and please. 
• He can say "Love you mommy" and "love you daddy."
• Owen says "bye bye" to many things. Trucks we pass on the road (bye bye truck), pumpkins on display outside the grocery store (bye bye pumpkin), pretty much anything... 
• Tim has taught Owen to "tackle" him and it's so cute. 
• We are continuing to teach Owen his shapes and colors. So far, he can recognize a circle, triangle, square, star, rectangle, and oval. He is a pro at the shapes sorter.
• Owen definitely knows his name and will refer to himself by name now. For example, he will point at pictures of himself and say "Baby Owen." 
• We are practicing obedience with Owen now and it is a daily struggle. He is a sweet boy, but can be super stubborn. 

Other Things I Want to Remember:

• Owen is wearing size 18 month and starting to wear size 18-24 months clothing. Although he is supposedly above the 50th percentile in length, most of his pants are too long and I have to roll them up. 
• Owen wears size 6 and 6.5 shoes, depending on the brand. His boots are size 7's and without a couple pairs of socks, they will fall off his feet.
• Owen is mainly in size four diapers though we are still working on using up our size 3's.
• Owen has 12 teeth completely in now (four in front on top and bottom and two top molars and two bottom molars) with three canine teeth for the most part through, but not completely. The tip of his bottom right canine tooth has just popped through recently. 
• Owen loves when we read to him and looking at books by himself. His favorite books are anything with trucks or animals. He really loves "Trucks Go," "The Going to Bed Book," and "Fox in Socks." He really loves Sandra Boynton books. He can even finish or fill in the words to some of the sentences of certain books when we're reading to him. 
• Owen's favorite songs are "Baa Baa Black Sheep,"  "Row Row Row Your Boat," "Hush Little Baby Don't You Cry," and "Old MacDonald." If you wait for him to fill in the animal when you sing "And on that farm, he had a..." he will 99.9 % of the time say sheep. He can also sing the EIEIO part. 
• Owen loves to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which we allow him to watch about once or twice a week. He knows most of the characters' names and seems to prefer Mickey and Goofy. He adores the "hotdog dance" at the end of each episode. 
• He frequently talks about members of our family and friends. We're not always sure what he's saying, but we catch Papa or Grandpa or David or other names in his babblings. 
• Owen loves playing with trucks and cars, balls, his shapes sorters (he has two now), and his music table. He has recently shown interest in his Poppity Pop Dino again.
• Owen enjoys playing outside and frequently asks to "Go owside?" While outside, he plays on his slide, picks flowers in the yard, and climbs up and down the stair off our front porch over and over. He also enjoys standing on the printer in the corner of our living room and peeking through the blinds to talk about what is outside. 
• Owen still displays some separation anxiety and fear in certain situations. When we leave him in nursery, the workers generally tell us that he calms down pretty quickly after we leave and plays happily the rest of the time there. He refused to ride the mechanical horse at the grocery store the other day, which was strange since he's ridden it several times before and talked about it the entire time we were shopping. 
• Owen is a major animal lover, particularly dogs and cats. He talks all the time about all the ones he knows, like my parent's cat Pumpkin and Katie and David's dogs Lexi and Cooper. A neighborhood cat comes to our house pretty much anytime we are outside nowadays and the two are becoming fast friends. 
• Owen is still a big music lover and will dance anytime he hears music. He loves country music in particular and danced up a storm at my cousin Johanna's wedding because they played a lot of country music. It was so cute!
• Owen loves playing with the children's apps on either my Nook or Tim's Nexus. His favorite is one that shows pictures of various animals, vehicles, and music instruments and plays the corresponding noise when he touches the screen.
• Owen still loves to put our shoes on now and try to walk around in them.  
• Owen is a daddy's boy the majority of the time and loves to do whatever daddy is doing. Everything daddy does is super fun. Owen typically only wants mommy specifically when he is sad. 
• Tim and I make a big production of hugging and kissing with a lot of noise because Owen loves to squeeze in between our legs whenever we do it. He generally goes, "Mmmm.." when he does it. It is so freakin' cute. 
• Owen will give "eskimo kisses" and rub his nose on yours if you say "Nose, nose." It's so funny watching him concentrate really hard on bringing his nose to yours and his eyes cross. 

     Here are some recent pictures I took of Owen playing in the yard while Tim was raking leaves. 

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Waving "Hi Daddy" as Tim took the leaves to the far side of our backyard to dump them. 

Helping daddy rake leaves.

Sporting his new Gymboree shirt and sweater and The Children's Place jeans I bought him recently. Great sales right now at both places!