Whenever people find out what my job is, there are always a barrage of questions that swiftly follow. The first is always about money – why oh why do people forget that bloggers are just people too and it’s still blimmin rude to ask about money? – then it’s about what I actually do, then it’s “I bet you have lovely lie ins” (no huns, this gal is still up at 6am everyday)… and then finally, it’s “how do I do it?”
I say every single time – completely unhelpfully, I’m well aware – that how you start a blog is simply just to start. I genuinely believe that there is no set path in blogging and everybody will find there own way, but what advice I can give, is to tell you about my blogging essentials and what I absolutely can’t be without to make my blog work.
And that’s what this post is about today. [insert party popper/”yay for being vaguely helpful” emoji here].
It also includes little odes to blogging full time because oh my god you just gotta love working from bed with peanut butter and nutella sandwich fridays!
Now, I am a firm believer in not needing especially big or fancy equipment to become a blogger, the most important things to have – as cheesy and tree hugging as they sound – are creativity and a passion for writing, but you do still need something to write on and upload photos from etc. and that something is a laptop #BrainsOfBritainAwardGoesToMe. Now, I’m a Mac girl, mostly because the 11inch air is pretty miniscule making it perfect to whip into a bag and head to your local coffee shop/town with it ready for some Dan Humphrey style coffee and writing sessions – complete with a venti latte and gluten free brownie/cake/artery clogging treat – but as long as you have a computer, Mac or not, you’re good to go.
I am 100% guilty of being the girl that almost has a panic attack when purchasing expensive things such as laptops, and then throws them around like a piece of paper (or very nearly drops them in the bath but that’s a story I still haven’t recovered from yet) so right now, my ultimate blogging essential is my Manfrotto Windsor bag which is absolutely perfect for my blogging days on the go or travelling around the world. It fits my laptop, my camera, my notebooks and diaries (and galaxy bars because life)… it’s ridiculously comfortable to wear unlike my usual impractical options – Gucci Marmont which carries basically nothing, I’m looking at you – basically, it just makes my life 10x easier whilst also looking classic too. It just has room for the things that you don’t even know you need until you see (memory cards, hard drives, pens and so on). It’s one of those bags that makes me feel like I’ve got my life in order and I am all for that (because lol, actually a chaotic mess of a person). Anything that helps me stay organised and able to do my job whilst hot footing it around London is a winner in my eyes so thank you for Manfrotto, for saving my shoulders and my sanity.
Cameras. Now, I admit to owning a fair share of cameras because a) I used to be a TV Producer so picked up some along the way and b) I’ve always been obsessed with photography so I don’t mind investing my money there. However, I do have to say that the iPhone 7+’s camera quality is pretty frickin awesome so please don’t ever feel like you need a big, snazzy camera to be a blogger, you definitely, definitely don’t. My current Camera crush – brb while I vom over how cringetastic that phrase was – is the Olympus pen. I know, I know, big fat shocker there. But here’s the thing, for me, the pen has completely taken over from my 7D (which is a pretty big, hefty camera). For sheer ease of use and the fact that it’s small and completely perfect for travel, with the 45mm lens you can create stunning photos for not a huge amount of money. And then of course there’s the fact that you can use the camera’s wifi to immediately send the photos to yourself and use it as a remote control. It kinda just does everything and is perfect for seasoned bloggers or beginners.
So a notebook/diary is kinda obvious, but when you’ve got numerous meetings, events and deadlines (and are still a secret granny that would rather write things down than have it on my phone), these are just an essential. My favourites are my 2017 diary from Dear Diary because it has room for all of my meetings and space for notes, alongside the too damn cute Smythson notebook which is perfect for those lightbulb moments and little ideas that you don’t want to forget.
The portable charger. I think this might be the most used little piece of joyous equipment that I own. This little beaut is from Samsung and lasts at least a whopping 5 full charges. It genuinely comes with me everywhere (mostly because my iPhone is completely screwed and doesn’t work without being plugged in *insert upside down emoji here*) and is a saviour for anyone Instagram/youtube/phone obsessed.
Those apps. Now, I am shockingly bad/lazy when it comes to editing so there aren’t a huge amount of apps that I reply on but I have to say, Facetune is my best friend. I’m a huge believer in not editing myself but if I have spot – lol thanks hormones – or there’s some rubbish on the floor that looks messy, a quick little patch never hurt anybody. I also love UNUM for planning out Instagram content too even though I don’t do themes because mate, are they not the most stressful thing in existence?
Last but most definitely not least, there’s absolutely no point of having all the gear and having no idea if you don’t have the passion, motivation and dedication to blog. Blogging is tough. It takes a lot of time, it can be extremely tedious – because hello technical problems all day ehhr day and ever changing briefs – and that’s something that I don’t think people always understand. It takes a hell of a lot of motivation and passion to keep a blog going and as blunt as it may sound, if you don’t have it, then don’t start one. If you want to be a blogger because the lifestyle looks great, sweet baby jesus blogging is not for you. But if it’s something that you do love, and you do adore for what it is… then put your all into it, because you never know what could come from it. Dedicate time, motivate yourself to create something new and exciting and be passionate about your work, and others will too.
Do you think Oprah would’ve been proud of that speech because I definitely think she would?
And that brings my blogging essentials to an end. I really hope you enjoyed them. Obviously blogging is completely personal to everyone and these are just the basics which I’m sure everybody will have/have their own versions of, but I can’t get enough of every piece.
I’d love to know what your essentials are? What makes your blogging life a little bit easier?
As always, thanks so much for reading!
xx
Post sponsored by Manfrotto but all thoughts, photos and love of bags that make every SO easy, my own.
I agree with you, blogging takes a lot of motivation, and time. It's not just an easy overnight thing, it takes hard work. Those blogging essentials are like literally what any bloggers essentials are, because we can't live without our technology. http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Not to sound like a creeper or anything *why am I typing this* but you look amazing in that skirt! I have been wanting an Olympus Pen for the last 2 years now so I think this year is finally the year I splurge and get one 🙂
Ahaha I am exactly the same! I get so so stressed about buying anything in the least bit expensive and then genuinely end up bashing it about off everything!! I bought myself my first iPhone outright last and was freaking out at the expense and have somehow bent one side of it and it still works, to the extent that the man in the apple shop was impressed and called my phone an anomale… But fab post as always gal! xo http://www.misszarabelle.com
Love this and going to check that bag out as I struggle carrying everything around with me and alternate cute rucksacks. You are spot on about needing passion and dedication in order to start and keep going. Having a great support team around you helps too, the people who pick you up when you lose confidence..I always advise people to start and have a go, it's only through trying things, that you can know whether there's passion there. Love your blog and wisdom gorgeous girl xxx
I loved this post, I'm always interested to know what other people's blogging essentials are as, like you said, everyone's path and methods are different. You're so right though, to have a passion for blogging is the number one thing! Looking gorge as ever too x
Hi, I really appreciate your inputs on my situation Dr happy and what could I do with-out you. Thank you in advance. I was in a relationship with this guy for the past 1 and a half year.. We became close real fast and were very serious about each other… he’s German and was in the country for his internship.. he left after first 6 months and came back after a couple of months.. he said that he had come down for me.. WE started living – in.. We discussed faMILY, KIDS, future, moving to EU together.. everything was going good until of last August when I started to get jealous about his moves, I got controlling and things started to get worse.. we spoke about it a lot of times where he expressed how he felt but I was not able to understand why I was doing that.. During our discussion I would always say I did .. This February he called it off and since then I have been a mess.. I gave it a lot of thought and realised my mistakes and why I was doing it.. I tried talking to him .. begged him.. pleaded him .. but he says that he has lost all his feelings for me and would never get back to me..I was in my knees praying looking for help, them i fine a comment online how a spell caster help to restored relationship get ex lover back, ” so i decided to give a try coz i love my boyfriend so much. so i contacted Dr happy http://happyspelltemple.webs.com/ tell him all my problem and he gave me 100%guarantee that i will have my boyfriend back after the spell so i was gifted and lucky to have contacted him i did every thing he ask of me and to my greatest surprise a day after the spell my boyfriend call me and apology for what he did to me and ask for my forgiveness to come back again for me, we both are happily living together again plz Contact him urgently via……… happylovespell2@gmail.com or add him on whats-app +2348133873774 Junia Noel from USA
I'm such a nosey person so I loved reading this and getting a little bit of an insight into your (blogging) life! That Manfrotto bag looks AMAZING, and, most of all, comfy – I think I might need to invest in something like that because my back is definitely not thanking me for carrying my camera and other heavy things with me all over London in my pretty, but not very practical, Primark bag…
Ps. You look stunning in these images – those shoes are so pretty! xx
Seriously though, those shoes…and well, the whole outfit is just so gorge. Thanks for sharing your tips with all of us 🙂 Frankie x http://www.joieandthevivre.com
I've been blogging a while but always love to read posts like this in case I can learn anything new from other bloggers. That bag looks awesome – might just have to pop it on my wish list! I'm forever doing my back in trying to use unsuitable bags, but this one looks perfect. I also love the Samsung portable charger – it's so pretty and pink, and who doesn't want something that's both functional and pretty! The diary and notebook are gorgeous too. I really need to sort my blogging kit out so I can feel a bit more organised!
This bag is pretty perfect. Mac, portable phone charger, Olympus pen and notebooks/diaries are musts. Most definitely! Plus, (although I'm yet to purchase) a spare camera battery or two!
Amazing love spell that work fast. My husband is the love of my life and I’ve always been attracted to him. We’ll be married 17 years this June. Recently I found out he was having an affair with another woman for about a few months. I was devastated. I honestly didn’t think he was capable of that. At first when i confronted him he was sorry and said he still loved me and wanted to work things out. That they were just friends messing around but he’ll stop. I found it strange though that he wouldn’t cut him off even after I asked him to. Eventually I caught him again messaging each other and he basically made up his mind that he’s not happy in our marriage and wants to be with his girlfriend. I was crushed… I hope I’ll get over this. The pain really really sucks like a part of you is lost. It’s the whole “I love you but not in love with you thing”. I’m pretty sure he’s gonna want a divorce soon. We also have 2 kids and it’s tearing them apart:i have been crying all my life hoping my husband could change for good i love and adore my husband coz he mean the whole world to me, i have ask for help from different places but all they do is take my money with out any good result i was so frustrated that i was about to give up on him and fight to accept that he is gone forever. one very good morning i was chatting with a friend of my on facebook there i come across this amazing and wonderful testimony on how a lady got her ex back save her marriage with the help of love spell, generated and cast by Dr happy i was so very happy to see the good work of this spell caster so i directly and urgently email him, do all he ask of me and today by his power i can testify that my husband is back home again with out signing the divorce paper any more he really show me that there is a second chance in life am so very happy to have my husband back if you have any similar problem as my, fine it difficult to get pregnant, get your ex back and fix your broken marriage contact him http://happyspelltemple.webs.com/ for more details email…..happylovespell2@gmail.com or add him on whats-app +2348133873774
This is certainly a shocking and a genuine Testimony. I visited a forum here on the internet on the 8TH OF APRIL 2017, And I saw a marvelous testimony of this powerful great spell caster called DR Omoluyi on the forum. I never believed it, because I've never heard nor learnt anything about magic before. Not a soul would have been able to influence me about spells, not until i visited ( doctoromoluyispelltemple@gmail.com ) and behold he did it for me and restored my marriage of 6 years back to me and brought my spouse back to me within 12 to 16 hours just as I have read on the forum.. I was truly astonished and shocked when my husband knelt down begging me for forgiveness to accept him back. I am really short of expressions, and I don't know how much to convey my appreciation to you DR Omoluyi, you are a God sent to me and my entire family. Visit him today via Email and Website on ( doctoromoluyispelltemple@gmail.com ) or [ http://www.doctorokpamenspells.com ]. Am Lori Dante by name.
Hi everyone!!!HOW I GOT MY WIFE BACK/MY BABY WITH THE HELP OF Dr. AHMED I have being married to my wife for the past 3 years and 9 months we have obviously being living fine for those past few years. but the problem i was having was that i haven't being able to impregnate her because i thought i had a low sperm count,i had being visiting many hospital done various of test and samples but to no avail because all they could tell me was that am perfectly fine but i know that i am not fine my wife has being becoming impatient because i haven't being able to impregnate her after so many years. Things got worst each day, every seconds of my life i always think of what next to do because am being fed of me being incapable. i have come across so many health attendant who normally tell me that i have no problem. but i know that am sincerely not OK. One faithful evening when i came online in search of some people testified that he brought their Ex lover back, some testified that he restores womb, cure cancer, and other sickness, some testified that he can cast a spell to stop divorce and so on. i also come across one particular testimony, it was about a woman called Cora, she testified about how he brought back her Ex lover in less than 28 hours, he is the answer to all your problem. that is how they got help from Dr Ahmed, their wife back, how they got their husband back, how they got their low sperm on high rate with the help of Dr Ahmed i had to quickly get his email/phone number on line and contact him as soon as i could because i needed help urgently we had some talk and what i will do to get my self OK. he told me that all i had do is to get some items for purification and cleansing, i did all of those and thanks to Dr Ahmed am perfectly fine and my wife has given birth to Twins of the same sex all thanks to Dr Ahmed for his wonderful help… Contact.: E-mail: Ahmedutimate@gmail.com or call/Whats-app: +2348160153829. Curry Nathan from UK
Life-time Replacement is an element that you scarcely find, when you Buy facebook reviews. Exclusively a few decent suppliers offer this. buy 5 star facebook reviews
Love this Elle, the bag looks so useful .
Thanks Jade, it really is fab!
xx
I have that bag, you can fit so much in there. Perfect laptop bag with padded shoulder straps.
Ahh I'm so pleased you love it too!
xx
I agree with you, blogging takes a lot of motivation, and time. It's not just an easy overnight thing, it takes hard work. Those blogging essentials are like literally what any bloggers essentials are, because we can't live without our technology.
http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Not to sound like a creeper or anything *why am I typing this* but you look amazing in that skirt!
I have been wanting an Olympus Pen for the last 2 years now so I think this year is finally the year I splurge and get one 🙂
http://www.justbeingbrooklyn.com
What a lovely read!
Jill
http://www.jilldap.com
Ahaha I am exactly the same! I get so so stressed about buying anything in the least bit expensive and then genuinely end up bashing it about off everything!! I bought myself my first iPhone outright last and was freaking out at the expense and have somehow bent one side of it and it still works, to the extent that the man in the apple shop was impressed and called my phone an anomale… But fab post as always gal! xo
http://www.misszarabelle.com
That bag looks great & will keep everything safe! I'm in love with your shoes! xx
Beautylymin
Love this and going to check that bag out as I struggle carrying everything around with me and alternate cute rucksacks. You are spot on about needing passion and dedication in order to start and keep going. Having a great support team around you helps too, the people who pick you up when you lose confidence..I always advise people to start and have a go, it's only through trying things, that you can know whether there's passion there. Love your blog and wisdom gorgeous girl xxx
I loved this post, I'm always interested to know what other people's blogging essentials are as, like you said, everyone's path and methods are different. You're so right though, to have a passion for blogging is the number one thing! Looking gorge as ever too x
What Josie Did Next
Couldn't live without my portable charger, and also having a camera bag now is so useful for big shoot days!
Lauren x
Britton Loves | Lifestyle Beauty Wellbeing
Gorgeous pics! I love my Olympus pen too, just need that 45mm lens! XX
Frances Kayleigh | Beauty Fashion Travel
Hi, I really appreciate your inputs on my situation Dr happy and what could I do with-out you. Thank you in advance. I was in a relationship with this guy for the past 1 and a half year.. We became close real fast and were very serious about each other… he’s German and was in the country for his internship.. he left after first 6 months and came back after a couple of months.. he said that he had come down for me.. WE started living – in.. We discussed faMILY, KIDS, future, moving to EU together.. everything was going good until of last August when I started to get jealous about his moves, I got controlling and things started to get worse.. we spoke about it a lot of times where he expressed how he felt but I was not able to understand why I was doing that.. During our discussion I would always say I did .. This February he called it off and since then I have been a mess.. I gave it a lot of thought and realised my mistakes and why I was doing it.. I tried talking to him .. begged him.. pleaded him .. but he says that he has lost all his feelings for me and would never get back to me..I was in my knees praying looking for help, them i fine a comment online how a spell caster help to restored relationship get ex lover back, ” so i decided to give a try coz i love my boyfriend so much. so i contacted Dr happy http://happyspelltemple.webs.com/ tell him all my problem and he gave me 100%guarantee that i will have my boyfriend back after the spell so i was gifted and lucky to have contacted him i did every thing he ask of me and to my greatest surprise a day after the spell my boyfriend call me and apology for what he did to me and ask for my forgiveness to come back again for me, we both are happily living together again plz Contact him urgently via……… happylovespell2@gmail.com or add him on whats-app +2348133873774 Junia Noel from USA
I'm such a nosey person so I loved reading this and getting a little bit of an insight into your (blogging) life! That Manfrotto bag looks AMAZING, and, most of all, comfy – I think I might need to invest in something like that because my back is definitely not thanking me for carrying my camera and other heavy things with me all over London in my pretty, but not very practical, Primark bag…
Ps. You look stunning in these images – those shoes are so pretty! xx
Laura // Middle of Adventure
Seriously though, those shoes…and well, the whole outfit is just so gorge. Thanks for sharing your tips with all of us 🙂
Frankie x
http://www.joieandthevivre.com
You look great! I like your portable changer <3
MERI WILD BLOG
I've been blogging a while but always love to read posts like this in case I can learn anything new from other bloggers. That bag looks awesome – might just have to pop it on my wish list! I'm forever doing my back in trying to use unsuitable bags, but this one looks perfect. I also love the Samsung portable charger – it's so pretty and pink, and who doesn't want something that's both functional and pretty! The diary and notebook are gorgeous too. I really need to sort my blogging kit out so I can feel a bit more organised!
Jenny xx
http://www.jaffacat.co.uk
This bag is pretty perfect.
Mac, portable phone charger, Olympus pen and notebooks/diaries are musts. Most definitely! Plus, (although I'm yet to purchase) a spare camera battery or two!
Caroline.x
http://www.carolineelgeywhite.com
Amazing love spell that work fast. My husband is the love of my life and I’ve always been attracted to him. We’ll be married 17 years this June. Recently I found out he was having an affair with another woman for about a few months. I was devastated. I honestly didn’t think he was capable of that. At first when i confronted him he was sorry and said he still loved me and wanted to work things out. That they were just friends messing around but he’ll stop. I found it strange though that he wouldn’t cut him off even after I asked him to. Eventually I caught him again messaging each other and he basically made up his mind that he’s not happy in our marriage and wants to be with his girlfriend. I was crushed… I hope I’ll get over this. The pain really really sucks like a part of you is lost. It’s the whole “I love you but not in love with you thing”. I’m pretty sure he’s gonna want a divorce soon. We also have 2 kids and it’s tearing them apart:i have been crying all my life hoping my husband could change for good i love and adore my husband coz he mean the whole world to me, i have ask for help from different places but all they do is take my money with out any good result i was so frustrated that i was about to give up on him and fight to accept that he is gone forever. one very good morning i was chatting with a friend of my on facebook there i come across this amazing and wonderful testimony on how a lady got her ex back save her marriage with the help of love spell, generated and cast by Dr happy i was so very happy to see the good work of this spell caster so i directly and urgently email him, do all he ask of me and today by his power i can testify that my husband is back home again with out signing the divorce paper any more he really show me that there is a second chance in life am so very happy to have my husband back if you have any similar problem as my, fine it difficult to get pregnant, get your ex back and fix your broken marriage contact him http://happyspelltemple.webs.com/ for more details email…..happylovespell2@gmail.com or add him on whats-app +2348133873774
My camera, to do lists and tripod are my blogging essentials x
Heather | Of Beauty & Nothingness x
This is certainly a shocking and a genuine Testimony. I visited a forum here on the internet on the 8TH OF APRIL 2017, And I saw a marvelous testimony of this powerful great spell caster called DR Omoluyi on the forum. I never believed it, because I've never heard nor learnt anything about magic before. Not a soul would have been able to influence me about spells, not until i visited ( doctoromoluyispelltemple@gmail.com ) and behold he did it for me and restored my marriage of 6 years back to me and brought my spouse back to me within 12 to 16 hours just as I have read on the forum.. I was truly astonished and shocked when my husband knelt down begging me for forgiveness to accept him back. I am really short of expressions, and I don't know how much to convey my appreciation to you DR Omoluyi, you are a God sent to me and my entire family. Visit him today via Email and Website on ( doctoromoluyispelltemple@gmail.com ) or [ http://www.doctorokpamenspells.com ]. Am Lori Dante by name.
Loveeee all these tips <3
http://victorialouisekblogs.blogspot.co.uk/
Victoria
X
Hi everyone!!!HOW I GOT MY WIFE BACK/MY BABY WITH THE HELP OF Dr. AHMED
I have being married to my wife for the past 3 years and 9 months we have obviously being living fine for those past few years. but the problem i was having was that i haven't being able to impregnate her because i thought i had a low sperm count,i had being visiting many hospital done various of test and samples but to no avail because all they could tell me was that am perfectly fine but i know that i am not fine my wife has being becoming impatient because i haven't being able to impregnate her after so many years. Things got worst each day, every seconds of my life i always think of what next to do because am being fed of me being incapable. i have come across so many health attendant who normally tell me that i have no problem. but i know that am sincerely not OK. One faithful evening when i came online in search of some people testified that he brought their Ex lover back, some testified that he restores womb, cure cancer, and other sickness, some testified that he can cast a spell to stop divorce and so on. i also come across one particular testimony, it was about a woman called Cora, she testified about how he brought back her Ex lover in less than 28 hours, he is the answer to all your problem. that is how they got help from Dr Ahmed, their wife back, how they got their husband back, how they got their low sperm on high rate with the help of Dr Ahmed i had to quickly get his email/phone number on line and contact him as soon as i could because i needed help urgently we had some talk and what i will do to get my self OK. he told me that all i had do is to get some items for purification and cleansing, i did all of those and thanks to Dr Ahmed am perfectly fine and my wife has given birth to Twins of the same sex all thanks to Dr Ahmed for his wonderful help… Contact.: E-mail: Ahmedutimate@gmail.com or call/Whats-app: +2348160153829.
Curry Nathan from UK
Life-time Replacement is an element that you scarcely find, when you Buy facebook reviews. Exclusively a few decent suppliers offer this. buy 5 star facebook reviews
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