Balance by bistroMD: Healthy Meals Delivered To Your Door (Because Pet Parents Should Eat Well Too!)

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Ever feel like you take better care of your fur kids than you do of yourself? You’re not alone! Whether you are too busy, or just tired of adulting, home food delivery has become a popular alternative to cooking. Woof Woof Papa and I love to cook but often get tired of meal planning, shopping and the prep-work that goes into making healthy meals. And our schedules mean that we don’t always have time to cook and eat at the same time. Sometimes it just seems easier to grab takeout or order delivery, and that isn’t the healthiest or most economical way to eat.

We were recently invited to try the meals from Balance by bistroMD. It’s the first meal delivery service to offer chef-prepared meals a-la-carte, without the constraint of minimums, memberships, or recurring orders. The top-rated diet delivery and weight loss program, bistroMD, created this subscription-free service to provide healthy meals with convenience and flexibility.

Balance by bistroMD fits health-conscious lifestyles, whether you’re trying to lose weight, adhere to a specialty diet such as gluten free, or just want to eat healthy without the struggle. When we went to their website to place our first order, we were impressed with the wide variety of over 100 meals and snacks available, and prices start at just $5.95.

The ordering process is super easy…the only hard part was deciding which meals to get, because they all looked so good! To narrow down the choices, you can filter meals by diet type, including Low Sodium, Heart Healthy, Gluten Free, Diabetic Meals and other options. We ordered a few breakfast items, because we are trying to do better at not skipping breakfast. And we also ordered a variety of lunches and dinners, too. Everything arrived within a few days, shipped in an insulated cooler packed with dry ice. Even though the box sat out on our porch in the South Florida heat for most of the morning, all the meals were still frozen when I unpacked everything.

In addition to doing the cooking and delivering your meals straight to your door, the folks at Balance by bistroMD also send the instructions and info you need to make the most of your food delivery. For example, although you can microwave the meals straight from the freezer, they recommend you move your upcoming day of meals to the fridge the night before to thaw for more even reheating. They also suggest that you place your entree on a plate because visualization is an important part of dining.

This was my attempt to plate the Ham and Cheese Frittata. It came with a side of peaches with a tasty whole grain granola crumble. I added avocado slices because I cannot go a day without eating avocado! Although I can see the logic in their suggestion to plate the meals to make the dining experience more enjoyable, most times we opted for convenience over aesthetics, and just ate our meals straight out of the BPA-free microwavable trays they came in. Less dishes to wash!

Overall, we were impressed with our order and happy to have a week of no meal planning or prep. The nice thing about the service is that there is no commitment or subscription required. You can order when you feel like you need a break from cooking, or need a little extra help with eating healthy. It’s also a thoughtful gift for a friend or family member, and would be great as a Housewarming present or Mother’s Day gift, too!

Balance by bistroMD Coupon Code

Right now is a great time to try it because you can get 20% OFF with Balance by bistroMD coupon code: SAVE20 at checkout. You also get Free Shipping on orders of $99+. Head on over to balance.bistromd.com to learn more about how it works and try it for yourself. Less time spent cooking means more time (and energy) to play with the fur kids!

Goats of Anarchy: One Woman’s Quest to Save the World One Goat At A Time

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If you love cute animals and spend any time on the internet, then you’ve probably seen Goats of Anarchy. If not, stop what you are doing and watch this adorable video to see the story of one of the rescue goats in her duck costume (she wears it like a dog wears a ThunderShirt, to calm her anxiety):

Too cute, right?!? Anyway, there’s a new Goats of Anarchy book being released in a few days and it’s available to order NOW. It should ship out on March 15th, but may sell out quickly, as popular internet sensations are known to do. As with all Amazon book orders, it comes with the pre-release guarantee. Order now and if the price decreases before it is released, you only pay the lower price.

Order: Goats of Anarchy: One Woman’s Quest to Save the World One Goat At A Time. Hardcover; March 15, 2017.

From the publisher: Get ready to party—the goats are back in town! Based on the popular Instagram account, Goats of Anarchy takes you on a tour of Leanne’s goat rescue farm, a place where special-needs goats can heal, grow, and butt heads to their hearts’ content.

Join Pocket, Ella, Chibs, Lyla, Prospect and Polly–the goat who took the Internet by storm with her adorable duck costume–as they rumble, snuggle, pig out, dress up, and even teach you a few goat yoga moves to loosen your haunches. Whether they’re learning to walk or just romping around the farm, these horned and hooved heartbreakers will have you grinning ear to ear as they chew the scenery—literally!

About the author: Also known as “Goat Mama,” Leanne Lauricella is the founder of Goats of Anarchy, a non-profit organization that aims to rescue and rehabilitate baby goats with special needs. As a former city girl with a passion and compassion for animals, Leanne has developed a wildly popular and Webby award-winning Instagram account and continues to provide goats a happy and loving forever home at her sanctuary. When she left New York City for the wilds of New Jersey in 2011, Leanne Lauricella knew nothing about animal sanctuaries. She started her Instagram account, @goatsofanarchy, shortly after getting her first two goats, Jax and Opie. Today, Leanne’s Instagram has over 400,000 followers, and is the winner of the 2016 People’s Voice Webby Award for Animal-Based Social Media Account. [Read more…]

BarkBox Review + Coupon: Small Dog Subscription Box February 2017

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As many of you already know, BarkBox is the most popular subscription box service for dogs. What you may not know is that when you join, you get to customize your order based on your dog’s size and food allergies to truly personalize the toys and treats your dog receives.

You also choose the length of your plan: go monthly to pay as you go and cancel any time, or choose a longer subscription with greater savings. Either way, every BarkBox comes with the Scout’s Honor Guarantee. That means if your pup doesn’t love an item in their box, BarkBox folks will send you a replacement better suited for them. For real. No fee. No fuss. No disappointed pups.

We’ve already shown you what was in the February BarkBox for Large Dogs, but if you missed this or want to see more of what’s in the box each month, visit our BarkBox Reviews Page here.

This month the theme was Sniffin’ Safari and the small dog box delivered BIG with 2 adorable dog toys and 3 tasty dog treats! Here’s what was in the small dog BarkBox we received, but keep in mind that items will vary depending on how you personalize your own subscription at BarkBox.com.

February BarkBox for Small Dogs

Dr. Lickingstone Dog Toy ($8 retail value) Featuring a soft body and 3 squeakers for optimal gnawing, fetching, or cuddling, Dr. Lickingstone is a Bark & Co original that can teach your pup a thing or two about fun.

Chewfasa the Lion ($10 retail value) This satisfyingly squeaky lion is king of the jungle and playtime! His mane is perfect for thrashing and gripping, and he’s sized just right for small and medium sized dogs to enjoy.

Lamb and Sweet Potato Trainers ($7 retail value) Made by the folks at I’d Rather Be With My Dog, these little bites are perfect for training sessions or just a healthy treat. They’re made in the USA with delectable lamb, hearty sweet potatoes, and coconut oil, so they’re perfect for pups who are on a grain-free meal plan.

Koha Pork Jerky Bites ($8 retail value) These low-fat, high protein treats are easily broken up to be used for training sessions or a healthy snack. Made in the USA, and the Wild Game Flavor makes them perfect for any adventure.

Butchers Block 2-pack Beef Trachea ($6 retail value) delicious, 100% quality beef treat from Omaha, Nebraska for Barkbox pups. Slow roasted 3 days for maximum flavor; 3 inches each which is perfect for small dogs!

As you can see, this BarkBox for Small Dogs is LARGE on value. The total retail value of this month’s dog toys and treats is $39, meaning you get a lot for your money with plans starting as low as $21/month.

BarkBox Coupon Code: WOOFWOOFMAMA gets you a FREE month added to any plan! Visit BarkBox.com to choose 1 month, 6 or 12 months and customize a plan for your dog’s size and allergies. Your dog will get a monthly box of fun and surprises! Visit BarkBox HERE to learn more and get started.

Want to see what was in previous BarkBoxes and read other reviews? Visit our BarkBox Coupons and Reviews page for more!

BarkBox Review + Coupon: Large Dog Subscription Box February 2017

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We’re back with another sneak peek at what’s inside the BarkBox for big dogs this month. Got a small dog or not sure which size to get? Stay tuned because we’ll be showing you the small dog BarkBox in the next day or so for comparison.

As many of you already know, each month’s BarkBox has a special theme and all the dog toys, treats and surprises are based on that theme. This month’s BarkBox is Sniffin’ Safari and it’s full of excitement, fun and adventure…as every safari should be. The photo above is the paper in the BarkBox, so as you can see, their people put all kinds of creativity and attention to detail into every box. That’s part of what sets BarkBox apart, the theme and exclusive items that you can’t find elsewhere.

This BarkBox came packed with 3 full-sized dog treats and 2 very cute and fun dog toys. Here’s a breakdown of the retail value of each item if purchased separately. Keep in mind that your BarkBox will be customized for your dog’s size and allergies so items may vary.

Big Dog Treats in February BarkBox
  • Banana Bacon Safari Snacks ($6 Retail Value) Rich in Vitamin C antioxidants, these snacks are as nutritious as they are delicious. They’re made by the folks at The Lazy Dog Cookie Co, who take canine nutrition super-seriously. Created without any wheat, corn, soy, meat, egg, or preservatives, they’re 100% good stuff and great for sensitive stomachs.
  • Charlie’s Heart of Cheesiness Sticks (Retail Value $8) Grain free and made in the USA, these soft treats are made without any preservatives, colorings or fillers. You can feel good about giving your dog rich, creamy taste of 100% real cheese.
  • Venison Ear ($4 Retail Value) 100% natural chew from Superior Farms Pet Provisions. A fun and tasty treat for dogs!

Big Dog Toys in February BarkBox
  • Slitherin’ Steve ($14 Retail Value) Snakes are known to be sneaky, but this one is up front with what it offers: a good time for canines. It may not hiss, but it’s stacked with squeakers, which dogs prefer anyway! It’s stuffing-free and sturdily-stitched from durable ballistic nylon so it’s sure to be super tough.
  • Leopard Tail ($16 Retail Value) The folks at Hyper Pet made this interactive toy that simulates a dog’s natural prey drive. The tail moves on its own and releases zany noises, creating an exciting and stimulating playtime for your pup. The on and off switch makes it easy to start a new play session or to put the toy aside for later. (Batteries not included)

The total retail value of this month’s BarkBox for Large Dogs is $48, making is a GREAT deal since subscriptions start as low as $21/month.  And, FREE Shipping is included on all US orders. We can’t wait to show you what was in the box for small dogs this month, so be sure to stay tuned!

BarkBox Coupon Code for FREE Extra Month

BarkBox Coupon Code: WOOFWOOFMAMA gets you a FREE BarkBox added to any plan! Choose 1 month, 6 or 12 months and customize a plan for your dog’s size and allergies and your dog will get a monthly box of fun and surprises. Visit BarkBox.com to learn more and get started.

Samsung SmartCam HD Pro Review #SmartCamWoof #Giveaway

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Pet parents know that the fur kids are part of the family, so when you’re at work or away and they’re home alone, you naturally want to check up on them. We’ve been testing out the Samsung SmartCam HD Pro, which allows pets and their people to stay connected.

It’s got super easy setup and a free app for Android or iOS, that lets you monitor your home and pets from any location. Advanced features for keeping an eye on your furry friends include 128 degree ultra-wide angle security coverage, 1080p full HD live video streaming, advanced motion detection, night vision and more.

With all these features, Samsung has really covered what most people need in a home WiFi camera. The price is nice, at $159, with lots of customer reviews and ratings at both BestBuy.com and Amazon. We love the two-way talk feature, although Daisy hasn’t figured out how to talk back yet! You can also use it to check-in with your human kiddos after school.

Everything you need is in the box, and I was able to get the camera up and running in about 10 minutes (it did a software security update once I connected it to WiFi). If you want, you can also get a 64GB Micro SD Memory Card which will allow you to record your video locally for long-term storage. You do need to have an existing home WiFi network set up already, which I’m guessing most of you do.

The SmartCam HD Pro also works with Samsung SmartThings and with other devices including the Amazon Echo. We got ourselves an Echo for Christmas and are loving it, but haven’t utilized it’s full capabilities yet. Anyway, here’s what’s in the box…totally not scary, and super easy to run the wireless setup using the app and your smartphone!

Samsung SmartCam HD Pro Giveaway

Because we want you to stay connected to your fur kids too, we’re giving our readers the chance to WIN a Samsung SmartCam HD Pro WiFi Camera. The giveaway is open to US residents , age 18+ and ends at 11:59pm ET on 2/28/17. Enter using the Rafflecopter contest widget below to record your entries. There are plenty of ways to enter, so do them all or just choose the ones you like. All entries will be verified. Good luck everybody!

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