Creating a local copy of your site: setting up PHP or a dummy site

Here is a link to setting up PHP on your Mac. It is a bit of a process but will allow you to try out edits on your blog before you upload them.

Here are instructions for the same process for a PC.

Another option I am fond of is creating a dummy site. I create a dummy site and load stock images and plugins to a site with the exact same parameters to my own site. I test things here before I edit my professional important site.  This Dummy site method has been extremely helpful and allows me to work completely online. This way I can quickly test options live and  run a manipulated page through multiple browsers.