● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD| 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.

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.

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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AD| Are you looking for your dream home? Finding something that is suitable for your personal taste is very tricky, but something that would be super cool to do is to create/build it instead. Not everyone will be able to do this right away, but if it’s something that you are interested in, then nothing should get in your way.

Save up if money is the issue, and eventually you will be able to jump on this bandwagon as well. It’s a waste of time searching for the perfect home because you’re likely never going to find it. In this article, I'm sharing some of the ways that you can create your perfect home, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.

building dream home

Have A Plan

First, you need to make sure that you have a plan in place for this. It’s essential that you know what you want from the home, how you want it to look, what materials you want to use and so on. Of course, you don’t have to have a solid plan or have every single thing worked out, but a brief idea is going to be better than nothing. This way, when it comes to talking to the professionals about what it is that you want, you’re going to have an easier time explaining.

If you try to remember everything without writing it all down and having a plan, then you’re likely going to miss bits out. You don’t want to suddenly remember half way down the line when it’s too late. As such, just ensure that you’re writing down a plan as you think of new ideas.

Hire Professionals

Once you’ve got some kind of idea as to what you want and you decide you’re definitely going ahead with this, you need to hire some professionals. You don’t need to hire everyone at once because there are certain things which will need to be completed before others. We highly recommend that you hire an architect first and see what they have to say about the project. They will be able to design you a fantastic house that meets your needs and expectations, whether you live in Brockley or anywhere really, as long as there is land, there is a way.

Let’s Get Going

As soon as the final plan is in place and you’ve got the teams that you need, it’s time to get going to make the plan a reality. Make sure that you are overseeing the process so that you can be sure everything is the way that you want it. Remember that you are in charge here because it’s going to be your home. If there is something you want to change partway through, speak to the people that are completing the work and see if something can be worked out.

Hopefully you have found this article helpful, and now see how you can create your dream home, rather than looking for one. We wish you the best of luck and know that if you follow these steps, you’re going to get exactly what you want.

Would you consider building your own home? What interior plans would you have?

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AD - GIFTED| With the lockdown rules lifted in terms of non-essential retail, Christmas shopping can now get underway and we can pick up the perfect presents for our friends and family. I previously published a Men's gift guide in 2018 and 2019, with some great ideas. This year, I've managed to find some affordable gifts that I think would make great stocking fillers for the men in your life. Whether they are into cooking, cars, beauty or food, they'll be something for everyone.

Gift 1 - The perfect stocking filler gift for any man in your life. These toiletry gift sets will definitely come in handy, definitely get used and keep them smelling clean and fresh! These are great to gift to brothers, dads, grandads, and any other male relative. They are also super affordable so it makes a great little extra to add to a stocking or as a gift for under the tree.

Gift 2 - For the foodies out there, food and drink gift sets are a great addition to a stocking this Christmas. The quote "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is quite relevant here, as this BBQ gift set is simply stunning and an ideal gift for any man who knows his way around a kitchen- or even a barbecue! These foodie gift sets allow you to try a whole range of new flavours, and allow you to be super experimental in the kitchen.

Gift 3 - The perfect gift for any time of year, but especially as a Christmas stocking filler. Carfume air fresheners* are a very unique gift and inspired by fragrances and perfumes, to keep your car smelling 10/10. Featuring some of the most popular men's scents including Dior, Creed and Paco Rabanne. The glass bottles with bespoke, carved wooden tops look so elegant & will add a classy touch to your car whilst giving you a long lasting aroma. If you're unsure of which scent to pick, Carfume offer some gift sets where you can purchase 3 fragrances from the website, and it comes in such a stunning, luxurious box so there is no need to wrap.

Gift 4 - Everyone loves chocolate, and Christmas just wouldn't be the same without a sweet treat in your stocking. Chocolate coins are a Christmas staple, and perfect for anyone, regardless of their age. Another favourite is Lindt chocolate. The chocolate is so rich and luxurious, my all time favourite being the Lindor truffles. There is so many flavours of chocolate these days, you'll be spoilt for choice. Whether they like the basic milk, dark or white chocolate, or something fancier like chilli or salted caramel, make sure their Christmas stocking has some chocolate, and you'll have a very happy man.

Gift 5 - Socks can definitely be that present men really hate and it can seem quite boring receiving them at Christmas, but in all honesty, they are definitely an essential gift for any man. But it's always nice to change it up and to find some really cool and quirky Christmas socks. How cute are these skiing Santa dinosaurs? Novelty socks are also a great secret Santa present, I know Primark and H&M do some great designs, so if you're looking for socks, go check them out!

Gift 6 - Finally another food gift similar to the BBQ set, but this time it's hot sauce! Perfect for the chilli sauce lover who wants something different. This particular set offers 4 delicious sauces that will spice up any meal. Inspired from different countries of the world, this hot sauce set will have you cooking up a storm and exploring new flavours/cuisines.

What stocking fillers will you be getting the men in your life this Christmas?

09:30 1 comments

AD| Nothing beats redecorating a room and feeling like you've walked into a brand-new house. Whether you're renting your home or just in need of a freshen up to your current interior, there are lots of things to consider before making changes.

Firstly, is there anything better than adding an array of plants to your home to help add some colour and make a focal point to any room. Plants are the perfect accompaniment to any home, whether you pick a fresh bunch of flowers to display on your worktops, cacti and succulents for your shelving units or even a large piece of greenery to place in a corner of a room to make a statement. There are so many possibilities of where/how to make plants a feature of your home, I'd definitely recommend getting a good selection to help make a house feel more homely.

Candles. A perfect way to create a welcoming and calm atmosphere. The flicker of candlelight produces a lovely ambiance that simply cannot be replicated. Nothing feels more relaxing and warming than this. They are perfect for the darker, colder night to help make the home feel super cosy. Not only can they be used to lighting your homes in the evening, but some candles look super luxurious and sleek, that they could even be made to be decorative features on coffee tables and bookshelves. As well as coming in a huge variety of scents, there is definitely something for everyone.

Whether it's cushions, rugs, throws or blankets, soft furnishings are an easy way to update a drab looking sofa or add colour to a boring bedroom. These home accessories are a perfect addition for adding colour and texture to any room of the house. Rugs are perfect for covering up any boring old carpet or floorboards, and to add some excitement to any dull room. If you are looking for affordable carpet tile options in the colour theme that you are using to decorate, consider checking out www.carpettilewholesale.co.uk, as they have such a vast ranges of products to offer, and are perfect to use for any home decor jobs.

Wall hangings, artwork and framed prints are a great way of injecting some personality and colour into any space, as welling as provide a focal point to each room. They are the perfect decorative feature to add to any room of the home, depending on your chosen interiors theme. There are so many styles to choose from, including bold graphic prints and monochrome styles, you'll be spoilt for choice. For renters, just make sure to double-check the rules about wall hangings, but usually any good landlord will compare landlord insurance policies to ensure they are protected for this. Alternatively, if wall hangings aren't permitted, using command strips or even making use of surfaces to prop up your artwork, such as shelving units, bookcases, dressing tables and worktops, could work just as well.

If candles aren't your thing, or you're worried you'll forget to blow them out, reed diffusers are a great way of adding some fragrance to your home and keeping it smelling fresh. As they lightly release the scent throughout the room without flames, making them more practical and much safer to use in the home. With an amazing variety of scents available, you'll bound to find something to suit your preferences. Personally, I tend to go for very fresh, clean scents as I find these very welcoming and uplifting.

Lighting plays a vital role when trying to create the perfect atmosphere in your home. During the day, we obviously want to let in as much natural light as possible. This can help to make rooms feel larger than they actually are. But during the evening, lighting features such as dimmer switches, lamps or even string fairy lights can help to evoke a warming, relaxing and cosy ambience.

Lastly, to give your home some finishing touches, decorative ornaments can help to add some interest to areas of the room that may require some attention. These can help to add a personal touch to your home's interior and to show off your own personal tastes when it comes to homeware and interiors. Pieces such as vases, sculptures, trinket dishes and figures, just to name a few, really help to add some character to a room. The good thing about these ornaments is that they are easily interchangeable, so if you're not happy with the placement or style, you can swap it from something else that is much better suited.

What home décor tips do you have?

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AD| With many companies trying to figure out how they will enable their employees to effectively and efficiently work from home, many homeowners are looking for ways to re-evaluate their necessities. Many people are looking to get more space for a home office. You probably need a bigger home when working remotely if your home doesn’t offer enough space for a home office.

•Factors to Consider before Buying a Bigger Home•

The affordability of the home

It is common sense that bigger homes always come with larger price tags. However, the sales are not the only thing that is inflated here. There are bigger property tax payments, larger insurance to protect the home, and utility bills. Bigger homes are expensive to heat and cool compared to small ones.

Prior to buying a bigger home, consider all the added costs that come with the purchase. Learn more about the current household budget and decide whether the bigger home's real cost fits in. Use a house loan calculator to approximate your monthly mortgage payments. Additionally, compare mortgage offers from various lenders to make the most of your buying power.

What you are willing to sacrifice

Maybe, you love living in or near the city, but you find bigger homes in a problematic locality. Keep in mind that finding a bigger home in the city comes with a high price tag. You will ultimately have to leave the city and look for a home that fits your budget.

Are you ready to sacrifice that? Because moving far from the city will also mean extended commute hours to work, and you will spend more time in your car to get to your beloved restaurant and shopping hubs. To get the extra space you need, for example, the bigger back yards, extra bedrooms, and a luxurious bathroom suite, you will have to sacrifice the convenience and pleasure of living in a big city.

How much more space you need

When selecting a bigger home to buy, consider the way your family lives. You won’t need a more oversized kitchen if your family doesn’t do much cooking. Go for a house with just enough space that you need. If it is an extra bedroom, you probably won’t need a two-car garage. If you are buying a bigger home to find space for a home office, just pick one with an extra one room, depending on the size of your home office.

Once you are aware of what you want, start focusing on the beauty. As you go about your daily life, deliberate on the various types of houses you see and make notes on the ones that amaze you. Ideally, you will need a home that will give you the extra room for your home office without going overboard.

The equity in your current home

Home equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and the current worth of your home. It is crucial to consider the equity you have in your current home if you want to buy a bigger one. If you built up equity in your current home, you could be lucky to evade a huge mortgage payment. When selling your home, you can apply the profits to your down payments and lessen your mortgage payments on your bigger home.

The current condition of the market

It is always a sellers’ market or a buyers’ market. This means that the market can favour the seller or the buyers. But who gets the most out of the market situations? If you want to buy a bigger home, you will have to wait for the time when the market is in favour of the buyers; this equals to lower interest rates and lower home price tags.

But what will happen when it is time to sell your home? It would be best if you always keep your home's resale value in mind when shopping for a bigger home. You might be looking for a home that is big enough for your entire family, but if your home has excess irrelevant features, you might just turn away any potential buyers. You will struggle to sell it for a price that will give you a profit.

Bottom Line

The Coronavirus pandemic has homeowners re-evaluating their needs. This is particularly true for individuals or parents working from home and families that have children who have started remote learning. Remember to take care of your eyes as you work from home, and get a bigger home with adequate learning space and office space sounds impeccable.

With the right research, it is possible to get a bigger home within your budget. Use the above tips as points of considerations when buying a bigger home.

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