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● Laura Thornberry ●

While the current coronavirus restrictions continue, it means that we can’t go on traditional dates like we previously once did. However, with social distancing guidelines still in place, some dating ideas are still allowed whether that be a romantic walk, having a cute picnic in the local park or even some gaming date ideas that you can do at home. Whether you live with your partner, or you’re currently in a long-distance relationship, or even just missing your close friends, playing video games together is a fun way to have a date during lockdown.

Gaming and virtual dating can be a great and enjoyable way to bring couples/friends together and stay connected during lockdown, whether that be in real life or through playing online. Video gaming has become increasingly popular as a way to pass the time during lockdown, and below are just a few of the benefits that gaming dates can have whilst we're all staying indoors at home.


Escaping Reality
More and more people have been turning to gaming as a way of coping and dealing with the current COVID-19 lockdown. Using this in hope to take their minds off the current pandemic, having it as a distraction from chaotic day to day life and to help improve their overall mental health. Playing games with your loves ones, family or even online with others, can give you that much needed time out from real life, let your mind wander into the gaming world, and give you that escape from reality that is definitely much needed at this current time in life.

It's Fun and Enjoyable
Taking some time out of your hectic day, especially if you are working from home, can be just what you need to relax and de-stress. There are so many games out there to play and could be the perfect opportunity to indulge in some gamers dates with your friends or partners. I would probably recommend trying out some online escape room styled games, where you are required to solve a variety of puzzles in order to complete the game. These types of games encourage you to work together as a team and for everyone involved to put forward ideas in order to solves the challenges.

Meet New People Online
There is such a variety of dates for gamers, whether that be playing video games, card games or board games, there's something out there for everyone to enjoy. Gaming online also has the benefits of you being able to meet and chat with people via various online games sites who you would have never of met but have things in common with and similar interests to you. This can be very important for those who are feeling lonely during lockdown, or those who may struggle to meet or find friends in real life.

Creating Competitions
To add some excitement into daily life throughout lockdown, playing competitions and tournaments, with your loved ones at home or online can be a really fun way to spend some of your free time. Especially if you're really competitive, you could make this a regular part your weekly schedule where you play each others favourite games and play for prizes or treats. This will just to keep things super fun and uplifting during these current circumstances. One of my all time favourite games to play is definitely Mario Kart; the ultimate fun racing game to bring out your competitive side.

What other lockdown date ideas for gamers do you have? What other benefits are there from gaming?

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 Retirement needs just as much planning as any other up and coming event or period in your life. The younger generation often tends to turn a blind eye to retirement. It is either too far on the horizon to be taken seriously or it is a vision they would rather not contemplate. If the push-button 21st century is all about living in the now, it only follows that if we want to create a great retirement, we have to start thinking about it…now.

So here are some top tips for getting on track for making your later years the best years of your life.


Visualise your retirement
Visualise what your ideal retirement would look like. What dreams will you have on your bucket list? Who will be around you? What will your living surroundings be like? Of course, nobody knows what the exact future may hold for us but think about what family and friends you would want to be close to, which creature comforts are essential, all those places you would like to explore and how much time you would need for those favourite hobbies.

Keep healthy
There is no escaping from the fact that in the autumn of our lives we are not going to be as healthy as in our youth. But medical science advances every day. As lifespans increase, new medicines and therapies are found to deal with everyday ailments and illnesses making retirement more and more like a pain free zone. Give your body something back every day by taking part in sports or just simple keep fit and then, even in your 60’s, it could be ready to spring into action in order to make your dreams a reality.

Prepare financially throughout your life
You are going to need money to finance your dreams. When you first start working you may be opted-in to the company pension. This is good as your employer will contribute a percentage towards it as well. Get an idea of what the pay-out from the pension will be. It could be in the future you may want to contemplate starting a private pension, starting your own little savings pot or upping contributions to your work pension. Monitor your pension savings – don’t forget them!

Monitor your State Pension
Keep up to date with State Pension pay-out and any changes to governmental policy. The latter is constantly changing. For instance, as well as aligning male and female retirement ages, the government is also constantly putting back the retirement age. Changes such as this are likely to have a real effect on your plans. Also, you may not receive the maximum pay-out if you do not make sure you have made maximum contributions all through your working life. You can check what your State Pension will look like on the government website.

Pension freedoms
You may not receive your State Pension until the official retirement age but you can in fact retire at any age. Even more reason to prepare appropriately. The new pension freedoms allow you to draw on some work and private pensions from the age of 55. This could offer a new form of income when money may be a little tight in your later years. But you need to be very careful that you have enough money to last for your whole retirement.

Access professional financial advice
Throughout your life – and especially if you are going to consider the pension freedoms route – you are likely to need expert and professional guidance to ensure your money is invested in the most beneficial way. Regulated financial advisors are authorised by the financial conduct authority and will give you independent guidance in terms of your specific needs.

Before looking at options for your pension, consider using a regulated financial adviser like Portafina or, view the guidance info at Pension Wise.

Have you got a pension set up for the future?

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 Everyone has different requirements when running their own business whether it is big or small and we like to ensure everything runs as stress free as possible. However, we are prone to experience some instances that can make our businesses a painful experience to get through, and sometimes it can be having the wrong person for the job or someone who is inexperienced in the area that you require them to be.

Around the end of the financial year you may begin to find that your bookkeeper may not be line with your requirements, but what are the warning signs that you're not getting the service you are paying for?

bookkeeping

Lack of Response
Among the large tell-tale signs that things are not as they should be is that simple requests take a long time to get answered, or they don’t get answered at all. Naturally this concern grows to worry that your professional bookkeeper may not be in line with your business needs or could be hiding something or simply not caring about your business. Either way it’s a worry that you shouldn’t be paying for. If the bookkeeper is too tied up to give a response to when they will be available to you or have too many clients to move around, then you may need to take your business to other bookkeeping services in Manchester.

Running Behind
The last thing you want to hear from a bookkeeper is that they are seriously behind on workload, leaving your books needing to be closed right up to a deadline. Solid and professional bookkeeping services are all about making time to get caught up and maintain deadlines, ensuring that your business can grow. When you work with a bookkeeper it is important that deadlines for work are set and they keep things on track to meet those deadlines. If they cannot work to set deadlines, then you need to find small business bookkeeping solutions that will.

They Cannot Explain Terminology
If your bookkeeper doesn’t know what the term ‘reconciliation’ means, then that red flag should be waving like a storm is coming. Every bookkeeper should know the standard terms when it comes to bookkeeping, from cash and accrual-based accounting, assets, accounts payable/receivable and so on and so forth. If your bookkeeper does not use the terms or, even worse, cannot competently explain them to your level of understanding then you need to find common ground with a bookkeeper that can and will.

It is important to feel that every aspect of your business is running the way it should with the right people on board for the growth of the business. If your current bookkeeper shows signs that they are not right for you, then there are other alternative bookkeeping services in Manchester who fit the bill perfectly.

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 By now, you have probably heard the term 'glow up' a million times. A glow up is basically the same thing as a makeover, only it is exponentially more intense. Instead of just getting a new wardrobe or a fresh haircut, a glow up is a total physical life transformation. It is a pledge you make to yourself to stop making excuses not to invest in yourself. Glow ups can range from the mild to the extreme, but they all have the same thing in common. When you embark on a glow up, you become more self-aware and start letting that true inner beauty you had hidden away shine through. 

Next up, learn the steps that have to be taken first before you can have a totally guilt-free glow up.

beauty spa glow up

How can Your Beauty Routine be Improved Right Now?
A lot of women end up getting to a point in their lives where they have a daily basic beauty routine that they complete each day, no matter what. Of course, you probably take a little more time to do your hair and makeup when you know that you are going to attend a special event. However, your everyday look should have you looking great as well. In short, if you aren't doing more than washing your face and putting on a bit of Chapstick, then your regular beauty routine definitely has to be improved upon. Remember that having a daily beauty routine doesn't mean that you have to start your day an hour early. You simply need to prioritise taking care of your appearance and gussying yourself up so you always look amazing when you step out the door.

Realising It Takes Effort to Look Good
Do you want to know how some people look effortlessly amazing every single day? By putting in a lot of effort. After all, where do you think the "no-makeup" makeup look originated? From your nails to your wardrobe, to the fragrance that you wear, every part of your look should be calculated and purposeful. In order to effectuate a real glow up, you need to start thinking about yourself and all of your self-imposed beauty standards more deeply. Glowing up is not about becoming vain or preoccupied with your looks. Making yourself over and sticking with it is about addressing the reasons why you aren't putting your all into looking and feeling your best. Once you get into a steady rhythm of preparing to face the day by way of putting your best foot forward, you will not want to go back to neglecting your self care needs.

Why You've Put Off Investing in Yourself
As people go through life paying bills, saving money, and doing their best to stay afloat financially, they tend to become more comfortable with cutting out splurges. If you can't stand the idea of springing for a cup of coffee while you're on the go because you have a coffeemaker at home, you probably have put off investing in yourself.

Tackling Your Teeth
Braces cost in the UK is no steeper here than anywhere else in the world. At the same time, if you don't have a habit of investing in yourself, it is fairly easy to see why you wouldn't have given the idea of straightening your teeth any real consideration. Whether you treat yourself to a new pair of shoes every month or go to your preferred professional hairstylist every six weeks, you deserve to invest in yourself.

The first thing that most people are going to notice about you is your smile. If you have a wide, white grin, you can capture minds and win over hearts, just by flashing those pearly whites. Regardless of how perfect or imperfect your smile may be, it is important to know about the different types of teeth straightening braces. Straight My Teeth has comprehensive information on teeth alignment options and affordability. This company can help you to deal with any teeth straightening issue you are concerned with, and at a price that is likely to leave you smiling. Knowing how “much do braces cost UK” will also give you peace of mind before you start thinking about that final bill. Between tooth whitening and alignment, the very first part of your official glow up will be complete.

womens clothes wardrobe

Developing a New Wardrobe
You simply can't have a glow up unless you get a matching wardrobe to go with your brand new and improved appearance and demeanour. Changing your wardrobe might mean that you buy some daring pieces for the first time in your life. It could also mean that you finally tone things down and begin dressing a little more maturely. It doesn't really matter what your new wardrobe consists of, as long as you like it and the clothes you wear are flattering for your size and shape.

Making Your Skin Look Amazing
Large pores, crow's feet, acne, hyper pigmentation, and even scarring can negatively impact your face and the overall appearance of your skin. Of course, you are encouraged to embrace aging as well as your unique beauty. Focusing on skincare is not about trying to look like someone else, or even about becoming perfect. If you are prone to acne breakouts, you will probably still experience having a pimple or two from time to time. All you want to do now is streamline your skincare routine so that it is manageable, and also so you start seeing some results. So, look to try out new under-eye creams, face peels, and moisturisers until you discover that perfect combination.

Laying Out Long-Term Beauty Goals
Embarking on a glow up may mean that you end up making more changes in the future. Some women are keen to schedule "mommy makeovers," so that they can feel and look as vivacious as they did before bringing life into the world. You might have plans to completely overhaul your closet, tossing out all of the inexpensive clothes and replacing them with luxury items. Even still, your long-term beauty goals could just end up changing and evolving as much as you do. Stay open to all new ideas, especially as they relate to your glow up.

Keeping Up with the Changes
In very short order, you can change up your look and execute an impressive glow up. The only problem comes in when a few weeks have passed and you start falling back into your old habits. Some days, you simply will not feel like curling your hair. In other situations, you will want to forgo accessorising your outfits expertly because you are getting close to running late for work. Maintaining the changes and making your glow up permanent is no different from making healthy life choices, such as if you are dedicated to losing weight. If you want to look and feel good, then you have to put in the work each day. Go easy on yourself when you are under the weather or didn't get enough sleep. However, you don't want to fall off the bandwagon and go back to not caring about how you present yourself.

Any woman who wants to have a glow up should be able to do so, guilt-free. It doesn't matter if you are saving to go on holiday or if you have some upcoming expenses that you want to save for. Glowing up isn't expensive, but it is an action that you have to be fully committed to.

What things would you do to have a "glow up"?

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 Blogging and influencer marketing has become extremely popular over the last few years, and has become increasingly prevalent during the recent coronavirus pandemic. Having your own blog and space on the internet, whether that's as a hobby, part-time or full time job can be extremely rewarding in a number of ways. In terms of my own success, whilst I have been furloughed, I've used this time to really put some more time and effort into my site, and have recently began to make a small income from a variety of opportunities via brands/websites/PR's.

But for some people who are newer to blogging or brand work, it can be a little confusing and daunting as to how exactly brands and bloggers can work together through collaborations and sponsorships. As a lifestyle blogger, I don't particularly focus on one topic on my blog, I simply prefer to write content about a variety of subjects of which I'm interested and passionate about. I know from my experience as a lifestyle blogger, I've had some extremely successful opportunities recently revolving around a number of topics, and have been able to form relationships with brands who I have been able to work alongside on multiple occasions.


GIFTED ITEMS AND PRODUCT REVIEWS
One of the most common ways brands and blogger work together is via sending products out in exchange for a review. This could be for new launches, new collections or just to gain some exposure of the brands/products involved. Bloggers will be able to test the products gifted to them and follow this up by writing an honest, in-depth review. These reviews are usually accompanied by photography, URL links back to the brand’s website and honest opinions for their audience to view/read about. 

SPONSORED CONTENT
Something that I have begun finding out more about is sponsored posts and content via brands. Many brands/PR's reach out to lifestyle bloggers for a number of collaborations or sponsored opportunities. This type of work usually consists of paying a blogger to host a pre-written sponsored blog post or asking them to write an article featuring their brand/products. 

Get Blogged is a brilliant blogger outreach website with various blogging assignments that connects a variety of brands with bloggers across a range of niches, including beauty, lifestyle and business to name a few. Depending on your blogs Domain Authority, it's also a great solution for bloggers wanting to begin monetising their blogs, and for brands wanting to outsource their outreach in a cost effective way. The Get Blogged Marketplace can help brands achieve their goals faster by placing assignment opportunities, and asking bloggers to submit idea proposals based on the brief provided. I've had a really positive experience via Marketplace, and have managed to get a variety of collaborations through this.

LINK INSERTIONS
Another way brands can work with lifestyle bloggers is through link insertions for new or pre-existing content on your blogs. This sponsorship style usually involves the brand or blogger pitching or suggesting a pre-existing post/new relevant content ideas on your blog that is related to subject of collaboration, to make sure that would be a good fit.


FIVE LIFESTYLE BLOGGERS WORTH FOLLOWING

Kayleigh Zara - A blogger I have recently found over the last few months during the current lockdown. Some of my favourite posts from her blog include blogging tips and income reports, as well as her e-books that she has to offer.

Olivia Jade @ Dungarees and Donuts - Olivia's blog is one I have followed pretty much since I began blogging. Always featuring relevant and engaging content on a variety of subjects, making it a great all-round lifestyle blog to follow.

Hayley @ HaySparkle - Another blogger who I have been following for a while now and whose content is incredible. Hayley has a gorgeous food and lifestyle blog that needs to be on your reading list ASAP.

Life of Luce -  A newer blog that I've recently been loving. A blog heavily focusing on beauty, fashion and lifestyle topics. I really love the fashion outfit posts and styling tips.

Reinventing Neesha - Another blog that I managed to come across during the current global pandemic. This blog is great for those who are looking for advice on blogging, money-saving and money making.

What are your favourite lifestyle blogs? How have you been working with brands recently?

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Online learning is education or training that takes place over the internet, and has become increasingly more popular and current due to the current coronavirus circumstances. Educational organisations like schools and universities have had to implement digital ways of studying to ensure that students are still able to learn and work during this global pandemic. However, it's not just the younger generation attending school, college or university who can learn online. Absolutely anyone of any age can benefit from online learning and enrol in a number of courses suitable for them and to expand their horizons. 

Learning new skills and gaining new qualifications has become increasingly more popular recently, many people are using their furlough time, or spare time after their 9-5 job wisely and productively to branch out into something new or expand on their current knowledge or skills. It's also allowed those who have lost their jobs through company collapse or redundancy to get back into education to boost future career opportunities and expand their skills for a wider scope. Many people who choose to go online for learning tend to have other commitments in their daily life, and prefer this method of learning for its convenience and flexibility.


One of the main benefits of online learning is that the majority of courses available are completely self paced and flexible for learners. Students can take their time learning at a pace that suits them to allow them to fully engage in the course and not feel any sense of being rushed or being overwhelmed by tight deadlines. Many learning from home courses will map out the course objectives and give a rough guide of the length of time is needed for completion that can help you plan out your studying time effectively. Such flexibility allows you to complete work at convenient times but still meeting course/assignment deadlines.

Boosting your career potential is also a huge benefit of online learning. Whether you want to expand your knowledge of your current job role or gain extra knowledge in hope of a promotion, taking up some online learning could help you achieve more. Those learners who currently are in work/employment can apply newly found knowledge and skills to their job immediately. When completing these online courses, you gain extra qualifications for your CV, and expand your knowledge on a number of subjects/topics.

Obviously if studying online in your spare time is something you wish to undertake, there is huge opportunity to be able to learn new skills or even pursue hobbies and gain some qualification from it. Something that would really interest me is learning and improving my Graphic Design skills. There are a number of affordable and comprehensive web design courses online that I think would be very interesting, creative and suitable for those with artistic interests. As a blogger, this would be extremely beneficial when it comes to designing and editing blog themes, blog headers and images.

online learning notes

Online courses are easily available and can be extremely affordable. Depending on the learning provider you choose, there are a number of free courses available online, as well as many heavily discounted courses, making them widely available to many people. For those who didn't attend university in their late teens, there are many associations that offer affordable online degrees that you can take either part time or full time depending on your lifestyle.

Another benefit of online learning is that it can help with personal development. By taking part in online courses, you can further your own skills and abilities, by improving communication, time-keeping writing and reading skills. These courses can also build your confidence, be more productive and help lead a more successful life.

Some that makes online learning so incredible is the large selection of courses available to choose from. Whatever you want to learn/study, there is hundreds of courses out there, from first aid to sciences, history to creative subjects and much much more, there's something out there for everyone's interests. There's definitely no restrictions on how many courses you enrol in and the amount of qualifications you can gain from online learning, so we might as well make the most of it!

Finally, taking part in online courses from home can be extremely rewarding and brain stimulating. As we grow older, we never top learning and there is nothing stopping you from gaining huge amounts of knowledge about subjects that interest you. Your brain is something that needs interaction and stimulation in order to boost functionality, help with memory and simply gives you something new and different to think about. Online courses are great whatever your ages, so it's definitely never too late to find a new course and enrol today!

Have you signed up to any online courses recently? What subjects interest you?

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Are you thinking of making improvements to your home in the future? Making improvements to your current or new home can be a difficult challenge to get correct, but with the right planning in place, the process can made be a lot easier and smoother. Home improvements and renovations are often expensive, disruptive and stressful, so it’s imperative and important that you take every possible step to suitably prepare yourself for the journey ahead.

Maybe you’ve got some home improvement projects of your own that you're currently thinking about and unsure where to start. With the warmer weather on its way during the spring and summer months of the year, many people start to think about decorating, transforming their homes and making their home dreams a reality. Whether you're adding an extension, rebuilding your kitchen space, changing your garden space or giving your bedroom a makeover, there are a number of things to consider before jumping straight in.

modern home furnishings

HAVE A DETAILED PLAN
Whatever the size and scale of your home improvements project, it can really help to get your layout thoughts and design ideas down on paper, to help plan and visualise your proposed suggestions. Having a number of drawn out plans and sketches can help you figure out what is best suited towards your needs and will also help you work out how to get the most out of the space you're working with. It's also quite essential to make notes of the amount of space you have, so taking measurements will help you to figure out your future layout plans and what will work where. Another important part of the planning process is to keep a list of everything you're doing or planning to do, and tick if off once it's complete as this will help you to keep on top of the overall project.

COST AND BUDGET
Many home improvements come at a high cost, so it would be best to have a reasonable budget/enough savings in place for your projects. The cost of home improvements will also be looked at during the planning stages of your projects so you can estimate the costs of each step of the plan. You'll obviously be looking around to get the best deals, best materials, and if you're hiring professionals, you'll want the best quotes for the job. Whether your budget is big or small, the cost of your home renovation plans can quickly add up, so it's important to make your future plans work in a way that is financially sustainable for you.

CONSIDER SELF-STORAGE
Whether you're only decorating one room of the house or making improvements to your entire home, self-storage might be something worth looking into to free up some much needed space to allow you get work started. Now Storage self storage in Reading offers self storage solutions for both personal and business use, and can tailor the cheapest quote for your personal needs, which could be very handy for keeping larger items safely stored during the home improvements process.

DO YOUR RESEARCH
Every home project starts with extensive research, carried out long before you commit yourself to spending any money. You can research your desired home improvement plans through various means, whether that's viewing houses for sale/your dream home for interior ideas, looking online on websites such as Pinterest, or even looking through home magazines and catalogues. Making sure to do enough research into your future home improvement projects can save you time, money and energy. With making changes into your home a reality, it's important not to rush into anything, as this is usually where things go wrong and complications happen due to poor planning and research. 

HAVE REALISTIC TIMEFRAMES
We all know that home improvements don't happen overnight. All building work, renovations and DIY projects can take a substantial amount of time, depending on what ideas you have in mind. Again, it could be worth while using your plan as a way to measure the amount of time each job requires and if you have any specific deadlines that need to be met.

THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE
If you think that you may wish to sell your house in the future, it may be sensible to think about how the proposed home improvements you wish to make could affect that. There are many home improvements that you could plan for and implement that can really benefit and add value to your home. If you don't believe that your current space is your "forever home", this can change and impact the home improvement plans you currently have. 

What home improvements are you planning for the future?

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Are you looking for the simplest yet stylish casual outfits that you can wear on an everyday basis? If so, you'll love these outfit ideas I've put together from FemmeLuxe!

Choosing an outfit for any occasion is the last thing you want to spend hours doing and wasting your time worrying about. For me, the best and easiest way to make putting your outfit together is to pick one item and style the entire outfit around that item. Knowing that you have a collection of staple pieces in your wardrobe that you can pair together for any occasion is a must have, and makes putting together outfits that little bit easier. 

I was recently kindly gifted some pieces from FemmeLuxe, and wanted to share some essential wardrobe clothing items that everyone needs to help create some simple casual outfits and how I have styled them with other items I already have in my clothing collection for everyday wear.

womens everyday casual outfit styling maxi cardigan

For my first outfit, I've put together a very simple, effortless look that can be easily taken from day to night. Throughout autumn/winter I've been a huge fan of leather look/faux leather trousers and jeans, and have seen myself reaching for them more over normal black denim jeans. However, the real star of the show for me in this first outfit is the long stone maxi cardigan*. This is something that I've wanted to add into my wardrobe for a while but haven't quite found the perfect one, until now. The nude coloured cardigan fits into my wardrobe pretty well, it's a super versatile colour that will go with many outfit options. Knitted cardigans are the perfect piece to complete a simple outfit, for when you don't want to wear a heavy, thick coat. I know it'll come in handy during the warmer spring and summer days, when you need a light cover up for the cooler evenings.

womens everyday casual outfit styling black tracksuit

If a two piece tracksuit isn't the epitome of casual clothing, then I don't know what is. Especially whilst being on furlough, loungewear has been my absolute go-to daily attire, simply for its comfort, but still looking cute and put together. This black loungewear set*, featuring a simple oversized crew neck sweatshirt and black cuffed joggers, both have a relaxed fit, making it very comfortable to wear all day long. I like the fact this two pieces comes as a set, but obviously you can wear each piece individually with other items in your wardrobe. An all black outfit is a definite winner from me anyway!

womens everyday casual outfit styling grey joggers

Joggers are an essential wardrobe staple for me, especially during the current climate with the coronavirus pandemic. They are an item of that everyone probably has in their wardrobes, and are extremely versatile when it comes to incorporating and styling them in an outfit. Grey high waisted joggers* are an essential with me, you can style them with various bodysuits, crop tops, t shirts and sweaters for the ultimate chill look. I was drawn to picking these joggers as I felt the ruffled paper bag style waist just added that extra detail and interest to a plain pair of joggers.

womens everyday casual outfit styling black faux leather trousers

Finally, outfit number 4, another all black outfit. This time, something a little more smart and dressed up, but still suitable for an everyday, casual look. If you hadn't guessed by now, I love an all black outfit. I find them to be so effortless, stylish and flattering on any body shape and size. I think mixing materials and textures within an outfit really helps bring it together and make it stand out, which is what I've done here. A simple cotton high neck bodysuit paired with some faux leather high waisted joggers* is a match made in heaven. A running theme throughout these outfits has been some chunky black trainers, and I also think these are a must have shoe.

So whether you're looking for some outfit inspo, or are simply on the hunt for some new sites to purchase some new clothing items, I hope this post has given you that much needed inspiration. I know I definitely want to fill my wardrobe with loads more stylish and versatile casual pieces. You can never have too many!

Which outfit is your favourite? Have you shopped at FemmeLuxe?

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 Do you want to increase your fitness and stamina levels, but are unsure or don't know where to start? 

Whilst being stuck at home through the current coronavirus pandemic, it can be extremely easy to lose focus on exercise, working out and becoming much lazier than usual. Many people are finding these lockdown rules and guidelines extremely hard, with feeling lonely and demotivated, but during these times it could be a perfect opportunity to refresh yourself and make changes to your own personal life for the better. Having slightly more time on your hands could help you to begin getting your lifestyle much healthier, improve your mental health and begin your journey to feeling and looking better, and there's not place better to start than at home. 

A recent blog post of mine shared some essential fitness, workout and lifestyle tips, that could be a great place to start when trying to improve/change your lifestyle for a more positive outcome. Just adding some simple swaps and changes into your daily routine could really kickstart your goals for a more healthy lifestyle.

womens workout routine

One of the biggest changes to help improve your fitness and stamina at home is to switch up the food/drink that you have and opt for healthier options. A balanced diet helps you get the much needed nutrients, vitamins and minerals your body needs to work effectively on a daily basis. Making sure to get good sources of proteins, carbs and fats are essential for your body, and shouldn't be restricted too much. By eating the right foods, and the right amount for your body, you will be fuelled for the day and able to workout for longer periods of time, therefore managing to increase your fitness and stamina levels over time.

Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health, whether that's the physical or mental side of it. It has so many benefits, including improving your overall fitness/stamina levels, helping you to destress and reducing your risk of many diseases. Exercise can come in some many forms that there is definitely something that everyone can take part in and enjoy, with activities such as walking, jogging to running, or even yoga, weight training or cycling. Walking is one of the easiest ways to get more activity into your day, lose weight and become healthier, so this might be a good starting point for those working from home to get some exercise in each day.

Getting plenty of rest is completely necessary when exercising and training. Including rest days throughout the week allows time for recovery, is essential for muscle growth and gives your body time to replenish energy stores that have been used. Rest days are also important because they help prevent injury and fatigue, meaning the next time you exercise you'll feel stronger and fitter.

Something you may be unfamiliar with is Inspiratory Muscle Training. IMT is scientifically proven, as well as recently recommended by the World Health Organisation to benefit patients with respiratory illnesses, as well as healthy people, including athletes. Powerbreathe are a company who have been making Inspiratory Muscle training tools for many years, focusing on exercising the inspiratory (breathing in) muscles, helping to improve strength and stamina, as well as reducing signs of fatigue and breathlessness. These IMT devices work by creating resistance when breathing in, which in turn strengthens your breathing muscles by making them work harder than usual. Powerbreathe have devices suitable for everyone, to suit all budgets and support all fitness levels.

Hydration is a key part of your daily routine, regardless if you're trying to improve your fitness and stamina. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water so it's essential to keep hydrated. Drinking enough fluids and making sure to get enough water into your body is vital for everyday bodily functions, and will help to maintain your concentration and performance levels.

Set Goals. The goals you work towards, however big or small, should still be challenging you but also be realistic enough to make them achievable. Starting off small is probably the best way forward as you can slowly build up strength, fitness or stamina levels over a period of time to help you progress at a sustainable rate. It might also be helpful to reward yourself when you reach your goals, in order to keep you motivated and push for more. 

How are you keeping fit during lockdown?

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 Recycling at doesn't have to be a time consuming and complicated process. The best place to begin making a difference to the environment is right in your very own home. You'd be surprised with the amount of household packaging waste that can actually be reused and upcycled. By putting more thought into the way you manage your household waste, you'll be able to save money, reduce the amount of waste you're piling up and have a less damaging impact on the environment. 

Being more eco-friendly, sustainable and preserving our environment are becoming more important and more necessary than ever. Simply by incorporating a few small changes in your daily routine can really help look after our environment and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and our oceans.

home recycling

Glass Jars
You can recycle any glass jar for a number uses, but I've found that some are more useful than others based on their size and shape. Glass packaging is definitely better than purchasing plastic, so next time your in the supermarket, see if you can be more sustainable with the way you shop. Some good examples of glass jars that a great to be reused include pasta sauce jars, dessert pots, chutney and jam jars and salad dressing bottles. These glass jars can be used for a multitude of things including storage for dry food items, containers for your overnight oats, or making your own jams, chutneys or sauces to be stored away.

Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard makes up a huge percentage of household waste from Amazon parcels, shoe boxes and cereal boxes, you can often find yourself stacking up quite the mountain. However, cardboard boxes can be extremely handy in the home and can be reused and recycled for a number of things. For example, cardboard boxes can donated to small business or even be used for storage, presenting birthday presents and gifts, and even artwork. Bespoke packaging is totally custom-designed, and could be something to research/be of interest if you're using your cardboard boxes to present gifts for loved ones. You could design and tailor the box for any occasion, and it could end up being a completely unique gift box that didn't cost a penny.

Egg Boxes
You may never have thought of ways egg boxes can be reused in the home, but there are a few simple things you can do than require them. Firstly, if you have children, you can use the egg boxes for arts and craft activities to keep them occupied. They can be cut up and made into different models or even used as a paint palette. Another idea for reusing egg boxes could be using them as storage holders for little bits and bobs you have lying around the house. For example, you could use them for storing jewellery, stationary or even decorative tools such as nails, nuts and bolts.

Glass Bottles
Glass is better than plastic when packaging pretty much anything. It's definitely much stronger, more durable and can be reused in a number of ways, you'd be surprised. Make sure to rinse them out before upcycling into something new. A few creative ideas include using the bottle as a vase for flowers, use them as candlestick holders, insert some fairy lights and use as a table centrepiece or even fill them with oil and add chilli or garlic to infuse with flavour.

Wine Corks
For those who love some wine in the evenings, saving the corks for your bottles could come in handy, especially if you're very artistic and creative. Wine corks can be used for a number of quick and easy DIY projects, where the end result can be simply stunning. You can create your own cork stamps, use the corks to decorate picture frames or even create your very home art installation feature by filling a large glass container with plenty of wine corks. 

What other ways do you recycle your household waste?

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Dubai is an international destination known for its diverse multiculturalism, the wide variety of elaborate traditions and cultures, as well as the range of cuisines available there, and these definitely represents that. With Dubai being one holiday destination on my travel bucket list, it's definitely a place I've dreamt about visiting and have done plenty of research into things to do and places to visit. 

 Not only does the warm weather, phenomenal views and luxurious lifestyle making Dubai such attractive and must-visit destination, but the extensive range of food is what draws me in closer. From middle eastern food to Indian meals to north African to Asian and much much more, there's such a diverse selection that it's definitely any foodies heaven!

dubai

Through extensive research, recommendations and website visits, I've compiled a list of some of the top restaurants that I would love to visit when holidaying in Dubai. I've included a variety of cuisines as I'm not too fussy when it comes to food, to emphasise the diversity of flavours that Dubai restaurants have to offer and can accommodate everyone's eating preferences.

MEZZALUNA
For lovers of authentic Italian flavours, Mezzaluna will be the perfect restaurant for you. Head down to this Dubai Festival City based restaurant serving a selection hand-crafted, regional Italian specialties. With a spectacular menu bursting with some of the best Italian dishes, made with the finest ingredients sourced throughout Italy, it's one not to miss out on!

ASIL RESTAURANT
Located at Rixos Premium Dubai, this fine-dining styled restaurant merges a blend of Lebanese, Moroccan and Turkish cuisines, making it the perfect dining experience for loves of middle eastern cooking. Asil blends innovation, elegance and tradition in they way they they present their food, décor and musical style.

SOUL STREET
Based at FIVE Jumeirah Village, Soul Street is home to some of the best new authentic gourmet street food you can find in Dubai. Incorporating dishes from all over the world from places such as Latin America, India, Levant, Europe and Asia. As well as great flavoured food, Soul Street is also home to live DJ performances and the best of international street art, making it an exciting, and unforgettable experience.

BEBEMOS
Bebemos at Le Meridien, Dubai is a Spanish themed tapas restaurant, perfect for those who love a range of vibrant, and mouth-watering flavours. This Spanish restaurant brings a range of exotic favourites; from the North's seafood to Central Spain's roast meats.

MAIDEN SHANGHAI
Located at FIVE Palm Jumeirah, this restaurant high quality, authentic Chinese cooking. Drawing from Cantonese, Sichuan, Shanghai and Beijing influences, Maiden Shanghai aims to revitalise Chinese culinary traditions. With such a wide variety and extensive menu, Maiden Shanghai brings the real taste of Asia to the heart of Dubai.

To summarise, if you're a foodie like myself, this could definitely be the next holiday destination to add to your future travel bucket list. Dubai hosts such a selection of beautiful restaurants, from middle eastern, Italian, Indian and African restaurants, even steakhouses and European cuisines, so there is bound to be something for everyone!
 
Have you visited Dubai? What is your favourite cuisine style?

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 When winter winds pound your home, you know the time has come to add some cheer and cosiness to spruce up the interiors. This seasonal change reflects in every room and alters the way they usually look. To make your private burrow visually appealing, try out these basic cosmetic improvements, that will keep you warm and snuggled up, till well after Santa has bid goodbye.

cosy winter home

Set the tone with the living room
The living room is the best place to relax on the sofa with a good book in winter, and is normally a place you spend a lot of time in. Since comfort and warmth is the priority, pile up your sofa with cushions and blankets or add a stylish throw. Roll out a carpet to keep your feet warm with a rug that matches the colour scheme of the living room. To avoid a running nose, put on some socks and strut around in total comfort.

Update the bedroom
If you want your bedroom to replicate the vibe of a luxury hotel give it a quick upgrade by layering it with throws and pillows. Curtains, throws along with velvet pillows, will not only add a touch of luxury to any room but will convert it into a place of cosy refuge till the temperature starts to rise again. Moreover, these simple accents can be easily removed whenever necessary.

Infuse cheery colours
A splash of colour can instantly change stark and cold spaces into a cheerful environment. Add a few bold designed pillows or a bright throw to get rid of the winter blues and glam up the room. If you mix the right warm terracotta and cool grey tones, the shades can last you well up to spring. The best part is that they are hardly a major investment.

Don't forget the kitchen
Winter months take their toll on the kitchen, so it is important to give a little makeover to this place as well to give it a new look. You can add a patterned shade to your kitchen windows, to make it look bright and cheery for many days. You can even stitch your own curtains by purchasing the fabric and colour of your choice and hang it from the rods using clip-style curtain rings.

Install a good curtain
Curtains help insulate a room by preventing the loss of warm air and in turn beat the cold. Thermal curtains are not only aesthetically pleasing, they also provide the utmost privacy as they are made of thick materials. Select the style that complements your room the most, and determine the correct length to increase the look of your windows.

luxury bath pamper

Transform the bathroom
After returning home exposed to freezing temperatures and hostile winds, it is the time to treat yourself to the luxury of a steaming hot bath. Turn your bathroom into a spa by putting on the stereo, light scented candles, add a few drops of your favourite aroma to the foam and enjoy a steamy downpour in the backdrop of a printed shower curtain. When you finish, wrap yourself in a soft fluffy towel featuring your favourite print.

Add a touch of greenery
How do you get some freshness into your home with all windows closed and the outside world is like a part of the North Pole? Exotic plants will purify the air and add a touch of greenery into your interiors and allow you to drift to sleep dreaming of warmer climes. Try adding plants like lavender, eucalyptus or jasmine to infuse a nice aroma into the surroundings.

What features would your cosy winter home have? Do you have any other tips?

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