Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts

Sunday, February 26, 2023

#sponsored It's #SelfCareSunday and #hearthealth awareness month, no better time to share a simple way to help your heart! #PureAmbassador

*Supplement suggestions are products that are currently working for me, please check with your doctor before starting on any supplements if you are taking medication. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to let you know if they play nicely together! This is NOT medical advice!*

February is the awareness month for Hearth Health in the United States. It's American Heart Month and I would be remiss if I let the month come to a close without sharing a simple way to support your cardiovascular health.

Some of you may know from following my social media accounts, that Mama Butterfly is experiencing issues with her heart, and this past year has been a blur of hospitalizations and doctor visits.

Like the engine is the 'heart' of a car, our heart is definitely the engine of our bodies and there are important ways to help take care of it:

- Learn your health history. Is there history of heart disease in your family? If so, be sure to discuss this with your primary care doctor (who may also refer you to a cardiologist).

- A heart healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low fat dairy products. Reduce salt, saturated fat and sugars.

- Exercise - Strive for 150 minutes of moderate- intensity aerobic activitity each week plus muscle strengthening activities twice per week.

- Quit Smoking
 
-  Take all medicines as directed by your physician and never stop a medication without clearing it with your doctor first. Worried that a supplement may not play nicely with your current meds? Well then Pure has you covered! Check out their Drug Nutrients Interactions Checker/database to make sure the supplements you are taking don't interfere adversely with your medications!
 
- Choose your drinks carefully, limit alcohol consumption, substitute water for sugary drinks
 
- Take heart smart supplements like Pure Encapsulations O.N.E. Omega it offers 1,000 mg supercritical Co2 extracted, triglyceride-form EPA and DHA in a softgel once daily dose.
 
About O.N.E. Omega:
 
- Supports joint and connective tissue integrity
- Promotes cardiovascular health
-  It offers *twice* the potency of other fish oils (with NO fishy aftertaste)
-  Low temperature, oxygen-free processing prevents oxidation reactions
     
‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Other 'heart smart' supplements from Pure Encapsulations: 

- Coq10 120 mg

- Resveratrol EXTRA

- Cholestepure Plus II

- PureHeart K2D

MY TAKE:

Pure Encapsulations are free from unnecessary additives and many common allergens. We had no history of heart issues in my family making what mama butterfly is going through that much more of a surprise. But seeing what she is going through I am trying to be more careful about my own heart health, and am glad to have the opportunity to partner with Pure Encapsulations and take better care of my overall wellness.

What you won't find in Pure Encapsulations: Wheat, Soy, Dairy, Eggs, Gluten, Coatings and Shellacs, Tree nuts or peanuts, Artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners, GMOs, unnecessary binders, fillers or preservatives, trans fat & hydrogenated oils.

My only warning with this supplement and this is the first I have experienced with Pure so far is that this one is big! I have not had trouble swallowing it personally, but it is certainly larger than any other pill I take.

I am very happy to report that these do not repeat on me at all. No fishy aftertaste.
 
If you have already done a DNA kit like 23andMe or Ancestry, you can tap into the power of PureGenomics which is a service that harnesses the science of nutrigenomics to help personalize wellness strategies and get supplements tailored to your unique health needs. (I really want to try this!) 
 
‡ These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

READERS SOUND OFF:

Which supplements are you already taking? Are you thinking of adding any new ones? If so, which ones and why? Have you already done a DNA report from 23andMe or Ancestry?

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FTC Disclosure: No monetary compensation has been received. I am a PURE Ambassador. As a Pure Ambassador I will have the opportunity to receive products free of charge or at a discount. 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. 

If you like this article treat me to a coffee, a caffeinated writer is a happy writer! 

paypal.me/TracyIglesias or https://cash.app/$ascendingbutterfly or Venmo: Ascending1

Friday, August 5, 2016

Find out why #MOMSLOVEAMWELL and I do too! #Sponsored by @Amwell - nab a discount to try it yourself!

DisclosureCompensation was provided by Amwell via MomTrends Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Amwell or Momtrends.


American Well, Amwell, Telehealth, Healthcare, Wellness
With a bed this inviting, who wants to get out? Need Bedside Healthcare? Find out why American Well (Amwell) is becoming the 'Amazon of Healthcare'

Regular readers know that this butterfly originally aspired to become a Doctor and while life had other plans for me, I am still fascinated with Science and Medicine and even held the title of Science Editor for a Newspaper early on in my writing career.

The healthcare industry continues to change and evolve and intersects with technology in fascinating ways. Telemedicine is having it's day and with people wearing devices that monitor their fitness, blood pressure, rest/sleep and more it's clear that people are more interested in taking charge of their well-being/wellness in both traditional and non-traditional ways.

American Well (Amwell) is positioning itself to be ‘the Amazon of health care’ and was recently featured in the Medical section of the Wall Street Journal!

Amwell is:

  • Created by doctors
  • The most popular consumer Telehealth app worldwide in 2014 according to App Annie
  • The first Telehealth service awarded accreditation by The American Telemedicine Association
  • The first Telehealth platform to integrate with Apple’s Health App
  • The only service that allows you to select the doctor you want to see for an on-demand visit

Check out this Video on how it works:



Two summers ago I got a bug bite that immediately made my arm swell. I of course panicked, because it happened after hours (and I can never leave a voicemail with my primary so I have to call during office hours to get a human on the phone) - I can tell you I wish I had access to this service that day! Thankfully my local pharmacist pinch hit for me that day and I avoided an emergency room visit. (Which as you know isn't as easy to get covered by most insurance providers anymore - many want you to call them in advance to get the ER visit approved. Literally the LAST thing anyone cares about in the midst of an actual emergency!)

American Well, Amwell, Telehealth, Healthcare, Wellness, Laptop, Smartphone
You can connect with Amwell on your Desktop, Laptop, IPhone, Android Device, Tablet from literally anywhere!
Things never seem to happen during office hours do they? Amwell brings healthcare home and their Doctors are available 24/7 on a wide variety of platforms - your computer, tablet, smartphone - iPhone or Android!

I also see this service as an extra added re-assurance when I travel (I am 'sweet meat' for mosquitos! At home and abroad apparently.) and for those of you with children heading off to live in a dorm, make sure to have them install this app on their phones!

And if you are currently between jobs or for some reason you are currently un-insured, Amwell is a cost effective way to get access to needed healthcare services.

DISCOUNT:

Want to try out Amwell for yourself? Ascending Butterfly Readers can nab a $1 Visit (in conjunction with your healthcare  insurance, a little more without insurance but literally less than half the cost of  a co-pay with many carriers for a primary visit) using the code: TELEVISIT13

MY TAKE:

I wouldn't hesitate to use the service again as the need arises (like every time I get a bug bite! LOL) and I definitely recommend trying it out for yourself (that discount code would the perfect way to try it out!).

Readers Sound Off:

Tell me butterflies, have you already tried out a Telehealth service? Would you do it again? If you haven't tried it yet, what would you encourage you to do so?

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FTC Disclosure: This is a paid campaign and sponsored post. All opinions expressed herein are 100% my own and do not reflect those of Amwell or MomTrends. Ascending Butterfly partners with brands that would be of interest and offer values to our readers. If you are unsure of any medical issue you are experiencing you should seek out a Medical Doctor - be it Telehealth or In Person. This post does not make Medical Claims or Assertions. See our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for full information.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

January 1, 2015 - A New Years Prayer!



















Wishing all my butterflies a new year filled with abundance in all its many forms, opportunities to keep you challenged not just busy, love, health and happiness!

If you set resolutions for this year, what are they?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored Post!

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Want to join me in Napa? Find out How! #WineCountry



Please VOTE daily via Facebook for yours truly, our Butterfly-in-Chief, Tracy Iglesias of Ascending Butterfly to win a spot on 'Run to Napa' a 10K run powered by @ZOOMArun and fueled by wine http://woobox.com/h3xho2/vote/for/1921984

To Vote:

(1) Follow the link above
(2) It will be defaulted to 'enter' so press the 'vote' button instead
(3) Scroll down until you see the picture above, you may have to scroll all the way and press 'view more' or show more entries twice before my picture comes up
(4) Once you find my picture which will be the same as the one above, hit VOTE

That's it! (You won't get any spam for voting!)

THANK YOU!!!!

oh did I mention I have the chance to bring one blog reader with me on this amazing trip? It's a daily vote, so if you are voting, please leave a comment below and let me know!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post and no compensation has been received to share, however I am shamelessly asking for readers to help vote so I can win a trip to run a 10K in Napa!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Ascending Butterfly May Monthly #Book Club Title: Review and #Giveaway of The Fast Metabolism Diet #FastMetabolismDiet



This is a sponsored post/Giveaway for SheSpeaks/Fast Metabolism Diet (All opinions are my own):

I spent 2010 and 2011 on a series of Lifestyle Changes that resulted in very healthy weight loss overtime. Getting more excercise and recipe substitions had resulted in the loss of 3 dress sizes and way more energy. I was thrilled!

Then 2012 happened. I spent the bulk of the year at three different hospitals for long term stays. Which meant being sick to my stomach and not wanting to eat due to the medications and surgeries, and a ton of time in a hospital bed which meant no excercise. To say last year threw me off my game is an understatement. Considering I was told I may not make it, I have much to be grateful for. Every few months it's back to the hospital for testing and I still can't go back to a full workout routine yet.

With summer coming I want to have tons of energy because after a year in the hospital, I plan to go out everyday and take full advantage of the sun this summer! I knew I needed to find a way to get my metabolism going knowing full well that I can't yet go back to the workout routine I was enjoying in 2010 and 2011 (which included Zumba and Yoga).

I had actually seen the book on TV before I was invited to participate in this campaign and it had caught my eye. The one thing I've learned through the years is that Lifestyle Changes, (no matter what they are for, to break bad habits, learn new ones, incorporate meditation into your day), have to be logical and not too difficult to incorporate to be successful. From what I had seen this looked easy to do, and seemed to make sense for me with my many restrictions.

I am going to be totally honest, I tried this out and didn't follow it to the letter, but it's OK because I knew I probably wouldn't. My schedule is erratic and because of my varied obligations, it's ever changing. Events in NYC come with cocktails, food, appetizers and all kind of things that are not always what I was meant to be eating that day. And worse still meetings all day and events most evenings including weekends leave very little time for much of a workout routine anyway.

The Science behind The Fast Metabolism Diet is explained graphically on their website and it's worth taking a look at so you can get an idea of 'the HOW' behind the diet. As a single girl in the city I didn't have the problem of worrying about other people in the home not liking the meals, it was just me I had to worry about. Is that how I eat everyday? NO. So it was hard to get adjusted to. For me the biggest problem was the cutting back of refined sugars, I love my chocolate and my Ice Cream and I am NOT going to cut them completely out of my life.

I was excited to discover that some of the foods I already love like Lobster, Shrimp, Avocados, Cashews, Seaweed (Sushi anyone?), stimulate the release of fat-burning T4 and T3 hormones which create a thermogenic effect in the body, melting those hard fat stores and allowing them to be liquified by the Thyroid Hormones, burned for energy and released from the body. This burn boosts your metabolism!




I know what you are thinking by now, 'So Butterfly, Did it WORK?'. Yes it did. I did not lose 20 pounds, but I have a firm policy of not gauging my weight loss with the scale, I lost one dress size so far, and I have maintained that size, my underwear/lingerie are all so loose I have to get new stuff in a size down, and I am happy with that progress. I am not following it to the letter, but with the principles it outlines, and with me slowly but surely being able to become progressively more active I am sure I will be back to where I was in 2011 in no time.

We are happy to make this our first title for the return of the Book Club, and with the advent of swimsuit season upon us, I am happy to recommend this program as the kick start to a series of full Lifestyle changes that will help you get ready to put your best face forward this summer!

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Author Haylie Pomroy on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Follow  on Twitter

WIN IT

Our friends at She Speaks and The Fast Metabolism Diet want one lucky Ascending Butterfly reader to have the chance to kickstart and rev up their metabolism too!

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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FTC Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post for She Speaks/Fast Metabolism Diet. I received compensation and a complimentary copy of the book, the sponsor is also fulfilling to the giveaway winner. All opinions are 100% my own.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

I want to be #Latina health leader for @Hispanicize 2013 #UHCLatino #Hispz13



Ascending Butterfly was established in 2009 to create a space online that I couldn't find, one that shared motivational messages with an emphasis on breathing affirmational meditations. I love reading quote of the day type posts, but realized shortly after reading them I'd forget them. I wanted to find a way to make quotes, motivations and positive life lessons memorable, and the breathing affirmations helped to bring those to life and sharing not just the motivation and the breathing affirmation, but how I applied them in my day to day life gave me a true 'mind, body and soul' approach to wellness and wellbeing.

About two years later, I wanted to get myself in better shape and began including healthy changes in lifestyle that included recipe substitutions, getting more active (even incorporating my Wii and Wii Fitness into my daily routine) and had actually dropped 3 dress sizes and 26 pounds. Our most popular recipe substitution posts based on your views: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/07/healthify-your-summer-with-fage.html, and: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/07/healthify-your-summer-with-fage-recipe.html, and: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/08/healthify-your-summer-with-fage-recipe.html)




Things were going very well, both body, mind, and soul as well as physically, until New Years Eve, December 31st of 2011 I was experiencing severe pains in my lower chest region and couldn't lift one of my arms at all without being in agonizing pain. The ambulance of course assumed heart attack, but after a battery of testing and two days in the E.R., a specialist that is a 35 year veteran in her field, diagnosed with me a lung mass that they all felt was end stage cancer that had already spread to my bones (which would explain the pain near my rib cage) and that I had maybe hours at best to get my affairs in order. I was told I might not even  get to ring 2012 in, nevertheless see it end, and be here alive and kicking now in 2013.

I shared my journey here every step of the way. As a non-smoker (I mean like never even tried it) who has always lived a reasonably healthy lifestyle, my family and I were confused, devasted and rightfully so, angry.  I knew I had only one choice and that was to cast aside fear and with total faith, fight with every ounce of strength I had. (This post leads back to the whole saga and links to posts that outline what I experienced in more detail, it's called 'Thank You + Not Quite the way I had in mind to lose more weight')

And fight I have, I spent 2012 in and out of THREE different leading New York City Hospitals meeting with specialist after specialist across a variety of areas and teams. Each one more baffled by my case than the one before. In fact, 2 hospitals still use me as a case study and every doctor, from experienced to intern knows my story.

Sometimes my over a year nightmare seems like a blur, a distant and faded memory and some days it all comes back to me like a freight train. Today was a 'freight train' day for me, today it all came back to me as I was riding the express bus back from the city home and passed the hospital I stayed at most recently. I also go back to that hospital every 6 months for a repeat catscan, in fact I just had one recently.

I think of all the pain, the exploratory surgeries, particularly the one I woke up during and literally felt everything, and the care at the different hospitals both the good and bad. It sometimes seems surreal. Until something reminds you and brings it all flooding back.

When I got home and saw a post on the Hispanic Marketing and Online Media Facebook Group that United Healthcare is running an essay contest looking for someone to be a Latino Health Leader at this year's Hispanicize Conference, I literally jumped out of my chair because I knew it would be perfect for me!

At age 5 I spent most of Kindegarten in hospitals while my mother served as caregiver to both my grand-mother and great-grandmother, (her mother and grand-mother) who were both battling Cancer, as well as my Dad, all who passed within 3 months of each other. My mother, 'Mama Butterfly' as we call her around here, battled cancer twice, and she was by my bed in the E.R. when that specialist told me I wouldn't ring in another year.

Yet here I am not only still standing, but thriving, and I know for a fact that the healthy changes I had been making in my lifestyle well before all this started are what kept me alive.

It took me awhile to get the courage to share my story, but as flowers arrived to the hospital and my emails and social media pages were overloaded with messages to get well soon, and other readers were brave enough to share their battles with Breast Cancer and other life and death medical scares so that I would know I am not alone, I decided it was time for me to do the same. My story is a pretty unique one, so my dear butterflies don't allow yourself to be fooled by mis-conceptions, even the person who doesn't smoke, did NOT grow up in a house where they were exposed to second-hand smoke and living a healthy lifestyle can still end up in a hospital bed fighting for their lives!

I know I would make a powerful voice as United Healthcare's Latina Health Leader at Hispanicize, I was already well aware of how small but impactful lifestyle changes could improve things for the better, but after spending a year fighting for my life, now more than ever I truly understand that an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!

Check out this YouTube Segment called Hispanic Health on the Run:




There are mis-conceptions being brought to light in this video that not only affect the Hispanic Community but America at large! This nation and generation may very well be 'Super-Sizing' itself to death!

Oddly enough I had been invited to speak at Hispanicize this year on the topic of Lifestyle Blogging already, and somehow I saw this as a sign from the Universe that I really should challenge myself this year, and a sign I'm definitely meant to attend this conference! But with Medical Bills still very much being a huge battle for me to contend with, getting to Hispanicize is certainly going to take some help!

There is a quick and easy way to help support me as a nominee, it's as easy as copy and pasting this as a tweet:

I want @Tracy_Iglesias of @Ascending1 to be the #Latina health leader for @Hispanicize 2013 #UHCLatino #Hispz13

I think the Universe is telling me it's time to take my story from the behind the keyboard to in front of the public, and if it will motivate just one person to make the daily changes necessary to improve their habits and lifestyle then in my opinion it will be well worth it!

My path to well-being is ongoing, and I'm filled with gratitude because on this same day, one year to the date I was on my second hospital stay at a second hospital, being released in April just hours before my birthday. I have come such a long way from where I found myself just one year ago. And I tell you all the same thing, if I could overcome and triumph despite the obstacles I faced and still face, so can YOU Butterflies, seize every single day and every single opportunity that comes your way!

Latina Blogger

If you do tweet, please share the link to your tweet here as a comment!


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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received by Ascending Butterfly. However this post is an essay entry to a contest that offers the winner a chance to attend the Hispanicize 2013 Conference as a sponsored guest.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: My First Mammogram!





I recently posted about the P&G GIVE Hope Do It For the Girls Day of Action in conjunction with the #GIVEHope Campaign, where I participated live in a celebrity hosted twitter party that was hosted by E! News Anchor, Fashion Police Co-Host, Breast Cancer Survivor and New Mom Giuliana Rancic! If you missed that post, check it out HERE! The photo above is myself and a roundtable of bloggers that were invited to participate in a special roundtable and twitter party about Breast Cancer Awareness. (Ascending Butterfly is second from the left, Center is Giuliana Rancic and far right is Allison Maxwell, a P&G employee and the youngest survivor on the panel).

Last month I had my doctor give me a referral for my first ever Mammogram. but I got super busy and never went. I had to see my primary today for a routine check up and flu shot, and he was none to happy I let my referral lapse. His office was super pro-active and got me a SAME DAY appointment to get my first ever Mammogram done at the only Hospital in Manhattan to acquire the new ImageChecker Computer Aided Detection (CAD) system for use in breast cancer screening to assist radiologists in minimizing false negative readings during mammograms.

Because of the Medical Nightmare of a year I have already been contending with, to say I was 'nervous' is probably a HUGE understatement!

But from reception to the technician everything went really smoothly. And while I'm being pitched right now by every brand under the sun who slapped 'pink' on something and want you buy it, I thought the best way to truly inspire anyone is to be open, honest and truly up front about my own experience.




Giuliana was my inspiration to follow through, she is young and she discovered a tumor during a mammogram while undergoing another round of in-vitro fertilization in an effort to get pregnant. And even though I didn't want to deal with anymore imaging this year after all the tests I have been subjected to, her story, and then meeting in her person where she shared her story and allowed us all to ask her questions, any questions, and was so open and honest, her courage pushed me to move forward and stop putting it off.

I won't have the results for a few days, but I wasn't asked to wait which I take as a good sign, and it wasn't as horrible an experience as others had led me to believe. Is it fun? No, it's a bit uncomfortable, especially if you are well-endowed like I am, think of the pressure a bit like the blood pressure cuff they place on your arm when taking your vitals, except the pressure is being applied to an area a lot more sensitve to the pressure!

My technician was very patient and really did care enough to make sure I knew what to expect and felt comfortable every step of the way.

After getting the chance to interview survivors like Giuliana Rancic, Janelle Hail, chief executive officer and founder National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., and Allison Maxwell, breast cancer survivor and P&G employee (who was actually the youngest survivor on the panel that day) they made it clear that Breast Cancer does NOT discriminate. Youth does not protect you, neither does no family history of the disease, so ladies please do your self exams monthly, make sure your primary is doing an exam even if you are, and be PRO-ACTIVE and ASK your Doctor about when you should have your first exam. While normally the first one is scheduled for women 40 and over, if there is history in your family, if you find a lump you will need to have one sooner. Your survival rate increases with early detection, so ladies, do it for 'The Girls' AND do it for YOU!


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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received to share information regarding my Mammogram experience.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

@DuaneReade NEW Balance Rewards Program I made the SWAP! #DRBalanceRewards




This busy butterfly has been toying with changing her name from Ascending Butterfly to Social Butterfly and with good reason, all this running around and event hopping means certain things have been un-attended for awhile, like ahem, shopping for personal items! I've run out some essentials and decided it was time to kill two birds with one stone.

This is the first sign I saw as soon as I hit my local Duane Reade,  perfect reminder!

On September 16, the Duane Reade FlexRewards Program was converted to the Balance Rewards Program, and since I'm a Duane Reade VIP Blogger and Blogger Brand Ambassador, I had been meaning to swap out and switch to the new card WAY sooner, but my schedule has been absolutely insane, and while there are Duane Reade's nearly everywhere, I just hadn't had the time to stop in and actually do it.

Ever since my Medical Nightmare that began last year, I've upped my dietary supplements and vitamins, and realized that I was out of Krill Oil, and I was also out of Red Lipstick! Now red is my daily signature lip color, some people can pull it off, others can't, for me, it's a custom blend look that includes several different varieties of red colors and gloss that help me get to my desired shade. Aside from the heart health benefits of Krill Oil (which you also get from certain foods including Salmon, my personal favorite), I also find it gives me an energy boost. And I’m all for finding healthy ways to get a good energy boost! (Since my work out routine is still ammended dietary supplements are super important for me especially right now).

Another reminder, there was one on BOTH the left and right hand side of the store entrance!

I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to swap cards first, or make my purchases first, but I ultimately decided that it should be OK to just shop first and then do everything at the register. And it worked out just fine!

Bye Bye Old Friend! If cards could talk! Parting is such sweet, rewarding sorrow!

About Balance Rewards:


Getting Rewarded for Everyday Purchases Could Not Be Easier!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Balance Rewards keeps some of the most popular features of FlexRewards such as exclusive savings for members and the opportunity to earn points and redeem rewards, while giving customers even more benefits.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Balance Rewards program is now active at both Duane Reade and Walgreens. Duane Reade customers can now earn and redeem points at over 7,900 stores nationwide.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Customers can join Balance Rewards at any Duane Reade or Walgreens store at the checkout counter, pharmacy and photo kiosk. They can also sign up online at duanereade.com/balance or on their mobile phone via the upcoming Duane Reade Mobile Application due for release early 2013.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Duane Reade customers who join Balance Rewards will now be able to earn points and savings on thousands of items in store and online at www.walgreens.com.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Members can earn points for making healthy choices, including 10 points for every mile logged in the Walk with Walgreens program. You can earn points for walking up to 100 miles per month.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Duane Reade Balance Rewards members will also earn 10 points per $1.00 spent for every purchase of non-prescription vitamin, cough, cold, pain or sleep medication at stores located in NY, NJ or AR where points cannot be earned on pharmacy items due to regulations.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - AARP members will get exclusive 5 bonus point offers and 5,000 points when they spend $25 every month.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Duane Reade Flex Rewards program points will be converted to Balance Rewards and become available when customers join in the new program. 

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Duane Reade customers converting from FlexRewards will now have the opportunity to earn more bonus point offers on a weekly basis that can lead to a faster $5 reward redemption than ever before.

Points go further as you earn more.

Points earned
Reward
5,000
$5
10,000
$10
18,000
$20
30,000
$35
40,000
$50










Watch the Trailer to learn more:



Still have Questions? You can always reach Duane Reade's Customer Service and they will help you!







My Take:

It was super easy to make the swap, the cashier scanned my old card, there was some info that needed to be filled in and I gave it to her and she typed it in, and then I hit a button to confirm that the details were now correct and they handed me the new card and a smaller one to put on my keychain. I got enough bonus points + points with my first purchase post conversion to get a $5 reward that I could use on my next purchase, or I can just wait until I have a 1,920 more points to be able to get a $10 reward instead of a $5 reward, which is pretty cool! I like getting rewards for my day to day purchases, it makes my inner 'fab frugalista' super happy!

You can also see more photos from my 'swap mission' on google plus (where I am sure you are already following me right?)

Get Social With It:

Follow Duane Reade  on Twitter and ‘Like’ them on Facebook. Don’t forget to tell them you saw them Featured on Ascending Butterfly and that you made the switch! For more information, visit duanereade.com or youtube.com/duanereade

Butterfly Did You Make the NEW Balance Rewards Swap Yet?


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FTC Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric #DRBalanceRewards  I am a Duane Reade VIP Blogger and Ambassador which does entitle me to additional incentives. However, all opinions expressed  are 100% my own.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Mid Month Moment of Health with Guest Blogger Heather Askinosie! - 'Yoga, My Saving Grace'

We are super excited to bring you our first official 'Mid-Month Moment of Health' for 2011, with a very special Guest Blogger! We plan to bring you a special Health Related Post every month on the 15th, with rotating Guest Bloggers, feel free to reach out to us if you are interested in contributing an article! And as always we encourage you to comment and show our Guest Bloggers some love, make her feel welcome everyone!

~ Ascending Butterfly

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@Pablo Lomeli 2011

I have been doing yoga for the past 20 years and it has been my saving grace. Sometimes my practice has been strong, flexible and powerful, while other times it has been reflective, slow and gentle. The one constant is that yoga always gives me what I need at that moment. When you are on a spiritual journey life gives you lessons, obstacles, joy and many choices. Our current state of mind determines how we choose to handle each situation which arises.

If the mind controls the body, then the mind needs to be calm, clear and balanced, which is much easier said than done. However a great meditation will help the mind shift to a state of nothingness, and some days this works better than others. One of the main reasons I find yoga vital in my life is because I do not have time to think. Rather the act focuses on the breath and the expansion and after an hour and a half my perspective changes. Everything becomes more manageable and clear. My personal connection with the divine is reinstated and my connection with myself is more complete.

Yoga has taught me that some of the greatest things in life take multiple years to learn. Poses can be perfected but in time that too will change. Each day on my yoga mat is different because each day I show up I am different.

"Yoga has taught me to be kinder with myself and accept where I am right now in this moment." ~Heather Askinosie

Yoga is a healer, a teacher and one of the greatest gifts one can offer to yourself. After every class I thank my body for being healthy and allowing me to do the YOGA.

Namaste,



@Pablo Lomeli 2011
About the Author: Heather Askinosie's mission is to educate and reconnect the world to the ancient wisdom and healing properties of crystals and gems. She has traveled the world to learn ancient healing and uncover lost knowledge that serves to help guide the mind, body and spirit. Her jewelry line, Energy Muse, serves as a tool to help you tap into your inner power and manifest your desires.
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FTC Disclosure Information: This is not a sponsored post. No compensation has been received in conjunction with this guest post. This is a regular feature on our blog where rotating Guest Bloggers speak on the topic of mind, body and soul health and wellbeing. All opinions expressed by our Guest Bloggers are solely their own, as are the experiences they relay in their posts. Our Mid-Month Moment of Health does not offer Medical Claims, it is recommended that you check with your own physician regarding physical fitness and any form of excercise.