Lighting is an essential aspect of any interior design project, and it can have a significant impact on the overall look and feel of a room. When it comes to planning a lighting scheme for your bedroom, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you create a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. 

In this article, I will discuss some tips for planning a lighting scheme for your bedroom that will help you create the perfect ambience.

Reading is an essential skill that lays the foundation for a child’s academic and personal success. In today's fast-paced and technology-driven world, reading may seem like an outdated hobby, but the benefits of reading for children are undeniable. 

So it will be Easter soon. Time for another competition! So carrying on from the success of my competitions I am giving away more chocolate again this month.

Today you have the chance to win a Lindt chocolate easter egg. Lindt chocolate is popular with fans of my blog and the milk chocolate easter egg contains an assortment of mini eggs.

Times are tight for many of us at the moment, with the cost of everything going up. If you are a makeup lover, you may be looking at ways to cut back on your expenditure. I've personally found that Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube are great sources of information on the best beauty products out there and there are many money-saving guides too. Let's look at some of the viral makeup dupes that can save you money today. 

Makeup dupes are beauty products that are marketed as affordable and effective alternatives to high-end, expensive makeup products. The word 'dupes' stand for duplicates that mimic other products. These dupes have gained popularity on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where beauty influencers and makeup enthusiasts share their favourite affordable drugstore makeup products that mimic the formula and shades of luxury makeup brands. If the popularity of the post is high it can go viral often leading to an increase in sales of the drugstore makeup dupe.

Viral makeup dupes can be anything from lipsticks that have the same colour and texture as a high-end brand to affordable eyeshadow palettes that mimic the shades and pigmentation of luxury makeup products. Many makeup enthusiasts and influencers create side-by-side comparisons of the original high-end product and the dupe, showing how similar they are in terms of colour, texture, and application.

Using viral makeup dupes is a great way to achieve the same look as high-end makeup products without breaking the bank. If you use the best makeup brushes you can afford, then this can help with the application of makeup. However, it's important to note that not all dupes are created equal, and some may not perform as well as the original product. It's always best to do your own research and read reviews before purchasing a viral makeup dupe. 

Examples of viral makeup dupes

Here are some popular viral makeup dupes.

L'Oreal True Match Pumping Tinted Skin Serum (£14.99) Vs Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Foundation (£39) 

L'Oreal is the world's largest makeup company known for its affordable makeup up found in supermarkets, pharmacies, and chemists ( or drugstores as they are known in the US). Charlotte Tilbury makeup is popular for high-quality formulas long lasting coverage, unique gold packaging and celebrity endorsements. Both of these products above care for your skin as well as provide light coverage. Why not try the cheaper version to save money? 

Makeup Revolution Ultimate Cream Bronzer (£6) Vs Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream (£32.50)

Makeup Revolution is a very affordable budget brand found in drugstores such as Superdrug in the UK, while Nars is a luxury makeup brand known for its high pigmentation and quality ingredients available in makeup counters at department stores.  These cream contours are very similar in colour and are great to shape and add a golden colour to your face. I've used Makeup Revolution products in the past and find that these products aren't as long-lasting or pigmented as some but are good if you are really watching the pennies.

e.l.f. Hydrating Core Lip Shine (£6) Vs Clinique Almost Lipstick (£21) 

e.l.f. makeup is known as an affordable makeup brand which is Vegan and cruelty-free, and it has a wide range of products perfect for experimenting with if you are trying out a new look.  Clinique is known for its high-quality products that are allergy-tested, fragrance-free, and dermatologist-developed. I went to a blogger event of Clinique in Cardiff a few years ago and I must say I do rate this brand highly. Both of these products mentioned above give your lips a wash of flattering colour without the heaviness of lipstick. Personally, I like the e.l.f. eyeliner so why not give that a try if you use a more expensive product? 

Mother's Day will be here before long and it's a day to celebrate your mum or those that have been a mum to you. Mums of course are human and not perfect but the good ones love unconditionally, support you, give praise and help provide guidelines for leading a good life. We all, at some point, take our mums for granted but they won't be there forever so appreciate them now.

My mum and I

I'm now in my early 50s and as you get older you realise you can no longer get away with a card and a cheap box of chocolates, you need a different gift for her. As she gets older she may have everything she needs, so it can be tricky getting that perfect gift she will appreciate. 

So when Very, the online catalogue store, got in touch to collaborate with me on a post for Mother's Day, I was keen to see what they had online. I mean, we all need a little help sometimes! When I browsed the store I was really surprised with the variety of the goods they sell. Something for everyone, and plenty of choice for mums. 

Here are some of my ideas of what to get the mum who has everything this Mother's Day from Very. This is an advert with Very, all words and opinions are my own.

A Cute Dress

FatFace Nina Painted Bird Jersey Dress £50

My mum is like me, and she loves her clothes. So a new top or dress from one of her favourite brands is always a good idea. She loves the brand Fat Face like I do, so this dress above would be a really great gift for her. This dress is made of soft jersey cotton and modal and has an all-over branch print with pockets too. Women need pockets in their clothes don't you think!

An Easy-to-Wear Tunic

Jon Richard Cubic Zirconia Earrings £20

I love earrings so these Jon Richard earrings would be something I would personally love receiving for Mother's Day. These earrings are super sparkly embellished with cubic zirconia that gives the look of diamonds without the cost and are silver plated too. Very also sell a range of earrings from only a few pounds to real diamond earrings costing hundreds of pounds. Check out their website for the full range. 

A Delicious Hamper

 In recent years there has been a significant rise in remote working across the UK and on an international scale. This was largely due to the impacts of the recent Covid-19 pandemic and its aftereffects. During the height of the outbreak, many countries, including the UK, put in a range of measures that limited the movement of people and gatherings in a group. This was done in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, but it meant that many people needed to work remotely for the first time in their careers. As the effects of the pandemic fade, many employees still want hybrid or fully remote forms of employment. However, this often comes at the expense of a dedicated office location. There is a wide range of benefits from having dedicated office space, and in this article three of the most important reasons for having a company office will be explored.

As many remote workers will attest, it can be difficult to communicate effectively with colleagues when working from home. Many staff will have access to video conferencing applications that allow virtual meetings to take place, however, these are often plagued by technical issues such as poor sound or video quality with lag and are not a 100% ideal solution. Put simply, nothing beats a face to face meeting or discussion with teams and colleagues and having office premises in which to do it can lead to improved daily communication between employees. Choose office rental space in St Albans to benefit from a prime business location that allows teams to meet up in a physical space and share ideas together. With improved staff communication can come more effective ways of working and a range of efficiency drives that can help a business to thrive in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace.

Face-to-face Client Meetings

A company with a dedicated office building to function from will benefit from having client meetings on-site. This is often far more business-like than meeting clients or key industry players in a public location which lacks the formality and prestige of a corporate building. In addition, holding meetings in a dedicated office allows the business to become more visible to the wider business and customer communities. Put simply, face-to-face client meetings are far more professional when conducted from your own office premises.

Team Mentality And Culture

As a final key point, physical office premises can be an incredibly important way to improve the mentality of your teams and the overall business culture. Workers who are isolated from each other can often start to feel demoralised as there is a lack of physical meetings and face-to-face communication. They may not feel like they are part of a wider organisation, and the company's ethos may become lost. A strong company will seek to build its own unique identity and culture that resonates with its workforce whilst helping to outline its mission and goals. It takes time and effort to build an effective culture and improve team mentality; the best way to achieve it is to be physically present regularly in corporate office premises.