Blog Camera Shopping

Please excuse this lower-quality image, I had to use my iPhone to capture my new camera.

After weeks of researching, debating, and trying various cameras, I finally settled on a new camera!

I get lots of emails from people asking how they can improve their blog or get into blogging more generally. Honestly, I think having great images is one of the most important components of a successful blog. Blogs and social media are image heavy and if you want to get noticed you are going to need original, high-quality images. That means you either need to hire a photographer (which is not very affordable when you are first starting out), or invest in a good camera and teach yourself some basic photography skills.

I love photography, so investing in a camera and learning more about photography has been the most enjoyable byproduct of blogging for me. I look forward to thinking about the lighting, composition, and overall vibe of the shot I am trying to achieve. It is a much-needed creative outlet.

My initial investment was small(ish). I purchased a refurbished Nikon D3100 off Amazon. I quickly learned, however, that if I wanted the "blurry background" I coveted of professional images (also known as bokeh), I needed to invest in a good lens. Lenses are what make the difference. Of course a $3,000 camera will take a better picture than a $400 camera, but with a great lens, you can get a hell of a lot closer! To get a blurry background, the hallmark of the fashion blogger photo, you want a lens with a low aperture. My first low aperture lens was this Nikor 50mm 1.8G lens (that 1.8 is how low the aperture will go).

After a year of shooting with a 50mm on a camera that was not full frame, I decided to invest in the 35mm Sigma Art lens. Now, this one was an investment, but what a difference it made. The difference between the 35 and 50mm is the focal length. Both are prime lenses (a fancy way of saying they don't zoom in or out), but the 35mm has a longer focal length. Simply put from the same spot, you might only get my upper body shooting with a 50mm, but from that same spot with a 35mm you might be able to get my entire body.

With any hobby/activity, the more I learned, the more lenses and cameras I wanted. One of the best ways to shop for cameras is to rent. You can easily rent a camera and a lens for three days to get a feel of how it works and if you like it. After renting a couple nicer camera models, I decided that whatever camera I purchased next, I wanted a full frame. A full frame camera has larger and more advanced sensors, so you get more image and depth of field from a closer range.

After a couple trials and lots of internet researching, I pretty much had my heart set on upgrading to the Nikon D610. My rational - It's full frame, has better focusing sensors, and will work with the lenses I already own. Then Kelly and I popped into our local Best Buy to purchase (Kelly was set on the Canon 6D, which is Canon's version of the Nikon D610). While there, however, we met an associate named Emmett who made us doubt every decision we had ever made.

Emmett introduced us to Sony's line of mirrorless, full-frame cameras, the A7, A7r, and A7rii. I was an easier sell than Kelly, because Sony's new technology gave me everything I wanted in a camera AND it was smaller and lighter weight, which is perfect for travel. The Sony also has this amazing focusing tool called peaking, that I instantly loved.

Basically, he explained how all three cameras, the Nikon D610, Canon 6D, and Sony A7, were all capable of producing the same image. Once I conquered my fear of the unknown, I was completely sold on the Sony. I have had the camera for a couple weeks now and it is amazing! And bonus, with an adaptor, I can use all of my old Nikon lenses. If you are looking for a good camera for blogging that won't break the bank, I highly recommend it. It is also a great and less-expensive alternative to the more well known Leica mirrorless cameras.

One final note on cameras and blog-tography. There is no point in investing in a good camera if you shoot on automatic. Shooting on manual and learning camera basics (like aperture, shutter speed, and iso) is a game-changer. If you are feeling intimidated, I suggest starting with some cheatsheets like these.

If your like me then your search for a blog camera likely started with Googling "best camera for blogging." Let me tell you, those results were overwhelming and not helpful. While I am far from a professional, I feel like I have learned a ton and hopefully sharing my experiences and what I learned along the way can help someone else.

Expect to see a lot of amazing pictures of Europe this summer with my new camera!

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Hyde Park's New Gem

hat // sunnies // c/o earrings // jacket // dress (homemade, similar here) // purse // bangle // bracelet // ring // shoes


As I have mentioned before, my favorite area in town, Hyde Park Village, is going through something of a rebirth. In addition to Bar Taco and Sprinkles, the Village is now home to a gorgeous new Kendra Scott store. Last Friday Kelly and I were invited to their soft opening. We both immediately fell in love with the store; it is absolutely stunning. But, the only thing prettier than the store are the bright baubles it holds.

I don't wear a lot of jewelry, but I loved everything in the store! Plus, since almost all of the pieces are gold, rose-gold, or silver plated, I can wear everything without discomfort (I have an allergy). I was instantly smitten with the Elle Earrings in ivory pearl and gold. Kendra Scott uses only gorgeous and bright natural stones. I also loved the Erica Bangle, Jana Bracelet, and Arielle ring. The hardest part was picking what color gemstones I wanted (#roughlife)!

I paired my new baubles with this pink gingham dress I made. Real talk for a second, this sewing project did not turn out great. The top was a bit big and the pleats in the back sit funny. But these mistakes are important lessons and, fortunately, I was able to cover them with this jacket lol. Since I don't have time to fix the dress or make a new one, I am hoping my amazingly-talented friend Jen in Florence can come to my rescue with one of her pink gingham creations.

If you live in or near Tampa you will definitely want to visit the new Kendra Scott store, you will not be disappointed!

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Green with Envy

Neighborhood kitty who's (obviously) a fantastic model

dress // hat // sunglasses (and similar here) // wedges (similar) // c/o Stella & Dot clutch

I got bangs! Well, off the internet. About three years ago I had Zooey Deschanel-esque bangs that I loved (seen here). The only problem was they were a lot of work and were not exactly great for traveling (bangs require constant trims and styling). I have wanted to recut them for a while now, but my better judgement has kept me from taking the plunge. Just when I had given up hope of reviving my bangs, I came across these great clip-in bangs. It is the best of both worlds, all of the great style, none of the commitment! I would suggest, however, that you have your stylist trim and blend the bangs for a more natural look.

As much as I love the bangs, this dress is my favorite part of this look. It is just a little but retro while still looking fresh and modern. Not to mention it is very comfortable. I topped it with my latest hat obsession, this Lack of Color straw hat, and this adorable little raffia fringe clutch (which can also be worn as a cross-body).

Happy Monday!

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DIY Box-Pleat Skirt

sunglasses // earrings // top (similar) // skirt (fabric made via Spoonflower) // bag (old, last seen here) // wedges (similar)

The first thing I learned to sew was a simple box-pleated skirt. And thank goodness I did, because while I am loving the challenge of learning to sew, it is exactly that, a challenge. So I picked something easy to start with, but also something that I would want to wear.

My first attempt at this skirt failed miserably, it was about three sizes too small (stupid math). My second attempt was wearable (seen here), but I definitely made some mistakes. This, my third attempt, was my most successful and I am really happy with the results!

The best part about a box-pleated skirt is that you don't need a pattern, just a couple Youtube videos and some math skills (I like this one). I made my pleats four inches wide with 1.5 inch under pleat. I started with a rectangular piece of fabric that was 60 by 20 inches. Here is where the math comes in, you have to figure out how big you want your pleats and how many you need. I did a bit of trial and error, but there are plenty of Youtube videos that will give you an equation if you want something more concrete. Once I pinned my pleats, I sewed them in place, made a waistband, and rolled hemmed to my desired length. The hardest part is mastering the invisible zipper, but again there are lots of great Youtube videos out there to reference.

It is such an amazing feeling to create something that you actually want to wear. I have always wanted to learn to sew and I am so thankful for my patient mentor Kelly who has been there for me through every mistake and panicked phone call. The biggest lesson I have taken away from the process is to allow myself to make mistakes. I don't have to be perfect, because my mistakes are almost always fixable. Don't be afraid to rip out a seem and try again. I guess this applies to life as well. Who knew sewing was so deep lol.

I love fashion, but learning to sew has made me realize just how much goes into making clothing. While I am certainly not going to start sewing all of my clothing, I definitely want to have an understanding of what it takes to make clothing, so I can appreciate the art and the skill. In doing so, I have come to realize just how exploitive fast-fashion has to be. Our desire for and dependence on cheap and disposable clothing isn't ethical or sustainable (Emily's blog post on this topic is really enlightening). I am certainly guilty of over-consuming and being a part of the problem. Hopefully learning to sew is one small step in the right direction.

Have a great weekend... I will be packing...

Coming Soon!

So, I finally decided to take the plunge and expand my Etsy shop a bit. Not only did I purchase the domain preppyprintshop.com, I am also creating new mugs and tumblers! I'm going to start slow and see how these new products are received. I know I am biased, but I love them, especially the "Lemonade or Limoncello?" tumbler. I mean, it's a legit question most days.

I also love the "Well behaved women rarely make history" mug. Not only is this my favorite quote, but the back of the mug says, "You better start misbehaving." In addition to these new designs, I turned some of my best selling prints into mugs as well. "Smarty feathers," "She's a voracious reader and a fantastic dancer," and my bookshelf print will all be available as mugs soon!

I hope you all like them as much as I do! I am currently creating the listings on Etsy and on my new Preppy Printshop website. I hope to have them all up and available for purchase by the end of the week... just in time for graduation... because these would be great gifts ;)

What kinds of mugs and/or products would you like to see in the Preppy Printshop?

What Not to Ask a Dissertating PhD

Living in dissertation land is stressful enough on it's own, but fielding constant questions from friends, family, and strangers only adds to my stress. I know these questions are not malicious and people ask because they genuinely care. Nevertheless, writing a dissertation is a very specific kind of hell struggle most people have never experienced. Since most will never understand what the process is like, their questions, while well-intentioned, become a bit exasperating. So, I figured rather than get frustrated with people, I should explain why these standard questions are often ill-received.

Don't ask:

1) When will you be done?
Getting your PhD is not like getting a 4-year undergraduate degree. Every program is different and timelines are more malleable. In most programs, being a PhD is a full-time job and you are considered a professional. You don't go around asking other professionals when they will be done with their training or position, right? Just remember, that writing a book and conducting original research is not done in a classroom for two semesters a year. Your book/research is done when you finish.

2) What are you going to do with that?
The current job market for PhDs isn't great, especially those of us in the humanities, so asking this only increases our anxiety about spending a decade on something that has terrible prospects. I promise I will do something with it, but first I need to finish! Please don't remind me that I probably won't get my dream job.

3) What is your dissertation about?
Ok, this one seems simple and like it would be a good idea, but honestly, no one really cares that much about my esoteric dissertation topic. I have a generic canned response I give, but it is best to ask this question only if you are truly interested in a lengthy history lesson.

4) Shouldn't you be writing?
Yes, always. But life, writer's block, stress, and $hit happens.

5) How's the dissertation going?
Terrible, it's a dissertation. Have you ever written a book? It's not easy. Plus, only five people will probably even read this beast I have devoted the better part of six years on...*sigh*

6) How much, or many pages, have you written?
Just stay away from numbers, they are only a reminder of how much I haven't written and still need to write.

Oh and try to avoid calling a PhD's job/research "school work." It comes off as dismissive, as if they are an overgrown kid in school, not a working professional.


Instead you can ask:

1) Can I buy you drink?

2) Can I cook you dinner? 

And if you actually want to know more about someone's topic or the process of writing a dissertation, try these safer alternatives:

3) Which do you prefer, researching or writing?

4) What is the most interesting thing you have uncovered through your research?

5) Where do you do your research?

6) What got you interested in your subject?


Maybe these will save you from an awkward encounter with a dissertating PhD.

Boho Chic

hat // sunnies (similar, via Ditto) // dress // bag // wedges (similar)

Tampa has really started stepping up her wall game. First Kelly and I found this perfectly pink wall, and now this gorgeous graphic black and white striped wall. It's the little things.

Boho is not typically a look that I gravitate towards. Not because I don't like it, but because shapeless billowy chiffons don't typically flatter short, busty girls. Nevertheless, I fell in love with this dress while scrolling through Nordstrom's new arrivals online one morning. But, I dismissed it because it wasn't structured and I assumed it would make me look about ten pounds heavier.

A couple days later, I happened to notice it on the rack while shopping at my local Nordys. It was, surprisingly, even cuter in person thanks to it's voluminous bell-sleeves trimmed in lace. When I saw that it was only $68, I figured, I am here, why not try it on? I could not believe that it was actually flattering on. Because it is a junior's brand, I did size up to a medium.

This dress will definitely be a staple in my summer travel wardrobe. Flattering, comfortable, and easy-to-wear dresses are my summer travel uniform. And they are like unicorns, when you find one, you have to scoop it up! While this black version is now limited in sizes (I'm not the only one loving it), there is a white version as well (I also love this one).

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