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● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD| What’s the deal with luxury vinyl flooring? We all want the best deals when we touch up our homes - without purchasing something cheap and tacky, of course. We want a gorgeous floor, but real hardwood is expensive and hard work. Luxury vinyl flooring can be the better deal to achieve the look, and be easily cut into any shape, making them the popular choice for those looking to create intricate pattern designs with their flooring.

The perfect replication of stone and wood with a huge variety of patterns and colours, certainly looks great, but is it cost-effective?

HOME FLOORING

How Much Does it Cost?
To understand the cost of luxury vinyl flooring you will need to consider several factors. The first and foremost being the current state of your existing floor. Vinyl needs to be laid over a perfectly flat and smooth surface due to its softness. If the subfloor is not level, you are going to incur some extra costs in getting it prepared ahead of installation. 

Also, if your floor is concrete and you are wanting vinyl over it, you need to get a damp-proof membrane applied to it beforehand. Other aspects that will influence the price of vinyl will include the design and intricacy of patterns you look to lay.

Per Metre
The cost of vinyl flooring can range anywhere from £20 to £90 per square metre. Being a varying brand product, some vinyl can sometimes be a little pricier than others. The difference is in the quality of the product and its perfectly replicable designs. Either way, it is still much cheaper than real hardwood and stone, which can be expensive to replace and often does further damage to areas upon removing them and to surrounding sections.

Installation
Installation can be a cost-effective exercise due to its ease in clicking together planks yourself, but if you choose to go with the glue down tile option it is usually recommended to bring a professional on board. If your floor does require levelling, then you are going to incur extra costs. The time it takes to install the flooring can sometimes be a slow process, especially with glue-down tiles which require a special adhesive that will take up to 10 minutes per tile.

If you do choose to install by yourself, extra care will have to be taken to install in line with manufacturers guidelines to not void your warranty. Mistakes can be made but are extremely hard to rectify. One thing you cannot find fault with luxury vinyl flooring is the vast quantity of brands available, from Invictus to Luvanto and beyond, you are not losing out with what you pay for in either choice you make.

If you are reading this in the hopes of getting the best for your money, luxury vinyl flooring is the best deal on the market.

Have you considered installing luxury vinyl flooring in your home? What other flooring options have you explored?
12:30 No comments

AD| Cleaning can be an extremely tiring, never-ending chore that no one really enjoys very much, especially for those with busy lifestyles, young children or messy pets. Over half of UK adults now own a pet, and numbers have been growing throughout 2020 and 2021 so far. In a recent survey from Beko, a staggering 87% of pet owners say their pet has an exceptionally messy trait. This included things such as shedding fur, muddy paws, food spillages or toilet accidents. The survey also found that the weekly cleaning hours in the UK differ between pet owners and non-pet owners; with the national average of 1 hour vs the 4 hour pet owner average. That is a staggering 4 times as long difference to keep their households clean each week!

In light of this, it may be wise to start including some more versatile, multi-use store cupboard products in your home cleaning routine, whether you have a busy lifestyle, young children or messy pets or not! Some of the following products you may already have in your home, but you may not be using them for cleaning purposes and they could help you save money on buying loads of cleaning products to deal with everyday spills and mess. It might just be time to say goodbye to those harsh chemical cleaning products and opt for something more versatile, more natural and more environmentally friendly!

HOUSEHOLD CLEANING

For some cleaning purposes, baking soda works better and is more effective than your typical household soap. It's extremely inexpensive, it makes a great natural cleaning product and you can pick it up whilst doing your weekly shop in the supermarket. Baking soda isn't just for cakes! It's an extremely versatile product and can be used to dissolve dirt and stains, tackle bad odours and cut through grease and grime. 

It might not be the first product you reach for out of your cupboards whilst cleaning, but vinegar makes an incredibly versatile and affordable product that can be used to clean your home. Vinegar's high acidity is what makes it such a good cleaner to use in the home. It's such a great multi-use product, not only delicious on your chips, but it's great at lifting dirty stains, sanitizing surfaces, freshening up laundry, cleaning windows and much much more.

 Lemon juice is another great natural cleaners due to its low pH and antibacterial properties. The natural acidity levels found in lemons are perfect for tackling any dirt or discoloration. Not only is it a natural bleaching agent and stain remover, but it can also act as an odour neutraliser due to it's incredibly uplifting, refreshing and invigorating scent.

Salt isn't just used as a seasoning for cooking. Not only does salt clean exceptionally well, but it also acts as a great deodoriser as well. Salt is a super gentle abrasive, gritty textured products, which is good for scraping away any stains, leftover food crumbs and other dirty residues you may come across in at home. By using salt as an everyday cleaning product, it's an inexpensive and effective way to remove any grease, rust, grime, and stains in the home.

What other everyday household products do you use to clean your home? How do you tidy up after your messy pets and children?
20:30 No comments
AD| Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes. These could include physical disabilities, learning disabilities or sensory disabilities as a few examples, where some can be much more noticeable than others. Dating can be an extremely complicated and complex for anyone, but socially, dating with disabilities is rarely spoken about, but the Single Disabled YouTube channel is a great source of information for those who want to understand more about disability dating. 

Many individuals may feel embarrassed to discuss what problems they have to deal with, and may struggle when it comes to dating and meeting new people. Nowadays, many date night locations are catering for disabled singles in a number of ways including, features such as step free access, wheelchair ramps, large font menus and accessible toilets for a few examples.

RESTAURANT DATES

A indoors-styled date in comfort at home can be extremely romantic without the need to spend a lot of money. Having just the company of another people around allows the time spend together to feel more personal and intimate. Having a night in also allows you to set your own mood for the date and choose the atmosphere that is suitable for what you have planned for the afternoon/evening. It can be so much easier to adapt plans when you’re based at home as you won't feel rushed, you won't be late and you can take things ay your own pace, completely relax and enjoy yourself.

One of the most popular at-home date night ideas would obviously include some nice food and a few drinks. Whether you opt for a romantic candle lit dinner or a cheeky takeaway, you can relax with your date and enjoy some nice food together. It can also be quite a nice idea to cook together and enjoy each other's company in the kitchen and have a conversation over a lovely drink.

For those who want something super chilled and relaxed but find the cinema feels a tad overwhelming - grab some drinks, get some snacks/popcorn and enjoy a movie/Netflix night at home. This will allow you to spend some time together in a more comfortable environment, where you can pick some of your favourite films to watch together or even start a new Netflix series.

For those who like a little competition, games and quizzes are the perfect at-home date night idea, especially if there aren't any accessible place near you. Why not host your own? Board games, video games or online quizzes are ideal for those wanting something extremely fun but laid back.

date night ideas

Getting outdoors and enjoying some time out of the house can be quite scary for those who are unsure about places that cater for disabled individuals, especially for those who find their disability really affecting their confidence. However, many outdoors locations are now making sure everyone can use their facilities, and making them as user friendly as they can for everyone.

A perfect 'break the ice' type of date is a trip to the cinema can be an extremely fun, and less nerve-racking style date. It allows you to watch a film that you're both interested in, get used to just being in each other’s company and will give you something to talk about after. Many cinemas feature screenings with subtitles, accessible wheelchair spaces, and usually feature all of their accessibility information available on their websites, making it very easy for disabled singles to plan a trip to their local screening. 

Visiting attractions such as aquariums, museums and art galleries are great date locations for when you're not sure what to do but want to go out and find something enjoyable to do together. Whether you're into sport, nature, music, art, science or history, there is something for everyone, making this a great idea for a spontaneous date idea. The good thing is you can go at your own pace and explore all the different activities/exhibitions available at your chosen destination. As well as being great accessible and wheelchair friendly date locations, these types of venues usually cater to other forms of disabilities such as deafness or blindness. You will often find they will have some form of written guide book/ or audio guide to help discover the amazing works at these date destinations. 

Finally, for something a little more intimate but still super chilled, a lovely picnic in the park or along the beach front could be exactly what you need. This type of date is much less intimidating than a candle-lit meal at a restaurant, so you will be able to feel comfortable and relaxed, whilst enjoying the fresh air and the lovely views. Being outdoors is extremely calming and refreshing, especially for those feeling nervous whilst dating, getting outside can really uplift your mood and make you less nervous. Whilst being out in public, something like a picnic isn't too overwhelming as you can set up your spot away from others to ensure you can enjoy your time peacefully and will give you the chance to talk about anything.

Have you been on any dates recently? What other date night ideas do you have/would you like to go on??
10:00 No comments
AD| Throughout 2020 and 2021, the modern world of dating has completed changed and has impacted the way we meet new people. Single people are connecting digitally with others and spending much more time using online dating sites to meet people with similar interests — even more so due to the coronavirus pandemic we have all experienced. 

Meeting people online can be sometimes be dangerous, especially if you aren't careful and follow certain precautions, but it's definitely become more common and more normal than ever before. There are a number of ways in which you can safely begin online dating and making sure you are meeting up with genuine people. So, here are five top tips for how you can have a positive online dating experience and meet new people in a comfortable, safe way.

ONLINE DATING

 If possible, it's definitely important to avoid giving out too much personal and private information when you begin talking to new people online. This could include things such as  your full name, address, phone number, email address and work/education locations. When you think about, they people you meet online are pretty much strangers, and you obviously don't want them to know too much about you, until you are happy and comfortable to open up more or answer more personal questions when you meet up face-to-face.

Take enough time to get to know the other person before agreeing to meet up in real life. Ask them questions, find out more about their character/personality and make sure they have plenty of photographs that are actually the same person. This allows you to make sure they are genuine and who they say they are. Many dating apps help with this as they install voice/video calling features, allowing you to connect with others instantly.

 Meeting up in a well-known area is a key factor in dating safely, as things helps to avoid being alone with someone, somewhere you don't know. Most people will feel more confident and comfortable meeting in a place where you've been before, especially if you're feeling nervous or anxious about meeting for the first time. If possible, try to meet during the daytime, as areas will be busier and you won't have any lighting issues due to daylight. If you're both only available in the evening, choose a place that's fairly busy and filled with other individuals at the time you're planning to meet to avoid being alone and at potential risk.

 Something else to consider when online dating/meeting up, is discussing your ideal relationships or what your intentions are with each other to make sure you're both on the same page, whether that's just taking things slowly, getting into a relationships or just looking for sexual activities/partners. Nowadays, many people use generic sites like Tinder or Hinge, but you can also find someone with similar interests online using specific websites and apps including sissy bdsm, sissy dating. You will obviously spend time researching the BDSM community, and make sure to use a trustworthy site if you're looking for something a little more specific. If this is what you're looking for online, then it's extremely important to know how to be safe, or not be hurt during these dating endeavours. From discussing what you like and what you don't like, making sure both parties are comfortable in any activities etc. With any sexual activity, it's important to make sure to use the correct protection, make sure you're enjoying what's going on and to feel strong enough to say no to things you don't want to do or don't feel comfortable with doing.

Probably one of the biggest safety rules you can follow is to trust your instincts. The majority of the time if you feel something is too good to be true, odd comments or behaviour, or you just feel something is off and uncomfortable, you're probably right. If you ever feel like you're not safe or you're in an uncomfortable situation, it's best to leave and get out of there as quickly as possible to avoid any potential dangers. It's always important to make sure that several people know exactly who you're with, where you're going and when to ensure if anything does happen, they can come and help you avoid any risky situations.

Have you used dating sites or apps to meet anyone new recently? What other safety tips do you have/use?
16:00 No comments
AD| Over the last few years, artificial intelligence, automation and robot technology has rapidly developed and is making its way into nearly every industry imaginable. Due to advancements in AI and machine learning, these robots are becoming much smarter and gaining new capabilities when it comes to work roles. 

AI is basically a form of computer science that create robots and machines to automate certain tasks and make them more efficient, reliable and productive in modern life. AI-powered processes can help businesses to measure and improve their brand, ensure improved customer service, and understand their target audiences. When you're company is focusing on business growth, automation software is a great support tool to ensure great productivity and efficiency if used correctly. AI copies human intelligence decisions and actions, whilst automation focuses on streamlining more boring, repetitive, or instructive tasks.

 Many AI experts had the ideas that rather than completely replacing humans in the work place, artificial intelligence ideas and robots would continue to assist and work alongside existing employees. This would help in assigning repetitive or potentially dangerous tasks to robots, allowing humans to work safely and focus on more fulfilling and necessary jobs in the workplace.

BUSINESS MAN ON PHONE

Improves Customer Service
One benefit of artificial intelligence for businesses is improved customer services levels through the use of online chatbots and live chat features feature on the company websites. Through this use of AI, users are able to take part in an online conversation without the need to spend time making calls to the company/brand. These chatbots are programmed to respond immediately, saving time and improving overall customer satisfaction, making it more convenient for the customer to use these services to ask questions or have any queries solved without waiting around all day for answers and guidance.

Increased Productivity and Flexibility
The use of AI and robots allow businesses to expand successfully through increased productivity levels and job flexibility. Machines and robots are programmed to work continuously and will never get tired of carrying out repetitive or boring tasks, regardless of the time or day. RNA Automation systems and products can be set up in a smart way, can adapt to any situation, allowing you to know that everything is running smoothly with your system, and are flexible enough to meet the demands on today’s industry. This allows human employees to take a step back from more mundane, manual work, and focus on other areas of the business needs.

Increased Reliability 
 Businesses that are looking to expand may seek looking into AI and robotic processes in order to be far more reliable than the usual human-run job roles. It's so easy for people in the workplace to get distracted, to miss deadlines and make mistakes. Robots, however operate within "clearly defined regulatory and security perimeters- carrying out faultlessly an infinite number of processes", and will help businesses avoid costly human errors. As well as this, AI and robot technology can continue hour after hour, without getting tired or making any mistakes, allowing them to work for longer periods of time, making them great for overnight activities, scheduled work or meeting deadlines.

What other ways can artificial intelligence and robot technology help business to grow and succeed?
10:00 No comments
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