Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Turkey Day is almost here, but your #Health & #Fitness shouldn't suffer! Get a @BuluBox #SubscriptionBox & stay focused!

October 2014 BULU Health Subscription Box
October 2014 BULU Health Subscription Box


With Turkey Day almost upon us and most of us dreaming of our annual Turkey Day Coma, I thought I'd mix it up and remind everyone that you don't have lose your health and fitness progress just because the biggest day of eating is upon us. Stay on track with a Bulu Box!

Things have been super busy, pretty much the state I live in lately, BUSY, in the province of No Time and the cross street called No Sleep Boulevard! So of course now that we are in November I am sharing my October box, yes it's been one of those months again!

Let's dive into this box in alphabetical order!

The October 2014 Bulu Box Included:




Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Barlean's CoQ10 Swirl - I don't want to scare you just before the holidays butterflies, but with Heart Disease being the number one killer of women, heart health is something it's never to early to start thinking about! An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure. Coenzyme Q10 (known on the streets as CoQ10) is found in every cell of the body, our bodies make it and our cells use it to produce energy. The energy our bodies need for cell growth and it also functions as an antioxidant which protects the body from cell damage. You can find it in a variety of foods like organ meats such as heart, liver and kidney as well as beef, soy oil, sardines, mackerel and peanuts. It is said to help fight heart failure, cancer, muscular dystrophy as well as periodontal disease. It helps boost energy and speed recovery from excercise. I'm a strong believer in using supplements to fill in gaps in the diet, and the sample size I received was literally perfect, I kept it in my purse and added it to water, easy peasy!



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - BiPro Whey Protein Isolate - BiPro is one of the purest whey protein isolates available worldwide and is used by Olympic Athletes World-Wide and contains NO protein blends or unwanted ingredients. It does contain all of the essential amino acids and is rich in branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) which are metabolized directly into muscle tissue and is currently available in Unflavored (perfect to mix into your own favorite recipe or in skim milk) as well as Chocolate and French Vanilla.




Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - nuviaCafe - Healthy Coffee? Nuvia, the healthier cafe is a Sumatran Arabica coffee that is infused with extracts of Ganoderma, ECGC, African Mango and Pomegranate; yielding a full-bodied and boldly flavor coffee that supports healthy energy (isn't that exactly what you want coffee to do in the morning anyway? Give you energy), supports immune health and also offers an appetite suppresant. That's quite a bill for a simple cup of joe don't you think?





















Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sleepy Beans - As a lifelong insomniac anything that offers the promise of helping me drift off to sleep quickly and easily certainly gets my attention. I also thought the name was kinda cool too! Sleepy Beans have 3 ingredients for support of restful sleep, 5-HTP (this increases the body's level of serotonin), GABA which decreases neuron activity and stop nerve cells from over-firing (reduces your stress levels), and Melatonin which helps promote normal sleep patterns to help you establish more restful and relaxing sleep daily. I probably needed more than a sample packet to truly test its efficacy, I wish there had been a full size bottle of this one in the box that's for sure!



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Smarty Pants Adult Complete + Fiber Multi + Omega 3 + Vitamin D - Bulu box never fails to delight me with these gummy adult vitamins, anything that helps making healthy choices more fun is a total winner in my book! (and OK I have a bit of a sweet tooth so these appeal to me on several levels!) This is a full multivitamin with OMEGA 3s (EPA & DHA), Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12 and soluble fiber. What it doesn't have? NO High Fructose Corn Syrup, Artificial Colors, Sweeteners, Flavors or Preservatives, and they offer both adult and kid versions! And if the health benefits and fun way to take it wasn't a sell? How about a good old fashioned chance to do good by supporting a brand whose mission is to 'Get Health Give Health' and they do so by being a supporter of Vitamin Angels, for every bottle of Vitamins you buy, they give to children in need. They also support Turn the Tide and Charity: Water. Ascending Butterfly has always supported brands that give back, and I am so glad that BULU Box included Smarty Pants in my October box!



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WellFood Double Chocolate Paleo Cookies - While I personally am not on a strict Paleo diet, I know it's hard for those that are to find 'treats' to fit into their diet/lifestyle, these Double Chocolate Chip 'Cave' Cookies are dairy, gluten, grain and lactose free yet still rival the taste of the real thing! I still haven't changed my writing habits and still tend to write during graveyard hours which tends to make me peckish late at night (the worst time to be snacking) so these are great for me to have at my desk so I can avoid late night trips to the fridge as I write.



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - YouTheory Turmeric Advanced - Turmeric which contains curcuminoids (a group of specialized antioxidants), is known to support healthy inflammation response, with 95% curcuminoids with a protective coating this dietary supplement offers immune support and is enhanced with a patented black pepper extract that increases and enhances the bio-availability of curcuminoids. I like to cook with Turmeric, it has quite a few medicinal properties including: natural antiseptic and antibacterial useful in disinfecting cuts and burns, it has been shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing cancer, may prevent melanoma and also stop existing melanoma cells, it is a natural liver detoxifier, can prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain, it is a natural painkiller that also aids in fat metabolism and helps in weight management and it has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors!

GET SOCIAL:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Bulu Box on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @BuluBox via Twitter
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Get with the pin program via Pinterest too

DISCOUNT:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Join the Bulugan Nation, Nab a box at a 50% discount by entering code:  BULUGAN707 - HERE!


MY TAKE:

This was a well-curated box with products that definitely resonated with me, I love my dietary supplements so the Multi-Vitamin Gummies by Smarty Pants was a hit, and the fact that they also give back a definite bonus, I did use the Turmeric right away as well, and of course the sleepy beans as sleep is something I don't get nearly enough of, and of course I would love to see more Chocolate Chip Cookies, treats are something that you can feel very deprived of when trying to change your diet, so getting healthier snack options each month is something I definitely look forward to.

Have you tried Bulu Box? If you have, do you have a favorite product that you learned about via Bulu? If you haven't tried them yet, which of the products in this box featured above would you most like to try?

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FTC DisclosureA Bulu Box has been provided to Ascending Butterfly for Editorial Consideration. As always, all opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

{#Empowerment} Recap of Day Two of @Cosmopolitan @funfearlesslife #FunFearlessLife Weekend!


@Cosmopolitan @funfearlesslife #FunFearlessLife


Cosmopolitan Magazine's Fun Fearless Life Weekend was an empowerment experience so big I knew it would take two posts to recap it properly! If you missed our coverage of Day One, click HERE!

Day two started with an Express Core Performance by the Fordham U Cheerleaders and we transitioned straight into "Morning Fitness" with Cosmo Body hosted by Adam Rosante and Tara Stiles:

Adam Rosante Tara Stiles Cosmo Fun Fearless Weekend
Left: Adam Rosante, Right: Tara Stiles





















Considering the small space between chairs Adam definitely got everyone's blood pumping and watching Tara do her Yoga Poses in those sky high stilettos and not miss a beat was amazing to watch! I got to do Yoga at Tara's studio Strala in New York which was a great experience and her workouts are included in FitFusion which I got to try in my last Fab Fit Fun Box! (You can check out the review of that box which includes FitFusion HERE)

The first panel of Day Two, "Love Your Body" included Cosmopolitan Editor Joanna Coles as the moderator, Kelly Osbourne, Jillian Michaels and Jennifer Ashton. While all the panelists were wonderful, I have to admit I was refreshingly surprised by Kelly's candor. She was an open book and her fashion line Stories not only runs in plus sizing, but the prices are the SAME regardless of the size, KUDOS to Kelly! Loving your own body with it's scars, cellulite, dimples or fat is where it's at butterflies!

The next panel was called "Invest in You" moderated by Joanna Coles, Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine US and featuring LearnVest's Founder, Alexa Von Tobel. Zuckerberg isn't the only Harvard Drop Out that went on to great success. From avoiding impulse purchases, asking for the raise you deserve (and the right way to do it!). Financial empowerment certainly helps everything else fall into place! Get control of your finances butterflies!

Alexa Von Tobel Quote and Photo Cosmo Fun Fearless Life Weekend
"At LearnVest, we're working to make financial planning both accessible and affordable so that everyone has the opportunity to get on track financially." ~ Alexa Von Tobel (Left), Right: Joanna Coles














The next panel was "Find Your Voice, Express Yourself", moderated by Laura Brounstein (Special Projects Director Cosmopolitan Magazine) and included Liz Crystal (Chief Marketing Officer at Express), Christene Barberich (Editor-in-Chief Refinery 29), and Katherine Vargas (Director of Hispanic Media, White House). Now this panel was a bit of a disappointment because so much time was spent focusing on what these powerhouses wear, don't get me wrong I get Fashion is important but there is so much more I would have liked to see Cosmo ask these powerful women! They were awesome, the questions asked, not so much. But then again I'm at a different stage in my life than the average age of the conference attendees for this particular event.

Left to Right: Laura Brounstein (Special Projects Director Cosmopolitan Magazine) - Far Left (Moderator), Katherine Vargas (Director of Hispanic Media, White House), Christene Barberich (Editor-in-Chief Refinery 29), Liz Crystal (Chief Marketing Officer at Express)
Gabrielle Union was interviewed solo by Joanna Coles and she was also refreshingly honest and straight-forward, and nothing was off limits. Gabrielle was one of the victims of the celebrity nude photo leak when apple was hacked. Not an easy thing to go through. She then joined the panel "Change the World", with Beverly Bond (Founder of Black Girls Rock), Nina Vaca (CEO and Founder of The Pinnacle Group), and Michelle Mulligan (Editor-in-Chief Cosmopolitan for Latinas).

Left: Gabrielle Union, Right: Joanna Coles
Left: Gabrielle Union, Right: Joanna Coles


Far Left: Joanna Coles (Moderator), Michelle Mulligan (Editor-in-Chief Cosmopolitan for Latinas). Nina Vaca (CEO and Founder of The Pinnacle Group), Beverly Bond (Founder of Black Girls Rock), Far Right: Actress Gabrielle Union

There certainly isn't one formula for 'changing the world', but collectively each of these women are certainly doing their part!

Gabrielle Bernstein Cosmopolitan Magazine Fun Fearless Life Weekend

"The Authentic You" was the focus of Gabrielle Bernstein's talk (pictured above), she is a Motivational Speaker, Life Coach and Author. She is the Author of "Miracles Now 108 Life-Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow, and Finding Your True Purpose" which you can purchase for a low price at Amazon by the pressing on the banner below. (Which helps Ascending Butterfly too! :)



The Empowerment Extravaganza ended with a live concert by Elle King! (Pictured Below)



MY TAKE:

Fun Fearless Life was an amazing opportunity to get inspired and empowered by women at the top who weren't afraid to share their failures as well as their successes. Every speaker was candid, raw and powerful and un-afraid to claim their gifts and put them to use. That's exactly what I want for myself and each and every single one of you, claim your gifts butterflies and as you fly upwards take a moment to stop and look around and enjoy exactly where you are NOW - you won't get this moment back, you can only make a new one.

Which speaker would you most like to have heard for yourself butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: I was provided Press Access to Fun Fearless Life Weekend as Digital Press.  All opinions are 100% my own. There are affiliate links in this post. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Highlights from @getgeekedNY #GetGeeked #Technology

getgeeked logo









I guess it's fitting I'm watching Big Bang Theory as I sit here writing my recap of the Get Geeked Technology Showcase in New York City. I have always been fascinated with Science and Technology and when I get the chance to attend trade shows with a tech focus I'm all over it!

Even attending during Press Preview hours doesn't always guarantee that I can hit each and every vendor/exhibitor so I present to you the Brands at the show I actually had the opportunity to connect with.

This event is a bit more geared to the general public than it is to press to be completely honest, at least that is how it felt to me and other Digital Press who experienced a ton of chaos not only at check in but upon leaving also. The press were also treated like public enemy number one when we were leaving, apparently the gift bags were for the public not press. I guess if you are an NYC local who is not press you'll love this show! (If I decide to go back I will definitely go as 'general public' and not 'press'!)

Here are the brands I actually had a chance to speak with:

Bayan Audio at getgeeked NYC





































I am waiting on a review unit from Bayan Audio and I definitely pre-tweeted them before I even arrived, as Audio is definitely #TheOfficialTwitterPartyDJ 's thing, I love the vibrant colors and thought the beach display was a cute idea as that is exactly where I like to take my portable speakers along with me!



I am also awaiting the press sample on the Blanc Spark Smart Watch as the team was kinda slammed when I got to their table, The founder is only 17 years old and the team of students have designed a watch that differs from other smartwatches in that it's mission is to 'keep you awake'. It uses real-time doze technology to detect when you are falling asleep and will gently vibrate to wake you back up. Students, Office Workers and narcoleptics who have trouble staying awake during the day would greatly benefit from this sleek simple technology!

FlyGrip at GetGeeked NYC


So you know what drew me in right? The Butterfly on the lower left of course! But why I stayed? The simple brilliance that is FlyGrip! I have review units on the FlyGrip and their cell phone case so they will be getting their own day in the sun in a separate post, but for those of you looking for stocking stuffers/holiday gifts NOW, this is perfect for literally everyone on your list that has a phone, and nowadays who doesn't right? The cool designs give it that individuality that will make teens go nuts for these, but the extra assurance that your less likely to drop your phone using a FlyGrip? PRICELESS!

gogo in flight wifi at Get Geeked NYC


I for one can never sleep on an airplane so being able to get work done or stream movies via gogo in flight wifi is absolutely perfect! From a one hour pass to a smartphone day pass, gogo's got you covered!

Phorus at Get Geeked NYC


Hoping for a chance to personally test these out as well but whenever there is Audio around you know I'm going to investigate! For any of my butterflies who haven't experienced whole home audio streaming wi-fi you may want to consider the Phorus system for it's ease of setup and it's clean sound.

shapeways 3D Printing technology at GetGeeked NYC


These 3D Designs by shapeways definitely made everyone stop and take notice! Imagine all the 3D Butterflies I can create with 3D Printing technology.

Sharp Aquos Television at GetGeeked NYC


The stunning clarity on this Sharp Aquos Television stopped me in my tracks, I am on the lookout for a new TV and this one is certainly one worth considering!

SlingTV from the makers of Slingbox at GetGeeked NYC


SlingTV from the makers of Slingbox, allows you to access the services you already pay for through a single interface - at home OR on-the-go on any device anywhere and anytime! Another great gift idea, this would make a great family gift, or perfect for that always on the go business traveler in your life!

American Pearl at GetGeeked NYC


American Pearl has actually been on my radar for awhile now so I was glad to be able to meet them in person at GetGeeked NYC. Hopefully we can have them do something fun here soon. I recently had my favorite strand of pearls pop on me (not theirs by the way!) and am on the hunt for something new as they are my favorite thing to pair with a classic tailored white blouse!

Martian Notifier Watch at GetGeeked NYC


I just received my press sample unit of the Martian Notifier Watch and will have a full review for you all very soon, but much like FlyGrip I wanted to be sure to put these on your radar for holiday gift shopping for their combo of smart and fashionable that works well for both men and women! The watch allows you to get notifications from thousands of apps, you can apply filters to allow only notifications that are important to you to show on your watch and you can remotely control your smartphone camera to snap a picture or to activate a three-second timer when composing a group photo or a selfie.

Additional Brands I didn't get to photo, but did get to meet:

Staples Connect, Lenovo and Amazon were so swamped so I didn't get great photos but I did want to mention that the Amazon Fire TV and Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro were on display and I got to take a quick demo. The team from Boogie Board were there and I have met them at past events, most recently at Blogger Bash. dts Play-Fi offered great audio but sadly my photos were too grainy to use.

My Take;

I can't always travel to trade-shows so when local events offer me the opportunity to learn more about new products and meet great brands in a venue close to home it's always invaluable for me. There are some growing pains that need to be worked through in my opinion to make this a better experience, particularly for invited press, but that's par for the course for an inaugural event.

What Product featured above would you most like to try?

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FTC Disclosure: I was provided Press Access to GetGeeked NYC. All opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

@BestBuy Claus wants to rock your holiday socks off with an LG OLED TV that has a webOS! #HintingSeason #OLEDatBestBuy

#ad : This is a Sponsored Post, Brought to you by:



It is Tech Thursday on the interwebs and I have got my mind on a new Christmas Toy! This single gal in the city with no kids gets to indulge herself during the holidays and I am thinking of 'pimping my TV' and upping my television watching game with a better TV to keep me entertained during these cold winter months ahead in the North East, where temperatures this year are already averaging 12 degrees LOWER than they were last year at this time! Le Sigh to the max.

I figure if I am going to be trapped indoors I want to bring a cinema-like feel to my home theatre, and that can only happen with an infinite contrast ratio (for a natural lifelike viewing experience), 4 Color Pixel Techonology (to enhance color range and accuracy) and a webOS (to find content faster), am I right?

Thankfully all that and more can be found in the LG 55" OLED Curved 1080p Smart 3D HDTV! (Now when I got to attend the big reveal of the curved screens ages ago, everyone laughed at me when I wrote about them then, but I'll bet no one is laughing at me now!)

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Press on the image above to purchase the LG OLED 55" Curved TV at Best Buy
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ABOUT:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Screen Size: 55" (I am actually debating about going a bit bigger)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vertical Resolution: 1080p
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Instant Content: Netflix, Pandora, Skype, YouTube, Hulu Plus
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - HDMI Inputs: 4
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - USB Port: YES
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - USB Input: YES
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Energy Star Certified: YES (This is very important for me, I want every appliance or TV in my home to be Energy Star Certified)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 3D Ready" Yes

But Wait There's MORE:

Best Buy is hosting an LG OLED Twitter Party on Thursday December 4th at 7pm CST, and of course there will be great prizes including Best Buy Gift Cards! Be sure to use the party hashtag #HintingSeason in all of your tweets! And guess who will be co-hosting? That's right, yours truly #TheOfficialTwitterPartyDJ bringing the music, fun and cheer! I will be tweeting from @Tracy_Iglesias and if I get thrown in twitter jail for exceeding my status update limit, I will switch to the @Ascending1 twitter handle! No worries I will post a reminder right before the party, hope to see all my butterflies there!

MY TAKE:

I may end up opting a for a larger screen size, I really have my heart set on 70", but I got to see the curved OLED's up close when they launched at a Luxury Lifestyle Event, and then again at a recent in-store visit and I really love the sharp clarity of the LG Curved OLED TV's. If you are considering a big family gift instead of a ton of smaller ones, this is definitely one to consider, it will certainly make games come to life and make movies that much more fun! Visit LGOLEDatBestbuy.com for more information on LG OLED's at Best Buy! (and be sure you are already following them AND me, before the twitter party!)

Are you getting individual gifts or a big family gift for those on your list this holiday season?

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FTC Disclosure: I am a Best Buy Brand Ambassador. This allows me to share information, sales, product reviews and deals on a regular basis!  All opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information. This post may contain affiliate links.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

{#WINE WEDNESDAY} Recap of NYC @WinesFromSpain #SpainsGreatMatch Event #WordlessWednesday

Spain's Great Match Wine Food Design
















I would like to say I was winery hopping in Spain. Close, but not quite, I was sampling great wines and attending seminars but I was in my home city of New York and not in Spain!

Here is a Photo Recap just in time for Wordless Wednesday of the Spains Great Match event in New York City:

Agoston, Paniza, artigazo, Wines from Spain





































Cute labels always end up catching my eye, I couldn't resist that wild boar!

assorted cheeses featured at Spain's Great Match


Wine and cheese are the perfect pair so I was happy to find this station! Wine tasting can certainly open the appetite!

Beso de Vino Macabeo White 2013, White Wine





































Another creative label that caught my eye, but the wine also pleased my palate! This is Beso de Vino Macabeo White 2013, it gives off fresh citrus, a sort of burst of lime that was more intense and savory than I expected (in a good way!). And very lovely of the company rep to offer to be a pretty backdrop to the bottle!

Cariñena Crafted in Stone


Cariñena (the top wine-producing region of old vine Garnacha) is a red grape used to make wine in Spain and Chile. It thrives in harsh conditions and makes a wine that is very strong in flavor. It can be very hard to find wines made with this grape, but if you enjoy hearty reds, it's worth the search! If you have a Trader Joe's near you I hear they carry a few at a great price, it's worth nabbing a few if you can find them!


Mia Wines


I am a long time fan of Friexenet (despite the fact that their PR team does not like me for calling BS on how a contest was run a bit back, -like they literally blocked me from the brand's facebook and twitter (I will admit it's funny to be public enemy number one to a brand I actually consume and purchase - so they rarely grace my pages because of that - but just because a brand's PR are idiots doesn't mean I hate the brand, I just dislike their idiotic PR team) and was delighted to try Freixenet Mia, a very fruity and certainly refreshing inclusion for your summer mixed cocktails or wonderful to enjoy chilled on its own!

Segura Viudas


I also tried Segura Viudas, whose offerings include a Brut, Extra Dry Cava (my particular fave), Rose, Gran Cuvee Reserva and Reserva Heredad. Personally, you couldn't go wrong with any of them. I tend to prefer Extra Dry when it comes to my Cava and that is actually how I discovered Freixenet well before my blogging days when planning a work party for a team whose palate ran much like mine, the team actually requested that both an Extra Dry Cava and a fruity one was offered and they asked for their preferred Cava by name. After that I made sure to locate a retailer near my home that offered Freixenet as well.

2013 Pata Negra Verdejo


I prefer white to reds and this 2013 Pata Negra Verdejo (Origin: Rueda) which is 90% Verdejo and 10% Sauvignon Blanc was definitely a stand out!

Wines from Spain Seminar with Steven Olson, Wine & Spirits Educator
Wines from Spain Seminar with Steven Olson, Wine & Spirits Educator


Seminars and classes are where you get the nuts and bolts of the wines you are tasting, specific info about the regions and how the wines are produced!

Vinos de Jerez Seminar by César Saldaña, General Director, Jerez Control Board

A Sherry is a fortified wine from Spain with a great variety of styles from very dry to very sweet. (I love to drizzle a touch of sherry on my Lobster Bisque!)

Vinos de Jerez Seminar by César Saldaña, General Director, Jerez Control Board
Vinos de Jerez Seminar by César Saldaña, General Director, Jerez Control Board

The Sherry Seminar was absolutely informative and engaging! I will admit my notes during this seminar were a mile long, I learned so much I didn't know about Sherry!

Oloroso Elite Sherry


Vallformosa


Vallformosa shared quite a few of their offerings which I loved!

Bodegas Riojanas


Bodegas Riojanas brought a few stand out offerings, but I had to give this one it's own day in the sun!

MY TAKE:

Wine tastings are a great way to explore, learn more about and enjoy a wider variety of wines than your local retailers may offer. I am still on the look out for a 'perfect red' as many of my friends prefer red and I prefer Cava then white wines. Rosé's have a been a great entry-way for me to help develop my palate and locate reds I can enjoy. What I love most about Spain's Great Match are the seminars as I find I learn way more taking classes at this point than just the tastings alone.

Have you tried any of the wines featured above? If so, which is your favorite? Happy WINE Wednesday! Stay Thirsty Butterflies!

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FTC Disclosure: I was provided Press Access to Spain's Great Match as Digital Press. All opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

Monday, November 17, 2014

{#MotivationMonday} Recap of Day One of @Cosmopolitan @funfearlesslife #FunFearlessLife Weekend!

@Cosmopolitan @funfearlesslife #FunFearlessLife


This past month has been filled with 20 hour days clear through the weekend. They have been exhausting, over-whelming and incredibly transformative all at once.

But on my only day off in a very long time I couldn't help but question despite doing so much, expelling so much energy and going to so many events, what have I accomplished? How much closer am I to my goals (both personal and professional)? Some weeks I feel much like a hamster on a wheel, burning energy but not moving forward. (OK, technically I am moving forward, but I am not sure it's as fast as I would like it to be.)

In early November in New York City, the leaves began to change color and The David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center is where 1,700 'change seekers' spent an intense weekend that offered 'crash courses on life' and how to live it bigger and better via a series of inspirational and practical panels by speakers across a wide range of industries (and quite a few 'celebs' too!). Cosmopolitan Magazine hosted Fun Fearless Life Weekend, a two-day empowerment event sponsored by Express and Maybelline and I had the chance to be a part of it, which certainly falls under my weekly gratitude category as well as Motivation Monday for sure!

I thought I'd share photos, most re-tweeted quotes from each panelist and some of my takeaways from Day One and next week for Motivational Monday I will share what went down on Day Two:

Center: Joanna Coles, Editor-in-Chief  of US Cosmopolitan Magazine onstage with Male Models at Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life Weeekend powered by WME Live at The David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center
Center: Joanna Coles, Editor-in-Chief  of US Cosmopolitan Magazine onstage with Male Models at Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life Weeekend powered by WME Live at The David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center
Spanx’s Sara Blakely
Spanx’s Sara Blakely onstage at Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life Weeekend powered by WME Live at The David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center (Photo Credit: Craig Barritt/Getty Images)
“Real change doesn’t happen when you just do things the way other people told you to do them.” –Sara Blakely, CEO of  @SPANX
































“I didn’t have the most experience, I didn’t have the most money, but I cared the most.” –Sara Blakely

"Put Your Ass on the Line" was an incredibly informative panel led by Spanx Founder Sara Blakely, on everything from her inspiration for starting the line (which was literally her own butt!) to how she selected the name, Sara held nothing back! She was raw, straight-forward and honest. This is actually the second time this year I got to hear her speak (the first was at the Activate2K Conference). Her quest to find something that would help her body look better under her new white jeans literally led her to build an empire! They always say something that solves a problem and fills a need is always worth pursuing, obviously she wasn't the only person who wanted to look better and feel better in her clothing, BINGO! And butterflies before you say , 'It isn't always that easy', I will say you are right, it isn't, but the persistence to follow your passion and dreams will always steer you in the right direction. There are enough successful people out there that are willing to share how they got there and dollars to donuts persistence and drive for their passion was a HUGE part of their success!

From Left to Right : Leslie Yazel (Moderator), Sallie Krawcheck, Julie Greenwald, Megyn Kelly
From Left to Right : Leslie Yazel (Moderator), Sallie Krawcheck, Julie Greenwald, Megyn Kelly
“If you work in a male-dominated industry, don’t waste time worrying about the fact that you work in a male-dominated industry.” –Fox News anchor @MegynKelly
“Your next business connection is much more likely to come from a loose connection than a friend.” – @SallieKrawcheck
The "Find Your Power" panel moderated by Leslie Yazel, Executive Editor, Cosmo Magazine included powerhouses Sallie Krawcheck, Financial Services Industry Expert (with Ellevate Network and Ellevate Asset Management), Julie Greenwald, Atlantic Records and Megyn Kelly of FOX News Channel's The Kelly Files. This YouTube Video of News Anchor Megyn Kelly telling off Erick Erickson was shown during the panel and it definitely got the room fired up!

Dr. Meg Jay onstage at Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life Weeekend
Dr. Meg Jay onstage at Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life Weeekend powered by WME Live at The David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center (Photo Credit: Craig Barritt/Getty Images)


Dr. Meg Jay led the panel "Weak Ties Matter". Her 2013 TED talk "Why 30 is Not the New 20" has been viewed over 6 million times to date, she is also the author of "The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now" (which you can purchase directly at Amazon using the link below);



“Your best friends can’t open new doors for you, because you’re all in the same room.” –@DrMegJay, author of The Defining Decade

She discussed utilizing your 'weak ties' which are NOT your friends but for the most part are people you may never have met who can open those doors for you, doors you can't seem to open yourself. She ended with us making stickers with our spirit animals on multi-colored post its, and during the break out session for us to find someone with the same color post it, interesting way for 1,700 people to find a 'weak tie' that could potentially change your life!




"Don't fake it until you make it; fake it until you become it." ~ @AmyJCCuddy


Amy Cuddy, Body Language Expert


Amy Cuddy, Body Language Expert, led the "Power Poses" session and taught us all the importance of Power Posing. Power Poses are known to increase testosterone and decrease cortisol. These poses help us optimize our brain before situations that make us feel powerless or stressed out like job interviews! (BTW, 85% of yoga is high power poses!) Stand with your legs slightly wider than shoulder width apart with hands on hips (kind of like 'wonder woman'), with both arms in the air and hold it for two minutes, this actually changes our brain chemistry and causes us to feel confident and relaxed! I plan to 'power pose' before every conference call from now on!

Left: Bella Weems, Founder of Origami Owl Right: Joanna Coles, Editor-in-Chief, Cosmopolitan Magazine, US
Left: Bella Weems, Founder of Origami Owl Right: Joanna Coles, Editor-in-Chief, Cosmopolitan Magazine, US
Bella Weems, co-Founder of Origami Owl, shared a story much like Sara's from Spanx. While Sara wanted to look confident in her new white jeans and founded the empire we all know now as Spanx, Bella wanted a car and her parents told her 'no', her desire for her own wheels is what eventually led her to create Origami Owl, a company she co-founded at age 14! Proof that desire, drive and determination can help us to overcome any obstacle!

Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter
Dick Costolo - CEO of Twitter at Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life Weeekend powered by WME Live at The David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center (Photo Credit: Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

The "Building Your Brand" panel included Amy Odell (moderator) - Editor of Cosmopolitan.com, Grace Helbig, Comedian, Actress and Vlogger, and Dick Costolo - CEO of Twitter. (You all know Twitter is my all time favorite Social Media Channel, I was a pretty early adopter and can't wait to see what the future brings! Hosting Twitter Parties and Tweet chats are two of my favorite things.)

“You do a disservice to yourself when you start apologizing for things. Utilize your imperfections to build your brand.” –@GraceHelbig, vlogger and author of Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending To Be A Grown Up




Sophia Amoruso - Founder and CEO of Nasty Gal
Sophia Amoruso - Founder and CEO of Nasty Gal


The "Create Your Future" panel was moderated by Elizabeth Holmes - Senior Style Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and included Sophia Amoruso - Founder and CEO of Nasty Gal and author of the book #GIRLBOSS, Christina Tosi - Chef, Owner and Founder of Milk Bar, and Windsor Hanger, Co-Founder, President and Publisher of Her Campus Media.

"Bad Bitches are Taking Over the World" ~ Sophia Amoruso



"There are a lot of opportunities out there, but they're not going to fall into your lap. Be relentless." ~ Windsor Hanger

Model Chrissy Teigen
Model Chrissy Teigen at Cosmo's Fun Fearless Life Weeekend powered by WME Live at The David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center


From Left to Right: Chrissy Teigen, Logan Hill, Matthew Hussey and Jordan Carlos


The "Manthropology" panel was moderated by Chrissy Teigen (needless to say her super short shorts in Fall in NYC definitely caused a stir! LOL) and included Matthew Hussey Author and founder of how to get the guy who teaches women how to find the guy, attract the guy and keep the guy, Logan Hill - he launched Vulture and is now the Senior Editor at GQ, (he also writes the monthly "Ask Him Anything" print and weekly online "Ask Logan" columns for Cosmopolitan and Jordan Carlos, Comedian who is currently appearing on MTV's Girl Code and Guy Code series. A no holds barred discussion on the inner workings of men's minds including 'Dick pics' (While Chrissy finds them fascinating, I for one wish men would NEVER send those!), 'defining the relationship' and how it differs for men and women, 'validation' (how to use it and to remember to make men still feel like the protector), and 'women making the first move'. Let's just say in a room full of 1,700 twenty somethings, mostly female, many still looking for love and single and ready to mingle, this panel could have gone on for way longer because it definitely got things perked up!





Cosmo and Maybelline presented Kisses for the Troops for each kiss collected, Cosmo and Maybelline New York will donate $1 to the USO! #kissesforthetroops

From Left to Right: Aliza Licht - SVP Global Communications of Donna Karan, Alicia Quarles - E! News Correspondent, Shay Mitchell - Actress/Blogger, Anne Marie Nelson-Bogle - VP Marketing, Maybelline New York
From Left to Right: Aliza Licht - SVP Global Communications of Donna Karan, Alicia Quarles - E! News Correspondent, Shay Mitchell - Actress/Blogger, Anne Marie Nelson-Bogle - VP Marketing, Maybelline New York

"Make Your Mark" was another heavily tweeted panel moderated by Aliza Licht - SVP Global Communications, Donna Karan, and included Anne Marie Nelson-Bogle - Vice President of Marketing for Maybelline New York, Shay Mitchell - portrays Emily Fields on ABC Family's Hit Show 'Pretty Little Liars', and Alicia Quarles - New York Based Correspondent for E! News.









You can find more inspirational quotes from Fun Fearless Life on Cosmopolitan's Career Channel.

We ended Day one with Tara Mohr's session "Lesson: Visualize Your Mentor" which was a guided visualization excercise to help introduce yourself to the person you want to be in 20 years, we were asked to envision ourselves approaching a home and having ourself in 20 years open that door and to take notice of the details, and then coming out of it, to then figure out the steps you need to take to get yourself there. I personally haven't been very successful with visualization so I use Vision Boards instead. There is a great piece on Cosmo's website with Tara Mohr's 10 Tips for Success and Confidence that you should definitely check out! And you can purchase her book Playing Big directly by pressing the banner below:



MY TAKE:

We were greeted by Maybelline reps handing out free lipsticks, I am not sure life gets much better! There were also makeover stations, an Express Pop up Shop, Photo Station (you know I avoid those!) although I will admit I thought it was a cute idea to put yourself on the cover of Cosmo at this station and there were great gifts too like a charging clutch from Express that I am in LOVE with! (Pictures of my clutch to come!) Between the amazing speakers, the super charged energy in the room, and great sponsors this spa weekend for the spirit offered a wealth of information, inspiration and empowerment tools and resources, it was definitely motivating and I came away with some concrete ideas that I have already begun to implement. Stay tuned for the highlights from Day Two on next week's Motivation Monday post.

Which speaker would you most like to have heard for yourself butterfly?

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