Sweet Pea Box Review May 2013

    May is a difficult and changing month for kids clothing box companies, whether to Sweet Pea or Wittlebee.  Both companies are under new management and both companies are experiencing some growing pains.  At this time Sweet Pea is transitioning well with continuous shipment and communication to customers.  While Wittlebee seems to have some inventory shortage.  I truly hope both companies can prosper and succeed so we customers can enjoy even better deals and wider choices.

    My Sweet Pea Box (Bag) from the new owner arrived on June 3rd, shipped on May 25th and billed on May 18th.  As usual, I am very happy to see my Sweet Pea Box.

    If you are interested, email customerservice@sweetpeabox.com and mention "Three Princesses in NY".  I don't get money for referral but they may put something nice in my box, so big thank you!  :)

    My style is "Preppy" and the box is split into age 6, 5, and 2.

My size 2:

Ralph Lauren swimwear, retail $49.5:  This is a wonderful set!  They are so cute and perfect for the season.  LOVE!  :D  Not that I would literary spend $50 on kids swimwear but this set makes my whole box worthwhile!

Crazy 8 Sparkle Cupcake Flutter Tee and Stripe Bow Pocket Knit Short, retail $9.95 each:  They are soft and fun summer colors.  

My size 6/5

Crazy 8 Giraffe Bow Tank, retail $9.95.

Cutie Patootie mid-thigh cotton twill short with silver lurex and front pocket taping, tag says $26:  Nice solid shorts, perfect for my wild Princess Alpha.  She is pretty rough on clothes so these will be her go-to summer item.

Penelope Mack Spagetti strap top and woven shorts, I think they are from Macy's.  I guess they are about $20.  Nice light woven cotton material with delicate floral pattern.  Pretty cute.

O'Neill's Pumpkin Dress, retails $38.  I love the color!  Light and airy.  So pretty!

Overall the total value  would be $163.35.  For some shopping savvy moms they may find some good deals on some of the items but for $50 shipped to home, I am very happy.  It is fun to have surprises too.

I also scored the Violet + Moss top/dress for $10 on their Memorial Day blitz sale.  It is 100% organic cotton and the print are so sophisticated and adorable.  Its retail price is probably $30.

If you are interested, email customerservice@sweetpeabox.com and mention "Three Princesses in NY".  8 items for $50, 6 items for $40 and 4 items for $30.

Honest Company products review

I love organic and chemical free things, from clothes, food, to baby and cleaning products, so when I read about Honest Company, I knew I had to try it.

http://honest.com/accept_invitation/278752

They are offering free trial.  Just pay $5.95 for shipping and you get the baby sample pack and the essential sample pack.  A great deal to start sampling their products.

So for $5.95, these are what I got.

The Essential Sample Pack:
Honest Healing balm :  sooth, nurture and protect sensitive skin
Honest Hand Soap 2oz.:  advanced plant-based cleaning --organic lemongrass
Honest Face and Body Lotion:  nourishing, calming, and hydrating moisturizer
Honest Laundry Detergent 2oz.:  advanced plant-based cleaning
Honest Shampoo and Body Wash 1oz.:  pure, plant-based, hydrating cleanser

7 colorful diapers and 10 wipes
They have 13 different patterns for a little sophisticated look, so no more Huggies or Pampers designs!
Wipes are thick and "medical-grade" cloth.

I have tried all the samples.  They are light to apply and just feel very natural and with a nice light fragrance.  According to their website, they contain pomegranate, chamomile, cucumber, organic olive, safflower oils, calendula and lavender, etc.

I am just tired of all the chemicals in the household products.  My princesses have eczema and allergy, so switching to this "free & clear" company is something I could do.


Check out The Honest Company! You can get a free trial of their non-toxic, eco-friendly home and baby products at Honest.com. I gave them a try and I love it!

http://honest.com/accept_invitation/278752

Sweet Pea Box Review February 2013

Sweet Pea Box Review February 2013

I just love reviewing my Sweet Pea Box.  It is a children clothing subscription club that delivered to your house monthly.  You pick from 3 options and prices.  You can even divide the box into 3 kids, just note it in the comment box. 

* 4 item box is $30

* 6 item box is $40

* 8 item box is $50

Shipping is FREE!

They offer clothes for girls and boys ages from 0 to 8.  If you are interested, email customerservice@sweetpeabox.com and mention "Three Princesses in NY".  I don't get money for referral but Sweet Pea may put something nice in my box, so big thank you!  :)

My February box was unbelievably great!!

My style is Preppy and the box is split into age 6, 4, and 24 Months.

And a super plus note to their customer service.  The dress I received last month has a hole at the sleeve.  I emailed them with photos of the hole and they replied quickly stating they would send a new replacement in this month box.

I got

Tea Collection Forget Me Not Dress size 6 (the replacement) retail $25 or more:  Just LOVE this dress!

Tea Collection halter tank and shorts size 6 retail $35 or more:  What can I say, just WOW!

Maggie and Zoe dress/ tunic in grey:  very nice style and good quality.

Kate Quinn Organics dark green dress size 7 retail $25 or more.

Carter's red flower set size 24Month: good quality clothes

Old Navy butterfly top size 2: cute

Violet and Moss pink dress size 5:  100% organic cotton, retail $25 or more.

I am just blown away by this month box!

If you are tired of the drama of Wittlebee and want a little surprise, Sweet Pea Box is for you. 

You can check out more boxes on their Facebook page:

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Pea-Box/430363817026376?fref=ts

Sign up: email customerservice@sweetpeabox.com and mention "Three Princesses in NY". 

Citrus Lane Box Review April 2013

This is a girl box for almost 5 year olds (61 months).

Very excited to see the yellow box from Citrus Lane.

They usually shipped on the 15th of the month and get to me around 17-22th.

I really have to compliment Citrus Lane about their customer service.  The first box I received the shampoo/body wash was leaky and a couple of my items are covered in the body wash.  I emailed them and they sent out a new box by USPS priority mail (like three-day shipping).  Very happy with their solution.

In the April Citrus Lane box:

Wooden Stamp set from Melissa & Doug:  Retail $7.99.  Princess Alpha actually used this to create one of her "Happy Mother's Day" card.  Priceless!

Keepin' Fresh Kids Food Storage from Innobaby:  Retail $4.  Freezer-, microwave- and dishwasher safe, free from BPA, phathalates, PVC and lead.  Good stuff, whether to store leftover food, snack, or stacking toys.

Non-slip Placemat from Oogaa:  Retail $8.99.  Very useful for kids dining, and the pattern is cute too.

Shampoo & Body Wash from The Honest Company and a 20% off couopon:  Retail $9.95.  Natural and organic, that's enough to "sold" me.

Overall, very happy with this box.  Well done, Citrus Lane!

They are $25 per month and if you use my link, you save $10.  For $15 a box, that would be a great deal!

And for three months they have been selling out their boxes so if you want to get one, get it fast!

https://www.citruslane.com/invitedby/Ming.Lin

ipsy Glam Bag Review May 2013

Just got my ipsy glam bag in a shinny hot pink padded envelope!  Chic!

There are 5 small items, 4 full sizes and 1 trial sizes, with a chevron cosmetic bag and coupons.  $10, totally worth every penny!!

Join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag! You get 4-5 beauty products every month delivered to your door, for just $10. Michelle Phan curates the bags! Check it out here: http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hfo2qoo744ic15lo

Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia Perfume roll-on:  Retail $12, smell heavenly!
Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss:  Retail $15, also a nice smell!
Yaby  cc008 buff:  not too sure what it is, maybe foundation or base.

 The cute bag

Zoya full size "Neely"mint green/ seafoam color nail lacquer:  Retail $8,  I guess this color is hot right now.  Coach store has lots of bags in that color in current collection.

Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment for all hair types $13.5, fantastic review at Amazon.  Got to try this on my hair!

Zoya nail color:

Everything in the bag

I did fill up some survey questions at the beginning.  Maybe that's why I get all the things organic and natural.  I LOVE IT!

Sweet Pea Box Review January 2013

Sweet Pea Box Review January 2013

I am excited to review the second box I got from Sweet Pea Box -- children clothing subscription.  

Sweet Pea box is a children clothing subscription service.  You get  4 items for $30, 6 items for $40 and 8 items for $50 with no shipping charges.  They offer boys and girl sizes new born to 8 years old.  If you are interested, email customerservice@sweetpeabox.com and mention "Three Princesses in NY".  I don't get money for referral but Sweet Pea would put something nice in my box, so thank you!  :)

My box is a combination of size 7, 5 and 2, style: preppy.

Super excited and Sweet Pea keeps getting better and better!!

Size 4/5

Old Navy knit dress:  super comfy and nice color

Bellinni tunic with matching headband:  pretty damask pattern

Size 5/6 

Tea Collection Juniper Wrap Dress and matching Cosmic Berry Skinny Stretch Leggings:  Retail at least $46

Ralph Lauren black dress:  Retail at least $35

L.A Teez:  cute girl in mint green color

My jaw totally dropped when I see these!  I was screaming and jumping with joy!  Sweet Pea Box rocks!!!!!

Size 2

Bellinni black damask tunic with matching pants:  very soft

Overall, I couldn't be happier with Sweet Pea Box!  

Their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Pea-Box/430363817026376?fref=ts

If you don't want to go through the messy clearance racks (like me) and want some cute clothes from a company who cares and respond to you, Sweet Pea Box is for you!

Sign up: email customerservice@sweetpeabox.com and mention "Three Princesses in NY". 

"Actual Size-Science" Review 2013

"Actual Size-Science" Review, 2013

I had the opportunity to review an exciting science book, "Actual Size - Science".
It is a book with 36 complete lesson plans, 36 accurate blueprints to teach kids science in a fun way.

The contents include:
Life Sciences:  Dinosaurs, blue Whale, Giant Squid, Sharks, Polar Bear, Bison, Elephant, Condor, Tallest Tree, Giant Kelp, Termite Mound, Biggest Snakes, Biggest Spider

Pysical Sciences:  The Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef, Meteor Crater, Mount Everst, The Matterhorn, Uluru, Victoria Falls, Deepest Water, Amazon River, Clouds, Eye of a Hurricane, Solar System.

Technology:  First Aircraft, First Computer, Sputnik, Mercury Capsule, International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, Large Hardon Collider, Tallest Dam, Deepwater Drilling, Longest Train, Largest Truck.

Kids will use sidewalk chalk to create full-scale chalk drawing outdoors.  The teacher/ parents could tell them interesting facts about the object they drew.  There is also a vocabulary section and conclusion so kids can take away from the lesson.

I find it very interesting since when the weather is nice out, kids LOVE to play and draw outdoors.  It is fun and amazing to show them how giant a Tyrannosaurus Rex is and the longest snake is.  Sometimes it is not quite likely to draw the Matterhorn, but kids can have fun imagining how gigantic it would be.

I am particularly interested in the lesson about Solar System.  It is fun and a memorable way for kids to learn about the Solar System and they could visualize how far the planets are apart.

All in all, this is a nice resource book for teachers and parents if they want to introduce science in a fun and tangible way to kids.

Link to purchase:  https://www.educents.com/national-deals/deal/visual-learning-books

The cover

To the Teacher

Peninsula Hotel ESPA Spa NYC review

This is my long-awaited spa-cation for myself.  :)
I always enjoy going to different spas and getting pampered.  Once in a while I would splurge on the luxurious ones.  This time, I chose the ESPA spa at The Peninsula Hotel, the top 10 in NYC.

The spa is located at the 21st floor on 700 Fifth Avenue.  I could not wait to dive into the glass-enclosed pool on the 23rd floor.  The pool is 42 feet (13 meters) long and the temperature was perfect, not too cold, not too warm.  I was the only one swimming in the gorgeous pool in a Tuesday afternoon.  It was so quiet I heard my breathing.  Seeing the blue water tank linking to the sky, I was wondering how Pi could survive so many days alone in the ocean.  The earth is so vast and why do people need to be mean to each other or fight over tiny  trivia?  As the water steadily splashed onto the edge, as the water rushed through my finger tips, the water cleansed away my worries...

I headed down to the shower room then the Thermal Experiences.  It was an enclave with dark gold and black mosaic tiles:  Finnish sauna, ice fountain and experience shower.  Before the massage I took a break at the Relaxation Room.  It was a room with four adjustable massage beds.  The fluffy and weighted Frette comforter cradled me while I enjoyed the Zico coconut juice.  William came to welcome me to the Therapy Room.

He was a gem!  I am quite experienced with different massages and he knew human body and had strong hands.  He quickly found my trouble spots and went down vertebrate by vertebrate.  It hurt a little bit, but the kind of hurt you know your body likes.  He worked some magic on my neck, which not many people ventured or even successfully fixed my neck problem.  I was very pleased with my deep tissue massage with William.

Extra point:
You can't beat the view on Fifth Avenue.
The well maintained pool
The Relaxation Room and Asian Tea Lounge
The deep tissue massage

It was $175 for the mid week special.  Compared to other high-end spas in NY averaging $225 per hour, it was pricy but not the most expensive one.

After my mini vacation, I hopped on the subway and my three princesses smiling faces appeared.


The chandeliers at the lobby of Peninsula Hotel

The million dollar view of the Fifth Avenue...facing south

                                                                 ... facing north

The pool making me thinking about Pi as in Ang Lee's fantastic movie "Life of Pi"

The Asian Tea Lounge serving Verbena Mint Tea, Green Tea and Earl Grey Organic Tea

Sweet Pea Box Review December 2012

I am excited to review the first box I got from Sweet Pea.  They started in the middle of December 2012 so receiving the box was like a Christmas  gift to me.. oh, my three princesses!  ;)

Sweet Pea box is a children clothing subscription service.  You get  4 items for $30, 6 items for $40 and 8 items for $50 with no shipping charges.  They offer boys and girl sizes new born to 8 years old.  They are pausing April and open up to a bigger and better company in May.  So if you are interested, email customerservice@sweetpeabox.com and mention "Three Princesses in NY".  I don't get money for referral but Sweet Pea would put something nice in my box, so thank you!  :)

My box is a combination of size 7, 5 and 2, style: preppy.

I get

Tea Collection plum romper size 2:  super super soft and comfy, Love it!  Retails: at least $20.

Ralph Lauren navy dress size 2:  Who gives Ralph Lauren in a $50 box?  The dress itself would be at least $20.

Old Navy tights size 2-4

Tea Collection Radiant Rice leggings in apple green size 5:  What can I say...  Mama loves Tea Collection!  :)  Retail: $18

Old Navy yellow birdie shirt

Old Navy yellow/grey floral shirt

Old Navy grey ruched leggings with jewels:  These make very nice combinations.

Jessica Simpson Downtown girl pink tee size M

Old Navy white leggings with golden polka dots size M

Old Navy hot pink tiered skort size 6/7

The overall value would be way more than $100.  Excited to see my second box.  Stay tuned.  :)

Citrus Lane Box Review March 2013

This is a girl box for almost 5 year olds (60 months).

Very excited to see the yellow box from Citrus Lane.

They usually shipped on the 15th of the month and get to me around 17-22th.

We got:

Slumber Friends Plush Pillow from Cloud B    Retail price: $20

It is so soft and has a sweet lavender aroma!  It is way cuter in person.  

Princess Gamma immediately picked it up and ran around the house with it.  Princess Beta brought it to school with her today.

Ivy+Bean Paper Doll Set from Chronicle Books.  Retail price: $14.99  

Wow, this is a dangerously fun gift for girls!  Princess Alpha and Princess Beta bagged me to open it when they saw it.  They had fun all night with the two dolls, 6 pages of reusable stickers and two scenes.  It is absolutely fun with this set!

Jungle Tattoos from Wee Gallery.  Retail:  maybe $6?

We have many tattoos from birthday parties and favors, but these are unique with a little designer look. Absolutely love the graphics.  I may use the 20%off code to get somethings from Wee Gallery.

Just Bananas from Just Tomatoes.  Retail: maybe $3?

A small pack of dried bananas.  Very crunchy and natural.

$20 coupon from JustFab

Not too crazy about this since they have the same deal for all new customers anyway.

Overall, very happy with this box.  Well done, Citrus Lane!

They are $25 per month and if you use my link, you save $10 and for $15 a box, that would be a great deal!

https://www.citruslane.com/invitedby/Ming.Lin