Trunk Show!!!

Read more ...

Freshly Picked Moccasin Giveaway by TCOT Boutique!

We are so thrilled to host this giveaway!!!

Let's be real, ALL giveaways are super fun for us but this one is extra special because we have been big Freshly Picked fans for years!

If you have not heard of Freshly Picked, or have been living under a rock go ahead over to their website and check out their adorable handmade leather moccasins. They are sized from newborn to size 10, made in the USA, and made with high quality leather.

Freshly Picked has been kind enough to giveaway a pair of moccs (any size and any color) to a fan of The Cherry on Top Boutique.

Would you like to enter this contest?

Here's how:

1. "LIKE" our Facebook page (and comment here that you did)

2. Become a follower of our blog! (and comment here that you are, in separate comment)

3. Follow us on Instagram! (and comment here that you did, in separate comment)

4.  Follow us on Twitter (and comment here that you did, in separate comment)

5. Follow us on Pinterest (and comment here that you did, in separate comment)

BONUS ENTRY: Tag a friend in the Moccasin Status Update on Facebook!!!
(Be sure to let us know here in the comments)

Read more ...

What your missing in your night time skincare routine. By Brittany C., Quad City Makeup Artist

Please read previous post on my recommendations for daytime skincare routines that you should be doing.

As for your night routine:

Many women tell me that they forget to cleanse their skin, and remove their makeup at night. I will tell you that this one of  the worst thing you can do for your skin. It will cause your skin to age faster. Who wants that?  So here's my trick. Try showering at night, and cleanse your face in the shower. Or, once you get into your pajamas and before you get onto that cumfy couch, go cleanse your face! :) Once you sit down and relax, the chances you are going to get up and do your night time regime are slim to none.

1. Cleanse. Thoroughly. Once to remove all that makeup. Then again. Yep, cleanse twice to really get your skin and pores clean.

2. Always. Eye. Cream. :)

3. Next is your serum. This can be the same serum as your a.m. product, or a different product. Again, it all depends on what improvements you want to see in your skin. Most likely, you will use a Retinol, Retin-A, or some form of retinoid anti-aging product. If you are older than 25. then your skin has already began the aging process and it is a great idea to invest in these products.

4. And at last, your moisturizer. Make sure to use one sans-SPF, since you will not be needing this product at night. Most people like to use a heavier cream at night time, since your skin can lose a lot of moisture while sleeping.

Your skin naturally protects itself during the day, and repairs at night. It is so important to give those skin cells the moisture it needs to repair from any damage incurred during the day.

Treatments such as: maskes and exfoliation can be done daily, every couple of days, or once a week. Be sure to know what skin type you have and buy accordingly. If you don't know, or are unsure, many spas and medi-spas offer free skin exams and consultations.

Remember, that every persons' skin is difference so invest in products that suit your skin-type and your skin concerns. 

Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions or comments, please post here or on my site at www.facebook.com/brittanychevellemakeupartist

Read more ...

Top 11 Easiest Ways to Update your Home; by Illinois Interior Designer, Sherri Scott

My husband and I lived in our first home for nearly seven years.  Since we had originally thought we would be there for three to five I didn’t want to make any huge changes that may not work in a new home.  I sat tight for a while but grew a tiresome of it.  I decided certain rooms needed freshening up and made a few changes along the way.

 Home decorating can be a bit overwhelming.  There are so many different components that make up a room and the thought of going out and tackling it all can make you a bit batty; to be honest it can be challenging to find the time and money to do it all at once.  There are a number of ways to make small changes that result in a big impact without breaking the bank and taking forever.

 

1.      Don’t forget your front entrance makes a first impression.  Consider switching out your door color for a deep red or strong black/charcoal.

 

2.      Since we are already outside, go ahead and pull some planters out of the shed and do a few container flowers gardens to create a welcoming entrance.  It doesn’t have to be as plentiful as the picture shown, but be sure to add great colors to complement your entrance.

 

3.      Paint is usually the first thing that comes to mind.  All it takes is a weekend and a gallon of paint and you can update your room automatically.  Don’t be afraid to add an accent color or (with a little patience) even an allover stencil like some found here will add a dramatic punch. In a small space even wallpaper can be an inexpensive change and the wallpaper nowadays is certainly not your grandmother’s wallpaper!

4.      Since we are on the topic of paint, why not paint an old piece of furniture you have and bring new life to it.  It can be a fun, bold color and create a focal point in your room. 

 

 

5.      Switch out your pillows!  There are so many accent pillows out there (shown above) and are easy to change out to test what works in your room and what you like best.

6.      DECLUTTER!  Sometimes it is best to start with a clean slate and pull out your accessories one by one and find new homes for vases, pictures, flowers, etc.  You may free up some wall space and create a gallery wall, which can include photos, children’s artwork, ironworks, plagues and more.  The sky is the limit.  I will be creating a new gallery wall in our hallway in the near future so stay tuned.

7.      Reupholstering seat cushions at your dining room or breakfast nook is a fun way to add texture and pattern.  This is a simple DIY you can do over day or weekend.

8.      Turn on a new light…or lampshade.  You can change out the complete lamp or simply shop around for a new shade.  So easy to switch out.  I have seen some great ones at Target and Home Goods.

9.      Find new window treatments! In our old house I had a neutral linen window treatment hanging in our front room.  I loved them but was looking for some pattern for new look so I switched them out with some multicolor patterned ones instead and moved the neutral ones to our bedroom and viola, two rooms were renewed.

 

 

10.  Change out those accessories.  I have so many frames, vases, and candles that get moved around every so often.  Sometimes they find a new home in another room or simply get placed in storage.  Also update the photos in the frame after all, that is why we take so many pictures, right?  So we can enjoy them!

11.  Decorate your mantle seasonally.  The obvious time to do so is at Christmas time, but you can do it year round.   If you are like me then come February I am looking forward to spring arriving and what better way to get a pick me up then by changing out the seasonal décor. 

  

They sky is limit when it comes to revitalizing a room that is starting to feel a bit stale.  Above are just a few to consider alone or changes to do altogether.  What are some things you have done to update your space?

Blog post by: Sherri Scott
                       Illinois Interior Designer

Read more ...

Easy Peasy Chicken Noodle Soup by Libby from Advocare

Easiest Chicken Soup EVER!

3-4 Chicken Breasts cooked
2 cups Celery 2 Cups Carrots
1 Cup Baby Spinach
4 Cups Water
3 Cups Chicken Broth (Salted) (More broth and less water if it’s no salt)
Salt/Pepper
1 Cup Natural Brown Rice

Cook Chicken and dice into small pieces or shred.

Heat Water, broth and add veggies (add more of whatever else you like)

Add Chicken and Rice Heat on Low for about 1 hour.

Add Spinach

Let warm for about another hour.

It’s sooo easy and my 3 small daughters LOVE IT!

Read more ...

Top Toys For 2013 (in my house anyway!) By Lindsay Asta

 

What's your child favorite toy? We have a wide range of children in our home so we have lots of favs. Here are a few off our list for 2013...

 

Wall Tracks by Hot Wheels

Have you tried these out yet? We were a little nervous they would ruin our walls, but they don't damage them a bit. They adhere with command wall strips which make them very easy to remove from the wall and stick back up in a new location. Great for any age too.

 

 

Minecraft, a new obsession for all ages! This is a video game I am actually OK with. My 7, almost 8 year old, builds houses and creates rather than the usual mindless fighting games.

 

Books! Not just any books though, joke books, instructional and character encyclopedias are all the rage here. For my boys, 7 and 4, these are the best. They both get into them and will spend an hour interacting with each other, not fighting!

 

 

Doll stroller and accessories. Do I even need to say any more...doll anything=LOVE. You obviously need a great baby to go along with all the accessories, my little one's (2years old) current favorite is Baby Alive. Ya know, the one we had growing up? She's still around and just as awesome as you remember. LOL! We opted to get her the one that just drinks her bottle and wets rather than the one that eats and dirties her diaper. 

 

 

 

Play food, utensils, pots and pans and the play kitchen. We especially love the Melissa and Doug wooden products. They are so durable and the kiddos LOVE them!



 

 

Do you or your children have a tablet? My 7year old got a Kindle Fire last year from Santa and it is great for him and even works pretty well for my 4year old, however not the case for my 2year old. She was unable to navigate to the right screen and was always frustrated even with assistance. So Santa brought her the Nabi Jr and she (and I) love it! It is the right size for her little hands and has a rubber casing so she cannot easily brake it. The device also comes with tons of games, books, and videos all downloaded and ready to go.

 

I have a serious love hate relationship with one item on this list, and this is it! The kids love it because the track is up a little higher so they can get to everything with ease. It is also a great to keep the track together so the will actually use it rather than make you rebuild daily. Here's where the hate part comes in...it does come apart easily, and it is time consuming to rebuild once multiple pieces have been removed. The solution you ask? Wood glue, and LOTS of it! I glued the pieces together and my life is now complete.

 

Need a large motor skill toy for your little ones during the winter months or rainy weather? We love ours! Very durable and easy to clean too.

  Fun for the whole family! Even my boys are super into this bracelet craze. With a little help from an adult all 3 of my kiddos can make multiple designs. I have to admit, even I have made some just for the fun of it.

ANYTHING Despicable Me 2 or Minion items

 

A workbench or tools of any kind. Boys and girls alike love to work on things. They also love to care for their toys, friends or animals, so a dr kit is another hands on fav!

 

Super Hero anything!!! But in particular, these fun "hideouts".

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed our top toys of 2013! Feel free to comment with yours below, we always love hearing about new products!!!



Read more ...

What your missing in your DAYTIME skincare routine by Brittany, QC Makeup Artist

With the copious amount of skincare and makeup products on the market today, it's no surprise that women aren't sure what products to buy, or how to use them...correctly. I know it can be very intimidating, confusing, and leave you running for the door, but fear not, here is a simple step-by-step guide to caring for your skin. No matter if your oily, or dry.

The order in which you apply your skincare products will make the difference of how effective or not effective it can and will be for you.

Starting with your morning routine:

1. If your skin is more normal to dry, a simple warm water rinse would be adequate; assuming that you also cleansed your skin at night. However, if you are more oily and acne-prone, you will want to cleanse your skin in the a.m. regardless. Always cleanse with warm water and never use hot water on your skin. Even for those of you that enjoy hot showers. Just. Don't. Do. It. This will cause a slew of other skin issues.

2  After cleansing, your next step will always be eye cream. You may have the same eye product for both a.m. and p.m. or, two separate products. For example: my a.m. eye cream has SPF in it to give that delicate eye area extra protection from the sun which causes premature aging. The skin around the eyes is much thinner and has fewer oil glands, therefore drying out quicker and accentuating those fine lines. A hydrating, rich eye cream can help. A little goes a long way, so apply half a pea-size to the pad of your ring finger, rub between your two ring fingers, and tap lightly around your orbital bone. Never pull outward and never apply toward the lash line, as all eye creams migrate upward and can cause burning in the eye.

3. The next product you might apply is an anti-aging serum, or acne product: depending on your skin concerns. This is typically a very sheer, thin consistency. For me, I use a hydrating booster that also has anti-aging properties like, vitamin C. If you are more acneic, you might use a benzyl peroxide or salyclic acid treatment at this step.

4. And lastly, your moisturizer. This will lock in moisture and drive all those yummy ingredients in your serum deeper into the skin. If you opt for a moisturizer with SPF, you will be done at this point and can begin with your makeup regime. Some people use the same moisturizer for the am and pm, and if that is the case, you will want to buy a SPF specially for the face to apply after you have applied your moisturizer, and so applying your SPF will be your last step.

The easiest way to remember this, is that your want your SPF closest to the sun so it will always go on last. Make sure to look for a product that has a SPF 30 or higher, anything lower than that will wear off before you even get out of the door. Oh, your makeup has SPF so your good to go, right?! That's just a myth. Unless you apply your makeup like Spackle, then your good to go. :) 

Post by Brittany C

QCA Makeup artist

Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions or comments, please post here or on my site at www.facebook.com/brittanychevellemakeupartist

Read more ...

Lindsay's Hair Before and After (Going Blonde Ombre )

I need new hair!!!

I get so bored with my hair! I know, I have kept it long and blonde forever, my fault, I get it. Buuuut, I never really loved the idea of going darker, or shorter for that matter. Well recently Carly and I had the privilege to meet a great hair dresser. Her name is Krista and she has years of experience. I put my trust in her and let her have at this mess I was calling my hair. Ahhh! A little scary for me but, I did indeed let her go shorter and darker...and I love it!

My before, long, split-ends, grown out blonde...blah!

My after.

We did an Ombre look this time around. Krista did a dark all over color and added some brighter blonde highlights back in in all the right spots. We also took off a good 6-8inches of length. Phew!

In addition to the great cut and color, Krista also directed me to some products that I love! I ended up taking home a dry shampoo and a dry oil both by Bamboo. The dry shampoo is amazing! I can easily go 3days without shampooing in the shower. You just spray it at your roots before styling, rub it in and go on with your usual routine. It also adds some much needed volume for me. Gotta love it when day 2 hair looks better than day 1! The dry oil is a tie with the dry shampoo for favs. It adds a ton of shine and tames and frizz I am fighting all without making my hair greasy in the least.

Krista's business page (she also owns a spray tan business!) 

You should "Like" her page and tell her TCOT sent ya!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-Bronze-Airbrush-Tanning/160549794024183

Here is her personal page:

https://www.facebook.com/krista.r.leigh?fref=ts

Read more ...

Libby's 4 truths and a lie

Libby's 4 truths and a lie

1.) I had a pet turtle named Leonard, but he ran away.
2.) I played volleyball through college and was all conference, all regional player.
3.) I am always at least 30 minutes early wherever I go.
4.) When I was a kid I played outside and my friends were cats.
5.) I miss my girls like crazy when they are at their Dads and for the first day I don't knew what to do with myself...

Read more ...

Welcome Kelcy of Sweekit Photography-QCA Photographer

Meet Kelcy with Sweekit Photography

I have sat down to write this blog post several times now and why does it always seem so hard to write about yourself? I just don't get it! Nobody knows me better than myself and yet I can't seem to find the words to describe myself! I guess in retrospect, that is a good thing!

So here goes nothing- I will start out with my family! I am married to my hubby, Andy for almost 5 years this upcoming Spring and we have 3 beautiful kids together! Mason is my oldest and he is four. Myla is two and a half and Aspen just turned 5 months old! Each of them have their funny and unique personalities that just brighten my life. Luckily, I am blessed to have a supportive husband that allows me to pursue my dreams so I can stay home with them every day! ( PS: I think I am busier staying at home with three kids, four yrs old and under than when I had a full time job, I'm sure those of you with littles reading this can relate:)

 By "trade" per se, I am not a photographer. I graduated from Iowa State University with degrees in Agricultural Communications and Communication Studies. All of my full time jobs in the past have been sales/marketing for Agricultural Companies. Although I loved each and every one of my jobs, I love children and babies MORE!

When I had my son, my husband was serving in Iraq and the only way for him to get to know Mason was through pictures. I took pictures everyday and emailed them to my husband. This was when I decided to start my own family blog so my husband could see how he was growing and be part of the stages he was going through. I had always had a love for photography and at that point in my life, I knew it was something I wanted to do forever. I enrolled in Photography classes and signed up for workshops. I worked hard to grow my client base and now I call myself a "professional." I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do and I love each of my clients as I do my own family.

I will be contributing monthly posts as the TCOT blog's photographer. I have so many ideas and advice to make sure your pictures are perfect!

Also, you can visit my website here: www.sweekitllc.com

or my fb page here: www.facebook.com/sweekitllc

Read more ...

Welcome our Hair Wizard, Krista!! Quad City Hairstylist

           First of all, I want to thank Lindsay and Carly for asking me to write about my passion of what's happening in the hair world. Before I dive right in on my blog post, I'd like to introduce myself a little.

        My name is Krista and I work for Havoc Hair Salon in Davenport and own Simply Bronze Airbrush Tanning. In 2010, I married my best friend and we have two wonderful kids. Currently, I work four days a week in the salon while owning a spray tan business on the side. When not working, I love to hang out with my family, shop, and work out. I am a native to the Quad Cities and have been a hair stylist for almost 9 years. My passion is all things related to fashion which include hair, makeup, and clothes; and I look at fashion as a form of art. I pride myself on knowing the latest trends, and strive to be one step ahead on what's the next hot trend. That's exactly why I couldn't be more excited to share my knowledge with my readers.

         Ok, enough about me. I mean the real reason you are reading this is to learn all about things related to hair and beauty, right? As someone who is in the fashion world, I always watch what is happening at Fashion Week. I was lucky enough to be able to attend Fashion week in 2011 and let me tell you how inspiring that was! I sat across the aisle from Joan Rivers and Kelly Osbourne . I won't go into too much detail on that because what Joan was wearing could be its own blog article.

         Fashion Week around the world is an insight as to what trends are not only at the present time but a predictor of what's to come. The designers of not only the clothes but also the make up/hair are a preview of where fashion is headed in the next couple of years.

       Think Ombre !!! I first started doing that trend several years agao and it is still so hot! This was first spotted on the runway in 2010!

                                                            

      When watching the runway at Fashion Week for Spring 2014, I see another trend happening. Now, it isn't everyone wearing ombre, it is that the hairstyles are getting shorter. No more super long hair that takes you forever to blow dry, and only someone with super thick hair can pull off (without the help of extensions). Take a look at the leaders in fashion as celebrities. Jennifer Aniston, Pamela Anderson, Miley Cyrus, and Charlize Theron are among the celebrites to cut their hair to a shorter length. Now i'm not saying you should all go cut your hair to Miley's style. I'm just saying that everything is starting to go up.

       If you have long hair and are ready for a change, cut it to your collar bone. I honestly think that will be the "new" long length. Plus its a very flattering length on anyone. If you aren't ready to cut your hair-all types of fringe are still hot. Rachel Zoe changed up her long locks, by adding front fringe. They don't call bangs the cheapest form of Botox for nothing! They can not only change your look but hide any unwanted wrinkles. When going with full fringe, ask your stylist to compliment with long layers.
                                                    

        Another thing to remember! Changing your part is a must with longer hair! If you don't have a nasty cowlick standing in your way, I suggest switching your part every few days. Remember, change is good!

       An edgy bob can be curled, worn straight, or tousled. No more stacked diagonal forward cuts. Those are out. Instead go for a layered bob. One side longer or one side behind the ear to give your look an edge. Adding some color in front or on the ends is "in" too.

     Those that dare to go short. ROCK IT! You cant go too short, even having the side shaved is a "do" right now. I love seeing a woman confidant enough to rock a pixie cut. Want to add some real zest? Rock a platinum pixie cut. I personally love that short hair is back in.

      Quick change of gears, my current product obsession is PUREOLOGY Color Fanatic Multi Tasking Hair Beautifier. It's literally an all in one spray. You name it, it does it! Great for those minimalists who don't like to wear a lot of product. Everyone benefits from this product whether you color your hair or not. I highly encourage you to try it!

                           Make 2014, your best year yet! Go for that change you've always wanted but didn't know if you could pull it off. A good stylist will tailor the cut to fit your face shape so don't be afraid of change. Until next month, stay fashionable.

Read more ...

Welcome Sherri, our Design Guru!

                                                       Welcome Sherri, our Design Guru!

Hi Everyone.  I am so excited to be a contributing blogger for The Cherry on Top.  I'm Sherri, let me jump right in and tell you a bit about myself.  My love for design started early when I would look through home decor catalogs for hours and continually rearrange my bedroom.  It continued as I went to college at the Scott Community College and Black Hawk College before transferring to The Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumburg where I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design.

            I was excited to get my first design job at a company called Business Office Systems that specialized in commercial/office space planning and was a furniture dealer.  I moved onto other jobs in flooring and store planning before returning to BOS and worked as a team leader of the design team; I took the NCIDQ exam and became a licensed Interior Designer.....

FAST FORWARD to 2010 when my first babe was born and I decided to trade in the CAD drawings for bottles and diapers full time...well, maybe not full time.  I was blessed to have to opportunity to work from home with my company which typically involves working during the night after the little ones go to bed.  Little ONES is right, in 2012 we welcomed our second little babe; now our hands are full with two girls and a dog.  My husband has such a soft heart for these two little girls.  There is just something about seeing a daddy with their daughters, am I right?  Melts my heart.

We just sold our first home that we put so much blood, sweat and tears into and just before Christmas moved into a house that was built in the 70s that is...well from the 70s!  We love working out house projects and there will be lots of those in the coming months.  Stay tuned for transformations and a little bit of everything else!

Read more ...

Welcome Brittany to the TCOT blog!!! Quad City Makeup Artist

                                                              Meet Brittany Chevelle!

Brittany Chevelle, Makeup Artist

Brittany has always had a "creative bone" in her body. She love's to journal, paint, draw, make crafts, sew, play instruments and last, but not least, her passion: makeup. Everyone has that one hobby or interest that helps them relax and feel at peace, and when Brittany does makeup, it's meditative for her. She started her makeup career professionally with some of the top names in the beauty industry, over 7 years ago. She quickly grew a passion for skincare and it's health, so she went on to study Aesthetics at La James International College. While in school she won several national awards for her makeup applications. After graduating, she worked for a medical spa/dermatologist office for 3 years. There she continued to do makeup for BareMinerals, but mostly helped treat skin problems, such as: acne, hyperpigmentation, dry skin, etc. 

Brittany has gained significant experience over the past 10 years including being involved with: pageants, events, fashion shows and photo shoots. Although she specializes in wedding and special occasion makeup, she loves high-fashion, costume, and everyday makeup looks as well. When she isn't doing makeup for Bridal parties and personal makeup lessons, Brittany enjoys reading and anything to do with the outdoors; including camping, boating and rock climbing. She has been happily married to her husband, Justin, for two years. She also has a fun and vivacious 15 month old daughter, Ellie, and another one due this June. Brittany is quite a social media butterfly, so please feel free to say hi and get in touch via Facebook and visit her facebook page! www.facebook.com/brittanychevellemakeupartist andwww.brittanychevellemakeup.com

We are so excited to have Brittany on our Blog as a regular contributor. She already has a great local QCA following because of her impeccable reputation. She has a gift in bringing out the most beautiful features in each person. Follow Brittany's posts to find out more about skincare, makeup, trends, techniques. Feel free to ask some questions too!!!

Read more ...