*This is a paid guest post.

It is crucial for business owners and their employees to be more aware of their behaviour at work and how they are treating the environment. Many of us are guilty of being quite wasteful at times, particularly at our place of work when we don’t have to pay the bills. Being more efficient with the equipment and supplies at work is not only better for the environment, but it will also help our employer save money, which can then be invested into other areas of the business, such as training and development for staff, pay rises and other bonuses. It can be difficult to make such changes initially, but if you’re a little more mindful of your behaviour, being kinder to the environment will start to come naturally to you. Read on for a few tips.

 
Start by ensuring you switch off any equipment at the end of each day. Lots of us try to save time in the morning by leaving our computers on overnight and only switching off the monitor, but this is not doing the electric bills any favours, or the environment. You should also remember to switch the overhead lights off at the end of each day when you’re the last one out and ditch them altogether if there’s enough natural light.

The printer is another big piece of office equipment that we often forget to switch off. In fact, when it comes to printing paper and ink is wasted each and every day and it’s not cheap to replace. Before printing, consider whether you can keep it digital and send the document via email instead. You could also suggest to your manager that the company invests in managed print service to help reduce waste.

 

Try and abandon post-it notes and even notepads, as it would be far more economical to just type up your notes or set reminders on your computer or smartphone. If there’s a coffee or water machine at work, consider bringing in your own bamboo coffee cup that you can reuse, rather than using the paper or plastic cups provided. It's also important to avoid buying single-use cutlery for your food. Try to bring your own - this zero waste bamboo cutlery set is a great example of reusing. The trick is to become more conscious of everything you do at work and decide whether nor not there’s a more eco-friendly option.

These minor changes might not seem like much but taking baby steps to become a greener company is a great way to save money. What’s more, being able to say that you’re an environmentally friendly company might even attract positive attention from potential customers.

 

What do you do to be less wasteful at work? Let me know in the comments below and while you are here why not check out some lifestyle-related posts?

*This is a paid guest post.

As a homeowner, protecting your property against any kind of damage should be a key priority. Lots of us are guilty of shrugging things off as a minor inconvenience, but if you have a crack or a leak you should not ignore it. Brushing it under the carpet may lead to more severe problems, such as damp, mould and even some severe structural damage. 

 

On occasion, cracks and leaks are the result of movement of your building’s foundations. The trick is to spot the signs early so you can stop the cracks in their tracks. This will save you a lot of time and money going forward. Here are some of the things you should look out for:

· Are your doors jamming or refusing to stay closed?

· Are your windows sticking?

· Does your patio or driveway have any cracks?

· Does your ceiling leak after rainfall?

The foundations of your buildings might move for a number of reasons, which lead to the above issues. It’s usually to do with how much moisture is in the surrounding soil. For instance, if the soil becomes too dry, it will shrink and the foundations will shift into the newfound space. Alternatively, if it is too moist, the soil will expand and put too much pressure on the walls. With this in mind, you will need to make sure to use sprinklers on your property during hotter months so that the soil doesn’t dry up and install a drainage system so that water doesn’t pool after heavy rainfall. 

 

It’s also wise not to plant shrubs and trees to close to your property, as they will soak up any moisture in the ground. What’s more, when the trees become large, their roots might also wreak havoc underground.

Bear in mind that it isn’t just issues with the foundations of your home that can result in cracks and leaks; the roof can also cause issues. Make sure to inspect it every now and again, checking for broken or missing shingles. If you notice any, be sure to replace or repair as soon as you can.

 

While you are here why not check out more home-related posts?

 *AD - This post is sponsored by Nakturnal. 

Traditional wedding registries used to be about getting new items for your home life such as blenders and china but nowadays things have changed. You can pretty much ask for anything these days but one of the biggest rises is honeymoon registries. This lets you ask your friends and families help to fund your dream honeymoon and today I'm going to be rounding up the 4 best honeymoon registry sites so you don't have to!  

 

First up we have Travelers Joy. They are one of the oldest honeymoon registry sites as they have been around since 2004. They make it really easy to set up your honeymoon fund and they have so many gift options available, just about anything you can think of. All gift redemptions are free so one less thing to worry about. If you are struggling to think of where you want to go or what you want to do you can view real registries by other couples to help give you some inspiration. They also offer honeymoon destination guides which may also help you decide the best place for you both. 

 

Zola offers a wide range of gifts and they have lots of curated lists to help you pick what you are looking for. They are one of the best registry sites for the more traditional physical gifts but they still offer lots of honeymoon options. They have a cash fund option so that your guests can contribute as little or as much as they want to help you pay for certain aspects of your honeymoon too. 

 

For the third option, we have Wanderable. Wanderable is a honeymoon exclusive registry so its as simple as picking your destination and then a curated list of experiences for that specific place will be available to choose from. They offer beautiful and stylish designs for your registry pages so you can really tell your story as a couple. They have no upgrade fees and there is also free gift redemption like Travelers Joy.

Last but certainly not least we have Honeyfund. Honeyfund is similar to traditional crowdfunding sites in the sense that you are raising money towards your goal but it's just wedding focused.    Honeyfund can be used to raise any type of cash gifts such as money towards your wedding, your honeymoon, down payments on your house or even charity donations! They also featured on an episode of Shark Tank. 

In conclusion; Make sure you check out each of these 4 websites to find what is the best option for YOU. Only you will know exactly what you are looking for in terms of a honeymoon registry but hopefully, I have helped you with that decision. 

While you are here why not check out more wedding-related posts?

Maldives Honeymoon Guide

Top 3 Honeymoon Locations

*This is a contributed post. All opinions are the writers own.

Photo Source

We all have to make decisions in life. Decision making is what steers our lives in the right direction and takes us along a path that suits us and keeps us as happy as we can be. Now, some decisions are harder than others. Some will take much longer to implement and feel the benefits of. But all in all, it’s important that you consistently make the right decisions in order for us to feel as happy and content as we can. The good news is that there are various things you can do to help yourself along the way. Here are just a few pieces of advice that can help to guide you in the right direction!

 

Take Things Slowly

There’s really no need to rush when it comes to most things in life. We may feel like things are propelling forward at a really fast rate, as many other peoples’ lives change quickly in front of our eyes. We look at people we vaguely know jumping from one big life step to another - moving in with partners, getting married, having kids, buying their own houses… the list goes on. But it’s important to remember that a lot of what’s posted on social media is posted through a rose coloured filter and you don’t see the negative aspects of these people’s lives. Most of us go through hardships, dips, lower times and other problems - we’re just more likely to keep these moments of our lives more private. So, don’t feel rushed because others’ lives seem to be progressing quickly. Five people on social media consistently posting big life steps may make you feel that “everyone’s moving forward” and leaving you behind, but really, the majority of people you know are probably at a similar stage to you and just keeping quieter about it. Take your time when it comes to anything major. Don’t feel pressured. Things will happen as they’re supposed to and you can’t rush them! If things come up that you need time to mull over, take the time to mull over them! Relax, take a moment, lie back in a hammock if you have to.

 

Prioritise Yourself

Unless you have dependents, such as children or pets, you should prioritise yourself and your own wants and needs when making your big life decisions. Sure, this may sound selfish at the outset. But when it comes down to it, this is your life and you need to live it in the way that you feel is best. Way too many of us allow our lives to revolve around others and their wants and needs. This can particularly cause problems down the line when you look back on years and feel a sense of loss or bitterness on having missed out on the things you wish you’d had a chance to do. So, put yourself at the top of your priorities!

 

Change Things That Bring You Down

If there’s something bothering you in your life, you can generally change it. This can go for anything. If you’re in a relationship that leaves you feeling drained, down or lacking in confidence, you can always leave and walk away from it. If your nose really bothers you and you simply can’t grow to love it, you can consider non surgical nose jobs with a trained and qualified professional. If you hate your job, you can start searching for a new one and leave. You very rarely have to stay in a situation that is making you unhappy. If you identify that something is regularly bringing you down, simply work to change it. Leave. Move on. Whatever it takes!

 

Get Some Outside Perspective

Sometimes, it’s easy to get so drawn up in your own situations that it’s difficult to look at them with a neutral outlook. Sometimes, you can really benefit from an outside perspective that can look at the basics of a situation without as much emotional bias as you may be putting in. So, seek this advice. You don’t necessarily have to take it. But it’s good to get a few different perspectives on any situation you’re in. This is particularly important if you’re dealing with something big and significant. For example, friends and family members’ advice can be useful in some situations, but in others, you may need to seek a lawyer’s advice or a counsellor or therapist’s advice on certain serious life situations. Their professional insight into areas of knowledge you may not be all too familiar with can help you to come to the best outcome possible. You can also reach out to helplines or support groups if you’re dealing with issues that you might not want to open up to your friends and family about. No matter what situation you’re dealing with, there’s some sort of support out there - you’re never alone.

 

Remember You Can Change Your Mind

Generally speaking, you can change your mind when it comes to life changes. You’re not always 100% tied into whatever you settle on. This goes for so many scenarios. If you take a job and turn out to hate it, you can find another one. If you head to university and realise you’ve not chosen the right course for you, you can switch. If you get married and realise they’re maybe not the ideal match down the line, you can get divorced. There’s always a way to change your circumstances and you never have to do anything or stay in a scenario you’ve ended up in. So, don’t place too much stress or pressure on yourself.

These are just a few different things you might want to take into consideration when making any life decisions. Hopefully, some of the advice can come in useful for you at some point or another. Perhaps the most important thing to do is to take things at your own pace and to go easy on yourself!

 

While you are here why not check more of my lifestyle-related content?

*This is a contributed post. All opinions are the writers own.
Photo by Daniel Xavier from Pexels

The skin covers the entire body but is not the same everywhere. Understanding the differences between facial skin and the skin of the rest of the body can help you to treat it appropriately.
 

Key Differences

Skin varies by thickness, with the thinnest areas being the most fragile. Facial skin is much thinner than other parts of the body. The thinnest part of the face is the skin on the eyelids.

The skin around the eyes, in general, is very thin, which means it needs extra care. The skin’s outer layer or epidermis usually has about 1mm of thickness, while it is considerably less than that at 0.1mm for the eyelids.

 

The skin under the eyes and other parts of the face is also more delicate than other parts of the body. It is also more prone to wrinkles.

Given the sensitive nature of the facial skin, it is highly sensitive. However, it is also most likely to be in contact with the sun, which explains why it is susceptible to harm from UVA and UVB rays.

 

 

Types of Facial Skin

There are also various facial skin types. There is normal, oily, dry, and combination. Interestingly, your skin type can change over time.

The normal skin type has little to no imperfections and no sensitivity, while dry skin has a dull complexion, red patches, and less elasticity.

As for combination skin, it can be oily in some places and dry or normal in others; the pores look bigger than normal and skin is shiny. Finally, dry skin has many visible lines, as well as red patches and a rough complexion.

Depending on the type of facial skin you have, how you wash and caring for it will differ.

 

 

Best Care for Your Facial Skin

The above-noted differences in the skin will help to determine what products you use for your face, which won’t be the same as for the rest of the body. Given the fragile nature of facial skin, using a body wash on it would be too harsh for it and could cause irritation.

Also, pay attention to facial skin conditions to react as quickly as possible to them. That way you can maintain balanced, healthy skin. You can find out more at Zo Skin Health about skincare solutions to maintain healthy skin at any age.

Finding the right moisturizer for your skin type is essential. Avoid putting fragrant lotion on the face as it is generally more sensitive than the rest of the body.

Finally, creating a facial skin care routine based on your skin type and adhering to it morning and evening can minimize skin issues, such as dryness and acne.

 

 

Final Words on Facial Skin

By now it is clear that facial skin is different from the skin on other parts of the body. Selecting products that fit your skin’s sensitivity and type can keep your skin looking and feeling its best.

No matter what skin type you have, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and wear sunscreen to protect against harsh damage from the sun.

 

What do you do to look after your skin? Let me know in the comments below and while you are here why not check out more of my beauty posts?

*AD - Gifted - Items in this post were gifted to me by Femme Luxe Finery. All opinions are my own.

I'm back again with another 4 dresses from Femme Luxe Finery. At the moment we can't go out anywhere in these dresses (unless you want to dress up to go to the supermarket or for a walk if that's your thing!) so hopefully, this post will give you some ideas for ways to dress up once this whole thing is over and night outs are a go again. 

 Red Satin Ruched Side Slip Mini Dress - Maeve

How gorgeous is this red satin dress? I'm in love with it and it's colour. It's such a stand out piece. It features a ruched side which can be tightened or loosened depending on how you want it and a dropped neck to give it another lovely feature. I'd say size down for this dress as it is quite baggy around the waist area. I've seen a lot of satin dresses on Instagram and many times I have seen them layered so I thought I'd try layering it two different ways. 

 The first way I tried was with this roll neck black long-sleeved jumper mixed with my silver and black western belt. This way works really well in Autumn/Winter when it is a bit colder and could be paired with black tights for extra warmth. I really love the way the black and red looks together and I got great comments when I wore this out last time! The second layered look features a white t-shirt.  I don't like this way as much but a lot of people seem to wear satin dresses this way and I still think it works really well. The look would work better in Summer on a warmer day. I used the same belt as before as I think it just looks fab with the dress whatever way it's worn. 

Let me know in the comments which way you prefer - black long-sleeved or white short-sleeved?

Pink Satin Puff Sleeve Square Neck Mini Dress - Juliane

The second dress is another satin dress. This time in the form of this beautiful neon pink colour. It features puff sleeves (which if you know me, you know I have an obsession with), a square neckline and again is a mini dress. The sleeves can be worn off-shoulder or on and as you can see I prefer them on. This dress also comes in green and black if bright pink isn't your colour. I again paired it with my western belt but I also thought I'd try it with my diamante belt too for a more glam look. I really don't know which way I prefer so you will have to let me know in the comments below which way you prefer yourself. 

White Heart Print Tie Front Ruffle Hem Mini Dress - Lucien 

The third dress is this mega cute heart print dress. I feel this one could be worn as a summer day dress as it's such a pretty piece. It features this lovely black and white heart print with a layered ruffle skirt and a tie on the chest. It is a strappy piece and I feel it would also look really cute layered with a white tee like the first dress. I can't wait to wear this in summer! 

Pink Mesh Floral Sleeve Bodycon Mini Dress - Kellen

The last and final dress is this puff sleeve dress in this lovely light pink colour. It features gorgeous floral embroidery on the sleeves and has a high neck. This is such a stunning piece and it can be worn in numerous ways. One of the times I wore it I used it as a top and paired it with my snake print faux leather skirt and I had some lovely comments. 

So which of these 4 dresses is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below and while you are here why not check out more of my fashion-related posts?

1 Top, 3 Trousers 

3 Ways To Wear A Green Satin Top 

*This is a contributed post. All opinions are the writers own.

https://unsplash.com/photos/Pe9IXUuC6QU

When it comes to beauty, it’s always fun to enjoy the pampering and treatments that you do, isn’t it? When you’re pampering and primping, it makes you feel fantastic. Your body relaxes and you always feel your best when you’ve boosted your appearance. It’s such a great feeling. However, you may find that you’re not really sure what you want to do next, or where you go next – and that’s fine. Because here’s a jam-packed beauty black book for you to consider. No matter what concerns you have or the treatments you tend to prefer, you’ll find that any one of these cutting edge ideas make you feel fantastic.

Facials

To start with, you may find that you want to book in for a series of facials. While this may not be possible in the immediate future, it will be one day. So why not look into the expert facialists in your area and the kind of skin treatments that you’d love to do and make a decision. Because looking after your skin properly will mean that you get a glow and feel fantastic for it.

Microblading

Maybe you love the idea of microblading? If you want to have gorgeous brows that stay in place at all times, then microblading is for you. They allow you to have perfect looking, shapes and pigmented brows. This saves you time every single day from having to draw them on. It can also be such a confidence boost and make you feel more put together when you’re not wearing makeup – even if you’re on holiday!

Enhancements

Or maybe what you really want to do is boost the way that you look? It’s okay if you have always wanted to make a few enhancements to your appearance, many of us do. Whether it’s smoothing out lines with botox, adding some lip filler, or even opting for a facelift, do your research now. It’s a good idea to find a doctor you like and enquire about costs so you can decide if and when you’d like to do it.

Hair Makeover

Sometimes, what you really want is a hair makeover. If you don’t feel completely happy with your hair right now, then it’s nice to be able to get a whole new look. It could be that you want to colour your hair or get longer hair and you can do that if you want. Now could be the time to save up and plan what you want to do in the future.

Spa Day

Finally, it may be that you love the idea of being able to pamper yourself. And one day, you should be able to book yourself into a wonderful spa hotel to get the kind of treatments that you want too. But, until then, you can definitely recreate the experience at home. Maybe you love the idea of running a bath and relaxing with a mask on or exfoliating and doing a manicure? Either way, it’ll definitely boost your mood.

So what's next in your beauty black book? Let me know in the comments below and while you are here why not check out more of my beauty-related content?

*This is a paid guest post.

The bathroom is a vital room within the home and each of us spends a considerable amount of time in there, to clean, calm and ground ourselves. Whether it’s a family bathroom or luxury ensuite, here is a list of designs that can work for your needs and your style preferences. 

Room Transition

Opting for a singular flooring style can allow perfect transitions between rooms. This is a particularly great option for those of you with ensuites as it provides an unnoticeable difference as you move between bedroom and bathroom.

Geometrics

Repeating patterns can be interesting and lively and for those with an artistic side, they can really help to demonstrate your creativity throughout your home, making it truly unique to you. Try honeycomb patterns, using bright colours against neutral shaded walls. 

Historic Elements

Period properties hold so much potential when it comes to the bathroom area. High ceilings, grand windows and original wooden fixtures and carvings can really emphasise the level of luxury your bathrooms bestow. Match this with wooden vinyl flooring, which will give you the same visual joy, with a lot less worry about warping or moisture absorption because luxury vinyl flooring is totally waterproof.

Amazing Monochrome

For those who are familiar with contemporary designs, monochrome flooring patterns are the perfect option when matched with brass, copper and silver features. The texture choices are limitless here, as slate, marble and limestone flooring all work well. You can also implement borders and fishbone patterns. 

Home Spa

Who doesn’t like feeling relaxed? Well to get the spa-feeling at home all you need is a simple stone or pebble flooring. Opt for cream or warm grey stone flooring and add features throughout such as; soft fluffy white towels, plants and fragranced soaps, oils and bubble baths.
Lasting relaxation with bathroom vinyl flooring.


This list should have given you enough ideas to want to make big changes in your bathroom, after all, you deserve it! Amtico Spacia is the perfect functional, luxury wooden vinyl flooring, with lots of neutral shade so you can completely capture your zen. Luvanto offers luxury tiles which can withstand the challenge of moisture and mess, which makes them suitable in solo or family bathrooms. Have fun making your bathroom a special place in your home with bathroom vinyl flooring.

While you are here why not check out more of my home-related posts?