Friday, November 27, 2009

Eenamaria Handbag Review and Giveaway!

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙
This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Eenamaria, We look forward to working with you again! The lucky winner is 'Lisa'. (We post the comment/follower name of all winners, that's why we put it in quotes!) Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!
˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙




"If you live by different rules and see yourself as an Urban Nomad, a life-traveler who knows her way even in places she's never been before.The one leading to the most sensational salsa club, the fastest ski slope, the hottest job, the most interesting people. Sexy. Secure. Life lived in free-style. Eenamaria is you."

Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Eenamaria would like give you a place to stash all that cash you saved on Black Friday sales!

I was sent the 'Workin It' bag (pictured above) for review, and I just can't get enough of this bag, it's incredibly versatile, transitions well from day into night, and is roomy enough to tote my commuter essentials (and stand up to the wear and tear) without me having to carry TWO separate bags. (I  absolutely hate having to carry multiple bags on a daily basis!). This bag can even accomodate a laptop without the strap buckling! Everyone who knows me knows I carry around way to much stuff on a day to day basis and everyone has been amazed at exactly how much I can pack into it! (Yes I know it's bad for me and my poor shoulders, but I've really narrowed myself down the bare essentials) If you are anything like me you want form and function. A generic messenger bag just won't do as the only compromise between carrying everything you need or looking good while doing it. I want both! And for the frugal fashionista, you are not only getting form and function, you are adding an accesory staple to your wardrobe for an amazing price! (Have you priced a laptop bag lately?)

This bag is definitely a Holiday Buying Guide Editor's Pick!

Thanks to our friends at Eenamaria we have a cure for your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping blues, a place to stash all that cash you saved by being a savvy shopper! (ARV $70) You deserve a treat!

WIN IT! - One lucky 'Ascending Butterfly' will have the chance to win an Eenamaria 'Workin It' Bag as shown above of their own! (gentlemen you are not excluded, tell us which lucky lady in your life would be receiving this as a gift)

How to Win: (1) You must be a follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differ from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Eenamaria bags are sold at ebags.com, please visit HERE and tell us which Eenamaria bag is your favorite, please select a bag OTHER than the 'Workin It' bag. (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! USA 18+

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this or I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Friday, November 27, 2009 until Friday, December 11, 2009 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email)

EXTRA CREDIT:

* Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment

* Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you already have our button, just let us know, you will still get extra credit!)

* Follow Eenamaria on Twitter HERE

* Follow me @Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter (this is ascendingbutterfly’s editor) and give me your twitter ID in a comment

* Tweet this: I just entered @Tracy_Iglesias @eenamaria Workin' It Laptop Bag #giveaways worth $70 #ascendingbutterfly - http://tinyurl.com/yar6qpt (Leave a comment with the tweet’s url so you can get a valid entry (click on the time your tweet was sent to get the direct URL and then copy and paste it here). You can Tweet ONCE A DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified.)

* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

* Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment

* Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

*Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

* Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

* Join Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group HERE

* Please vote for me on the Downy Simple Pleasures Next Scent Contest. My scent is called 'Ascending Butterfly' of course, LOL. You can scroll down to the bottom of this page, and press 'Vote' on the widget below, it's super fast and super easy! (You can do this daily and get credit for voting daily! Just let me know the vote 'count' in your comment. Ex: I was Downy vote #111)

* Take the pledge! In the widget right underneath Downy on the bottom of the page, there is a Get eyeSmart - eye committed widget, if you take the pledge, you will get an extra credit entry!

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

Eenamaria is the sponsor of this giveaway and provided product for review, this is not a paid insertion, nor was any payment received, the opinions about this bag are expressly my own!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

From Our Table to Yours:


Funscrape.Com
Ascending Butterfly wants to wish you a Happy, Healthy, Safe and Blessings Filled Day!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!



I couldn't resist the title. Tomorrow is the big day! Today may be the last day of the countdown before the big day, but I remind you to live in gratitude each and every day, it will enrich your life in ways you never imagined.

Did you perform your 'pay it forward' yesterday? Did you perform your act of kindness? If so, please share it with us.

Let's focus today on ourselves. I know that many of you out there will begin your cooking and prep process today in anticipation of the cooking marathon that is Thanksgiving.

I know there are many of you out there that are 'bracing' yourselves. Bracing Yourselves for the annoying in-laws or sibling rivalry or some other holiday drama. And I want to remind you that it is not necessary to brace yourself. When you expect the worse, you will very well receive it. And in turn, when you expect the best, you make it happen.

Today I urge you to accept those you love for who they are! Is your son/daughter/sibling/parent bringing a guest you don't like? If the person you love, loves them, keep that in mind and focus on their redeeming qualities instead of what you don't like.

Remember, your house doesn't have to look like something out of Better Homes & Gardens, you do not have to set a table like Martha Stewart. You can set a table with mis-matched plates. You can omit the cornucopia the size of a small country. Fill your home with love, your heart with laughter, and your table with the foods you enjoy and you will have created a successful day.

I know there are some of you out there that will be spending some of your day at a soup kitchen, food pantry or local church, spreading your blessings with others, if you can, bring your children with you and have them take part in making their community a better place.

But regardless of how you plan to spend the big day, take some time today for yourself. To relax. To pamper yourself. Take a long hot bath. or take a long walk with your spouse, your kids and even your doggie. And before you start the marathon cleaning, decorating and cooking frenzy, make sure you take a moment to meditate and center yourself. Remember your focused breathing! Ask for help. Don't be an Island!!

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I will make it a point to express my gratitude today by being kind to MYSELF and others.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, profound and powerful changes in your life.

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! We will be offering multiple giveaways all throughout the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with us. We are really happy you landed HERE!

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Winner Announcement - Piece of the Puzzle Affirmative Jewelry Giveaway Winner!



Congratulations to 'johnica1' (we post our winner usernames instead of full names, this is why it's in quotes) the winner of Ascending Butterfly's Piece of the Puzzle Affirmative Jewelry Giveaway!

We would like to thank our sponsor The Good Cheer Company. We would love to work with you again! I hope you will all remember The Good Cheer Company for your holiday buying needs! These are perfect gifts for anyone on your list, what about those hard to buy gifts like teachers, doormen, postmen/women, office secret santas, stocking stuffers and more!

*There is still time to enter the November: Ascending Butterfly Book Club Review and Giveaway - WIN ALL THREE TITLES - Build your library by entering to win HERE!

*Enter to win a Lush Handmade Cosmetics 'Butterfly Kiss' Kit by pressing HERE!

* Enter to win a box of Goodies from Unilever containing full size products from Dove, Q-tips, Ponds, and Vaseline! Enter HERE!

Stay tuned this weekend, there are special surprises in store!! Keep checking in daily we will be posting a wide variety of amazing giveaways each week throughout the holiday season! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend a part of your day with Ascending Butterfly!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!




Our 'Gratitude Countdown' to Thanksgiving continues today. Even in a fast paced city like New York City, the holiday cheer begins early. Maybe it's the wonderfully decorated windows in the stores, but it just seems like there are more smiles to be seen and good wishes given to one another.

Sometimes a good deed slips into the mix, like someone holding a door when you are laden with packages, or offering to help with your bags. You may not always be able to repay that kindness in the moment, so pay it forward. Today make it a point to do one kind thing for someone. It could be anything, holding a door, leaving a generous tip, smiling at a stranger, that circle of kindness you start will eventually come back to you.

Acts of kindness give the recipient something to be grateful for but it also blesses the giver. Let's continue our 'Gratitude Countdown' to Thanksgiving by both being grateful for what we receive and by finding ways to bless each other.

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I will make it a point to express my gratitude today by being kind to others.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, profound and powerful changes in your life.

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! The holiday push is going to be fast and fierce on Ascending Butterfly, we will be offering multiple giveaways all throughout the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with us. We are really happy you landed HERE!

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

Monday, November 23, 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!



The Gratitude Countdown!

Let's create abundance in our lives this week. The countdown to Thanksgiving should begin with well....THANKS!

Years ago, Sarah Ban Breathnach's book 'Simple Abundance' changed the way I actively chose to express gratitude. Gratitude for the blessings that were already present in my life and gratitude for new blessings that came my way. I loved the idea of a gratitude journal and decided I would join the 'Simple Abundance' path and express my gratitude for all the good I experienced in a day. I went into this experiment a bit nervous. I thought what if I have nothing to say that day? What then?

The amazing thing is that in 10 years, there has NEVER been a day where there wasn't something to be grateful for! I learned not to try to write when I was very stressed out because it would defeat the purpose. I try to write at the end of the night when my mind is more relaxed. On stress filled days you may find you have to think a bit harder, but I'm sure you will also find that there is always something to be grateful for.

Why don't we have a 'Gratitude Countdown' here on Ascending Butterfly? Each day counting down the days to Thanksgiving we will list something we are grateful for! I'll go first. Over the weekend we worked on a Kitchen Renovation in 'casa de butterfly' which included getting rid of things that no longer served a purpose, painting, decorating and major cleaning, I'm grateful this finally got done, and am very much enjoying the new and improved look in the kitchen! What are YOU grateful for today?

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I will make it a point to express my gratitude today.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, profound and powerful changes in your life.

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! The holiday push is going to be fast and fierce on Ascending Butterfly, we will be offering multiple giveaways all throughout the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with Ascending Butterfly. We are really happy you landed HERE!

REMEMBER: The Piece of the Puzzle Affirmative Jewelry giveaway ends TODAY, so HURRY enter HERE

If you are interested in purchasing Sarah's book, please consider doing so using the banner below:





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NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sunday, November 22, 2009 - This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and FIVE giveaways!




Living in Gratitude

On Sunday's, 'Today's Moment of Inspiration' becomes the weekly 'Moment of Gratitude'. While I do still live in Gratitude each and everyday, I decided to change this feature to a weekly to allow a full week of Inspirational messages and breathing meditations.

This week, I am grateful for:

1) Ascending Butterfly has been nominated for the Divine Caroline's Love! This Site Awards '09 For the 'Body and Soul' category! Thank You! If you would like to vote for us, and help bring Ascending Butterfly to the top, please click HERE!

2) I'm also grateful to bring back Ascending Butterfly's Book Club this month, with not just ONE, but THREE titles! Enter HERE.

3) I am also grateful that Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group in is full swing with new members joining everyday, posting photos, enjoying onlline chat, and participating in great threads/forums! Now users can do more than just connect with the site, you can connect with one another too! Join our Ning Group HERE. One of my favorite Ning Group apps is the Twitter Tracker, up to the minute butterfly updates and great conversation!

What are you grateful for today? I'd love for you to write in and share what you are grateful for this week. The more you say it, the more you speak it, and the more you live in gratitude, the more you will find reasons to be grateful for. So join me on this journey of gratitude and inspiration. And you can post here daily (even though my list will be posted weekly).

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! Twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field at Twitter:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and FIVE giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. There are 5 great giveaways today!

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And you also must include your email in your comment entry, we have to have a way to reach you if you win!

How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list.

Remember, following on twitter or on Networked Blogs is an extra credit step, for the main entry to process you must become a blog follower using google friends connect in addition to your comment. If your 'follower' name is different from your 'comment name', please mention that in your entry (and don't forget your email formatted for security purposes.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

Lush Butterfly Kiss Review and Giveaway! - Holiday Buying Guide Pick

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thank You so much to our wonderful sponsor LUSH Cosmetics! We would love to work with you again!  Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!



---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team


˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙







Are you a LUSH?  Because I am!

Yes it's hard to admit, but I must come CLEAN. I am now a LUSH. I am no longer a LUSH virgin and what a way to start, with a Butterfly Kiss! A Butterfly Kiss kit that is!

Twilight isn't the only one out there with DIE HARD FANS. Lush Fans are loyal too and testimonials would take more room than we have here, that's for sure!

I'm not sure what I fell harder for, the description of this kit, the products it contains or the packaging! Yes, that's right option (D) All of the above is correct! Here is the description:

Butterfly Kiss

We imagine if a butterfly swooped down and kissed you on the cheek it would smell of roses and feel soft as silk. Give a Butterfly Kiss to someone you think deserves to feel just as soft and smell just as sweet. They'll enjoy four delightful floral baths - two bath bombs packed with flower petals (one even has silver church bells inside to make you feel as though you're prancing around in the English Countryside) and two bubble bars for soft, fragrant bubbles.

Contains:

English Countryside 6.3 oz., Tisty Tosty 3.1 oz. (Featured Ingredient in Tisty Tosty is Rose Absolute" Our which comes from the flower petals of the damask rose), Amandopondo (shares the Featured ingredient Rose Absolute but also contains lemon and orange citrus scent)  3.1 oz., A French Kiss 3.1 oz (This luxurious French Herb Bubble Bath boasts Lavender as a featured ingredient).
 
But there is something else that really resonates about LUSH, this kit, and it's packaging that must be shared here:
 
Naked products in gifts are wrapped in cello bags for safe transit. Our cello bags are made from renewable wood-pulp and certified for home composting; re-use them or pop them in your bin to decompose. We proudly use Enviro-fill to pack up all of our gifts. It’s made from corn, wheat and potato starch (all renewable and abundant resources) and dissolves in water. Reuse it or put it in your compost! Our beautiful paper gift wrap and paper ribbons are made from 100% post-consumer waste. Continue the giving by re-using on another gift or, if you’ve ripped it in excitement, pop it in the recycling bin to be reincarnated next year.
 
No wonder this kit is considered a LUSH 'Cult Classic'! It's clean and 'green'
 
I could go on and gush some more, but instead I will remind you all that this kit is an editor's pick and has made our Holiday Buying Guide! (Lush has also made me a crazy new convert! If only I could review a new kit a week.....Hmmm........) I'm sure anyone on your list would be delighted to find this perfectly wrapped box of 'bathly delights' under the tree!
 
 

 
WIN IT! - One lucky 'Ascending Butterfly' will have the chance to win a Butterfly Kiss Kit of their very own!

How to Win: (1) You must be a follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differ from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) If you are already a 'LUSHIE' tell me your favorite product. If you have never tried LUSH before, visit the LUSH website and pick a product you would like to try. (remember you can't pick the butterfly kiss kit because it is already mentioned in the review. (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! USA AND CANADA 18+

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this or I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Friday, November 20, 2009 until Wednesday, December 02, 2009 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email)

EXTRA CREDIT:

* Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment

* Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you already have our button, just let us know, you will still get extra credit!)

* Follow me @Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter (this is ascendingbutterfly’s editor) and give me your twitter ID in a comment

* Tweet this: ok to RT: I just entered @Tracy_Iglesias LUSH Butterfly Kiss #giveaways worth $30 -#ascendingbutterfly - http://tinyurl.com/yhugk5j  (Leave a comment with the tweet’s url so you can get a valid entry (click on the time your tweet was sent to get the direct URL and then copy and paste it here). You can Tweet ONCE A DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified.)

* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

* Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment

* Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

*Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

* Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

* Join Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group HERE

* Please vote for Ascending Butterfly on Divine Caroline's Love This Site Award '09 for the Body and Soul category, you can press into the badge on the upper right hand site of the page or click through here, there is a Vote button right under the description. It's a one time only, super fast, super easy vote! If all of Ascending Butterfly's readers voted we would sweep the body and soul category, we can do it, let's rock the vote and 'show em how it's done'! (If you have already voted, pls tweet the following: Please Vote #ascendingbutterfly 2009 Love This Site Awards (via @DivineCaroline) #LoveThisSite - http://bit.ly/SepQr  (Don't forget to leave the URL to your tweet in your comment).

* Please vote for me on the Downy Simple Pleasures Next Scent Contest. My scent is called 'Ascending Butterfly' of course, LOL. You can scroll down to the bottom of this page, and press 'Vote' on the widget below, it's super fast and super easy! (You can do this daily and get credit for voting daily! Just let me know the vote 'count' in your comment. Ex: I was Downy vote #111)

*Take the pledge! In the widget right underneath Downy on the bottom of the page, there is a Get eyeSmart - eye committed widget, if you take the pledge, you will get an extra credit entry!

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Thursday, November 19, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!



Yes Virginia, you can still 'staycation'

Summer may be over, but the 'staycation' is still very much in full swing. With the state of the economy, people are not traveling as much as they used to. But that doesn't mean that the holiday fun has to end there. Explore the opportunities in your own 'back yard' to enjoy your holiday season.

Many malls, public areas downtown, parks etc hold Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies, Menorah Lighting Ceremonies, Kwanzaa Candle Lighting Ceremonies and more! It's a great opportunity to connect with friends, family and neighbors in the process of preparing the places you live, work and shop for the upcoming holiday season. Bring the kiddos, grab some hot chocolate and get a good spot!

It's so easy to get wrapped up in your own family holiday preparations, cleaning, decorating, cooking, shopping etc that you easily forget to take out a moment to enjoy what's around you like the big 'Happy Holidays sign welcoming you to the mall, all lit up and festive. Or the big illuminated snowman outside your favorite store. Stop and get a picture of not only the little ones with it, but make sure you get one of yourself too! (Even more fun, if the same one is used annually, get an annual picture in that spot, it will be so much fun to look back at later on!)

Remember how excited you were to write out your list to Santa? Do it again! Do it this year! Put absolutely, positively, NOTHING of practicality on that list. Put everything on that list you wouldn't dream of getting for yourself. Those things you promise you'll get yourself next week because the house needs this, or the kids need that. or the DH needs some new clothes for work....... It's easy for Santa to forget you if you have already forgotten yourself.

I want to help inspire you to make this your best holiday ever, both inside and out! If we can keep you at an even keel emotionally, the stressors of the holiday season won't be able to bring you down physically!

Right now I'm sure you have meal planning on the brain, and I don't mean tonight's pot roast, I mean the big day, Turkey Day, Thanksgiving! I don't care how many people you are hosting this year, do not overdo it! Do not buy a bigger bird than you need. How many Turkey Wraps, Sandwiches etc do you really want to end up making all week so it doesn't go bad/go to waste? And you know full well that the kids will tire of Turkey Leftovers very quickly and beg you for some un-healthy fast food alternative!

A great place to start today is getting rid of what you don't need. Get two big trash bags or boxes, mark one toss and the other donate, pare down drawers, closets etc. De-cluttering your space will make holiday planning from decorating to meals so much easier for you.

Once that is done. Make your grown up christmas wish list. You can even share them here if you'd like, it would be fun to read each other's wish lists!

While you have the pen and paper out, why not begin your New Year's Wish List? Notice I did not say resolutions. What do you want to accomplish in the new year? Keep this book by your bed at night so if you awaken with a goal you can write it down. Bring it to work and write in it during your lunch break. Do you want to learn a new language this coming new year? Perhaps Rosetta Stone DVD's will be on sale during the holiday season, now that you have identified a goal, keep an eye open on getting the things you need to prepare or achieve that goal.

For example. I plan to begin learning Italian, I have always wanted to learn and I have Rosetta Stone's Level 1 Italian Language Learning System. So I need to begin to carve out specific weekly space to achieve the goal of completing this system.

If you go through this holiday season stress free in every way (and actively breathing your way to a more focused mind, visualizing your life the way you want it to be, deserve it to be and therefore SHOULD and WILL be) you will be putting yourself at an AMAZING advantge for the New Year.

I have come up with a meditation mantra that really resonates with me, 'In 2010, I will begin again'. Find your own soul speak and when you take those 5 minutes to center yourself at the begining and end of everyday, begin incorporating your own powerful soul speak into your thoughts. We do it here daily with our daily affirmation/focused breathing excercise of the day. Just make sure the words are really resonating with you, are powerful to you and are relevant to you!

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I will make way for the holiday season by paring down, de-cluttering and removing stress from my environment and from my mind.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, profound and powerful changes in your life.

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! The holiday push is going to be fast and fierce on Ascending Butterfly, we will be offering multiple giveaways all through the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with Ascending Butterfly. We are really happy you landed HERE!

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NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2)  tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Winner Announcement - $25 Kohl's Gift Card Winner!




Congratulations to 'cookie' (we post our winner usernames instead of full names, this is why it's in quotes) the winner of Ascending Butterfly's LC Lauren Conrad Collection for Kohl's Giveaway! Happy Shopping to you!

We would like to thank our sponsor Kohl's. We would love to work with you again! Kohl's has some amazing holiday sales going on right now, so I would urge you to check them out for your holiday shopping needs, I have my eye on some sweet sweaters I saw on sale in the mailer this week!

*There is still time to enter the November: Ascending Butterfly Book Club Review and Giveaway - WIN ALL THREE TITLES - Build your library by entering to win HERE!

*Enter to win your very own 'Piece of the Puzzle' with leather cord necklace and an affirmation selected by YOU by pressing HERE!

* Enter to win a box of Goodies from Unilever containing full size products from Dove, Q-tips, Ponds, and Vaseline! Enter HERE

Stay tuned this weekend, there are special surprises in store!! Keep checking in daily we will be posting a wide variety of amazing giveaways each week throughout the holiday season! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend a part of your day with Ascending Butterfly!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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Win a Box of Unilever Goodies!

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thank You so much to our wonderful sponsor Unilever (in conjunction with Rocket XL)! We would love to work with you again! The winner has been notified and upon confirmation, the winner's username will be posted both here and on the homepage. Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙








I hope by now you all have noticed the totally awesome Beauty Tip of the Day Widget on our Home Page! In addition to enjoying the daily beauty tips, if you press on this widget and press on the upper tab that reads 'hair' and then press on it's subtab that reads 'bonus' you can get a free sample of Shampoo and Conditioner, how cool is that?

I was sent a box filled with an assortment of Unilever products (from our friends at Rocket XL) that contained Dove deodorant, Ponds makeup remover towelettes, Dove hair spray, Qtips, Vaseline and more!

I love combining the best of home beauty care tips with trusted products that I've used since....well forever! Let's start with one of my personal favorites from the box, Vaseline; (I used to call it the tub of wonder goo!) there are actually websites out there devoted to the hundreds of uses!

Here are my top three:

1. Put a coat of vaseline on your feet at night, cover them with socks and wake up to softer feet – every day! (sorry but I am not buying the $50 sleep sock/lotion combo, when this works just as well if not BETTER)
2. Put vaseline on your elbows every day – they will stay soft!
3. Put Vaseline on chapped lips, it's the original! (a winter life saver if your lips chap easily! Just because it's winter time doesn't mean your pucker shouldn't be kissable at all times!)

One neat tip from the widget includes extending time between Salon Visits with the Dove Color Therapy System, in this economy anything you can do at home to extend time between pricey salon visits is heaven sent for sure!
 
WIN IT! - One lucky 'Ascending Butterfly' will have the chance to win a Goodie Box of their very own filled with FULL SIZE products from Dove, Pond’s, Q-tips and Vaseline. The prize pack is worth $30!

How to Win: (1) You must be a follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differ from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Click on the Beauty Tips of the Day widget on the right sidebar and tell me one of your favorite beauty tips (a tip that isn’t listed above) We are not looking for general tips here, the widget tips will all contain beauty advice that mentions a unilever brand product. If your comment hasn't' been published it means you are not following these guidelines and should check your email as soon as possible. (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! USA AND Canada are Welcome to enter, 18+

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this or I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Wednesday, November 18, 2009 until Monday, November 30, 2009 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email)

EXTRA CREDIT:

* Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment

* Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment

* Follow me @Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter (this is ascendingbutterfly’s editor) and give me your twitter ID in a comment

* Tweet this: ok to RT: I just entered @Tracy_Iglesias Unilever Goodie Box #giveaway worth $30 - -#ascendingbutterfly - http://tinyurl.com/yahyc5u   Leave a comment with the tweet’s url so you can get a valid entry (ex. click on the time your tweet was sent). You can Tweet ONCE A DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified.

* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

* Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment

* Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

*Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

* Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

* Follow Unilever on Facebook HERE

* Follow Unilever News onTwitter HERE

* Join Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group HERE

* Please vote for Ascending Butterfly on Divine Caroline's Love This Site Award '09 for the Body and Soul category, you can press into the badge on the upper right hand site of the page or click through here, there is a Vote button right under the description. It's a one time only, super fast, super easy vote! If all of Ascending Butterfly's readers voted we would sweep the body and soul category, we can do it, let's rock the vote and 'show em how it's done'!

* Please vote for me on the Downy Simple Pleasures Next Scent Contest. My scent is called 'Ascending Butterfly' of course, LOL. You can scroll down to the bottom of this page, and press 'Vote' on the widget below, it's super fast and super easy! (You can do this daily and get credit for voting daily! Just let me know the vote 'count' in your comment. Ex: I was Downy vote #111)

*Take the pledge! In the widget right underneath Downy, there is a Get eyeSmart - eye committed widget, if you take the pledge, you will get an extra credit entry!

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Winner Announcement! Harvey Prince Ageless and Eau Flirt Winners!



Congratulations to 'RedFuzzyCow' and 'Wanda' (we post our winner's usernames instead of full name, this is why it's in quotes) the winners of Ascending Butterfly's Harvey Prince's Ageless and Eau Flirt Giveaways!

We would like to thank our sponsor Harvey Prince, we would love to work with you again! - Based on the positve responses and feedback, I would urge our gentlemen readers to consider purchasing Ageless or Eau Flirt (or ahem, BOTH) as sexy stocking stuffers for the special lady in your life. Ladies, cut out the picture of it, and tape it to your stocking with a sign that reads 'insert here' or 'hint hint'. or cut the picture out and make a grown up list to Santa, then slip it into his briefcase as a gentle holiday shopping reminder!

*Remember, the $25 Kohl's Gift Card -'LC Lauren Conrad' Collection Review and Giveaway ENDS TODAY ENTER HERE!

*There is still time to enter the November: Ascending Butterfly Book Club Review and Giveaway - WIN ALL THREE TITLES - Build your library by entering to win HERE!

*And our newest giveaway posted also has the honor of being the first holiday buying guide editors pick! Enter to win your very own 'Piece of the Puzzle' with leather cord necklace and an affirmation selected by YOU by pressing HERE!

Stay tuned this weekend, there are special surprises in store!! Keep checking in daily we will be posting a wide variety of amazing giveaways each week throughout the holiday season! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend a part of your day with Ascending Butterfly!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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Winner Announcement! $50 1-800 Flowers Gift Card Winner!



Congratulations to 'Natalie A' (we post our winner's username instead of full name, this is why it's in quotes) the winner of Ascending Butterfly's 1-800 Flowers $50 Gift Card Giveaway! Join me in congratulating Natalie!


We would like to thank our sponsor 1-800 Flowers, we would love to work with you again! (I'm thinking we meet up every holiday!) :-) - Don't forget to use 1-800 Flowers for all your flower, gift basket and holiday needs this season!

*Remember, there is still time to win a $25 Kohl's Card in the 'LC Lauren Conrad' Collection Review and Giveaway HERE!

*There is still time to enter the November: Ascending Butterfly Book Club Review and Giveaway - WIN ALL THREE TITLES - Build your library by entering to win HERE!

*And our newest giveaway posted also has the honor of being the first holiday buying guide editors pick! Enter to win your very own 'Piece of the Puzzle' with leather cord necklace and an affirmation selected by YOU by pressing HERE!

Stay tuned this weekend, there are special surprises in store!! Keep checking in daily we will be posting a wide variety of amazing giveaways each week throughout the holiday season! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend a part of your day with Ascending Butterfly!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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Saturday, November 14, 2009

We'd like to give you flowers for Thanksgiving! Win a $50 Gift Card to 1-800 Flowers!!

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thank You so much to our wonderful sponsor 1-800flowers! We would love to work with you again! The winner is 'Natalie A', Congratulations! Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!
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I absolutely love flowers. With Roses, Stargazer Lilies, and Orchids being my top 3 all time favorites! What a delight it was to receive the Martha Stewart Lily Meadow Bouquet this week. I decided a special bouquet needed to be displayed in a special vase. I placed the bouquet in a crystal vase that belonged to my Grandma, and placed a photo of her next to it!

(NOTE: It is NOT OK to re-post or publish the photo above ANYWHERE!)

It would be absolutely selfish of me not to spread the love! So there is definitely a giveaway for YOU! I thought it would be great for a lucky Ascending Butterfly to enjoy a holiday bouquet of their own. With a huge variety to choose from and amazing customer service, it's a no brainer to send flowers with 1-800 Flowers.com.

Here is a photo of the same Bouquet straight from the 1-800 Flowers website:




I wanted to show both photos to show that it arrives with many un-opened flowers so your bouquet will bloom over the course of several days. But here is a picture of a fully in bloom version of the bouquet. Absolutely stunning!

I have both received and sent flowers with 1-800 flowers and have always been delighted. The fragrance is amazing, I can smell my flowers without even getting close to the vase!

WIN IT! - Thanks to our friends at 1-800 Flowers, one Ascending Butterfly will have the chance to win a $50 1-800 Flowers Gift card to purchase your favorite bouquet!

How to Win: (1) You must be a follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differ from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Give us the link to the bouquet you will purchase with your gift card if you win, not the name of the piece, the actual direct link to the piece! (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! USA, 18+

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this or I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Saturday, November 14, 2009 until Monday, November 16, 2009 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. Please Note, we require an immediate winner confirmation on this one! You will have 24 hours only to confirm before we move on to an alternate. This is because you will be receiving an actual gift card and this is the only way for it to arrive to you before Thanksgiving!

EXTRA CREDIT:

* Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment

* Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment

* Follow me @Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter (this is ascendingbutterfly’s editor) and give me your twitter ID in a comment

* Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a comment. (you can do this DAILY)

* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

* Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment

* Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

* Follow 1-800 Flowers on Facebook HERE

* Follow 1-800 Flowers onTwitter HERE

* Join Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group HERE

* Please vote for Ascending Butterfly on Divine Caroline's Love This Site Award '09 for the Body and Soul category, you can press into the badge on the upper right hand site of the page or click through here, there is a Vote button right under the description. It's a one time only, super fast, super easy vote!

* Please vote for me on the Downy Simple Pleasures Next Scent Contest. My scent is called 'Ascending Butterfly' of course, LOL. You can scroll down to the bottom of this page, and press 'Vote' on the widget below, it's super fast and super easy! (You can do this daily and get credit for voting daily!)

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Saturday, November 14, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration: November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month!





November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. Diabetes is a leading cause of vision loss among Americans, and committing to getting a diabetic eye exam annually is an important step in preserving your sight. Ninety percent of severe vision loss from diabetes can be avoided by visiting your ophthalmologist annually and by controlling your diabetes. The “EyeCommitted” widget is designed to help raise awareness about diabetic eye disease and encourage Americans to commit to an annual eye exam, which can help prevent loss of vision when combined with appropriate treatment. I have also posted this widget to the bottom of this page, but I was afraid some of you might miss it so I thought I'd do a special post today and bring this important message to you all. Please click through at least once on the widget, it would be greatly appreciated!

More than 24 million people in the United States have diabetes and less than half are not getting a recommended dilated eye exam. Among the Hispanic/Latino America population, 2.5 million (9.5%) have diabetes. Furthermore, nearly half of all adult Hispanic/Latino individuals in the United States with diabetes have some type of diabetic retinopathy. These are some frightening statistics!

I have friends struggling with Diabetes and I can't stress enough how important it is to take good care of your health. Our 'Today's Words of Inspiration' often focus on the health of your 'spirit/soul' but today we wanted to shift the focus to the outer you/body.

This widget can be added to your facebook page very easily, allowing you to easily get the message out to your family and friends!

If you haven't done so already, get your physical, your eye exam and annual dental exam taken care of! And of course don't forget your flu shots!


I want to thank our friends at RocketXL for this reminder (this is a NON compensated post!)

Don't forget that we have EIGHT active giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! And remember, the two giveaways one for Ageless Fantasy Perfume (ARV $98) and one for Eau Flirt Perfume (ARV $98) ends THIS Monday, November 16, 2009, additionally the $50 Gift Card to 1-800 Flowers also ends Monday, so get in your entries ASAP!!!

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Friday, November 13, 2009

Winner Announcement!




Congratulations to 'Tanya' (we post our winner's username instead of full name, this is why it's in quotes) the winner of Ascending Butterfly's iLuck Butterfly Pendant Giveaway! Join me in congratulating Tanya!

We would like to thank our sponsor iLuck, we would love to work with you again! (I'm thinking the Butterfly Bracelet should be next!) :-)

*Remember, there is still time to win a $25 Kohl's Card in the 'LC Lauren Conrad' Collection Review and Giveaway HERE!

*You can also win the perfume of your choice, Ageless Fantasy or Eau Flirt, (there will be TWO winners, one winner will win Ageless ($98) and one winner will win Eau Flirt ($98) by pressing HERE!

*There is still time to enter the November: Ascending Butterfly Book Club Review and Giveaway - WIN ALL THREE TITLES - Build your library by entering to win HERE!

*And our newest giveaway posted also has the honor of being the first holiday buying guide editors pick! Enter to win your very own 'Piece of the Puzzle' with an affirmation selected by YOU by pressing HERE!

Stay tuned this weekend, there is a special surprise in store!! Keep checking in daily we will be posting a wide variety of amazing giveaways each week throughout the holiday season! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend a part of your day with Ascending Butterfly!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Piece of the Puzzle Affirmative Jewelry Review and Giveaway! - Holiday Buying Guide Pick

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Many thanks to our wonderful sponsor The Good Cheer Company! We would love to work with you again! Congratulations to 'johnica1' (we post our winner usernames instead of full names, this is why it's in quotes) the winner of Ascending Butterfly's Piece of the Puzzle Affirmative Jewelry Giveaway! Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!



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Sponsored By:



Have you found your piece of the puzzle yet?  
I sure have!

Earlier this summer I entered a giveaway at Coupon Queens of Laurel Run, (now known as a shoppers quest) and I was fortunate enough to win, shortly after winning I also saw this product featured on the Ellen DeGeneres talk show and I was on pins and needles until it arrived.

I wore it daily and have to share that it truly transformed my day everytime I wore it, I find myself reaching for it often. I truly believe words have power, and I chose my pieces based on what I really wanted/needed to manifest in my life at that time. I chose the affirmations 'Blessed' and 'Abundance' (the opposite side of your affirmation will be inscribed 'I Am'). Wearing I am Blessed Abundance daily has been amazing. I have made it a point to wear it when I'm working on a deal and it has become a 'lucky charm' of sorts. I also know when a jewelry item, particularly around my neck has a found it's home when I constantly find myself touching it! (Do you do that too??)

There was a chain of coincidences starting with my win that led me to Ron the owner of 'The Good Cheer Company', could the name possibly be more perfect for a collaboration with Ascending Butterfly? Our mission statement is to seek out and share the best sources of inspiration both on and offline, and I have to say The Good Cheer Company's Piece of the Puzzle Affirmative Jewelry is perfectly in line with our mission statement!

There are 41 Puzzle-Shaped Pewter Tokens to choose from! They are great gifts to remind someone special in your life who they really are, what they mean to you and to help inspire and motivate them to be the best they can be in so many different areas of life. You can also empower and show some love to your beloved pets by purchasing 'The Pet Affirmation Tag' - these can all easily be attached to your dog or cat's collar. Or your pet lizard or snake, if you put collars on them! These are perfect family stocking stuffers!

The only thing missing on their site are the following affirmations 'Ascending' and 'Butterfly' of course! (Hey Ron if you use those, I get a percentage of the sales and the first ones are Mine, Mine, Mine!!!)

These are amazing gifts for family, friends, colleagues, how many of you are part of a secret santa this year at work? It is difficult to find gifts that are reasonably priced (and most of the time secret santa restricts you and gives you a very difficult spending cap to work with), deceptively simple and powerfully meaningful, but with Piece of the Puzzle you get all of the above!

Piece of the Puzzle is our first Holiday Buying Guide Editor's Pick! It meets the criteria of all savvy holiday buyers this season - great price point, the total opposite of a generic gift, amazingly meaningful, and just plain FUN! For these reasons, this is where our holiday buying guide begins. We will be introducing our holiday buying guide editors picks up until and right through New Years Eve! Check back daily to be sure you don't miss a thing!!




WIN IT! - Thanks to our friends at The Good Cheer Company one Ascending Butterfly will have the chance to win an affirmation of their choice on an 18" Leather Necklace with Sterling Silver Hook! (Remember guys are never excluded from our giveaways, and this one being on a leather cord might mean you may want to keep this one for yourself and we couldn't blame you one bit!)

How to Win: (1) You must be a follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differ from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Visit The Good Cheer Company and pick your favorite affirmation HERE this will be the piece you receive if you win! (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com). If and ONLY if your profile has an email address, you can simply state this in your entry instead. Just remember do this only if your email address is readily accessible on your profile. Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! Restrictions: USA, 18+

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this or I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Thursday, November 12, 2009 until Monday, November 23, 2009 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. Winner will be announced shortly after Wednesday, November 25th!

EXTRA CREDIT:

* Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment
* Put our button on your blog and send us the link to the page where we can see it.
* Follow me @Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter (this is ascending butterfly’s editor) and give me your twitter ID in a comment
* Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a comment. (you can do this DAILY)
* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment
* Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment
* Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog
*NEW: Join Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group HERE

* Please vote for Ascending Butterfly on Divine Caroline's Love This Site Award '09 for the Body and Soul category, you can press into the badge on the upper right hand site of the page or click through here, there is a Vote button right under the description. It's a one time only, super fast, super easy vote! (If you have already voted, since it is only a one time vote, tweet the link and give us the URL for an extra entry! :)

* NEW: Please vote for me on the Downy Simple Pleasures Next Scent Contest. My scent is called 'Ascending Butterfly' of course, LOL. You can scroll down to the bottom of this page, and press 'Vote' on the widget below, it's super fast and super easy! (You can do this daily and get credit for voting daily, remember to leave a comment letting us know!)

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NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and SEVEN giveaways!




Veteran's Day!

To the men and women who make so many sacrifices in service to our country, Ascending Butterfly says Thank You!

The time you spend away from your loved ones is a tremendous sacrifice. The risks you endure when you 'suit up' for work each and every day must be scary.

We commend your bravery.

For the souls who have been lost in battle we pray you rest in peace. And for their families and friends we wish you strength and send our appreciation.

A Great Site to check out today is Military.com. You should also take out a moment to visit Legacy.com. There is a  'Moving Tributes' page which features videos dedicated to those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The tributes are very moving and a very wonderful reminder that it is important to spend some time honoring the fallen. These are the faces that belong to friends, neighbors, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, sons, daughters, moms and dads! Great sales is not what this day was originally intended to be about!

If there is a Vet in your home, please remember to hug them especially tightly today!

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I will honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women who fight for our country by always living my life to the fullest.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, profound and powerful changes in your life.

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Seven Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

Don't forget to enter the 7 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! The holiday push is going to be fast and fierce on Ascending Butterfly, we will be offering multiple giveaways all through the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with Ascending Butterfly. We are really happy you landed HERE!

ALERT: ENDING TODAY! - Don't forget to get in your entries for the Butterfly Pendant Necklace, this giveaway closes TODAY, enter HERE NOW!!!

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NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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