Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor Giveaway

My first goal when starting my weight loss journey was to get my eating on track, and to find a workout activity that I loved. I had been running for a couple of years off and on and knew that I would like to get more into it and really build my stamina for longer runs. I started running on a regular basis, but it wasn't until I purchased a heart rate monitor and was able to see those calories burned after each workout that something clicked in me. I know that sounds weird, but it was because I could physically see the results of doing something I actually enjoy, that my love truly grew for running.

I truly believe you will see better results when you track your progress, whether it be counting your food calories or your calories burned. Only after putting things into perspective and allowing myself to see that some days I might not have pushed hard enough through my workout, or I may have eaten more than I should, did I start see results.


A heart rate monitor is an essential health and fitness device, in my book!

Britney :: Erica :: Joni :: Mariko :: Jodi :: Alicia :: Candra :: Kristin

Thanks to this lovely group of ladies, we are able to give away a Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor to one lucky person! You even get to choose the color!


How is that for motivation?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway item was purchased personally by the ladies listed above. All testimonials at Six Cherries on Top are honest but do not reflect those of the other ladies. Six Cherries on Top Disclaimer/Terms of Use.

                    

Come In We're Awesome! A Barn Owl Primitives Review and Giveaway

This year has definitely been one of change for me. I started the year off losing weight, I took a slight blogging break to reassess what I wanted out of this space, we purchased new furniture and made some decor changes, and I even started adding pieces that were more personal to our home. Things that reflect who we are as a family.

 

One thing we recently added was a piece from Barn Owl Primitives. I had been wanting a piece from this amazing company for quite some time, so when I had the opportunity to get one, I never realized how difficult it would be to decide which piece to get. I know I went back and forth with my decision for several days before finally deciding on the Come In We're Awesome/Sorry We're Closed Distressed Sign. It was actually a sign I overlooked each time I browsed through.

We are a pretty silly family and we use a lot of humor get us through each day, especially those tough times. I often joke that we would make a pretty great reality TV series. After looking through the signs one last time, I came across the Come In We're Awesome sign and knew immediately that it was the one we should have. Shockingly, we have had no company since it showed up and I sat it near our front door, but every afternoon as my girls come in from off the bus, they say "Come In We're Awesome!" as they walk through the door.

I am so happy with the choice I made and for years to come I will look at that sign and remember these days as they walk through the door at the end of each day. I am so impressed with these signs. I have made my own signs and they just don't even come close to the quality of a Barn Owl sign and I am confident they will stand the test of time.


Excitingly enough, Barn Owl Primitives has so kindly offered to giveaway $50 to use toward anything in their shop.


Some of my other choices while shopping were the Creativity Take Courage sign, The Vintage Style Reindeer Names sign, and the Trust in the Lord Word Art Sign. I also loved this Ice Hockey Typography Sign because we are big hockey fans. There are so many wonderful choices that you could spend that $50 on, so be sure to enter below!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was given $50 to spend at Barn Owl Primitives in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced in any way. Six Cherries on Top Disclaimer/Terms of use


                    

Traveling for the Holidays with Yes To

Christmas for us means bouncing from house to house, visiting family, enjoying traditions, and exchanging gifts. We all know traveling can certainly be stressful during the holidays, especially with kids. The excitement of everything plus thrown off schedules can almost make us moms pull our hair out. Even when I'm away from home, taking some time to myself is important. Whether it's getting in my morning run, or a few more minutes in the bathroom, sometimes I just need to destress. I will definitely be packing my travel pouch this holiday season with my favorite Yes To travel size products to refresh and refocus.

 

Will it be the travel size Cucumber towelettes after a workout or either the Yes To Blueberries and the Yes To Grapefruit body washes to wake up your senses? Either way, you are certain to feel refreshed and rehydrated with Yes To natural skin care products.

Not only do you get the benefits of quality products made with fruits and veggies that leave your body soft and smooth, Yes to products are 98% natural and they are dermatologically and opthalmologically tested. They are also oil free, petroleum free, paraben free, and hypoallergenic.

 

Right now, Yes To wants every woman to enjoy some time to unwind during all of the up coming holiday stress. And to help you get started, they're giving away 10,000 mini products in their Mighty Big Mini Giveaway.

Enter to win, then throw Yes To minis in your travel bag, and when you start feeling the pressure, take the time to use them, while being reminded that these special family times only come once a year.

How do you handle the stress of traveling during the holidays?


This post is sponsored by Yes To but my love for their super natural, refreshing products is all my own. 



                    

My Fall Morning Routine + A Giveaway!

 

With six kids, a routine is a must! If we didn't have one, I would never get anything done, and I am quite sure you would find me in a corner in the fetal position. Every day, there are a few things I just have to do in order to get my day started, but for some reason, I seem to enjoy my morning routine so much more in the Fall.

My day starts bright and early every morning at 5:30 to the sound of The Fray on my iHeartRadio iPhone app. There is seriously nothing better than waking up to the sound of music. I remember setting my old clock radio to my favorite radio station and waking up that way as a teenager.

Once my feet hit the floor, I throw on a hoodie and my slippers, then brace myself for the next hour. It is pretty chaotic around the house until the kids are off to school around 6:30. Elijah is such an awesome sleeper, which means I usually have about 2 good hours or more before I hear the little pitter patter of his feet coming through the house. That also means, I have 2 glorious hours to myself.

The first thing I usually do is make myself a cup of coffee. I just can't live without coffee, which also means, I can't live without my Keurig. I can guarantee you that if I don't get my coffee I will either be a grouch by the afternoon or have a headache (which usually means I am a grouch then too). Most days, I drink my coffee black when I am at home, but lately I have been enjoying homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes that are to die for. What else would I be drinking this time of year?

 

Once I have a big cup of coffee in my Bride of Frankenstein mug, I light my Diamond Candles Cinnamon Roll candle. Have you heard of these candles? They are pretty darn awesome! Not only do these all natural soy candles smell amazing, every candle has a surprise ring inside that is worth $10, $100, $1,000, or $5,000!

Check out the ring that came in mine! I couldn't wait to get to the ring when my candle came, but I definitely savored every moment up until I could finally reach it with a pair of tweezers to pull it out. The best part is I still get to enjoy my candle every morning now that I have my ring. It's a two for one deal! Christmas is just around the corner too so I may have to add a few of these to my shopping list for all the ladies in my life. I was just over at their Facebook page and almost died when I saw that they now have a Pumpkin Chai candle available! Who wants to buy it for me? Come on, my birthday is right around the corner!

 
How would you love to win one a Diamond Candles candle of your own? Be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of this post!

There's nothing like enjoying a hot cup of coffee and smelling the scent of my new favorite candle, while curled up under my favorite blanket. I usually watch a few minutes of the news to stay up to date, read a few pages from my Daily Word bible, or check all my social media platforms to see what everyone is up to until I get hungry. During the Fall and Winter, I enjoy having a hot breakfast of eggs, my favorite is an omelet, filled with all my favorite veggies and topped with a little salsa. And, if I have finished my coffee, then I must have another cup!

Once I have satisfied my belly, I make my way to the bathroom for a shower. My hair is like a grease ball, so I must wash my hair every day (I actually take two showers a day on the days I work out). Even my shower has a routine and it always ends with lotion. Some of my favorite bath companies have some amazing Fall scents this year. Don't you just love when you say to yourself, "Wow, what is that awesome smell? Oh yeah, it's me!". Ha!

After I have pampered myself in the bathroom, it's usually about that time for Elijah to get up. If he's not up, lately, I have been enjoying my time in the kitchen baking homemade goodies for the kids. The scent of cookies baking or fresh cinnamon bread almost always wakes my little man up.  Fall wouldn't be complete without the scents of coffee, candles, and home baked goods filling my home.

I really enjoy this time every morning because it is a time to collect my thoughts and really set myself up for the day. I find my day is a little less stressful and I am able to get more accomplished this way. Let's be honest here though, it doesn't happen so perfectly like this every single day, which is why it is so important that I savor these days and these moments.

Do you have a routine that you follow every morning and how has it changed, if at all, now that it is Fall? What are some of your favorite things about Fall?


Now...

How about a giveaway for a Diamond Candles candle of your choice?

a Rafflecopter giveaway     Thanks to Diamond Candles for offering this giveaway. This is an unpaid giveaway. I was sent a Diamond Candles candle in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. By entering this giveaway, you agree to Six Cherries on Top Disclaimer/Terms of Use.

PEOPLE Magazine’s Annual Sexiest Man Alive + Giveaway

 

ask my mom and she will tell you my "obsession" with celebrities started when i was in high school. i started out making scrapbooks of all my favorite celebrities with the photos i cut out from magazines. eventually we even created our own celebrity magazine that we passed out to all our friends. it seems like a pretty lame thing now that i am older, but we loved keeping up with celebrities... what they were wearing, new movies and albums coming out, and all the juicy gossip that went along with being famous! even today, i have a celebrity scrapbook that i just can't seem to part with. i think secretly i wished i was famous and there in the magazines along side of them.

now that i am older, and a mommy, i still have a secret obsession with celebrities and still can never resist picking up the PEOPLE Magazine off the grocery store shelf every week. i enjoy flipping through the pages as i stand there in line, and a couple times a month, one always finds its way into my cart. i don't have to give up everything now that i am a mom, and let's face it, mommy needs a moment, right? there is no better way to take a break from the kids than to run off to my little corner of the bedroom with a few of my favorite things... a glass of wine, scented candles, some soft music, and my PEOPLE Magazine. i am always so grateful to jason for my time away to unwind and enjoy my time without interruption.

the november 15th issue of PEOPLE Magazine is one i have been looking forward to... PEOPLE Magazine's Annual Sexiest Man Alive issue. i am always so eager to see who it is and i have never been disappointed. shhh! don't tell jason, but i have a hot date that night and it's not him!

who would you like to see win this year's sexiest man alive?

i have a few celebrity hunks in mind that i would love to see on the cover of PEOPLE Magazine's november 15th issue. be sure to pick up your copy of PEOPLE Magazine's Annual Sexiest Man Alive issue, but be quick, because it is only available for two weeks!

how would you like to win a $20 gift card to KROGER so you can pick up PEOPLE Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive issue available starting nov. 15th?


GIVEAWAY (CLOSED) 

what you will win:  
$20 kroger gift card

how to enter:  

there are 3 chances for you to win. please take the following steps to enter the giveaway and to increase your chances of winning. you must complete the mandatory entry first for all other entries to count. please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and leave a valid email address for me to contact you if you win.

mandatory entry: 
leave a comment telling me "who has been your favorite Sexiest Man Alive in past issues?"

extra entries:

•  share this giveaway on twitter once a day by using the phrase - Enter to win a $20 Kroger gift card from @People via @sixcherries and Six Cherries on Top blog (be sure to link back to this post). leave a link to the URL in the comments.
• share this giveaway on facebook once a day. leave the link to the URL in the comments.

this giveaway will end at 11:59 pm (est) on november 19, 2012 and is open to u.s. residents only. a winner will be chosen at random via random.org and will be notified by email. you have 48 hrs. to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

 

my april 2001 PEOPLE Magazine featuring one of my favorite actresses, drew barrymore. 

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media

Group™, but all my opinions are my own http://cmp.ly/3/KqtZiE.

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

5 great giveaways

here are some great giveaways i have come across while visiting some of my favorite blogs. some, you may love enough to keep for yourself and others you may want to give as gifts for friends and family this holiday season.


1. personalized polar bear address stamp from lush prints. ends: 10/24

2. bumble bee studio lavender lotion bar & man cave shave set. ends: 11/4

3. a custom event package which includes: 12 cupcake toppers, 12 invitations, 12 goody bag toppers/tags, and 1 package of paper straws. ends: 10/31

4. prize pack including $35 Holiday Rosette Banner, $10 Hobby Lobby giftcard, $30 Banner from Sparrows and Poppies, $20 Holiday Headwrap from Sparrows and Poppies. ends: 11/4

5. $200 in goodies, including thirty-one clutch, 11:11 apparel pullover, spooky banner from leroy lime, coffee cozy from homespun happiness, custom post signature from yours truly, head wrap from cozy couture, leaf pillow from next to impress, skinny wrap, blog design package, EOS lip balm and nail polish pen. ends: 10/25


go check them out and enter for your chance to win. be sure to let me know if you are a winner! 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

new progresso light soups & a giveaway

craving rich and creamy flavors, but don't want to splurge on calories? with two new creamy flavors, progresso light soups are giving those who are managing their weight a new reason to celebrate! at 100 calories per serving, now you can indulge in warm, creamy soups like light creamy potoato with bacon and cheese and light chicken pot pie style without feeling guilty. packed with indulgent satisfying flavor, these two new light creamy soups are the perfect way to make thoughtful eating decisions without sacrificing incredible taste.

i have always loved progresso soups, and remember taking them with me for lunch when i worked. when i heard that these new light soups were endorsed by weight watchers and only have 100 calories per serving (that's only 2 points per serving), i was over the moon. i can eat an entire can and not feel guilty. in fact, i enjoyed the entire can of creamy potato with bacon and cheese and the only thing i felt was...satisfied. my belly was full and i was happy. later on, jason tried the chicken pot pie style and he said it had a great flavor. a meat and potatoes man's opinion about a light soup...i say that's a win!

i love weight watchers, but from personal experience, i sometimes get in a food rut when it comes to finding great tasting low points foods that i can enjoy, without having to cook from scratch. we don't always have time for that, and a great meal for me is one with lots of variety. with over 40 flavorful soups that are all 100 calories or less per serving (that's only 2 points), i know i can get that with progresso light soups. the creamy potato with bacon and cheese has pieces of potato, bacon, and a creamy cheese flavor. the chicken pot pie style has cuts of white meat chicken, potatoes, and classic vegetables.

buy it
want to try out progresso's new light soups? grab the coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of 4 cans of progresso soup and find out for yourself how delicious they are.


giveaway
one lucky six cherries on top reader will get the chance to try new progresso light soups by entering to win a progresso soup prize pack.

prize pack includes:

• 2 cans of progresso light creamy soup
• 1 soup mug with spoon
• 1 water bottle
• 1 lunch tote

enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 disclosure: the coupons, information, and packs have been provided by progresso through myblogspark. i was not compensated for this review and all opinions and ideas are my own and in no way influenced. six cherries on top disclaimer/terms of use. 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

 

go win something from willow house

i just entered an awesome willow house giveaway over at and they call me mommy that i really don't want you to go enter so i can win!

HA! i'm only partially kidding! there is a set of drake firefly lanterns that lacey is giving away, so if you would like a shot at winning too, just head on over HERE and enter.

and if you want to learn more about willow house and how you can become a part of their team, go HERE.

 

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

giveaways you may be interested in

here are several giveaways i have come across this past week that you might be interested in...

1. lark silent alarm and sleep monitor. ends: 9/23. enter daily to increase your chances of winning!

 ....................

2. snow white and the huntsmen prize pack. ends: 9/21. enter daily to increase your chances of winning!

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3. d-link movienite plus. ends: 9/21. enter daily to increase your chances of winning.

....................

4. kidorable hooded towel. ends: 9/22. enter daily to increase your chances of winning.

....................

5. 6 ft. ultimate sack bean bag chair w/ fur cover. ends: 9/19. enter daily to increase your chances of winning.

be sure to stop by each of these giveaways and enter for your chance to win!

**tip**

the best way to keep up with the giveaways you have entered is to create a pinterest board like mine HERE. i always put information about what the giveaway is for, when it ends, and whether i can enter daily. this makes it easy for me to go in each day and determine which giveaways are still open and which ones i can enter. once a giveaway has ended and the winner has been announced, then i delete the pin from my board.


 joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

ana eugenia postcards giveaway winner

thanks for everyone's well wishes for elijah. he is still sick but hopefully getting better each day. the fall and winter are difficult times for him because he is very susceptible to sickness that affects his breathing, and usually requires breathing treatments throughout the cooler seasons. but, he's okay, and thanks again!


let's move on to the winner of the ana eugenia postcards giveaway...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

not a winner? ana's shop at red bubble has a variety of beautiful photos that can be purchased as prints, postcards, or even iphone cases for an extremely reasonable price. be sure to stop by and check them out! you can also stay up to date by following in these locations as well: 

blog: sixty-two thousand miles | blog: wonderland | twitter | facebook

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

paper coterie giveaway winner!

whoa! where have i been? getting back into the school routine has really been kicking my butt! i was super busy last week but did manage to put out a few posts last week. this past weekend, i spent some time using my big girl camera, and then tuesday i spent the day taking phoenix to see her fast braiin doctor. and today...well, my little man is sick, so i will be spending the day snuggled up on the couch with him. which is actually a good thing because i feel utterly exhausted. i am not even sure why, but i hope and pray i am not getting sick myself!

thanks to everyone who entered the paper coterie giveaway. check below to see if you were the winner!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


have a wonderful wednesday!

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

my kitchen is screaming for a makeover!

ever since we got our new refrigerator, i have been thinking that our kitchen needs a major overhaul. pretty much everything is outdated, and definitely not my taste, and those walls i painted lime green a few years ago have got to go. what was i thinking?

i recently found a lot of great items at world market that match my sense of style that i like to describe as industrial meets vintage meets eclectic. i really don't know how to describe it, but i do know that i love the use of metal, wood, and glass as main elements with pops of color. i also love adding vintage with pieces like canning jars, wire hanging fruit baskets, and wooden bowls...all things i remember my mom having in her kitchen when i was very young.

1. glass yorkshire dispenser
2. 6 bud vases with wire caddy
3. three-tier hanging wire basket
4. jackson kitchen cart
5. yellow pig serving bowls, set of 2
6. plum fleur de lys highball glass, set of 4
7. red schoolhouse counter stool

i loved "window shopping" for everything i put together and enjoyed making this world market pinspiration board of all my favorite items. i have the best spot for that kitchen cart, with those bud vases on top filled with all the best flowers, and at least two of those red stools. that wire basket would hang right next to it filled with all of the yummiest fruits. my favorite is always adding pops of color, so that red stool fits in nicely. let's be honest, red is one of those colors that works with everything. don't believe me? ask me to explain that one to you! {grin}

even with the simplicity of a kitchen redo (which is exactly what i like), i can see myself whipping up some wonderful things in a kitchen like this during the upcoming fall and winter holidays, and all year round. i found an assortment of items that fit within my budget but i think i might just add a few of these to my holiday wish list. what would you add to your wish list?


oh hey, be sure to check this out...

world market is having a fabulous gourmet getaway sweepstakes on their facebook page that you should definitely check out!

the grand prize package includes: 

• a trip for two to santa fe, new mexico (this is a 5 day trip for two to santa fe which includes airfare and hotel)
• hands on southwestern cooking class with master chef
• personally signed glossy cookbook
• multi-course dinner at the acclaimed geronimo
• southwestern foodie tour with a cultural kick
• a $1000 world market gift card

there will also be 3 runner up prize winners that will each receive a $500 world market gift card!

*the gourmet getaway sweepstakes runs from august 18, 2012 until september 21, 2012

**if you share the sweepstakes with 5 of your friends (via facebook or email) you can receive 5 additional bonus entries. this is part of the registration process when entering. users can also enter daily for more chances to win. 

be sure to stay connected with world market for more decorating ideas, deals, and giveaways:

website l twitter l facebook l google+ l pinterest

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own.

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

simple collections: postcards + a giveaway

i have never been a collector of many things in all my years. i would definitely consider myself a minimalist and am always looking for an opportunity to sort through our stuff and determine what items no longer need a place in our home. however, i do have one small collection that i have enjoyed adding to over the years and it's my postcard collection. whenever, either friends or family members travel, we ask them to send us a postcard and/or pick us up a couple as a souvenir to put in our collection. postcards are a very inexpensive collection to start and no one ever seems to mind because they are an affordable gift to bring back. we even pick some up as a family if we travel. just like the pictures i take with my camera, i love looking back at our postcards and remembering our travels, or remembering the stories friends and family tell us as i look back one of the postcards they have sent us. i can go through every single postcard i own and tell you a story about how i got it or who sent it (without having to look at the sender's address on the ones that have it).

vintage postcards i found in an old box of recipes that were given to me.

we don't just collect postcards to add to our collection, we collect them to send out as well. with the convenience of email and texting, not to mention the constant increase of stamp prices, handwritten letters are becoming a thing of the past. however, the price of a postcard stamp is much less. just a few words jotted down to let someone know you are thinking about them is sure to brighten anyone's day. i recently sent my mom a card i made online and she absolutely loved it.

GIVEAWAY:

ana, from over at wonderland blog and sixty-two thousand miles blog, has a shop at redbubble, where she sells some of her beautiful photography, and just recently sent me some postcards to add to my collection. i enjoyed going through her shop and picking out my favorites and i love the vintage feel that she captures in her photos.

heaven on earth / white orchid / two orchids / pinkish rose / make a wish / white hibiscus / vintage pale blue / the princess rose

how beautiful are these postcards? i received the postcards just a few days after selecting them and was pleased with how fast they got here and the quality of the cards. they are printed on a really nice heavy photo card stock. they are all so beautiful, i hate to get rid of any of them, but i will definitely be using one of them to send out to someone special next week. you can also get ana's photography as a print that would make a lovely addition to any wall decor.  so be sure to go over to redbubble and check out ana's shop.

ana is so generously offering one six cherries on top reader the opportunity to choose 10 postcards from her shop (or one print). she has a variety of prints to choose from so you can stay in contact with your friends and family, or to even start or add to your own postcard collection.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

giveaway ends wednesday, september 5. i will contact and announce winners as soon as possible.

 

 

 i was contacted  and provided  with the postcards mentioned in the giveaway portion of this post. i received no compensation for this post and all comments, opinions, and ideas are my own and in no way influenced. by entering this giveaway, you agree to six cherries on top disclaimer/terms of use. 

do you have a simple collection of items that are unique but don't take up a lot of space? send me an email telling me what it is that you enjoy collecting and i will share it here on six cherries on top.

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries