● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD - GIFTED | When it comes to jewellery, I keep my collection pretty basic as it's not something I tend to wear on an everyday basis. When I do incorporate jewellery into an outfit, I tend to wear pretty small and definitely more subtle pieces, as I find these much more comfortable to wear. When it comes to wearing minimalist jewellery, you don't want to get too fussy.

Top tips when picking dainty jewellery pieces

- Pick simple, clean pieces. This allows you to make a statement with your jewellery choices whilst still being minimal. Think of it in terms of the saying "less is more".

- Go bold with geometric design pieces. If you want to add some interest to your jewellery collection, incorporating chains with pendants might be something to go for. They help being some elegance to your outfit, whilst being super simplistic and easy to wear.

- Stack your statement pieces. This styling technique can really take your basic outfit from 0 to 100 with minimal effort. Layering up 2 or 3 necklaces together is an easy way to make your jewellery stand out, whilst not being to loud and 'in your face'.

- Avoid mixing metals with necklaces. This is something I tend to stick to. When it comes to jewellery, I usually stick to gold as this is my preferred metal. I find by sticking to one metal for necklaces helps to pull the look together and makes it more sophisticated and classic.

A recent addition to my collection has been from Jewel Editions; an everyday jewellery company that combines quality materials, contemporary designs, and affordable prices. I decided to add the Gold Moon Necklace* into my collection as I thought it was the perfect addition to my minimal jewellery collection.

This delicate gold necklace is a subtle and classic piece that can help add that hint of sparkle to any outfit. I've been wearing the necklace alone for a more simple, dainty look, or sometimes teaming it up with something a little more chunky for a more layered look. I find that when I mix different necklaces, it helps to create more of a statement piece that can really bring a more casual outfit to life.

"Representing changing seasons, the ebb and flow of the tide and a symbol of life in many faiths."

Why necklaces are the perfect outfit accessory

- They add interest to your outfit. Incorporating necklaces into your daily outfits can help add interest and sometimes be a conversation starter. With the right size and style, they can intrigue others to ask questions.

- To dress up a more casual look. Adding statement pieces to casual outfits is the easiest way to take your look from day to night. A t-shirt and jeans might be a simple everyday outfit, but combine it with a statement necklace and some heels, and it's instantly more dressy.

- They draw eyes up to your face. Having a focal point near your face will draw attention to it, and make other parts of your body/outfit less noticeable.

What jewellery pieces do you have in your collections? What other style tips do you have?

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AD| Ready to buy a your first home? Buying a home is one of the most significant and important financial decisions you'll make in your lifetime, and you need to make sure that you know what's going on.

It's definitely an extremely exciting time during anyone's life but it can also be super stressful if you aren't well informed about the buying process. It's also a great goal to have set yourself, but there's definitely a lot of work involved in the house buying process to make it actually happen.

First things first, savings. It's important to have a substantial amount of money saved up to make sure you're financially stable and to help you secure your first home. Once enough money has been saved, it's then time to decide on the budget that you can realistically afford, and will be able to manage payments for. Take a look at your finances to see what you can save each month, and how long it’ll take you to get to your target. Saving up for that house deposit can be an extremely difficult challenge, but it's what is needed to make that dream home a reality.

Something else to consider is income protection. Income Protection is one of the most important insurances, as without a regular income you could be hard-pressed to pay the bills. It simply pays out a percentage of your salary if you’re signed off of work through illness or injury, so whether you’re self employed or work for someone else, have a family or live alone, this could be something to look into.

When deciding on the type of home you want to buy, it's really important to think about the long term future of where you want to live. There are many options to consider; are you buying for yourself? Will you be living with a partner? Do you see yourself having a family in the near future? Will you have pets? All these things will make you think of the amount of space you will require, and sometimes it's better to pick something that will reflect your future plans.

Another important factor to consider when buying your home, is choosing the perfect location for your needs. This could be depending on your job, your budget or your lifestyle. It might also be wise to look at a few different areas and see which you like the look of the most, and has the best environment for you. Similarly, once you begin the house search in the areas you've selected, it's important not to settle for just one house, you should ideally view multiple properties to get better judgement of what you can get for your money, and what type of property will work for you and your needs.

One of the main things throughout your first home buying journey, and one of the most important and necessary things to do is to simply ask questions. There may be a whole array of silly questions, important questions, or even things you just don't understand, but as a buyer, you should make sure that you're fully confident when starting your journey into purchasing your first home.

Have you purchased your first home?

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AD| 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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AD| Is it just me, or do we seem to spend so much time during the winter dreaming of summer? Summer is 100% the perfect time of year to really relax and indulge in what you really love doing in the garden whether that be gardening, cooking, playing games, outdoor arts & crafts, or even sunbathing on those really warm summer days.

Especially as the garden really becomes an extension of our homes during the summer, and we spend many hours soaking up the sun outside. It's definitely important to make sure your garden looks well looked after, and the best part about it is that it doesn't have to cost a lot of money to have a successful transformation.

So ultimately, it’s really worth taking some time now to tidy up and prepare for the summer months and here's a few tips to get you started on how to get your garden summer ready!

First things first, get the lawn mower plugged in and get grass cutting, as this is the first essential job in transforming your garden, especially after a cold winter where it's been left untouched. Mowing is the key to a healthy, fresh lawn, and can help keep your garden looking neat and tidy, as well as keeping out any weeds. Plus, it just makes your garden feel more welcoming and attractive, that you'll be wanting admire it more and spend the summer months in it! An alternative to this is investing in ready to go turf. Turf products are designed to replicate the look and feel of natural grass, all while offering superior durability and minimal maintenance. If this is something you want to consider, why not take a look at Dallas Turf Company.

Now, is it really summer if you don't have the barbecue out at least once a week? Barbecues in the summer are just the ultimate chilled out, culinary experience, and a great way to enjoy great food, great company, as well as great weather. For me, barbecues are a great time to experiment with new ingredients, recipes and marinades. From grilled meats, vegetables and kebabs, to burgers and hot dogs, as well as side salads and pastas, there's so much choice with what to cook, you'll definitely be spoilt for choice!

During the summer months, we spend a lot of time outdoors, so it's definitely important to have some comfortable furniture at the ready, and easily accessible for when the weather starts to pick up and get warmer. Garden furniture can really help transform your garden, and can make you feel like you're living the dream in some idyllic beach resort, when in reality, it's just from the comfort of your back garden. With the addition of some luxury rattan furniture, you can bring that stunning vacation spot a little closer to home whilst relaxing in style.

Another quick way to transform your garden is including flowers to bring some vibrancy and colour to your outdoor area. As well as this, they help to make your garden space, however big or small, feel welcoming and they can also help you to feel calm and relaxed, plus they are extremely pretty to look at.

Finally, to give you that real vacation feel, inflatable swimming pools are just a must have! Inflatable pools are the best way to cool off in your garden and enjoy some much needed family fun during the summer. They give you that pool side/beach feeling from the comfort of your garden, without the travelling and the expensive holiday price tag.

What ways will you transform your garden for the upcoming summer months?

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AD| As a business owner, no matter how big or small, it is crucial to effectively manage your finances to ensure the business remains stable and successful. This requires an education; you will need accounting skills, like how to apply for a loan or how to draft a financial statement. Make sure you’re clued up on all of the finance related terminology, like VAT, PAYE, corporation tax, etc. Important financial decisions will need to be made even before you launch your business and extra resources might be necessary.

All limited companies are required by law to have a separate business account. Sole traders don’t have to, but it might save you some finance related headaches in the future to have a unique bank account specifically for your business. It’s probably worth investing in some sort of accounting software. Even if you’re running something completely unique, like a farm, there is farm accounting software that can help you keep things in order. Often, this type of software is used in conjunction with a professional accountant to keep on top of your financial obligations on an ongoing basis, like submitting tax returns.

Keep an eye on your cashflow at all times. You can do so by creating a cashflow statement and forecast. Your accounting software should contain functionality that allows you to download a cashflow report, but if not, they’re not too difficult to make yourself. These statements essentially show how much money is coming in and going out of your business over a particular period, allowing you to ensure there is enough cash to operate your business effectively. You may need to take out a loan at some point. This can be scary, but it will be worth it because it will allow you to buy the equipment you need and hire staff to help you get your business of the ground.

Don’t forget to pay yourself. It can be easy to get carried away and invest any extra capital back into the business to ensure it continually grows. Seeking out opportunities for growth is crucial and you should certainly keep some money aside for this, however, you play an important role in your company and should therefore be compensated accordingly.

As a business owner, one thing you should definitely start doing is planning ahead. There will always be random, unforeseen issues, so it’s crucial to keep your finances in order so that these issues can be dealt with, with limited repercussions. You could even create a “rainy day fund”, savings that mean you don’t have to rely on things like credit cards or overdrafts to cover unexpected fees.

Ultimately, managing your finances should not be an afterthought, especially if you want to survive long-term.

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