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● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD| Thinking of buying your first home, but unsure where to start? Buying your first home is probably one of, if not, the most significant purchase you’ll make in your life. It can be an incredibly exciting, yet overwhelming process, especially for those who might not know what to expect from this. 

In addition to this, looking for the right mortgages can sometimes be difficult to navigate and hard to understand - it can be a complicated process and many of us will not understand any of the terminology used - so it's best left for the experts. But if you're looking to start your journey of buying your first home, here are 4 important mortgage tips that you need to consider.

buying first home

Save Your Deposit
Getting the money together for your deposit is probably the hardest part of your home-buying journey. It can take years to save up enough to cover the initial deposit, and even then, you can still be unsure of exactly how much savings you will need. The rough amount of your deposit that will be required for your mortgage is worked out as a percentage of the value of the house that you're looking at buying. The mortgage is then based on the amount that is left, and that is the amount you would be borrowing.

Using a Mortgage Broker
A mortgage broker is an individual who will give guidance on the mortgages currently available to you, based on your own personal finances, and help you to apply for the best one suitable. Using a mortgage broker, such as Mortgage Light, usually makes the process so much clearer and simpler for you. Their job is to find you the best deals. Their expertise means that they will also know what type of mortgage would be best suited for your personal circumstances, meaning you get the product that will work best for you. 

Using a mortgage broker and advisor can save you a lot of money, time and stress. There’s a reason why they exist - the mortgage market is confusing! Mortgage brokers are an extremely helpful service to consider if you want to make sure that your experience of obtaining your mortgage for your first-time home is as simple, stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

Pay Off Any Outstanding Debts
Before you begin to apply for a mortgage for your home, work out your financial budget and aim to reduce any debts you may currently have. Perhaps you've taken out a large loan or need to pay back your credit cards. By setting up regular payments, you are demonstrating to your mortgage lender that you can manage your debts and money carefully and responsibly. By having reduced debts, it might help you in the long run as lenders may potentially allow you to borrow more money for your mortgage. If you're struggling with paying back any money you owe, creating a payment plan or strategy could be useful as this will help you keep on track with your finances.

Check Your Credit Score
As well as keeping your outstanding debt payments in order, it's also important to consider your credit score when applying for your mortgage. The better your credit score, the more likely your application will be successful. However, if your credit score isn’t too good, there are many things you can do to help boost your rating. In a nutshell, make sure to make your payments on time, register to vote, stay within your borrowing limits and even demonstrate good use of credit cards to prove that you are capable of paying money back in a timely manner.

Convinced? I hope so! Particularly if you are a first-time buyer, using a mortgage advisor and broker will be some of the best pennies you’ll spend during your big purchase. Good luck!

Are you looking to buy your first home? Does the idea of a mortgage give you a headache?
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AD - GIFTED| Looking to save time on your haircare routine? Want to add a new hairstyling tool to your collection? Why not consider a hair straightening brush!

Hair straightening brushes have been popping up everywhere recently. They are available absolutely everywhere - via online websites, in your local salons and in high-street stores. Probably one of the most recent and newest products in the hairstyling game, and nowadays, many haircare brands have one to offer - I use the Liberex Hair Straightening Brush. A hair straightening brush could become a complete game-changer in your haircare routine - especially for those with thick, coarse, wavy or curly hair. If you're tired of spending ages doing your hair in the morning, it might be time to get your hands on a hair straightening brush asap!

WOMENS HAIRSTYLES

Hair straightening brushes are incredibly useful hair tools and are typical safe to use for all hair types. Whether you have thick, wavy or curly hair, this hair tool can transform your haircare routine. Many hair straightening brushes come with a number of interchangeable brushes - depending on the thickness and texture of your hair, as well as advising you on the best temperature setting to use to ensure it works for your hair type.

Using a hairbrush and a hair straightener at the same time can be extremely tricky and fiddly. Not only are hair straightening brushes a 2 in 1 product that are much easier to use, it's also incredibly time saving on your haircare styling routine. Hair straightening brushes heat up in super quick time and give you brilliant results within minutes of use. In fact, I've found using this hairstyling took less time to style my hair than my hair straighteners, meaning my morning haircare routine took a lot less time and I didn't have to compromise on results.

Many hair straightening brushes are designed to be small and compact, making them incredibly travel-friendly. A perfect haircare tool to take on-the-go, whether you're going away for the weekend or on a week-long holiday, a hair straightening brush could be your best friend. By being a hairbrush and a hair straightening tool, means you can save space in your handbag/luggage, as this multi-use tool is the perfect 2 in 1 accessory.

One of the greatest benefits of using a hair straightening brush is that overall, they can be much less damaging on your hair than your average hair straighteners. Whilst using, the brush glides through the hair so easily, you have no tangling, no snagging and no breakage - you're also not clamping the hair between two hot irons, making it more gentle to use on the hair. You're also more than likely going to be using a lower temperature, allowing you to avoid heat damage and burning any hair.

- Top Tips When Using a Hair Straightening Brush -

●  Make sure to brush hair with a normal brush/comb before using, to make sure hair is knot and tangle free.

●  Always use the brush on dry hair. Never use on extremely wet or damp hair as this can cause heat damage and leave your hair burnt.

●  Use heat protectant before use to keep hair protected. This will help keep your hair soft and prevent any frizz.

●  Straighten your hair in small sections for better results.
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Liberex Hair Straightening Brush

Liberex Hair Straightening Brush

The Liberex Hair Straightening Brush is an effective hairstyling tool that can give you the salon-style look you want at home, within minutes. Say goodbye to frizz, and hello to soft and silky, beautiful hair! With a built-in fast heating technology, you'll be able to achieve the perfect straight hairstyle effectively whilst saving time on your haircare routine. The hair straightener brush adopts the most advanced PTC + NTC + MCU technology, which can heat up quickly while ensuring that the product is evenly heated. 

Liberex Hair Straightening Brush

Another great feature of the Liberex Hair Straightening Brush is the built-in 7-level temperature settings. These settings make the straightening super useful for those with different hair types and textures, and advises you the best setting for your hair.

Low Temperatures - 130-160°C - suitable for soft hair.
Medium Temperatures - 180-210°C - suitable for blonde or dyed hair. 
High Temperature - 230°C - suitable for thick, curly, or coarse hair.

Liberex Hair Straightening Brush

The Liberex Hair Straightening Brush comes with 3 interchangeable brushes, that are easy to swap in and out, and are designed to reduce the hair breakage and damage by reducing the excessive friction to your hair. The 3 brushes you receive are made for different purposes - the ordinary brush and concave brush can be used for general straight hairstyles, whereas, the hook-shaped comb teeth can be used to make a straight hairstyle with inner buckles. 

Liberex Hair Straightening Brush

The power cord manoeuvres 360°, allowing you to easily operate the hairstyling tool with any hand at any angle, and prevents the wires from getting tangled during use. A great feature of the brush is that it will automatically turn off if not used for 30 minutes, to ensure your safe and protected. As well as this, the glove that comes in the box is extremely useful and allows you to touch/section your hair whilst straightening, without your hand getting burnt.

Liberex Hair Straightening Brush Before ResultsLiberex Hair Straightening Brush After Results

I decided to include a before and after photograph of my hair, so I could see for myself how well the Liberex Hair Straightening Brush performed on my first use of the hair tool. On the left, this is my hair freshly washed and dried using a hair dryer. As you can see, my natural hair is fairly straight with a few wispy and wavy areas, and is slightly frizzy. On the right, this is my hair after using the hair straightening brush. As you can see, there is a significant and noticeable difference in the appearance and condition of my hair. My hair is pretty straight, the frizz has noticeably reduced and overall, my hair is definitely a lot more silky, soft and shiny - just needs a good trim, and it will be in a much more manageable, healthier condition.

From my experience, using the Liberex Hair Straightening Brush was incredibly quick and easy. The brush itself is very durable and glides through the hair with ease. I experienced no snagging, no knots, and I didn't have to keep going over the same section of hair - like you would sometimes with a typical hair straightener. Having a hair tool that brushes and straightens my hair all at once is very handy - especially if you need to get ready in a hurry!

Have you heard of Liberex? Do you currently use a hair straightening brush in your haircare routine? What are your favourite hairstyling tools?

For 10% off the Liberex Hair Straightening Brush, use discount code: Liberex727

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 AD| Are you newly single and looking for love, but unsure where to start? Are you finding it hard to meet the right person after previous dating experiences? Trying to navigate and get your head around the world of dating after past situations can be tricky, especially if you’re anxious and worried about it being "too soon".

It can be quite a nerve-racking experience when you find yourself getting back into dating after a long break. Many circumstances in our daily lives change, and this can have an effect on our future or potential relationships. Maybe you’ve been in a relationship or have been married, but are now single due to a break-up, divorce, or even becoming widowed. All of these outcomes can make our lives feel very uncertain, and ultimately, we can be unsure how and when we will be ready to date again - especially after a long break from relationships and dating. But with enough time, patience and the right dating apps - you could choose Tinder, Bumble, Hinge or even a widow dating site, you'll be on your way to starting your dating journey in no time. Let's take a look at 6 things to consider before getting back into dating after a long break.

DATING

- Focus on self-love and self-care. Before allowing anyone else into your life after you've taken a break from dating, one of the most important things to consider is yourself. You're the one who needs to feel ready to date again, and to welcome new people into your life. After a long break from dating, there's no rush at all, and it's important for you to take each step at your own pace, and make sure you feel comfortable with your dating endeavours. 

- Channel a positive mindset. Positive mindsets and positive thinking are a key factor in getting back into dating. Of course, this isn’t that spark of magic that will make all of your problems disappear, but it can help you get back on a good path. During this time, it's vital to focus on the good things, but also come to terms with any negativity, and try to overcome anything getting in your way. By channelling a more positive mindset, you can give yourself that little confidence boost, as well as improving your overall mood and wellbeing.

- Know what you are looking for and what you want. You might be able to begin your dating journey again by using the best dating website or app for you. There are so many available out there now, for example, Tinder and Bumble, but there are also more specific genres like widow dating, over 50s, religious sites and disabled. After taking some time away from the dating scene, it can be hard to know exactly what you want, what you need or what feels right for you. Having these specific genres of dating sites can help you begin friendships/relationships with other individuals in the same situation as you, and may help you feel more comfortable.

- Don't rush into anything and understand things take time. It’s important to remember to take things at your own pace after having a break from dating. You shouldn't feel pressured to constantly be getting to know new people, arranging dates, or rushing into a new relationship. You will ultimately want things to fall into place and flow naturally, to ensure there are no complications or upsets once you begin dating again.

- Have good communication. Whether you're talking to your friends and family about your feelings, or even your potential new romances, it's important to make sure to share your emotions and feelings. Not only does this help clear your mind, and feel that "weight off your shoulders", you'll generally feel much happier explaining how you feel, and you'll feel more positive about the future.

Have you recently taken a break from dating? What other dating tips would you suggest?
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AD - GIFTED| Are you looking for a fun gift idea for your friends or family? Why not consider a Disney themed gift! 

Disney is loved by so many people of all different ages, and I'm sure we all know someone who loves all things Disney. As a matter of fact, you are never too old to be a Disney fan! There are such a wide variety of perfect Disney gifts for the whole family, including parents, grandparents, teenagers and of course young children, making it such a great themed gift idea when it comes to special occasions.

DISNEY

Disney gifts can also be very practical and personal - there are endless amounts of gift types suitable for everyone, from stationary, board games, clothing, accessories and homeware - you'll simply be spoilt for choice. You can also select products based on their favourite characters or films that your love ones enjoy watching - whether they love Mickey Mouse, The Lion King or even Frozen, there are so many gifts out there for the whole family, and you'll find some great ones on Very Neko!

Very Neko Disney Gift
Very Neko Disney Gift

Disney homeware can be as bold or as minimal as you like. Whether you opt for kitchen utensils, photo prints, decorative accessories and even soft furnishings, there is always room for Disney in any home. This 101 Dalmatians Water Bottle is the perfect accessory for keeping hydrated on-the-go! For those who love a cup of tea or coffee, the Disney Mickey Mouse Arm Mug would be absolutely perfect.

Very Neko Disney Gift

Something small but extremely cute and fun are keychains - whether they are attached to your house or car keys, or even your school bag, keychains are a perfect gift accessory for all ages. The Disney Pixar Alien as Randall Pop! Keychain, 
Toucan Sam Pop! Keychain and Disney Pixar Alien as Sulley Pop! Keychain are perfect little gifts, especially when you can pick them up with your favourite Disney characters!

Very Neko Disney Gift

The Mickey Rainbow Notebook is the perfect little gift for any avid writer, to keep organised or just to scribble down any ideas. Whether the kids use it for school, or you use it for writing your weekly shopping lists, or you keep a daily journal or just use it for making notes, they always come in handy and never go to waste! Notebooks make a great gift as they are usually inexpensive, practical for day to day life, and something that everyone uses at least once in a while, you can also pick them up in some amazing designs/colours, and this Mickey Rainbow one is adorable!

Very Neko Disney Gift

Something for the whole family would be a classic board game. These are the perfect way of getting the whole family together and enjoy some quality time. Frozen has been one of the most popular kids films recently, and the Disney Frozen 2 Home Sprint Board Game is a perfect family favourite. Everyone loves spending the afternoon/evening relaxing, and what better way to enjoy the company of your nearest and dearest by playing a super fun and competitive board game. Before you've even started, you'll be fighting over the character you want to play - with a choice of 
Elsa, Anna, Olaf and Sven. This board game is packed full of family friendly fun for all ages from 4 years old upwards, and designed for 2-4 players.

What is your favourite Disney character and your favourite Disney film? What Disney gifts would you like to receive? 
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AD - GIFTED| Looking to invest in some silk pyjamas but unsure of the benefits?

 We spend around one third of our lifetime sleeping and because sleep is so important for our health, you shouldn't deprive yourself of it. Not only should we invest in a comfortable and supportive bed, with good pillows and a mattress, but we should also be careful of the types of pyjamas and nightwear we wear. For those looking for a good night's sleep, silk pyjamas are a preferred choice for many reasons. Here are 5 reasons you need silk pyjamas in your wardrobe ASAP.
 

Silk pyjamas are a good nightwear choice all year round. Silk helps to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, helping you to achieve a better quality and more comfortable night's sleep. Silk pyjamas also helps to provide a constant body temperature whilst sleeping, to ensure you aren't constantly tossing and turning when you begin feeling too hot or too cold.

By choosing silk shirt pyjamas, it can help to keep your skin cool and comfortable, all night long. Silk is a natural fibre that's extremely soft and smooth. By wearing silk pyjamas, you're allowing your skin to breathe and feel calm. As silk is a hypoallergenic fabric, silk pyjamas help to resist allergens that may be found in pyjamas made of other materials such as cotton.

Silk pyjamas are a luxury, affordable style of nightwear that is preferred by a number of people. This style of nightwear is widely available in a number of high street or online stores, making it easily accessible for everyone.

With certain fabrics used to make pyjamas, there can some irritation and can leave the skin feeling sore, especially those suffering with sensitive skin. Silk pyjamas are a great choice for all as the soft and smooth texture of the material will leave your skin feeling happy and will reduce any skin irritation.

Finally, silk pyjamas are a good option for all, including young children, as they have fire-retardant properties - making them extremely safe and practical to wear to bed. In case of any fires or hazards during the night, silk simply burns straight into ash, making it a safer choice of fabrics to wear at night, as it will not stick to the skin in contact with fire or heat.
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Introducing IDentity Lingerie

If you're looking for some gorgeous silk pyjamas - maybe something very similar to Victoria's Secret but better, look no further! IDentity Lingerie are a small family-run brand from Lincolnshire in the UK, offering a wide selection of environmentally friendly, ethical and handmade nightwear and good quality lingerie, made with sustainable materials. 

"Our purpose is to create stylish ethically made nightwear and lingerie for all body types. Having years of experience allows us to craft high-quality products with an impeccable stitch, a perfect design and the best materials. With so much attention to detail put into our products, they tend to last much longer and have a more comfortable fit."

IDentity Lingerie Pyjamas
IDentity Lingerie Pyjamas

The first set I chose from the website was the Japanese Silk Navy Short Pyjamas. These are a stylish silk pyjama set featuring a short sleeve shirt and matching shorts - a perfect option for the warmer months of the year. This pyjamas set is a beautiful rich navy blue colour with contrast white piping/buttons - the colour is simply stunning. I really like that the silk shirt has a slight oversized fit and just hangs nicely on the upper body. The shorts can be worn both high-or low waisted, depending on your preferred fit.

IDentity Lingerie Pyjamas
IDentity Lingerie Pyjamas

The second set I chose was the Japanese Silk Green Long Pyjamas. This is again another stylish pyjama set featuring a long sleeve shirt and matching trousers - a perfect option for the cooler months of the year. This pyjamas set is a beautiful deep forest green colour with contrast cream piping/buttons. The long pyjamas set is perfect for those nights where it is a little bit colder and you want to feel warm and cosy. The long sleeve shirt is the perfect fit - no one likes to wear tight tops to sleep! The pyjamas trousers are a super flowy, slightly wide-leg fit which makes them super comfortable and loose on the body.

Both of these pyjamas sets are in absolutely stunning colours, which I think would suit pretty much all skin tones. However, if navy or green aren't your preferred colour choices, these silk pyjama sets are also available in a number of other colours, including black, blush pink, gold, navy, white, green and purple.

Do you like to wear silk pyjamas? Have you heard of IDentity Lingerie?
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AD - GIFTED| Are you lacking body confidence or tired of wearing bikinis? Are you on the lookout for the perfect one-piece swimsuit? Whether you're tall, short, petite or curvy, there are so many flattering and comfortable one-piece swimsuits out there to help anyone hit the beach or pool with confidence. 

One-piece swimsuits are always on trend and will never go out of style. Say goodbye to those bikini of yours and opt for something with a little more coverage, more stylish, flattering, comfortable and perfect for all year round, whatever the weather. Let's take a look at a few reasons you need to include one-piece swimsuits in your swimwear collection right now!
 
One-Piece Swimsuits

Your one-piece swimsuit offers so many more benefits than your typical two-piece bikini. First of all, one-piece swimsuits are a practical choice when it comes to swimwear and offers more security. Whether you're taking part in water sports, having an afternoon at the water park or swimming in the strong water currents, one-pieces are less likely to come undone and wont leave you feeling exposed.

If you're heading to the local beach or taking a trip abroad, one-piece swimsuits are a good choice for those looking to catch some rays but avoid a burnt body. I know many of us go on holiday to get a great tan, but for those shying away from the sun and spending more time in the shade, this style of swimwear will give you more coverage and protect more of your body.

One-piece swimsuits are also an incredibly versatile clothing item to have in your wardrobe. Not only are they a great choice of swimwear, but they can also double up as a bodysuit when you're in need of an easy outfit to wear - all you need is a pair of shorts or a skirt to put on and you're good to go!

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Introducing Halocline Swimwear

Halocline Swimwear UK, a new and exclusive swimwear brand offering a wide range of great quality products, a more sustainable swimwear option, and made with some of the finest Italian fabrics created with the best raw materials and high-tech, innovative manufacturing. All of Halocline swimsuits are created and designed in the UK and offer an array of fabulous styles and prints, as well as a great colour palette to suit all tastes and budgets. 

All the swimsuits are designed with comfort, functionality and style to create a swimsuit that looks and feels great and is also built to last. The range is made from eco-friendly Econyl, recycled nylon made from old plastic so every suit is helping reduce the amount of waste plastic in the environment. A classic one-piece swimsuit simply never goes out of style, and here are 3 perfect one-piece swimsuit styles you need in your swimwear collection ASAP.

Halocline Lucille Longer Length Swimsuit

First up, the classic black swimsuit - a swimwear collection must have. The Halocline Lucille Longer Length Swimsuit is a super flattering swimsuit style, built with soft foam cups and tummy control to keep you looking good and as comfortable as possible. A black coloured swimsuit is always a good idea, and this one-piece swimsuit will help to slim and shape your figure and boost your body confidence.

Halocline Sleek Zip Back Swimsuit

For those who are feeling a little braver in their swimwear choices, a bold and vibrant coloured one-piece is a great choice. The Halocline Sleek Zip Back Swimsuit is a flattering style for all body types and figures. Designed with a high neck and zip back, this swimsuit gives excellent freedom of shoulder movement and the perfect choice for those looking for something a little more bright and to inject something more colourful into their collection.

Halocline Leopard Panel V Back Swimsuit

Lastly, something with a pattern. Whether you opt for something with spots, stripes or even animal print, patterned one-piece swimsuits are a great way to make a statement. The Halocline Leopard Panel V Back Swimsuit is another choice for those looking for a more flattering swimsuit that gives your body great coverage. The leopard print panel can help give the illusion of a more hourglass figure, helping you to feel more happy, more confident and more sexy in your swimsuit!

Have you heard of Halocline Swimwear? What are your favourite styles of swimsuits and swimwear?

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AD| Over the years, artificial intelligence and robot technology has rapidly developed and is making its way into nearly every industry imaginable. Whether that's in factories, social media, manufacturing or other business types, it's use is steadily on the increase. Manufacturing is a vital industry in todays world and is making significant contributions to the UK economy. 

Collaborative robots or Cobots for short, are becoming increasingly more popular in the manufacturing industry, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly more important that these machines are constantly advancing with the new technology available to help shape our future. The implementation of Cobots is clearly intended to shift and change the nature of certain job roles in a wide variety of companies. The Cobot industry has seen a lot of innovation and is something that will be definitely more apparent in the future, as they become more wide-spread, more significant for many businesses. Cobots come with a whole array of benefits, and discussed below are 3 reasons why Cobots are the future of manufacturing.

Cobot technology

 Collaborative robots are a special branch of robotic technology designed to work with and around human employees. The concept of Cobots are to work with people and not to replace them. Collaborative robots are able to perform a number of tasks alongside human workers without any problems, due to their specialised technology programmed into them. This is mainly due to how Cobots are made, with improved sensor devices, programmed cameras, and embedded vision, most Cobots do not need any safety features as they are built to work with others in a friendly way.

Collaborative robots are great at taking over tasks when they become repetitive or dangerous for human employees. Tasks such as cutting, moving, lifting or transporting can be extremely tiring, and for human employees, will cause fatigue, but for Cobots, they can carry out certain jobs all day long. This allows humans more time to focus on more challenging or rewarding jobs that are necessary in their job role. Not only does this give them some extra time for other activities, but it can also increase productivity levels and boost employee satisfaction by not having to complete such dull and boring jobs in the company.

The use of Cobots provides a great opportunity for businesses and companies to upskill their employees and entire workforce, by allowing them to focus their time in more productive areas. Whilst not having to do more hard manual or repetitive work, this spare time can be used for employees to enrol training courses, learn new skills and adapt to new areas of the business, whilst Cobots deal with more technical jobs. It also allows businesses to move human employees to other areas or departments that may require more help and assistance, making the use of Cobots a great benefit for HR purposes or for those industries lacking a large workforce.

Where we will see Cobots next? What other things will be used in the future of manufacturing?

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 AD - GIFTED| Many of us own a watch that is worn pretty much every day. It's definitely once piece of jewellery that will never go out of style. Many watch owners are gifted a beautiful, luxury watch on occasions such as birthdays, graduations, promotions and other special days in your life. 

A watch is the perfect accessory, not only does it tell the time, but it can add so much character to an outfit, and will remind you of those special personal and sentimental memories of when you received it. A good, luxury watch that's kept in good condition and has been well looked after should last for years and years to come. Watches are built to last a lifetime, and if they are taken care of properly, you'll be able to pass your watch on to future generations of your family for years to come. Here are 5 tips on how to care for your luxury watches and keep them in the best condition over the years.

LUXURY WATCHES

Cleaning Your Watch
To ensure the longevity of your luxury watches, it is important to remember to keep your watch clean and maintained whilst on and off the wrist. There are two parts of a watch you need to keep clean: the watch face, and the strap/bracelet. Depending on how long or how often you wear your watch will determine how regularly it needs to be cleaned. From daily wear, a build up of oils, sweat and dirt can cling to your watch, so it's vital that you always refer to the manual or do your own research before using specific cleaning products on your watch. You must wait until your watch is fully dry completely before you wear it again to ensure it doesn't get damaged or begin to get rusty.

Read Your Watch Manual
If you have been gifted a brand new watch for a special occasion, or you are interested in purchasing a watch, make sure to do yourself research and familiarise yourself the brand/product you choose. By doing this, you'll be able to understand how your watch works, how to care for it, as well as you'll know what to expect from the watch you pick in advance. It might be important to know what material your watch is made from, to know if your watch is water-resistant and to know how to set the correct date or time.

Store Your Watch Properly
As much as regularly cleaning your watch is necessary, it's also extremely important to store your watch properly to keep it in its best condition. The watch’s original box is the ideal place for storage. You need to minimize their exposure to the elements, such as direct sunlight, dust, mould and high temperatures.

Avoid Unwanted Damage
Without proper care and attention, it’s only a short matter of time before your watch face or strap shows scratches. To ensure your watch remains in good condition, make sure to remove your watch during certain activities such as showering/bathing, DIY jobs and exercise. Also, avoid wearing other pieces of wrist jewellery, such as bracelets, on the same wrist, as they might scratch either the sides or the glass of your watch.

Get Repairs At A Reputable Jeweller
 If you’re looking for watch repair, whether the watch face is scratched, the batteries have stopped working or your watch has any other faults, it's best in the hands of a reputable jeweller. For any damage, mechanical issues or problems, it's important that you go to the experts who have years of experience and are trained to fix all sorts of problems. This is important for those who own expensive, luxury watches, as you will want the highest quality and repair standards for your timepiece.

Avoid Contact with Chemicals
Exposing your watch or coming in contact with certain chemicals like cleaning products, soap, laundry detergents, cosmetics and perfumes can damage your watch, causing corrosion or rust. When using moisturisers, creams or perfume, allow these to dry completely on your skin before wearing your watch to avoid any contact with wet lotions or potential chemicals.
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Introducing Barrington Watch Winders

"Our flagship Barrington Single Watch Winder in Shadow Black is both compact and stylish with all the practical features you would expect from a high end watch winder. "

Barrington Watch Winders

Watch winders are a super niche product in the wider world, but of course, for watch enthusiasts, they are much more popular. They’re usually intended to care for automatic watches by keeping them in perpetual movement when they’re not in use. This not only ensures that your watch will keep working and ticking away forever, but also means you don’t have to set the date or time every time you pick it up.
 
Barrington created a wide range of watch winders for automatic style watches, which can be operated in two ways; either by AC mains or by using two AA batteries. The watch winders also feature an ultra-quiet Japanese motor, multiple rotation settings and multiple turns per day settings from 650, 750, 850, 1000 or 1950, depending on your watch. 

Barrington Watch Winders

For me, not only are these winders a great way to store your valuable watches and keep them in a good working condition, but they can also help to minimise damage and problems whilst not on the wrist of the owner. Another great selling point is that they also come in a variety of colours, suitable for everyone's preferences, and they could even become a sleek and minimal decorative accessory in your home, or even to give as a gift to a watch lover in your life. 

Have you heard of watch winders before? What other tips do you have for caring for your watches?
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AD - GIFTED| You may be wondering... is oat milk good for you? What benefits does this non-dairy alternative to cow's milk have? Well, let's take a look!

The plant-based milk industry is growing steadily at the majority of UK supermarkets, as more and more people start to change their diet and lifestyle habits or adopt a predominantly vegetarian or vegan/plant-based diet. There's such a huge variety of types of dairy-free milk alternatives on the market, including oat, almond, coconut and soy, to name a few. One of the more popular plant-based milk options is out of the above list is oat milk - possibly due to its sustainability and lower environmental impact.

I've recently begun switching to using oat milk as a replacement to cow's milk. I haven't completely converted to using plant-based milk, but 9 times out of 10, I'm using oat milk in my tea, coffee and cereal.


Consuming oat milk is a great option for those with special dietary requirements or allergies. This includes those following a Vegan or plant-based diet, those who are lactose intolerant, soy or nut-free, those suffering with gastroenterological conditions or those just looking to opt for dairy-free products in their diet. Oat milk is essentially created from a mixture of whole grain oats and water blended together, then strained to leave the pulp mixture behind.

Oat milk can be a good source of vitamins and minerals, including calcium. Many manufacturers of oat milk products often fortify it with "B" vitamins, such as vitamin B12. As well as "B" vitamins, oat milk bought from the supermarkets are usually  enriched with iron, thiamin, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, riboflavin, zinc, fibre and copper. Oat milk is a great source of iron for those following a plat-based, vegan or vegetarian diet, who may miss out on other sources of iron which are typically found in red meats and fish.

Oat milk is typically enriched and fortified with calcium and vitamin D — both of which can benefit your bone health. Calcium is a mineral found in a variety of foods and drinks, playing an essential role in maintaining strong and healthy bones and carrying out many important bodily functions.

Compared to other types of plant-based milks, oat milk typically has a slightly more protein and fibre included. The high levels of both protein and fibre found in oat milk helps to fill you up quicker and ensures you feeling fuller for longer. Incorporating this plant-based milk into your diet can help improve your appetite control and promote weight loss for those looking to lead a healthier lifestyle. As well as this, oat milk typically contains a soluble fibre -beta-glucan, which is necessary to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
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Introducing Happi Free From

Happi Free From Oat Milk Drinks

I was recently gifted some products from the team at Happi Free From, to help me on my journey from transitioning from dairy milk to a plant-based version, this being oat milk. They offer a range of allergen-free oat milk chocolate that tastes great; is lower in sugar than other leading milk chocolate brands; and is sustainably sourced and packaged. The brand message Happi follow is so eco-friendly, sustainable and ethical, it's definitely helping to change the planet for the better.

The Happi oat drinks I received come in both a strawberry and chocolate flavour. These drinks are great sources of vitamins A, B6, B9, B12, C and D, which all contribute to the normal function of your body and immune system. Both flavours of the oat milk drink were so fresh and tasty, but the chocolate drink was undoubtedly my favourite. For me, this was the most versatile flavour as I was able to drink it by itself, use it in cereal or even to give my porridge that chocolate taste. Not only does it taste good, it also has so many nutritional health benefits and contains a long list of vitamins and minerals your body needs on a daily basis, what's not to love?

Happi Free From Oat Milk Chocolate

Also included in my parcel was Happi Family Bundle pack. This was a great surprise and something I couldn't wait to get stuck into! This bundle consisted of 4 bars of vegan friendly, sustainable and ethically sources chocolate bars in a variety of flavours - plain milk chocolate, cacao nibs crunch, orange and salted caramel. I was really excited about this chocolate as I haven't really tried many non-dairy varieties, but overall it did not disappoint! My favourite flavour was definitely the salted caramel!

Overall, I was extremely impressed with the Happi products I was kindly sent. It allowed me to try some new products that are suitable for my attempt at transitioning from dairy cows milk to a plant-based alternative, and left me finding some delicious non-dairy products. I also really like the branding and packaging that Happi use. So colourful, vibrant and eye-catching, it certainly draws you in and makes you want to find out more!

Have you heard of Happi oat milk products before? What plant-based milk alternatives do you enjoy?
10:00 No comments
Looking for some simple ways to improve your written content and have better blog posts? This post is perfect for you, as I'll be sharing some practical tips you can use in your writing that have helped me in expanding my site and its contents over the last few months in particular. 

Millions of blog posts are written every single day and it can be extremely difficult to make sure yours are getting the right attention, outreach and engagement they truly deserve. Well-written, quality contents and articles will help you to stand out among the thousands of other blogs within the same niche as yours, and help to bring your readers back to your site time and time again. By applying some simple content writing ideas and tips to your own work, you can make your articles message more appealing to a wider audience. Let's discuss 10 content writing tips to use to improve your blog posts.

PLANNING TIPS

Quality or Quantity?
It's a vital content writing tip to ensure you maintain a good balance between blog post quality and quantity, but the question is - is the quantity or quality of blog posts published on your site more important? This is definitely a hard question to specifically choose a right answer. For me, your content needs to be consistent first above anything all else. Consistency is a crucial factor for both quality and quantity. 

In terms of quality, you want your blog posts to be worded, written and made visually engaging. You want your blog posts to follow the same style and layout, make sure they are informative and relatable, and remain relevant to your article topic. Similarly, consistency and quantity also go hand in hand. Having a consistent publishing schedule - whether that's once a month, twice a week or three times a day, this allows people to view your website and be able to get new content as soon as it's live.

Research and Plan
A huge part of planning and writing for a successful blog post is researching your chosen topic. Depending on your blogs theme or niche, you need to make your posts highly relevant and engaging to ensure your readers will take a look. Research helps you refine your initial post ideas to make sure that your creating engaging, relatable and relevant blog posts, targeted towards your niche and your audience.

Consider Word Count
Although your blog post and word count length may vary depending on your chosen topic and audience, this is something to consider when writing up your work for publishing. By beginning to start writing longer amounts of content in your blog posts, this helps your content rank higher online and gives search engines more to look through, as well as helping boost your websites SEO.

Include Visual Pieces
Visual content, whether that be images, gifs or videos, is generally much more engaging than paragraphs of text on your websites. "Research shows that 90 percent of the information transmitted to the human brain is visual, and people process visual information 60,000 times faster than text."  Including visual pieces in your articles will not only make your post better readable by breaking up larger sections of text but may also reduce the reading time - helpful for those who don't have enough spare time to engage in a longer text article

PLANNING TIPS

Create Evergreen Content
You may be wondering, what is evergreen content? Well to put it simply, evergreen content is content that remains relevant regardless of when you publish it. Evergreen styled content is informative and useful content that is engaging at anytime, and remains relevant to readers over a long period of time. This type of content constantly consists of and revolves around topics that'll be always relatable and offers a constant level of sustained interest. The ultimate goal of using evergreen content on your blog is to drive traffic to your site on a long-term basis.

Titles are Important
When you begin writing a new blog post, creating an intriguing and engage title is an important job. The title is the usually the first piece of your article that your readers will look at, so it's important to make it stand out and hope to grab their attention. You want to create a title that will persuade the reader to click and make them want to know more about your newly published content. I would generally keep my titles short and sweet, but making sure they are to the point and conveying the message I want to put out there. Make sure to include any keywords that may allow you to rank higher on search engines. I also like to use numbered lists when writing - for examples "5 ways to..." or "3 benefits of..." - including these in your title makes your content sound beneficial to read and informative.

Article Layout
Another useful tip to consider is the full design and layout of your blog posts. You want to make sure each and every one of your posts follows the same format to show consistency and professionalism. You will be able to boost your content on the readability scale by incorporating or using headings, bullets and lists where possible to make your content or posts easier to scan - instead of continuous paragraphs of text.

Include Links to Relevant Posts
When I begin thinking of new ideas or writing new posts, I always look back at similar content that I have previously published and will be able to link in my new articles. Not only is linking other blog posts good for your website, it's also good for your readers who might be interested in similar content and can easily click through to read more. By including relevant links, this makes browsing so much easier to direct readers from one page to another in just a few clicks. It can also help older articles to get seen easily and increase the page views of these posts.

Proof Read, Edit and Preview 
A first draft of a new blog post is probably not going to be your best work. Before publishing any new posts to your site it's important to check and double check your content to make sure there are no errors or mistakes. You'll also want to read through your content to understand your writing style much better, and make sure it's appealing for your own readers, so they don't get bored and click off your content. Spelling mistakes, layout issues and wrong URL links are simple little things that can be looked past when publishing new posts, but it's something worth checking before hitting that publish button. Having well-written, grammatically correct blog posts will want your readers to continue viewing your posts, as they will be able to see that time and care has been taken whilst writing to make sure the articles that are published are understandable.

What tips do you have to write a great blog post? Do you already use any of the tips listed above?
10:00 No comments
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