Monday, July 30, 2012

NYC Summer Fun! My Top 10 list of Family Friendly New York City Things To Do! {Photos}

With a ton of bloggers about to descend upon Manhattan for the BlogHer Conference (where I will be Live Blogging), I know invariably some will be bringing family and many of you extending your stay for a few days to take in all the family friendly sites New York City has to offer!

My Top Ten Family Friendly Fun things to do in New York City include:



1) OK so I'm a bit biased here and will start with the fact that there are three major NYC family friendly landmarks in my 'backyard' - Take in a game at Yankee Stadium. Summer is synonymous with Yankee Games for most New Yorkers and the stadium is just a train ride away no matter where in the city you may find yourself.



2) A little more bias here, and even closer to my home is The Bronx Zoo, check out this link for a major discount on tickets! Yes I am a Wildlife Conservation Society Blogger Brand Ambassador, but I have been visiting the zoo since I was a kid, and the tradition continues today with my nieces and nephews. Our summer isn't complete until we have visited the zoo, there is always something new going on there!

The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York


3) Also near me is the New York Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are as fun and as family friendly as it gets, your prettiest photos are going to come from here!

Central Park, New York City


4) Central Park and the Central Park Zoo - It would be difficult to do the park in one day as there is so much to do and see, but the Central Park Zoo is a must visit with your family.

Coney Island, Brooklyn New York


5) Coney Island - The amusement park and beach are a NYC landmark. This is just plain fun.

Rye Playland, Rye New York


6) Rye Playland - Another New York Amusement Park, it's a bit further out but not difficult to reach.

The New York Aquarium, Brooklyn, New York


7) The New York Aquarium - Another one of my favorite annual summer things to do, it's family friendly and kids love watching the animal feedings!

View of Lady Liberty from Smooth Jazz Cruise, photo used WITH permission

Staten Island Ferry, New York City


8) Statue of Liberty - There are tons of way to see her, but us locals still recommend seeing her from the Staten Island Ferry! I got to see her last year from the Smooth Jazz Cruise and had a fantastic time!

Museum of Natural History, New York City


9) The Museum of Natural History - Not that any of the museums in 'museum mile' should be missed, but this one is hands down the most family fun of all them all.

Empire State Building, New York City


10) Empire State Building - The view of NYC from the Empire State Building is bar none, that's why it's been in numerous movies and tv shows throughout the years. Just please be prepared that there is a security line to contend with and a long ride to the top. Only you know how well your child handles long lines and LOTS of people. and depending on their age, they might not find all that work to get to the top is worth it.

Any bloggers coming in that need additional recos, please feel free to comment here!

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FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, I am a Britax Latina Advisory Board Member and Blogger. I am also a Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society Blog Ambassador. All opinions are 100% my own.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Weekly Moment of Gratitude - The Thank YOU + Pre #BlogHer12 edition!







What I am grateful for:


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - YOU! -  Yes that's right YOU! Ascending Butterfly has certainly evolved quite a bit throughout the years, and while the transition to 'living out loud' as a blogger hasn't always been an easy one (I'm more comfortable behind the scenes, except for a brief stint on TV as a child), it has expanded my life both personally and professionally in ways I never dreamed were even possible. Throughout my whole medical nightmare that started last year the emails that I received from readers (and even from brands and PR firms that I have worked with throughout the years) has been incredibly heartwarming & encouraging to me. On Tuesday I made a post that was a personal entry to a contest, and I was literally floored that my humble call to action was embraced and acted upon by so many of you. Your tweets in support of my entry really means a lot to me, and win or lose, just having that many of you show me your support filled my heart with gratitude this week so I knew it had to be my first entry in this week's moment of gratitude. Thank You! Hopefully I'll be one of the five winners of an awesome makeover by Windows during BlogHer! (Can you believe BlogHer is now just *days* away!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fun! - Sometimes being a blogger can be filled with random, goofy fun. This week I attended gaming  previews for both Ubisoft and Majesco and got to try out Video Games like Zombii U for the new Wii U gaming system from Nintendo, FarCry 3, Assassins Creed 3, NBA Baller Beats and many, many more which will all get their own reviews as we get closer to their release dates. In case you missed it, I got Zombiefied with ZombiiU and posted a cool Zombie photo of me as my Wordless Wednesday this week. My schedule doesn't often permit me to play video games very often, so getting the chance to 'just play' and demo new games was super fun! I actually got to meet an NFL player during one of my game demos and a few retired players as well!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Counting my Blessings!-  While I still have a ways to go, I got great news during my recent medical visit, and I feel like I can slowly starting putting it all behind me and focus on the road ahead!




Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Getting Caught Up - I'm pretty much caught up on posts that needed to go live before BlogHer, which will allow me to really focus my energies next week on the conference! If you are going to the conference I'd love to meet as many of you as possible in person! Post a comment here if you are attending BlogHer!

What are YOU most grateful for this week Butterfly?

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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, and the more reasons that the universe will send you 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 on Twitter here (@Tracy_Iglesias) 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 Active Giveaways!  - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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Giveaway Winners!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The two winners of the Purex giveaway are Gloria M. and Caseyle2010, your free product coupons are on the way, Congratulations!

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Gratitude Journal Reco:
For those of you who are interested in keeping a gratitude journal this year, here is my recommendation and where to purchase it:
















Make this Your Best Day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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FTC Disclosure: Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html - Please note this is not a compensated post!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Tips to Tackle Parenting's Messes and Stresses! #HuggiesLatino



I already know what you are thinking! But Butterfly, you are NOT a mom what would YOU know about Parenting Stress?

Actually I probably manage more little ones at a time than you do, when you are the only single girl left amongst married siblings, you somehow become the built in babysitter. And not just to one of your siblings kids, but try ALL of them! (and sometimes without even being asked if it's OK to bring them all over, but that's a story for another post I'm sure!) Let's not also forget about the Godchildren!

Sometimes it's not just for an afternoon or a day, but entire weekends with a tribe running around my tiny NYC apartment wreaking all kinds of havoc. Don't get me wrong, I love my nieces and nephews, and as a blogger I thankfully have an assortment of things to keep them busy even at various ages, and that coupled with my background as a Special Ed teacher (many moons ago), I have learned a thing or two about patience throughout the years!

TV personality and father of two, Poncho de Anda and family
Parenting can be overwhelming, but my wife and I work together to constantly improve upon what we’ve learned over the past few years with our children,” said Poncho de Anda. “And we’ve learned a lot – like relying on Huggies diapers and wipes, which stand up to the tests of our little ones and have helped us make it through long flights and even spaghetti night with ease!” 


My tips for managing Parenting Stress:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - No Mom is an Island - Rally the Troops! - Remember when the baby was born, and everyone came to visit? They all OOhed and AAhed and promised to watch the baby like 'whenever'? Call in those markers ladies. Take an afternoon to yourself. I know you'll be tempted to run household errands with that precious time, but I highly suggest you take that time and do something for yourself. It will make you a happier mom/mami in the long run! (As a loving Auntie, I highly suggest calling and asking first!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Treat MESS like a Virus - Quarantine it! - Try to keep the mess contained to one room. If you can keep kids in one designated play area (particularly in winter when they are stuck indoors) it will make things easier to manage later.

Poncho's Youngest, Dani


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Embrace your Inner Santa - That's right everyone likes an important job, tell your little elves, ahem I mean 'Helpers' how important their job is, and have them put away their toy as soon as they are done with that particular toy. Before taking out a new toy, make sure you put the first one away.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Let Go of the Better Homes and Gardens Ideal - Very few of us have maids, butlers, gardeners, and pool boys, let go of the idea that your home should like the inside of a featured house in Better Homes and Gardens. When you are living your life, it sometimes gets messy!

Want a peek at how Poncho's family manages Parenting's Messes and Stresses? Take a look at the YouTube Video below:



Want a shot at a cool prize? Put the new and improved Huggies Diapers and Wipes to the test for a chance to win a fully stocked Huggies Diaper Bag by visiting Huggies Latino on Facebook!

With BlogHer swiftly approaching, I haven't had time to post as many reviews and giveaways as I'd like, so as I hear of neat giveaways going on online, I'll share them here! After the conference is over we'll resume with some fun giveaways of our own!

(P.S. - And if you are feeling tweety I still have one more day to bug you all for votes, please tweet this:

@KristinaLibby Pls pick @Ascending1 to go from Chrysalis to #Butterfly during #BlogHer12 with a #windowstyle #Makeover ow.ly/cvwOm



You can check out yesterday's post and Tuesday's for more information as to why I need you to tweet this!)

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FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Huggies and Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are 100% my own.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Butterfly Zombie! Rated 'S' for Scary!

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies, I recently got Zombified at a Ubisoft Media Preview Day where I got to play ZombiU™, a Survival Horror First-Person Shooter game for the Nintendo Wii U™, a new console that includes a controller with a 6.2-inch screen. Horror has always been my favorite movie genre so I jumped at the chance to test this game out. I actually got the chance to try out a ton of new games that will be hitting the market later in the year, and all of them, including this one, will get more extensive review coverage as they are closer to their market release dates, but in the meantime I just had to share my zombie picture with you!




Notice I am wearing a pair of butterfly earrings? LOL

If this picture isn't proof I really need that #windowstyle makeover that I let you know I'm entering for in yesterday's post, then I don't know what is!

If you'd like to see your favorite butterfly blogger go from Chrysalis to Butterfly, please send a quick tweet to @kristinalibby with the hashtag #windowstyle

Here is a sample tweet:


@KristinaLibby Pls pick @Ascending1 to go from Chrysalis to #Butterfly during #BlogHer12 with a #windowstyle #Makeover ow.ly/ctBRS

I didn't have time to make a formal linky, but as always you are more than welcome to link us to your Wordless Wednesday this week by commenting below!

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterfly!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. I attended the Ubisoft Media Preview Day as a member of the Digital Press. I am a Ubisoft Ubichamps Blogger Brand Ambassador via the Clever Girls Collective. Yesterday's post does serve as an entry in the Microsoft Windows Style Makeover Sweepstakes for a chance to win a head to toe makeover during BlogHer12. No monetary compensation has been received for sharing any of this information. All opinions are 100% my own.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Beauty SOS! Sending out a Beauty Bat Signal to #windowstyle

I can finally announce that I am attending BlogHer 2012 this year! Because of my medical nightmare that started last year I was unable to attend BlogHer 2011 in San Diego, and this year I didn't have time to do any outreaches for conference sponsorship because I spent so much of this year in the hospital. Being in the hospital did have one benefit, I had a lot of time to read (well between exploratory surgeries and high doses of super intense medications, LOL), and during my nightly reading online one night, I found out that BlogHer needed Volunteers and a light bulb went off! With medical expenses I would not have been able to purchase a ticket to BlogHer this year. So I applied to volunteer. And thankfully, I was selected. I will be 'earning' my seat which I'm grateful for and very proud of! And I have also been asked to Live Blog during BlogHer Panels FOR BlogHer, not just as an attendee! WOWZERS + AWESOMESAUCE = YAY ME!

I am totally excited, but also incredibly nervous. I don't get to 'hide' this time behind my laptop, camera or portable device, I will be meeting panelists and attendees as a Microphone Wrangler, and I will actually have to come out of my shell. Not so easy! All eyes on me has never been something I was totally comfortable with. (Yes I do get the irony of that statement, but I didn't really begin blogging to 'live my life out loud', it just sort of happened throughout the years!)

Like many bloggers, as the day swiftly approaches, I have been raiding all my closets in hopes that I'd find something *perfect* to wear. As if some magical unicorn would place some perfect 'power outfit' in my closet for me that would fit to a tee!

My research on ideas on what to wear to BlogHer did turn up an amazing find! I found a post on the Windows Experience Blog that caught my eye - BlogHer Attendees: Win A $1500 Style Makeover from Windows #sweepstakes!

What it boils down to? I'm glad you asked, it's my job in this post to explain why I deserve a style makeover and what I’d like my new re-imagined look to be like, and so I thought I'd do it in pictures!

I started my new year here:



I was told I was on 'borrowed time' and would soon end up here:


Several exploratory surgeries later (with me actually waking up during one of them) we discovered I had been given a mis-diagnosis originally (you can read more about my medical nightmare here: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-new-presbyterian.html):


I have been unable to resume the workout routine that was really working for me in 2010 and early 2011 (I had lost over 26 pounds and 3 dress sizes it was hard work and I was SO happy). But this year with multiple surgeries I was told to take it easy, so this year I blew up like a:



I'm at a major crossroads (personally and professionally) and after starting my year thinking that it would be my last, I have a new lease on life and I want my outside to reflect my inside! Here is a vision board of what I imagine I could be, of what I want my makeover to look like:



So far this medical nightmare robbed me of both New Year's AND my birthday this year and I refuse to let it rob me of anything else! As far as I'm concerned, this BlogHer isn't just another conference, it's 'carpe blogem' for me, I plan to seize the day, the conference and my blog! I figure if I'm going to invest my time in making my blog better, shouldn't I invest the same amount of time in making myself better?

Emotionally I'm still trying to piece this year together, it's been much like Tornado, but slowly and surely I am getting the pieces together and my outside should look like as empowered as I feel on the inside. Ascending Butterfly's mission statement is a simple one: To seek and share the best sources of inspiration out there. This year I want to be inspired. The only way I can continue to inspire and empower others is by empowering myself, this makeover would be the first major step toward that goal.

If you'd like to see your favorite butterfly blogger go from Chrysalis to Butterfly, please send a quick tweet to @kristinalibby with the hashtag #windowstyle

Here is a sample tweet:

@kristinalibby Pls pick @Ascending1 to go from Chrysalis to #Butterfly during #BlogHer12 with a #windowstyle #Makeover http://ow.ly/ctAO9

If you voted, please be sure to come back and post the link to your tweet on this post!

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FTC Disclosure: In writing this post, I’m entering the Microsoft Windows Style Makeover Sweepstakes for a chance to win a head to toe makeover. No monetary compensation has been received for sharing this information. All opinions are 100% my own.

Monday, July 23, 2012

My favorite 'Empty your Fridge' Avocado Summer Salad Recipe

 

I have had a life long obsession with Avocados, we called them 'aguacates' growing up and my grandmother (abuela) and great-grandmother paired them with many of the traditional Puerto Rican dishes that I grew up on and love. For us the traditional 'arroz con pollo' (chicken and rice) became anything but ordinary when paired with Black Beans and Avocados.


I am not as good as my Abuela and my mom are with picking ripe Avocados ready for that day, but thankfully my local grocer is and he always tells me which ones are ready!

Like me, my mom has a strong love of travel and adventure, and we'd spend our summer days anywhere but home, which meant when we got back home, tired from a day in the sun, no one wanted to cook, but eating out every single day of summer would have been budget breaking. One of my mom's favorite go to staples was a 'huge' summer salad, instead of as a side dish, it was so chock full of stuff that it became a main meal. Making it not only cost effective, (because she used what was in season), but also a much healthier meal than fast/processed foods. And we didn't have to have the hot oven or stove on during those scorching summer days.

To this day I still live on salads during the summer, and much like my mom's favorite salad idea, I've adapted it to make it an 'Empty Your Fridge' Avocado Summer Salad. There are certain staples I always buy from shopping trip to shopping trip so those have become staples in the salad that never change, but the protein changes, from chicken, to pork to shrimp depending on what's left over and already in my fridge.

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Empty Your Fridge Salad:

Ingredients:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 Ripe Avocado diced
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 Garden Tomato diced
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 head of Romaine Lettuce, clean, dry and shredded
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 box of organic mixed greens, clean, dry and shredded
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1/4 of a canister of walnuts (for a more asian flair add cashews and sesame seeds, especially if the protein is shrimp or chicken)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 cups of whatever proteins you have left over in your fridge, feel free to mix if you don't have a lot of any one particular thing, it could be chicken, pork, shrimp, tofu, etc.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Per your own taste (feel free to omit anything you do not like or are allergic to): diced onions, diced green peppers, diced/sliced or shaved carrots, finely chopped scallions, some garlic, diced celery, capers, diced olives
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I always add a bit of cheese depending on what I have in the fridge also!

Directions:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and toss evenly to mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Serve in individual bowls with dressing on the side. And if you don't have dressing on hand you can always mix your own with oil and vinegar or some balsamic!

*This could easily feed 2-4, just double up on the tomato if you are feeding more than two with this!


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On my very first visit to Cancun Mexico, I visited a restaurant close to my hotel and they told me that Mexico alone has hundreds of varieties of Avocados, and I have vowed that I will try them ALL! I had Avocados with breakfast, lunch and dinner that trip and every subsequent visit since!

Fuerte and Hass varieties are probably the most common of the Mexican Avocados, there is also the Gwen (most often confused for Hass), Pinkerton, Reed and Zutano.

Healthy Recipe Substitution Tips:

Last summer I focused on some healthy recipe substitutions with Yogurt, here are some recipe substitution tips with Avocados:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Replace fatty dips with guacamole and served with BAKED Tortilla Chips for a healthy and equally tasty snack.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Make your smoothies creamier by adding Avocado

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Top your soups and stews with Diced Avocado in place of sour cream

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Spread 2 Tbsp of mashed Avocado on your wheat toast instead of butter

Find other fun recipes on the Avocados from Mexico site in both Spanish and English! Get social with @guacgrl on twitter! And for my pinterest peeps, you can follow them on pinterest at: http://pinterest.com/Mexicanavocados/


And because you know I love great deals, here is a discount coupon you can use on your next shopping trip:








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FTC Disclosure: This sponsored post is brought to you by Avocados from Mexico via Latina Bloggers Connect. Additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly's disclosure policy can be found here.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

What do we want? Low Prices! When do we want them? NOW!



I'm probably the most weird woman on the planet, I HATE to shop. There I said it. Nothing bores me more. I hate the endless walking up and down aisles. I hate trying on clothes. If I could do all my shopping online I would.

This always drove my sisters crazy. Unlike me, if they could shop all day everyday they would. And the concept of window shopping, drives me crazy and my sisters, well they live for it.  I wasn't the teen trying to hang out at the mall. Fitting rooms plain make my hairs stand up on end.

Now when my sisters shop, I hang with my brother-in-laws. We check out electronics stores, sit on massage chairs and watch the room size televisions or play video games while we wait for everyone else to finish up their shopping so we can go eat!

Unfortunately I can't avoid shopping all together, and me being the tech nerd that I am, I figured there had to be a way to make shopping, faster, shorter, just plain easier, and thankfully there is! I personally enjoy marking decades by their commercial catch phrases (remember 'Where's The Beef?). This decade will be probably be best known for 'There's an App for that!', because usually there is! I actually found an app that takes the chore out of shopping, and I figured you'd want to know all about it too!

We are definitely living in an instant gratification society, and while I am not here to debate the pros and cons of it, I can tell you that when it comes to low prices, we can all agree we want it now! I want to know the lowest price on an item before I even step foot in the store, no one wants to waste gas driving around searching for the lowest price on something, especially when it comes to high end items like electronics. I for one am currently searching for a new laptop as I will be Live Blogging this year at the BlogHer 2012 Conference. (and I don't just mean as a blogger who will be there, I am live blogging at panels FOR BlogHer! I am super excited!) Here is the app I am using to help me take the choices I've narrowed it down to and find the best price for it:



About RedLaser:

RedLaser is a free app available for download for iPhone, Android and Windows phones. Downloaded over 20 million times, RedLaser is a secret weapon for the smart shopper – allowing you to scan or search for items to make sure you have all the information you need, including product details, ratings and price comparison.

Features:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Scan and search for products using the bar code scanner

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Compare prices online and at local retailers, so you’ll know you’re getting the best deal

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Find out which stores stock what you’re looking for by searching for a product locally. No need to drive around town searching for what you need!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Browse product reviews and rating

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Buy directly from your phone using PayPal mobile express checkout and you can pick up your item in a nearby store.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Create shopping lists (or wish lists!) and easily share them with friends and family via email, SMS, Twitter and Facebook.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Scan a food item to get allergen and ingredient information

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - To see RedLaser in action, check out this video, which shows how you can use RedLaser to find a last-minute gift.

I know know where the three specific laptops I've narrowed my choices down to are the cheapest. The app gave me just the info I need, the only thing I need to do now is decide which of the three I want! (of course if any laptop manufacturers are reading this and want to send me one, I'm totally open to it!).

RedLaser App in Action


My Take:

The app is free, easy to use, and tells you exactly where to go to find what you are looking for at the best possible price, it's instant gratification at its finest! For me it takes the chore out of shopping, and makes finding what I want at the best possible price, quick and painless. I for one read reviews on everything before making a purchase (minor or major) so I especially love that I can also browse product reviews!

Get Social:

You can get social with RedLaser on both Facebook and Twitter @RedLaserApp and don't forget to use the hashtag when you let them know just how much money you've saved, #RedLaser


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FTC Disclosure: I am participating in a sponsored post campaign for RedLaser in conjunction SheSpeaks, however all opinions are 100% my own.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Do you 'Dare to Bare'? Are your pits Little Black Dress ready?




This post is sponsored by Dove(R) ClearTone(tm) Deodorant - designed to visibly reduce underarm dark marks and even skin tone.

I"m in the middle of a New York City Heat Wave, and we are days away from August, the most sweltering month of the year in the city that never sleeps. This is primarily a public transportation city. A transit system that unfortunately is sorely lacking in many ways, (yet the prices continue to soar, but that's a topic for another post!), one of the things many NYC subway trains lack is AIR CONDITIONING! The platforms are usually feel like it's 200 degrees. And when you get a subway car with no AC on, particularly during 'rush hour' you come home feeling like you just did vikram yoga. Layers of clothing, starting usually with suit jackets get peeled off, and whether you are standing or sitting you are assured of one thing, seeing (and unfortunately often times smelling) many armpits! The people lucky enough to get a seat have a view of a sea of armpits!

In the summer most of us have no choice but to Dare to Bare. Are your arms 'summer ready'? Little Black Dress Ready? And guys, don't for one second think this can't possibly apply to you, I see those pits when you put on those white t-shirts!

You can either solve a beauty disaster or prevent it, and dark under arms are totally both 'solvable' and 'preventable'. Like all of the skin on our bodies, armpits need some exfoliation too, so make sure when you use your favorite scrub, you get those pits too! It's the shaving that causes the dark marks on your armpits so be sure to use an ounce of prevention to spare yourself from that pound of cure!

photo credit: babble.com


Tips for keeping underarms from getting 'dark':

1) Make sure to use a sharp blade - never use a dull razor and that's good advice for anywhere you shave, not just your pits. Dull blades make you go over the same spot multiple times and that's exactly what you DON'T want to do. Make sure your blade is sharp and you shave in one direction.

2) Balance your 'dry vs wet' - Built up sweat is a bad thing, so be sure to use an anti-persperant, not just a plain deodorant to keep your armpit area from building up sweat. But like all skin it does need moisture too, so be sure to give it some moisture, a dab of lotion in the evening is a good idea, and if you play sports in the summer a sunscreen lotion should be applied to your underarm area as well, while it will probably get way less sun than other parts of your body, the SPF protection is still important.

Photo Credit Torsten Schon/iStockphoto/Getty Images


3) Lightening - What works for your elbows, works for armpits too, good old fashioned Lemon Juice! You can make a paste with 1/2 cup of lemon juice, 1 tsp of cucumber juice and 1 tsp of Tumeric Powder and let it sit for 15-20 minutes (my recommendation would be for those gals who color their hair, to schedule some time on the weekend and kill two birds with one stone! You could also put on a facial mask and then just jump in the shower afterwards and wash it all off!). Remember lemon juice can cause irritation if used too often, so please don't do this daily! (Licorice Paste and Sandalwood powder work well too!) And because I love a bonus, with the leftover tumeric and lemon, make a tea, as a tea, turmeric and lemon helps sooth the pain from a sore throat and works to fight free-radical damage. Lemon, reduces the risk of some diseases, such as nephrolithiasis, a kidney condition. Lemon also has antimicrobial and antiviral action that works even better in conjunction with other ingredients including turmeric. So this combo is a one/two punch that works wonders for your insides as well as your outside!

4) For Prevention AND Cure - Use Dove Clear Tone Deodorant daily, with regular use it will even your underarm skin tone and repair irritated skin with frequent use. What Ambi products do for your face and now body, Dove Clear Tone does for your armpits!

Whether it's to feel more confident in your strapless dresses, tank tops or bathing suit, a little 'armpit 101' goes a long way to feeling confident enough to 'Dare to Bare'.

So Butterflies, What is your beauty ritual that gets you feeling confident enough to 'Dare to Bare'?


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FTC Disclosure:  I was compensated for this post by the Clever Girls Collective. All the opinions expressed here are my own.

Friday, July 20, 2012

@ProjectRunway Season 10 has begun + #elliottluccaproject WIN a Handbag!









Hey Butterfly! Our monthly Featured Handbag in the Spotlight Feature has been on a temporary hiatus because my schedule has been totally insane lately. That doesn't mean I'm no longer handbag obsessed! Far from it!



In fact while I get ready to bring the feature back VERY soon, I have been on the hunt for inspiration and for Haute Handbags that I'm sure we would both love to add our collections. Our friends at Elliott Lucca will be making their debut on Season 10 of Project Runway in Lord & Taylor’s Accessory Wall! (You know how much I love Lord & Taylor and Elliott Lucca, so it's a match made in heaven as far as I'm concerned!) And they want YOU to join in the fun! Not only should you be on the lookout for Elliott Lucca during the show, you should also combine your love of handbags, and your love of social media, specifically pinterest and try for a chance to win a haute Handbag of your own!

PRESS ON THE INFO-GRAPHIC BELOW TO MAKE IT BIGGER 






If you haven't joined pinterest, I'm thinking this is mega incentive for you to do so! If you are having trouble with the graphic and want more details, visit: http://pinterest.com/pin/239253798924818677/


Did you watch the first episode of Season 10 of Project Runway last night? Any early favorites, who do you think is going to win?


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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received to share this information. All opinions are 100% my own.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Newest Atlantic City Gaming Resort! See the Revel in {Pictures} #HowIDoAC

During Fourth of July weekend, I enjoyed Fireworks and the new show Duality on the Boardwalk, and while I stayed at the Golden Nugget (You can check out my posts from the original trip HERE and HERE), I also took some time to check out Atlantic City's newest Gaming Resort during it's opening weekend to the public, the Revel.

Atlantic City's Revel is the first ALL SMOKE FREE casino in Atlantic City, and I can tell you that when you walk in, you can 'smell' the difference! The aisles are spacious and wide, they have tons of new machines, and great food options too, here are a few pictures from my recent trip:

**Chef Jose Garces’ Distrito Cantina, a Mexican “take-out” window inspired by the uber-popular Guapos Taco Truck in Philly, is a popular place to grab quick eats off the gaming floor at the Revel Atlantic City Casino in New Jersey**


**Chef Jose Garces’ Distrito Cantina, a Mexican “take-out” window inspired by the uber-popular Guapos Taco Truck in Philly, is a popular place to grab quick eats off the gaming floor at the Revel Atlantic City Casino in New Jersey**

**Chef Jose Garces’ Distrito Cantina, a Mexican “take-out” window inspired by the uber-popular Guapos Taco Truck in Philly, is a popular place to grab quick eats off the gaming floor at the Revel Atlantic City Casino in New Jersey**

**Chef Jose Garces’ Distrito Cantina, a Mexican “take-out” window inspired by the uber-popular Guapos Taco Truck in Philly, is a popular place to grab quick eats off the gaming floor at the Revel Atlantic City Casino in New Jersey, Left: Mama Butterfly, Right: Ascending Butterfly**


We tried a little bit of everything and while everything we tried gets a thumbs up, our personal favorite was the 'Vuelva La Vida' - it was absolutely, positively, hands-down the most yummo part of our meal! The service is attentive and the sodas come with free refills!

I haven't had the pleasure of staying overnight yet, so I can't provide a review of the rooms, but I can say I greatly enjoyed my visit and would definitely visit there again during my next trip to Atlantic City! The Revel however could take lessons from the Golden Nugget in how to make a perfect Bloody Mary Cocktail! (Golden Nugget is definitely the winner there!)

**These shots were taken with an iPod Touch**

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies!


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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received to share my impressions of the Revel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Although if they ever want me to review the property and stay over, I'd certainly be open to it! :)

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

C'mon and Take A FREE Ride!

As The Official #TwitterPartyDJ I'm always thinking music, and could probably find a way to turn almost everything into a song title! With music, travel and being on the 'go, go, go!' the theme to my summer, finding ways to remain on the go, remain on budget and still be the fun loving, yet still totally fab frugalista that you know and love, I need to keep track of deals that will help me stretch an already stretched summer budget!

And that's where our friends at Britax come in. They are inviting you to take a FREE ride with a totally fantastic freebie that is entirely hard to resist.

The Deal:

Purchase a B-Ready Stroller, you get your choice of:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - BRITAX CHAPERONE Infant Car Seat ($229.99)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - BRITAX B-SAFE Infant Car Seat ($179.99) 
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - BRITAX Bassinet ($149.99) or
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - BRITAX Second Child Seat ($149.99)

Check out the totally sweet graphic below that sums it all up quite nicely (thanks to our friend Chantilly at www.biculturalmom.com for sharing this infographic! Be sure to check out her site!)




This is truly the gift that keeps on giving ladies, by purchasing the B-READY® Stroller you are already purchasing a stroller that will grow with your baby, it is BRITAX's most flexible stroller on the market to date and truly one of the easiest to use, and now with the return of the FREE RIDE® event, Britax just made a good thing, that much BETTER, but butterflies you have to act FAST, this deal ends on July 31, 2012!

You can also get more information on Britax by following them on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube

Si quieres más información en tu idioma, únete a su página de Facebook. Britax Los Lleva Seguros Facebook page y síguelos en Twitter @SafeConBritax


And a little Britax Birdie told me there will be a twitter party later this month, so stay tuned for more information!

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DisclosureI am a BRITAX Latina Advisory Board Member and Social Media Outreach Blogger. While I am a Brand Ambassador and am eligible for additional compensation for my participation in this program, all opinions, ideas, and stories are 100% my own. The Britax Hispanic Digital and Social Media Outreach is in partnership with Mami Innovative Media