Pug Update (Featuring PetLabCo)

Thank you so much to PetLabCo for sending us the products mentioned in this post to review! As always, opinions are my own. Links are affiliate.

This July marked 9 years with Bailey and Winston! We rescued Bailey on June 29th 2016, and found out immediately that she was pregnant. It was a crazy time! We had so much going on in our lives, and then we threw in a new pet to the mix. Our poor Bailey was so neglected, we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. She ended up having an emergency c-section and most of the puppies didn't make it. (I recapped it here, and I honestly have a hard time reading about it.) We kept one of her puppies and that's how we ended up with Winston! 

Bailey

Bailey is now about 15 years old and doing really well! She has poor vision, but doesn't let it slow her down. She has our house memorized, so we don't really notice it until we take her someplace new.

We are so happy to have Bailey in our life. We had no idea what we were taking on when we got her 9 years ago. I'm so thrilled that she has now spent the majority of her life with us living in complete luxury. 

Winston

Winston has been such a fun dog! He's got quite the personality and has since day one. It's actually pretty cool to have had him since he was born! Winston is now 9, and he is getting a little gray in the face. He's also getting a little rounder, since he's gotten in the habit of sneaking some of his mother's food. 

The main struggle we've had with Winston is his seasonal allergies! We still have not narrowed down exactly what he is allergic to, but I'd say his seasonal allergies are the most under control they've ever been right now. His coat and skin are looking really good! 

We have also tried a few PetLabCo products I'd love to share with you today!

Allergy & Immune Chews

If you are like us, then your dog has woken you up in the middle of the night licking their paws like there is no tomorrow! Winston has always dealt with this, so we have been extremely open to anything that helps out. The PetLabCo Allergy & Immune chews are designed to support your dog's gut health and can help with things like occasional itching and licking. The soft chews are small and look like what we give as a reward, so it's very easy to add this into your dog's routine. Honestly, now Winston's skin and seasonal allergy situation is better than ever! 

Probiotic Chews

I am personally taking probiotics for all the benefits they provide, so it makes sense to me to give one to my dog too! Supporting their gut can have so many benefits like healthy immune responses to seasonal allergies, and healthy digestive function. The PetLabCo Probiotic chew can also help with yeast imbalance, which Winston definitely has dealt with. I like that these soft chews are very soft and crumbly, so they are great for picky eaters! That yeasty smell we had gotten so used to has really gotten so much better! 

ProBright Advanced Dog Dental Powder

I was reminiscing about when we had puppies, and how good puppy breath smells! That could just be me. What is not great - is grown up dog breath! The PetLabCo ProBright Advanced powder is actually clinically studied* to target tartar build up and help freshen your dog's breath. You just add a scoop (with the cutest tiniest included scoop!) and add it to your dog's food once a day. No toothbrush needed! Our pugs do not cooperate with daily teeth brushing, so I'm thrilled to have this option. It could not be easier!

*A 28-day study found ProBright Advanced significantly reduced a key odor causing compound in dogs. In a 90-day clinical study, dogs taking ProBright Advanced daily had a plaque index score that was 25% lower than the control group.  

All in all, we are so grateful to have had these 9 years with our pugs! This past year was a tough transition from 3 to 2 dogs, and we still think about Delly every single day. Bailey and Winston add so much joy to our days, and really a sense of purpose. Our days are centered on them! We have to wake up early to ensure they've been fed and walked. We can't leave the house for too long. And, getting a dog sitter for our vacations will forever be such a hurdle and stressor! I just wish I could clone myself and stay behind with them. We are grateful for any product or routine that makes their little lives better!

-Kristen

This post contains affiliate and referral links! | Blog Disclosure

Pug Update (Featuring PetLabCo)

Friday, August 1, 2025

New Home Tour: Master Bathroom with Smile Brilliant (& GIVEAWAY!)

Thank you so much to Smile Brilliant for sending me this set of Ultrasonic toothbrushes and for sponsoring the giveaway at the end of this post! Blog Disclosure.

We are officially moved into our new house! I'm kicking off our new home tour today with the master bathroom. Starting with this room because, honestly, it's the only room that's "done" and completely unpacked! I don't do well with our house in chaos but, it's so nice to have this sanctuary totally set up. 

New Home Tour: Master Bathroom with Smile Brilliant (& GIVEAWAY!)

Monday, August 9, 2021

Formulate Custom Hair Care System Review & GIVEAWAY

I first shared the brand Formulate with you back in July when the company launched! So, I'm really excited to tell you about my personal formulation today, and give you the opportunity to win your own! A huge thank you to Formulate for gifting me my set of shampoo and conditioner and for sponsoring a second giveaway! (Blog Disclosure Here)

The Brand & It's Concept

Formulate has such a cool concept! My hair is naturally stick straight, thick...but fine, and I have to wash it every single day. My husband's 100% the opposite-his hair is coarse, wavy and water rolls right off of it. And I'm willing to bet your hair is nothing like either of ours. So, it doesn't make sense that we would all use the same shampoo and conditioner. 

Formulate is a company that makes a custom shampoo and condition to match your hair. First, you fill out a hair profile, and you will be asked questions like what texture of hair you have, and what climate you live in. You also get to select your own scent! It's a completely custom system just for you. Here is my hair profile, where you can see what kind of hair I have, and what my goals are when shampooing.

They get major bonus points from me for being cruelty free!

The Process

After you fill out the Formulate questionnaire, that's all you have do! Their chemist (yes, literal scientists work on your shampoo!) will get to work formulating your shampoo and conditioner set. Then, just check your mail! I found the shipping to be lightening fast, so if you are running low on shampoo this is a great time to switch! 

Included along with your shampoo and conditioner will be a complete list of all the ingredients in your set! There are no parabens, sulfates or preservatives in any of the formulas. 

So, what happens if your formulation isn't right? Well, that happened to me! My formula needed some adjustments. That's okay! Formulate's customer service is off the charts. Abby was SO helpful and was adamant about getting my system perfectly tweaked. Formulate has an app where you can give feedback to the chemists and make any adjustments. (Plus, if you aren't happy they promise a full refund.) 

I love the scent I chose, and I've absolutely noticed a decrease in the amount of split ends I usually get. 

The Price Point

After you fill out your hair profile you will be given two options: You can try a 4oz bottle of shampoo and a 4 oz bottle of conditioner for $19.95 or you can get the 14 oz of each (which is what I have!) for $49. The 4 oz bottles are a great way to give it a try (or you can enter the giveaway below and get a set for free!)! 

I'm an advocate for spending money wisely, so please make your own decisions about what you are willing to splurge on! This is not a budget shampoo and conditioner. But, neither is it budget quality. This is much more comparable to salon grade products. You would also expect to pay more for a personal cosmetic chemist creating a product just for you! 

If you are a person who has tricky hair and you've struggled for years to find something that works, I really think this would be worthwhile. If you are a person who can pick any bottle off the pharmacy shelf and it works great, then you go girl! 

Giveaway

Wanna give it a go? Please, please enter my giveaway to win your own custom hair care set! One winner will be chosen to receive 1 shampoo and 1 conditioner. The giveaway ends on December 6th, so pop over and enter! 

Leave a comment below to tell me you've entered the giveaway! What shampoo and conditioner do you use? Are you happy with it, or would you like to try something else? 

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Formulate Custom Hair Care System Review & GIVEAWAY

Monday, November 19, 2018

Personalized Shampoo with Formulate.co (and GIVEAWAY!)

I have never met anyone with hair like mine. (Well, maybe my sister.) I have dark blonde, shoulder length hair. It's fine textured, but there is a LOT of it! Because my scalp is fairly oily, I wash it every. single. day. And don't hate me, but it dries perfectly straight! Sound like you? I didn't think so. 

That's why the concept behind Formulate really spoke to me. No one has the same head of hair, so we really shouldn't be using the same shampoo! You need a formula that works with your hair texture, length, color and climate! 

Formulate is a BRAND NEW hair care company, that is launching TODAY! I'm so excited to be partnering with them, because I really think this is a brilliant concept. You start by filling out a hair survey, and Formulate asks you 27 questions that help them create a custom shampoo and conditioner formula for your hair. You even get to customize the scent! 

Formulate shampoos and conditioners are paraben, sulfate and cruelty free!

I can't wait to get my personal formulation! I will be checking in after I try it out for a few weeks and I will give a full report. To celebrate Launch Day, Formulate wants to give away a personal hair care system to one of you!

To enter the giveaway, just visit my Formulate profile and hit the giveaway button! Ends July 24th.

On my profile you will also be able to see my personal hair profile, and what scent I chose! This is their launch day, so only a limited number of orders will be taken so they can get everything right. But, if you just can't wait until after the giveaway, I've got several invite codes that I'd love to share! Shoot me an email and I will get one to you. 

Leave a comment below if you've entered the giveaway! I'd love to know what you think of this concept, and what your hair care routine is like! Tell me if you wash your hair everyday or if you don't have to!

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This is a sponsored post! As always the content here is my own and personal opinion. 

Personalized Shampoo with Formulate.co (and GIVEAWAY!)

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

What are those wooden watches really like?! & GIVEAWAY with JORD watches!

A huge thank you to JORD watches for sending me my very own wooden watch, and for sponsoring the giveaway at the end of this post! 

It's hard to say, but I think watches are my favorite accessory. Which speaks volumes about my personality, actually. Something decorative, that actually serves a purpose is totally my jam! I wear a watch everyday and if I forget to put one on my wrist feels naked.

What are those wooden watches really like?! & GIVEAWAY with JORD watches!

Monday, January 29, 2018

How I Hostess #WhileIWhiten {& A Giveaway!}

Thank you so much to Smile Brilliant for sending me a teeth whitening kit and for sponsoring the giveaway you can enter at the end of this post!

One of the things I have absolutely come to love is having people over for dinner! It might just be because I'm getting older, but going out to eat with people isn't as fun as it used to be. When you can have people over it's much more comfortable and you get to actually spend time with your friends. You have a chance to talk with more than just the person across from you, and you don't have to rush and say goodbye just because your bill came.

We try to have somebody over at least twice a month! Sometimes it's more often and sometimes it's less- it just depends on our schedule. I thought it would be fun to share a little bit of what I do before we have guests over! 

Since I'm a pro multi-tasker, I am going to be getting ready for our company while I whiten! I'm also a professional iced tea drinker, so my teeth have been crying out to be whitened for a long time now. And, whitening my teeth while I go about my regular day is the perfect fit. I love being productive and spending a little time on myself!

With this at-home whitening kit you can whiten from 45 minutes to 3 hours, so you have plenty of time to get chores done or get ready for the day while whitening. I've whitened while I studied, cleaned the house and while we watched Netflix. This time I'm going to straighten up the house, get dinner going hopefully have a little time to relax before our friends come over! 

It's probably still a little too hot here to be forcing our friends to sit outside, but after pressure washing the back porch and getting a brand new outdoor table I was dying to use it. The porch is fairly easy to set up for guests because it's always pretty much set up for guests. All I have to do is plug in the string lights, ice the beverages, and make sure all the dog hair is off the cushions! My new table was also begging to be set, so I dressed it up a little too. Oh yeah, and because #Florida I have to light the citronella candles!

If we are having people over for dinner, I really try to have most of the food prepared ahead of time. When they get here I want to be able to visit and relax and not be bustling around the kitchen while everybody else gets to have fun! Keeping the meal simple is a big part of that. Tonight we are having spaghetti with homemade sauce, garlic knots and salad. I can get the sauce going on the stove and have the salad pre made so that all I have to do is make the pasta and throw the bread in the oven. 

Since I'm currently obsessed with cheese platters, I had to put one of those together too! It's amazing how presentation is everything with these trays. You'd never know that all the cheese, hummus and crackers are store brand! It's a huge crowd pleaser with not all that much effort. 

And I have to vacuum and sweep the floors before anybody comes over. Even if I just did it yesterday! With three pugs, you gotta. By that time, it's been an hour and I can take my whitening trays out! I can't believe how white my teeth are getting. 

You're going to laugh, but I started doing all of this way before dinner time. It's because I always feel like I have a million things to do, but it never fails that I'm ready too early. There are worse things, because I end up having time to sit down and relax. Everything is done, and that's the whole point because now I can enjoy our friends and not be fussing over something! 

Anytime I sit down I end up with a pug on my lap! Winston was obviously my helper today. Meanwhile Delly and Bailey were the smart ones and were hanging out inside with the A/C. 

Photos by Black Tie Cinema!

I've been using my whitening kit for a little over two weeks - check out this before and after! I still have plenty of whitening gel in my box, so I'm excited to see how much brighter my smile will continue to get. 

Giveaway! Want to win a whitening kit of your own? I can't recommend Smile Brilliant enough! To enter the giveaway just head over here! You could win $139 credit to spend with on your new smile. The giveaway is open for 1 week, so make sure you enter right now! (Open to USA, UK, Australian and Canadian residents) 

If you want to go ahead and purchase your kit, make sure you use pugsandpearls10 for 10% off! 

Leave a comment below if you are an over preparer! Do you prefer going out with your friends, or having them over? What do you usually make for dinner guests? And I'd love to know if you entered the giveaway! 

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While Smile Brilliant provided me with a whitening kit to share my experience, I want to assure you that all opinions expressed in this post are honest and real! 

Tooth Whitening Gel

How I Hostess #WhileIWhiten {& A Giveaway!}

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Spritz

Because I feel like I've been in a sort of hosting rut, I really wanted to jazz things up a bit. We seem to always have the same people over and end up making an easy dinner and watching a movie. I still love doing that, but it does make me feel a bit lazy.

So, recently we had a few friends over and we made a real dinner that came from a cookbook! To make it even more fun I wanted to make a cocktail for our guests from Spritz! Spritz is a really cute book that has many, many recipes for bubbly and well, 'spritzy' drinks. I love the cover and it goes so nicely on the old dresser we repainted. (I've since turned the dresser into a sort of bar cart and I love it even more!)

I'm always nervous to try new cocktails because sometimes you go through all the trouble of picking one out and then you can't find the ingredients. Plus it wasn't that long ago that we were in a dry county, so the selection is always on the small side. We couldn't find one of our ingredients in our liquor store, so next time I'm in a bigger city I will pick some up and see if it makes a difference. 

I love that this book has some really helpful background history on Spritzers and even descriptions of the alcohols included in the ingredients. There are a few Italian Appetizer recipes in the back that I hadn't noticed before and I really want to make those at the next dinner party. A lot of these recipes are for more bitter drinks, but if you like sparkling drinks I think you'd be a big fan of the recipes. 

Here's the recipe we tried!

Aperol Betty

2 Oz Aperol

1 Oz Fresh Orange Juice

1/2 Oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice

3 Oz Prosecco

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake. Strain over ice into your glass. Top with prosecco and garnish with orange wheel. (We used a lemon to garnish) The Aperol Betty is like a bittersweet mimosa!

I was so happy to do something different and make our guests feel special. Instead of a movie we ended up playing a few hilarious games of Yahtzee, and I won the last round-and that's all that matters!

Leave me a comment: Do you ever feel like you're in a rut? It's so easy to invite the same people over, isn't it? How do you make your guests feel special?

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This book was sent to me for free through Blogging for Books and this post contains affiliate links.

Spritz

Thursday, May 12, 2016