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● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

GUEST POST | Us British love our decorating. Our sheds, under-the-stairs cupboards and garages are bursting with tins of paint, brushes, and decorating tools because we can’t stop painting, wallpapering and tiling our spaces, whether that’s our homes, our gardens, or our caravans. 

Wait, what? Caravans? Yes, even caravans can be decorated. Caravans may be smaller than the average house, but there’s no reason why you can’t spend as much time dreaming up design ideas as you would for your bricks and mortar home. So, if you’ve been looking at static caravans for sale and found one that caught your eye, but it needs a bit of a makeover, you can still go ahead and purchase it because below are a few tips on how to decorate a static caravan. 

caravan

Wallpaper
Yes, you can use wallpaper in a static caravan. The even better news is that, because you won’t need nearly as much as you would if you were wallpapering a whole house, you can buy fancier, more expensive wallpaper to give your caravan a luxury feel without breaking the bank. Before you get carried away, though, wallpapering a caravan isn’t quite as straight-forward as wallpapering walls in a house. A caravan’s walls won’t be completely straight (although if you live in a period property, you’ll be used to wonky walls!) and there’ll be nooks and crannies you’ll need to take your time over to get a good finish. But with a bit of patience and attention to detail, your caravan can have beautifully wallpapered walls, whether that’s in the living room, bedroom, or kitchen.

Use Light Colours
If you’ve just read the above bit about wallpapering, it might be too late to recommend you use light colours in your caravan, and you’re already in Homebase buying the busiest jungle-themed wallpaper you can find. On the assumption you are still here, although obviously your own style, personality, and preferences will dictate to a certain extent how you decorate your static caravan, because of the compact nature of caravans, light colours will be better. Light, neutral colours such as white, cream, or pastels will help your static caravan feel bigger and give it a lighter, brighter and airier ambience.

Mirrors
Mirrors aren’t decorating, I hear you say. Oh, yes, they are! Mirrors are essential when making any decor decisions, especially when you’re decorating a small space such as a static caravan. Place mirrors cleverly around your static caravan to utilise the sun coming through the windows and the mirrors will bounce light around your (neutrally coloured) walls, giving the illusion of more space.

Of course, there are many more ways to decorate a static caravan, and there are probably entire books on the subject. However, if you don’t want to spend too much time revamping your van, the tips above will breathe some life into your caravan, making it fresh, light and airy and a joy to stay in whether you live in a static caravan permanently or you spend a few weekends a year in one.

How would you decorate your caravan?

22:30 No comments

AD-GIFTED | Do you currently use a laptop for work, school or just general internet browsing? Are you taking extra precautions to look after your device and keep it in a good working order?

Many of us use a laptop on a day-to-day basis, as there are so many advantages of using laptops. They are extremely lightweight and easy to carry, easy to power up, and the perfect device for keeping in touch with others whilst travelling or commuting. Purchasing a new laptop is quite a big investment. It's important that you take appropriate steps to ensure it continues to work correctly and to protect it from any potential damages. Listed below are 3 easy ways to take care of your laptop today.

laptops

Don't Overcharge The Battery
Laptop batteries will eventually die no matter how well you look after them, but, there are a few things you can do to help protect it. Leaving your laptop constantly plugged in after the battery has charged completely will ultimately reduce the overall life span of the battery. Any contact with heat can cause them to degrade even faster, especially if kept in direct sunlight, on your lap or even on pillows. These are all positions that should be avoided. Also, if your laptop has  the battery and power saver mode feature, you’ll be able to turn this on in order to help extend the battery life of your laptop until you can plug in a charger.

Use A Storage Bag When Travelling
Laptop bags are an essential accessory for those who are always on-the-go, as they will help reduce the chance of accidental damage to your laptop. Laptops are fragile items that can be easily damaged if they are being carried around without any protection. Make sure your laptop bag is spacious and padded enough to fit your laptop but still remain compact. You will also want to ensure the fabric of the bag is durable, waterproof, and the zip works with no issues. Also, you will need to decide what style of laptop bag will best suit your requirements – whether it's a backpack style, a simple tote, or a smart messenger bag, there are bag options for everyone's personal preferences.

Trendhim Lars Black Laptop Bag

For me, my go-to has been the Lars black laptop bag from Trendhim - perfect for laptops up to 15,4”. This bag is extremely sleek, made with durable fabric with luxury faux-leather highlights for a stylish finish. The laptop bag is built with a spacious, padded compartment for extra protection whilst travelling or commuting. I also really like the two zipped secure front pockets, which are perfect to help carry and organise your chargers, cables, and other accessories. It also features a removable shoulder strap, allowing you to carry by the handles comfortably. 

Clean Regularly
By simply using a few minutes each day or week to clean your laptop of any debris, including dust and grime, will make a difference in the lifespan of your laptop. Making sure to regularly check the condition of your laptops screen, keyboard, and vents will help keep your laptop in a good working order. You should also ensure your hands are clean and dry before use, to avoid making your laptop screen or keyboard sticky and dirty. As well as this, you will need to ensure you are being very careful when eating or drinking next to your laptop, as any food crumbs or liquids can cause problems for your device.

How do you care for your laptop?

12:00 No comments
 AD – GIFTED | With Mother's Day coming up, many people will be looking for the perfect gift for their mothers, and trying to find the best deals available for them. When it comes to gifting, you don't need to spend hundreds of pounds – it's always the thought that counts. Sometimes it can be difficult to choose your ideal gifts. Sometimes you want to think “outside the box” and decide something other than flowers and chocolates. If you're looking for a more unique gift, listed below are 4 affordable and luxury must-have gifts for Mother's Day to give you some much-needed inspiration.

mothers day

For a real indulgent treat, a nice bottle of red wine could be exactly what you need for Mother's Day – not only does it taste great, but there are also numerous health benefits of red wine. From Independent Wines, I was kindly sent over the Massimago Conte Gastone - an 100% Organic and low-sulphite Amarone wine. This delicious wine has aromas of red cherry, rose, mint and cedar wood – sounds like a perfect combination! The best Amarone wines are famous for their intensely concentrated flavours of red berries and spices, high alcohol and medium to high tannins, and this wine is no exception.

independent wines

If you're looking for some accessories for Mother's Day, why not opt for a simple and dainty piece of jewellery to add to her collection. From Wolf and Zephyr, I picked out the Turquoise Gemstone Necklace*, which I thought would be the perfect gift for Mother's Day. This simple necklace features a real turquoise encased in a delicate crown setting. This beautifully delicate gemstone necklace is the perfect gift with a deep, sentimental, and thoughtful meaning behind it. 

“Known as the “master healer”, Turquoise is one of the oldest protection stones; protecting us from negative influences and promoting an optimistic attitude. Turquoise helps us to see that we are the creators of our own luck.”

Wolf and Zephyr Necklace

For those looking for a more unique gift, or to expand your mother's current fragrance collection, The Perfume Experience Box* might be exactly what you require. This fragrance library offers a new and different way to discover and try a range of different perfumes, suitable for any time and occasion. All Pairfum London fragrances are natural and handmade, enriched with essential oils. As well as this, they are also vegan, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly, making them have such a positive impact on the environment.

Inside the tester box, you will receive 12 mini-sized bottles, which are perfect to stick in your handbag – giving you just the right amount of each to ensure you can try to test it enough. Each perfume bottle contains around 100 sprays – which is probably enough for 2 weeks wear. Inside the box, you also receive 50 paper strips to help you sample or share each perfume before you wear it. This will be such a practical gift for Mother's Day, as your mother can try some new scents and hopefully find one that she'll love.

Parfum London Gift box

If you're looking for something for the home, why not consider purchasing some wall art? Art makes a great gift as it can be so special and so personal to the recipient. You can choose pieces based on their preferences, home theme or colour palettes. Depending on your chosen style, there is a wide selection of art posters and prints to select from the Poster Store, that would be perfect for Mother's Day.

Poster Store print

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


11:30 No comments
 AD| Managing your business' offices well is a vital role in the overall success of your team. This is because it can help manage your time more efficiently, increase your employees' productivity levels, and enhance the quality of work that is created on a daily basis. Using helpful office management tips and techniques can also help your business to develop and maintain administrative skills, create a constructive working environment and boost your employees overall morale.

work office

Decluttering and Organising Your Office Workspace for Better Productivity
For good office management, you need to ensure all equipment, work spaces and furniture in the office are arranged correctly for maximum productivity, efficiency, and safety. An unorganised, chaotic work space can have a huge effect upon the productivity of your team, and can upset the vibe of the whole office space. As well as this, it can portray the wrong message to your visitors, customers, and clients.

A few ways you can declutter and organise your office are as follows;
— Go wireless where possible
— invest in storage solutions
— Ensure paperwork is filed immediately
— Keep your desk minimal and clutter-free

Create Easy To Follow Routines for Office Management
Using daily or weekly routines in the office are vital for a productive working environment. By simply scheduling out your week for yourself and your employees can help your business stay on track, stay focused and keep motivation levels high. Office routines could involve filing away paperwork, sending invoices and responding to emails on a daily basis to avoid falling behind your work schedule.

Practice a Cleaner, Safer and More Hygienic Working Environment
Keeping your office clean and tidy will not only help productivity levels, but it will also help to keep your working environment safer and healthier for your employees. It has become more important for businesses to maintain good air quality in their offices, and to provide a healthy environment for their employees and reduce the risk of contamination and fire. Using professional services, such as duct cleaning services, can offer assistance for cleaning jobs such as ventilation, extraction, and a general deep clean, to ensure your office space disinfected and ready to work in.

Eliminate Any Unwanted Distractions
Whilst at work, there are distractions absolutely everywhere. Another colleague, your email inbox, your social media accounts, there's simply no escape. However, in order to have a productive working environment, it's essential that you completely eliminate these distractions from your work space. By doing this, you can remain focused on your tasks, improve your time management skills, and ensure you meet all your deadlines.

A few ways you can eliminate distractions include;
— Turning off your mobile phone during working hours to ensure you are not tempted to browse.
— Keep your desk clutter-free.
— If you work in your own office, try to keep your door closed to avoid hearing any noises from others.
— Set yourself goals and time deadlines throughout the day to help you manage your workload.

How do you stay productive at work? What other office management tips help you reach your goals and deadlines?
22:00 No comments

 AD| With Mother's Day just around the corner, instead of purchasing any gifts, why not opt for refreshing and restyling your Mother's bedroom to create something special? 

Bedrooms can be such easy rooms to update quickly and affordably. Whatever their preferred home decor and interior style, the bedroom ultimately needs to be a calming and soothing setting, closed off from the busy outside world, for you to be able to relax and recharge after a long day. Decorating the bedroom doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming, as there are a number of quick and easy options to help you give the ultimate cosy and refreshing atmosphere. Here are 6 affordable ways to refresh and restyle the bedroom for Mother's Day.

BEDROOM DECOR

New Paint Colour
Paint is typically one of the most affordable ways to give your Mother's bedroom a whole new look for Mother's Day. By simply giving the bedroom walls a fresh coat of paint can instantly make it feel fresher, brighter and cleaner. Depending on your timescale, you can choose to completely give the entire room a refresh, or just touch up a feature wall in your Mother's favourite colour to make a bold statement.

Flowers and Greenery
Is it really Mother's Day if you don't pick up some flowers or plants as a gift? Springtime is the perfect opportunity to pick up some flowers, as at this time of year they are so vibrant and colourful, they are bound to put a smile on anyone's face. Adding plants to the bedroom will not only help add some colour, but they will also make a focal point. Whether you pick a beautiful fresh bunch of flowers to display on the bedside table, or any piece of greenery to place on the windowsill, it's bound to make a statement.

New Bedding Options
For the ultimate bedroom makeover for Mother's Day, why not opt for some new bedding options to make a cosy, comforting and luxurious statement in the bedroom. Whether you want to purchase a new mattress, duvet, blankets or throws, there are so many options to choose from depending on the bed size you have installed at home. Adding new bedding and accessories to the bedroom can completely change the vibe of the bedroom, and is a really simple way to change up the atmosphere.

bedroom decor ideas


Wall Art and Photographs
Wall art, prints, posters and framed photographs are a really special way of injecting some happiness, personality, and colour into the bedroom space. Wall art and photographs are such a special, sentimental gift that can really help relive old memories from the past.

Home Fragrances and Candles
There are so many benefits to using home fragrances in your personal space, you'd be amazed, and the use of candles is the perfect way to create a welcoming and calm atmosphere in the bedroom. Home fragrance options such as reed diffusers are a great option to consider as they are low-cost, long-lasting and typically come in such a variety of scents, there will definitely be something for everyone. For me, I would probably opt for either a calming/relaxing spa-like scent, something sweet and warming, or even a fresh and fruity fragrance to help fill the bedroom with a strong aroma.


When it comes to candles, again, there are so many options. Candles are a long-lasting option when it comes to filling the room with scent, as they typically burn for numerous hours. As well as smelling great, many candles can be used as decorative accessories in the bedroom, making them a great 2 in 1 gift for Mother's Day.

Lighting
The use of lighting in the bedroom is an easy way to help create a calming and relaxing ambiance. A really affordable way of incorporating soft, subtle lighting in the bedroom is an option for some fairy lights. LED fairy lights are a great option as they do not produce increased heat, they are cool to the touch, and are extremely eco-friendly, so there are simply no risks with using, and they are completely safe to have in the bedroom.

What other ways can you refresh and restyle the bedroom for Mother's Day? What are your affordable home decor ideas?

12:00 No comments

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. 

mothers day decor

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.

Mothers Day Poster Store

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.

Mothers Day Poster Store
 
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.

Mothers Day Poster Store

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?

14:30 No comments
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. 
 
plumbing taps

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?
12:00 No comments
 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.

travel

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?

10:00 No comments
 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.

laptop

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?
13:00 No comments
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.

business meeting

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.

business meeting

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?
10:00 No comments
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.

uk beaches

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!

uk villages

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?
10:00 No comments
 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?

sad

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. 

sad

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.
11:30 No comments
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