GDPR Compliance Notice for Living with Clara

Effective Date: 27 / 09 / 2025
Last Updated: 27 / 09 / 2025

1. Introduction

Living with Clara (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679. This GDPR Compliance Notice explains how we collect, use, and protect personal data of individuals in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) when you visit livingwithclara.com.

2. Data Controller Information

Data Controller: Living with Clara
Contact Email: clara@livingwithclara.com
Website: livingwithclara.com

For any data protection queries or to exercise your rights under GDPR, please contact us at the email address above.

3. Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

3.1 Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR)

When you subscribe to our newsletter
When you accept cookies on our website
When you participate in surveys or contests

3.2 Legitimate Interests (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR)

To improve our website and content
To ensure network and information security
To prevent fraud and abuse
To analyze website usage and performance
To respond to your inquiries and comments

3.3 Compliance with Legal Obligations (Article 6(1)(c) GDPR)

To comply with applicable laws and regulations
To respond to legal requests from authorities

3.4 Performance of Contract (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR)

To provide services you have requested
To manage your account if you create one

4. Categories of Personal Data We Collect

4.1 Data You Provide Directly

Identity Data: Name, username
Contact Data: Email address
Content Data: Comments, feedback, survey responses
Marketing Data: Newsletter subscription preferences
Communication Data: Correspondence via email

4.2 Data Collected Automatically

Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information
Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns
Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address
Cookie Data: Cookie identifiers and preferences

5. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

5.1 Website and Service Provision

To provide and maintain our website
To notify you about changes to our service
To provide customer support

5.2 Content and Communications

To send newsletters about home decor, recipes, and lifestyle content (with consent)
To respond to your comments and inquiries
To moderate user-generated content

5.3 Analytics and Improvement

To analyze website usage patterns
To improve our content and user experience
To develop new features and content

5.4 Marketing (with consent)

To send promotional communications
To provide personalized content recommendations
To inform you about products we think you’ll enjoy

6. Data Recipients and International Transfers

6.1 Third-Party Service Providers

We may share your data with:

Web Hosting Provider: For website infrastructure
Email Service Provider: For newsletter distribution
Analytics Provider: Google Analytics (with anonymized IP)
Comment System Provider: For managing blog comments
Social Media Platforms: When you interact with social media features

6.2 International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers may be located outside the EEA. When we transfer your data outside the EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place:

EU-approved Standard Contractual Clauses
Adequacy decisions by the European Commission
Your explicit consent for specific transfers

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary:

Data Type	Retention Period
Newsletter subscribers	Until you unsubscribe or 3 years of inactivity
Comments	Indefinitely (part of blog content) or until deletion requested
Email inquiries	2 years from last correspondence
Analytics data	26 months
Cookie data	According to specific cookie lifespans

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

As an EU/EEA resident, you have the following rights:

8.1 Right of Access (Article 15 GDPR)

You can request a copy of your personal data we hold.

8.2 Right to Rectification (Article 16 GDPR)

You can request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.

8.3 Right to Erasure/”Right to be Forgotten” (Article 17 GDPR)

You can request deletion of your personal data when:

The data is no longer necessary
You withdraw consent
You object to processing
The data was unlawfully processed

8.4 Right to Restriction of Processing (Article 18 GDPR)

You can request we limit processing of your data while:

Verifying accuracy of data
Determining lawfulness of processing
Preserving data for legal claims

8.5 Right to Data Portability (Article 20 GDPR)

You can request your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.

8.6 Right to Object (Article 21 GDPR)

You can object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes.

8.7 Rights Related to Automated Decision-Making (Article 22 GDPR)

You have the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing. Note: We do not currently use automated decision-making.

8.8 Right to Withdraw Consent

Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.

9. How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of your rights, please contact us at clara@livingwithclara.com with:

Your specific request
Proof of your identity
Any relevant details to help us locate your data

We will respond to your request within one month, extendable by two months for complex requests.

10. Cookie Policy

10.1 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality

Session management
Security features

Analytics Cookies: Help us understand website usage

Google Analytics (with anonymized IP)
Page view tracking

Preference Cookies: Remember your choices

Language preferences
Cookie consent choices

Marketing Cookies: Used for relevant advertising (with consent)

Affiliate tracking
Retargeting pixels

10.2 Managing Cookies

You can manage cookies through:

Our cookie consent banner
Your browser settings
Third-party opt-out tools

11. Data Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures:

SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
Regular security assessments
Access controls and authentication
Regular backups
Staff training on data protection
Incident response procedures

12. Children’s Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16. If you are a parent/guardian and believe your child has provided personal data, please contact us immediately.

13. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing personal data.

14. Automated Decision-Making and Profiling

We do not currently use automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects on you.

15. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a personal data breach, we will:

Notify the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours (if required)
Notify affected individuals without undue delay (if high risk to rights and freedoms)
Document the breach and actions taken

16. Supervisory Authority

You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority if you believe we have not complied with GDPR requirements.

For a list of supervisory authorities: https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/board/members_en

17. Updates to This Notice

We may update this GDPR Compliance Notice periodically. We will notify you of significant changes by:

Posting a notice on our website
Sending an email to newsletter subscribers
Updating the “Last Updated” date

18. Data Protection Officer

We have not appointed a formal Data Protection Officer as we do not meet the criteria requiring one under GDPR. However, for all data protection matters, please contact: clara@livingwithclara.com

19. Consent Management

19.1 Newsletter Consent

By subscribing to our newsletter, you explicitly consent to:

Receiving regular emails about home decor, recipes, and lifestyle content
Storage of your email address and name
Tracking of email opens and clicks for improvement purposes

19.2 Cookie Consent

We request your consent for non-essential cookies through our cookie banner. You can modify your consent at any time.

19.3 Withdrawing Consent

You can withdraw consent at any time by:

Clicking “unsubscribe” in any newsletter
Adjusting cookie preferences
Contacting us at clara@livingwithclara.com

20. Contact Information

For any GDPR-related queries, requests, or concerns:

Living with Clara
Data Protection Contact: clara@livingwithclara.com
Website: livingwithclara.com

Please include “GDPR Request” in your email subject line for faster processing.