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● Laura Thornberry ●

 Emerald engagement rings are fast becoming a popular choice for many. They are still in a stage of uniqueness where they are not common, making any emerald engagement ring an inimitable choice that’s sure to stand out among the crowds. The question arises time and again, however, of ‘are emeralds ok for an engagement ring’?

When people ask this, they’re typically talking about whether or not emeralds are suitable for the general rough and tumble that an engagement ring can expect to face, particularly if it’s being worn every day. Diamonds are not only the typical stone of choice for engagement rings entirely due to their beauty and unmatchable sparkle – they are also incredibly hardwearing. The strongest natural material known to exist; the durability of diamonds is peerless.

So, are emeralds equally as up to the task?

emerald engagement rings

The Mohs Scale
The Mohs scale of hardness puts a variety of minerals on a ten-point scale to determine which mineral is hardest and which is softest. Created in 1812, the Mohs scale has faced criticism for its relative lack of precision, but it is still used by geologists and gemmologists alike. The basis of the scale is to use minerals to attempt to mark other minerals. The mineral that leaves a mark is stronger than the one that is marked, and so it moves up the scale. Diamonds sit pretty at the 10-point spot, being the hardest mineral in the world.

Emeralds sit between a 7.5 and an 8 on the Mohs scale, putting them lower than gemstones like topaz and sapphires, and higher than gemstones like opals and peridots. Most gemstones sit between the 5-point and 10-point spots on the Mohs hardness scale, and emeralds sit in a fairly upper-central position for gemstones.

Emerald Hardness
What does this mean for the hardness of emeralds? Are they durable enough to make for good engagement rings? Well, they are still strong for gemstones, despite not reaching the same level of toughness as diamonds. If your engagement ring features accent emeralds, it is certainly up to par for everyday wear, provided you inspect any claws and the overall structural integrity of your ring roughly once or twice a year. 

For those of you more interested in the antique emerald engagement ring styles, where the emerald is the focal point of the ring and therefore the largest – usually most central – stone, there might be slightly different rules. Large emeralds, simply by virtue of being large, open themselves up to a higher possibility of damage. If your engagement ring is an emerald statement piece of jewellery, it should probably be reserved for more formal occasions, or social occasions such as meeting up with friends, going for a shopping trip, or being on holiday. Everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking, or any physical labour should be done with minimal jewellery.

Emerald Engagement Rings
Overall, emeralds make an excellent choice for engagement rings. Emeralds ranging between 0.5 a carat and 2.5 carats are generally suitable for being worn the same amount as diamonds of the same size. They’re generally cheaper stones, they have something unique about them due to their colour, and they come in the same range of styles as diamond engagement rings.

If you’re interested in emerald engagement rings, whether it’s due to their wide range of green shades, their overall individuality as an engagement ring, or because you’re curious about having an engagement ring that matches your or your other half’s birthstone, you could certainly do a lot worse. Emeralds are beautiful gemstones that are sure to see you right if you take care of them the way they deserve. 

What do you think – are emeralds ok for an engagement ring to you?

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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. 

lockdown virtual dating

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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Learning to let go isn't going to be easy, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t the right thing to do. Often when it comes to relationships, you find that people are holding onto something that isn’t working anymore because they have a history with that person. While it is understandable, it’s not something that anyone should be doing. While learning to let go isn’t going to be easy, it’s something that has got to be done, and in this article, we’re going to be giving you some advice about this topic. If you would like to know more, keep reading down below.

couple holding hands relationship

Understand When It’s Time


The first thing that you’re going to have to do is understand when it is time to say goodbye and move on. We know that this isn’t a pleasant thing to think about, but you need to learn to do this for your sake, as well as for your partners. You can’t both keep hanging on to something that is no longer working simply because you are scared of what is coming next. This isn’t going to end well the longer you keep doing it. At least if you understand that it’s time and you decide to move on, you might be able to part on good terms, rather than having dragged it out and now you hate each other.


As soon as you’ve decided that it’s time to let go, you need to start the process. If you’re married then you need to file for divorce, figure out whether you’re going to need to complete form e and so on. If you’re not married, then the process is much simpler.


Keep Hold Of Your Memories


photo memory album images


You should always keep a hold of your memories. Keep them close in your heart and don’t let them go. Just because you have decided that it’s time to let go of the relationship, that doesn’t mean that you have to forget about it. It doesn’t mean that there were no good times in the relationship, it just means that now it is time for it to come to an end so you can both go and find what you are looking for. You will always have the memories from the time that you have been together, and there is nothing wrong with treasuring those. 


It Doesn’t Have To Be Goodbye Forever


Finally, letting go may be very difficult, but you can find solace in the fact that it doesn’t have to be goodbye forever. A lot of people seem to be under the impression that when you let a relationship go, you have to cut the person off and never speak to them again. This simply isn’t the case, especially if you decide that you would be better as friends. Give you and your partner some time to heal from the break up and then see where you can go from there. It might take some time, but we’re sure that you can see it through if you want to.


We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see that learning to let go might not be easy, but it’s got to be done. It doesn’t have to be the nightmare that all movies make it out to be either, so just do whatever is most comfortable for you.


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3 Quirky Indoor and Outdoor Date Ideas in Kent for Couples

At this current time in global affairs, dating is something that has been continuously tricky throughout 2020. Lockdown after lockdown, closures of shops, pubs and restaurants, and also having many different rules put in place, it's definitely been hard for single people to meet new potential love interests in real life. 2020 is definitely the year where dating went online, and will be something that is continued for the foreseeable future until the world gets back to normal again.

However with lockdown being recently lifted, many areas of retail and hospitality have began opening up again, including restaurants, non-essential shops/shopping centres, pubs and leisure facilities, allowing dating during the coronavirus pandemic to return to some kind of normality. It also gives us the freedom to explore more of places nearby, get some fresh air and try to live life as normally as possible, all whilst social distancing and taking necessary safety precautions.

coronavirus face masks

For me, I've definitely been able to get out the house and explore more of my local, surrounding area. Living in London is great as there is always so much going on, so many places to visit, you can never get bored! But during the recent few months, I've spent time exploring areas just outside of London, including places such as Kent and Surrey that are nearby. I've learnt that there are a whole selection of great places and things to do in Kent/Surrey, that they would make really cool, interesting date locations for future dates, and places that I would definitely visit.

Shopping in Kent
Date location 1 - If you're planning to spend the whole day together, Bluewater Shopping Centre could be a great location for a daytime date for the ultimate shopping and leisure experience. There's so much going on there, from shopping, eating out, watching a film in the IMAX cinema or even a visit to the trampoline park, there's definitely something to keep you entertained all day long.

Date location 2 - Another Kent dating location would be to visit the Howletts Wild Animal Park for something a little more unusual. Described as "Kent's original wildlife park, it's a unique adventure like no other!", this would be a the perfect place for a socially distanced date. You'll be able to spend time seeing all the animals that are located in the park, and even enjoy a nice picnic if the weather isn't too awful! You also have the opportunity to create some amazing memories  by choosing to take part in the exciting experiences Howletts have to offer - but this will need to be checked out beforehand due to COVID to make sure everything is ok.

social distanced dating

Exploring Outdoors in Kent
Date location 3 - 2020 has been the year of outdoor exercise, going out for walks, visiting local parks and getting some much needed fresh air. Kent is home to a large selection of beautiful outdoor spaces, including parks, gardens and beaches, you'll be spoilt for choice. Place like Westgate gardens, White Cliffs of Dover, Whitstable and Knole Park are just a few outdoor places located in Kent worth a visit. Outdoor based dates are perfect for getting to know each other without such a crowd of people surrounding you, you'll be able to talk about anything and everything, as well as seeing some spectacular scenery.

Have you been on any dates recently? What date locations would you like to visit?

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Whilst online dating isn't a new thing, almost everything went virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns making it difficult to find love/friendship. So what will dating look like in 2021 you might ask? I've been researching into dating trends we will encounter for the foreseeable future, and once the lockdown rules begin to ease, we will soon be able to get out dating plans on track, including outdoor dates, long-distance relationships, increased selfie taking and taking things slow. All of which we can expect to see in the world of love next year.

couple dating


TREND 1 - SLOW DATING
By slow dating, I'm talking about there being no real rush to meet up with potential partners. Using the lockdown time wisely means you can really get to know someone well, have more engaging chats and just be more relaxed in terms of dating. It can be quite a daunting thing for many people, but lockdown has let us chat to people from the comfort of our own homes, and let things flow more naturally. There's none of those awkward first dates, or picking the perfect outfit. Slow dating will be more popular as there is really no rush when it comes to love.

TREND 2 - LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS
Life in lockdown has seen us all get online and connect with others from all over the country. Many singles would have changed their dating app profiles and increased the distance of their matches, to help them find love. Long distance relationships are much more popular these days, and are definitely set to continue to rise in 2021, once we’re able to get out and meet up with our matches. Whether you're London dating, Essex dating, Lancashire dating or even West Midlands dating, connecting with others from all around the country is a great way to make new friends, and even make new love interests.

love balloons

TREND 3 - DATING OUTDOORS
If long distance isn't something you're after, then there is definitely no harm with chatting and meeting up with people from your local area. In terms of going on dates, it will most likely be more relaxed and more chilled. Perfect for those who get quite nervous and anxious about dating. Lockdown has allowed us to get outside and explore our surroundings more, going for walks to the park, along the beach and even take in some of the beautiful countryside that we don't usually see in day to day life. Outdoor dates are going to be a popular option for 2021, allowing us to begin catching up IRL by having socially distanced meetups.

TREND 4 - MORE SELFIES
With lockdown rules in place, people are continuing to spend more and more time with online dating apps hoping to meet their match. 2021, we’re going to see singles girls and guys paying closer attention to their dating profile pictures, making sure they are 10/10. Instead of the typical travel photos and night out snaps, taking and uploading the perfect selfies will be the next best thing! Finding your best angle, wearing your favourite clothes and most importantly, getting that good lighting, you're bound to score a few more matches once the selfie game is 10/10.

How will your dating life change in 2021?

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10:00 1 comments
Do you have to apply for a marriage visa? This provides a foreign national the right to reside in the UK with their wedded partner. Still, the sad truth is the fact that visa refusals have risen by about eighteen per cent in the United Kingdom. Hence, it's critical that you complete your spouse visa application correctly. 

If you're not 100 percent confident in regards to the best way to get about this, you undoubtedly have to utilise the professional services of seasoned experts who will make certain your visa application has the greatest opportunity of being successful. 

There are many conditions you need to fulfil and several documents you will need to supply also. Top quality immigration lawyers will undoubtedly have the ability to make sure you have whatever you need. But, locating a business you'll be able to trust is never a simple challenge, particularly when you're placing something so significant in their hands.

marriage photos

As touched upon, there are plenty of prerequisites for a marriage visa. In case you have been with your partner for less than four years you'll be allowed a probationary UK visa marriage for just two years. At the conclusion of the span, if you and your partner are still together, the visa marriage becomes long-term.  You'll additionally have to pass the Life in the UK evaluation, which is just another reason why immigration lawyers end up being critical, as they will be able to assist you to be successful in this area. 

In addition, you must have sufficient money to cover your living expenses, you should have actually met your partner and you need to intend to reside with one and another. This just touches the surface of the assorted conditions and stipulations which are in place for somebody needing a marriage visa in the UK. One little blunder could cost you a UK visa. You will need an excellent organisation to ensure this doesn't occur.

You need to find a good team of immigration lawyers to help. You need professionals who are tremendously experienced and understand the best way to navigate through the complicated rules and deal with the UK immigration authorities. Make sure you select a firm that will recognise how emotional and trying this time can be, and will take that into consideration - acting with empathy - through the service they supply. 

They should keep you up to date each step of the way and one thing you can really seek out is a truthful service. Make sure the company will run a comprehensive evaluation of your conditions so as to find out whether you qualify or not. They should never mislead you or give you false expectations.

You may also want to look for a company that will work on a fixed fee basis. They should let you know the cost of their service upfront and you should be confident there will not be any hidden costs or additional fees. 

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