Weekly Moment of Gratitude! (+ Stay tuned for the next #TwitterParty from the #TwitterPartyDJ!)

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Heeding my own advice! -  As a life coach I spend a lot of time convincing people that they need to come out of their comfort zones to make change in their lives. Well I finally heeded my own advice. I got out of my comfort zone behind the camera, and spent some time in front of it. I definitely developed a new respect for television personalities, they make it look so easy! Thanks for the encouraging comments you all sent me regarding my very first VLOG!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Super Awesome Interview! - I got the chance to interview Gerard Butler while he was in Miami promoting his new movie Playing for Keeps! It was a conference call and myself and one other awesome blogger (Rosy from Accidental Sexiness!) got to ask Gerard Butler questions about his new movie. I asked 3 questions, and 2 were from Ascending Butterfly readers! I posted asking everyone if they could ask Gerard Butler one question about his upcoming new movie what would it be. I used one question that was asked on the post, and the other from a twitter follower! Stay tuned this week for a review of the movie and the questions and answers session from that interview.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Twitter Party Alert! - You know how much I love hosting Twitter Parties right? It's how I became 'The Official #TwitterPartyDJ'! Check our homepage VERY soon to RSVP for our next twitter party, I can assure you that you are not going to want to miss this one! It's the perfect holiday gift for anyone on your list, and you'll have a chance to nab one and talk holidays with Ascending Butterfly and a very special sponsor!

What are YOU most grateful for this week Butterfly?

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

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

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

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

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Giveaways!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Holidays Buying Guide Giveaway!: Featured #Handbag in the Spotlight: It's YOUR choice! Win a $100 @wilsonsleather Gift Card with @Ascending1

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Gratitude Journal Reco:

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

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

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Winner Announcement for the @NicoleMillerNYC Addison Handbag Giveaway on @Ascending1 + this month's holiday #handbag #giveaway

Winner Announcement!:

After the feature being on hiatus so long, it was no surprise that October's Featured Monthly Handbag in the spotlight garnered a ton of entries! It took me awhile to close this one because before I even draw a winner, I eliminate all entries that did not comply with giveaway instructions. All 'blank' entries etc. This way when I go to draw a winner, only qualified entries are in the running. I know oftentimes people are under the assumption that when bloggers use rafflecopter we just draw and if that winner did not comply with instructions we just re-draw, I can't speak for everyone, but I refuse to do that. I eliminate all dis-qualified entries first THEN draw the winner. So my actual entry numbers for any given drawing may go 'down' after it closes which most people wouldn't want, but I like the drawings to be fair and only the folks who played by the rules get the chance to win!

 

Our October Featured Monthly Handbag in the Spotlight Nicole Miller Addison Handbag Giveaway Winner is Naomi S. Hers was entry #227!

Join me in congratulating Naomi!

This Month's Giveaway:

For this month, we are doing a unique twist with our favorite feature, and letting YOU pick the bag. That's right, this time you pick the Featured Handbag in the Spotlight and have a chance to win it! We are giving away a $100 Gift Card to Wilsons Leather so you can select the item of your choice! If you are a leather lover like I am and can't wait to nab a great new bag or coat, Wilson's Leather just launched their '12 Days of Deals' where Select Styles are now 70% OFF their original prices! (And not to fear my Vegan gals, they offer faux leather styles too!)

Holiday Gift Buying Guide VLOG:

Did you check out Ascending Butterfly's Video VLOG for Procter & Gamble's #PGHoliday Buying Guide? Not only did Lifestyle Expert, Celebrity Stylist and Television Personality, Robert Verdi interview me about my holiday buying tips and tricks, I also shot a video vlog presenting holiday gift buying ideas for everyone on your list, which you can view in full detail with a behind the scenes HERE.

I am working on closing out the McDonald's, Purex, and Gund Boo + Mini Boo Giveaway Winners this weekend, so stay tuned for the next winner's announcement!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received for this post.

Check out my Holiday Buying Guide #Video #VLOG and interview with @RobertVerdi for my @ProcterGamble #PGHoliday Buying Guide!

Founder and Butterfly-in-Chief of Ascending Butterfly Tracy Iglesias shoots holiday buying gift guide VLOG at Robert Verdi's Luxe Lab in New York City!

Within a few days of each other I spent a week shooting my first ever VLOGs for Ascending Butterfly. I'm much more comfortable sharing my world from behind my camera and from my computer then I am with being in front of the camera or on video, but when I was offered the opportunity to film a Video VLOG for P&G with Lifestyle Expert, Celebrity Stylist and Television Personality, Robert Verdi I jumped at the chance!

Despite four years of keeping myself relatively hidden I knew after the health scare I experienced last year and the horrible way I started 2012 that it was time for me to jump in front of the camera, take risks and really meet life head on! How can you inspire others to come outside their comfort zones and be a good life coach if you don't rise up to challenges that make you uncomfortable in your own life?

The first time I was ever on television I was 5 years old and had won a national competition and the grand prize was an appearance on the television show Romper Room. I hadn't been in front of a camera since. To say I was super nervous, is probably the under-statement of the century! (I think I was a lot more calm when I was five!)

All my nerves were immediately calmed upon entering Robert Verdi's Luxe Laboratory! I was met by the 'Glam Squad' which started with Nails, and I can tell you I gave the manicurist quite a job as my nails were in really sad shape! I picked out a perfect Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in (180 Lasting Love), which was a very close match my signature red lip that I custom blend. This high gloss nail polish does not require a top coat and lasted one week chip free on my nails. No easy feat, because I put my hands and nails through a lot of typing, being in water and I kept expecting that the tips of my nails would chip fast, and was super surprised that they didn't! I also loved that they dried super fast! Later on that same day I got my thumb caught in a zipper of my handbag and it did not smudge, chip, smear or budge, color me impressed!

Then it was on to makeup, I was super happy when the makeup artist chose not to change my lip color, she liked my custom red so much she left it alone! That's quite a compliment!

Luxe lab stylist uses Aussie Hair Care Products to style Ascending Butterfly for Video Shoot!

From nails it was straight to hair where Aussie Hair Care products were used on my hair and my hair was expertly flat ironed to glossy fabulousness!

Left: Ascending Butterfly Founder and Butterfly-in-Chief Tracy alongside Right: Robert Verdi - of course as soon as the flash went off I closed my eyes!

Then I got a chance to meet Robert Verdi and it was on to the first of two video shoots! I love that Robert is exactly the same way you see on Television, he is super warm, friendly and totally approachable. He instantly put me at ease!

Ascending Butterfly and Robert Verdi all smiles during the P&G #PGHoliday Gift Buying Guide Video VLOG Shoot!

See, I really can keep my eyes open! In the first of the two videos shot, Robert interviews me and asks me about my tips for holiday shopping, here is the video:



Just in case it doesn't play nicely for you or you'd prefer to view it directly on YouTube you can just click HERE, but don't forget to come back and watch the second video!

Not bad considering I had literally run to the lab after covering an event with Jordin Sparks (if you missed our recap coverage of that event, press HERE).

After the Questions and Answers video with Robert, it was time for the main video, the Holiday Buying Guide VLOG! Here is the video:



 
The products I selected include:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  -  Lulu Lemon 'Daily Om Duffel' (perfect for gym, travel or daily commuters like me!)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  -  Cambridge 'The Metallics' Satchel in Metallic Rose Gold (perfect for New Years Eve!)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  -  Olay Pro X Advanced Cleansing Skincare System
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - P&G Little Luxuries Gift Set (available at your local drugstore, you know, like the one I am a blogger brand ambassador for maybe? :)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - UGG Womens Great Jones Earmuff W/Speaker Technology (Perfect for those cold winters to keep jack frost from nipping at your ears while still listening to music on the go. This matches my new Jacket and Gloves!)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - I also picked Diane Von Furstenberg Headphones in the 'Stone Leopard Red' Print, paired with gloves that allow for smartphone use and I love how cleverly the fingers of the gloves are stuffed with Covergirl Outlast Lipsticks in each finger, what teenage girl wouldn' t love that bundle?
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - I also loved the quirky yellow rubbery iPod Portable Speaker! (Needless to say that the #TwitterPartyDJ is always on the lookout for great music accessories!)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - And don't forget your Tide to go Instant Stain Remover sticks, I have one in my handbag at all times and keep one in my desk at work and at home, they really do work! I've had all kinds of things spilled on me during events and these have kept favorite outfits from being ruined!

Get Social With it:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Follow @ProcterGamble on Twitter and use the hashtag #PGHoliday
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Follow @RobertVerdi on Twitter
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Like on P&G Beauty on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Like Robert Verdi on Facebook

Here is the pro shot of myself and Robert Verdi after both videos were shot:

That's A Wrap!

My Take:

I greatly enjoyed my day filming the #PGHoliday Gift Buying Guide, and I will never forget meeting Robert Verdi! Robert helped make my first time back on camera after so many years fun, Thank You Robert! Finding the right gift and staying within budget isn't always easy but with the P&G Little Luxuries Gift Sets you can knock out some of those 'hard to shop fors' with something that is thoughtful and within budget,  for Holidays 2012 P&G has got you covered!

Happy Holidays Butterflies!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, no monetary compensation has been received for shooting this video VLOG. All opinions are 100% my own.