Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Wordless Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - Your Greatest Treasures!


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - What three things do you have to teach someone else? - Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

(I can teach persistance, tenacity, curiousity)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  -What three things do you have to learn? - Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

(Patience, discernment, true stillness/inner harmony!)

Wordless Wednesday can sometimes be so profound in it's simplicity!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - What three things will you teach today, and also, what three things will you learn today? -Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Win a Fathers Day Grand Meat and Cheese Basket from 1800baskets.com!

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor 1800baskets.com! We look forward to working with you again! The winner is 'saphyress'. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!
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Ascending Butterfly's Father's Day Buying Guide Pick Sponsored By:


Happy Father' Day! OK, so right now it's a little bit early, but not to early to start thinking of gifts! Most people I know say that shopping for Dad is the hardest. While most I know say their moms just don't want them to spend too much, their dads say 'I don't need anything'.

Well most of us don't technically 'NEED' anything, but we want everything, am I right? Don't let dad off the hook that easy, while his lips may grumble 'I don't need anything', trust me folks, there is a little boy in there who WANTS stuff. Cool Stuff. Unique Stuff.

Ladies, trust me when I say the one thing that will never change is that the way to a Man's Heart is through his stomach. His food loving, amazingly quick calorie burning stomach.  Feed him and he's YOURS!

This Memorial Day weekend was so much more memorable with the arrival of some special review baskets! It's a tough job but somebody has to do it! And with family and friends over, I can tell you the contents of these baskets went QUICK! (I received two of them today well after everyone left, so those are mine, all MINE! Hopefully no one I know is reading this, SHHH don' tell anyone! LOL)

I have been giving and receiving baskets as gifts for YEARS now, and I will say that the best presenation by far has been with 800 Baskets. You receive it exactly as pictured, and they are always so much fun to open. There is attention to detail from the contents, to how it's packaged and wrapped, and even with the shipping, the attention to detail is there. Instead of a box that lets out packing peanuts all over the carpet, the peanuts themselves were contained in their own packaging so the basket was protected from being bumped in transit, but was also easy open with no mess.

On Mother's Day 2010, Ascending Butterfly readers showed 800baskets.com so much love on their facebook page and on Twitter, that they have come back to join us for the kick off of our Father's Day Buying Guide! Great job guys and girls!

There is quite an extensive assortment of baskets to cover all kinds of dads. Let's not forget the other guys in our lives who are dads, our brothers, uncles, grand-dad, boss, your postal carrier, doorman, that favorite co-worker you go to lunch with everyday, etc.

While there are many more, I'm going to highlight the ones I received, in the order they were received. I'm going to start with the Crunchy Candy Crush Pretzels, and it's because I'm eating one right now!!!



Basket 1: What do you get when you take the crispiest pretzel rod you’ll ever crunch, dip it in caramel, then cover it with one of 5 classic candy favorites? An unbelievably excellent treat that’s only for the sweetest of the very sweet. They’ll love munching on this satisfying snack. It’s easy to share – if they dare.

10 crispy pretzel rods coated with caramel and 5 candy favorites (2 of each flavor)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Butterfinger®
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Heath Bar®
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - M&Ms®
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Mounds®
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Oreo®

Arrives in a whimsical pattern gift box


This was one of the ones that arrived during memorial day weekend, I'm amazed that I even was able to save one for me, these went super quick. I loved the box and that each one was individually wrapped. It's the best of both worlds, a crunchy pretzel dipped in a sinfully delicious candy topping! Sweet & Salty! They are perfect if you are planning on  making Father's Day a Movie Night. (At home or at the theater, these are way yummier than stale popcorn, I'm just saying!) These definitely received a thumbs up! Adding this one on to my corporate quick gift list as well.



Basket 2: This one also arrived during Memorial Day weekend, and the contents were prepared and quickly devoured. A thumbs up from the entire 'casa de butterfly' breakfast table for the 'Hearty Breakfast Gift Basket'. I can't imagine any dad not loving this one, especially presented to him by you and the kids, who can resist breakfast in bed?



Inspired by the hearty breakfast fare served in rustic mountain cabins, this unbelievably decadent basketful of breakfast foods has been designed with Dad in mind. This Father’s Day, make Dad breakfast in bed. Start with a steaming hot cup of Columbian coffee, Lehi Roller Mills® Whole Grain Heart Healthy Hotcakes, or buttermilk pancakes and waffles with apple butter syrup and topped with rich, sweet wild Maine blueberry preserves. Next, serve up a side of crisp hickory smoked pepper bacon. Top if all off with a huge hug and a kiss to make Dad’s special breakfast complete.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sophisticated dark brown willow gift basket
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Arrives bearing a Happy Father’s Day ribbon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Rich Columbian coffee
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Hearty pepper bacon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Rich applebutter syrup
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Wild Maine blueberry preserves
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lehi Roller Mills® Whole Grain Heart Healthy Hotcake Mix
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fluffy buttermilk pancake mix


All I can say is that there is a reason why Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day! I don't know what arrangement 800baskets.com has with Fedex but this arrived early in the am and everyone was hungry! While more hands meant this basket disappeared quickly, it was fun having help in the kitchen! I know sometimes people hesitate buying baskets because they figure they won't like all the contents, but I am sure that this basket of breakfast goodies will be the perfect way to start dad's day!



Basket 3: Is your dad a Sports Fan? Does your Dad particpate in any sport? (My dad played baseball, so I definitely would have considered getting him the All Star Snacks Big Ceramic Baseball Bowl)

I do have a few Golf Loving Dads in my life, thankfully none of them were here when the Golfer's Choice Big Ceramic Snack Bowl arrived, because that would have started a war for sure!

It’s a great big hole in one! Speak Dad’s snack language with this super cool, super big, ceramic Golfer’s Choice Snack Bowl. It’s packed with treats including Kettle corn, pub mix, an Old Dominion® peanut bar, and praline pecan caramels. Makes a great Father’s Day gift that’s right on par!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Golf ball-shaped ceramic bowl with embossed pattern
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tied with a grosgrain ribbon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 4oz Kettle corn
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 5oz Pub mix
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2.25oz Old Dominion® peanut bar
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 10oz praline pecan caramels
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Makes a great holder for tees and score cards or even chips are the snacks are gone



Basket 4: And while I will not play favorites among the baskets, I will say we are ending with a bang! If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, if you didn't melt his heart with the breakfast basket, you are about to now! The contents of this basket are certainly drool worthy:

Fathers Day Grand Meat and Cheese Basket - This Father’s Day, make a grand gesture in gourmet food gift giving. He’ll love San Francisco-crafted Columbus® classic Italian salame that is hand-tied, and American-made farm fresh premium cheeses like Rouge et Noir® Original Brie Cheese and Sierra Nevada Aged Goat Cheddar Cheese. Pair these exceptional cheeses with snacks like a citrus spice appetizer spread, sweet & spicy mustard dip and premium water crackers and it’s enough to make a foodie weep tears of joy.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Artistically designed in a covered willow basket with a fabric liner
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Arrives bearing a Happy Father’s Day ribbon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - San Francisco-crafted Columbus® classic Italian salame
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Rouge et Noir® Original Brie Cheese
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sierra Nevada Aged Goat Cheddar Cheese
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Columbus® Italian Dry Salame
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Columbus® Salame
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Citrus Spice Appetizer Spread and more
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Measures 7”Hx11 ½”Wx13 ½”L
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - This gift includes exceptionally fresh cheese and requires Overnight delivery

This basket is perfect for a picnic in the park or at the beach!! You and your honey should definitely take some time to re-connect, how about after the kids are all tucked in their beds, you grab this basket and your sweetie and watch the sunset together?


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at 1800baskets.com would like to provide one lucky winner with the opportunity to win the Fathers Day Grand Meat and Cheese Basket! (ARV $69.99)!

Don't you just ♥ 1800baskets.com? I know I do! And I know Dad will too!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Visit 1800baskets.com and pick another FATHER'S DAY basket OTHER than the review & giveaway baskets featured here and post the URL (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com, If your email is visible in your profile, just say so, that's OK! Just remember, even if you are a subscriber, if your profile is set to private and you don't include an email we have to disqaulify your entry). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! This giveaway is open to USA residents who are 18 years of age or older.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this" or "I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Wednesday, June 02, 2010 until Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 03:00 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email address your entry will not be processed.)

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you already have our button, just let us know, you will still get extra credit! If we cannot see the button we will not process this extra credit.)

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

Tweet this:

Pls RT #WIN Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ #ascendingbutterfly + @1800baskets Fathers Day Grand Meat and Cheese Basket #Giveaways - http://tinyurl.com/29754o5

*Two Tweets per person per day MAX

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow/Like Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Join Ascending Butterfly's Community Group (with real time chat) NOTE: We switched from NING to Spruz, if you were a member of our old group you'll need to switch for this credit to count HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Subscribe to receive Ascending Butterfly emails using our Feedburner widget on the upper right hand side of the page below the follower thumbnail pictures! (If you are already a subscriber you will still receive extra credit!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please Vote, Ascending Butterfly is a nominee for the Bloggers Choice ’10 Awards in the ‘Best Blog About Stuff’ Category. Where it reads total votes, there is a yellow box that reads 'Vote' Press there to vote, you must be logged in to see the number increase/vote registered. You can also vote directly using the button located on our home page and below: (This will be checked, so please don't cite this as an extra credit if you didn't actually vote)

My site was nominated for Best Blog About Stuff!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NEW DAILY: Please vote for my outfit 'Yay4WkEnd' @ Macy's Fashion director (note you do not have to register to vote for me, one click daily super fast, super easy!) HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Enter another active giveaway on Ascending Butterfly and earn extra credit, leave a comment letting me know which giveaway you entered. (This will be checked!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Purchase any basket anytime between 6/2 - 6/14 and receive 10 extra entries. (you will need to email us a copy of your invoice as proof. Yes, you can cross off method of payment information!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NEW! Press the button below and join, you get an extra entry for this giveaway and a shot at more great prizes, lets win together! (one time extra credit, will be verified before entry can be accepted)




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

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

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will not accept your entry. Make sure your entry or your profile have your email address!

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

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

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

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

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

Are you getting the dreaded 'Your Entry Can't Be Processed' message when leaving an entry or comment? Before hitting enter, highlight your comment and COPY it. If you get that message after hitting enter and your comment is still there, just ignore the message and hit enter again, then you will get a screen with a captcha code, enter the captcha code, then submit and VOILA. If after you hit the submit button the first time, you get the dreaded message and the comment 'disappeared' no worries, that's why I asked you to copy it in the first step. Paste it back in and submit again. This has worked for me when comment boxes have glitched on me, and I hope it helps you too!

We are excited to report that this giveaway is a Prizey.net's Editor's Pick! Thanks Prizey, and thanks for all the Ascending Butterfly readers for your enthusiastic response!


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FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the products are expressly my own experiences. I was provided product to review and for the giveaway. The sponsor is fulfilling directly to prize winner, this in no way influenced my opinion of the product. Once a winner is selected and their information has been forwarded to the sponsor, the responsibility of prize fulfillment rests with the sponsor.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

'Spring Into Bags' Special Feature - Win the CAMENAE 'Siren Mogano’ Leather Shoulder Bag! ARV $1,135

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Camenae! We look forward to working with you again! The winner is 'BigHappy_Buddha'. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page! Watch for the next bag in the ‘Spring Into Bags’ series to launch SOON.
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Ascending Butterfly's 'Spring Into Bags' Special Feature sponsored by:


For Spring 2010, Ascending Butterfly has been hosting a special feature called 'Spring Into Bags' we have been reviewing and giving away hot handbags from both established and emerging hand bag designers! We are now featuring the SIXTH bag in the feature! (In case you missed them, the first bag was by Elliot Lucca, it was a convertible leather crossbody in a cheery 'poppy' color, the second bag was by Linea Pelle, it was also a leather convertible clutch in a very spring 'kelly green' color, the third bag was a leather crossbody called 'Sierra' in a popular neutral color 'latte beige' from handbag designer by night, Nurse by day, Marissa Del Rosario! The Fourth Bag in the Feature was the Fleurville 'Lexie' Teal Butterfly Tote sponsored by Layla Grayce). The Fifth Bag in the Feature was the 'Belen' Bag from Helena de Natalio.)

Where Bag Meets Art

I have a long time fascination with Asian Art and (a very obvious to my readers) admiration (or is that obsession) with fine leather bags! One of the most recognized Asian symbols of ancient lore is the Dragon, whose origins are traced to China. The dragon is seen as a Protector to many Buddhists, also as a symbol of Imperial Power, Guardian of Eastern Direction (in Feng Shui, Dragons are placed in the main area of the home or office), Controller of Rain & Tempests, Guardian of the Tide Jewels, Bringer of Wealth & Fortune and also as a Magical Shape Shifter. The Dragon sounds a bit like me, "wearer of many hats"!

Imagine how surprised I was to find my two favorites merged together to form what simply has to be the perfect marriage between art and handbag! I honestly couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw the 'Dragon Nymph' bag by CAMENAE!

While the Dragon Nymph is the smallest of  Camenae's amazing bags, it is one of  their top selling bags for good reason. The Dragon is a piece of art from artist Bui Huu Hung, whose pieces sell for $3,000+. As this Dragon is drawn exclusively for CAMENAE, it is a highly valued piece of art which has been fused with Italian luxury. Mr. Hung's works are varied but center around a common theme of recollection. He believes that new events, impressions and knowledge are built upon life's historical foundations. He strives to preserve the past by blending it with present day elements so that "it does not become reduced to lifeless words without visual detail". He certainly achieved his aims with this Design.

"Dragons have long been a potent symbol of auspicious power, representing the universe, life, existence and growth."

This bag is a collectible work of art and I am floored, and honestly plain humbled to have it. I can't stop looking at it! (I have a ring that matches it perfectly, I somehow feel that this bag was designed with ME in mind!) I want it in EVERY color! There are no important details missing, from it's feet to it's unique hardware, it's beautiful tassels and striking unique interchangeable straps, this bag turns heads. It arrives in it's dust bag, and the straps are also packaged in their dust bags. It has a tan organizational Waterproof treated lining that gives you room for your cell phone, sunglasses, keys,  MP3 player and more.




I love that the Straps are interchangeable (they Lock in place with a key and are easy to attach and remove, just remember to 'unlock' it again when you are ready to swap straps!) and I love the Dragon Strap in the Metallic Bronze color as pictured above! I feel this color truly does the detail of the intricate Dragon design justice!

Buy A Bag, Change A Life

The Dragon Nymph is part of the Dragon Capsule Collection which is derived from CAMENAE Change a Life: Art + Luxury = to benefit charity. All Dragon pieces are custom designed, with the Change a Life hallmark and artists signature blind embossed on each Dragon item. CAMENAE will donate $10 for every Dragon piece sold to support the Christina Noble Children's Foundation. The Christina Noble Children's Foundation is an International Partnership of people dedicated to serving underprivileged children with the hope of helping each child maximize their life potential. Learn more about this amazing organization HERE. I have had the pleasure of presenting various companies that offer the opportunity of shopping for a cause and knowing that a portion of sales for this bag (and the other products in the dragon collection) help such an amazing cause makes me want to shout it from the rooftops! I hope you will too!

The founders have been friends for 22 years and are often mistaken for sisters, I can see why, learn more about the dynamos behind the brand HERE.

And because I wouldn't be doing my fashion duty by not sharing special information, I have a preview for you of upcoming bags that are available for pre-order, these are not ready to ship until May 31st!

CAMENAE is currently releasing it's first silhouettes in color this year. Below are links of the 2 most sought after pieces from the Colore Collezione:



Pictured Above  is The Calypso Baguette style clutch, in Azure, Coral and Halo Gold. (Can't you just picture this with your favorite little black dress, strappy dress shoes, and dazzling earrings? I say come to MAMA!)


Pictured Above is The Electra double wrap skinny belt, also in Azure, Coral and Halo Gold. (I can absolutely picture this with a crisp white shirt, indigo skinny jeans and a super cute pair of sandals this summer and the belt in the lovely coral hue shown.) Remember this item is also a pre-order that will ship May 31st. When CAMENAE does color, they mean color, vibrant and bold, eye catching and care free, I love it!

Although the Calypso clutch comes with a chain, it can be removed and used with the Electra belt.


Isn't this a stroke of genius? One bag and multiple electra belts gives you amazing versatility and a unique look!

And there is a very special reward for you for allowing me to go on and on and on about my latest obsession and fab find!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at CAMENAE would like to provide one lucky winner with the opportunity to win the 'Siren Mogano' Bag (ARV $980)! This giveaway has been made personal by CAMENAE, it is being sent to the winner with the CAMENAE Rivetto Strap (+ $290). The Siren Rivetto is an exclusive bag/strap combination bringing the ARV of this amazing prize package to $1,135.00 (Normally the Siren Mogano is sold with the strap called 'Personale' remember the straps are designed to be interchangeable, I encourage you to visit the site and see other straps that are available for purchase).




About the Bag:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Material: Leather

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 15.5 l x 6 w x 10 h inches

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Colors: Mogano (brown), Nero (Black), and Sabbia (a latte/tan)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Made in Italy

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Waterproof Treated Lining

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - zipper rings and removable tassels

But Wait, There's MORE! If you can't wait to find out if you won and want to nab this delicious bag NOW, (and who can blame you!) CAMENAE is generously offering an exclusive discount for Ascending Butterfly Readers that you will NOT find anywhere else but HERE, 50% off The Siren Bag (remember in it's original configuration, with the 'Personale' Stap, not the 'Rivetto' Strap as shown above) with use of VIP code: Siren50 (at check out)!  WOW!

Don't you just ♥ CAMENAE? I know I do!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Like CAMENAE on Facebook (tell us what name you follow under) (3) Follow @CAMENAEbags on Twitter (tell us what name you follow under). You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com, If your email is visible in your profile, just say so, that's OK!). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! This giveaway is open to USA AND Canada residents who are 18 years of age or older. This is a little different from our normal, so please be sure to follow instructions CAREFULLY. See below example of entry format:

EXAMPLE: Your entry should read like this after you have followed above steps:

(1) I follow Ascending Butterfly via google friends connect as (insert your follower name here)
(2) I follow CAMENAE on Facebook (insert your follower name here)
(3) I follow CAMENAE on Twitter (insert your follower name here)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this" or "I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Saturday, May 22, 2010 until Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 03:00 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email address your entry will not be processed.)

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you already have our button, just let us know, you will still get extra credit! If we cannot see the button we will not process this extra credit.)

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FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the products are expressly my own experiences. I was provided product to review and for the giveaway, this in no way influenced my opinion of the product.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

February 2010: The Ascending Butterfly Book Club review & GIVEAWAY - Featured Book in the Spotlight!

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Simon & Schuster and Author Reyna Grande, We look forward to working with you again! Congratulations to our winner 'Cynthia'. Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!
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Ascending Butterfly Book Club, February 2010

To the avid readers amongst us we apologize, after a long hiatus, The Ascending Butterfly Book Club is back! I thorougly enjoyed reading February's title, and couldn't possibly love this book or the name more, I present to you, 'Dancing With Butterflies' by Reyna Grande.

Introduction

Folklórico, traditional Mexican dance, bring together four women in Los Angeles. Yesenia and her husband lead Alegría, a successful Folklórico dance group, but Yesenia’s arthritic knee keeps her offstage and restless in her marriage. Sisters Elena and Adriana grew up dancing in Alegría, but bitterness over their difficult childhood has soured their relationship. And Soledad, the group’s costume designer, is determined to open a dress shop in L.A., even though she is in the U.S. illegally.

Tragedy strikes each of these four women, leaving Alegría’s future in doubt. Yesenia tries to reshape her body through cut-rate plastic surgery in Tijuana. Elena’s new marriage breaks up after her baby is stillborn, and instead of dancing through her grief, she lusts after an underage dancer. Adriana, missing her abusive father, chases oblivion through a series of dangerous relationships. Soledad sacrifices her career dreams to bid goodbye to her ailing grandmother, but, trapped on the Mexican side of the border, must risk her life to return to her family, to her passions, and to Alegría.

These four women, bonded by their passion for Folklórico, will learn to heal together, to keep Alegría dancing another day.



About The Author, Reyna Grande:

Reyna Grande is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Across A Hundred Mountains (Atria 2006), for which she received an American Book Award (2007) and El Premio Aztlan Literary Award (2006). Her latest novel, Dancing with Butterflies, was published in October 2009 to rave reviews.

Born in Mexico in 1975, Grande was raised by her grandparents after her parents left her behind while they worked in the U.S. She came to the U.S. at the age of nine as an undocumented immigrant and went on to become the first person in her family to obtain a higher education.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing and Film and Video from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Antioch University. She is a sought-after speaker at middle/high schools, colleges and universities across the nation, and teaches creative writing workshops in Los Angeles. She has served as a judge for the Pen Center USA Literary Awards and is on the planning committee of the Latino Book & Family Festival. She is currently at work on a memoir.

A Conversation with Reyna Grande:

1. Four distinct voices lead us through Dancing with Butterflies: each woman has her own, unique style of narrating. Please tell us about the experience of writing from four different points of view. How did you develop their separate voices? Was one narrator harder to envision than the others?

Answer: My first book, Across a Hundred Mountains, is told from two points of view. It gave me the training I needed to tackle four different characters. I used the same techniques I had learned in Mountains—pay attention to the voice, the way the characters talk, the way they see the world around them. I also worked on each character individually, spent a lot of time trying to get to know each woman, without the distraction of the other three. Having said that, writing from four points of view was a lot harder than I imagined! I think for my next book I will try just one. The hardest character for me was Yesenia. Since she’s ten years older than I am, and is going through a different stage in her life, I was having a difficult time getting into her head. I ended up using my older sister as a model for Yesenia, and sometimes, when I was stuck, I would call my sister and say, “So tell me again about the time you….” Adriana was the easiest for me because I understood her. I grew up with an alcoholic father who physically abused me for many years, and later on, in my twenties, I too was looking for men that were like my father (not physically abusive, but controlling). Luckily I escaped those relationships and got over that right away, and I found a wonderful man to marry (like Ben!).

2. Each chapter opens with one of your graceful line drawings of Folklórico dancers. Why did you choose to include these drawings? Have you ever felt you had to choose between two art forms, as Adriana struggles to choose between dancing and ranchero singing?

Answer: The drawings came very late in the process, right before I turned in the final draft to my editor. I had thought about it for a long time. Because I was writing about such a visual topic—Folklórico—I felt that the drawings would complement story. I couldn’t find someone to do them, and I didn’t feel confident enough to do them myself. But one day I said, why not? Why not at least try? So finally I decided to do them myself, just to see. And I ended up liking them enough, and when I showed them to my editor she liked them, too. Like Adriana, I felt torn between the passions I had. I loved music and from 7th grade up until my first year of college, I was a member of the marching band (I marched the Rose Parade three times). From middle school to college, I took drawing and painting classes because I loved doing that, too. I also started writing when I was thirteen years old. At UC, Santa Cruz I met a teacher who once told me that even though it was a good thing that I had many passions (I was also doing film and dancing at the time that I met her), I needed to choose one thing that I really loved, above all others, so that I could focus on it and be great at it. Otherwise, as the saying goes, I would just be a jack of all trades. So I chose writing. I’m glad I listened to her, because otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to complete my first novel, which requires a lot of discipline and commitment, but once in a while I still dance Folklorico, and I still draw. Having my drawings included in Dancing with Butterflies was, what can I say, extremely fulfilling—to see two of my passions come together, at last.

3. Sibling rivalry is a prominent theme in the novel, with Elena and Adriana’s constant conflict, as well as Soledad and Stephanie’s less explosive rivalry. Why did you focus on siblings in this novel?

Answer: How can you write about siblings and not have rivalry thrown in the mix? I have four siblings, and there is always some drama going on. The only time we are drama free is when we avoid each other! The rivalry between Elena and Adriana was inspired by my relationship with my older sister—not the way our relationship is, but how it could have been if things had turned out differently. Like Adriana, my older sister left me in a hellhole—my alcoholic father’s home. She didn’t take me with her when she left, and the two years I was at my father’s without my sister were two of the worst years of my life. To this day my sister apologizes for not taking me with her. I forgive my sister. But Adriana isn’t as forgiving. When I wrote about Adriana and Elena, I asked myself: how would my relationship with my sister be if I had held a grudge and not forgiven or understood my sister’s choices? (She was only 21 and could barely take care of herself, but at the time all I thought about was that she had left me and saved herself.)

With Soledad and Stephanie, I wanted to write about siblings that belong to two worlds. Most immigrant families have siblings who were born in this country and others born in other countries. Even in my own family, my two youngest siblings were born here in the U.S., but the three oldest (myself included) were born in Mexico.

4. Soledad faces enormous challenges in her efforts to cross the U.S.-Mexican border. What inspired Soledad’s story?

Answer: Soledad was the last character to make an appearance. One day when I was at Mr. Vences’s house (the director of the dance group I researched), Elías Roldán, the group’s costume designer, was there, showing Mr. Vences a costume he was designing for the group. As I watched them talk about the costume and what changes needed to be made, I realized that I was missing a crucial part in my novel—the point of view of Alegría’s costume designer! Mr. Roldán was very generous with his time, and I visited him at his house to interview him several times. Like Soledad, he used his dining room to do his sewing, and every corner of the living room and dining room was covered in bolts of cloth. In the interviews he not only talked about costume making and cloth, but he shared with me his dream of having his own shop and everything that was keeping him from making his dream come true. But now I’m happy to say that Mr. Roldán has his own shop in East L.A., and his business is thriving. Although Dancing with Butterflies ends before Soledad makes her dream come true, this is the kind of future I envision for her. In terms of the challenges she faced crossing the border, it was inspired by all the stories I hear from immigrants that have had to make the dangerous journey north (myself included).

5. Despite all the challenges that your characters face, there are many light-hearted moments, as well. How did you manage to balance serious subjects and humor? Do you have a favorite humorous moment in the novel?

Answer: I tend to write depressing stuff, and writing funny isn’t my strength. Whatever funny moments appear in the novel were not planned. But a little humor goes a long way, and it gives the reader a break from all that sadness, so I’m glad I managed to have a few funny moments here and there. One of my favorite humorous moments is when Adriana and Ben go out for sushi and she mistakes the wasabi for Guacamole. I was twenty years old when I first had sushi, and like Adriana, I was very ignorant about what wasabi was. I put a lot of it on my sushi, and boy, did that hurt!

6. Frida Kahlo is featured prominently in the novel, as Adriana’s favorite artist. How does Kahlo’s work affect you?

Answer: Frida Kahlo is an inspiration to many Latinas. She was a fighter. For most of her life she was in deep physical (and emotional) pain. Yet, her passion for art helped carry her through the toughest moments of her life. Writing has been my salvation. When things got bad at home, I wrote. Writing kept me sane. Kahlo painted herself many times. When I write, I use myself as the starting point for my characters. Elena, Adriana, Soledad, Yesenia, they are all a facet of me. They are not self-portraits, no, not like Kahlo painted her self-portraits. My self-portraits (my characters) are drawn in a style like Picasso’s, very distorted, but somehow recognizable. Like Adriana, my favorite Kahlo painting is “The Two Fridas.” When I lived with my father, I developed a second personality, another Reyna, so to speak. One Reyna was afraid, depressed, lonely. But the other Reyna was strong, brave, and smart. When things got tough, that second Reyna was the one that would give me the push I needed to keep going. I could hear her in my head telling me, “Things won’t always be like this. One day they will be better.” When I saw “The Two Fridas,” I saw my dual personality represented in that painting, and I fell in love with the painting and with the woman who painted it.

7. Although the main characters in Dancing with Butterflies are Mexican or Mexican-American, they face many of the same problems as women from other backgrounds and cultures. Which of the characters’ challenges do you feel are the most universal? Which feel more culturally specific to you?

Answer: Just a few weeks ago my older brother asked me why I don’t write books with no Latino characters or themes. He said that I am “limiting my audience” and therefore (or so I read between the lines) I will never have a bestseller. At first I felt furious about his comment, especially because I was showing him the advance copy of Dancing with Butterflies and instead of just saying, “Good job, Reyna,” he asks me that question! (Sibling drama? Yes!) But the thing is that even though I write about Latino characters, ultimately I am writing about human beings. No matter what ethnic background we come from, first and foremost we belong to the human race. The problems the women in Dancing with Butterflies face are universal. Like Yesenia, who hasn’t thought about aging and being frightened by it? Who hasn’t thought about the body’s limitations and what it can and cannot do as we get older? Elena gave birth to a stillborn baby. What mother, at some point during a pregnancy, hasn’t feared the worst? And for some, no matter their ethnic backgrounds, the worst has come to pass. What culture hasn’t had sibling rivalry, dead relatives to mourn, dreams that haven’t come true, obstacles to overcome, marriages that fail, illicit love affairs, forbidden love?

8. Your first novel, Across a Hundred Mountains, also centers on immigration and families. Do you plan to continue these themes in your future work?

Answer: I like to write about things that are important to me. My older sister once asked, “Why are you always writing about Mexico?” My father once said, “Why don’t you just forget about the past and move on? Why do you need to write about it?” I write about things that I care about, that matter to me. The immigrant experience is one of them. Right now I am working on a memoir in which I write about my childhood in Mexico, living in poverty, being raised by my grandmother because my parents were here in the U.S. working. I write about what it was like to come here as an illegal immigrant and the difficulties of trying to close the gap created by eight years of separation between me and my father. So to answer the question, yes, I do plan to continue writing about immigration and families, among other things. I am always looking for new ideas and topics. One has to grow as a writer, and one way to do that is to take chances and try new things.

9. At one point, Elena realizes that her ex-husband never understood her passion for dancing. Do you think artists need to connect with other artists in order to share their passions?

Answer: I think that it is very hard for nonartists to understand an artist’s inner world, needs, and thoughts. But it doesn’t mean you can’t try! I think it is very important for artists to build friendships with other artists. I have been lucky to have made many writer friends, especially female writers. We get together sometimes for coffee, or communicate through email or phone calls. We critique each other’s works, talk about our goals, our dreams, our troubles with our respective partners, our children, our editors, our publishers, our readers. I think that artists need to have a support network and spend time with those who understand, those who are walking the same difficult path. I have made it a point to reach out to other writers. For example, this year I am helping to organize the Latino Book & Family Festival in Los Angeles to reach out to other writers and have us come together, for at least one weekend, to share our passion for the written word, not only with each other but with the community. I love my writer friends. They understand me in a way my own family never will.

10. Your first novel, Across a Hundred Mountains, also centers on immigration and families. Do you plan to continue thesethemes in your future work?

Answer: I like to write about things that are important to me. My older sister once asked, “Why are you always writing about Mexico?” My father once said, “Why don’t you just forget about the past and move on? Why do you need to write about it?” I write about things that I care about, that matter to me. The immigrant experience is one of them. Right now, I am working on a memoir, in which I write about my childhood in Mexico, living in poverty, being raised by my grandmother because my parents were here in the United States working. I write aboutwhat it was like to come here as an illegal immigrant and the difficulties of trying to close the gap created by eight years of separation between me and my father. So to answer the question, yes, I do plan to continue writing about immigration and families, among other things. I am always looking for new ideas and topics. One has to grow as a writer, and one way to do that is to take chances and try new things.

Even the book's dedication references a 'mariposa', and the references to butterflies very much mirror the associations I have had with them growing up, the writing engages you in the struggles of it's characters and I will warn you now, once you start, you will have trouble putting this book down!

How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) In some Mexican cultures, butterflies represent extraordinary spiritual, magical creations that are believed to embody the spirits of the dead and the souls of deities. Tell us what Butterflies Represent to you!  (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com). (If your email is clearly visible in your profile, you can just say so, that's OK!) Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! This giveaway is open to USA residents who are 18 years of age or older.

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this" or "I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Tuesday, February 02, 2010 until Tuesday, March 02, 2010 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email your entry will not be processed)

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

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My site was nominated for Best Blog About Stuff!

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FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding this book are expressly my own experiences. I was provided with a book to review and the sponsor is also fulfilling to prize winner.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Monday, January 25, 2010 - Today's Words of Inspiration and Great Giveaways!



Mind Over Matter

The first month of not only a new year, but a new decade is quickly coming to an end. How are you doing with your New Year's Resolutions? Have you been keeping them?

Don't abandon ship! This year's resolutions/goals are the most important you've ever made! They will set the tone of not only this year, but this decade!

Keeping Them:

1) Identify WHY you have made this resolution. - Is it because you want to, or you feel you HAVE to? Is it to impress everyone else or to better yourself? - Once you have identified the true WHY, you can make the HOW happen!

2) Get a Buddy! - Enlisting the help of a friend will help you stay on track! That friend doesn't have to have the same resolution as you, they just need to support you and want you to achieve your best. Pick the most straight shooter you know, the friend who tells it like it is!

3) Break it down - Break your goal down into bits and give yourself a deadline to accomplish them. Tackling your goals in phases will make you way more likely to make it to the finish line!

Do you need help getting to the finish line with your goals? Don't let them disappear, share them. Post them here, or the NING group, or just like the popular T.V. Game show, 'phone a friend'.

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I will not lose sight of my goals/dreams/desires and resolutions for 2010, I know that if I can conceive it, I can AND will achieve it!'

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

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

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

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

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

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

Don't forget to enter the great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend part of your day with us. We are really happy you landed HERE! Don't forget to use the share button below any inspiration to stumble, digg, tweet or share with your friends on facebook and twitter! And if you want to share inspiration with other members, Ascending Butterfly has a NING group with real time chat HERE

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

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will not accept your entry. Make sure your entry or your profile have your email address!

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

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

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

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

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

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