You don't really need a lot to start blogging, a camera phone and an internet connection will do. Thats all I had when I started my beautiful little blog way back in 2013! But if you have a taste for tech or just want to build up your equipment list, here are the things I use and what I would recommend buying.



- Laptop -

MacBook Pro - The only thing I really use to write and put together blog posts now is my MacBook. I've occasionally written posts on my iPad but nothing beats actually typing on keys. I also edit my photos and videos on my MacBook too, which I can't do on anything else I own. I love my MacBook Pro but it is very expensive at not something you need to own as a blogger. There are many other cheaper laptops out there that will do pretty much the same as a MacBook just without the price tag. 


- Cameras -

Canon G5X - This is now my main blogging/ vlogging camera. You've probably seen me and lots of other bloggers go on about it because its just great. Its lightweight, fairly compact, works well in low light, and importantly for me it has a viewfinder. You won't get the same quality images as you would with a DSLR but if you want something you can take on the go with you this is perfect. Its another expensive piece of kit however, coming in at around £600. That being said I think a good quality compact camera is a necessity for a long term blogger.

Nikon D5300 - This is my second DSLR, and the camera that carried me through my HND. Its a great lower end DSLR and great for someone just starting out in photography that doesn't want to spend thousands. If I want to take some really high quality, crisp photographs for my blog this is the camera I reach for. Although I can take some great shots with this camera, its big, bulky, heavy, and I can't just point and shoot with it. I would recommend a lower end DSLR camera like this one for bloggers who want quality photographs and don't mind lugging a big camera around.

iPhone Camera - Yes I still use my phone from time to time. I take a lot of photographs for my Instagram using my phone and on days I don't have a camera, my iPhone will do the job. 


Fujifilm Instax Mini - Every now and then I also include images taken on my Instax mini camera on the blog. The quality of the images obviously aren't great, and the refills are fairly expensive to buy too. That being said I do love using my Instax, it is not however something I would advise investing in for blogging.


- Lenses - 

Nikon 18 - 55mm Kit Lens - I'm pretty sure this lens comes as standard with most Nikon Cameras. Its an okay lens for just starting out, but not something I would really go out and buy if I was to break my current one. I only use it from time to time, and its not something I would recommend investing in.

Tamron 18 - 200mm Lens - This is one of the best all round lenses I have come across. You can just about take selfies on it if you want and the zoom is just incredible. For me this is my travel lens, or it would be if I still took my DSLR on holiday. If you are looking for a lens that you can just leave on your camera all the time this is it. Nikon does its own 18 - 200mm lens that costs around £300 more than this one, so I'll let you decide which one you'd prefer.

Nikon 50mm Lens - So this is probably my favourite lens, and the one I've used the most in the last year. It is perfect for outfit photos as it allows you to create that nice blurry background you'll see a lot. There is no zoom on this lens however so that is something to bare in mind. I would absolutely 100% recommend investing in this lens if you plan to take a lot of outfit photos.

- Software & Apps -

Photoshop - Pretty standard, I think most bloggers have photoshop now but its something I couldn't blog without anymore. I don't edit my photos to excess but I do like to play around with the colours and filters a lot. I pay for photoshop monthly to make it more affordable as it can cost quite a lot to just buy. I'd probably recommend investing in photoshop once you are confident taking photographs.

iMovie - Just the video editing software that comes with my MacBook but so far it does everything I need it so. I'm sure its fairly basic but as I don't make videos all the often I don't want to spent money on a better software.

Facetune App - I mostly use this app for its 'whiten' tool which, you guessed it, makes things whiter. I think the tool was created to whiten teeth but I use it on pretty much everything I want to look whiter.

VSCO App - A lot of bloggers and Instagrammers use this App because its just great. There is a lot you can do on there, however I only use it to apply one filter to my images before I upload them to Instagram. I always use the same filter so my images are consistent, HB1 if you must know.

Light Meter App - Pretty sure I'm exposing myself in some way by admitting I still use a light meter when I take photographs. Well I do and it means the lighting is usually correct. If you use a DSLR or any other camera you can use manually I'd recommend getting this free App. Just takes the guessing out of things and can make a shoot go a lot smoother.

- Props -

I also use a range of props including mirrors, plates, magazines, white paper and marble slabs. The right prop in a product shoot can make it look just that much more professional. You don't need to run out and buy these however, most of the things I use can be found dotted around my house anyway! 


So that is pretty much everything I use to keep this little blog running! Like I said, you don't need a lot to start a blog, but good equipment does help. I would love to know what items you need for your own blog!


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Birmingham, UK

MY BLOGGING EQUIPMENT LIST


As you've probably seen if you follow me over on Twitter, I have recently started my quest to find a proper adult job. That's right, I'm getting out of retail! Well hopefully I will be anyway. So with a brand new job comes a brand new dress code, no more gross baggy polo shirt uniforms for once.

I have already started to pick up some staple workwear items (fancy a haul vid?) mostly just trousers and shirts at the moment, but I thought it would be fun to pop together some outfits that are a bit more fashionable. 


- Outfit One -


- Outfit Two -



- Outfit Three -

Although I don't actually have a new job lined up just yet, (hire me plz) I am very excited to start putting my work wardrobe together and these are the kind of things I would really like to wear. 

Which outfit is your favourite?

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Birmingham, UK

WHAT TO WEAR TO WORK - 3 OUTFIT IDEAS


I'm writing this at the end of a very tiring Saturday evening. I've been up since half 5 this morning and in work since 7. Although I didn't have a particularly long day at work I still really hate weekend shifts and I just couldn't wait to be back home in my bed.

Today wasn't any different to any other work day. My shift was filled with grumpy customers and heavy lifting and you know what, it really wore me out. Like every other day I came home wrecked and all I wanted to do was soak in a steaming hot bubbly bath for an hour or so - and thats exactly what I did.


Inspired by Gemporia's new #YouMonday campaign, and using some of the goodies they sent me, I had some chill time on my own. I really don't get chance to chill out all that often and it's a shame. Although I only work part time right now I always feel like I have to be doing something. When I'm not at work I feel guilty that I'm not blogging, or applying for jobs, or working towards marketing qualifications. Although I have time in theory to shut off the world and relax, I also kind of don't. I don't want to waste my free time just lounging around, but sometimes that's what I need.


This Monday is "Blue Monday", the saddest day of the year. Christmas and New Years is over, we're all poor, usually because of the festive season, and Summer seems like a million years away. It's really easy to feel like rubbish at this time of year but it doesn't have to be that way. If we all just took a few hours a week to completely zone out and relax, we'd probably feel a lot better for it. Run a bath, take a walk, read a book, just do something that gives you a break from the regular. I know I will be. This year I'm going to make a promise to myself that I will take time when I need it, and de-stress when things get a little bit too much.


I'd love to hear about the ways you practise self care, even if its just something as simple having a relaxing bath once a week!


* This product was kindly gifted to me by Gemporia. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 


Thanks for reading!


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Birmingham, UK

TAKE A CHILL PILL


So it's no secret that travel is my first love. Since my teenage years all I've wanted to do is see the world, and so far I've been doing a pretty decent job. Well with a new year comes a whole new 'To Do' list in the travel department. So here my list of places I hope to see in 2018...

Edinburgh - Me and Sean have wanted to visit Edinburgh for a very long time now! Ever since we bonded over reading one of my favourite books, based in the city, we knew we had to see it for ourselves. I've never even been to Scotland, and for someone who's ticked off half of Europe, that's pretty shameful!



Portugal - Another country I've not yet seen. I'm not really fussed about where to go in Portugal, most of the places I've browsed look pretty cool. I would love to wander around the capital - Lisbon, but at the same time the coastal towns of Porto and other similar places just look incredible!

New York - So this is probably one of the most unrealistic on the list, but my God do I want to see New York one day! I'll probably hate every second of the hustle and bustle of the big city, and come home a nervous wreck, but there's just so much to see that I just need to do it!



Prague - Another place I've wanted to see since forever. Prague has been described to me time and time again as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and from the photographs I've seen, I'm inclined to agree. But how will I ever truly know unless I experience it for myself? I guess I'll just have to go!

So maybe some of these are a little bit unrealistic with our budget, saving for a house is not cheap! But we can only try, right? Where there is a will there is a way and belive me, the will to see these places is strong! I'll write a little update this time next year when I've hopefully ticked off a few new adventures!

Where would you like to visit this year?

Thanks for reading!


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Birmingham, UK

THE 2018 TRAVEL LIST

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