Products and Software I Love as a Blogger
Plenty of stuff to cover. Let's get straight to the point!
#1 Planning: Pen and paper
''Excuse me?''
I know it might sound slightly bizarre in 2025, but I always (I mean always) start with longhand notes: it would be a total lie not to cover this point.
Publication calendar? Post plan? Bullet points? Mind maps? All I need is my BIC pen(s) from France plus my current favorite notebook/ruled A5 sheets I bought back in Paris at Smith & Son/letter-sized sheets from the US I found at Staples.
There is always a story behind a material possession—and it brings me inexplicable joy. I also love the feeling of physically writing down my thought. It's therapeutic, and it's more personal.
It makes me extremely happy to come across some old notes. I remember where and in which circumstances I made them. I never feel the same way about a typed copy.
#2 Writing: Logseq
''OK, but what about the actual writing?''
Although I sometimes write big chunks of my posts longhand, I usually use Logseq as my digital notebook.
It's definitely not for everyone, and there is a certain learning curve, but we clicked. As a fan of bullet points and all kind of structuring and systematization, I can't use another software for my copy.
It's also open-source.
''What is open-source?''
A very rough explanation:
I made some delicious pancakes for you. (After failing twice with my Lodge pans, but still.)
You want to make the same pancakes at home and ask for a recipe.
If I say ''OK, no prob, here you are'', my recipe is open-source. You can use it yourself, and even tell me that I should add more flour.
If I'm being an a-hole, I'll tell you that well, actually, I lost the notebook with the recipe, and, you know, I never measure my ingredients, but I will make more pancakes if you want! This is closed-source. You don't have access to the code, and you rely fully on me. (I can also change the recipe without telling you, and you can do nothing about it.)
Since I can't write a single line of code myself, the choice, for me, is more political than pragmatic. If I can opt for an open-source platform without compromising efficiency, I'll do it.
Same goes for...
#3 Hosting: Ghost
This is where I host my website.
Open-source, intuitive, minimalist, powerful.
I absolutely loathe the back-end editor font (I know, bloggers 🙂) but the rest is perfect if all you need is a place to publish your writing. My work is online, I have control over it—I'm happy.
This is it for my workflow, by the way: I plan on paper, I type on Logseq, I post on Ghost. Punto.
#4 Analytics: Umami
I deliberately said ''nay'' to Google Analytics since I respect privacy: mine and yours.
That's why I decided to use Umami.
It's much less powerful than biggies (as I call them) but it's fine. I'm totally happy with the little information I get: I just want to know where you come from, country-wise and platform-wise. I genuinely don't care about the rest.
(I noticed someone from New Zealand the other day. No idea who it was but someone reads me from the Hobbit land! Sheer happiness.)
#5 Promotion: Pinterest
The only biggie I'm currently using for ''outer'' promotion.
For me, Pinterest is a search engine. Ceci n'est pas a social media platform!
I create several pins for each publication on this website and pin them gently on ''boards''.
The AI-training feature is obviously deactivated. 🙂
#6 Email-marketing: Kit (former ConvertKit)
I haven't used it since January but it used to be my number 1 tool back in reddie.french days, my French project.
Why email-marketing in the first place?
2. Emails are delivered chronologically. No mood-swings-y algorithms.
3. Emails are delivered straight to the inbox of the subscriber. No mediators.
4. Emails bring sales. Which is a natural consequence of the first three points.
5. Emails can be plain text 🤩
Why Kit?
2. The pricing is fine. Or fire, if you only want to send manual mails: Kit has a free 10.000 subs plan (not free trial, just free) with one automatic sequence.
3. You can sell digital products directly on the platform, even with the free plan.
#7 Favorite Money-Saving Product 1: Ello Travel Mug
(Finally, some REAL blogger talk.)
But... Cafés...
1 - ''Combo'' in Milano, 2 - ''Aux 2 Balais'' in Paris.
Oh. I have absolutely nothing against coffee shops—I enjoy them myself.
The problem is, my wallet doesn't.
Even though I'm persuaded that it's healthy and even necessary to work in a crowded place from time to time, it's not always possible.
However, spring is coming, and I'm looking forward to making my own beverage and getting outside with the laptop or a notebook. Nature + people + hot beverage = good mood.
Travel mugs are also beneficial for ecology. I know it's less convenient than ''oatmilk latte, please, erm, to-go'', but I personally try to make the effort.
Remember: it shouldn't be black-and-white. I might opt for a plastic cup for convenience once a week, but I will try to use my Ello mug next time. It's still better than ''never''.
And, obviously, you can bring your coffee to the library. 0 dollars spent.
(By the way, coffee or tea?)
#8 Favorite Beverage: Yorkshire Tea
(I bet my choice is obvious to you.)
Found this pic from my Paris kitchen.
My husband brought the decaf one from Scotland, the big box is from Amazon, and the rest is my usual Smith & Son hunt.
Ah... Nothing better than pouring boiling water into the teapot.
#9 Favorite Money-Saving Product 2: L.L.Bean Fleece Jacket
This is less pertinent now, as we're approaching April, but blog posts live as long as people read them! (Say hi in the comments if you're here in 2026.)
As someone who works entirely online, I spend a lot of time at home—and my home is in Boston.
I don't think I should explain how harsh winters are here: I totally get people who want to heat their apartments to the max.
Still, no matter how hard I try, I can't understand the 78ºF squad. Is Safari your nickname? Or you've got billions in cash in your bank account? (Feel free to share.)
I'm much more modest heating-wise and I prefer cosplaying a cabbage. My number 1 pick is this fleece jacket from L.L.Bean which I wear every day. (I should get my jacket a sibling because it'll be worn out by next season.)
My husband's got the Patagonia one, but I think mine is better. 😎
I also have Damart thermals that are useful too—and French! 😉
I may have saved hundreds of dollars thanks to this catwalk-unfriendly kit. It's all about the priorities, you know...
#10 Favorite Backpack: L.L.Bean
Once again, L.L.Bean.
When I first came to Boston I noticed that everyone was wearing something from L.L.Bean. Maybe it's my poor attempt at blending in but I think I now have a favorite brand lol.
The backpack is good for carrying the usual laptop-notebook-book-mug kit and is comfortable to wear.
Nothing special, just useful—exactly what I wanted.
#11 Favorite Standing Desk: IKEA
It might be an investment if you choose the automatically adjustable one, but I'm more than happy with my manual desk from IKEA.
I can't actually stand and write for hours, but 30 minutes of non-seated work makes all the difference.
Poor back.
#12 Library Card
The one and only. Should I really explain why libraries are good if you want to sit down and write?
I think I'll just share this:
This is the main building of our Boston Public Library.
Of course, not every single library has got an art gallery inside it, but smaller branches are fantastic too! They may not be that elegant, but they're fine enough to work.
Oh, by the way, I'm planning on writing an overview of our libraries—it will take some time, but I'm quite excited.
That's it!
Now share your blogger ''bag''!
Hope the post was useful and fun to read.
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