● Laura Thornberry ●: lifestyle

When it comes to beginning your wedding planning journey, there are so many things to consider, and it could become extremely stressful making sure you've got everything covered. But once you're ready to start planning, it's very important to take the process step by step, focusing on one task at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed by the wedding planning process. Multiple costs for different aspects of your big day can easily add up way past your initial budget and can come at a significant price that you simply cannot afford.

Firstly, as well as your total budget for the event, one of the biggest parts of your wedding is to consider the amount of guests you want to attend. This can play a huge part in amount of money you'll be spending, it's definitely important to have your friends and family to support you and celebrate your wedding day, but with more guests getting invited = more money will be spent. If you're struggling with the financial costs of your wedding, you could ask for donations instead of wedding gifts. It can be quite overwhelming receiving large numbers of gifts, especially if you know you'll not have much storage space for them at home. You don't have to put a certain figure on the donations, simply set up a donations page and you can just ask your friends and family to make a small contribution to help fund certain aspects of your wedding.

Another factor to consider on your big day is wedding photography. You obviously want to make sure you can collect a selection of great photographs from your big day. Whether you have a hired photographer, gather everyone's photos or have a photobooth available, all of these ideas can help you gather great memories, but can obviously come at a huge cost. However, something you could consider is the Wedding Photo Swap app. This could be an extremely beneficial way to share and collect photographs of your special day from all guests at the wedding if you simply don't have the budget for a professional photographer. Collect and share any photo taken by your guests on your wedding day with our easy to use mobile apps and web albums. It's as easy as that!

For those who are extremely creative, or love arts & crafts, why not get arty and create your own DIY table decorations with pieces such as homemade banners/menus, centrepiece displays and homemade name tags. This can allow you to personalise your decorations, and display your crafty work for all your guests to see.

We all know that fresh flowers and beautiful bouquets can make a serious dent into your wedding fund. Why not consider using fake flowers and greenery, that can be re-used over and over again. Again, you can choose the plants that you love, create your own colour theme and also put together your own floral displays and bouquets. You'll end up with some beautiful and unique floral arrangements, that you can tell your guests you made it yourself!

Wedding dresses are another wedding expense that could definitely blow your budget dramatically. Not only do you need the brides dress, but you also need to consider the bridesmaids outfits too. One way in which you can save money on dresses for bridesmaids is by looking at prom dresses might suit the occasion. Prom dresses could be a good option for those on a smaller budget, as you can find a great selection of prom dresses for your body type, colour preferences and overall wedding theme.

Having an after-party or evening reception can add some costs to your wedding day that can be extremely expensive. However, there are a few ways in which you can save your money with some easy tips. Firstly, start by creating your own music playlist. This way you save the costs as there is no need for a hired professional DJ! This will ensure you've got all your favourite songs playing, and songs you know your guests will love! Secondly, ask relatives, friends and wedding guests to bring a homemade dishes/desserts to your reception. It's understandably expensive to feed a large number of people, but getting some help with the catering is not only a good way to save some money, but it can give yourself and your guests a chance to try new foods and new cuisines.

Are you currently planning a wedding? What money saving tips do you have?

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Wanting to throw a post-lockdown garden party? These garden party ideas will make sure yours is the best gathering of the summer.

With it slowly getting round to the warmer, summer months, and the news that lockdown could be ending soon in the future, it's the perfect time to get your garden ready for summer. Many of us are planning some parties and celebrations with our friends and family, to finally get together after such an uncertain and troubling year. I've compiled a list of additions you need to add to your summer garden party to ensure it's a hit!

Fun Decorations

To make your summer garden party super fun and interesting, decorating your garden can be a great starting place for those really wanting to 'wow' their guests. Simple decoration ideas like colourful banners, balloon displays and painted wooden signposts can really bring your garden to life for your party. As well as this, if you really wanted to 'push the boat out', you could also set up a garden gazebo or marquee to really amaze your guests. The garden provides the ideal backdrop to ensure beautiful photos, especially when it's been decorated colourfully.

Barbeque and Buffet Tables

Is there anything better than getting the barbeque going on a lovely, warm summers day? Having your nearest and dearest round for some amazing grilled meats and vegetables, pastas, salads and little buffet snacks is the perfect way to have a gathering and spend your afternoon. You could also ask your guests to bring some of their favourite dishes and snacks, giving you the opportunity to try new foods and find some new favourites!

Homemade Cocktails and Drinks Bar

Alongside good food, you also need some ice cold drinks to go with it. For the adults, you could set up an ice cooler filled with your favourite alcoholic beverages or even make your own fruity cocktails to enjoy. For the kids, homemade icy slush puppies are an essential for a warm summers day!

Photobooth Hiring & Roaming Photography

Are you looking for something different at your event? No party is complete without a photo booth, especially one that guests of all ages can enjoy with making GIFs and Boomerangs. The Boomerang GIF photobooth provides a fun and interesting activity for all your guests to enjoy during your garden party. ! Similarly, you can leave a camera out and some fun props to encourage guests to snap away and take some amazing photographs to ensure you capture some special memories. For those who want instant photos, Roaming Photography could be something to consider. Giving you instant digital delivery and instant photo printing, you can view and share your photos in seconds.

Outdoor Games & Activities

Summer is all about fun, and there's nothing better than relaxing outdoors in the sunshine and getting some fresh air. If you've got some younger guests at your summer party, outdoor games and fun activities could be what you need to keep them occupied, and far from any mischief. Whether you have a game of football, play hide and seek, or even set up an outdoor blow up swimming pool and sandpit area, there's so many options for these activities, you'll be having fun all day long!

Seated Picnic Areas

If you've spent lockdown renovating your outdoor space, and making it your dream garden, you'll definitely want to show it off to your guests. Having a relaxing area in the garden is best way to enjoy some of the glorious sunshine and soak up some rays. I'd opt for a cosy and cute picnic area with benches, and as well as this, I'd also set up lots of blankets and cushions on the grass for a really chilled vibe.

Evening Garden Lighting

If your garden party is planned to last all afternoon and into the evening, it's definitely worth researching into some outdoor garden lighting to help keep the warm and welcoming atmosphere. There are so many options for lighting depending on the vibe and ambience your party falls into. You could set up some cosy tealights and candles, or some cute and fun string fairy lights and paper lanterns, or even some garden floodlights if you want something a little brighter and more safe.

Are you planning any summer garden parties this year? What are your essential must-haves?

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Since the recent Facebook data privacy fiasco, more people than ever are concerned about how their information is used by third-party services. And they are right to be concerned. While you may think that these services are free, you are paying for them on the back end with your data.

Many people would be terrified at the type of information entities like Facebook and Google collect and then sell to the highest bidder. As an internet user, you should know how to avoid getting your information mined and sold to who knows who. Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to protect your privacy online.

Pay Special Attention to Messaging Apps

Messaging apps can get so much information about you and apps like WhatsApp can collect all sorts of information you may not have been aware of. It can even collect things such as purchase history, payment info, and approximate location. The worst part is that it’s all written in their terms and conditions. So, you can’t say that they didn’t warn you or blame them since you’ve agreed to these terms by using these apps.

The good thing, however, is that there are many other apps besides WhatsApp out there and many cater to those who want more privacy. One example is Signal. If you want to know more about this app and how it compares, check out this Signal vs WhatsApp comparison from Setapp. It runs down all the different information that WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram, another popular communication tool, are gathering compared to Signal. They also explain why Signal is by far the most private option out of these. Setapp curates apps, so you can find the productivity apps you need quickly and easily.

Another thing you have to pay special attention to is what type of encryption they use. You want to make sure that the provider uses end-to-end encryption. When they say that messages are encrypted, many mean that the message is encrypted on its way from the user’s device, but communications are still stored on their servers. This means that someone could get their hands on them if it gets hacked.

So, make sure that the app uses this form of encryption and decide whether you need to use a special feature for that. Telegram and Facebook Messenger, for instance, require that you open a secret chat to do so.

Use a VPN

VPNs used to be popular in the hacker and dark web world, but they’re now becoming mainstream. And quite frankly, everyone should be using one if they truly care about their security. VPNs allow you to connect to a remote network through a secured connection and navigate from there. So, if your server is located in another country, it will appear as if you are connecting from that location.

This allows you to protect things like your geographical area, for instance. But it’s especially important if you routinely connect to public networks. Your connection will be encrypted and there will be no way for it to be intercepted either by a malicious party or the network provider.

Check Your Privacy Settings on Social Media

Another thing you have to do is head to your Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and any other social media account you have and check your privacy settings. You may not be aware of it, but these networks collect tons of information about you - Facebook in particular. You may be exposing a lot of your personal information to the public by not adjusting those settings, so we suggest you do it immediately.

Don’t Trust Public Storage with Personal Information

While services like Google Docs and Dropbox are relatively safe, you cannot trust them with sensitive information. You should never store things like passwords or financial information on those. So, if you want to keep sensitive data somewhere, do it in cold storage, or you could compile them in an encrypted archive before uploading them.

Protect Yourself from Cookies

Cookies are one of the best ways for third parties to keep tabs on you. Cookies are used to store things like form information which can be good, but they can also be used to check your browsing history. Retailers also have some sneaky ways to use cookies. For instance, some will use a cookie to identify someone that was shopping for a certain product. If you don’t make the purchase, you might be presented with a special deal next time. Some might even increase the price because you showed interest by coming back multiple times.

If you want to protect yourself from these, you have to routinely erase your browsing history. You can also use incognito mode if your browser has it. This will erase cookies at the end of every session. The issue, however, is that cookies store valuable information. You may not like the idea of having to constantly enter your bank card number or email every time you want to log in. So, you can decide to keep the cookies for the sites you use often.

The GDPR also did a lot to improve transparency when it comes to cookies. While it is a European piece of legislation, many websites have decided to comply with it to avoid trouble when dealing with European users. You’ll notice that many websites will ask you to agree to cookies somewhere on their homepage. Take the time to check the list of cookies, and only agree to those that are beneficial to you. You should also have the option to refuse them all.

Use Robust Passwords

Last, but not least, you have to learn how to create strong passwords. Hackers use software that can generate thousands of passwords in seconds to crack yours, so make sure you don’t use generic words, phrases, or series of numbers. You also want to make sure that it’s long enough (12 characters at least) and uses a combination of lower- and upper-case letters, symbols, and numbers. If you’re worried about memorizing passwords, know that there are plenty of safe password managers out there. These will keep your passwords on your device and secure them through encryption.

As you can see, there are plenty of things that can be done to increase the level of privacy online. The most important part of this is staying informed of the most recent threats and taking the steps necessary to protect yourself.

How do you stay protected online? What privacy and safety methods do you currently use?

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Are you planning on a homemade hamper this Mother's Day, but unsure on where or how to start?

A DIY Mothers Day Hamper is guaranteed to make any Mum feel extremely spoilt and loved! Sometimes a homemade and personalised gift can be super special and just as thoughtful as a ready-made present. The reason I think a DIY gift is better is simply due to the fact you can personalise and include some gifts that you know will be loved. Personalised hampers don't have to cost a lot. There are so many gift ideas out there, that you can still put together a gorgeous hamper on an affordable budget, or if you really want to make a luxury hamper, there's also the opportunity for that.

Pretty packaging and presentation can really take your DIY hamper go from 0 to 100. This will be helping to make your gift look more spectacular and special, and can even help to personalise your gift to your receivers preferences.

Firstly, you'll want to decide what hamper you want to go for. Depending on your budget, you could put together a more relaxed modern style with a decorative gift box/bag or opt for a more traditional wicker hamper. I'd recommend looking online, in local garden centres, homeware stores or charity shops to find a suitable container for your homemade gift hamper. It may also be worth finding one that can be reused over and over again, as something decorative or as a storage solution.

Affordable Mother's Day Hamper

For those who are looking for a low-cost, affordable DIY hamper, the products I have featured in the photo above could be some really great options for you to include in your homemade gift. First up, who doesn't love receiving some chocolates?! I've opted for Maltesers as I know they are a favourite and will definitely go down a treat. Face masks and foot masks are the ultimate pamper, and for me, are an essential for any DIY hamper. I picked these up from Superdrug as they have such an affordable and extensive selection. Not only is ALDI a good place for food, but they also have a stunning range of candles and reed diffusers, extremely similar to those from Jo Malone. My favourite scent is definitely the Pomegranate range, a super luxury and affordable fragrance to add to your home.

A handbag must have from Benecos is the Orange Lip Balm*. Packed with natural and organic ingredients include Organic Orange Oil along with Organic Shea Butter, it's an essential for soft and smooth lips. Lavera is a great brand if you want some high quality and natural beauty/pamper products, perfect for Mother's Day. First of all, the Soft Purity Shower Gel*. The natural gentle, soft foaming, cleansing ingredients doesn't strip your skin of it's natural oils. Formulated with Organic Algae and Organic Water Mint thoroughly and effectively cleanses and nourishes your skin leaving it feeling refreshed and silky soft. The Hydro Sensation Gel cream* gives intensive moisture to your skin, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth with a youthful radiance and a perfect glow. Finally, the Very Berry Hand Wash*. The perfect addition, especially during the current coronavirus pandemic. Formulated with a delicious aroma of organic goji berry and organic acai, these moisturising and nourishing ingredients will leave your hands pleasantly soft and smooth

Luxury Mother's Day Hamper

For those wanting to go that extra mile and really push the boat out with a more luxurious DIY hamper, the products I have featured in the photo above could be worth including in your personalised gift. Starting off with the gorgeous Giorgio Armani Si perfume. This scent is chic, sultry, intense and soft at the same time, with deep aromas of fruity and floral notes. Heyland & Whittle is a great brand for those who love room fragrances and scents. I picked up the Clementine & Prosecco fragrance gift set as I think this is such a delightful combination; the fragrance is light and sweet, fruity and sparkling, perfect for a happy and uplifting Mother's Day gift. Again, chocolates is a must have, and these delicious Milk Chocolate selection box from Marks & Spencer looks exquisite. Also from Marks & Spencer is the Normandy Apple sparkling juice, an alternative for those not wanting to add a bottle of champagne, prosecco or wine.

Finishing up with some beauty products to help with the perfect pamper evening on Mother's Day. Soap & Glory are my ultimate favourite brand when it comes to skin and body care. They have such a vast selection of products and ranges that you'll be spoilt for choice. Faces masks scream relaxation to me, and this Miracle Moisture Mask is one of the best ones that I've tried. So refreshing, hydrating and moisturising. Finally, a newer brand I've discovered; Million Dollar Facial. Two of the best selling products that I would recommend would be the Million Dollar Medi+ Hydrating Elixir* and Medi+ Glyco Wash*.

What gifts will you be gifting on Mother's Day? Have you thought of compiling your own hamper? What would you include?

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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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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 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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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.

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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Whether you’re just about to launch a start-up or your business is ten years old, you should always be thinking of innovative ways to attract new customers and retain existing ones. This essentially comes down to your marketing strategy and some trial-and-error processes to figure out what works for your company and what doesn’t. Read on for some helpful tips.

1) Audit Your Website

Nowadays, it’s absolutely crucial for all companies to have a fully functional website. Potential customers will use the website to gauge the value of the products or services, 24 hours a day. Assess your website or contact an SEO agency to carry out an audit on your behalf so that you can figure out some areas for improvement, and therefore attract more traffic to the site.

Consider the following when auditing your site:

· Does your website align with your brand values?

· Is your website responsive across all devices?

· Does your website load quickly?

· Does your website run on HTTPs?

· Does your website contain any broken links?

· Does your website contain enough relevant content and keywords?

2) Share on Social Media

The online world doesn’t just refer to your website. Social media is another great way to advertise your products or services to a wider audience. Employ a graphic designer or try your hand at creating your own on Canva or another design tool so that you can share stunning visuals on your social pages. Make use of appropriate hashtags and ensure your captions are captivating.

You should also consider the best time to post on social media, as this is crucial for boosting engagement. This will involve some experimentation, but you could also look at the Instagram Insights tool if you have a business account to get an idea of when your followers are usually active.

3) Launch Some Google Ads

Goole Ads allow you to get to the top of Google’s Search Engine Results Page so that you stand out amongst your competitors. Again, this is another way to get notices online, but you’ll need to do your research so that you are targeting appropriate keywords. You may require some additional support with this, but it will be worth it for the ROI.

4) Giveaway Merchandise

Promotional merchandise is a fantastic way to appeal to your target audience and make yourselves more memorable. Here are some examples of how you can use branded items to promote your business.

· Take branded stationery, such as pens and notepads, along to your pitch meetings

· If you’re an eCommerce company, add a small gift to customers’ online orders

· Launch a competition on social media, in which a selection of branded items form the prize

· If you own a store or restaurant, give away promotional merchandise with each purchase

These are just a few ideas to get you started, but there are plenty of other things you can do with promotional items. Just make sure the items you choose are illustrative of your brand. For instance, if you own a beauty salon, you could give away little lip glosses or nail polish. Don’t worry if your branded merchandise campaign doesn’t result in a large influx of sales; it’s more about building relationships.

5) Concentrate on Customer Retention

It’s usually a lot easier and more affordable to retain existing clients/customers than it is to attract new ones, and handy because they tend to spread the news about how great you are. Be sure to inform them of any changes to your business that might affect your relationships, engage with them through emails and social media and encourage them to leave you feedback on Trustpilot and other review sites.

The above suggestions merely scratch the surface when it comes to marketing, but should give you a few ideas to inspire you to take your marketing campaign to the next level.

Do you use any of these ways to market your business? What other tips do you have?

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Staying connected with others is extremely important, especially during the current times of living during a global pandemic, not only for maintenance/growth of your relationships/friendships, but also for your mental health and wellbeing. Trying to stay in touch can be quite difficult during the current lockdown, but technology is saving us and we are able to get online and try to maintain a normal lifestyle.

Hosting a virtual date during lockdown is one way of staying connected with significant people in your life. It allows us to interact on a more personal level and is a way of having fun things to do together that can help you to keep your close relationships, without being together.

Long distance/being way from a partner, friends or new potential love interest can be a hard, but you can also make it an easier and more fun experience by coming up with cute and creative virtual date ideas. So whether you're dating in your local area, London dating, Hampshire dating, or anywhere else in the UK, or even if you just want to share these ideas with your close friends, these date ideas can help you stay connected and together during the current lockdown.

1. Movie Nights - The first virtual date idea is to watch the same film at the same time. This can feel like you're together but you're not. You can experience the same thoughts/feelings whilst watching, and you can even share the same snacks to make it feel more real. You could also make it really cosy in your homes, some fairy lights and chunky blankets would be perfect! This type of date can be done at anytime of the day, plus you can both choose your favourite genre of film, so it's a perfect online date to see you through lockdown.

2. At Home Date Nights - Another creative virtual date idea would be to have a dinner and drinks night from the comfort of your own homes. For this, you cook together, order the same takeaway or even order food for each other all via facetime/video calling. If this is something you do every so often, you could even get glammed up and make the date night super special and as normal as it can be whilst still in lockdown.

3. Take Up New Hobbies - From learning new skills to flexing your creative talents, using your time in lockdown to engage in your hobbies can be great for your mental health. Sharing hobbies like painting, drawing, and reading for example, can be extremely calming and relaxing during such uncertain times with lockdown. It's also a great way to explore and enjoy different activities that you may have not tried before or simply just didn't have no times for in your normal daily routine.

4. Play Games Online - To add some excitement into the long lockdown days, playing games online can be a really fun way of killing some time. Especially if you're really competitive, you could make this a regular thing in your weekly schedule and play for prizes or treats, just to keep things fun and uplifting during quite a tough time for everyone.

5. Netflix - Now, would it really be lockdown if you aren't binge watching some new shows or series? Why not share this viewing time with someone else, and watch the same shows together. This will also give you a chance to talk in depth about what you're watching and allow you to see what the other persons likes watching. You never know, you might find something you wouldn't usually choose to watch, and really enjoy it!

What ways have you been staying connected during lockdown?

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Until 2020, many of us had not even have heard of the term 'furlough' before - but due to the coronavirus pandemic, many individuals have had to stop going to work and stay home for the foreseeable future. Being placed on furlough may come as quite a shock, a lifestyle change bringing with it many anxieties and uncertainties about your future, but you shouldn't let that worry you and try to make the most out of your time out of work.

Everyone will definitely use this time off for different reasons, some choose to better themselves and learn new skills, some may take up some new hobbies or even just a time to have a total reset and switch off from work life. Whatever you choose to do shouldn't be an issue, and you shouldn't feel like you need to do better in life, as living during the current pandemic is hard enough. But here is a small list of 7 things you can do to feel productive, less stressed and motivated during your furlough period.

1. Reach Out To Friends and Family

Speaking to others during this time is the best way to share your current feelings and thoughts, as the majority of the people around you are all in the same boat. Even if your friends/family aren't furloughed, we are all living under lockdown rules and regulations, so during these uncertain times talking with your loved ones may help calm your anxieties and help with any mental health issues you may currently be dealing. Texting, calling, facetimes or a 2020 favourite of a zoom call can help ease loneliness and isolation fears, ensuring you have some social contact, even if it is virtually online, will make you feel a lot better and will also kill some time during your time off. You never know, by reaching out to someone could be the highlight of their day and just what they needed to lift their spirits.

2. Pick Up/Start New Hobbies

Use your furlough time to fall back in love with a hobby of yours that you simply didn't have time for whilst working, or even start something new to fill the hours in your time off. This is the perfect opportunity to use your furlough period wisely and take some time out of your normal daily routine to enjoy something that you love or something you want to get into. Whether it's arts and crafts, sports, cooking or learning a new language, the opportunities are endless!

3. Declutter

We’re all stuck at home in lockdown, so now is the time to do that spring clean that you’ve been putting off for months and get rid of any clutter/rubbish that's currently in your home. The quote "tidy house, tidy mind" is very relevant here and a phrase we all know, but having a tidy living/working environment can really help channel some positivity into your daily life during these uncertain times.

4. Exercise

Exercise is super important for your overall wellbeing but also your mood and mental health. It can also help you to destress, feel less anxious, tone up and lose weight. There's so many different types of exercise you can do, and especially with the lockdown rules, going out for daily walks or working out from home has become extremely popular. Another thing you may consider looking into is browsing YouTube and finding a whole variety of workout videos and routines, suitable for all ages and abilities.

5. Learn To Cook/Bake New Things

Spending more time at home means you have additional time for things like cooking and baking. I know during my time off, I've loved experimenting with different ingredients and recipes, to help expand my culinary skills. Even if you're not so great in the kitchen, being on furlough will allow you to spend time on learning to cook, trying new foods and recipes, and just giving you that time to boost your cooking skills. Cooking something can give you something to look forward to, and gives you that sense of achievement when it turns out great. The internet is full of delicious recipes, I tend to browse the BBC Good Food sight when in need of inspiration, so if there's a particular dish or cuisine that you would like to make for yourself, the time is now!

6. Make Time For Self Care

Many of us were already feeling isolated and struggling with the lockdown, but being furloughed might have taken it to another level and cause many worries for lots of people. But it's definitely important that this doesn't affect your health and mind too much. Practising self care is definitely an essential at the moment, and even the little things can help to improve, refresh and re-focus your body/mind. I recently wrote a post about lockdown beauty hacks that may be worth a read if you're looking for something new to try during the current lockdown. Similar to this, I've also written a lot of content about pamper nights and products I would recommend when you're in the need for some relaxation.

7. Online Courses

Have you ever wanted to learn something new or improve your life/career prospects? Taking up an online course is a great way to use your furlough time productively, it allows you to study from home, helps you learn something new, and can be a beneficial addition to your CV. There are so many courses out there that I'm sure there will be one suitable for everyone. Many website also offer incredible discounts at the moment, or even some free qualifications which is perfect for those on a reduced furlough wage.

What things have you been getting up to on furlough?

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