Business, Blogging
Lauren Hooker
40 Ways to Use Adobe Illustrator to Improve ...

Adobe Illustrator is my go-to software for anything and everything design-related. It's the one program I truly couldn't work without.

And while it's easy to assume that the program's primary focus is illustration based on the name, there is so much more to this design software. 

With tools for type, color, photo cropping, image tracing, drawing, and much more, it has innumerable benefits for bloggers and business owners, alike.

To get your creative gears turning, here's a look at 40 ways Adobe Illustrator can take your blog and/or business to the next level.

40 Ways to Use Adobe Illustrator to Improve Your Blog and Business
Blogging, Business, Branding, Design
Lauren Hooker
How to Create Eye-Catching Blog Post Graphics

First impressions are crucial, especially in business.

Potential customers and clients make judgments about your business within the first few seconds of coming into contact with it, whether it’s through your website, your social media accounts, or a simple blog post graphic.

And those initial thoughts - whether they’re spot on or far off from what you want them to be - are within your control. You have the opportunity to make a killer first impression through high-quality, branded visuals.

If your blog is a large part of your business or you’re hoping to drive more traffic back to your site through your blog, you have to have eye-catching blog graphics to not only generate a positive first impression, but to encourage readers to share your posts on sites like Pinterest and be seen by an even wider audience.

So how do you create eye-catching blog post graphics? And better yet, how can you set them apart so they’ll stand out from the rest and be recognized time and time again?

How to Create Eye-Catching Blog Post Graphics
Business, Visual Marketing
Lauren Hooker
40 Easy, Engaging Video Content Ideas for Your ...

“When I discovered YouTube, I didn’t work for 5 days.” - Michael Scott

Video platforms like YouTube (and more recently, Periscope) are easily the world’s greatest time-wasters. We’ve all been guilty of losing track of time on YouTube at least once, because videos are easily consumable, very addicting, and highly entertaining.

As a matter of fact, studies show that a whopping 78% of us watch videos online every week and 55% watch videos online every day.

Which is why Youtube is also the world’s greatest overnight-success-maker. If you’re on the production-side of a video and you’ve come up with a clever idea, you might just have a viral hit on your hands.

Video holds a lot of potential for interaction, engagement, and shares for creative businesses. And for that reason, it’s one of the best visual marketing tools you can use.

But it producing videos can be a little overwhelming, can’t it? Even with helpful video tools out there like Animoto, many of us struggle to come up with simple ideas for video content that would appeal to our audience. 

And that’s where this post comes in. I’ve rounded up 40 easy, engaging video content ideas to help get your creative gears turning. My hope is that you’ll find a few ideas to implement and as a result, bring your business more exposure.

40 Easy, Engaging Video Content Ideas for Your Creative Business
Business, Visual Marketing
Lauren Hooker
Why You Should Be Using Infographics for Your ...

If you’re looking for a good way to kill at least an hour of your time, type in the word “infographic” in the Pinterest search bar.

Thousands of clever graphics will pop up on everything from “how to make a salad taste awesome” to a baby’s first year in a review. There’s even an infographic that answers the pressing question, “Is your dog sleeping a little too much?”

Then, after you’ve admired the genius creativity behind them, take a gander at how many repins and likes each of those infographics receives. Thousands upon thousands.

In fact, infographic volumes have increased by over 800% in 2 years. Publishers who use infographics grow in traffic an average of 12% more than those who don’t. 

What is it about infographics that makes them so appealing? And better yet, how can you come up with some clever infographics for your business so it gains more exposure through likes and shares?

I have all the answers for you in this post.

Why You Should Be Using Infographics for Your Business (And How to Create Them)
Blogging
Lauren Hooker
How to Create Catchy Headlines

Is your headline the first thing you consider when you sit down to write a post?

Probably not, but creating a catchy blog post title is one of the most important aspects of each blog post. It's the gateway to your content; it convinces people to click or scroll right past your latest post'. 

In fact, studies show that 8 out of 10 people will read your headline but only 2 out of 10 will read your entire post. 

Here are a few pointers for drawing in potential readers and a couple "templates" to help you create a catchy headline for your upcoming posts. 

How to Create Catchy Headlines

Coffee Date

Coffee Date with Maranda McCauley

Remember that sweet Bible study group I mentioned in last week's Coffee Date? That's where I met the lovely lady who's joining us this morning. Back then, she was the pretty new girl in town with a who had just moved from Andersen, South Carolina, with a gorgeous smile and a great southern accent. Four years and many other Bible studies later, Maranda has become one of my dearest friends. 

Oh how I miss our in-person coffee dates at Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea, but a Coffee Date on the blog this morning will suffice! Friends, meet Maranda McCauley:

What's in your coffee mug this morning?

Currently, an iced black coffee from Mill Mountain, the only coffee shop where I can drink my coffee completely black and actually enjoy it. I've also had a bit of a tea obsession lately, and I've been drinking a different one every week. I love trying out different kinds and I'm itching for a new teapot :)

What is the first thing you did today?

I hit the snooze button on my alarm clock and pulled the covers back from my adorable husband who steals them. When the last extra five (maybe ten) minutes are over, I jump in the shower and get ready for my day. David usually has to leave before I do, so we say our goodbyes and I finish getting ready. 

It's actually been really fun getting ready lately! I have a new internship at the Roanoke County Prevention Council, so I get to dress up, go to the office, sit at my own desk, and do real work that affects people. I LOVE it. I am learning so much about promoting healthy behaviors and how to prevent risky behaviors in adolescents.

What is something you've been loving lately?

I'm learning how to garden for this spring and summer. David and I are having a blast going to Lowes and picking out seeds, pots, plants, and soil. I'm having a little too much fun with trying to find the cutest watering bucket and gardening gloves. It will be an adventure as we learn how to grow various things and harvest them. I'm so excited for it!

What is something you struggle with and what are you learning as a result?

I feel like I could go on forever on this one! Right now I am struggling with patience. Patience with others, patience with wanting to know what the future holds, and even patience with things that I know are completely out of my control; this list could seriously go on for a while. I have been reading Romans in my quiet time lately. The Lord speaking through the book of Romans will wreck you so be careful :) I'm continuing to learn to wage war on sin (Romans 6). It is a battle, but we must die to ourselves daily and be renewed in Christ. 

I am also learning that suffering is a great thing, but it is so hard to view it that way. We don't understand why bad things happen to "good" people or why things aren't going the way we thought they would be. It is even harder to know that you are right where God wants you, but things are still incredibly difficult. Thankfully, Romans 5:2-4 states, "Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory in our God. Not only that, but we REJOICE in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope."

Life can get busy and stressful. How do you simplify?

Since the day I said "I do" to my wonderful husband, David, life has not slowed down one bit. He is the Student Pastor at our church campus, and each day he has a different schedule. From student ministry events to Bible studies to meetings and student hangouts, there is never a dull moment or even just a moment to breathe some weeks. It is critical that we are both reading Scripture to be renewed each day. I have a huge calendar that I carry with me to keep track of daily, weekly, and monthly events. Since David is out of the house a lot, having both of our schedules in one place helps me keep track of our time. 

I'm also learning that keeping things simple means having to say "no" more than I have ever been comfortable with. Since we started dating, I never missed a student ministry event or a Life Group night. But now I have to scale back to keep things from getting too crazy. I may have to stay home some nights to keep the house tidy or prepare dinner, and it's nice to have nights off to clean and prepare for the next day. I also like having a nicely made bed and a clean kitchen to wake up to.

What is something that made you smile this week?

Our precious kitten, Molly, is forever making us laugh. She is so curious and gets herself into more pickles than any other kitten I've ever known. She somehow managed to get herself stuck under our bed in the box spring, and we both had to crawl under the bed to get her out as she frantically "meowed" at us for help. Hopefully she learned her lesson and won't have anymore under-the-bed adventures. Now we have a hole to patch, unfortunately, but we are still laughing about it.

Coffee Date with Ashley Owen

Confession... I'm a little teary typing these words this morning. I was trying to come up with the perfect way to introduce you to this sweet friend when a realization of God's faithfulness overwhelmed me. 

I was replaying my favorite moments with Ashley from high school, many of them taking place in first period Government our senior year. And then I remembered that summer before our junior year of college when God brought us back to our small hometown and placed us in a Bible study together. That was the summer that God transformed my heart, and Ashley was there to witness it all, to pray for me and encourage me along the way. She plays a bigger part of that story than she probably knows. 

Ever since that sweet summer, we make it a priority to meet up for breakfast when we're both in town, and we always pick up right where we left off. Anyone who knows Ashley will agree with me when I say that you can't help but smile each and every time you're around her. She's witty, she's full of joy, and she has an honest, lovely heart. I'm so thrilled that I get to share her with you this morning!

What's in your coffee mug this morning?

The real question is what I wish was in my coffee mug this morning. I typically drink whatever "middle shelf" coffee is on sale at Kroger. While Private Selection French Roast always gets the job done, deep down I am craving a non-fat Dirty Chai from the local coffee shop across the street. It is a heavenly drinking experience with the right amount of kick to get me through my morning. Plus it is really fun to order. You always get a few strange looks from those who have yet to be enlightened to this gem.

What is the first thing you did today?

Hit my snooze button? Haha but actually. Typically I start my day by reading a current events email called the Skimm. It is a daily email blast that summarizes yesterday's current events in a witty, woman-friendly way. Instead of staring at the ceiling during those transitional moments of struggle, reading the Skimm makes me feel like I'm doing something productive.

I then shower, fix my breakfast, and slow down for a short quiet time before frantically running out the door to get to school on time. Often my physical appearance is a hot mess. However, spending adequate time with Jesus prevents my soul from being a hot mess so I'm willing to make sacrifices. Plus, I'm still in school and see the same 42 people each day so looks are low on the priority list. Oh, I can't forget my morning jam session during my 15-minute commute. It's vital to my mental wellbeing and gets me psyched to face the day. Recently the song "The Man" by Aloe Blanc has been on repeat.

What is something you've been loving lately?

Bluegrass music. The warmer weather causes me to crave music that is a bit more upbeat, yet still southern and sentimental. The soulful strumming has been just the ticket. Last week, my roommates and I saw the Punch Brothers at the National Theatre in Richmond. The concert helped to catalyze my bluegrass kick. Since then, bands like Nickel Creek, Crooked Still, and the Infamous Stringdusters consume my Spotify stream. I grew up listening to bluegrass music and classic country while sitting in the passenger side of my grandfather's pickup truck, so these sounds also bring back pleasant memories of my childhood.

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What is something you struggle with and what are you learning as a result?

God is teaching me that his sovereignty and his love for me are deeply intertwined. In this season of my life I am working through a lot of insecurities and facing a future that is uncertain. Being in graduate school and navigating this pseudo-adult life on my own creates pain, stirs up emotions, and often causes me to question God's love for me. During these trials I often default to thinking my ways and wisdom are better than God's ways and wisdom. Recently, God is reminding me that all of the challenges that he places in my path are actually acts of love. If he did not love me, he would not be working to refine me, to grow me, and to make me more like Christ. I am thankful that I can look in the mirror and see tangible evidences of God's grace and love in my character.

Life can get busy and stressful. How do you simplify?

Running and to-do lists. Graduate school forces me to think all the time. My classmates and I joke that our professors constantly want us to think about how we think. Self-awareness is a great skill to develop but does not help to simplify your mind. To help simplify my mind, I try to go for a 30-minute jog at least every other day. During my jog I force myself to not think about school. Rather, I try to think about all the things that I am grateful for or just to take pleasure in my physical surroundings.

I also make TONS of to-do lists. Sadly, my organization is not that fancy. I have a cute pocket-sized notebook from Target that I use to write down everything that I have to do and any important information that I may need at any given time. It fits in my purse, my backpack, and my back pocket so I have no excuse to be without my to-do list.

And lastly, what is something that made you smile this week?

I babysit for three precious kids on a weekly basis. They LOVE the movie 'Frozen' and have told me many times that I need to see it. Last week it was playing at the $2 theatre in Richmond so I finally saw the film. Being that I am a sucker for musicals, cheesy kid humor, and Disney movies, I fell in love. While babysitting the munchkins this week, I cranked up the movie tunes and the four of us danced around the kitchen belting the lyrics. I loved the opportunity to channel my inner 7-year old and let my goofiness shine through. Plus the smiles on their faces were an added bonus.

Ashley needs her own blog, doesn't she?! Until then, you can gain a smile from following her on Instagram :) Happy Friday, friends! I hope your weekend is blessed.

Coffee Date with Kate Durrett

A couple years ago I volunteered to tag along with my church's youth group for summer camp. The week was filled with great teaching, outdoor activities like mountain biking, horseback riding, and white water rafting, and quality time with the students. But one of my favorite parts of the whole week was talking to Kate on the 5 hour bus ride down to North Carolina.

Anyone who has spent more than 5 seconds with Kate Durrett will agree with me; she is the epitome of the word 'sweet'. I can't remember a time when Kate wasn't assisting children with disabilities and volunteering her time in our church.

She's currently a student at JMU and I was blessed to spend time with her over a coffee date while she was in on winter break. I can't say that I was surprised when I heard about all of the discipleship programs and causes that she's become involved with; Kate has always sought out ways to serve. Her heart is golden, and I know you'll be encouraged after spending a couple minutes with her this morning. Friends, meet Kate!

What's in your coffee cup this morning?

Dominican coffee that I saved from yesterday :) Last spring break when I traveled there with a team from JMU, I bought a couple bags in town on our last day. This particular kind of coffee, Monté Real, has cocoa powder in the grounds and they made it for us every day on base. So no matter how long it takes me to drink it, I savor every sip.

What is the first thing you did this morning?

This morning, I had an early class so when I got myself out of bed after two alarms (I always set three…I have trouble waking up!), I went downstairs and heated up my coffee and packed my lunch. I gathered books and papers for my class and meetings throughout the day. I struggle to carve out time to spend with Jesus in the mornings, but I stopped my hurrying about 10 minutes before I was supposed to leave  today and sat on my living room floor to talk with Him, be still, and read the Word. Quiet time away with him is definitely a place for improvement.

What is something you struggle with and what are you learning as a result?

I struggle often to trust God enough to walk into the unknown and unchartered. Lately, there have been so many chances for me to do just that, in schoolwork and leadership opportunities and even on the mission trip I just took to NYC over spring break. God is good, and He is constant. By seeking Him in places where I am very aware of my lack of control, I get to see His sovereignty and strength more clearly. It has taken me a while to realize that, but God has been faithful to keep teaching me. What a patient, understanding Father we have.

Life can get stressful. What are some things you do to simplify?

I wish I could say I always know how to simplify and slow down, but that wouldn’t be true. This week, because of some health concerns, I have had to slow the pace of my life and schedule a ton. I think I often really need God to stop me in my tracks and remind to take a few minutes to listen to my favorite song or sit with Him in silence or count the moments I have instead of how many I don’t. To simplify, I really just have to stop and breathe. :)

And lastly, what is something you've been loving lately?

I have been loving all the men’s college basketball games! I grew up watching Duke University with my family, and I’ve carried on the tradition in college. March Madness started yesterday and Duke plays its first-round game today!! NCAA.com streams all the games live online so I’m loving the chance to watch them like crazy for the next couple weeks.

Kate's Cause

Something both tough and beautiful in my life lately has been how God is re-breaking my heart for the injustice of human trafficking. I first learned about it when I was a freshman at JMU and hearing about it changed me for good, kind of like the William Wilberforce quote: “You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say you did not know.”

I serve as the Fundraising Coordinator for a student organization called Shenandoah Valley Justice Initiative at JMU, which God led to be involved in after I first saw the documentary Sex + Money: A National Search for Human Worth. One thing I will be forever thankful for is that we were given the opportunity to take what we had seen and learned straight to Jesus in worship right after the screening. Because of that first experience, I learned that my response to being exposed to injustice has to be asking Jesus to carry it because I am unable to do that by myself and He doesn’t call us to.

Over winter break, I was worried that I had become numb to the heartbreaking reality, so I prayed God would soften my heart once again to make me empathetic and newly sensitive. And He answered by doing just that. With International Justice Mission (IJM) estimating that there are currently 29 million slaves in the world today (both in labor slavery and sex trafficking), the injustice continues to be present and on my mind. All of us have a unique role to play in fighting injustice based on the gifts and talents God has given us, and we have to continually seek Him to understand what role that is. I do believe we all do have one, and I love having the opportunity to help people understand theirs through SVJI-JMU and my personal sphere of influence.

Here are some resources if you want to learn more and/or join the fight for freedom:

http://slaveryfootprint.org/ (Slavery Footprint - how many slaves work for you through the purchases you make and the lifestyle you live? …know, learn, pray)

http://exoduscry.com/ (Exodus Cry- a prayer movement for freedom…learn, pray, give, work for legislative change)

http://www.ijm.org/ (International Justice Mission-one of the leading organizations fighting on the front lines and in society…advocate, fundraise, pray, sign petitions, educate yourself and others)

http://svjijmu.wix.com/svji-jmu (SVJI-JMU- the student organization I’m involved in that strives to educate and empower JMU and Harrisonburg to join the modern abolitionist movement)

Coffee Date with Ashley Herrinton

My senior year of high school I attended a model United Nations conference at Washington & Lee University. I don't remember the issues we discussed or even the country I represented, but I do remember meeting a sweet and friendly girl named Ashley. Thankfully we became friends on Facebook after the conference ended because it's allowed us to stay in touch over the last 6+ years. 

When I was thinking of encouraging ladies to feature for Coffee Dates, I kept coming back to Ashley. She is one of those people who encourages you without even meaning to; her cheerful heart and her optimism are contagious. I smile each time she comes up on my newsfeed because I love to see the most recent photo session she's posted, the latest project or trip she's taken part in, and the sweet words she's spoken about her husband. You'll see what I mean when you read this post - she truly is a light.

Ashley is a newlywed, a grad student, and a photographer (she and her husband, Ty, partner together as a photography and videography team at Herrinton Weddings). Grab your coffee cup and enjoy some time getting to know her this morning!

What is in your coffee cup this morning?

A little breakfast blend straight from my sweet Keurig.

What is the first thing you did this morning?

Wake up, pack Ty's lunch and make his breakfast. This is a daily ritual that I enjoy so much! As soon as he goes off to work I get started with my day; settle down on the couch with my own breakfast, Bible, and the sweet silence of morning. Later I kick it with the Today Show followed by Kelly and Michael to catch up on the news before I head to work.

What is something you've been loving lately?

A girls group that I'm a part of is going through "Your Beautiful Purpose" by Susie Larson. This is the first book that I have ever read that has convicted my soul so deep, caused me to cry until I could barely see the words on the page, and ponder the depths of my purpose all at the same time. It's a beautiful example of words that have been so absent from my life as I've searched for the Lord's leading in this next season. I'm also loving Rick Warren's "The Daniel Plan". Rick shares some bomb diggity recipes that Ty and I are loving as we strive to weed out processed foods and dairy. It's a process and we haven't quite weeded everything out yet, but it's been interesting learning how to feed your body well mentally, spiritually, and physically. This totally makes me sound like a bookworm, which I swear I'm not! So in an effort to normalize this response let's just say the weather has been AWESOME!

What is something you struggle with and what are you learning as a result?

Being fully present. I never had an iPhone throughout college and when I was overseas for a year I didn't have any type of connection to the outside world except through my blog and Facebook every now and then when we had internet. I remember feeling distant and craving that connection but somehow... I survived without it. In many ways the absence of a smart phone was so freeing. And now that I have one, I often feel that I am too connected. I think I use my iPhone, Instagram, or Facebook as a way of putting off things that I really don't want to do or as a time filler. However, once I realize an hour and a half has gone by since I picked up my phone, I get disgusted with myself. This season of Lent our pastor challenged us to not just give something up but think about an area we need to grow in and strive to discipline ourselves in that area. He shared that so often when we give something up, we crave and lust after that thing throughout the 40 days until we get it back. Once the 40 days are over, we go right back to that thing we gave up as if we never did. So I've challenged myself to be more present. I'm learning how selfish I can get with my time when I'm wasting it and how much more I can get done when I prioritize and leave the iPhone off.

Life can get stressful. What are some things you do to simplify?

Organize! Life just feels so much simpler when things are in their place in our house. I love everything about an organized closet, tidy kitchen cabinets, and I believe in no such thing as a junk closet. Somehow our guest room has turned into such, which really means we need to throw some junk out! I'm also a big list person and will definitely write things down I've already completed just for that little extra pep in my step!

And just for fun, what is something that made you smile this week?

Tuesday night Ty and I cheated on our Daniel Plan and went to Sonic for limeades and to just shoot the breeze. I kinda felt like we were dating again as we sat outside under the umbrella while the server roller-skated our order out to us. Our lives are about to get crazy busy as we begin our wedding season. Little spontaneous trips like this remind me how precious and important the simple things are in life.

Go ahead and hop on over to Ashley's blog, follow her on Instagram, and like Herrinton Weddings on Facebook. Wedding season is about to start, and you won't want to miss out on all of the beautiful things Ashley and Ty have in store!

Friends, I'm so glad you stopped by to hang out with us this morning. Happy Friday!

Coffee Date with Amy McArthur

Today is an Elle & Company first, my friends!

When I asked Amy if she would join me for a Coffee Date this morning, she asked if we could switch things up a bit and record the normal Q&A on video. I excitedly and nervously said yes. (How could I ever pass up a Skype date and a coffee date?) Three hours and countless outtakes later, we finally came up with a blog-worthy video. I'm excited to share it with you today, but I'm even more excited for you to get to know my dear friend, Amy McArthur.

Growing up in the same small town and having several mutual friends, it's hard to believe that Amy and I didn't meet until a year ago. Her witty sense of humor and her dramatic mannerisms made her easy to get along with right off the bat, and she's kept me laughing ever since. 

As funny as Amy is, she's also really thoughtful and hard-working, which is probably why she is so great at her job as wedding coordinator at Sundara, a gorgeous wedding venue in Southwest Virginia. In addition to her roles as a wedding planner and business owner of Amy Kristina Weddings, this gorgeous girl is a Disney and Downton Abbey fanatic, a University of Mary Washington alum, and a crazy cat lady (kidding... sort of). 

Do you have your coffee mug in hand? Let's get this Coffee Date rolling!

AMY MCARTHUR

What is in your coffee cup this morning?

Cinnamon orange tea (I'm not a big coffee drinker). So I guess this would be a tea date!

What does a normal day look like for you?

My days change day-to-day. I usually work 50% from home and 50% from the venue that I'm contracted through. Today I had time to catch up on laundry, answer emails, work on some social media. During the "off-season" I'm doing a lot of marketing, social media and general catch-up work before the weddings kick off. During wedding season, I'm constantly in contact with my brides, finalizing timelines, checking in with vendors, etc. 

Photo credit Sam Stroud Photography

Photo credit Sam Stroud Photography

Life can get stressful. What are some things you do to simplify?

Two things. I use Google Drive a lot. All of my clients have a folder and within their folder is all of their information from photographer, cake, timeline, menu, layout, etc. Over half of my clients do not live close by so it's a great tool for them to access online. We can work together and edit things as we go.

I also have a to-do list that I use ALL THE TIME. I write down everything I have to do and check them off as I go. I also write down how long I think it will take me to do each task, then I time myself as I do each thing. I've found that it doesn't take me as long to get things done and I have more time to take breaks, do laundry, or generally mess around on the internet.

5 years from now, what will you remember most about this season?

I've definitely been learning gratitude and contentment lately. No one tells you in college how hard the transition to adulthood is, so it gets really easy for me to start grumbling about things. But when I talk to those who are older than I am they always say that if they could go back to anytime in their life, it would be right around where I am in life right now. So I have to really take a step back sometimes and look at my life objectively. I really am lucky. I pretty much created my own job. I create my own hours. I'm not married and I don't have kids so I have a lot of freedom to do the things I enjoy. Thinking of it that way, I'm very content with my life and I have a better idea of who I am. I'm extremely grateful for everything.

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And just for fun, what is something you've been loving lately?

I've been listening to a lot of podcasts and one of my favorites lately is The Nerdist Podcast. They interview celebrities and it's not the typical press junket questions. You really get to know them and what they like, and in turn I get to look up new things and get into that. Who knew Tom Hanks likes Storage Wars?

Are you interested in following along with Amy? Go ahead and follow her on Instagram, like her page on Facebook, visit her website, and why not check out Sundara, too? 

Happy Friday, friends! My weekend involves a quick trip to VA, a bridal shower, and a restful Sunday. How about you?