6 Design Tips That Will Have Your Audience Licking Their Screens

We made the buttons on the screen look so good you’ll want to lick them.
~ Steve Jobs
You’re creating great content to attract an audience. A loyal audience that comes to know, like and trust you.
But what if you never get the attention of that audience in the first place?
What if your blog visitors take one look at your well-written words and move right along because your page looks bland, boring, and amateurish?
You lose them at hello. Your words never had a chance to take root.
That’s where design can help.
Design creates a welcoming first impression.
It engages your site visitors and draws them in so they’ll actually spend time with your information.
It’s the difference between throwing some fast food on the table in front of your guests, and presenting a meal that’s carefully prepared, beautifully plated, and smells delicious.
Want to build up an appetite for your content?
Today’s post shares 6 tips to make your blog so luscious looking, you’ll need to warn people not to lick their screens.

1. Think about your guests

Delicious design starts with an understanding of who you’re cooking it up for.
Knowing your target market and what they’ll respond to is crucial if you want to pick typefaces, colors and images that will resonate with them.
What do you need to know about them?
Ideally, you have a grasp of their age group, predominant gender and education level.
Bonus points if you are aware of psychographic details like what motivates them, what their beliefs are, and what other companies they’re attracted to and buying from.
And just like you’d want to know about food allergies before you prepared a meal, it’s important to be aware of what your target market finds unpleasant or repulsive so you can avoid it on your pages.

2. Speak their language with typography

Custom typography allows you to break out of the Helvetica-Times Roman-Georgia-Verdana fonts our sites marched in lockstep to just a few years ago.
You can express your brand or your blog’s personality through your typefaces’ personalities.
Serif typefaces — the ones with little “feet” — are classic and traditional.
Sans-serif typefaces — those with streamlined letters — are contemporary and modern.
There are exceptions within these major categories, so trust your eyes to tell you what your typeface choices are saying.
It’s easy to use custom typefaces on our blogs now. There are several good commercial offerings that will “serve up” unique fonts to your site. The Google Font API will even do it for free.
It’s an extra step, but will make your content stand out, and give your words personality.

3. Use colors that make sense to your market

If you’ve carefully researched your target market as outlined in step one, you may already have an idea of what colors will work for them.
To start, I recommend you choose two main colors to represent your brand.
For you, two colors are simplest to work with — you’ll have a short list to choose from every time you need to make a color choice.
For your audience, two predominant colors will make it easier to recognize and remember your brand.
How can you pick just two colors from the millions available?
Start by looking at the consumer goods your target market already buys. What colors already appeal to them?
You don’t need to walk around your local shopping mall with a swatch book, but keep your eyes open to color combinations that sell to your particular market. Take inspiration from what’s already working.

4. Tell your story with enticing images

I’ll be the first to admit it: finding a good image to work with your posts is a huge pain.
It adds to the time it takes to finish your piece, and — because you typically look for an image after you’ve finished writing — it feels like just One More Thing To Do.
But, it’s worth it.
As wonderful as your carefully-crafted words may be, they’ll sit there limp and lonely on the page if you don’t pair them up with a compelling image.
A great image is like the cover of a dinner party invitation.
It gives people an easy “in” to start engaging with your writing. Images are processed quickly, and if you’ve picked one that’s attractive and creates just a little bit of curiosity, it will draw readers into your headline and the first paragraph of your post.

5. Order your information hierarchically

Visual hierarchy helps your visitor navigate through your page and absorb your information in the order you prefer.
Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? Here’s how to make it work …
Look at the information on any given page of your blog. What do you want your site visitors to notice first? It’s probably your site name.
Then what do you want them to see? It might be your headline, or the image you’ve used with your first post.
Once they’ve taken in the name of your site and you’ve drawn them into your content, then where do you want them to look?
Visual hierarchy directs the viewer’s eyes through your information by giving it an order of importance by where it’s positioned, how bold or bright it is, and how much white space it has around it.
The most important information? Make it larger, bolder, and brighter. Give it some breathing room, too: white space draws eyeballs.
The next-most-important information? Make it a bit smaller, less bold, and not as bright.
As you move down the ladder of visual hierarchy, remember: the less important the information, the less visual “weight” it should carry.

6. Keep it together with a style guide

OK, you’ve used color, typography, gorgeous images and visual hierarchy to create lickable, luscious pages.
Now what?
Keep up the good work!
Maintain consistency with a simple style guide. It doesn’t have to be a complex 20-page document.
Try this:

• Open any word processor, and note your official colors
• Log your typefaces, and which font you use where
• List the file name for your official logo or header artwork, and where it can be found
• Note any resources for photography so you know where to find more of a style you’ve used in the past
• Continue to add to this document as you make design decisions about your site

Once you’ve created an attractive blog, keep people coming back to it by serving up beautifully-presented content consistently over time.
Make good design decisions, then continue applying them using your style guide notes as a reference.
And don’t forget the “please don’t lick your screen sign.” You’re going to need it!

Chocolates for Valentine

Chocolates for Valentine




The mere mention of February 14 causes hearts to pound and mouths to crave for that one delicious treat: chocolate.
The famed brown dessert has become symbol of love, romance, friendship, and affection.
In fact, it an even express more than words can say, be it a hearty "Thank you", sincere "I am sorry", a festive "Congratulations", and a wishful "Good luck".
But on Valentine's Day, it has one universal meaning: I LOVE YOU.

Statistics show that chocolate sales peak during Valentine's Day, proving that chocolate is a gift of choice over any other sweets or candy.
Consequently, another US survey revealed that 80 percent of women and 75 percent of men say they prefer to receive a box of chocolates as a Valentine gift.
This shows that chocolate has earned itself a stronghold on the taste buds of the most consumers. But like any other status symbol, it also has its critics.
Chocolate has received a dark reputation as a food that causes tooth decay, acne and blemishes; triggers migraines; and contributes to the problem of obesity.

So why give chocolates on Valentine's Day?
Chocolates as a favorite treat for Valentine have more of a social rather than physiological role.
Food, aside from its physiological role of giving energy, building tissues, and regulating body processes, performs other functions as well. Its social function denotes that food, as part of culture, can be a vehicle for expressing friendship and showing concern.
The type of food can be define the occasion.

Latest research indicates that dark chocolate contains flavonols, a type of antioxidant found in cocoa. Dr.Allan Handysides shared his recent findings on the beneficial effect of chocolates(Adventist Nutrition Conference, 2008) by saying that one ounce of dark chocolate-
meaning that a pure cocoa content of 75 percent or higher- promotes better blood flow to the heart and brain in the elderly.

The "very protective" antioxidants in chocolate and other diluted forms of cocoa. These facts mean that chocolate, in its original and bitter for, is a beneficial to health. However, in an attempt to make it taste creamier, richer, smoother, and more gratifying, commercial chocolate is produced with something etra-
that is, refined sugar, milk products, corn syrup, artificial flavoring, and other additives that transform an otherwise innocent and healthy treat into a sickeningly sweet mixture rich in fat, sugar, and calories.

Dolfin Belgian Chocolate Bars, Goya Dark Chocolate bar, Cadbury Bournville Fine Dark Chocolate, Godiva Caraques Dark Cocoa, and Hershey's Special Dark or Extra Dark Chocolates are few of the dark chocolates that are available in leading department stores or supermarkets.

There's nothing wrong with eating a little dark Chocolate as an ocassional treat especially on Valentine's Day. You can still allow yourself to indulge in that sense of anticipation when you receive a meticulously wrapped box, the pleasure of selling its delicate aroma, and that exquisite bliss that comes when the chocolaty goodness finally melts in your mouth.
But if eating chocolates has become a habit and uncontrollable cravings compel you to munch so sweet, then you might want to stop and think, because in large amounts, the cons definitely outweigh the pros.
Have a happy and healthy Valentine's Day!

KEEP THE LOVE FIRE BURNING (What every husband must know)

KEEP THE LOVE FIRE BURNING
(What every husband must know)
- JOELYN G. GAYARES






I used to be an avid Tagalog movie fan, especially those starred by Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor.
Their movies then were tear-jerkers, most often about wives being underdogs. As I grew older, I realized that such situations happen in real life! 
I felt sad, intensely sad, that I made it an advocacy to make a change in the lives of women. 


Now I am a psychiatrist and putting my advocacy to work: helping battered women and abused children stand for their right. And I am glad, I am doing it!
Housewives, I personally believe, are the least appreciated among the women in the workforce. Some people do not consider housewives as a part of workforce. 
Thoughtless husbands even hurl hurtful remarks on their wives when asked to help in the chores. "I am tired from work" is their unjust reason. 


So this time, I shall talk with the husband. Husbands, housework is a stressful as any other work. Have you tried waking up every early to the market, cook breakfast, 
get the children ready for school, and send you off to work, as your wife does? Then she cleans the house, tidies up the beds, scrubs the toilets, washes the laundry, irons the clothes, 
cooks the meals. Without a househelp plus a baby to care for, her chores often go unfinished and unnoticed.


When the children come home, she helps in their homework, play with them, feed them, pray with the before finally tucking the in bed. And mind you, husbands, your wifes day does not end there. No siree! She takes 
time to listen to your work woes or gives you a massage, takes care of the bills, checks the lights before finally going to sleep. 
By the way, are you aware that your wife works 16 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year, with no overtime pay? Wouldn't it delight her then to hear words of appreciation from you?


Marriage is a union. A yin and a yang, as the Chinese describe it. It is not a master-slave or a boss-follower relationship. Many couples forget this fact, allowing disequilibrium in the union, 
with the bigger bread earner or the bigger muscles on the power seat.


Yet, each person is equal in God's eyes... including husbands and wives. No one is an "underdog" where the wife is always on the lean side and expected to lose. Neither marriage nor money can change this reality. 
Each has a role to keep the love fire burning. 1 Peter 3:7 says, "You husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner 
in Gods gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered".


Husbands, marriage is a give-and-take relationship. Express sincere appreciation for her taking good care of you and the children. Help in the house chores. Take her out, if possible, on a weekly date, just the two of you. 
She deserves a break from her 16-hour job that made it possible for you to take on an 8-hour job. Take the opportunity to tell her how valuable she is.


As a psychiatrist, I say, "Husbands, do not batter you wife emotionally, psychologically, physically, or sexually. She has the right to say 'enough' and 'no' when she is displeased or tired."
As a God-fearing wife, I share these trusted pieces of advice: make God the center of your marriage. Have daily family worship. Take time to pray as a couple. Prayer connects you with the ultimate Giver of peace, love, and happiness.
God will help you keep the love fire burning and your marriage going.

Till Death Do Us Part

Till Death Do Us part

- Kay Kuzma

In my search for what makes families strong and healthy, I have read dozens of studies, and almost

all degree that the most important factor in holding families together in a meaningful relationship is commitment.

But things that are worthwhile seldom come easily. And in the heat of parental argument, children

can question their folks' commitment to stay together, "till death do us part."

My husband, Jan, and I discuss all kinds of issues, but rarely argue.

We are, however, as vulnerable as everyone else to the stress of time pressures, lack of communication, and misunderstandings, and our tempers

can get out of hand, even over significant issues.

For example, the morning I had told Jan that the kids and I would pick him up during lunch hour so we could get a family picture taken. I had previously mentioned it would be nice to take a family picture by a lake in Riverside, but failed to mention that critical fact on that fateful Tuesday. I didn't get to Jan's office until 12:30. When he got into the car, he casually mentioned that we had better hurry since he had a 1:00 appointment. I blew up. "What?" I exclaimed in an elevated voice. "You can't have a one o'clock! I told you we were going to get out pictures taken."

"Well, I thought we'd be back by one." "There's no way. We can't get all the way out to the lake and back in thirty minutes," I wailed. "Why are we going to the lake?" "Because I wanted something different." "Well, let's stop at a phone and tell the photographer to meet us here instead." "I can't!" I yelled. "He's already out at the lake." "Why didn't you tell me?" "I did!" Our voices become higher and more staccato.

I don't remember how we resolved the conflict. I just remember that at one point our eight-year-old daughter, Kim, who was sitting quietly in the back seat listening to all of this, spoke up. "I don't want you to ever act like that again!" After that we didn't say much!

Whenever I look at the picture by the lake, with all of us smiling for the camera, I think about the "bumpy" ride that got us there and wonder what is going on behind the smiling faces of those I meet at work, those I sit beside in church, and those I pass at the market or the library.

Its frightening to the children when they hear their parents argue, because so any parental arguments end in the family court. Children question when they hear their folks saying harsh words to each other, "Are you going to get an annulment?" To squelch that fear, you must make it clear that separation or annulments is not an option in your family. I remember christian author and speaker

Josh McDowell saying he made it a point to clarify to his children that he and his wife were committed to stay married for a lifetime and nothing would ever change that. Nothing!

Others have made similar statements. Leo Buscaglia, who has written voluminously on love, said that when his strong, outspoken Italian mother was asked whether she had ever considered divorce, she replied, Divorce? Never! Murder, often. Divorce never!" (Those married for a number of years can relate to that comment and smile!) The important thing is that regardless of what happens or what a husband and wife might say in the heat of an argument, the children must have the foundation of trust to know without a shadow of a doubt that separation or annulment is not an option.

Annie and Steve Chapman recall the story about Hernando Cortes, the Spanish conqueror of Mexico, and his men burning their ships as a symbol of their commitment to stay in the New World. The Chapmans compare this act to what a couple must do when committing their lives to each other in their song, The Ships are Burning. Play it for your children, and let them know you have "burnt the ships" in your lives and are totally committed to the family!

If both bride and groom would truly hold on to that kind of solid commitment to each other, how much more safe and secure their children would feel. The problem today is that separation or annulment is an option for any!

That fact undermines the foundation of trust. More children now an expect to live in a single-parent home sometime during their growing years than those who will be lucky enough to grow up living with both of their parents. When I was in graduate school the prevailing feeling was better to separate than have children grow up in conflict. The rationale behind that philosophy had to do with trust. Living in conflict without the reassurance that "the ships have been burnt" and their folks have made a commitment to love with each other regardless is for a child like living on an earthquake fault. Knowing that the "big" one is expected any day, each small tremor sends terror shooting through their veins. So it is with arguments: each time the child wonders, "Is this the 'big' one?" adrenaline

stressors attack the body. Obviously, living on trembling ground is not good for anyone.

But a popular solution of a separation or annulment any better?

Now that researchers have looked at the long term consequences of separation or annulment, they're hanging their minds. Separation or annulment is devastating to a child. Period. Even if it is the best solution, it is never a good solution.

When separation or annulment puts a permanent has between the two most significant people in child's world, there will be a lifetime of consequences. Every day after separation or annulment will be significantly different from what the child knew before the separation.

Christmas celebrations will never be the same, nor weekends. Vacations are no longer "family" vacations. The child's perception of family is changed. The child's perception of his or her own identity is changed. Too often mom and dad now become adversaries. In-laws become "outlaws."

No longer do all the relatives get together for family reunions. Separation from loved ones is painful, and it occurs on regular basis. Children are asked to be careful what they say to various significant people, "Don't tell Grandma Martha..."

Trustworthiness is questioned. Jealousy poisons. Suspicion reigns. Half-truths and sometimes outright lies are told. Children too young to understand issues of the past or too innocent to perceive wounded motives, as like Pilate did, "What is truth?"

You've seen the fallout. Top of their class, student leaders, optimistic kids, sudden fall behind, drop varsity, quit attending church, become involved with drugs, gangs, or sex, and carry a mountain of insecurities and inadequacies on their shoulders.

Others attempt to live above it all and burry their insecurities in achievements, projects, materialism, fanatic religiosity, and a superiority attitude that puts others down in an attempt to lift itself. And some withdraw into spending endless hours reading racy novels, watching violent videos,

listening to heavy metal, playing addictive computer games, or exhibiting other escapist behaviors.

This is not to say that all children hate the bottom psychologically and act out these self-destructive behaviors when break-up occurs. But none are immune to hurt. And all can benefit from support groups and counseling.

Because separation or annulment is upsetting to children, any feels that it's better if a couple sticks together long enough to get their children raised before they separate or get their marriage annulled. Perhaps it won't have such a devastating effect?

Not necessarily so! Some of the most distressed and wounded kids are those who discover in their late teens that their folks were living a lie all those years. The revelation is like living through an 8.3 quake on the Richter Scale! Suddenly they realized that their

foundation of rockbed trust was merely sand. And if they can't trust their folks then who can they trust?

Knowing all this, the best answer to maintaining a foundation of trust for your children is to learn how to communicate, solve problems, and meet each other's needs in constructive ways, and for each daily renew the marriage commitment to the other with words and acts of love.

Yet, as bad as separation or annulment is, it happens! One can't hold a relationship together alone. And there is no virtue in staying in an abusive one. It only enables the abuser to continue the abuse. Therefore, the question is, how can parents keep their children wrapped in a security blanket of

trust when separation or annulment attempts to raise its ugly head?