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 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!

#SweetSpots

Not only has God used this little hashtag to give me a heart of thankfulness, but He's also allowing me to celebrate your special moments with you, whether it's preparing for marriage, delighting in the fleeting moments of raising little ones, or being bold enough to dance in front of everyone at a sporting event. If I'm ever in need of a smile, I'm sure to get one when I look through your #sweetspots on Instagram. 

@laurenelizhook Our typical Wednesday night before a full day of Thursday classes. Lots of reading and lots of coffee #sweetspots

@laurenelizhook Our typical Wednesday night before a full day of Thursday classes. Lots of reading and lots of coffee #sweetspots

@sjpeters had our first session of pre-marital counseling with the pastor who's marrying us, went and looked at wedding bands, and now dinner at Thelma's! being home with Justin for spring break has made my heart so happy #sweetspots.

@sjpeters had our first session of pre-marital counseling with the pastor who's marrying us, went and looked at wedding bands, and now dinner at Thelma's! being home with Justin for spring break has made my heart so happy #sweetspots.

@kaitblanken Mrs. Blankenship's class hair salon is now open. Specialize in dying hair pink, blue, and purple using hand sanitizer. We will be open until indoor recess days are finally over. #sweetspots

@kaitblanken Mrs. Blankenship's class hair salon is now open. Specialize in dying hair pink, blue, and purple using hand sanitizer. We will be open until indoor recess days are finally over. #sweetspots

@agb1024 Thankful for a beautiful day and an evening at the park. #sweetspots

@agb1024 Thankful for a beautiful day and an evening at the park. #sweetspots

@kathrynwaldo Soteriology and my loves #sweetspots

@kathrynwaldo Soteriology and my loves #sweetspots

@sarah_ryan3 Spent this beautiful Sunday with my love #sweetspots

@sarah_ryan3 Spent this beautiful Sunday with my love #sweetspots

@laurenelizhook @katiedager, you are so thoughtful! Thank you so much for my new journals and your sweet note. You made my day! #sweetspots

@laurenelizhook @katiedager, you are so thoughtful! Thank you so much for my new journals and your sweet note. You made my day! #sweetspots

@kljohns10 Those moments you wish you could freeze, my baby just looked at me and said "lub you". #sweetspots

@kljohns10 Those moments you wish you could freeze, my baby just looked at me and said "lub you". #sweetspots

@larboswell Spring break brought every member of the Boswell family down but today we are all better, the house has been bleached and this cutie and I are roadtripping with @bekahbubbly! 

@larboswell Spring break brought every member of the Boswell family down but today we are all better, the house has been bleached and this cutie and I are roadtripping with @bekahbubbly! 

@picatoria I danced for my dinner at the #fgcu game and won free queso! #sweetspots

@picatoria I danced for my dinner at the #fgcu game and won free queso! #sweetspots

Are you new to #SweetSpots? Visit this post to learn more about this year-round thankfulness movement.

Thank you for participating with me, friends! I hope your day is blessed with all sorts of sweet moments.

 

Meal Planning Made Simple

I have a confession, friends... I actually enjoy grocery shopping.

It isn't because I love playing bumper carts with strangers in the produce department or because I like the sound of my husband's voice as he asks me for the hundredth time if I'm close to being done.

I love it because I have a plan. I'm able to get in and out quickly, find the items I need quickly, and my favorite part? I only go ONCE A WEEK. 

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Today I'm sharing some easy tips and tricks that I've found helpful for planning out our meals each week. I have a feeling that you'll walk away feeling a little more excited to conquer that less-than-thrilling trip to the grocery store. 

Plan ahead.

On the weekend, I sit down with my Daybook Planner and prep for the upcoming week. I fill in my appointments, commitments, blog posts, and to-do's, and I use the space at the bottom of each page to plan out our weeknight meals.

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Some weeks don't always go according to plan, but I've found it really helpful to have a menu as a reference when I go to make my grocery list. And when my husband inevitably asks me what's for dinner, I always have an answer at the ready.

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Shop on the weekend.

I like to get all of my grocery shopping done in one trip on the weekend before the craziness of Monday sets in. Nothing is more frustrating than battling the 5 o'clock market crowd after work on a weekday; hungry and tired is a good recipe for a bad mood. Getting all of the grocery shopping done on Saturday means one less task on my to-do list and a little more peace of mind during a hectic work week. 

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Brainstorm.

Before I head out for the grocery store on Saturday, I sit down with my Daybook Planner and an Elle & Company Menu Planner sheet. The Menu Planner has 4 sections at the top (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Other) and each section has 7 spaces, one for each day of the week. Coming up with multiple meal options ensures that no one is scrambling last minute to find something to throw together for breakfast or lunch, and no meal gets overlooked. I also use this time to think through creative ways to use items that I already have in our pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. 

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Make a list as you go.

My favorite feature of the Menu Planner is the ability to outline our weekly meals and create my grocery list all on one page. As I write down a meal idea, I go ahead and list the ingredients I need to buy in the section below. Since I started using these sheets, I rarely forget ingredients anymore, which means less frustration and fewer trips back and forth to Harris Teeter (insert Hallelujah chorus here).

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Section off your grocery list.

Categorizing my grocery list is the key to getting in and out of the store quickly. The different sections for dairy, produce, pantry, etc. help me remember the items I need in each aisle and keep me from trekking across the entire store because I forgot the milk... again.  

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Reap the benefits.

The benefits of planning ahead don't end with an easy trip to the grocery store. Menu planning is the gift that keeps on giving.

It saves me time. I always have ingredients on hand to cook a meal from my planned menu. I don't have to make a quick trip to the grocery store for a missing ingredient or scramble around trying to figure out what to make for dinner. All of the work has already been done! 

It saves me money. Because my weekly meals are planned out, I know exactly which ingredients I need to buy at the grocery store. Sticking to my list helps me cut down on impulse buys and saves me money on groceries. Plus, no more emergency grocery store trips = less driving = less gas = less money.

It promotes healthy eating. When I sit down to plan out our meals, I'm much more intentional in coming up with healthy choices. And because I've already come up with ideas for each meal, I don't have to run through a drive-thru or skip meals.

It cuts back on waste. When I stick to my grocery list, I don't buy anything I don't need for our planned meals; each item in my cart will be used in a meal that I know we will be eating. This means I won't be overspending on groceries or throwing out food. 

Guess what, friends? Trips to the grocery store can be less frequent and more enjoyable for you, too! All it takes is a little preparation and the help of Elle & Company's Menu Planner. 

Weekly Truth

I say this often, but my greatest hope with Elle & Company is to encourage. As helpful as tips, tricks, and Daybook planners may be, nothing helps simplify and encourage like Truth.

Each week I design a new iPhone background with a weekly verse I'm trying to memorize. I share it here on the blog so that you can download it, use it as your background, and hopefully gain some encouragement from it, too. 

Click here to download this week's verse for your iPhone background.

Happy Tuesday!

Note: Since tilting your iPhone re-adjusts the background, iOS7 automatically zooms in on background images. The text may seem small on the downloaded image, but once you set it as your background it will size correctly. 

Monday's Letters

Dear Mr. Hooker, while I was writing last week's letters, you were trolling Craigslist. A couple hours later I found myself in the car with you and 2 new-to-us bikes: a snazzy, red trail bike with a mirror and a bell for you (ha!) and a retro 80's mountain bike for me (yes!). Thanks to no plans and the 70-degree weather yesterday, we spent a couple hours riding around with Lightning McQueen and Sally (yes, we had to name them), and I couldn't stop smiling. I love your great ideas.

Dear Kristin, you are such a thoughtful friend. You've sent me a letter/poem at least twice a month since our move to Charlotte, and this week's poem is getting framed for my office. "My poems are not complex; my poetic muscles I shall not flex. This is simply to make you giggle, so much that your insides jiggle." Thank you for making me laugh and bringing a smile to my face, even when we're 230 miles apart. 

Dear Jazzercise CD, my husband did not appreciate you as much as I did on our 3-hour car trips to and from Virginia this weekend. Thank you for keeping me entertained and awake as I busted out dance routines on the interstate. I'm not ashamed.

Dear Jakester, you're currently going to seminary full time, working a part-time job, and interning at our church. You have a lot on your plate this season, but you're filling all of your roles so well. Thank you for the strong leader and hard worker that you are. I'm so thankful for you.

Happy Monday, friends! What are you thankful for this week?

P.S. Today is the last day to enter the Daybook giveaway on Michaela Noelle's blog, so hurry on over and enter for your chance to win a FREE Daybook planner and some inserts of your choice!