January 2015 BarkBox

January represents the final BarkBox review for a while. With the Canadian dollar hitting the skids against the US it now means that every box is over $40 CDN. While I like the box each month - spending $500/year - well is it worth it?

That said, I could sign up for a yearly subscription for significant savings. I rarely do that with any subscription though - my longest box commitment has been 6 months.

Please don't misunderstand - BarkBox has been a HUGE hit with "the Goo". She's even received items from BarkShop that I believe are excellent quality. Their replenish service is excellent. Eventually I will return - when the dollar gets closer to par. A $10 premium each month makes me grumpy - but that is not BarkBox's fault.

Another feature I really appreciate is the survey they send each month asking for my opinion on the selection in that month's box. Great way to get customer feedback. 

Enough with the currency ramble - Let's move on to another fun BarkBox. This month's theme is ICE AGE!

First up: R2Pet Monster at a price of $10. It's darned cute. The Goo has plenty of toys so I am holding on to this for her until she loses every other cuddly toy under a bed or couch somewhere.

Second is Caru Real Pork Stew. Cost $6. Grain, Gluten, GMO & Preservative free. Human grade ingredients. Goo has not tried it yet.

Aussie Naturals Salmon Skins. Price is $8. She LOVES these.

Max & Ruffy's Blizzard Bites. Cost is $5. Organic biscuit treats with lots of wonderful spices.

Butchers Block Bone Trachea. Price is $2. Now I'm a little puzzled as the Goo usually goes mad for treats like this - I gave it to her and she turned up her nose at it and never went back to eat it. Unusual to say the least. She's so food-moody.

That's it for the box review.

I enjoy BarkBox - I hope you do (or will) too. The Goo gets so excited when it arrives and the company puts plenty of thought and care into choosing the items.

I just need to fix the international currency issues - simple.


Here are my BarkBox reviews.

Wish to subscribe?

Woof and Cheers!

The Goo and Lori

New Year and my 1st Travel Adventure of 2015

There will always be a list of places that you would like to visit. My list in loooonnnngggg.

I would love to just explore forever. Alas, there's a pesky thing called work and income that calls and limits my nomadic desires.

Lucky for me I have Krista, Melany and Taryn as friends who invited me to spend a weekend in NYC with them. I am the only one who has never been to New York before (except an airport to head elsewhere) so I am beyond excited. I would love to see everything but with their sage advice will limit the number of attractions to a manageable amount.

Photo By Josh Libatique

Photo By Paulo Barcellos Jr.

Here are a couple of ideas:

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge
Attending the NYC Ballet
Attending a Broadway show
Attending a Rangers hockey game (Hurricanes vs Rangers)
Attending a Knicks game (Lakers vs Knicks)
Attending the NY Philharmonic concert
Roaming around (Central Park, Chelsea, Meatpacking District)
Eating from food trucks
Having high tea
Drinking a flat white
Drinking beer

I am staying in a historic and stunningly beautiful (and convenient) hotel in Manhattan. Pretty good for my 1st time hey?

If you are interested in our shenanigans, please visit back to follow my trip to the Big Apple!

I have decided to hashtag my tweets and photos as #LoriInNYC for ease of searching.
Instagram (as pitcherplantnl)

Twitter (as pitcherplantnl)
#LoriInNYC Tweets

I've also included all the tweets from my friends Krista, Melany and Taryn!

#tinybigappleangels Tweets
Cheers!
Lori 

January 2015 Pawpak + Discount Code

Yes... This month I will be reviewing 5 different pet subscription box offerings.

5... It's for research.

This month's box from PawPak is valentine themed and I will warn you now, I'm in love with it!

This is the 2nd PawPak box we've received and it was so full of stuff.

5 items and all were a hit with 'The Goo'.

The 2 items were a hit with Ma.

First up is the Pro Plus Rubber Shedding Brush from Burgham Sales Ltd out of Ontario.

Next is the Doggie Picture Frame from LSC Accessories from New York.

The always popular cookie from Bosco & Roxy's also from Ontario.

Where did that nose appear from?

Chocolate Drops you say? Yes, from Armitages in the UK. Does not contain cocoa so it isn't toxic! She ate these with glee as I sat and ate a 1/2 of a brownie.

Cinnamon Crunch Bar from Snicky Snaks located in Montana. Yep... That's gone in her belly.

The cutest Yeti Toy from go dog. It's darned adorable! go dog is out of New Jersey.

Wow... You are really pink!

Earth Rated Poop Bags! Lavender scented! They are a necessity in this house!! (She wasn't excited about that but Ma was)

 

PawPak costs $34.95/month shipping included. If you subscribe to multiple months the costs are reduced to as little as $24.95 month.

I have signed up for a 3 month subscription and if the "paks" stay this level of quality, I'll be a long term customer. It is more than worth the cost of the package. You can select your dog size (for Goo = Large)

If you want to sign up and try for yourself, please sign up at pawpak.ca and use code GertieGoo12 for $5 off your first pack.

Here are my other PawPak Reviews.

Woof and Cheers!

January 2015 Bowzer Box + Discount Code

Yep, another pet subscription box. We've signed up for a 3 month stint with Bowzer Box, a Canadian-based company.

From the Bowzer Box website:

What is Bowzer Box?
Bowzer Box is a subscription service that delivers a box of doggy goodies every month. You sign up for a 1-, 3-, or 6-month subscription and will receive 5-6 items such as dog treats, toys, and accessories right at your door.  Bowzer Box includes a variety of handpicked items including full size toys and treats (wheat free), samples, and coupons from various brands that we, and our pooches, love. We look for only the best quality, tried and true products, and we aim to take the guesswork out of providing for your pup. Every box is unique and each one we will try to highlight a Canadian product. We promise to try our best not to repeat the same treat or toy.

All the treats we include are made in either Canada, USA or if we found something extra special from a top quality company in an awesome country.  Toys are sourced mainly from Canada and the USA as well, although sometimes if a toy from another country proves itself with our pups we’ll include it too.

End quote....

Yes, 'The Goo' is spoiled.

No, I don't care if it's too much.

No, I won't keep all subscriptions active.

Back to Bowzer Box.  It costs $29.95/month plus $4.50 shipping if you go month to month, there is a discount if you subscribe to multiple month packages (3 or 6 months).

I snorted

First up is the Canvas Newspaper from Ethical Pet. Retails for $12

It's scrunchy and has a squeaker too. Yep, she loved it. Yep, it lasted 20 minutes before she put a hole in it. Dr. Mama will have to repair.

Next is a Blueberry Crunch bar from Snicky Snaks. Costs $4.

She's not tried this yet. She's food-moody. Sometimes she loves a crunchy snack, sometimes she would rather stinky-chewy.

From The Honest Kitchen we received a Pro Bloom powdered goats milk. Retail price is $2.

Adds probiotics and digestive enzymes. Goo eats probiotic yoghurt, so I will try this with her too.

Whimzees Dental Chew from Holland! Costs $4-5 each.

She looks interested but undecided.

Smoochers Yoghurt Drops Banana-Strawberry flavour from Exclusively Pet. Price is $10.

This company specializes in finicky eaters. This was a NO GO for the Goo. Nope, not even a little. The local shelter will be getting the package.

Chicken and Bacon strip from Tuckers. This was gone in a flash and the picture is a blur of a dog running away with it in her mouth. She gobbled that up in a flash. Cost=$3.

So a selection of 6 items of which 5 will be used.  That's not too bad.

I look forward to the next boxes. The value of the box is $35. So about what we paid for the box. The cost is only one part, it's the amusement we get from opening the box.

Excellent info card

Interested in subscribing? (You will get 10% off your first subscription - yes this is an affiliate link)

Cheers!
Lori

January 2015 Ipsy Glam Bag

I've been a subscriber of Ipsy Glam bag since June 2014 and on the whole I have had pretty good Ipsy experiences. Costing $10/month plus $4.95 shipping.

I love the little makeup bags. I received a ton but gave them to a local shelter. 

I don't know who the ladies are in the above picture

First up is Bellapierre shimmer powder in the colour Excite. Retails for $14.99

I don't wear much in the way of shimmer. It appears that it's fine texture could be used for a highlight. I will gift to my niece.

Next is Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow Brush. Retails for $9.99

It's a synthetic brush with surprisingly soft bristles. Very nice. I have many brushes so my niece wins AGAIN!

(MALIN+GOETZ) Mojito Lip Balm is a new brand to me. Retails for $12.00

But I love Mojitos! 

Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream. Retails for $19.99 (now names an Eye Treatment).

This I started using right away. It has no discernible scent and is very emollient. My eyes need every bit.

Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eye Shadow. A palette of 3 costs $14.

My colour was Treasure. I have to say it is very "creamy" and went on very well. Again, I am not much of a shimmer person but I used it this past weekend for stage makeup.

All in all, an excellent selection this month!

Looking to subscribe?

Here are my Ipsy reviews.

Cheers!

January 2015 MistoBox + Discount Code

Here is my second month of the MistoBox subscription. What is this Misto-something-or-other you are referring to? It's a COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE!!

Their website has lots of tips for brewing beans using different methods (French Press, Aeropress, Chemex for example). In addition to the coffee subscription there is a shop to buy coffee equipment and beans of course.

Here are the offerings (and costs to join MistoBox)

Subscription Details: Awesome pkg: 4 - 1.75 oz (50 grams) of micro-roasted coffee samples from across the country More Awesome pkg: 4 - 3.5 oz (100 grams)  Can be delivered every 2 or 4 weeks

Subscription Costs: Awesome: $25/2 or 4 weeks More Awesome: $35/2 or 4 weeks In the US it is $19 & $25 respectively. International is $30 and $40.

Shipping: CDN - $0 US - $0 Global - ?

Payment Options: · Visa · MC · Amex · Discover

I decided to select the Awesome package with 4-50 grams bags of whole coffee beans. Mistobox leads you through a number of questions to refine your coffee tastes and match you with a coffee curator who will select coffee on your behalf.

This month I was sent 4 amazing selections. Each selection has a fairly detailed write up on them. If you find these selections do not match your taste you can retake the questionnaire and they will source other ones for you.

Halfwit Coffee Roasters (it's like they know me)

Noble Coffee Roasting

Parisi Artisan Coffees

Andoyne Coffee Roasting Co.

PS. They recommend using 16.5g of coffee for every 265g of water for the perfect cup of coffee.

If you are interested in subscribing, go to https://one.mistobox.com/skipper and enter the password discovery to get 50% off your first coffee shipment.

Here are my MistoBox reviews.

Cheers!

January 2015 PAWS & PLAY Standard (Previously To Go) BOX

Honestly, every single package that comes into this household is assumed by "the Goo" to be hers. She even eyes my beauty and coffee subscription boxes hoping a liver treat is going to come tumbling out.

Paws & Play was the first subscription box that was ordered for "the Goo". They offer a really comprehensive selection of boxes from size appropriate ones (from tiny to giant breed), cat ones, special themed ones (like the Valentines one currently on), a toy only membership, cookie of the month and one for mixed pet households. They even have the option for the boxes to be shipped monthly or quarterly.

The have "lab assistants" (Read: pets) who test products and give feedback. I had put Goo's name in but there were lots of sweet and ready dogs and kitty's who stepped up to the plate. Maybe another time.

On with the box for January. 

Gertie Goo's subscription is the Standard  (previously To Go) Large Breed Membership option.

"This entry level box will include: 3-4 of our most popular items including a few samples, one full sized treat or one premium toy."

Taking pictures with dogs is hard.

First out of the box was the Hyper Chewz Ball. Cost $8.95

She's an enthusiastic chewer! This one hits all the right notes thus far.
Goo Approved

Next up was Baker's Best Autumn Harvest Bag O Treats retailing for $4.95.

Goo Approved. It has liver - that's all she needs to know.

Etta Says Liver Sprinkles. Costing $7.95 I've sprinkled them on her kibble and she is loving it.  Who knew LIVER would be a hit!

Petzlife complete toothbrush. Cost is $6.95. This was an extra item as I was missing one item from a previous box. Ma Approved. Goo = Dubious.

Each box always contains a couple of samples.

Goo Approved. They don't last jig time and the Kiwi Peak ones are perfect for treat training while walking her.

Cost of this box is $19.95/month plus shipping. For our household it is a fun event to open!

Here are my other Paws & Play reviews.

Cheers & Woof,
Lori and "The Goo"