● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD – GIFTED| Looking for a unique gift idea for your mum this Mother's Day? Why not opt for something a little more personalised and choose from some stunning wall art, posters, or prints to bring a smile to her face.

Personalised Gifts for Everyone's Preferences

Art makes a great gift because it can be so personal to the recipient, and there are a wide selection of art styles to select from the Poster Store. You'll definitely be spoilt for choice. In my opinion, nature and botanical themed artwork is the perfect choice for Mother's Day – think scenic landscapes, soft and delicate florals and beautiful photography. If nature isn't your thing, they have other poster categories such as animals, typography, fashion and vintage, to name a few. With the vast selection of different themes & categories for all tastes, and new poster collections released all the time, there is undoubtedly something for everyone.

Bold and Colourful Addition To The Home

By selecting some wall art for your Mother's Day gift, you can help inject some colour into the recipient's home, and it can help change the whole mood and atmosphere of their personal space. If you know they have quite a neutral and minimalist home, by deciding to pick some colourful posters and prints, you can help them add some vibrancy and brightness into their personal space. Or, if they have quite a colourful, vibrant room, you could opt for something more monochrome and bold, to feature as a focal point.

For my Mother's Day gift, I opted for the “Flowers in Pink Poster”. This poster is an up-close photograph of flowers in different shades of pink. This piece has incredible detail, sharp focus and will really make a statement in the home.

A Gift That Can Always Be On Show

Prints are the perfect gift for the home, and always make a great addition to the walls in the living room or bedroom. By choosing wall art as your gift, the recipient can display it in their home, and will remember you each time they see it during the day. It will be a long-lasting gift that can be cherished for years and years.

To complete your posters and prints, there are a variety of high quality frames to purchase in different colours and sizes. I opted for the stylish copper frame, as I felt this really compliments the pinks that are used in the floral image, and offers a beautiful contrast to the poster.

The Poster Store offer a wide variety of sizes for all posters, prints, and frames online – from 13×18 to 70×100, allowing you to pick the best pieces for your Mother's Day gifts or for the size space in your home you have to decorate. The online collection of unique prints will help you create the perfect gallery wall, tailor-made for any home. All the posters are printed on sustainably produced high-quality paper, helping to minimise any damage to the environment.

Use code: LAURABLOG45 for 45% on all posters (except Selection Posters and frames). Not combinable with other discount campaigns. Valid from 18th of March to 18th of April.

What gifts for Mother's Day will you be purchasing?

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GUEST POST | Enthusiastic DIYers are all too willing to give plumbing a go, in the way they wouldn’t attempt, say, plastering their walls, building an extension or tiling a roof. Why is this? Is it because they don’t think plumbing is a skilled job? Or is it because a man on YouTube with a spanner in his hand told them fixing a leak in a pipe was easy?

That bloke on YouTube may make doing your own plumbing look easy, but that doesn’t mean a) it actually is; or b) fixing plumbing issues yourself won’t cause further damage elsewhere. With that in mind, here are three reasons why you should hire a professional plumber.

A Plumber Can Locate The Cause of The Problem

If you’ve got a slow-draining sink in your 19th floor flat in east London, it might be a simple case of a blockage in the U-bend that will only take a few minutes to fix. However, a professional plumber will be able to diagnose if the problem lies further down the system, for example all the way down deep in the drains, requiring drain cleaning in London.

Plumbers Have Experience

A professional, qualified plumber will have the experience you just don’t get from blogs and YouTube videos. They’ll not only have the skills and qualifications necessary to diagnose and fix your plumbing concern, but because they do it daily, plumbers have years of experience to draw on. What this means is a plumber will be able to fix your issue quickly and efficiently. To put it simply – a professional plumber knows what they’re doing, and you don’t.

A Plumber Will Have The Proper Tools

When the plumber calls round to fix whatever it is you need fixed, they’ll have the proper tools with them. They might even have the right parts in their van, too, but if not, they’ll know where to get them or how long they’ll take to get in.

A plumber won’t be Googling to find out what tools they need or using a butter knife instead of a screwdriver (or is that just me?) They also won’t be making unnecessary trips to B&Q or Homebase to waste money on tools they’re only going to use once. You may think you’re saving money by doing your own plumbing, but if you take into consideration:

— the money you’ll spend on tools and parts

— the time it takes you to look up how to fix that blocked sink

the time it takes you to drive to the hardware store, find what you require and drive back, you might find you’d be better off paying a plumber after all.

Why You Should Hire a Professional Plumber

You may think you’re saving a few pennies by not hiring a professional plumber, but if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, you could cause a lot of damage to your plumbing. Water damage from burst or leaking pipes can be devastating and require costly repairs to your walls, ceiling, and floors.

Taking all this into account, is it really worth the risk of not hiring a professional plumber?

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AD| Taking a trip abroad is all about relaxing and enjoying yourself. There's simply no reason why you should let any of your existing medical conditions stop you from exploring the world. Having a medical condition doesn't need to make your travel plans stressful and overwhelming. Instead, it means you will probably need to allow extra time, extra precautions and extra preparation before you leave, to ensure all needs are accounted for.

Obviously, it's important that you research into your chosen travel destinations, as you want to choose the right place to meet your needs. For example, if you have mobility problems, you won't want to be climbing hills and mountains whilst on holiday. Whether you have any form of disability, suffer with a mental health issue or are currently suffering from an illness, there are a number of simple steps you can take to ensure your holiday plans aren't a total failure. Listed below are 4 tips to help you travel safely with a medical condition.

Firstly, for those who are currently taking prescribed medicines, it's essential that you carry your medication to cover the entirety of your trip. You will need to plan out in advance what medication you require, and ensure you order enough to cover your time away. It's important that you carry your medication in your hand luggage or handbag in case your hold luggage gets lost, or you need to access your medication straight away. You may even consider taking some extra medication in case of any travel delays or diversions.

In order to travel safely with medical conditions, it's vital that you take out the correct travel insurance that you require. You must make sure to declare your medical conditions or illnesses when you purchase it to make sure it's valid and up-to-date. This will ensure you are covered for any situations that might occur whilst you are travelling.

If you suffer from any type of cardiology or respiratory conditions, you may need to travel with oxygen to ensure your safety and medical needs are looked after. For those travelling, the use of oxygen has become a much easier experience, especially with the evolution and development of portable oxygen, with retailers such as The Oxygen Store making oxygen-based products widely available and suitable for all your travel needs. If your medical condition requires you to travel with oxygen, you’ll need to ensure you speak with your chosen travel provider or airline to make sure you are aware of what is and isn’t accepted whilst travelling. Also, if you know that you will require oxygen, make sure that you carry enough to cover your trip, and ensure you carry refills in case of any delays.

Another part of your travel planning is to make sure your medical paperwork is correct and current. It may also be worth making an appointment to visit your GP or doctor before you book your next holiday, so they can carry out any necessary tests to ensure you are fit to travel, have any vaccinations and give you copies of your documents. In advance, you can make copies of your documents and ensure you carry your medical paperwork with you at all times whilst you are away. This will help you stay organised, and prepared if anything happens whilst you are away.

What other safety travel tips do you use?

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AD| Have you recently had a wardrobe clear-out, and have found yourself with bags full of unwanted clothes? If the answer is yes, you may not know exactly what to do with these, but have you considered selling them online?

Our home, wardrobes, clothing rails and drawers are sometimes filled with clothing items that we are hanging on to and simple cannot to throw out. However, sometimes, it's a good option to declutter your home and sell your unwanted items online. You could also consider giving the clothing to charity, with items that no longer fit, doesn't fit your fashion style, or hasn’t been worn for a long period of time. If this is something you are currently considering, then here are 5 top tips for selling your unwanted clothing online.

When you are looking to sell your unwanted clothing online, the first thing you need to consider is what website you wish to use and feature your items on. There are such a variety of websites and apps designed to help you upload your items in seconds, and get selling with a few clicks. Websites such as Depop, eBay and Vinted are just a number of places that can help you sell your unwanted belongings, and start earning some money from this.

Making sure to have an in-depth description of the items that you are selling will ensure all the important details are in place for your potential customers. You will probably need to include details such as price, brand, size, condition, and measurements. This will help your customers completely understand exactly what they’re buying and will end up reducing the amount of questions asked you may be asked about the items for sale.

Another vital part of selling your unwanted clothes online and securing that final sale is by ensuring your photographs are clear and appropriate for the item in the listing. Consider using good, natural lighting to show off the item exactly how it is, without any filters. Also, ensure the background of your photographs is neat and tidy, consider using a plain background that clearly highlights your sale items.

When selling your unwanted items online, you may need to answer any queries or questions that your potential customers may have. It's significant that your customer service is both professional and friendly, and always aim for the quickest response times possible. This can often help you build a trustworthy and reputable relationship with your customers, and can help you secure repeat business.

When you've finally secured a sale, it's time to get your item prepped for shipping. This is where you will need to consider your use of packaging. When opting for packaging to use, it's a good option to select something more sustainable and eco-friendly to avoid having a damaging impact on the environment. You'll want to make sure your packaging choices are durable and strong, to ensure they arrive with the customer in the best condition possible. There are a wide selection of bespoke packaging options to choose from that can help you reduce your plastic use, minimise postal costs and give your customers a fabulous first impression of your products.

Have you sold any of your unwanted clothes online? What are your favourite websites and apps to use?

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AD| Are you looking at starting your own business, but unsure on what to do or where to start?

New businesses and start-up companies are popping up all the time, and it's probably taken them weeks, months, or even years to get to their launch date. It doesn't usually happen overnight! Starting your own business isn't always easy, as there are so many things to consider, that it can become extremely exhausting, confusing, and overwhelming.

However, don't get disheartened if things go wrong slightly, you just need to stay calm and think, in order to get things back on track. Absolutely anyone can start a business. You don't need to have a super impressive degree, qualifications, or a bank account with endless zeros. In fact, what you will need to begin with is a clear and simple structured plan, with realistic time frames, some funds to kickstart your business and plenty of research into your chosen path. If you're thinking about launching your own business in the near future, here are a list of 4 essential things to do before starting your new business that may just come in handy.

Before you even think about launching your new business, it's important to get a full understanding of your target audience. Your target audience is the specific group of people that you would expect to purchase your products or services, and this would be the group you would aim and focus your brand marketing efforts at. This is typically the key to the success of your business. Identifying your target audience can take a lot of time and research, but it is probably one of the most significant steps to creating your business.

One of the most vital and potentially difficult steps of starting a new business is choosing your business name. Selecting a business name can be a lengthy process, and you may go back and forth with ideas, but don't worry, it can take time. Ultimately, your business name will be what people remember, so you want to make sure it's memorable, catchy, and related to your products/services. Why not have a brainstorming session to help generate name ideas. Simply begin by writing down words or phrases that are associated with your business, and play around with the formation of these. You can also ask your friends and family, for feedback regarding your potential name choices before you take the plunge and register the name. Before you finally decide on your business name, it's essential to check to make sure it's available and not in use by someone else.

Another essential part of starting your own business is getting to grips with the financial aspect of it. This area of your new business can be extremely confusing, especially if you have no idea about accounts, finances, and numbers. It may be worth researching online and looking at getting yourself an accountant/financial advisors to help manage your finances, accounts, and taxes. There are plenty of companies available online, giving you all the advice you need with accounting for startups and new businesses. It may also be help to set up a business bank account and business insurance to ensure any business orders or transactions are kept separate from your personal account, and to allow you to keep your business accounting records organised for future reference.

Once all the plans have been made, and the financial side of your business has been accounted for, it's time to create your website and social media accounts. Your online website is typically what spreads the word about your brand/product, so it's important to have it designed and working exceptionally well. Having your own website for your business gives easy accessibility to customers, helps boost your credibility, increases your visibility to others, and makes you look incredibly professional. You could also design your own business cards for your company, in order to spread the word to your friends, family and potential customers about your new ventures.

Are you looking at launching your own small business? What other essential things should you consider before starting?

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AD| If you're looking at planning a UK staycation, maybe even a caravan/motorhome type holiday or just need some inspiration of lesser-known places to visit in the near future, look no further!

The UK is filled with an abundance of diverse little towns and pretty villages that are sometimes overlooked by the more popular and tourist focused larger locations. There are plenty of UK destinations with such diversity, rich history, breathtaking landscape and a long list of places to stay, things to see and do, there are plenty of options for all holidaymakers. And even better, booking your hotels and accommodation for the duration of your holiday is even more simple these days. With a few clicks, you can find your perfect accommodation, at the best price, with no hidden costs or fees with online websites such as eBooking. Here are 6 UK small town holiday destinations to consider for your next staycation.

If you're looking at taking a trip to south-east England, you may want to consider stopping off at Rye, East Sussex. From historic charms, local produce to sample, gorgeous outdoor spaces, and plenty of quirky antique stores, you'll simply be spoilt for choice. A few places of interest include, Rye Nature Reserve and Discovery Centre, Camber Sands, Rye Castle and even the local windmill. Whatever your tastes, Rye has it all.

If you're looking for a small and quiet, typical English seaside town, then Whitstable, Kent is a place to research. Whitstable is your standard coastal location, home to a thriving maritime industry. With its fresh seafood selection and annual oyster festival, Whitstable is a perfect location for all food lovers. For a more historic experience, a trip to Whitstable Castle might be on the cards.

Located within the Peak District, Bakewell, Derbyshire is the perfect, picturesque market town for a day trip, or weekend getaway. If you're looking for something adventurous and outdoors, Bakewell marks the start of the famous, family-friendly, Monsal Trail – a popular cycle and walking track boasting tons of wildlife, geology, industrial, and rail heritage. Plus, you can’t visit Bakewell without trying one of the famous Bakewell Puddings. It would be rude not to!

Located in the Cotswolds, Castle Combe, Wiltshire, has previously been known as “one of the prettiest villages” in England, and when you browse online at photographs, you can see exactly why. The village itself boasts so much medieval history, especially within the wool trade – it's like stepping back in time, as the area has barely changed in 500 years, in order to preserve its beauty. You may even recognise Castle Combe as the main backdrop for a number of period television and cinema dramas, as this village is home to a number of listed building.

If you are thinking of visiting Wales anytime soon, maybe for a day trip or a long weekend, this is definitely a location worth visiting! Portmeirion, Wales, is a unique, coastal, tourist village that holds such charm and charisma, it truly feels like you're somewhere located in the Mediterranean. It would absolutely be an Instagram-lover's dream to visit here. With a number of coastal walks, secret coves, stunning beaches and unlimited amount of breathtaking views, if you’re a lover of fresh air and exploring nature, Portmeirion is undoubtedly for you!

Finally, if taking a trip to a more-traditional Scottish village is more your idea of a getaway, why not consider Killin, Loch Tay, Scotland. The village makes an excellent base for hikes and walks alongside the mountains, as it's extremely easy to navigate on foot. Killin is located close to the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve, as well as the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. So this is a great holiday destination for those who want to have an adventure, as you can enjoy a lovely mix of wildlife spotting, outdoor activities and scenic walking.

Have you any holidays booked in the UK? What destinations have you been looking at visiting?

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GUEST POST | Have you ever felt gloomy, sad, and kind of depressed when the seasons change? Have you ever thought that there may be a reason for that?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression related to changing the seasons. This occurs between the beginning of autumn and winter months for most people. If you've never experienced it, you probably know someone that has. It is one of the most common types of depression. But is it an actual thing, or are people using it as an excuse?

Let's Talk About Being SAD

In most cases, people fall under SAD's umbrella from October to April, in other more minor cases from April to September. Though a rare occasion, some people even experience it all year long. So that brings up the question of authenticity to this so-called depression.

Before that, let's point out the symptoms, which in most cases are:

— Feeling depressed for most of the day

— Losing interest in activities that were fun before that

— Bad sleep

— Less energy

— The overall feeling of lethargy

It may seem that some of these are just excuses to procrastinate and blame the “winter blues” for not wanting to go out of bed. But a further insight on the topic sheds a different light. Let's just put it this way – In more severe cases, there are even worse symptoms, such as finding it hard to concentrate and having suicidal thoughts.

What Can Cause Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Although there is no medical or professional conclusion on the actual cause, there are different opinions. Your biological clock, or circadian rhythm, may be involved. For example, the reduced sunlight in the autumn-winter months may interfere with a person's biological clock. Lack of sunlight may also cause a drop in serotonin levels, leading to depression. The changing of the seasons could affect the melatonin levels in the body that play a significant role in sleep patterns and mood.

A Couple Of Unpopular Opinions

One of the less popular opinions is that SAD may run in the family. Therefore, family members that have struggled with it could pass it on to the next generations, especially if the mother has struggled with SAD throughout pregnancy.

Having bipolar disease could play a significant role in the development of SAD.

Professionals don't place their chips on this theory because bipolar disease is, by itself, a clinical type of depression disease. Last but not least, statistically, SAD occurs in people that live far from the equator. This may be because of the longer summer days and decreased sunlight during the winter.

How To Treat It

Regardless of how severe your specific case is, you should never treat seasonal depression lightly, and you are best off finding means of treating SADness.

Here are some of the best ways to do so:

— Light therapy is the most famous treatment for SAD. It's a bright light that people get exposed to every day during the light-deprived months. A person sits in front of a big lit-up box that shines with 10,000 lux every day for 30–45 minutes early in the morning.

— Psychotherapy, also known as Cognitive behavioural therapy or “talk therapy,” is a type of therapy that helps people cope with difficult situations. This type of therapy is considered to be more efficient for long-term effects. Its main objectives are to maintain a sane and safe environment for the recipient and get him out of the house.

— Medication is a commonly used practice when it comes to any depression. However, people are divided on whether pills are the way to go when struggling with any depressive ignited disease. And the most obvious way to go – is vitamin D. Nutritional supplements of the vitamins could help improve the symptoms. Although some specialists find it inefficient, especially compared to the other three options, it is still considered a way to go.

To Wrap It Up

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD for short, is a depressive mood that coincides with every year. It's most common in people living above 30 degrees north and south (i.e., North America). The seasonal changes are the primary contributor to this phenomenon because with shorter days comes less sunlight, which can cause an imbalance in your brain chemicals like serotonin. But don't worry! You can do things to help alleviate these symptoms before they get worse.

Some helpful strategies include taking vitamins D3 and B12 daily, drinking more water throughout the day, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. However, remember that the most powerful tool to deal with this is cognitive it! You can consciously DECIDE to be stronger than your environment, which happens once you realize that you don't HAVE TO follow the main sequence. Stay happy. Consciously.

Author Bio

Seriah Sargenton is a lifestyle and wellness blogger dedicated to helping people to learn how to live happier and healthier lives. She shares various self-care, self-love, wellness, mental health, and self-improvement tips and stories on her blog Riyah Speaks.

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GUEST POST| Do you find yourself wanting to write down your feelings, thoughts and anxieties, but you are not sure where to even begin? You are not alone, but journaling prompts can help you build your confidence.

When you live with anxiety, you can have a million and one thoughts monopolising your brain, and it can be incredibly hard and intimidating to think about writing them down and making them real. Journaling can be a valuable practice that can help self-care and support your mental health. Moreover, journaling can be an effective tool in combatting anxious behaviour because you can only write one thought at a time, so this practice forces you to physically and mentally slow down and work through them one thought at a time. It can also help you to identify patterns in your thoughts, which can help you find ways to cope. Studies have also shown that writing about how a person feels has the potential to ease anxiety in people who have suffered from traumatic events.

Journaling has always been incredibly cathartic for me, and it is something that I have loved doing since I was a young girl. Remember that your journal is for your eyes only, so be open and honest. If you want to start journaling, but are unsure where to start, I have compiled a list of 50 journals prompts that work on taking control of these anxieties and help you to focus on loving yourself.

1. What are 3 positive things that happened to you today?

2. How does your job affect your mental health? Do you find that environment an anxiety trigger?

3. What do you love most about yourself?

4. Describe some skills you have, or skills that you would like to develop.

5. What are your anxiety triggers?

6. Why am I feeling… right now?

7. The biggest lessons you have learned from anxiety are…

8. List 10 things that make you happy.

9. What are some obstacles that you have overcome?

10. Who truly loves you for you?

11. What brings you peace and why?

12. Describe one of your biggest accomplishments.

13. Where do you feel safest and why?

14. Write down your most re-occurring negative thoughts and why you feel that they keep repeating.

15. Write 4 positive affirmations that inspire you.

16. Make a list of 3 things that you would like to change about yourself. How do think you can accomplish this?

17. What are 5 moments in your life when you can say you were truly happy?

18. List all the things that you’re worried about right now.

19. What are 4 ways you can calm your anxiety that actually work?

20. List 4 things that scare you the most and the reasons why.

21. Describe a time when you felt fulfilled. What were you doing? What about that moment felt gratifying?

22. What’s a quality you love about yourself?

23. What is something you need to let go of?

24. When was the last time I said no to something? When was the last time you wish you had said not to something?

25. Do you notice signs of your anxiety? If so, what do you feel when you notice them?

26. What are 5 things that you are currently accept about yourself?

27. Do you allow yourself to accept compliments from others?

28. What do you struggle to love most about yourself? What can you do to begin to love that part of yourself?

29. What are you grateful for?

30. What is your biggest dream? What can you do today to start making one of those dreams a reality?

31. What is one thing you can, do today, that will make you feel great?

32. What do you love about your mind?

33. What do you love about your body?

34. How can you support yourself today?

35. Are your worries rational and realistic?

36. Who are you grateful for?

37. How can you let go of some of your negative and anxious energy in your life?

38. What makes you feel alive?

39. What do you think self-love looks and feels like?

40. What is a commitment you can make to yourself that will show you love every day?

41. Have you ever had a chance to meet your brain's off button?

42. How do you know when it is time to let go?

43. On a scale of 1-10, how peaceful are you today?

44. Write a letter to your anxious thoughts….

45. List your coping mechanisms when you are feeling down.

46. What quotes inspire you?

47. What are your important values?

48. Write about a moment in your life when you felt in control.

49. The last time you were worried about something, what helped you to stay calm?

50. Write a letter to someone who contributes to your anxiety.

—Benefits Of Using Journaling-

There are so many benefits to writing in a journal that is not just about taking control of anxiety and improving self-love, including:

Reduces stress
Improves your memory
Improves your concentration
Can help you achieve your goals
Gives you the opportunity to track your progress and growth
Improves your writing and communication skills

These are just a handful of reasons why starting a journal today will improve your life, and your mental and physical health. If you want to start journaling, just start! You don’t have to write anything perfect, inspiring or profound. It is about putting pen to paper and writing what comes without judgments.

Do you write in a journal? Do you use journal prompts?

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With Valentine's Day only a short time away, it's time to treat and invest in yourself by choosing some gorgeous, luxury lingerie pieces. Whether it's a single girl's night in, or you're in a happy, healthy relationship, selecting new lingerie can be extremely confidence-boosting, empowering and sexy – especially if your current underwear collection isn't too great.

Nowadays, there are so many brands out there who offer a whole range of stunning lingerie sets in a variety of styles and at affordable prices. Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to take the plunge and freshen up your lingerie collection, by adding some new styles or colours to your collection. You can never, ever, go wrong with a matching set. One of my favourite places online to get my hands on something new is Lounge Underwear. Not only do they have a great size range available, but they have a number of incredible designs, in a wide variety of vibrant colours – it's incredibly hard to not buy everything from the website!

When it comes to Valentine's Day, the first colour that comes to mind is red. Red is typically associated with love and romance, making it a great colour option for new lingerie. Red is a great option for all skin tones, and will make an incredibly bold, yet sexy addition to your collection. A new style from Lounge includes the Sustainable Liberty Balcony Bra & Thong Set in Red. Red lace is just absolutely stunning, and, the dainty rose gold ‘L’ charm detail just adds that extra little sparkle.

If red isn't your colour, then black lingerie is definitely a universal lingerie collection staple. Black is such a powerful option when it comes to lingerie sets, it's undoubtedly a confidence boosting colour, whatever your size or shape. It evokes a feeling of authority, elegance with some added sexiness. What's not to love? I opted for a new style from the website, and chose the Sustainable Vogue Balcony Bra & Thong Set in Black – featuring silver Lounge engraved hardware for that added sparkle, and a Soft stretch lace with Lounge jacquard mesh for added fine detail.

The next few lingerie sets I have selected are going to add some bold colour and vibrancy into your underwear collection, you will really be spoilt for choice here. First things first, cobalt blue – literally one of the most stunning colours I have seen in a long time. Sustainable Liberty Balcony Bra & Thong Set in Cobalt Blue. This set features some intricate floral stretch lace with scalloped edges, again, finished off with the rose gold Lounge engraved hardware and ‘L’ charms will definitely help you make a statement with your underwear choices.

My second super colourful addition to my Valentine's lingerie guide is green – a colour that will absolutely suit all skin tones, even from the very pale tones to the deep, rich tones. It's bound to be a winner with everyone, and that's why I had to add the Sustainable Vogue Balcony Bra & Briefs Set in Emerald to my basket. Lounge never miss out any details with their lingerie sets. The double Lounge branded banners adds quite a simple, sporty element to this lingerie set, but the lace really elevates it, to make it something really special.

Finally, something a little different, but still incredibly beautiful. Purple lingerie is very hard to come by in my opinion, but again, it's a very bold, feminine colour. When you mix both silk and lace within one lingerie set, it just gives off such sophisticated, classy and elegant vibes and that's exactly what you get with the Sustainable Silk Balcony Bra & Briefs Set in Purple. The intricate floral detailing on the lace panels of the underwired bra and briefs is super cute and girly, and will just make you feel incredible once you've put it on. The rose gold Lounge engraved hardware and 'L' charms really complement the purple shade, and give it that extra little something.

Have you tried out Lounge underwear yet? What are your favourite colour and style choices for new lingerie?

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AD – GIFTED| Hosting a Valentine's Day dinner date at home for your partner? Or having the girls round for a single girls Galantines get together? Need home Valentines decor ideas but don't know where to start? Don't worry, this post has you covered!

Valentine's Day doesn't need to be super expensive or super fancy. You should use this day to spend time with your loved ones, and enjoy each other's company. However, if you do want to throw a cute surprise, you don't need to be spending lots of money. If you're hosting something special at home this Valentine's Day, and are looking to decorate in a romantic, cute way, and hopefully set the mood for the event, without breaking the bank, you're in the right place. As long as you plan well and have a creative mind, you'll be good to go! Here are 7 easy, affordable home decoration ideas for Valentine's Day.

Flowers

If you're looking to include some real floral displays in your home, why not opt for the typical, romantic red roses. Roses are usually a tradition when it comes to Valentine's Day and are typically used as a classic symbol of love. If roses aren't your thing, why not create your own floral arrangements with some of your favourite flowers, in a range of your favourite colours. Not only will your room smell incredible, but you'll have a bright atmosphere, bursting with colour. Another thing to note, if real flowers aren't for you, or you can't find anything that you like, why not opt for some faux flowers for a more affordable, long-lasting option.

Balloons

Balloons can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs, and colours, making them a perfect affordable decoration idea for Valentine's Day. Balloon decorations have become a traditional part of any special celebration or occasion, and Valentine's Day is not an exception. They can help to brighten up your surroundings, they create a fun, light-hearted atmosphere and create a lasting impression. For Valentine's Day, there are a number of options you could go for – love heart shaped balloons, red or pink coloured balloons, confetti filled balloons or even balloons that spell out words. You could even check out the Dallas Balloon Company, who specialise in balloon arches, walls and bouquets, complementing your event’s colour theme/palette and to help create a perfect photo opportunity. There are so many options, you'll be spoilt for choice!

Lights

Lighting is the perfect way to set the mood of your event. With Valentine's Day in mind, you'll want to arrange something super fun, cute, and romantic – I'm thinking soft lighting or colourful, twinkling fairy lights to help put together a warming, welcoming ambience.

If you're looking for a unique decor idea, you might want to get your hands on some letter lights. I was kindly gifted a selection of personalised Lumiletters - letter-shaped wire frames, wrapped with soft white LED’s. You can pick these up in the shape of your initials and your loved ones as a cute way to decorate. These lights are freestanding, portable, and battery powered, making them an ideal accessory for featuring in your living room or bedroom. I picked the "L" light up, obviously for myself, and the "S" light for my niece as a special little gift.

Candles

From the bright, twinkling light to the feeling of warmth they give off, candles are a great way to make your living space feel more romantic and welcoming. Not only can you have them dotted around your room for the ultimate cosy night in, but they can also make the perfect centrepiece for your dinner table – just imagine yourself enjoying that candle-lit dinner for two!

Cute DIY Banners

For those of you who like to get artistic and creative, making your own cute banners could be the perfect affordable DIY project for you, this Valentine's Day. For this little creation, you'll probably have most of the materials and supplies at home. You can use products such as scrap papers and coloured cards, string, pompoms, glitter, faux flowers, and ribbons, to help you create your DIY home decor.

Photographs

If you're looking for the ultimate way to be romantic, why not print out a selection of your favourite photos of you and your partner, and use your Valentine's Day date to reminisce about your memories together? The quote, “a picture is worth a thousand words”, is very relevant here, as your past photographs can help you remember some amazing memories, and can take you back to certain special times in your life. Whether you have a photograph of the first day you met, your first holiday or even your wedding day, spending the evening reliving these memories will definitely be something special.

Rose Petals

Finally, is there anything more romantic and Valentine's Day themed than scattered rose petals? Rose petals are typically symbolic of love, passion and romance, and could be a great addition to your Valentine's home decor ideas. You can scatter them over the floor or your bed, spell out messages with them, use them as dinner table decor, or even add them to your hot bubble bath for that added bit of luxury.

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

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AD| If you are unhappy or deeply concerned about a specific part of your body, your face, or even your hair, there is a possibility that considering cosmetic surgery can help you restore your happiness.

Nowadays, cosmetic surgery is becoming quite the norm, and is something that is continuously growing in popularity, with both men and women opting for a variety of procedures and treatments that are currently available. Cosmetic surgery can now be performed on pretty much any part of the face or body, in order to typically improve a person's appearance. But, this is just one of the many benefits you can receive from cosmetic surgery. Listed below are a number of reasons why cosmetic surgery can help build your confidence, health, and self-esteem.

Improves Mental Health

When a person doesn't particularly like a part of their appearance, it can heavily influence how they feel about themselves overall. For those who have suffered with mental health issues such as body dysmorphia, depression, low self-esteem and anxiety, cosmetic surgery can boost your mental health and help you view your body in a better way. Cosmetic surgery could hopefully improve your mental health by helping you feel more relaxed, more comfortable, and more confident in your own skin.

Enhanced Appearance and Better Self-Confidence

Cosmetic surgery is simply done to change your overall appearance for whatever reason you have. There are such a variety of cosmetic surgery procedures that both men and women can choose these days, to help them feel more confident and comfortable with their appearance. Your appearance is the first thing that people notice about you, and if there are certain things you don't like about yourself, it can make you feel embarrassed, upset or anxious being around new people. Any improvement to your overall appearance, even if it's a small or big thing, will lead to greater self-confidence.

Once you are happier with the way that you look and the way that you feel, your confidence levels will improve dramatically, and you'll enjoy having more social interaction. Over the last few years, Hair transplant surgery has become a very popular cosmetic procedure, especially for men. This type of surgery can help rebuild receding hairlines, prevent baldness and renew hair growth, as well as helping those suffering with alopecia.

Improves Physical Health

Another advantage of undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure is that in some cases it can actually enhance your physical health. Examples of this include undergoing a rhinoplasty, more commonly known as a nose job, in order to breathe properly, or having liposuction/excess loose skin removed to help improve mobility and be more physically active in their everyday life.

We are constantly bombarded with photos and videos via social media on a daily basis, sharing what is deemed to be the “perfect face or body” of celebrities and content creators, but this isn't a 100% realistic view of these people. Online content can be edited and altered to give the illusion of a perfect face or figure, and we shouldn't compare ourselves in this way.

If you're considering surgery, then ultimately, make sure you are doing it for yourself and for no one else. Undergoing a cosmetic procedure should be researched and thought about realistically, carefully and properly – especially for factors such as the cost of the surgery and the recovery time following your procedure, as it's not something that should be decided upon overnight.

Would you consider having any cosmetic surgery procedures to improve your appearance or overall health?

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