Wednesday, July 30, 2014

{#WordlessWednesday} #TrendyTravel with @miraclesuitswim Edition! #Photos

Earlier in the season I got to attend an event focused on Trendy Travel where I had the pleasure to meet the team from Miraclesuit Swimsuits. I was also lucky enough to win their raffle that night, and I wanted to share a photo of one of my wins, what better day than Wordless Wednesday right?

I couldn't resist hamming it up with the Big Tiki Tongue! I am wearing the Miracle Suit Swimsuit I won during the Trendy Travel Event in New York City while at The Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City!

This Sassy Butterfly would make a great bartender, don't you think?

A pool that looks out onto the Ocean Below? Yes, Please! A chair, a good book and some sun is just what the doctor ordered! My Miracle Suit held me in and offered great support, totally enhanced my curves! And be aware butterflies, the next pictures you see of me will be with my new super short hair! My long trademark high ponytail? GONE!

Did you rock a Two Piece or a Bikini this Summer Butterfly? Tag us so we can see your fun in the sun photos! Have you ever tried a MiracleSuit Swimsuit?

Bloggers you can comment on this post with a link to your Wordless Wednesday Photos and we will visit yours too! Just no giveaway links please!

Happy Wordless (or as in my case Not So Wordless) Wednesday!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post. I won a raffle at an event and received a MiracleSuit Swimsuit as my prize, I am under no obligation to share about this product, I just really think this swimsuit ROCKS my curvy gal socks off and I wanted to share it with you!

Sunday, July 27, 2014

{Op-Ed} An Open Letter to #NewYorkCity - Just say NO to "The Poor Door" #oped #poordoor

View of New York City, NYC


I am not a visitor, a lurker, a stalker, a dreamer or 'NYC Wannabee' I was born here. I was raised here. I have worked hard my entire life here. 

Forging a life in this City is not an easy task.  This city isn't all endless cocktail parties.

It takes a lot of hard work and quite frankly cojones to make it here. No one hands you anything, there is a reason the song lyrics say 'If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere, it's up to you New York, NEW YORK'.

I sat on this Op-Ed for days, hoping that when my fingers met my keyboard somewhere amid my furious typing that my emotions would level off a bit, that I could approach this from a place of neutrality and tap into my News Writing Background, but I am still as emotional right now as I was when a status update from a wide variety of my friends hit my feed with a link to a Huffington Post article entitled "Luxury New York Condo Will Have A 'Poor Door' For Lower-Income Residents." The link I provided to it will open in a new window for you, please read it. Then come back here and tell me how it made YOU feel.

A 33-story building now under construction at 40 Riverside Boulevard on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City will contain 219 luxury units facing the Hudson River, there will also be a segment on floors two through six that will contain 55 street-facing units for the building's 'poorer' residents. The 'poor' residents will have their own entrance. These 'affordable' units are being made available to families of four whose annual income is $51,540 or less - which amounts to 60% of the area's median income. The lower-income residents will not only have to go through a 'poor door' to get in and out of the building, they will also be prohibited from using the amenities found in most properties by the New York-based developer Extell like the gym and swimming pool. The Developers will receive millions in tax breaks and hard working New Yorkers deemed by them as 'poor' will be stigmatized as they enter and exit their own place of residence each and every single day. Demoralizing much?

We all opted to tweet Mayor Bill Di Blasio (who may have still been on his vacation to Italy at the time) and I am sure none of us will get a direct response, but that tweet I sent just didn't feel like it was enough. This doesn't sit right with me on any level.

I spent time post College doing Public Relations for my local district's City Councilman and all throughout my School Years and while working with him I was constantly told I should pursue a career in Politics, and I scoffed at the idea, until now.

The Huff Post article has left me with a knot in my stomach that has been churning for days, and while part of me wants to break up with this City, another part of me questions if it's time for me to make change in a way that really matters, from the inside out.

The New York Times noted in May that minorities and the elderly largely make up the city's rent-regulated population, but by far the best quote I've read so far on the issue comes from Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal who said:

"A mandatory affordable housing plan is not license to segregate lower-income tenants from those who are well-off."

Haven't we battled hard enough to end segregation in America? Is history really doomed to repeat itself because we never learn from our mistakes?

I don't want to be part of a system where it's OK for some to hold their head high and others be made to feel like they should drop theirs in shame.

You know what families may end up qualifying for the 'poor apartments' those of teachers, doctors, fire fighters, sanitation workers - you know just the folks who keep this city running, IN the actual trenches. You mean to tell me the local teacher and his/her family should enter from a separate door? That a Police Officer who puts his/her life on the line each and every single day should come home from a hard day's work keeping this city safe and enter through a 'Separate Door'?

What about that hard working young College Grad working at a Not-For-Profit? Should they feel 'shamed' when they come home too?



Butterflies I am always super careful to use this space as a place to inspire. I try to keep Religion, Sex and Politics off these pages, as my goal was to always keep my online home rant and snark free, but I can't pretend this doesn't hit me where it hurts. As a New Yorker I find this shameful. I know that the city where dreams are made of has always had a rough 'underbelly' and I never want to cover the sky with one hand, but I can only hope that everyone apartment hunting sees the Huff Post article or this one, and that even if they can afford the apartments there, that they will put their money where their mouth and conscious is, and NOT buy an apartment in ANY building with a "Poor Door".

As a lifelong New Yorker, there is one and only one 'separate entrance/exit' I find acceptable. The one at the theatre that allows actors to quickly exit after a play. When that play ends they are off the clock. Some days they may stop and sign playbills, other nights just like us they need to get home to family obligations or just de-stress. That is the only 'separate' door I can find acceptable in this day and age.

Since Sundays is usually the day I reserve to share my Weekly Moment of Gratitude, all I can say for today is that I am grateful not to live in a building with a "Poor Door".

I found AND SIGNED an online petition that is intended directly for Gary Barnett, President of Extell Development Company who is building the Apartment Building at 40 Riverside Boulevard, I hope you will considering signing it! I want this to remain a City that rewards you for your hardwork, but can't it do so without shaming anyone? NYC median rents continue to skyrocket, the average right now is at $3,247 per MONTH, longtime residents are being pushed out of the City, so in essence most of us can work here, just not afford to continue to live here.

What do you think of the "Poor Door"?

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FTC Disclosure: I would assume it goes without saying for this one, but this is NOT a Sponsored Post!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

{Summer Read} Photo Highlights from the @WendyWilliams #HoldMeInContempt #Book Signing #burlingtonootd



































I got several of my summer reads early this year, but haven't had a chance to start on them yet, yes it's been THAT busy. But with the debut of the trailer today of 50 Shades of Grey (which I also haven't read by the way) it made me realize that those hazy days of summer will soon come to an end, and me and this book still haven't had our much needed 'me' time.

About the Book:

Move over 50 Shades, there’s a new romance in town. Television Personality and Author Wendy Williams brings on the heat in her first ever, no-holds-barred, down and dirty, romance novel.

Kimberly Kind is trying to get beyond her roots. A successful, beautiful, smart lawyer, she’s finally finding direction in her life and getting out of the streets. But a terrible accident threatens to throw her carefully laid plans off course. Now Kim’s hiding a huge secret… one that could threaten everything.

Enter King. A perfect mix of Justin Timberlake and David Beckham, the man oozes sex and has more swagger than anyone Kim’s ever met. Their chemistry is off the charts. But after passion-filled nights, the intensity of their emotions takes both of them by surprise.

Love was not supposed to be an option. Now it’s the only thing holding them together. When their pasts come back with a vengeance, can love possibly be enough?

Photo Higlights from The Book Signing:

Monday, July 21, 2014

Impressions of @mom2summit from a NON Mom! #mom2summit



I do Blog Conferences like I do my vacations, my preference is to do a different one each year. When I go on vacation I try to visit somewhere I have never been and I like to do the same with Blogging Conferences. Even with workouts I like to diversify and can't repeat the same type of workout over and over. It is just intrinsic to my personality. (If you are astrologically inclined, I'm an Aries, and we like to pioneer. Coincidence? You decide).

Mom 2.0 Summit went down in May in Atlanta and while it may seem odd that I am recapping it now, I did 'micro blog' and share my experiences as they happened via twitter, but it's when I take time to process everything that I experienced, that I tend to be more succinct.

You did read my headline correctly, I am NOT a Mother. While I do have a uterus/womb I haven't quite yet decided to use it, so I am not a Mom Blogger. Sadly if you are woman you are automatically lumped into the category of 'Mom Blogger'. If you are Latina, you are automatically a 'Latina Blogger'. I never wanted anyone to 'niche' me as I never chose to niche myself. The closest thing to a label I am willing to accept is "Lifestyle". And the beauty of that label in my opinion is that I do not need any one brand to garner content or make me 'relevant'. So long as I have life, I will have content.

Which leads me to the question I am sure you are asking in your head, Why did you attend Mom 2.0? For a wide variety of reasons, including:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I had never attended this conference before
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I had never visited Atlanta before
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I am a Best Buy Blogger Brand Ambassador and they invited their Ambassadors to attend as they were Supporting Sponsors of the Conference

But most importantly, Conferences are an incredible opportunity to learn and grow! And stretching my wings is exactly what an Ascending Butterfly is supposed to do!

Some of my Favorite Moments and Takeaways:

This one was filled in: 'Beauty is Instagram' - There is something beautiful about how instagram captures everyday moments in life!


This one was filled in: 'Beauty is Playing Outdoors' - Sometimes families are 'too connected' - spending time outdoors in physical and creative play is a panacea to the spirit! For both young and old alike!





















The photo above is from a Garden Party that was sponsored by Dove. Dove was the conference title sponsor and they challenged us all to define what Beauty Is. The answers were all as varied we are, and that to me was the beautiful thing!

If you had to fill in that blank: Beauty Is ________ what would YOU  say?


































Above: The dress I am wearing is by IGIGI and the shoes are by Earthies.

The photo above was from an offsite Garden Party at a very beautiful venue called The Estate in Atlanta - the 2013 winner of The Buckhead Beautification Award. Dove also offered Bloggers an entire Beauty Suite within the conference venue  where bloggers enjoyed Hair Touch Ups, Manicures and Cocktails in a very relaxed atmosphere. It was a great place to slow down and get away from the hustle and bustle of the conference floor and to take a moment to connect with other bloggers too!

Left: Tracy from Ascending Butterfly (ME!) and Deb from Just Short of Crazy - Best Buy Brand Ambassadors working the booth during Mom 2.0 Summit!


Best Buy made work fun and addition to the Ambassadors hosting a twitter party in honor of Mother's Day while we were there (a fun way to bring those who couldn't be at the conference in the mix too!), the Ambassadors took turns at Best Buy's Booth to engage with bloggers, demo amazing products like the Misfit Shine, Dyson, and Sony QX10 (a lens that helps turn your Camera Phone into a DSLR! which you will see a review of here very soon) and they also hosted giveaway drawings for attendees to have a shot at winning the great products being displayed. As you can see from the photo above we were having a Charlie's Angels moment with the Dyson. Best Buy and their great vendors who came along with us sure made work feel more like fun. I love working with a brand who you can truly be yourself with, and makes everyone feel like a team! Best Buy is always looking for bloggers to join their WOLF Blogging Program and I can share that this Ambassadorship by far is one my favorites! I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the program.

Bloggers who stepped up to the Best Buy Booth had a chance to win the Misfit - Bloom Necklace for Shine - Stainless Steel as pictured below:

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Press on the Photo Above and you can go directly to Best Buy to purchase this Necklace for any special fitness lover in your life!
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Press on the Photo Above and go directly to Best Buy to purchase the Misfit Shine Fitness + Sleep Monitor.
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The coral color for the Misfit - Shine Activity and Sleep Monitor, is an exclusive color to Best Buy! It measures steps taken, distance traveled and calories burned, tracks how well you slept, provides up to 30 days of data storage without syncing, boasts 12 LED lights to help you see in low-light situations and functions as a watch! It is water-resistant up to 164' for underwater use while you swim or engage in other water sport activities. It is crafted from Aircraft-grade aluminum material - so you know it's durable!

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Press on the photo above to purchase The Sony - DSC-QX10 at Best Buy
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The Sony - DSC-QX10 is an 18.2 Megapixel Attachable Lens-Style Camera for Most IOS and Android Mobile Phones. Available in either black or white, it turns your regular mobile phone camera into on that is capable of taking DSLR quality photos with the simple click of an attachment! This little guy was quite popular at the Best Buy Booth during Mom 2.0 Summit and for good reasons. Most bloggers hate lugging their heavy cameras around but do so because they don't want to miss a moment or end up with a grainy photo. Well not anymore folks! I will go into this one in more depth later!

They also featured several products by Dyson at the Booth including:


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Press on the Image above to purchase the Dyson - AM08 Pedestal Fan White/Silver at Best Buy
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Press on the image above to purchase the Dyson - DC59 Animal Bagless Cordless Stick Vacuum at Best Buy 
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I reference the DC65, DC59 and the DC44 Animal Stick Vac HERE. And will be offering full product reviews on the misfit products as well as the Sony Qx10 so stay tuned!






Other Notable Moments from the conference included:



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Panels - ALL of them! Each panel I attended blew me away. I am not new at this, and my biggest complaint about many conferences is that the panels are always geared to very new bloggers. And I was once very new so I understand that it is necessary to offer panels for a variety of knowledge levels, but Mom 2.0 impressed me more than any conference in awhile with panels that actually spoke to me at MY level. It was very much appreciated.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fruit of the Loom gave out underwear - Now there is swag you will use literally EVERY day!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fandango had a fun photo opp and gave us a gift card so we could catch a movie as well as some popcorn (that got devoured in my room so it didn't make it to the movies!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I geeked out when I met the folks from Sea Pak because I love their Spring Rolls - I go super far out of my way to get them as I can't convince my local supermarket to carry them.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Adobe Revel gave us cute macro lenses for our phones and we learned about their GroupPix app that is free for Android and iPhone. The app allows users to gather and share photos while they are at events, they hosted the official conference photo album which contained contributions from attendees. You can create an event in the app, set up an invite code and then users you give the code to can share photos.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - We also learned about EveryDrop a new water filtration brand developed by Whirlpool Water, you can use it both at home as well as on-the-go.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dove offered a super cute nautical inspired Stella & Dot Tote Bag loaded with great Dove products including their Dove Pistachio Cream with Magnolia that has become a new favorite!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Honest Company (whose logo is a butterfly by the way) gave us a great assortment of their products to try out, you know how much I love both butterflies and brands that do good right? With every purchase from The Honest Co. a donation is made to families in need!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Zen Suite - I think it explains itself but with a Mattress so comfy I didn't want to get up, and PureCare mattress and pillow protectors that have a pocket where you can insert AromaTherapy Sachets, it was definitely a very popular suite during the conference!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Trapper Keeper is back baby!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Weight Watchers Brownie Bliss - Yummy and guilt free? um YES PLEASE!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Microsoft Surface 2 - While this is separate from the conference, I have to thank the folks at Microsoft who helped keep me connected with a Surface 2 Tablet that allowed me to not miss a beat while at Mom 2.0! I love the Surface 2, it is a hybrid tablet with the functionality of a laptop, runs full MS Office, it's keyboard is it's cover and as I edit a ton of photos I added on a great travel mouse and the Surface was not only my portable office, but I was also able to help co-host a Best Buy Mother's Day Twitter Party while I was there on this bad boy!



MY TAKE:

This was my first Mom 2.0 Summit but it won't be my last that's for sure. It was the first time in a long time that a conference offered panels where I took so many notes! I learned a ton at Mom 2.0 Summit, met so many great bloggers who were willing to share and were super welcoming. Not once did I get the stink eye when I told someone I was not a Mom (which sadly has happened at other parenting conferences and does sometimes happen at local events in my city), and was impressed with the amount of time I was able to get with each brand. That doesn't always happen when a conference over packs people into a small venue. They chose an amazing venue that was well-layed out and while the swag was fab, it was the panels and the fact I could make real connections with brands that seemed to really want to be there and make connections too that were the main standouts for me!

And special shout outs to the brands that helped to make this conference not only possible but enjoyable. Best Buy who have truly made my Ambassadorship with them feel like family, IGIGI who has helped me re-discover the joy of wearing dresses again and have helped to make fashion fun for me again after a very long period of time where I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin nevertheless in my clothes, Earthies shoes that make comfortable footwear super fashionable and Microsoft for keeping me productive, with files from my home computer in the cloud, using the Surface was totally seamless and allowed me to take notes, make outlines for posts, update my database, keep track of my calendar, (both appointment and editorial) and help me be able to co-host a twitter party with ease while on the road.

The 2015 Mom 2.0 Summit will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, will I see you there?

What is the best conference you have attended in 2014 so far Butterfly? (or if you haven't yet attended any, which one would you like to attend?)

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FTC Disclosure: This recap post is NOT sponsored, however I attended the conference as a guest of Best Buy. 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. There are affiliate links included in this post. And some items mentioned were provided to me free of charge, however this did not influence my opinions, all opinions are 100% my own.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Want to spend more time enjoying your vacation than you do planning it? Want to win $1,000 USD? #TravelOnUs












Take it from someone who used to work for an airline, at one time travel was my living, I assisted key agencies in their vacation bookings for a major airline, and let me tell you when it comes to Travel you want to shop smarter and not harder.

I had to live and breathe air fares and hotel rates for top resorts, this was a bit before the dot-com boom turned anyone with a computer into a travel agent, and agencies relied very heavily on our team to get them the best fares possible.

Being on the inside helped me to become a much savvier consumer when it came time to book my own flights and vacations. The one thing that ruled then, still very much applies now: bundles are cheaper. Booking your air and hotel together is not only a time saver, but when done right, it's also a tremendous money saver also. With entertainment being super expensive these days, it is invaluable to me to be able to save money when booking my vacation so I'll have some money to spend on the things that matter while on vacation, eating out, tickets and entertainment, museums, ground and local travel at my destination and hopefully a little ching ching for some shopping too! (and depending on my destination a little 'pulse-pounding' gaming fun!)

One site I have frequented since its inception is Expedia. Did you know that their parent company owns upwards of 140 dot-com travel sites? I won't list them all here (it's actually a top result if you google them), and with that many travel sites under their umbrella, they are serious about getting their customers the best possible fare!

What are the advantages of booking your trip online (like with Expedia) vs an agency? One of the top ones butterflies is accountability. And I can tell you first hand after having trips go wrong that I booked with agencies, it's hard to get them on the phone after their business hours end in their time zone. Expedia will assist you if you run into a problem. They offer 24 hour Customer Support. They also offer a Best Price Guarantee (which I have yet to receive via a traditional brick and mortar agency). And if that wasn't enough to sway you, you can also download their Fare Alert tool which will email YOU about the prices of flight destinations you are tracking. That's a great tool not only for business travelers who tend to frequent the same cities, but destination and resort travelers who also like to regularly visit a particular location.

Letting Expedia do the leg work for you to find fares and hotel deals or a bundle that does BOTH in one shot, is not only smart, it's a time saver. (With those minutes you save, you could start packing!)

GREAT GIVEAWAY ALERT:

Expedia has partnered with Savings.com to host a giveaway where Three (3) winners will each receive $1,000 Visa Gift Cards! You can enter the giveaway by heading to the Expedia Page on Savings.com and submitting your email address on the form at the top of the page! But ACT FAST dear butterfly as this giveaway runs from Tuesday, July 15th (TODAY) at 9:00 AM ET to Thursday, July 17th at 9:00 PM ET. Winners will be chosen via a Lottery drawing on Friday 07/18/14 and will be notified via the email address they used to enter!

TWITTER PARTY ALERT:

You know just how much #TheOfficialTwitterPartyDJ loves her twitter parties right? Well there is going to be a Twitter Party using the hashtag #TravelOnUs on Wednesday, July 16th at 1:00 PM ET with THREE (3) $100 Visa Gift Card Prizes! RSVP HERE! - Just note butterflies, I am neither a host or co-host for this party so please direct questions directly to the hosts. I, like you will be there for the great conversation, because when it comes to combining my two passions travel and twitter, I'm in it to WIN it! Feel free to tweet me a hello, I'll be tweeting from my personal handle @Tracy_Iglesias and will only use the @Ascending1 handle if I get thrown in twitter jail for oversharing!

MY TAKE:

I love that Expedia offers 24/7 Customer Service Support! I learned the hard way on the very last trip I ever booked via an agency that accountability and being able to reach an actual human being is important. I booked an international trip (pre-Expedia of course!) via a Brick and Mortar Travel Agency and when I arrived at my Resort there was confusion about my confirmed room type and even my printed itinerary from the Agency wasn't enough to solve the problem. The hotel manager wasn't helpful and when I got back the agency attitude was 'well did you get a room?, then everything is OK right?' - UM NO!!!!

Take it from an airline industry insider, leave the fare finding to a pro, in this case Expedia and have more time to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. They say it's not the destination but it's the journey right? Well as for me, I want that journey to be smooth and that destination to be five star!

If you win that $1,000 Visa Giftcard, where will you travel to Butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Savings.com. 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.

Monday, July 14, 2014

{#MotivationMonday} #GettingGorgeous 2014 With @MyVO5 & @angelodavidhair – Full Event Recap with {#Photos}!

Brand Sponsor List for Getting Gorgeous 2014
Brand Sponsor List for Getting Gorgeous 2014


With this week holding non-stop events and a conference at the end of the week, it got me thinking how between appointments, commitments, events and travel there has been very little 'me' time on my plate. It's been AGES since I got a haircut (my ends will attest to that), and even longer that I have taken some time for a good manicure either.

That's why when an invite hits my inbox for Getting Gorgeous I know it is one annual event that I absolutely, positively will NOT allow myself to miss. No matter how busy my week looks on paper. It's what I call the best parts of a good conference, shrunken into sessions so that everyone will truly get a chance to do more than swap cards with a brand and move along. Getting Gorgeous lets you interact with brands in a laid back way, and even though you are learning, you are also encouraged to stop and take some time to get pampered. This year there were quite a number of ways to do that, A hair touch up, a foot massage or hand massage, a manicure and even a 'scent matching session' with an Astrologist!

Romio Booth Display at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Romio Booth Display at Getting Gorgeous 2014


The first booth I encountered was ROMIO which helps users to find the best services nearest them using local recommendations that you can trust. I haven't had time to personally take this for a test drive, but once I get more caught up I will definitely check it out or even sign up as an expert myself!

Alberto V05 Display at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Alberto V05 Display at Getting Gorgeous 2014


For obvious reasons this booth stopped me in my tracks! The heat and humidity in New York City have my hair acting all nutso, so anything hair related right now certainly gets my attention! Alberto V05 brings back memories of my teenage years as I used to use the Hot Oil treatment frequently! They have re-formulated and we were sent home with samples to try out which I am totally excited about!

Alberto V05 Products on Display at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Alberto V05 Products on Display at Getting Gorgeous 2014


As if a ton of great haircare wasn't enough, the stylists from Angelo David Salon in New York City were offering Hair Touch Ups, and you know I HAD to jump on that! Here is a shot of me 'in progress':

Stylists from Angelo David Salon offer hair touch ups at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Stylists from Angelo David Salon offer hair touch ups at Getting Gorgeous 2014


She wished she had her scissors with her as my hair desperately needs to be cut, my ends are super split and fried ville city! I'm definitely thinking a trip to the salon for more than a touch up is definitely in order! Here is my completed hair below:

Ascending Butterfly gets her hair styled by Angelo David Salon stylist at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Ascending Butterfly gets her hair styled by Angelo David Salon stylist at Getting Gorgeous 2014

I'm definitely all smiles after seeing how great my hair came out! Cute curls and super shiny!

Body Fantasies Signature at Getting Gorgeous 2014, Fragrance Rebel, parfums de coeur
Body Fantasies Signature at Getting Gorgeous 2014

Fragrance Rebel (Home of Parfums de Coeur) offered several of their different brands including Body Fantasies Signature Spray, Bod Man and Designer Imposters!

Bod Man at Getting Gorgeous 2014, Fragrance Rebel, parfums de coeur
Bod Man at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Above: Men weren't left out with Bod Man, and Below you can check out Designer Imposters:

Designer Imposters at Getting Gorgeous 2014, Fragrance Rebel, parfums de coeur
Designer Imposters at Getting Gorgeous 2014


I was super excited to find out they had a match for one my favorite all time summer scents Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue!

Astrologer Diana Brownstone at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Astrologer Diana Brownstone at Getting Gorgeous 2014


For those feeling over-whelmed or a bit indecisive with all the scents to choose from, they even offered us the services of an Astrologer who could help us select a scent based on our particular natal charts, pretty cool right?

Calgon at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Calgon at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Anyone too young to remember the 'Calgon Take Me Away' commercials please note (a) I HATE you, and (b) they're back! (OK so I don't hate you.....) but the display says it all! A long hot bath has always been my favorite way to relax after a hard day, and I am a bit excited to see all these brands from my past making come backs! Relaxation and Aroma Therapy all in one? COUNT ME IN!!! Thanks Calgon!

Vitabath at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Vitabath at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Keeping with the Bath and Body theme, Vitabath was also in attendance and I love that you can also shop them by Gift Set on their website!

Voli Vodka at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Voli Vodka at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Taking you around the room in order, the next stop was a refreshment break with Voli Vodka who offered guests two signature cocktails - The "Volito" and the "Raspberry Goddess", they were both great but Raspberry Goddess was definitely my fave! (But then again anything that helps you embrace your inner Goddess is all good in my book!) Too bad their spokesman "Mr. Worldwide" aka 'Pitbull' wasn't there!

Bali Intimates at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Bali Intimates at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Bali Intimates gave everyone fittings and showed us a wide variety of colors and styles, I can't wait to get my mine in the mail! My cup size has changed (gotten a little smaller) so it was super helpful to get properly fitted as I was buying Bras that were a cup size too large! To get the right look under your clothes, you need the right fit!

Rexist 360 at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Rexist 360 at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Rexist 360 showed us their resistance bands and I can tell you they offer quite a workout! It's never too late to get toned thighs ladies!

Rexist 360 Gift Bags at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Rexist 360 Gift Bags at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Resistance workouts are a great way to get in shape! Best of all, it's like a gym that can easily travel with you! (So no fellow bloggers, conferences can't be an excuse for not working out anymore! LOL)

Summer Infant at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Summer Infant at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Above: You know Ascending Butterfly always follows the butterfly. And they always lead me to something good! Notice how Summer Infant uses a butterfly in their logo too?

Shaved Ice Stand at Summer Infant Booth at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Shaved Ice Stand at Summer Infant Booth at Getting Gorgeous 2014


To help bloggers beat the heat in New York City, Summer Infant had a super cool Shaved Ice stand at their booth! They offered both Cherry Lemongrass and Lemon Basil flavors, I mixed both in one cup and had a super flavorful Shaved Ice!

Pampers at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Pampers at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Pampers was also at Getting Gorgeous!

Christian Dior Nail Polish on display at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Christian Dior Nail Polish on display at Getting Gorgeous 2014


There is always time for a manicure at Getting Gorgeous! And of course I opted for a Red!

Vanity Projects Manicure at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Vanity Projects Manicure at Getting Gorgeous 2014


Vanity Projects was also offering Nail Art, but I had an event that night and wasn't yet sure what I was wearing so I opted for my Manicure sans the Nail Art! Would definitely like to go back to them and try out some fun nail art for the summer!

Passion Roses at Getting Gorgeous 2014
Passion Roses at Getting Gorgeous 2014



































Passion Roses certainly knows how to treat a Lady, as we received a dozen stunning roses on our way out of Getting Gorgeous, what a thoughtful and beautiful way to wrap another great Getting Gorgeous Event in New York City!

My Take:

(My apologies to Stop & Shop I can't find the booth shot I took of them! BTW, did you know they DELIVER?) Getting Gorgeous is always a well-curated and super fun event, it's a reminder to take time for yourself, isn't that what Motivation Monday is all about?

What put the Motivation in your Monday today Butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. I was under no obligation to share my event recap and 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 check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Summer is certainly 'in bloom' with @InBloomLingerie - See what's new and enter to win a $50 Gift Card too!

This giveaway is sponsored by:

In Bloom By Jonquil Logo

Many of you know it has been 'love at first wear' ever since I discovered In Bloom by Jonquil, they are best known for their beautiful Bridal lingerie and peignor sets. If you watch the television series Hot in Cleveland, the character Joy Scroggs played by actress Jane Leeves happens to wear In Bloom Pajamas quite often. Her character Joy often wears many of the same in Bloom pieces I own. And my fellow 'truebies' aka fans of HBO television series True Blood will have also seen in Bloom being worn by one of the characters on the show as well!

Television Wardrobe Stylist's have discerning taste, they not only have to get a feel for the character to nail their style, but I'm sure how well the garments actually wear is an important factor on the set as well. I'm more in to Quality than Quantity myself and yes that includes my PJ's, if they are comfortable but don't wear well, what's the point?

For me my in Bloom Pajama sets have been the perfect marriage of form and function, because they have all worn incredibly well, they wash well, I haven't experienced the dreaded pillage on the PJ pants, and they are super comfortable, and many of the loungewear pieces could pass for beach wear and 'outside' wear without anyone even thinking they were PJ's (always a plus in my book).

When I think of PJ's and Loungwear I think of my 'chillax' time and there is nothing better than a good book to go with new PJ's right? Press on the banner below to do just that!




I don't have copies I can offer you yet Butterflies, but In Bloom is more than great PJ's, it's a BOOK too!  (Press on the banner above to purchase it directly at Amazon at a great price!) I'm working with the author to get hard copies of the book available for a giveaway on Ascending Butterfly soon!

Here is a teaser:

My name is Olivia Bloom and I. Am. Free.

I left for LA with everything I owned piled into my old Volkswagen and dreams of becoming a costume designer. Little did I know I’d wind up designing for a lingerie company—yeah, not sure how I landed this gig—and taken under the wing of two young Hollywood insiders. The fashion shows and parties were great, but life really got exciting when the seriously hottest lead singer of my favorite band started to fall for me.
 
How does someone like me, an ordinary girl from Pittsburgh, wind up in the arms of the world’s sexiest rock star—surrounded by celebrities, fashion, and music—and not be eaten alive? Berkeley is everything I've ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, but the paparazzi, the tabloids, the rumors, it's all getting a bit too crazy. My life has become every girl’s dream come true, if only I don’t blink and lose it all… 


I created this cute Polyvore board to showcase the 'Blue Grass Pajama' Set by in Bloom

On a Polyvore roll! This Polyvore board showcases the Blue Grass set from the back (look at the detail on the top with the cute lace racerback!) and I also featured the 'Riviera Tank' in Black which in my opinion you could even wear out over white jeans, such a cute 'right now' tank top!

WIN IT:

One Lucky Butterfly has a shot at a $50 Gift Card to In Bloom. Use the Rafflecopter Widget/Link below to enter. As always our 'main entry' is easy peasy, and once you do the main entry you unlock a ton of fun extra credit entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Take:

Most often loungewear items are sold individually on in Bloom so I totally appreciated that the Blue Grass Pajama Set is sold as a pair. The Riviera Tank is absolutely gorgeous and it pairs up with all the bottoms perfectly and in my opinion you can totally get away with wearing it out as a top with jeans too. These were all definitely a hit for me!

Hey Butterfly What is YOUR favorite style from In Bloom? (Commenting with your answer to this question gets you extra credit in the giveaway!)

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FTC Disclosure: In Bloom by Jonquil provided Ascending Butterfly with product for Editorial Consideration, 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 check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. There is an affiliate link in this post.