Like most pet-parents I'm always buying things for my dog. Is he spoilt? Possibly. Do I care? Not really. And Aldi's latest Specialbuys range is perfect for our furry friends.

The full range contains:

There's so much to choose from with this latest range of Specialbuys (available instore and online now) that it can be hard to know where to start. Luckily, I've put a few things to the test for you....

Above you can see the products my dog and the birds in the garden have been making the most of. The fat ball feeder is a great way to make them accessible to the birds rather than hanging them in the nets they sometimes come in.. I can actually see it from where I'm writing this and there are 3 Sparrows pecking away.

I love the look of the pear shaped bird seed holder, it looks really great hanging in the garden and again, the birds seem to love it. It also doesn't drop seeds all over the floor like others I've had.

The washable boot mat is a must-have for anytime mucky paws are in the car, and it really does clean easily. We've got ours inside the back door at the moment as it gives the dog more grip on the tiled floor, but for road trips it'll definitely be coming with us.

The cosy pet blanket was an instant hit, with the dog curling up happily on both sides since he got it. I appreciate the fact it should be pretty easy to clean as well, and again, it's perfect for road trips.

Finally, the nylon dog chew toy. Our dog isn't really a big chewer so I wasn't sure what he'd think of this but because it smells (and I assume tastes) of bacon he's pretty content to just lie on his new blanket licking it. He likes it so it gets a thumbs up from me!

As always with Aldi, everything is high quality and really well-made. The birds are happy in the garden, my dog is happy in the house, and that makes me pretty please too. I'd definitely recommend heading either instore or online to checkout the pet Specialbuys for yourself, I know I'll be picking up a few more things myself.


Let me know what you think in the comments below!

I'm always looking for ways to make my skincare routine quicker and easier, and if it also makes it easier for travel then that's a bonus, so when I saw these MUA Pro Base sticks I couldn't wait to try them out and immediately headed over to Superdrug (they were on offer at the time).

There are 4 in the range: Makeup Remover, Softening Facial Oil, Smooth Set & Prime, and Soothe & Cool, and it was only the latter that I decided not to try out simply because it's not something that has a purpose for me.

But here's what I thought of the 3 I did put to the test:

• MUA Pro Base Makeup Remover Stick (RRP £5). Simply rub this balm over over damp skin and massage in before rinsing off.. it's that simple. I also used this with an exfoliating cloth and it worked well. It's not a deep cleansing product so you'll need to remove most of your makeup first (this is why I always give my face a quick once over with a wipe first) but if you just need freshening up after the gym it's a great option. It leaves skin feeling soft and clean, without any tightness or squeaky feelings. I like it and it's now a permanent fixure in my gym bag.
  
• MUA Pro Base Softening Facial Oil Stick (RRP £5). Dry patches are the worst and this is a quick and mess free way of targeting them. Simply roll onto skin after cleansing and you're good to go. It's not greasy and absorbs quickly, and is great for quick touchups if you have a particular problem area.
  
• MUA Pro Base Smooth, Set & Prime Blur Stick (RRP £5). I had high hopes for this priming stick but it didn't live up to them for me. After just one use I broke out (nothing major but enough to be annoying) and it didn't give my makeup any extra-wear time or make application smoother so it quickly found itself sitting in the trash. It's a no from me.
  

Overall, I like the concept and I think they made a good choice with the 4 areas they targeted. The Soothe & Cool stick should be great for the summer, the Makeup Remover is perfect for on the move, and the Softening Facial Oil is great for a quick fix. It's only the Primer that I have to give a thumbs down to, but that could work better for someone else.


Let me know in the comments if you've tried these sticks yourself, or if you have a similar product to recommend!

The February theme is called "Let Love Grow", which is a really nice message, and sees Birchbox partner with Not On The High Street for this month's box.

Let's take a look....

• LOC Liquid Shimmer Shadow in Moonlight - RRP £8 [Full Size]. This is a lovely liquid eye shadow that glides on and stays put all day, while looking fabulous. It's water-based so light and comfortable to wear, and easy to remove at the end of the day. Once dry it doesn't crease or smudge and I really loved the way it looked both straight out of the tube and blended out for a subtle glow.
  

• Anatomicals Shower Gel - Pick Me Up Body Cleanse - RRP £4 [Full Size]. I'm not a fan of the scent of this shower gel, which is unusual because I normally love Anatomicals. It cleanses well with a nice lather and rinses off without leaving a residue behind, just soft skin! I have used other Anatomicals body washes before that I like the smell of, so I think I'll stick with them in the future.
  
• Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Super Nourishing Coconut & Fig Hair Masque - RRP £9 [Full Size]. I've actually seen this advertised on Instagram before so I was happy to give it a try. It left my hair soft, shiny and really easy to detangle, and was easy to rinse out. I haven't noticed any damage repair but it does keep my hair smooth until the next wash so I'll keep using it and definitely consider repurchasing in the future.
  
• Luxie 205 Tapered Blending Dreamcatcher brush - RRP £11 [Full Size]. I only have a handful of makeup brushes and have no real need or desire for more so this isn't something I would actually buy for myself as it's just a pretty standard blending brush. I like that it's vegan, cruelty-free and hypoallergenic but the bristles are a little flimsy for my personal preferences.
  
• Sebamed Clear Face Anti-Pimple Gel - RRP £4.39 [Full Size]. I haven't had any real breakouts to try this out on yet, but it did clear up a tiny spot pretty quickly without any stinging or dryness (thanks to its pH of 5.5 - the same as your skin) so I have high hopes for when it has an actual challenge to face.
  

Overall, I was really happy with this month's box, everything included was full sized and although I wouldn't choose the scent of the body wash for myself or the brush I can get some use out of all the items.

Also included in the box were 3 gorgeous postcards which I love and have already started using and a 15% off code for Not On The High Street that I look forward to making the most of.

The February 2019 Birchbox gets a thumbs up from me!

Another month, another Pink Parcel. The company have had a few issues lately, so the packaging on this month's box was different (the same as the Cosmopolitan x Pink Parcel boxes), and I actually preferred it, and it was a little late again but they're working hard to get back on track so I'm happy to stick with it.

This month's goodies were:

• Dr. Lipp The Original Nipple Balm Dry Skin, Luscious Lips & Glossy Bits - (RRP £13 for 15ml). This is a pretty simple clear balm that gets the job done with no fuss. There's no fragrance, parabens or additives so it's free of nasties. As a quick lip balm or to soothe patches of dry skin it's fast and effective, but nothing special. I like it though, so keep it on hand in my pocket during the day.
  
• Soaper Duper Body Lotion in Fruity Green Tuberose - Full Size (RRP £7.50 for 250ml). I'm always looking for more natural additions to my skincare and this has 98% natural ingredients and no parabens, colours, mineral oils or sls, which already gets it a big thumbs up from me. It's quick to absorb, easy to massage in and doesn't leave behind any residue; just a fresh, soft feeling. It's a great body lotion, but I'm not keen on the fragrance of this particular one, so if I repurchase  I'd choose a different one to try, but I'm definitely interested in learning more about the Soaper Duper brand.
  
• Oryza Velvet Matte Lipstick Nude Collection in 'Lido' - Full Size (RRP £15.95). I'll never say no to giving a new lipstick a try (probably) so I was thrilled to see this in the box. It's a gorgeous dusty pink that will compliment so many different complexions. It's easy to apply, has a smooth matte finish that's comfortable to wear, and stays put pretty well throughout the day even when faced with food and drink. Even when it wears down it leaves behind a pretty stain on the lips, but that's easy to remove at the end of the day. It's a lovely nude lipstick and I've been reaching for it every day.
  
• Vitamasque Gold Mask  - Diamond Gold - Full Size (RRP £5.99 each). There are 3 different varieties of this mask but the Diamond Gold one was included for me, and its main aim is brightening. I've actually tried this mask before (either in another Pink Parcel or a Birchbox), and it's a nice sheet mask. It absorbs well into the skin and does leave skin glowing and looking healthy. I'm a big fan and have purchased these masks a couple of times before.
  
• Marvis Cinnamon Mint Toothpaste (RRP £7.00 for 85ml). While I like the vintage design on the packaging, I'm not spending £7 for a toothpaste and I don't like the taste. It foams nicely and cleans well, but I'm not abandoning my normal toothpaste any time soon.
  
• Pure Chimp Tumeric Matcha Sachet (RRP £9.95 for 95g Glass Jar). It's a no from me. I rarely like the drinks included in the Pink Parcel, and often pass them on to friends, but I gave this a go and didn't get past the first sip.
  
• Chocolate & Love in Panama & Madagascar (RRP £2.99 for 80g). Both a little too dark for me personally, but if you like dark chocolate then these are probably right for you. The packaging is great though.
  

Overall, it was a pretty decent box in February. The only real nos  for me were the matcha sachet and the toothpaste, and I'd have to find different varieties of the body lotion and chocolate, the balm probably isn't something I'd buy for myself, but I really like the lipstick and face masks are always welcome.

Let me know what you thought of the products in this month's Pink Parcel if you're a subscriber, or drop me a comment with a subscription box you think I should try!

Stay safe,x

*I pay for my Pink Parcel subscription myself. All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own, and are in no way influenced by any other party.*

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