February 2015 Paws & Play Standard Large Breed Dog Box + Discount Code

Stand aside... I have mail!

Paws & Play recently re-jigged their subscription box offerings eliminating the To Go option.They offer subscription boxes based on dog size, offer boxes for cats or a subscription for a mixed pet household. There are one-off themed special boxes too.






Here are a couple of the newer offerings:

Fresh Matters Special Edition Dog Gift Box (featuring a delicious assortment of grain free & organic farm to table fresh treats and cookies! Your dog will also enjoy a special surprise farm themed toy)

Mums Freshest Treats Subscription Box  (contains NO toys or gadgets – instead it delivers an exceptional variety of extra premium gourmet treats, chews and cookies. This box will include a selection of the absolute finest and most interesting dog and/or cat treats available on the North American market. As an added bonus, your box will include a complimentary cookie of the month)

Cookie of the Month Club (receive one surprise gourmet artisan cookie or chew (MSRP $4.95- $6.95), sourced from Canadian & U.S doggie bakeries! Your cookie will be delivered along with special club offers and extra special savings certificates exclusively for Cookie Club members!) 

My doggy is an AmStaff (pitty). She's a 55lb rescue dog and the best entertainment EVER!

Paws & Play will be shipping membership boxes on the date you are billed, rather than on the 15th of each month.

For example: if your membership payment is completed on December 28th, your membership box will be processed to be shipped on the same day (December 28th) as your payment goes through."

I really like this option as most subscription boxes ship mid month so for our household there is a number of packages coming at once. I like the idea of staggered boxes arriving. My subscription renews on the 3rd so this means a box will arrive around the 8th or so.

What is in the Standard Large Dog Subscription Box? 

From the Paws & Play Website:
Standard Box: This entry level box will include 3-4 of our most popular items, and is guaranteed to include at least one full sized treat and one premium toy!

They also have a premium monthly subscription and offer the premium box option quarterly.

Cost for the standard box is $19.95 plus shipping. The premium box is $29.95.

Whew! That's a lot of information... Let's move on with the box!
*Note: Things in quotation marks ("") are direct from other websites.

First item is the Exclusively Dog Jerkeez Pet Pizza Jerky ($8.95 in store, $6.99 online).
"Pizza flavor chewy dog treats are made with easy tear portions, that are great for training and portion control.  Chicken is the #1 ingredient. Made with natural ingredients. No added sugars. Wheat, Corn & Soy free."

They are easily to tear which is great. The Goo doesn't much like these style treats in big chunks (what a princess!)

Can I tell you how much this next toy is a hit in our house? She loves her Kong Wubba Classic! ($16.95) 

 It squeaks, she can tug it. She plays with it as much as she can.

What can I say about earth rated poop bags? Poop bags are not glamourous but... they are the ones our house uses exclusively. I love the lavender scented bags (enough said), the holder and the price point. ($3.95). You can find these at most pet stores, Winners or online.

Cookies... I love them, you love them, even the Goo loves them. I think the Amelia Yoghurt Dipped Cookie ($1.95) are going to be a hit.

Last but not least are the samples. I find much of them are good for treat training and this month's options are no exception. From ZiwiPeak and Wellness Core Grain Free.

So let's revisit the standard box...

From the Paws & Play Website:
Standard Box: This entry level box will include 3-4 of our most popular items, and is guaranteed to include at least one full sized treat and one premium toy!

3-4 items? Check
1 full sized treat? Check
1 premium toy? Check
Various samples? Check

I think this box is an excellent value. Well worth the $19.95 CDN cost.

Looking to subscribe? Use slobber15 to get 15% your order. They ship to Canada and the US. 

Here are my other Paws & Play reviews.

Tell 'em I sent ya!

Woof & Cheers,
The Goo and Lori


 

February 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. It costs $10/month plus $4.95 shipping to Canada.

Created by Michelle Phan and headed with a group of (You Tube) well known beauty vloggers (aka stylists), their branded glam bags are typically filled with items from well known companies and sometimes emerging beauty suppliers.

Essentially you take a beauty quiz and they send items that best fit the results (within a larger group of items for that month). For instance - I don't use nail polish and I rarely get any. I prefer creams, etc and I believe I have received some type of cream/mask or similar each bag I've received.

Let's move on to this month...

Theme Love

First item is the Cargo Mini Lip Gloss in Anguilla. A sparkly but very pale gloss. I typically wear these over a lipstick (centre of bottom lip) to give a little ka-pow. Full size is $16 US.

Eva NYC Up All Night Volumizing Spray. The light-weight formula adds volume and texture to hair, while protecting against heat for healthier styling. An 8oz bottle costs $24.  I received a 1oz bottle.

How to use: Apply to damp hair before blow drying for added texture and lift, or use on dry hair as a revitalizing spray. I've used it for a couple of days and it does give ooompf to my fine, short hair.

Hey Honey Exfoliating Honey Peel Off Mask is a "fifteen-minute beauty mask brightens and smooths skin with the exfoliating power of Alpha Hydroxy Acids, while moisturizing with luxurious honey extract. It instantly renews skin, leaving it refreshed and clean after only a few minutes. This gel mask helps promote a smooth and clear complexion for a post facial feeling. Take It Off! is quick and easy to use, so you can feel beautifully refreshed, radiant and ready to go in just a few minutes.

How to use: Apply a light moisturizer to facial skin. Carefully apply a thin layer all over facial areas, avoiding eyes, eye area, hairline and eyebrows. Allow mask to dry completely (about 15-20 minutes, depending on film thickness). Gently peel mask off, starting at contours and slowly peeling until completely removed. Re-apply a light moisturizer to facial skin. Each tube should yield 2-3 uses."

Cost is $29 for 50ml. My sample was 10ml.

I love a good beauty mask.

Apply a light moisturizer to facial skin.
Carefully apply a thin layer of the Take it Off over all facial areas, avoiding eyes, eye area, hairline and eyebrows.
Allow mask to dry completely (about 15-20 minutes, depending on the film thickness).
Gently peel mask off, starting at contours and slowly peeling until completely removed.

Re-apply a light moisturizer to facial skin.

- See more at: http://www.heyhoney.com/take-it-off-exfoliating-honey-peel-off-mask/#sthash.onQTN8AH.dpuf

Blush Cheek Powder by Model Co "creates a beaming, rosy glow to brighten every complexion. The micronized colour pigments and luxurious, pressed powder delivers a sheer, natural radiance that lasts all day."

I don't know what micronized colour means... I received a full size product unfortunately it arrived damaged. A quick contact to @Ipsycares and a new replacement has been shipped. I need a new blush so this arrived right on time!  The cost is $22.

Colour is Cosmopolitan

Pencil Me In" Cosmetics in Amethyst / USA eye accent pencil is a creamy medium purple eyeliner pencil.

I have taken photos from ipsy and pencilmeincosmetics.com as my pictures were horrid.  Cost for full size pencil is $6.99.

I have hazel eyes so a purple liner is great.

From Pencil me In site

From Ipsy site

Ipsy is consistently a good quality beauty subscription bag. Although an item arrived damaged they were quick to respond and resolve. I appreciate it as a customer.

Looking to subscribe?

Here are my Ipsy reviews.

Cheers!

Apply a light moisturizer to facial skin.
Carefully apply a thin layer of the Take it Off over all facial areas, avoiding eyes, eye area, hairline and eyebrows.
Allow mask to dry completely (about 15-20 minutes, depending on the film thickness).
Gently peel mask off, starting at contours and slowly peeling until completely removed.

Re-apply a light moisturizer to facial skin.

- See more at: http://www.heyhoney.com/take-it-off-exfoliating-honey-peel-off-mask/#sthash.onQTN8AH.dpuf

Apply a light moisturizer to facial skin.
Carefully apply a thin layer of the Take it Off over all facial areas, avoiding eyes, eye area, hairline and eyebrows.
Allow mask to dry completely (about 15-20 minutes, depending on the film thickness).
Gently peel mask off, starting at contours and slowly peeling until completely removed.

Re-apply a light moisturizer to facial skin.

- See more at: http://www.heyhoney.com/take-it-off-exfoliating-honey-peel-off-mask/#sthash.onQTN8AH.dpuf

February 2015 Bowzer Box + Discount Code

This is the second box of our 3 month Bowzer Box subscription. They are a Canadian pet box subscription company. Each month they have a different theme and this month's theme is Happy Birthday... specifically Bowzer Box's 1st birthday which they decided to celebrate with everyone!

Here are some details 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.

Yes, she's worth every nickle.

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).  Clink on my link below to get a 10% discount on your first subscription.

Oh Hey... Did you get a box too?

Sweet Pawtato Pooch Chips from BrainyCakes Dog Barkery (Mission, BC). Approximate Cost is $5. Perfect snack to pop in your pocket to take for a walk or run. The goo loves sweet potato just-about-anything so these should do nicely!

If you ever want your dog to do anything - give them dehydrated liver. I joke you not. The Goo will eat a teeny piece and think it's the best thing ever. LAMB LIVER! Even better. So when she received a bag of it made by Hero Dog Treats (Beamsville, ON) she could not wait to eat it. I crack it up super small and she is content. Cost is $12.99. Hero Dog Treats do some wonderful work  - You should read their story and guiding principles.

Supporting www.servicedog.ca

The JW Dog Toy is a crackly, crinkly ball with legs. The costs range from $6.99 to $12.99. The Goo goes wiggly for anything that makes a noise. It'll be a hit.

It crinkles and crackles!

Amelia Biscuits (Paris, ON) is a favourite treat in this household. Keeping with the Birthday theme, the cookies are ice cream cones!  CUTE! Costing $4.50 I think it completely well priced.

Happy Birthday!

Hare of the Dog - Who thinks of these names? It cracks me up with laughter. This is rabbit jerky and once given to The Goo was consumed as quickly as possible. The web-link provided on the card is not working so I've provided the FB page above. The last post was 2013 so I am not sure how much they engage online.

Objects in the photo are eating at break neck speed!

Excellent value again with lots of Goo Approved hits!

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

Here are my other Bowzer Box reviews.

Woof and Cheers,
The Goo & Lori

February 2015 Paws & Play To Go Box + Discount Code

Paws & Play recently re-jigged their subscription box offerings eliminating the To Go option. I thought I should talk a little about the option anyway as it sets the background to their products and services. They offer subscription boxes based on dog size, offer boxes for cats or a subscription for a mixed pet household.

My doggy is an AmStaff (pitty). She's a 55lb rescue dog and a wussy baby.

Yes. She sleeps under the covers.

I signed up for the Standard box as well but opted to get both for the month of February.

The To Go Option cost $14.95 / month + taxes and shipping. This entry level box will include: 2-3 of our most popular items including a few samples, one full sized treat or one premium toy.

Paws & Play will be shipping membership boxes on the date you are billed, rather than on the 15th of each month.

For example: if your membership payment is completed on December 28th, your membership box will be processed to be shipped on the same day (December 28th) as your payment goes through."

I really like this option as most subscription boxes ship mid month so for our household there is a number of packages coming at once. I like the idea of staggered boxes arriving. My subscription renews on the 3rd so this means a box will arrive around the 8th or so.

First up is the Fat Cat Sooper Ham Hero.  Costing about $15.95 ($9.99 on the US site) it is a slingshot for your pet. 

Next item is Wild Calling Rocky Mountain Medley which includes Elk, Whitefish Meal & Turkey Meal Kibble. High protein is always good. No chicken by-products, fillers, corn, wheat, soy, grain or gluten in Wild Calling lifecycle products.
We received another package in November and "The Goo" loved this as a treat. She always enjoys stinky treats.

Darford JR Treat is essentially a HUGE cookie. This flavour is Duck and Apple. It retails for about $3.95.

MEGA

ZiwiPeak is an Air-Dried 90% protein gourmet dog food. These packages are pretty handy for training. The Goo really likes them.

Great for training

Venision Joe's Gourmet Beef Bones come from 100% US Beef. This flavour was cherry wood.  Cost is $4.95. Honestly? The Goo is undecided. She licks at it and then walks away. We'll see.

So that's a summary of the final Large Dog To Go box. I thought it was well priced and excellent value. But fear not... The Standard Box is even more fun!

Here's a discount code:  Get 15% off your first order with coupon code: slobber15

Here are my other Paws & Play reviews.

Woof & Cheers,
The Goo and Lori 

February 2015 MistoBox + Discount Code

I adore coffee. I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I drink many cups EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. This lead me to subscription box options and MistoBox.

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 excellent 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.

Disclaimer: I going to take this moment to admit stuff. When people state "notes of X", it's pretty much gobbledygook to me. I drink a coffee and go "holy crap, that tastes good" or "meh - I'm not a fan". I don't have a sophisticated palate. I just like what I like. Same for wine or pretty much anything else.

All this points to me being a coffee HEATHEN! But play along with me... will ya?

 

Thesis Blend from Ceremony Coffee Roasters out of Annapolis, Maryland. This blend is their seasonal house blend. No pretensions and simple. Notes of raisins, brown sugar, tobacco with a soft orange acidity.

Sweater Weather Blend from Topeca Coffee Roasters from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Sweater Blend is for those cold winter days with notes of toffee and roasted chestnut.

Falcon Head Blend from Square One Coffee is out of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and is a small, family-owned business. This blend is comprised of African and Indonesian beans. Notes of cocoa, raspberry jam and a hazelnut finish.

Inkwell Blend from Quills Coffee hails from Louisville, Kentucky. This is their house blend and has chocolate, citrus and Stone fruit sweetness.

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 other MistoBox reviews.

Cheers!

February 2015 TopBox from benefit

TopBox has consistently been an excellent beauty subscription box. They typically have great products, their shipping is super fast and they are a Canadian based company.

What I particularly like about TopBox is that they send you an email approximately 3 weeks before your box ships with some options to set your wish list. Typically it is 4 or 5 groups of one, two or items in a collection. If none of the options appeal to you, you can opt to get the regular box.

TopBox costs $12/month, shipping included (but plus tax - $13.80 grand total) and they offer multiple month subscription in 3, 6 and 12 month increments. There are usually 4 beauty samples in each package. Sometimes with the special package there can be fewer items but still within a generous value point.

This month my TopBox selection was benefit cosmetics. I love benefit products on the whole and as you will see. There are 2 totally new products featured this month. All these items are samples sized. 

New to the benefit product line is the puff off! eye gel. Squeeze once and dot under the eye then use the tip to glide it on. Full size is 10 ml and costs $35.

It's potent! Eye cream reportedly fades dark circles and help smooth fine lines. Contains peptide complex. A 14.2g container costs $40.

Roller Lash Mascara is a new style of brush called the Hook 'n' Roll. This instant curve setting formula holds for 12 hours. Available March 2015. An 8.5g tube costs $29.

A much loved primer POREfessional rounds out the items in this package. A balm that reduces the appearance of fine lines and pores. It is a silky textured, oil-free product. I already know I love it. Cost for a 22 ml tube is $37.

Of these 4 products I have only used the POREfessional previously. I have high hopes for the mascara in particular. 

Another winning month from TopBox.

Here are my other TopBox Reviews.

Cheers, 

Lori

January 2015 Pawpack

I have a 55lb American Staffordshire Terrier that I affectionately call "The Goo" or "Goober". Adopted from a local rescue in August of 2014, she is a funny dog with lots of personality (read stubbornness). I love her to pieces and spoil her to a fault.

This spoiling has lead me to subscription boxes. Being a first time dog owner I have no idea what is out there for dogs and frankly going into a pet store stresses me out! I thought subscribing to boxes would allow me to discover what she likes or doesn't and really expose her to new things that I may not get locally.

I've viewed a fair number of blog posts before I decided to subscribe to PawPack. I have committed to at least 3 months to assess whether it is suitable for The Goo. They are fairly active on social media which I like. Their items will always be either Organic, All-Natural, or Eco-Friendly - that's a real good thing to hear. Our subscription is the Premium box. Pawpack is customizable for the size of dog and offers and option for your cat.

The theme for this month is setting new goals.

First up is the Hatchables inside-out dog toy from Fetch. I call him Toucan Charlie.Cost=$12.99

I must say that for whatever reason this toy has survived. If you have followed my other pet box posts - very few make it a day without losing a piece of them. She's been pretty gentle with Charlie.

 Here's a pizzle stick. I don't recall the brand but it was gone in 45 seconds. She LOVES these. 

I have no idea what this was. Ear? Snout? I DON'T KNOW! I'm not sure if she will get this as a treat.

Next is Wellness Pure Rewards Beef Jerky Bits for Dogs. Made of 90% pure, high quality meat. No wheat or grain. Cost=$12.49

 

earthbath totally natural pet care Grooming Wipes. I have received another scent for the Goo before. She hates to be bathed so I use wipes instead. She patiently lets me do it... occasionally.

Yayayayayay! More stuff for me!

I don't know MA! It looks weird

The monthly cost of the Premium box is $28/month plus $10 shipping to Canada (free in the US). It contains 4-5 full sized surprise items each month along with various samples and other goodies.

There is a Deluxe box at $43/month. It contains 6-7 full sized surprise items each month along with various samples and other goodies. I assume shipping details are the same.

If you are considering subscribing I recommend you google discount codes for pawpack - some are really quite good.

You can subscribe here.

My other Pawpack reviews.

Woof and Cheers!
Goo and Lori