• đŸ”„ Q. What lights a fire under you when you’re feeling burnt out? We’re burning all the after-midnight oil this week putting the finishing touches on our Fall template collection dropping next week (make sure you hop on the VIP list via our #linkinprofile if you want early access + exclusive discounts and big sneak peek coming Friday!). And yes, we’re pulling some looooOOOOng hours, but when we think about getting these new sites and tools in your waiting hands (and how that’s going to change your business, your confidence, your income, your clients’ lives, and okay, your whole dang life), we’re lit up to press on. ✹ People talk about “your why” a lot, but I think it’s also good to reminder what your why is there for. It’s your “why I said no to that party and finished the project instead...” It’s your “why it’s worth staying up late AND getting up early... on the same day.” It’s your “why I listen to podcasts, not playlists, in the car.” It’s your “why I didn’t get a present for that random birthday party.” đŸ€Ș It’s your “why I worked that Saturday instead of rosĂ©-ing all day.” It’s your “why it’s all worthwhile even when my to-do list makes me want to curl up into a tiny ball and roll around in a puddle of tears” It’s SO important to be able to point to something REAL in the moment you’re most tempted to think what you’re working on doesn’t REALLY matter. (Pro-tip: going back and reading our customer testimonials and reviews gets me every time. Try it next time you’re feeling d-o-n-e.) SO, in one short sentence, lay it on me — what’s the “why” that lights a fire under you?
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    đŸ”„ Q. What lights a fire under you when you’re feeling burnt out? We’re burning all the after-midnight oil this week putting the finishing touches on our Fall template collection dropping next week (make sure you hop on the VIP list via our #linkinprofile if you want early access + exclusive discounts and big sneak peek coming Friday!). And yes, we’re pulling some looooOOOOng hours, but when we think about getting these new sites and tools in your waiting hands (and how that’s going to change your business, your confidence, your income, your clients’ lives, and okay, your whole dang life), we’re lit up to press on. ✹ People talk about “your why” a lot, but I think it’s also good to reminder what your why is there for. It’s your “why I said no to that party and finished the project instead...” It’s your “why it’s worth staying up late AND getting up early... on the same day.” It’s your “why I listen to podcasts, not playlists, in the car.” It’s your “why I didn’t get a present for that random birthday party.” đŸ€Ș It’s your “why I worked that Saturday instead of rosĂ©-ing all day.” It’s your “why it’s all worthwhile even when my to-do list makes me want to curl up into a tiny ball and roll around in a puddle of tears” It’s SO important to be able to point to something REAL in the moment you’re most tempted to think what you’re working on doesn’t REALLY matter. (Pro-tip: going back and reading our customer testimonials and reviews gets me every time. Try it next time you’re feeling d-o-n-e.) SO, in one short sentence, lay it on me — what’s the “why” that lights a fire under you?
  • I’m curious... TRUE / FALSE : you found us via this genius lady right here đŸ‘†đŸ»? I, Jen, met @jennakutcher when we were both speaking at an event hosted by my client @marymarantz back when Jenna was still a full-time wedding photographer, didn’t have a podcast, didn’t have any courses and was juuuust starting to really grow her Instagram following. We bonded over a makeshift charcuterie board constructed on a towel (thank you, @jeffreyshipley and @darrenhansen) and wayyyy too-strong gin and tonics in a hotel room (after one, I promptly fell asleep sitting up on the couch #coolkid). When she asked me to design her first real custom website, I said YES, not knowing that website (which we’d design in her living room after yoga class while we listened to Drew vacuum) would catapult my career to new places, and her career would EXPLODE into viral superstar educator status just a few months later. And best of all, we’d be solid, firm, for real friends thereafter. (Fun facts: I get Jenna’s advice on most of my designs — in another life, she’s a designer with us, I swear — we’ve taken pregnancy tests together, and I was the first guest on her podcast, which I casually recorded on my couch with almost no prep while I prayed the Amazon guy came late... and now it’s been listened to a BAJILLION times): Crazy part: that was only four years ago. đŸ˜± We’ve updated her website a few times over the years to reflect changes in her life, aesthetic and business, but I can’t help but feel this last update most thoroughly encapsulates who she is... (yes, totally the BFF who brings the good snacks, who welcomed me to her house wearing a sweatshirt with a giant bear drinking a beer). “Make it feel like freedom,” Jenna said in her (very well-organized) design brief for this new site. And so we did. And I’m continually proud of this little corner of the internet we’ve built together, that still looks like no one else, because of course it shouldn’t. Cheers to you, Jenna, and everyone like you who refuses to go with the flow, since “only dead fish do that.” 😘 Also... Jenna and I have a fun announcement on Monday, so get excited! Any guesses?
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    I’m curious... TRUE / FALSE : you found us via this genius lady right here đŸ‘†đŸ»? I, Jen, met @jennakutcher when we were both speaking at an event hosted by my client @marymarantz back when Jenna was still a full-time wedding photographer, didn’t have a podcast, didn’t have any courses and was juuuust starting to really grow her Instagram following. We bonded over a makeshift charcuterie board constructed on a towel (thank you, @jeffreyshipley and @darrenhansen) and wayyyy too-strong gin and tonics in a hotel room (after one, I promptly fell asleep sitting up on the couch #coolkid). When she asked me to design her first real custom website, I said YES, not knowing that website (which we’d design in her living room after yoga class while we listened to Drew vacuum) would catapult my career to new places, and her career would EXPLODE into viral superstar educator status just a few months later. And best of all, we’d be solid, firm, for real friends thereafter. (Fun facts: I get Jenna’s advice on most of my designs — in another life, she’s a designer with us, I swear — we’ve taken pregnancy tests together, and I was the first guest on her podcast, which I casually recorded on my couch with almost no prep while I prayed the Amazon guy came late... and now it’s been listened to a BAJILLION times): Crazy part: that was only four years ago. đŸ˜± We’ve updated her website a few times over the years to reflect changes in her life, aesthetic and business, but I can’t help but feel this last update most thoroughly encapsulates who she is... (yes, totally the BFF who brings the good snacks, who welcomed me to her house wearing a sweatshirt with a giant bear drinking a beer). “Make it feel like freedom,” Jenna said in her (very well-organized) design brief for this new site. And so we did. And I’m continually proud of this little corner of the internet we’ve built together, that still looks like no one else, because of course it shouldn’t. Cheers to you, Jenna, and everyone like you who refuses to go with the flow, since “only dead fish do that.” 😘 Also... Jenna and I have a fun announcement on Monday, so get excited! Any guesses?
  • We love anything font-related, OBVIOUSLY, so here are a few typefaces we’ve loved lately. Breakdown as follows: - Commuters Sans, free for use with Adobe Typekit - Made Outer Sans, free for personal use, dafont.com - Newsreader Display, paid - The Impressionist, paid, Creative Market - Simplon Mono, paid (Google’s Roboto Mono is similar) - Blacker Display, free for personal use, dafont.com - Interstate Regular, free for use with Adobe Typekit All of the MadeType free (for personal use) fonts are excellent, so check them out for sure! Hit the bookmark to save this for a reference later! :) đŸ‘đŸ»đŸ‘ŽđŸ» Which is your fave? And yes / no to more font posts?
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    We love anything font-related, OBVIOUSLY, so here are a few typefaces we’ve loved lately. Breakdown as follows: - Commuters Sans, free for use with Adobe Typekit - Made Outer Sans, free for personal use, dafont.com - Newsreader Display, paid - The Impressionist, paid, Creative Market - Simplon Mono, paid (Google’s Roboto Mono is similar) - Blacker Display, free for personal use, dafont.com - Interstate Regular, free for use with Adobe Typekit All of the MadeType free (for personal use) fonts are excellent, so check them out for sure! Hit the bookmark to save this for a reference later! :) đŸ‘đŸ»đŸ‘ŽđŸ» Which is your fave? And yes / no to more font posts?
  • ✹ REMINDER: Beautiful things are gonna bloom. (They may still be hidden in the dirt).
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    ✹ REMINDER: Beautiful things are gonna bloom. (They may still be hidden in the dirt).
  • đŸ”„ ON AVOIDING BURNOUT: “You have to figure out how to work hard without burning out. People find their own strategies for this, but one that almost always works is to find work you like doing with people you enjoy spending a lot of time with.” — Sam Altman Tag your people. 💕
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    đŸ”„ ON AVOIDING BURNOUT: “You have to figure out how to work hard without burning out. People find their own strategies for this, but one that almost always works is to find work you like doing with people you enjoy spending a lot of time with.” — Sam Altman Tag your people. 💕
  • ✹ SNEAK PEEK of the new TONIC site template coming to our shelves before the month is through! First, we’d like to draw your attention to the fact that we used MORE COLOR 🌈 just for you guys. If you’ve loved our Margarita design but wanted more sunset / desert tones and elevated typography, you’re going to *LOVE* this one. We built it just for you. Secondly, we heard you loud and clear and this template is designed for coaches, creatives, podcasters, entrepreneurs, photographers and *anyone* who needs a site built strategically to sell + convert. (Yes, there are copy prompts throughout!) It’s most definitely not just for photographers. Did we mention there’s a sick matching sales page, optional membership login buttons, FOUR blog design options, a killer services page, and, well, way, way more because we couldn’t help ourselves? To see more of this design (we’re previewing it via our newsletter Sunday night) and get early access + an exclusive discount as soon as it hits the shop shelves, go to tonicsiteshop.com/TONICVIP or hit the newsletter link in our profile! What do you think, guys? Into it?!
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    ✹ SNEAK PEEK of the new TONIC site template coming to our shelves before the month is through! First, we’d like to draw your attention to the fact that we used MORE COLOR 🌈 just for you guys. If you’ve loved our Margarita design but wanted more sunset / desert tones and elevated typography, you’re going to *LOVE* this one. We built it just for you. Secondly, we heard you loud and clear and this template is designed for coaches, creatives, podcasters, entrepreneurs, photographers and *anyone* who needs a site built strategically to sell + convert. (Yes, there are copy prompts throughout!) It’s most definitely not just for photographers. Did we mention there’s a sick matching sales page, optional membership login buttons, FOUR blog design options, a killer services page, and, well, way, way more because we couldn’t help ourselves? To see more of this design (we’re previewing it via our newsletter Sunday night) and get early access + an exclusive discount as soon as it hits the shop shelves, go to tonicsiteshop.com/TONICVIP or hit the newsletter link in our profile! What do you think, guys? Into it?!
  • STOCK PHOTO TIPS, Part 2 ~ Focus on image tones + vibes when you curate stock imagery. That’s what makes a collection of brand images feel cohesive. Pro-tip: You can always pop them into VSCO or Lightroom and apply the same edit to *create* that cohesion! Swipe to see this (gorgeous) @socialsquares photo before we gave it our more moody TONIC edit... ~ Speaking of editing, when it comes to stock imagery, one of the benefits is that you CAN crop, edit, scale up, remove objects, and make changes as you need to to fit your brand. We’ve seen @moyo.studio images used so many creative ways. Don’t be limited by what you see — make them your own! ~ Make sure you have a *variety* of image selects. Flat lays are gorgeous, but websites and content come alive with *people,* places, and movement. ~ When you use an image as-is from a particular photographer (like from pexels or Unsplash), support creatives everywhere and credit the photographer wherever you can (“Image from Unsplash” isn’t really accurate.). We tagged some of our faves in our last post. ~ While stock imagery is excellent, when possible, we think investing in a brand photo shoot will pay dividends for years to come! We’ve used our cocktail brand images from @charcompany for SEVEN years now and we still absolutely love what they created for us. @abbygracephoto @ericaandjon @abigailgowin are three other TONIC clients who specifically offer brand shoots, but I’m sure there are lots more of you, so raise your âœ‹đŸ». Now the important question... which edit? Ours or the original? 😂
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    STOCK PHOTO TIPS, Part 2 ~ Focus on image tones + vibes when you curate stock imagery. That’s what makes a collection of brand images feel cohesive. Pro-tip: You can always pop them into VSCO or Lightroom and apply the same edit to *create* that cohesion! Swipe to see this (gorgeous) @socialsquares photo before we gave it our more moody TONIC edit... ~ Speaking of editing, when it comes to stock imagery, one of the benefits is that you CAN crop, edit, scale up, remove objects, and make changes as you need to to fit your brand. We’ve seen @moyo.studio images used so many creative ways. Don’t be limited by what you see — make them your own! ~ Make sure you have a *variety* of image selects. Flat lays are gorgeous, but websites and content come alive with *people,* places, and movement. ~ When you use an image as-is from a particular photographer (like from pexels or Unsplash), support creatives everywhere and credit the photographer wherever you can (“Image from Unsplash” isn’t really accurate.). We tagged some of our faves in our last post. ~ While stock imagery is excellent, when possible, we think investing in a brand photo shoot will pay dividends for years to come! We’ve used our cocktail brand images from @charcompany for SEVEN years now and we still absolutely love what they created for us. @abbygracephoto @ericaandjon @abigailgowin are three other TONIC clients who specifically offer brand shoots, but I’m sure there are lots more of you, so raise your âœ‹đŸ». Now the important question... which edit? Ours or the original? 😂
  • STOCK IMAGES, PART 1 — We’ve been spending a LOT of time sourcing imagery for our new templates and a few A+ clients (oh hey, @bossbabe.inc) and we wanted to share a few tips + sources for 💯 stock brand imagery. First, a few paid options: ~ SOCIAL SQUARES: We love @socialsquares. They release new collections each month (it’s like it’s Christmas) and their color tones and attention to the content you actually NEED is so helpful. (All of our TONIC customers immediately get access to their library with a template purchases!) Pro tip: their marketing tips are worth the cost of membership alone! ~ MOYO We jumped on the @moyo.studio train almost instantly - not only are Molly and Mark just like, delightful supportive humans, they also have the BEST mockups and scene creators in the game and their content is VERY Instagram. So grateful for their tools! DM us if you need a little discount code. ;) ~ TIDE AND TREE We fell in love with @tideandtreemembership when she reached out to have us curate a collection of her images and we LOVE the variety and lifestyle content Charlie offers. You can access our collection via tonicsiteshop.com/resources. And some free sources: ~ PEXELS You can source an entire shoot from a particular photographer, so you’ll have a number of images of the same person or in the same tones, which helps your site or content feel cohesive. Pro-tip: find one image you love, then go browse the rest of that photographer’s work. ~ KABOOMPICS Most of the images are taken by the same photographer, so they feel pretty cohesive as a whole and they also whole photo shoots, which is a major plus! It’s also highly searchable. (Only complaint is that some of the images feel VERY stock-y.) ~ UNSPLASH Our most frequented source of stock imagery. It can feel like thrift shopping (lots to sort through) but there are some incredibly talented photographers offering FREE imagery. (We tagged a few faves!) Pro tips: Unsplash also offers VIDEO. Also, Scroll past an image you like and see the collections it’s been featured in. They’re often really well curated! Was that helpful? Feel free to save this post! Any fave sources we missed or tips you’ve picked up?
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    STOCK IMAGES, PART 1 — We’ve been spending a LOT of time sourcing imagery for our new templates and a few A+ clients (oh hey, @bossbabe.inc) and we wanted to share a few tips + sources for 💯 stock brand imagery. First, a few paid options: ~ SOCIAL SQUARES: We love @socialsquares. They release new collections each month (it’s like it’s Christmas) and their color tones and attention to the content you actually NEED is so helpful. (All of our TONIC customers immediately get access to their library with a template purchases!) Pro tip: their marketing tips are worth the cost of membership alone! ~ MOYO We jumped on the @moyo.studio train almost instantly - not only are Molly and Mark just like, delightful supportive humans, they also have the BEST mockups and scene creators in the game and their content is VERY Instagram. So grateful for their tools! DM us if you need a little discount code. ;) ~ TIDE AND TREE We fell in love with @tideandtreemembership when she reached out to have us curate a collection of her images and we LOVE the variety and lifestyle content Charlie offers. You can access our collection via tonicsiteshop.com/resources. And some free sources: ~ PEXELS You can source an entire shoot from a particular photographer, so you’ll have a number of images of the same person or in the same tones, which helps your site or content feel cohesive. Pro-tip: find one image you love, then go browse the rest of that photographer’s work. ~ KABOOMPICS Most of the images are taken by the same photographer, so they feel pretty cohesive as a whole and they also whole photo shoots, which is a major plus! It’s also highly searchable. (Only complaint is that some of the images feel VERY stock-y.) ~ UNSPLASH Our most frequented source of stock imagery. It can feel like thrift shopping (lots to sort through) but there are some incredibly talented photographers offering FREE imagery. (We tagged a few faves!) Pro tips: Unsplash also offers VIDEO. Also, Scroll past an image you like and see the collections it’s been featured in. They’re often really well curated! Was that helpful? Feel free to save this post! Any fave sources we missed or tips you’ve picked up?
  • 👀 SNEAK PEEK at a little piece of the next site template hitting our shelves! If you love our Margarita but want something a little more sophisticated (with less bright color), you’re going to LOVE this one! But help us settle a bet... what should we name her? (Keeping with our cocktail naming schema!) 1. Boulevard (short for boulevardier) 2. Paper Plane 3. Roman Holiday 4. Sazerac ETA: 5. Cafecito, submitted by @drewzinn87! Give us a vote! 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5?
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    👀 SNEAK PEEK at a little piece of the next site template hitting our shelves! If you love our Margarita but want something a little more sophisticated (with less bright color), you’re going to LOVE this one! But help us settle a bet... what should we name her? (Keeping with our cocktail naming schema!) 1. Boulevard (short for boulevardier) 2. Paper Plane 3. Roman Holiday 4. Sazerac ETA: 5. Cafecito, submitted by @drewzinn87! Give us a vote! 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5?
  • RECIPE: Headed back from the apple orchard? Prepping for a small party (of one)? Just want to drink something delicious? ⠀ ⠀ Allow us to humbly present the one and only cocktail recipe you need in your Fall/Winter repertoire. Swipe for the pretty version or use the text version below for a reference. Don’t forget to hit the little bookmark to save this for later. (Trust us, you’ll be coming back to it again and again). ⠀ ⠀ THE BOURBON BOMBER⠀ 1/4 Cup Bourbon⠀ 3/4 cup Apple Cider⠀ 1/2 tbsp. Agave Nectar⠀ 3/4 tsp. Grated (whole) Nutmeg ⠀ 1/2 tsp. Lemon Zest⠀ 1/2 tsp. Allspice⠀ 1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger ⠀ Angostura Bitters⠀ ⠀ Using cocktail shaker, add 3-4 ice cubes and all measured ingredients. Shake well. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass. Garnish with two drops of bitters, spring of rosemary and apple slice, if desired. Makes 1 very large or 2 medium cocktails. ⠀ ⠀ > Don’t feel like grating things? We get it. #2020⠀ ⠀ Make the lazy version, the also-delicious “Bourbon Apple Ginger” instead! 2 parts apple cider, 2 parts ginger beer (we like Bundaberg or Goslings) to 1 part bourbon, garnish with bitters, rosemary and apple. Boom, bam, baby. ✹ Any other fall recipes we should try?!
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    RECIPE: Headed back from the apple orchard? Prepping for a small party (of one)? Just want to drink something delicious? ⠀ ⠀ Allow us to humbly present the one and only cocktail recipe you need in your Fall/Winter repertoire. Swipe for the pretty version or use the text version below for a reference. Don’t forget to hit the little bookmark to save this for later. (Trust us, you’ll be coming back to it again and again). ⠀ ⠀ THE BOURBON BOMBER⠀ 1/4 Cup Bourbon⠀ 3/4 cup Apple Cider⠀ 1/2 tbsp. Agave Nectar⠀ 3/4 tsp. Grated (whole) Nutmeg ⠀ 1/2 tsp. Lemon Zest⠀ 1/2 tsp. Allspice⠀ 1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger ⠀ Angostura Bitters⠀ ⠀ Using cocktail shaker, add 3-4 ice cubes and all measured ingredients. Shake well. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass. Garnish with two drops of bitters, spring of rosemary and apple slice, if desired. Makes 1 very large or 2 medium cocktails. ⠀ ⠀ > Don’t feel like grating things? We get it. #2020⠀ ⠀ Make the lazy version, the also-delicious “Bourbon Apple Ginger” instead! 2 parts apple cider, 2 parts ginger beer (we like Bundaberg or Goslings) to 1 part bourbon, garnish with bitters, rosemary and apple. Boom, bam, baby. ✹ Any other fall recipes we should try?!