Fashion Friday: Anchor's Away; TCOT Boutique Style

We are always excited when a fun new trend spreads like wild fire! Not because we like to dress like everyone else but quite the opposite. We love to see everyone's else's take on a certain trend.
The one we are diving into for Spring is Anchors (you may have seen this last year too!)

It has such a fun "All American" feel with crisp colors and clean lines (also seeing lots of stripes again). Lets take a look what is out there!

 

The Maxi Anchor dress by The Cherry on Top Boutique will be added to the online shop soon!

The Maxi Racer back Tank Top will be perfect for outdoorsy trips and family picnics. The Cherry on Top is excited to be adding this top to the online shop very soon!

Old Navy is crawling with Anchor Sweaters and Tops. Check it out here! We are loving the pop of color with the bright coralish red Anchors on this lightweight top!

Even Target is getting on board (no pun intended) with Anchor themed fashion! We are loving the red exposed zipper on back too! Reminds us of our zipper back tops!!!

 

 

 

J Crew took it a step further with Anchor themed/accessories for the whole family. At J Crew, you can find tie clips, socks, handkerchiefs, sweaters, belts, and dresses with the Anchor logo!!!

I am personally a huge fan of J Crew because of their great quality and timeless fashions.

 

So what have you been adding to your wardrobe, lately?

 

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A Picture of Health -Libby of Advocare

A Picture of Health

So the girls have not been napping lately...Which means no sacred mommy time. That is precious more than I ever expected! I have felt more frustrated with the girls which I hate to say but that little hour break was important for me to relax. Or at least to wash dishes in peace. I’ve always been anxious after my kids were born. I was reading the other day what kind of physiological things happen to a mother when she hears her baby cry. Instantly wanting to make everything ok. That’s me for sure. Do you ever just hear that and tense up instantly?

I’ve been trying to find things that help me relax. Working out is definitely one of them. Releasing that tension and anger sometimes helps. Meditation helps too but when you have 20 minutes do we really lay there?

Last week I took the girls to The Children’s Museum in Normal, IL.. That was soo fun! It was nice to see another museum and what they have to learn about there. It kept the girls busy for hours and afterward we hit up our favorite place. ... T.A.R.G.E.T. Oh yes, that store is quite awesome and could surely spend thousands of dollars on really nothing per visit. Especially with three little girls who also like to shop.

Today I promised them I would buy them some paints. I love all things crafts. All the messy, gooey crafts that are possible.

 

 

Paint, Play Doh, glitter, stickers....love it all.

Of course kids LOVE painting but I had totally forgotten how much I loved it too. It was relaxing and corny to say but Good for My Soul. It’s like just a way of expressing yourself right on paper with your choice of color and stroke. Liv and Bella being 4 and Bre almost 3, it is was enjoyable because they weren’t trying to eat it and were making one picture after another for whoever they could think of. I was one relaxed Momma to say the least and perhaps it helped all paints were washable.

So if you’re ever in the art aisle, grab some paints and get to it. You may just surprise yourself in how sometimes a mess can put you back together.

As for the girls, they say it’s their favorite time is painting with Mom... :)

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Start Inspiring! by Libby

 

 

Did you know if you inspired 1 person a week for a year, in 4 years all those people would total over 7 million people? And you thought 1 person couldn't make a difference....Don't think and start doing.

Get started by watching this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2TtkkjTPow&feature=youtu.be

 

 

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Capturing the ones you love the most -Kelcy of Sweekit Photography

Capturing the ones you love the most

 

Valentine’s Day got me thinking about what I love about my family, friends, kids, and all the things they like to do. Recently, in December, I lost one of the most influential people in my life. My grandpa died at the age of 87 and he had the most amazing life. If I could have half the life he did, I would consider myself blessed. Through the grieving, I realized I had taken some of the most treasured pictures of him… that I didn’t even know I was taking at the time.

 

I think we all getting wrapped up in the moment so many times, and forget to just get out a camera and capture the ‘moments’. The moments may not even be of anything of significance but some day, down the road maybe 5, 10, or 40 years later… you will be able to look back and remember that moment and tell the stories of that day just as if it just happened. The pictures become a great conversational piece of art and they can be handed down for generations.

 

I’m not just talking about getting the family together and taking a posed picture either. I’m talking about capturing the candid moments. Nobody looking at the camera, the kids consumed by their favorite toy, grandpa working on his favorite hobby, Mom making memories with kids in the kitchen… you get it? That is what captures the moment… not the fake posed smiles (although sometimes that has to do too)!

                                      

As my family was preparing the arrangements for my grandpa, I was assigned the official ‘picture lady’. As we sorted through hundreds of pictures, the pictures that had us laughing (and crying) the most, were the funny candid pictures. Those are the pictures that told a story, which showed emotion, and made a connection. I mentioned earlier that half of the time I didn’t even plan on the pictures making such an impact. For example, two years ago, my son was taking his first combine ride with my Dad at the farm. I was taking pictures of him riding in the combine and my grandpa was following behind with his tractor and wagon. My grandpa saw that I had my camera out and waved at me (not planned) and I just happened to take a picture of him. Years later, that is the picture that is printed on a huge canvas and how everybody remembers my grandpa. If you would have known him, you would know he ALWAYS had a smile on his face, he always waved at people while driving with one finger, and the love of his life was Oliver tractors. I coincidentally captured all of those things in one picture without even knowing I was doing it.

 

 

Another example of one of my favorite photos is of my Grandpa returning from the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. That is one of the things that was on his bucket list to do in life and I am so grateful he had that opportunity. When the soldiers step off the plane, they walk through a crowd with hundreds of people cheering and going crazy. If you have never attended a homecoming of an Honor Flight, I highly suggest you do! Anyways, when my Grandpa saw my Grandma, he became overjoyed with emotion. I somehow took this picture at just the right moment and captured his emotion and love in a way that I would never had remembered if I had not taken a picture.

 

Granted, I understand I have a professional camera but it does not take a professional camera to capture candid moments. I encourage all of you reading this blog to take your camera out this year and just start taking pictures of the ones you love the most and what THEY love to do. Someday (hopefully not any day soon) you will appreciate those pictures.

 

Contributed by Kelcy Hanson of Sweekit Photography.

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Enter our latest Giveaway!!!

Well friends, we rolled past 1800 fans...holy cow!!! Big thanks to all of you who share us with your friends and family, it means the world! Soooo, to show our appreciation, let'...s do a giveaway!

This time we are giving away one of our Maternity Sashes (a $30.00 value!) If you aren't expecting you could give it as a gift, tell your friends who are or use as a prop if you are a photog.

 All you have to do is "Like" this post, "Share" this post and then "Comment" below with 3 of your friends names. Easy Peasy right? The more names you comment with the more entries you will have! Also check our Twitter, Instagram and Blog for more ways to get your name in the pot.

Winner will be chosen on Sunday Tuesday!

Ready, Set, Go!

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Valentine's Day Hair Ideas for every Length! -Krista, Quad City Hair Stylist

Quad Cities Hair Wizard, Krista 

            Ahhh, it’s that time of year again where women crowd around the TV on Sundays to watch what they have been looking forward to since last year.  Sorry guys, it’s not the Super Bowl, it’s award season.  This month’s blog is going to be talking about what we are seeing on the red carpets and how easy it is to transform these looks into everyday styles. Just in time to jazz it up for Valentine’s Day with that special someone. 

            I love how easy, breezy the styles have been so far.  I’m a big fan of less is more, and your style should represent that.  I feel like with a softer style, people can focus more on your natural beauty instead of focusing on your over hairsprayed, over backcombed, and over curled style.   You want all eyes on you, not just your hair.  I’m going to go over 5 styles that are easy, trendy, and appropriate for all occasions. 

            My first look is a hairstyle that I lightly talked about last month, which is Jennifer Lawrence.  Once your hair is cut into this style it is very low maintenance.  I’ve been cutting this style on a ton of women!  They all love how easy yet trendy this cut is.  Just a light styling product when wet to give it some volume, and then when dry a texture product to rough it up to bring out the layers in the haircut. Voila!  You’re ready to go. 

            My second style that I am seeing on numerous celebrities this award season has been around forever, and is a timeless style.  It is a classic bun.  This can be worn from the office to cocktails to a wedding, and is just as appropriate for all occasions.  I suggest teasing the hair and pulling it straight back like Mila Kunis did, or doing a deep side part for some added drama into the hair like Emma Roberts and Emma Watson.  When doing this style you can make the bun very clean, or mess it up a little to put a more youthful vibe to it. 

            Our third look to discuss is one that is so simple once your hair is cut like this all you have to do is smile to look good.  It is an asymmetrical bob.  It can be cut at a variety of lengths, and looks great with or without frontal fringe.  This cut can work with all medium hair lengths.  From chin length or collar bone.  My model was inspired by Reese Witherspoon’s haircut but wanted a shorter version of it.  The trick to achieving this fabulous cut is to have the longer part on the opposite side that you part on, or also known as your heavy side.  Then for the finishing touch, tuck the shorter side of your hair.  This will lift and bring out your cheek bone while also showing off the haircut.  I recommend finishing off the style with a shine spray.  This haircut looks best worn down either straight of curls.

 

    One of the top trends right now is to wear your hair with a loose wave.  This can either be down with a curling iron or a flat iron. Next month’s blog will go over how exactly to style your hair to achieve the perfect wave.  An easy way to up the ante on this already crazy popular style is to push it over the should to one side.  This style is best achieved with those who have longer hair (hair that is passed the shoulder).  All you have to do is style hair into desired texture, and then push the non- heavy side of your hair behind your shoulder, or push it all over to the other shoulder.  Make sure you use a  flexible hold hairspray to ensure that the curls stay in place!  You are ready for your night out on the town.

 

            Our last look that I’m going to touch base on this month is another fancier way to wear those loose waves that we are all already wearing.  This style is good at any length, and will instantly add drama to your hair.  I recommend curling hair with a curling iron.  Start with a deep side part, and make sure you are using a heat protectant because you are putting heat on the hair.  We don’t want to be damaging our beautiful locks. Once hair is curled, you want to insert comb into curls starting at the bottom and push upward in a vertical direction, to create a tighter curl.  This adds fullness at the bottom of that hair and gives a more glamours look to the hair.  If you want more glamourous look like the picture on the left, curl hair and DO NOT run fingers through curls before combing upward.  If you want a messier, tousled look, you would curl your hair.  Then DO break apart curls with fingers before combing each section of curls upward.

            That’s my blog for this month. I hope you all enjoyed it, and this helps you come up with some new, easy ways to style your hair no matter what length of hair you have.   Until next month, I hope everyone stays warm and fashionable. 

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Eyebrow 101 with Brittany Chevelle, Quad City Make up Artist

One of the biggest beauty trends right now is full, natural brows. Say good-bye to those over-plucked, thin brows. Thick is in! And for good reason too.

Full brows give the illusion of a more youthful appearance; but they also frame your face, and accentuate your makeup.

You may be growing your brows out as you read this, and if so, I highly recommend visiting a brow expert/brow bar to give you a natural-full shape. In the meantime, here’s a quick an easy way to fill your brows in and fake a full look!

 First, decide if you are more comfortable using a brow pencil or brow powder. Typically, brow powders will give you a softer, natural look and are great for filling in sparse brows. I prefer to use both products because the pencil will give a clean precise line, whereas the brow powder gives a diffused look. When picking out colors, if you are blond, choose a color that best matches your roots. Generally, two shades darker than your hair color. If you have brunette or black hair, I recommend choosing a color that best matches your hair color, or even one shade lighter. You don’t want to look like Oscar the Grouch! ;)

Additionaly, will also need: an angled brow brush, spoolie (brow brush, or you can use a new toothbrush), concealer and highlight power.

Before you begin to fill in your brows, you need to determine your natural shape. So grab your brow pencil and brow brush, and stand in front of a mirror. First, to find the start of your eyebrows, place the brow brush vertically, against the edge of your nose, from nostril up to your brow. Then, using the brow pencil draw a small light dot. That is where your brow should begin. Next, to find the arch of your brow, place the angled brush again on the outer edge of your nostril, angled upwards and out, lining up just with the outer part of your pupil. Again, make a small dot just at the top of your brow. To find where your brows should end, you will use the brow brush to line up the edge of your nostril, with the outer corner of your eye. Place a small dot at the end.  Repeat with other eye.

Grab your brow pencil, and underline the underside of your brows. This part should be more defined. Then, using the arch point you found earlier, draw from the dot, down to connect with the end of the underside line.  You should now have the outer part of your brow out-lined. Next, take your brow pencil and using the powder, begin to fill in the out-lined area, using light brush strokes. Gradually,shading  the pigment into the inner part of your brow. If you need to add more brow powder to the start of your brows, be sure that tap off any excess. You do not want this area to be to dark, or harsh. Then, using a spoolie, begin to brush through your brows to blend the colors.

You may skip this next part, but to get that precise, groomed brow look, I like to use a lighter concealer to the underside of my brows to finish off the look.This will highlight the brow bone and give a nice clean brow line. You may also add a shimmery highlighter to the brow bone to really make it pop!

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DIY Cleaning Ideas on the cheap!!!

 

The secret is in the pump, not the soap, so never throw out an empty foam soap dispenser. Refill it with 1 teaspoon of liquid soap or dish washing liquid and fill the rest with water.

 

 

1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda (or baking soda will work, as well), 1/2 cup citric acid, and 1/2 cup of kosher salt as a scrubbing agent. Use vinegar as your rinsing agent.

 

 

It basically involves cutting a roll of paper towels in half, placing in container and soaking with 4 cups warm water and desired mixture (including coconut oil). The ingredients differ only slightly depending on what kind of wipes you’re making.

• For baby wipes: 4 cups warm water (one reader recommends DISTILLED water to inhibit the growth of mold), 1-2 tablespoons Coconut Oil, and 1-2 squirts of baby wash.
• For make up remover wipes: 4 cups warm water, 1-2 tablespoons Coconut Oil. (1-2 squirts of baby wash or your favorite face wash if you want, but it’s not necessary)

 1. One four pound twelve ounce box of Borax. You can use 2 smaller boxes. {Found in Laundry Isle}
2. Three bars of Fels-Naptha soap. You can use any soap of your choice. {Found in Laundry Isle}
3. one four pound box of arm & hammer baking soda.{Not pictured here} {Laundry Isle}
4. one box of arm & hammer super washing soda {laundry Isle}
5. four pounds of Oxy Clean {one small/one large container/laundry isle}
6. Laundry softener cyrstals for scent. You can mix these in to your laundry detergent or add them to your loads as needed.

 



In a spray bottle, add 1 part hydrogen peroxide, 1 part baking soda, and 2 parts water.

 





 

 



Pour 1/4 cup of vinegar, 1/4 cup of water, and 3 tablespoons of liquid fabric softener into a spray bottle. Spray and smooth out wrinkles.

 



 

All images and recipes found on Pinterest

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Valentine's Ideas for the Home by Sherri Scott, Illinois Interior Designer

Happy February, Everyone.  Who is so over winter?!  This girl is!  The kiddos and I are starting to get a little stir crazy with these frigid temperatures.  There is a lot of snow outside to play in but many days too cold and windy to go out and really enjoy it for a length of time. We are keeping warm and doing a lot of arts and crafts inside and enjoying play dates and trips to the library.  How are you passing the time this winter? 

One of the ways I noted to freshen up your house was to decorate for the holidays.  And although Valentine’s Day isn’t necessarily a holiday that you go all out in decorations it can still be fun to put a little love in the air.  Little holidays like this are even more fun with kiddos and a great way to get them involved.  Here are a few ideas on easy Valentine’s Day decorating you can and many of them the kids can help.  Let’s take a look!

The first one is great watercolor craft to share with your kids.  You can use cut outs or doilies for the garland and then frame any other artwork you create.  Add some greenery or flowers and you are set.

Don’t forget adding fresh flowers to your home.  They smell great and you can get something simple from your local grocer or stop by the florist for something more fancy.  Add love notes in the arrangement to make it personal.

Add new pillows to your bedroom or living room. If you aren’t handy with a sewing machine, check out etsy for great selections.  Here is just one that I found.  You don’t have to stick with the traditional pink and red either.

  

Make a new wreath for your front door.  Little ones can help with these and although they may not turn out like the picture a crooked heart never hurt anyone!  Check out this one from Mine for the Making.

I also came across a great burlap wreath.  You can easily make a burlap wreath and make changes to it throughout the year to fit a different holiday.

Online you can also find a number of free printables to frame or use another way.  Check out these hearts from Shutterfly and Tatertots and Jello to use as you please. 

Have you done any great arts and crafts with your kids for Valentine’s Day?  I am getting ready to bust out my sewing machine to make Valentine’s Day shirts for the girls.  We are also still in the process of unpacking (goodness, that process was much easier before babies).  Once we get a few rooms completed then I will share some before and afters.  Stay safe and warm; spring is coming sooner or later!!!

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Urban Decay NAKED3 Palette Tutorial by Brittany Chevelle, Quad City Make up Artist

I had many request to do a Naked 3 look, so here it is!! I used my shadow brush to apply DUST all over the lid, then STRANGE from my crease to browbone. Then used a blending brush to apply LIMIT in the crease, and a crease brush to apply NOONER to the outer V.

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Check out our Facebook Page for Ready to Ship SALE!!!

Go here

This is a ready to ship sale! There are one of each item available and the first person to comment will receive the Pay Pal invoice.

 

 All items will be shipped on Wednesday, February 5th. Shipping is $3.75 for US.

 

Invoices will be sent out by Pay Pal to your email on Monday, February 3rd.

 

All invoices must be paid by Tuesday, February 4th at 12pm.

 

If you are interested in purchasing ready to ship item comment below the picture with your email address.

 

Each picture will have a price and sizing by inches.

 

 The sizing guide is as follows: {Preemie} 11-12" {Newborn} 13" {0-6months} 14" {6-12months} 14.5" {1-3years} 15" {3-6years} 16" {Child-Teen} 17" {Adult} 18". These sizes are not guaranteed to fit each child within these ages as this is only a guide, so please measure your child's head.

 

We will resize a headband for an additional $2. There are no returns or exchanges

GO TO READY TO SHIP SALE!!!!!

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