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April 14 2013

The Honest Company - Family Essentials Pack Free Trial

I got to know about The Honest Company from various blogs I follow. They provide monthly essentials pack of two types - Family Essentials (bath & body and household cleaning items) and Baby Essentials. I decided to buy a free trial of Family Essentials pack. I only had to pay $5.95 for S&H. If I don’t call back to cancel my membership within 5 days of receiving the package, I’ll be automatically enrolled in a monthly essentials subscription service. The Family Essentials bundle costs $35.95 a month (includes five full sized items) and the Baby Essentials bundle costs $79.95 a month. Learn more here

I got the free trial service just to try out the products. I don’t intend on subscribing to their service on a monthly expensive. For one, I don’t have babies. Two, I don’t think I need to spend $35.95 a month on household cleaning supplies…I use Dr. Bronner’s for almost all cleaning needs. And I have WAY too much of body care items anyway. 

COUPON CODEUse coupon code INVITED10 to save $10 off your first box.

Moving on to the pics and contents -

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Very pretty packaging! 

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Box inside the main box

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Five trial sized products - pretty neat! 

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Honest Shampoo & Body Wash (1 oz) - Haven’t used it yet, but will give it a try as a body wash. I’m very picky when it comes to shampoo. 

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Honest Laundry Detergent (single use) - Yay! more laundry soap. 

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Honest Healing Balm (1 oz) - I love this stuff. It’s extremely moisturizing, but has a weird smell. I’ll use it as a hand cream since I have the driest hands in the entire world.

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Honest Face & Body Lotion (1oz) - I like it since it’s of medium thick consistency and I don’t have to use a lot to moisturize my body. Just for reference, I have dry skin. I don’t think I’ll use it for my face, but it’s good enough as a body lotion. It’s fragrance free as well. 

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Honest Hand Soap (1 oz) - I’ll use this the next time I need to refill one of my hand soap bottles. Has a very soothing, faint scent. 

OVERALL - So far, I’m liking all their products.FYI - You can also buy add on items in addition to the monthly bundle in case you need more than five products. You can also place an order without becoming a monthly subscriber. I’ll probably place one off orders for some things that caught my fancy (Oxy boost for dishwasher, bug spray, laundry pods), but don’t think I’ll be subscribing on a monthly basis. 

** Post contains a referral link

Conscious Box - April 2013

This is my first Conscious Box. I ordered it last month when there was a special promo running where you could order a box for only $1 (incl. shipping). While the stuff that I received is great considering I paid only $1 for it, the  regular price of the box is $19.95 a month and if I would have paid the regular price, I wouldn’t have been a happy camper. What I received is a BUNCH of foil packets…some, which I can’t even use! 

COUPON CODE - Use coupon code EARTHMONTH to save 50% off any subscription!

Moving on to the pics -

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Very pretty packaging! The pic of the Earth in the middle of the box is actually the front side of a pull out post card. 

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Lots of good info on the main box!

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Welcome card with information on how to observe Earth Day. I’m not sure how buying conventional apples instead of organic will help? I always prefer organic apples since I know they’ll be non-GMO etc.

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Contents of the box at first glance

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Everything spread out

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Let’s talk about the non-foil packet samples first! 

Safonique Lavender Sea Laundry Detergent (2 loads) - Very exciting! I love laundry soap. 

Peter Rabbit Organics Banana and Apple 100% Pure Fruit Snack (1 time use) - This is aimed at kids (think lunch boxes), not me. I don’t really enjoyed mashed up fruits, but will eat this just to get rid of it. 

Lafes Deodorant Stick (2.25 oz) - The most exciting product in the box from my perspective. I am very much into natural deos and have wanted to use a crystal stick deo since ages. Will use this as soon as my current Jason Deo runs out. 

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Sappo Hill Glycerine Creme Soap (guest room size) -  Will use since it’s vegan and hand crafted. 

Seventh Generation Mandarin Refreshing Facial Cleansing Cloth (1 facial cloth) - Will use! Just wish they had provided some more.

There’s also a coupon to save $1.50 when you purchase any seventh generation product - This I will use since there are several Seventh Generation products I’ve been eyeing. I just don’t ever get around to buying them since I use Dr. Bronner’s for almost all of my household needs. 

Totlogic Body Lotion (7 ml/0.24 fl oz) - Will use even though it’s meant for tots. The parent company also owns “BarkLogic” that makes lots of dog products. I would have much preferred to receive a dog product versus a baby product since I don’t even have human kids (my dog is my kid). 

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Last batch of samples I really don’t care about much…

Spirulina Natural Dietary Supplement ( 6 tablets - good enough for 1 use): I ate these since I’m currently on a diet. This packet didn’t provide any instructions on how to eat them. I just chewed on to a tablet - I wouldn’t advise you to do this else your entire mouth will turn a bright shade of green. Had to vigorously brush for 10 minutes to get rid of the color! 

Q Speed 100 mg Fast Melt Coenzyme Q10 - I have no idea what this is since I don’t take these types of supplements ever. 

100% All Natural Whey Protein (1 use) - I will use this with almond milk! I love whey protein. 

Celestial 100% natural tea (2 packets of green tea, contains caffeine) - I don’t drink herbal tea. This will go to my husband who’s an avid tea drinker. 

Nurturme Plump Peas Dried Organic Baby food (single use pouch) - Again, I have no babies. Why would a box send baby food without knowing if I have a toddler at home?! FAIL. 

Organic Protein Food Bar Chocolate (small snack size) - This was tasty! 

Omega 3+D Squeeze in Tropical Orange (Single serving) - This contains fish oil and I cannot eat it since I’m vegetarian. Fail. 

OVERALL - I am going to be unsubscribing on Monday. From what I read on Makeuptalk.com forums, a lot of subscribers have had issues unsubscribing…Oh well. I just cannot afford to pay $20 a month on foil packets. I would have preferred to receive fewer, larger sized items. Plus, a box that decided for me that I have babies and that it’s okay to send me Omega 3+D containing fish oil is not something I can subscribe to. There are many other eco-friendly boxes out there that are much more appealing!

** Post contains referral link

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April 13 2013

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Instain blushes from @thebalmcosmetics. #thebalm #thebalmcosmetics #blush #blusher #blushes #makeup #beauty #makeupjunkie #beautyjunkie #instagood #instamood

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My theBalm instain blushes just arrived well ahead of the 5/1 back order date 😇 From L to R - houndstooth, pinstripe, lace, toile (bottom left), Swiss dot (bottom right) #thebalm #thebalmcosmetics #blush #blusher #blushes #makeup #makeupjunkie #beauty #beautyjunkie

April 12 2013

Birchbox - April 2013

My Birchbox came in a day early. This month’s box was curated in partnership with Women’s Health. Most people would be very happy with the box I received…me, not as much. 

Here’s a peak inside my box -

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Inside my box - 4 main items and a lifestyle extra.

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Contents of the box laid out

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Info card with content details

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Caudalíe Huile Divine Oil - Tried it at night after cleansing my face. It’s a dry oil with an amazing fragrance. I think I used a little too much, but it still didn’t make my face oily. My skin absorbed it right away! This small sample is probably go to use for 5-7 uses. 

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Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner - Meh. Have too many hair products from other boxes.

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Hail Merry Macaroons (Chocolate) 2 pcs - This is the lifestyle extra. LOVED IT. I gobbled up both pieces in less than a minute. I actually had 200 points lying in my account - I used all my points to buy a full size Alima Pure Blush ($20) and a bag of Hail Merry Macaroons in Strawberry ($5 for a full size bag). I received Alima Pure Blush and Eyeshadow samples in my Goodebox, and since then I’ve fallen in love with the brand. Can’t wait for both my items to arrive. 

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Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Lipstick (full size) in the shade 07 - Quick Kiss. It’s a bright Orangey-Red Cheek and Lip stain. The container is made of plastic (just like NYX jumbo pencils). Even though I’m not sure how I’m going to sharpen this thing, I’m not too worried about it since I don’t see myself using this shade ever. It’s just way too bright for me. I swatched it on the back of my palm and I can see this working well as a cheek stain. I’ll give it a try. I’m sad that this was supposed to be the big ticket item in my box and I am just not excited about it. Wish it were in a different shade…The same thing happened to me with my Lip Factory Inc. box and I ended up canceling it. 

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Supergoop Eye cream - Tiny 2 ml sample. Whatever. Not that into eye creams, but will use it since it came in the box.

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Free 1 yr subscription to Women’s Health Magazine - I used to receive this magazine last year through some kind of a free Ulta promo offer. I’ll subscribe because it’s free!

Overall - OK types box. My last box was pretty awesome, but I’m yet to get a single box where I’m excited about every single item I receive. With Birchbox, that’s not possible I guess since they have so many box variations (another thing I don’t like since I look at spoilers on Instagram and start getting jealous). Technically, this box costs me only $5 per month since I can write reviews and earn 50 points ($5) every month. For $5, this box is good. However, since I have SO MANY boxes I subscribe to (Ipsy, Goodebox, Eco-Emi, Green Grab Bag, Daily Dose of Green…), I’m not sure if I can justify Birchbox anymore. Decisions, decisions.  

**Post contains a referral link

April 06 2013

Julep Starter Kit "IT Girl" - March 2013

So, I finally bought into the Julep craze and treated myself to a free starter box of Julep nail paints (Use coupon: FREEBOX). I had to pay $3.99 for S&H. I received two nail polishes, a full size foot scrub and a sample size hand scrub. Pictures below. 

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This is the shade I’m wearing on my toes currently.

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Overall - I like the texture of the nail paints. They are pretty opaque w/ just a single coat and are very fast drying. However, I am not THAT into nail polishes and receive quite a few in my subscription boxes. So, I’ll be canceling Julep. The only reason I subscribed was because I got tempted by the free box offer. This is a great subscription service for those who love nail polishes. 

April 05 2013

Lip Factory Inc - April 2013

Lip Factory Inc. is a monthly subscription box for $22 that promises to bring you deluxe or full sized makeup items. Every 4 months, they have a “lips products only” box (March box was supposedly a “lips products only” box). I love my first box. Lots of makeup stuff. 

Six full size items from what I can tell and one foil sample - Pretty awesome!

Info card with details on the contents of April 2013 box. 

29 Cosmetics Mascara - 0.28 FL. OZ/8 ml - FULL SIZE! Retails for $26.00. I definitely would love to use this..after I get through the 10 others that I have open right now.

Lisi Line & Define Automatic Eye liner pencil in the color Tsunami 0.0074 oz/0.21 gms - It’s a deep purple/black. Love this color! Think it retails for around $5-6.

LA Splash nail polish (10 ml) shade Aqua Fusion - Very pretty color, but it won’t suit my medium to dark skin tone. I’m going to give this one a pass. Retails for $3.99.

SweetPea and Fay J’Adore Les Lèvres Liquid Lipstick in “Mermaid Kiss” (0.35 oz/10g) - $7.99. This is my favorite item in the box. It’s eco-friendly and the shade is very pretty. I am going to start using this ASAP.

Two Cosmetics Duo Eyeshadow in the shade “Dancing Machine” (0.04 oz/1.14 gm) - Retails for $6.99. I like the shade, but I’m just not a big eyeshadow person. Two Cosmetics donates one piece to charity for every  piece you buy.

Ofra Cosmetics Lip Gloss in the shade “Bordeaux” - Retails for $12.95. Love the deep mauve shade. I am definitely going to use it!

MD Formulations Facial Cleanser (3 ml/0.1 oz) - I am a sucker for facial cleanser. Love it! 

Overall - I really  LOVE the box and think it’s an excellent value. Received approx. $62 worth of products for $22. However, I am not sure if I need so many full sized makeup items per month. I can’t imagine what my bathroom will look like if this continues month after month. 

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Look what just arrived! My first Julep Maven and Lip Factory Inc boxes. To say I’m addicted is an understatement. Unboxing coming up soon. #julep #lipfactoryinc #lipfactory #subscriptionbox #beauty #beautyjunkie #makeup #makeupjunkie

April 03 2013

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Simple FOTD #FOTD #tartecosmetics #essence #thebodyshop #alimapure #dermablend

April 02 2013

Goodebox - March 2013

My first Goodebox and I like it quite a bit, thanks to the amazing number of makeup items I received! In case you’re a new reader, you’ll soon learn how much I adore all kinds of makeup. The box costs $16/mo and is an eco friendly box containing beauty, lifestyle, and household samples mainly. 

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What a pretty shade of pink that bow is. 

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Front portion of the info card - Items I received were checked off with a pencil (how nice!)

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Back side of the info card 

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When I opened the box, I went “Whaaaat? That’s it?! Where’s all my stuff?”…soon realized the small translucent envelope has four small jars. See, I really wanted to like this box more than Eco-Emi.

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Here’s what was in the white envelope - Three beautiful shades of eyeshadow and a blush from Alima pure. I like the eyeshadows - They are nudist shades that I can use daily. The blush is nice too, but it didn’t swatch very well on my skin tone. 

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Three shades of eyeshadow —

a. Java (Satin Matte)

b. Freja (Luminous Shimmer blush)

c. Cappuccino (Pearluster finish)

d. Glow (Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow)

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The topmost swatch is of the blush and the next three are eyeshadows. Last swatch is of the lip balm. 

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Rest of the contents of the box -

Bonus item: Bamboo handled eyeshadow applicators - I used them for my swatches. It’ll be difficult to clean these out. Probably use and throw. 

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Savon Du Bois Rose-Geranium Guest Bar - Thin sliver of pretty amazingly smelling soap. This is the 3rd soap I’ve received this month - Glossybox and Eco-Emi both sent me 1 each. I’m pretty well stocked up now for at least two months!

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Yarok Feed Your Do - Styling Whip for your hair: Not sure how much I’m going to be using this, but it smells quite nice.

Alima Pure Nourishing Lip Balm - Pretty bronze/brown color. I like it. 

Overall: I cant really tell how much my box is worth because the samples are small and don’t have any size labels, but the makeup items are a big plus. I saw lots of pics of the Feb box and I have to tell I like last month’s box much much more — Unfortunately I registered late Feb and by then it was too late to receive the Feb box. I’ll continue this box for the next month and then decide if I would like to stay subscribed. 

March 31 2013

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My Nars blush collection #nars #narscosmetics #blush #blushes #blusher #makeup #makeupmafia #makeupjunkie #beauty #beautyjunkie

Eco-Emi Review - March 2013

This is my first Eco-Emi box. It’s a monthly service costing $16/mo (incl. shipping + tax). Since I subscribed late Feb, I missed out on the Feb box. My only confirmation of the subscription service was the PayPal confirmation that I received. I didn’t receive any communication from Eco-Emi about my subscription until a week ago when the box shipped. For an anxious person like me, lack of emails just doesn’t work. I must mention that my credit card got charged late Feb when I signed up even though my box didn’t ship until a week ago - This is definitely weird and not a great customer experience. Eco-Emi is supposed to have a “My Account” page that is currently down. So, if you have any questions, you’ll need to email them or post on their Facebook wall. For me, this was a trial box. I also subscribed to Goodebox at the same time. Due to the lack of communication on Eco-Emi’s side, I have already canceled my recurring payment through PayPal.

Anyway, here’s what I received in the March box - The contents are packed in a small flat rate USPS shipping box which I love. They are truly eco friendly in that they didn’t waste materials or money putting another box inside the USPS box. Instead the USPS box has been repurposed with craft papers etc.  This month’s box was themed “Spring”. Lots of pretty moons and stars in the box.

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Inside the box, there’s a reusable blue colored pouch (LOVE!), an easter themed nest that cradles some products. 

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Information card - 

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Info card on Rock Green Laundry Detergent (Comes with a 15% off coupon code)image

And finally here the box with the contents:

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1. Chocolate Chip Cookies by Home Free 1.1 oz full size - $1.49 - These will get over in no time soon ;)

2. Glazed Strawberry lip gloss by The All Natural Face 0.43 fl oz full size $4.60 - It smells pretty awesome, goes on pretty sheer. Here’s the swatch on my medium to dark skin:

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3. Smashing Watermelon classic laundry detergent by Rocking Green - 0.1 kg for 2/4 loads (Full price costs $14.95 for 45/90 loads making the sample size worth about $1?) - I’m going to use this the next time I do laundry :) Currently I use Dr. Bronner’s soap which I highly recommend as well. 

4. Lavender Vanilla Shea Butter Moisturizer by Natural Heavenly Beauty - Full size is 4oz and costs $10.00. The sample I received came in a very small round container. I have no idea how big the sample is, but I would guess maybe 0.25 oz/$0.75 approx. Smells AMAZING. Since the size is so small, I’ll use this as a hand cream in my work bag. 

5. Lavender Healing Lip Balm by Belle’s Healing Solutions $2.99 0.15 oz - Received full size. I’ve used it once. The lip balm has no color. It just melts into the skin and is extremely moisturizing. Love it. 

6. Theraganics Almond Oatmeal handcrafted all natural soap with Shea Butter - A 5 oz bar costs $7.00. The sample I received is probably half the full size. I don’t like the smell too much, but will use it anyway (will probably make my husband use it ;)

7. Organic Bengal Breakfast Tea by Teatulia - Never received it in my box…not sure why, but it’s listed in the info card.

8. Rejuvenating Mask by Dr Hauschka 0.08 fl oz $4.25 approx - I’ve seen this brand in Whole Foods and I know it’s pretty expensive. Happy to have received a sample I can use! And I love face masks. 

9. Free product - Rejuvenating Herbal Gel Cleanser and Makeup remover by Blissoma - Costs $26.99 for a 4 oz. Again, not sure what the sample size is, but I would guess about 0.25 oz/$1.60 approx. Love all kinds of cleansers. I am going to keep this for my work trip that is coming up shortly. 

Overall - I love the variety of products. Total value of the box is approx $20 and I paid $16. I would say not a bad ROI considering I will be using every single item. However, most samples are very small. I would have preferred receiving fewer, but bigger deluxe sized samples. For now, I’m happy that I canceled the subscription. 

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Totally devoured that tub of Ice cream #pets #dogs #dogsofinstagram #chillywags #icecream 

March 30 2013

Glossybox USA - March 2013

Finally received my Glossybox even though my account never got updated with the shipping information. Overall, I’m quite happy with the box. I was secretly hoping to get the pencil eyeliner, but the Elite liquid eyeliner swatched pretty well and will be great for dramatic cat eyes. 

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Contents of the box -

  1. ModelCo Cheek and Lips Tint in Rosy Red (10 ml/0.33 oz) - Probably won’t show up very well on my medium brown complexion. The consistency is runny.
  2. Sebastian Professional Finishing Hairspray (15 oz/43 g) - I have too many hairsprays from other subscription boxes. The hairspray itself seems nice though. Not sure if I’ll use it anytime soon though.
  3. Prestiche Lavender Soap (4.4 oz/125 gms) - SMELLS HEAVENLY. I am a sucker for handmade soaps. Will use this ASAP. 
  4. Elite Matt Liner in Matt Brown (2.5 ml) - Swatched pretty nicely - The deep brown color will go well with my skin tone. The swatch did take a while to dry up completely. I don’t see myself using this when I’m in a hurry.
  5. Pixi Lid Last Shadow Pen in Graphite Glint (4.73 g/0.16 oz) - Pretty smoky black color. Will make a good eyeshadow base. I can see myself using this to smudge out harsh liquid or gel black eyeliner lines. 
  6. Prestiche $40 Gift Certificate Towards any natural handmade bath & body products - Never heard of Prestiche brand before, but I love the soap. The fact that no minimum purchase is required is awesome. I’ll order something very soon!

VERDICT - I bought this box using a 20% off coupon. So, I paid only $16.80. Already canceled my subscription. Might resubscribe again if the April box seems interesting. I do like this March box very much. 

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Reminder that Mad Men is the greatest.

March 24 2013

Dog food review: ZiwiPeak

Sasha loves Ziwipeak’s air dried food. We have been slowly switching him over to Ziwipeak from his current Castor & Pollux because of the rave reviews Ziwipeak has received. Also because I’m preparing him for the upcoming week long Puerto Rico trip that we’ll be taking him to in about a month from now (so exciting!). Since Ziwipeak is very rich, I need to feed him a very small quantity and this works for the trip since I don’t have to pack much. I’ve got to be honest it’s a super premium dog food that might not be affordable for medium or big dogs, but it’s affordable for me to feed Sasha because he’s 14.5 pounds. I got a 2.2 lb bag in the flavor Venison & Fish from Tomlinson’s here in Austin and the first bag lasted me about 2.5 weeks when I fed him 1 scoop every morning. For a dog his size with medium activity levels, the recommended feed is 1.6 scoops a day (each bag comes with its own scoop). Since I’m still in the process of switching him over completely to this food, I feed him Ziwipeak only once a day. He eats 1/2 standard sized cup of Castor & Pollux at night. He would happily hog down much larger quantities twice a day if I let him. I noticed some loose stool when I switched him to this food a couple of weeks back - probably because Ziwipeak is extremely rich and his stomach is not used to it. So, for now, I’m going to stick to 1 meal per day of Ziwipeak. Also, we have a lot of Castor & Pollux left over that I need him to finish. Unfortunately, he’s bored of it - So I can’t feed it to him more than 1 meal a day :-(

Ziwipeak is the only food he’ll gulp down in 2 mins FLAT. It’s amazing. If you have a small dog and are interested in feeding premium food, I highly recommend Ziwipeak.

March 21 2013

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My Sephora order came in today! Nars Sin/Casino duo, Too Faced cateye set, Murad free Age Balancing Night cream and Age Diffusing Mask. #sephora #nars #narscosmetics #murad #toofaced #blush #mascara #eyeliner #moisturizer #mask #makeup #makeupjunkie #beauty #beautyjunkie #makeupmafia

March 19 2013

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My furry baby’s Barkbox - March 2013. #barkbox #pets #dogs #dogsofinstagram #treats #toys #subscriptionbox

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Sneak peak - my first Sample Society box! This is Kit D from march 2013. Most excited to have received the full size Butter nail polish. #samplesociety #samplesocietybox #samplesocietybyallure #beauty #beautyjunkie #makeup #makeupjunkie #butterlondon #ouidad #lashfood #murad #fashiontape #nails #nailpolish #beautybox

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Patiently waiting for mom to allow him to play with his first #barkbox! #pets #dogs #dogsofinstagram #subscriptionbox

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