● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

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

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

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

womens everyday casual outfit styling maxi cardigan

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

womens everyday casual outfit styling black tracksuit

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

womens everyday casual outfit styling grey joggers

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

womens everyday casual outfit styling black faux leather trousers

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

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

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

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

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

Glass Jars

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

Cardboard Boxes

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

Egg Boxes

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

Glass Bottles

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

Wine Corks

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

What other ways do you recycle your household waste?

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

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

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

MEZZALUNA

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

ASIL RESTAURANT

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

SOUL STREET

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

BEBEMOS

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

MAIDEN SHANGHAI

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

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

Have you visited Dubai? What is your favourite cuisine style?

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

Set the tone with the living room

The living room is the best place to relax on the sofa with a good book in winter, and is normally a place you spend a lot of time in. Since comfort and warmth is the priority, pile up your sofa with cushions and blankets or add a stylish throw. Roll out a carpet to keep your feet warm with a rug that matches the colour scheme of the living room. To avoid a running noise, put on some socks and strut around in total comfort. Depending on the size of your living space, it may be easier and quicker to install carpet tiles. Online stores such as www.carpettilewholesale.co.uk are a good option as they offer a variety of carpet tile styles in a variety of colours, at an affordable price, perfect for any home's colour theme.

Update the bedroom

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

Infuse cheery colours

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

Don't forget the kitchen

Winter months take their toll on the kitchen, so it is important to give a little makeover to this place as well to give it a new look. You can add a patterned shade to your kitchen windows, to make it look bright and cheery for many days. You can even stitch your own curtains by purchasing the fabric and colour of your choice and hang it from the rods using clip-style curtain rings.

Install a good curtain

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

Transform the bathroom

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

Add a touch of greenery

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

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

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