Easy Ways To Save Money At Walt Disney World

When it comes to the topic of Disney World I think one thing that always springs to peoples minds immediately is money. 
Yes, it's true, heading to Orlando is not the cheapest of holidays, I mean it cost me a ridiculous $2 for ONE banana last time I was there... don't ask... and that's after the flights, hotels, park tickets and 57 plush toys I wanted to buy!

10 Things Still On My Walt Disney World Bucket List

No matter how many times I go to WDW, there will always and forever be an ever-growing list of things I want to see, do, eat and experience across the world of Disney. So here are ten things still on my Walt Disney World bucket list...

Six Ways I've Managed To Reduce My Monthly Outgoings

The last few months have been tough.
It may look glamorous to work from home, own your own business, be your own boss and live on the internet - but it's not easy. (no I'm not a full-time blogger.... if only haha!)

Taking knocks left, right and centre at one point really hit me hard and I kind of thought... what have I done to deserve this? I've worked my ass off since I was 15 and I'm really trying, but there is no use feeling this way - it could always be worse, I know that.

So over these months I've learnt to tightened those purse strings every so slightly and have learnt to live an adult life (aka not living a home with the 'rents) on a serious budget.
I thought maybe this post could help a few of you, maybe are in a similar position, want to pay off some debt or just looking to save some money each month!

Debt Managed - Going Interest Free!
When it comes to 'debt' I'm not in a terrible hole. I had one credit card, an overdraft, a store account, a phone contract - you know the usual. But I wanted a way to be able to save the money I was having to fork out each month to pay them off...... so I applied for a balance transfer interest free credit card. 
Surprisingly to me, I was accepted and I managed to move over the majority of my credit card sum to the new card which has 18 months 0% interest... saving me a lot of money for the next year and a half! Plus I have also paid off my store/online account too which is yet another weight off my shoulders!
If you're paying the minimum payment on your credit card and seeing near enough the same amount go on in interest each month look into the options available to you - I found Money Saving Expert really helpful for this and I use ClearScore to check my credit rating monthly which I highly recommend you do too!

Planning My Food Shops & Meals
Instead of heading to the shops 4 or 5 times a week and picking up bits and bobs I have been striving to go on a main grocery shop just once a week. I like to use my weekly planner (pictured) to breakdown what I'm going to have each day and therefore work out what I need to buy! Being boring old me I do tend to eat a lot of the same things which doesn't make shopping too difficult.... it's just a pain that eating healthy tends to cost slightly more.

Use It Up 
This kind of links to the above point. I try and look through my cupboards, fridge and freezer before planning my meals and writing any shopping lists to ensure I've using up as much as I already have as possible. 
Have you ever come home from a shop gone to put, say, a bag of pasta away only to be greeted by the exact same bag already in the cupboard? THAT is what I'm trying to avoid! 
This isn't just for food either. Beauty products have always been my downfall and I got into the routine of "it's on offer, I'll buy it", even if it was shampoo and even if I already had three open bottles half used in the shower. So it's now - "there's none left, I need to buy more." before I invest!

Bye Bye Unnecessary Direct Debits
When I get paid, before I buy anything for myself, I pay every single bill I have, minus my direct debits which go out throughout the month.
Over the last few months though I have completely cut down the amount of DD's I have flying out of my account including NowTV, Audible and annoyingly... my gym membership - these were payments that, unfortunately, weren't essential to my life and I knew I could live without them. (Netflix you were lucky.... I NEEDED PLL.... now you're on thin ice!)

The Monthly List
At the start of each month I have been writing a list of things I will, without a doubt, have to splash out on. Things like boat fares (yes I live on an island), birthday cards/presents for loved ones, if my shower gel is running low.... you get the picture! I then try get everything bought asap so I can evaluate how much money I have left for the remainder of the month!

The Money Diary
I've tried these before and given up very quickly.... but what I have going on now seems to be working - I actually remember to add to it! Each payment I make I write down, at the end of each month I can then see what purchases weren't necessary and I can avoid it the next month. I do like to try and withdraw cash to use each week though as I feel like it makes spending a lot harder, you think a lot more if you have to work out if you have enough pennies in your purse!

Got any tips? Send them my way!

Want to chat or see more? Find me below :

Twitter - @alohakirstie

Instagram - @alohakirstie

Facebook - /AlohaKirstie

Universal Studios / Islands Of Adventure Q & A

As you probably know already, if you follow me on any form of social media, last month I was lucky enough to go to Orlando, Florida for the third time!
I seriously LOVE going to Orlando, it really is my happy place - so I thought what better than bringing that love over to my blog with a couple of fun Q&As! These questions are ones I've been asking over on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and a few that I have been asked more than once in real life by friends/family!

Did you stay in one place for both Disney and Universal? If so, which location is best to stay?
I personally always stay on site at Disneyworld. I've stayed at the Pop Century Resort three times now and love it - it's in a great location and it makes life so much easier.
As there are 6 Disney parks compared to just the two (nearly three) parks at Universal for me it is a lot more cost effective to stay at Disney and just travel to Universal on the days we wanted to visit. Booking with Disneyholidays your tickets for Disney are added to your package so it makes it all a lot easier that way.

What do you wear?
I'm a big fan of shorts! Getting on and off rides (sitting with your legs open on some), walking all day, getting soaked on water rides .... dresses, for me, are just not ideal for a theme park! I love wearing shorts (obviously as long as it is warm enough, which 9 times out of 10 it is) - although not denim as they are a nightmare when trying to dry after rides like Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls or Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges! Playsuits are also fab to wear - just always a longer experience when going for a wee! After this recent trip aswell I am a strong believer in the backpack! I bought a mini backpack from Forever 21 and it was a godsend! I love having my hands free whilst walking round and it was such a great size for all my daily essentials e.g. phone, small purse, tissues, anti-bac, suncream, lipstick etc!
Last but not least .... TRAINERS! I wear trainers every single time I go to Universal. With all the walking and different rides I live in them for both practicality and comfort! I wore my Nike Roshe nearly every single day of my two week holiday!

What are your top 5 favourite rides at Universal?
Ahhh this is a toughy but I would have to go for the following five (in no particular order!) : 

• The Incredible Hulk Coaster
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Revenge of the Mummy
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
• Dragon Challenge

Anything you wish you'd taken/known before you went? 

As I had been twice previously I was pretty prepared for what to take with me! The only thing I would have packed more of is... snacks! I took a Clif bar most days but all the walking and I guess adrenaline just made me so hungry!

Where do you buy your tickets?

I ALWAYS buy my tickets for Universal before I head to Orlando. Attraction Tickets Direct* offer a fantastic offer of a 2 week park hopper. This means you can use your ticket for 14 consecutive days, from the first use, as many times as you want for Universal Studios, Islands Of Adventure and from May 2017 Volcano Bay (their brand new water park!).
This was perfect for our holiday, we actually went to Universal four days out of the 14 we were there, as we just love it, so we definitely got our monies worth! The 2/3 park explorer tickets are £227 per adult - which is a bargain compared to the prices you'd pay on the door!

How do you get to Universal?
As we stayed at Disneyworld we were around a 20 minute drive from Universal. This holiday we decided to try Uber to get in and out of the Disney resort ... which was the best desicion ever! Uber is so super easy and around half (if not less) the price of using the taxi firm out there. As there is wifi at Universal it's easy to order your Uber on your way out and there is always someone near by, I highly recommend this app if you don't hire a car when in Orlando or fancy a drink - it will save you so much money plus the cars are nice and most drivers are super friendly!

How long should the trip be so you feel you've had enough time to see it all?
I think this question is aimed at Orlando in general. 
Each time I have been I have been for two weeks and I feel like that is enough time to do and see more or less everything you want if you're organised. (unless you are queuing for rides for 5/6 hours a day, which I never do) I always have a plan for where we are going each day, have meals booked up to 6 months in advance and really do make a list of everything I want to include on my trip, it makes life so much easier when you are there.

What is the first thing you do when you go to Universal?
My boyfriend and I always do the same route everytime we go to Universal. We get there around 30mins before opening and head to IOA. As soon as that rope goes own we walk (fast) straight to Hogsmeade (WWOHP) and usually go on the Forbidden Journey then as it can get really busy, we then do everything HP - Dragon Challenge/look round/get photos etc before walking through to Jurrasic Park and then make our way round the park that way until we are back at the entrance (just past Hulk). 
We then either walk out and walk round to Universal Studios (which is next door if you didn't know) or we head to the train station to get the Hogwarts Express to Kings Cross (aka Universal Studios/Diagon Alley) which takes about ten minutes or so in total - minus queuing.
Once at Universal studios we usually head to Springfield for some lunch and then take the rest of the day as it comes, usually heading to rides based on wait times!

Have you ever bought a fast pass for Universal? Was it worth it?
Yes! Our first day at Universal this trip we decided to invest in a Fastpass for the day as it looked fairly busy.
This was the greatest idea.
Even though they are fairly expensive (around $100 each) it really was worth it for that day. We bought the pass in which you can go on the rides as many times as you like via fast pass, there is another version which is just 1 x fastpass per ride. (Do be aware that there are some rides excluded from these passes.)
For us this was totally worth it on this day, it was so nice to just stroll onto the ride, especially when the queues for rides were upto 120 minutes.
Don't get me wrong though these aren't always needed - the other three times we went to Universal we didn't bother with the passes and got on everything we wanted in a wait time of 30 minutes or less minus Gringotts which took us 40mins ish on one of the days.

Did you use Hogwarts Express and travel between the two parks? If so how did you use it i.e. Back and forth or as your 'commute' to the park?

Ahh I mentioned this earlier on. Yes we do use the Hogwarts Express to travel between the two parks. We have only ever used it to commute - never back and forth, in my opinion that would be a waste of time, just use it when you need it.
This time it was closed a couple of times when we were there so we just walked round. As we had done it a few times already this didn't bother me.

What do you personally recommend and don't recommend? 
I personally recommend the following :
Packing your own snacks, buying souvenirs at the end of your day, fast passing if it's super busy, wearing a bag you don't have to carry with your hands/arms, wearing trainers, getting a photopass, exploring Universal CityWalk, buying a poncho for Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls or Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges, packing suncream, going to WWOHP first.

I personally don't recommend the following :
Buying your tickets on the door, arriving long after opening time (10am/11am), wearing flip-flops, wearing lots of make-up, queuing long for King Kong.

What are your top tips for Universal?
This is pretty similar to the previous question so I'm just going to give my five top tips :
1. Arrive before opening time ready and raring for that rope drop.
2. Plan your day - try and know your route and where you are aiming to go next.
3. Download the app to find out wait times and news whenever you are in the park throughout the day. (Great to know what to avoid if closed/delayed) 
4. Wear comfortable clothing/footwear that doesn't take long to dry.
5. Buy your tickets before you arrive in Orlando. (This is where I got mine)


If there is anything I haven't covered or something you'd love to know leave a comment below or tweet me @alohakirstie!

*ATD were kind enough to gift me with a ticket to Universal for my trip this year, we of course purchased our other ticket with them too as the offer is fantasticulous! We had THE best time ever so thank you ATD :)

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5 Ways To Make Your Blog & Social Channels Easier For PR Companies

As most of you will already know I work in PR and social media (and LOVE it),  and I also, obviously, run this blog! It's so fun being both sides of the e-mails and I really enjoy interacting with fellow bloggers as well as fellow PR companies!
In my time within this industry I have talked to many fellow bloggers (and yes they are all total babes)!
When it comes to contacting and organising bloggers, I have noticed there can be a few things that hinder a company or brand getting the information they need so I thought why not write out a few TOP things for you guys to ensure you are including all the information that's needed!
Check out these 5 EASY bits and bobs below.....

Tell Us Your Name
Yes, you would think this would be a total given, but yet there are still blogs out there where there is actually no indication at all of what the writers name is.
 I hate having to write "Hi there" in my e-mails and one of my personal pet hates is getting e-mailed "Dear ayellowbrickblog".
I mean fair enough if you want to keep anonymous or not use your real name, but make sure there is something that we can call you by! I have been on Blogs, Twitters, Instagrams and more of the same person and still have no clue what their name is or what to call them!

Social Media - the kings of the internet
It is always fabulous to have your social media channels in plain sight on your blog and even better if your followings for each are showing! Being able to find all your platforms in one place is a life saver.... believe me!
(Oh and for the love of God... get them to open in a new tab :)

UK? North, South, East, West?
Now this one is handy for event invites!
If PR companies are looking for bloggers in a certain area it's great for them to be able to see if you are close enough or not!  I'm not saying give up your street name, postcode or even town but just the area you live in makes it so much easier for PR companies to send you relevant e-mails that may be of interest to you - Manchester, London, North West, South East, Isle Of Wight....  it's always good to know - even if it's just on your Twitter or Instagram!

Contacting YOU
It's all well and good finding your blog and loving your content - but if you want to be involved in PR opportunities, having your e-mail address prominent on your blog/social is essential.
Having a 'Contact Me' section is always perfect.... one where you have a contactable e-mail address too not a form to fill out ;)
Including it in your social media bios is also perfect - it makes life ALOT easier and saves so much time.

Searching...
Having a search option within your blog is also a fantastic addition and useful tool for people looking to work with you. It gives them access to be able to find any relevant content you may have created previously.

These may all seem SO super obvious but you may be surprised to know I sit there weekly looking at blogs unable to find names, e-mail address or even if they have a Twitter or not!
Do let me know if you'd like any other PR themed posts, or maybe if you have any questions at all!


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5 Things To Do Before You Head To Orlando

Why hello there my fellow Disney/Universal/Orlando lovers! I'm back once more talking all things holiday and excitement!

If you didn't know already I am heading back to my motherland in March ready for another amazing holiday full of Mickey, Harry and everything in-between!

I'm always asked so many questions when it comes to Disneyworld etc, especially from people booking their first trip or wanting to know what's best to do, wear, pack - so I thought it was about time I wrote yet another post on the magical land of Orlando and how you can make your trip that little bit easier, better and cheaper!

So, here's five things to do before you get on that plane!

1. Have a plan
As annoying is that is - it really is better to have one, even if it's a vague basic idea of what you're going to do!
If you're staying at a Disney hotel I would highly advise heading to the parks with 'Magic Hours' each day - that extra hour in the morning really is amazing for avoiding huge queues and getting on those rides maybe you wouldn't be able too in normal peak times.
When it comes to Disneyworld - booking dinners and Fastpass's is also essential! 
Again, if you're staying at a Disney resort hotel this is easy - just get the My Disney Experience app and you can book your meals 6 months in advance and your fast passes 90 days in advance! This sounds crazy but it is a must, you won't get into Be Our Guest unless your booked - I booked ours last week which was 6 months in advance and there was only 3 dinner times to choose from!

Fastpassing is also the guaranteed way to get on those busy rides and avoiding the hours and hours of queuing! You get three a day so use them wisely (Mine train, the 3 mountains, TOT and Toy Story are always super busy so make sure they are included in your choices!)

When it comes to Universal the way that works for us is starting at Islands Of Adventure, getting there about 45/30minutes before the gates open and queuing then going straight to Hogsmeade (yes... we've been known to run) - doing everything there and then working our way back down to the Marvel area before getting the train over to Universal Studios!

2. Buy your tickets
I CANNOT tell you enough to buy.your.tickets.before.you.go.
With our booking our Disneyworld tickets were included but if you are planning on staying in an apartment/villa/off Disneyworld property then you 100% need to buy your 2 week/1 week tickets before going!
This is the same with Universal - buying a 2 week pass here in the UK is SO SO much cheaper than even trying to get a two-day pass once in Orlando!
The perfect place to do this is Attraction Tickets Direct - check them out for all your ticket needs and save yourself the money and the stress of paying full price on site! 

3. Organise your transfers
This is probably an obvious one and a tiny detail but make sure your journey from landing to your new bed for the next week or two is seamless!
 If you're staying with Disney this is included with Disney's Magical Express which drops you to your hotel from the airport on a fun-filled coach BUT you do have to confirm your place on these - so make sure you have that sorted before you jet off!

4. Invest in handy bags and comfortable shoes
Probably my number one piece of advice - the right shoes and bags can make or break your trip!
For me trainers are probably my number one go-to footwear for walking round the parks all day! (and luckily they are in fashion right now!) You are on your feet alot so flip-flops, unless super comfy, can be a pain! Aswell as comfort, trainers are a little bit more secure for when you are on big rides at places like Universal... no sandals flying off half way round!
Bags are also a big thing for me when I'm away - with posing for photos, grabbing your phone and wanting you hands free at all times a handbag really isn't the one - I like to go for a cute across body bag and my boyfriend usually takes a backpack for us both to pop in extra clothes and snacks!

5. Save, save, save!
Yup, it's true you're going to need money - and if you want to have a relaxed vacation, not worrying about each and every purchase, it's always better to save too much than not enough!
Obviously seen damn Brexit the exchange rate hasn't been as fantastic as it was but maybe it will improve soon.. who knows!
On our last trip my boyfriend and I took $3000 ... yes this might seem like alot but we didn't want to have to think too much about the money we were spending! We work hard so why not?
This was $1000 each to buy/do what we wanted and also $1000 for our food, wallmart trips, dinners out etc.

I hope this has been some help to some of you - if you enjoy these Orlando/Disneyworld posts do let me know!

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5 Things To Remember When You're Having A Bad Blogging Week

As you may have noticed.... A Yellow Brick Blog has been very quiet recently.

Something that I hate but right now with work and general life plans I'm running out of spare time and brain power to create and write.
This makes me so super sad and I hate looking at my bloglovin' seeing that my last post was 7 days ago - shame on me, I'm just not used to being this slack with it all!

I know I'm not the only one who struggles with not only time but ideas and thoughts for posts! I'll have days where I'm bursting at the seams with fun post ideas but at the same time I have weeks where I just cannot muster up the words or energy to throw myself onto my keyboard and type away.

My '5 Things' posts always seem to have a great reaction and I love writing tips/advice/chatty posts - in fact I prefer doing them to your bog standard beauty review (which have been very thin on the ground here for a while now... I'm sorry!)

So, let's talk blogger's block and what to remember when it hits!

1. We All Have Them
Yes, it's true! From the blogging beginners to the full-time blogging babes - we ALL have those phases now and again where we just.... can't!
 Can't think of anything to write, can't get our photos just right, can't seem to persevere with that ever-growing to-do list.
I'm been suffering alot recently - I think working online full-time may have something to do with it - and I've had an overwhelming sense of panic that I have no content scheduled, written or even planned! The less I do the less I feel I can do ... time to shake it off!

2. It Doesn't Mean You're A Rubbish Blogger
It took me a long time to realise this.
There's been many a time I've thought to myself - how can I call myself a blogger when I'm sat here with an empty brain and 5 posts going up a month, I'm pants! 
But the reality is.... I'm not a rubbish blogger it's just a short mini break while I adjust my thoughts and get back on the blogging wagon - I mean look how many posts I've uploaded in the past - I'm not pants, I'm pretty darn cool.

3. Look Back At How Far You've Already Come
Exactly! Just because you're having a bad week doesn't mean you're heading back to square one.... in fact, I bet at least 75% of your readers and followers won't even notice you haven't uploaded, unless you tell them! 

4. There Is Always Someone To Talk To!
Well....  there's never a shortage of blogging buddies - especially on Twitter. The amount of times I've expressed my stresses and blogging woes and feelings on there and had support thrown my ways within minutes - everyone's felt it and will assure you it will pass and you'll be back to you're usual awesome self in no time!

5. It Will Pass
It will. You'll be back typing away until your fingers ache before you know it and you'll wonder just where that motivation and those ideas were hiding! 
Don't stress, even if it's a month or even two, just give yourself time and don't force yourself into writing content - it will never be as good as the stuff that comes naturally!

Keep with it and don't you worry!

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Easy Ways To Put A Smile On Your Face

1. Don't Waste Your Free Time
Have a passion? Hobby that you adore? Whether it's singing, painting, writing, running, whatever ... spend as much of your free time doing things that you love as you can. It's good for the sole and will improve your state of happiness no end. Even sitting here right now writing this, watching a Disney movie and drinking tea I feel a state of calm and happiness.

2. Write Down Your Achievements - No Matter How Small
Made someone smile? Beat your 5km personal best? Went for a whole week without chocolate? Write them all down in a notebook, as you fill up the days you can see what you've been doing and look back and your accomplishments and remember what you are capable of!

3. Spend More Time With The People You Love
I'm the first person to rejoice when someone cancels plans on me ... 'Yes, book and bed!' are my first thoughts but really spending time with the people you love is always bound to put you in a better mood. 
As much as you might want to get into your pyjamas and put cucumber on your eyes there's nothing better than a girly night in, catching up and talking about what's going on in Gerodie Shore  or spending the night playing monnopoly with your family - you'll be grateful afterwards.

4. Make That Happy Playlist
I've talked about this before on here. Everyone should have a 'Happy' playlist. A playlist full of songs that put a smile on your face, make you sing along and bring back amazing memories! Having a down day or a stressful afternoon at work? Put this on and go for a walk, fresh air and happy music will sort you right out and get you out of that funk.

5. Book Something
I don't know about you but having something to look forward too and aim towards always makes me smile. I booked V Festival last month which is so super exciting and I know having a holiday to countdown to is enough to make anyone smile..... fingers crossed it won't be too long until I've booked my own. (#prayingforDisneyworld)

6. Head To Your Favourite Spot
Mine's the beach near my house - so many happy memories and so relaxing. Just head to your happy place...... even if it's Primark and enjoy.

7. Look Through Old Photos
This is the best. Whether it be physical photos of your childhood or those hilarious teenage shots on Facebook from 2007 - looking back on old memories and fantastic hairstyle regrets will make you smile.

8. Have A Clearout
The best way to lift weight from your life - de-clutter and organise. You'll feel 100 times better afterwards, espically if you give your unwanted things to others.

9. Pamper Yourself
'Me' time is the best - have a few hours marathon watching your favourite movies/TV shows, eat your favourite foods, paintyour nails, pop on a face mask or glam yourself up..... all those things you always want to do but never make time for. 

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Blogging Bits To Invest In

So I held a poll on Twitter the other day asking what post everyone would like to see next! At straight to the top was "The blogging bits to invest in".... so... I give the people what they ask for!

I've been blogging now for nearly 3 years (which I can't quite believe, three bloomin' years!) and over that time I've bought every single little thing you could probably imagine for my blog. I've got bits and bobs coming out of my ears, some used, some a waste of time! So I thought I'd pop together an easy list of 3 things that are worth spending your money on!

Crisp Flavour Pencils, Kick Ass Notepad & Sticky Notes - Ohh Deer*

Backdrops

The number one thing to buy in my eyes! Ever wonder how bloggers always seem to have that fabulous pure white background? Or a gorgeous marble patterned backdrop for their images? Maybe you've admired the gorgeous white wooden floorboards bloggers seem to have running through their homes?

Well..... no. 9 times out of 10 these are a trick of the camer and no more than an easy peasy sticky back plastic paper.... like this one - here!

I used a large oversized white card for years which was only £5 from my local stationary store and it worked a charm! (Fab for someone likeme who has black furniture throughout her home... not quite the same effect as clean white!)

My marble backdrop has become my blogging lifeline - and it was such a bargain! There are so many different versions on amazon I'm going to start switching them up soon!

(The illusion is over... that is what blogging really looks like!)
Lighting

Now.... this isn't the cheapest thing to invest in but I'm happily say it changed my blogging life.

 If you're looking to take your posts to the next level and want to take your blog seriously I highly recommend investing in some soft box lighting. (Example)

This is probably the best thing (minus my DSLR camera) that I've bought to enhance and improve my blogs images. 

Remember your photos are what draw readers in, small, dark images are enough to make anyone click off and ignore anything you've written - which is not what you want!

No matter what day or time I decide to start a good old photo session I have amazing bright light to work with, making my photos clear, even and saving me SO much time. (Natural light can be a pain in the butt... especially in the UK.)

Stationary

Now this will be your best friend for two reasons.
 1. Blogging is about being creative, having ideas and getting everything from that brain of yours onto a screen. The amount of notes I write myself, posts I plan out on paper and schedules I jot down is unreal!

Having notebooks, sticky notes, pens and diaries at my constant reach is a must.... and if they look cute - even better!
2. Stationary isn't only fab for storing all those creatives ideas and dreams - it is also fab for using as image props! cute notebooks, pens and all sorts end up making their way into my photos! A win-win situation really!
Top Tip : TK Maxx always have the cutest range of notebooks ... here's some I've picked up recently.

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Blogging Behind The Scenes : How I Take My Blog Photos

Photography is a huge part of blogging. No matter what anyone else says - photography can make or break a blog in my opinion.

I've been very conscious of my blog photos since starting A Yellow Brick Blog and I'm sure I'm not the only person who has felt this way.
Looking at other bloggers, their amazing set-ups (crisp white, gorgeous lighting, pretty flower arrangements... you know the drill) and their awesome camera skills I've not felt great about my own work alot of the time! (Silly I know but comparison just comes naturally to me!)

It's only been the last few months or so that I've started to feel 'okay' about my photos and that's all down to my new little set up I've put together.

A few people who I know in 'real life' have said to me "your flat looks so lovely, so white and pretty" - to this I cannot help but laugh. It is incredible how much influence one photo can give.... as you can see above all it is is a cheeky bit of thick white card.

That's right - it cost me £5 and has lasted me for MONTHS! All I do is pop this onto my ottoman in my lounge, push it up against the wall and - Bobs your uncle, the perfect backdrop to pop anything onto!

I use a soft box light alongside this as lighting truly is key when it comes to blog photography - it really does transform a picture. 

Normally the light is facing the wall not to the side as the photo above shows. (I just wanted to show you it all in one photo)

 This light was from Amazon but I actually bought it off of a lovely blogger who had two but really only needed one - so it was a total bargain and has totally changed the way I do my photos! One of the best things now is that I don't have to wait for daylight - I can take photos whenever I want - which is great as I am at work 5 days a week adn evenings most of the time are more practical! 

With this plain backdrop I really can transform it into anything - I've used everything from books to candles to hairbands to help create an aesthetically pleasing backdrop for the products (or whatever it may be) that I am photographing and I really do try to mix it up!

The camera I use is the Canon 700D which is a DSLR and I LOVE it! One of the best investments I've ever made, I'm still learning constantly with it though as I'm no professional ha!

A few of my photos with my new set up....

So there we have it, there's your sneak peek into my blog photos and what goes into making them..... I'm sorry if the illusion has been ruined for some of you!

Let me know what you thought of this post - I'd love to do some more 'behind the scenes' type posts!

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10 Things You Need To Pack For Disneyworld

Okay so you can probably tell I've had Disneyworld on the brain ALOT recently! The thought of being able to book my next trip in just a few months has got me so excited and constantly thinking about it! (I just need to keep the boyfriend on board until we book....)

I see so many people tweeting about DW at the moment and have had a few people ask me questions and for some advice over the last few weeks, so I thought I'd share a bit of Kirstie experience with the 10 things that are a MUST in my suitcase.

Comfortable Trainers

If there's one thing you are going to do alot of whilst in Orlando it is walking! I always take a variety of shoes with me but I always seem to throw on whatever trainers/converse I have when heading to a park for the day!

 Comfy footwear is a must when heading out for the day, I couldn't imagine walking around in a pair of flip-flops for hours and hours on end, my feet would ache so much! (Saying this though a simple pair of flip-flops is a must for the pools and water parks, easy slip on sandals make life a whole lot easier)

Sunglasses

You are heading to the sunshine state and even if you end up going in storm season - you are still going to see some sunshine at least (you would hope!).

 I cannot live without a pair of sunglasses, if the weather is super hot aswell you may not want to wear any make-up.... this is where they come in even handier!

Hands-Free Bag

Disneyworld is one of the most exciting places on earth so you are constantly going to be seeing and doing things so having a bag that you have to take on and off or put it down and pick it up again, when doing something, is probably the most annoying thing ever! 

I always take a small across-body bag to keep all my essentials in! I can wear it all day and not have it get in the way and all my possessions are easily accessible! You don't want to be putting your handbag down everytime you want to take a photo or a selfie!

A Towel

A total must for the pools (if staying on site) and water parks! Not only are you fully prepared and don't haave to rent one but you can spot your stuff easily out of the huge aray of sun loungers there! The towel in the picture below is the one I took with me and it came in so handy!

 A Poncho

Orlando is known for it's sunshine... and showers! My boyfriend and I were caught in the rain almost everyday when we went last year and a poncho was something we hadn't thought of packing. This meant we spent about $8/10 or so each on buying a Disneyworld poncho! What we really should have done was bought a couple of bargains ones before we went and popped them in our bags! Save yourself some money - you will probably only chuck it away after anyway!

Anti-Bac Hand Gel

Disneyworld is host to thousands and thousands of people a day and you will be touching alot of the same stuff as those strangers so, for me, anti-bac is in my bag 24/7 without question! Something to pop on my hands after going on rides and before I eat!

Suncream & Aftersun

Even if the sky is cloudy - you are still going to be affected by the sun. I went to Blizzard Beach on a seriously cloudy day and came back with sunburn! A sensible factored suncream and aftersun is vital for a trip to Florida! 

A Small Purse

Like I said before, I only like to take a small handy-sized bag with me to the parks, so with that comes a small purse! You don't need all your cards and bits and bobs with you (especially if you have your magic band linked to your bank account!) so I just like to take a small coin purse to pop all of my money into.

Brand New Perfume

I've said this many times on here - a brand new perfume on a holiday is a must for me! That way the scent will forever remind you of your amazing trip away :) Can't find one before you go? Grab one in the airport before you depart, that's what I did!

Portable Phone Charger

Yes, you don't want to forever be on your phone while you are on holiday - but there will be a few things you will need on there. 

For me it was mostly my camera (obviously) and my Disney Experience app! The app helps you organise your whole trip - from fast passes to park timings to restaurant bookings! It's handy to have that to look at at all times so running out of charge isn't an option! You can get these charging sticks so cheap nowadays and they are so easy to just chuck in your handbag!

What's top of your packing list?

You might also like :

A Few Disneyworld Top Tips

The Disneyworld Tag

Florida Haul 2014

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