Monday, October 19, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and THREE giveaways!

What about ME?

Ask yourself this question DAILY.

YES DAILY. In fact, Twice daily would be better!

Preferably BEFORE your day begins and then again at the end of the day. Each day you give a bit of yourself away. A piece for the kids, one for your spouse, one for your family, one for your friends, one for your boss, one for your co-workers, one for your clients...well you get my drift! And reading this far tells me you get my drift all too well.

If you don't leave a piece of that energy that you share daily for yourself, you will burn out. So stop, and ask yourself "What about ME?"

What do you need in this moment? Maybe it's early am and right now your needs are as simple as a cup of coffee. Go get it and come right back. Maybe it's mid morning and you just realized you skipped breakfast and you are hungry. Good. Those are easy.

But maybe it's evening, and your day is done, and your needs are more profound. Identifying them is half the battle, writing them out forces your brain to formulate an action plan. That action plan will plant a seed of desire within you. The action plans that you carry out first will answer your questions for you!

Visiting your wants, needs and desires are by no means selfish. You can't give anything of value to anyone until you can give it to yourself first. Identify your needs today.

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 give MYSELF the first piece of energy I use today.'

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 Today's Words of Inspiration and Two Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

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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.

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.

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.

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Sunday, October 18, 2009 - This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and THREE giveaways!

Living in Gratitude

On Sunday, 'Today's Moment of Inspiration' becomes the weekly 'Moment of Gratitude'. While I do still live in Gratitude each and everyday, I decided to change this feature to a weekly to allow a full week of Inspirational messages and breathing meditations.

This week, I am grateful for:

1) Ascending Butterfly has been nominated for the Divine Caroline's Love! This Site Awards '09 For the 'Body and Soul' category! I am absolutely floored. I have been a long time reader of The Divine Caroline Website and consider them one of my daily sources of inspiration. My heart was certainly filled with gratitude to find out we were nominated. And more meaningful still, to find out it was an Ascending Butterfly reader who nominated us! Thank You! If you would like to vote for us, please click HERE! This is a one time vote and it's super fast, the best part is, voters will have a chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card, just for voting! How cool is that?

2) I also recently found out that I made it to the top 20 and final voting round in the 'I REALLY want my Beautyrest Mattress Contest'. This is a daily vote and it's also super fast, you can vote HERE

3) I am also a finalist in the "Good Mood Gig" Talent Search, all votes appreciated HERE (No worries my butterflies, I can manage BOTH!)

4) I'm also very grateful that work allowed me some great moments of fun this week! While covering the newly re-designed Beauty Counters at Bloomingdales in New York City, I had the opportunity to receive a very relaxing 'hand & arm massage' at the La Mer counter! Definitely a priceless experience for a blogger whose wrists take a beating on a daily basis. If you have the chance, (pls call for an appointment) ask for 'Anna', she left my hands and arms baby soft, and the 'Diamond Dust' used in the exfoliation process left me with quite a sparkle and shimmer! (Hopefully I can work with the great folks at La Mer on sponsoring a review and giveaway, I will keep you all posted!) I had never tried out La Mer before (I know, I know) and I now understand the cult following these products have, they are pricey, but oh so worth it! I now wish I had taken them up on their facial offer, but I didn't have time and think I will have to do that next time!

5) We are also grateful to launch Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group, now users can do more than just connect with the site, you can connect with one another too! Join our Ning Group HERE. One of my favorite Ning Group apps is the Twitter Tracker, up to the minute butterfly updates and great conversation!

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. 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 (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! 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 THREE giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

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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. There are 3 great giveaways today!

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 you also must include your email in your comment entry, we have to have a way to reach you if you win!

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 on twitter or on Networked Blogs is an extra credit step, for the main entry to process you must become a blog follower using google friends connect in addition to your comment. If your 'follower' name is different from your 'comment name', please mention that in your entry (and don't forget your email formatted for security purposes.)

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Today's Words of Inspiration - Never Fear Inspiration is HERE!

Be The Palm Tree!

Wow my butterflies! After a very short mini vacation over the Columbus Day Holiday Weekend, I've spent much of this week catching up on emails. Most from readers asking where the words of inspiration and focused breathing meditations went! I'm happy to say they are back today in full swing!

It's been quite a week! We had a winner this week in our SodaStream USA Penguin Starter Kit Soda Maker Giveaway, the lucky winner was reader 'heygip', congratulate him in the official winner announcement page HERE

And we have lined up some amazing giveaways, it's going to be an awesome winter season at Ascending Butterfly. Grab your favorite warm beverage and a throw blanket and curl up with your laptop. You are going to want to check in daily so you don't miss anything.

We have some very different giveaways coming up, not only in the variety of items, but HOW you can enter, but more on this later. (Hint: Those who have already joined the NING group have an advantage of staying in the know about what is coming a little earlier.....)

Because this week has forced me out of my routine in many ways I thought it would make a great focus for today's words of inspiration. Variation stimulates the mind and soul in so many ways. Change and adapting to that change helps you see things from a new perspective. That new perspective is where amazing growth and progress comes from. The weekend is a great time to break out of your rut! It's Friday, don't go straight home, go out after work today, go to a park, a museum, a movie, bowling, dancing; just go do something you normally wouldn't! (nothing destructive or you'll impede your own progress!) If you are not working and spend all your weekdays job hunting, cut the search short early today and go OUT. Meet up with an old friend for lunch. Re-connect with a sibling (in person!). Just don't go home and sit on the couch!

Obviously you can't go out every night after work, but you can make other changes in your day to day routine that will benefit you. For example you can turn in 15 minutes earlier and avoid the 3pm slump the next day at work. You can get up 10 minutes earlier and meditate. You can spend the whole day taking the stairs instead of the elevator. You can try a restaurant you've never eaten in before for lunch. You can take a walk around the neighborhood after dinner with  your family. You can change or add on an additional family game night.

Embrace change and be rejuvenated by it, buck it, and watch the house of cards come tumbling down! I often remembered hearing the story of the Palm Tree, how it sways both in warm, balmy breezes as well tropical storms, but doesn't break. So if someone asks you that 'getting to know you' quiz question and asks you what type of tree you are, don't easily be swayed by proclaiming yourself a mighty oak, consider becoming a go with the flow Palm Tree, the ones with the true longetivity. The ones that sway....come what may.

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 welcome, change, variation and a new way of thinking into my mind and into my life. I AM a Palm Tree.'

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 Today's Words of Inspiration and Two Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.

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.

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.

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Give Up The Ghost!

Thanks to our friends at the one2one network I had the chance to listen to Brandi Carlile’s new album “Give Up The Ghost”. I was already quite familiar with Brandi, and will have to admit I found myself quite excited to hear her latest release. A lot of you may remember the song ‘Turpentine’ – which featured in the smash-hit show ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. And others may remember Brandi’s legendary cover of Leonard Cohen’s 'Hallelujah'! The song 'Closer to You' (on the the self-titled debut album) is another one of my favorites.

She combines blues and soul with a nod to Bonnie Raitt and in some tracks on her new album I also hear a K.D. Lang influence, her voice is powerful and clear with a raw edge and a great delivery that makes you want to sing along. There are no 'skippable' tracks on this one! There are however two tracks that stand out for me, the first single off the album 'Dreams' as well as the track 'Looking Out'.

Tracklisting
Looking Out
Dying Day
Pride And Joy
Dreams
That Year
Caroline
Before It Breaks
I Will
If There Was No You
Touching The Ground
Oh Dear

Upcoming shows:

Oct 16 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre

Oct 17 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern

Oct 20 San Francisco, CA Fillmore

Oct 22 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Oct 24 Seattle, WA The Paramount

For those of you that are Amazon lovers, like I am, you can order the album directly on Amazon by clicking below!

You can fan Brandi on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/brandicarlile

What's your favorite Brandi Carlile song??

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Special Announcement - New York Readers Take Note!

Clarins, the plant based skin care expert, will unveil a new beauty counter at Bloomingdale's 59th Street in New York City from October 15th-25th. Explore the new world of Clarins and experience a series of special beauty events including complimentary Skin Time Facial Treatments, exclusive classes, and beauty parties!

Each visitor at the new Clarins counter will be given a package of sunflower seeds to take home to plant and make NYC more beautiful.

Clarins beauty events will feature:

• Guest speakers including Clarins worldwide skin care expert Rose Marie Castano, who was personally trained by Clarins founder, Jacques Courtin-Clarins. Aline Hebert, VP of Clarins Education, will also provide skin care tips, techniques and quick fixes using Clarins “must-have” products
• Master classes lead by Aline and Rose Marie, among other guests, that will help women learn how to master the art of caring for their skin with tips, techniques and quick fixes using Clarins “Must-Have” products, including the buzzed-about Multi-Active Day
• In-store Beauty Parties where you can play with make-up while learning how to look and feel fabulous. Visitors can indulge in a skin care "Beauty Break" while sipping refreshments and sampling sweet treats
• Personal skin care consultations with complimentary Skin Time Facial Treatments
• Opportunities for visitors to browse the more modern and open counter space, experiment with skin care and play with color, and receive an exclusive gift* with any Clarins purchase.

Anyone interested in taking part in the events listed below is asked to RSVP via the official Clarins Facebook page,  which will allow you to stay up-to-date on any developments as they happen. You can also follow Clarins on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates.

Clarins Event Calendar:

10/15 – Kick Off Beauty Party

10/16 – Beauty Party

10/17 – Beauty Party

10/18 – Superior Skin Care Secrets Master Class: hosted by Joseph Favilla

10/19 – Meet the Expert: Rose Marie Castano

10/20 – Meet the Expert: Rose Marie Castano

10/21 – Studio Master Class: hosted by Rose Marie Castano

10/22 – Meet the Expert: Aline Hebert

10/24 – Halloween Beauty Party: Get into the trick-or-treat mood!

10/25 – Halloween Beauty Party

**Schedule your appointment today, the direct event page for the kickoff day is HERE!

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Editors Product Pick:

Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correcting Lotion SPF 15. I received this product to review and thought I'd select is as an Editor's Product Pick today. (I am hoping we can arrange for a giveaway with Clarins soon!) If you are planning to attend the multi day events at Bloomingdales, you should pick one of these up! You all know how important I feel day mouisturizers with SPF are. My aunt battled with Skin Cancer, and she reminded me of the importance of taking good care of my skin and protecting it from the harmful rays of the sun, even in winter!! And I want to be sure that I remind you to do the same every opportunity I get! An investment in your health and protection is completely invaluable!

What it is:

A treatment that guards against UV damage and visibly corrects early signs of aging.

What it is formulated to do:

Fight those first lines and wrinkles with Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correcting Lotion SPF 15, a powerful, protective innovation that targets emerging evidence of age to restore a youthful, healthy-looking complexion. Keep imperfections at bay with this formula's dermal-epidermal junction repair and radiance-boosting action. Reinforcing the skin with directly delivered, continuous antioxidant defense, this high-performance essential delivers corrective and enhancing effects that show.

What else you need to know:

This cutting-edge must-have is dermatologist tested and noncomedogenic.
 
I hope to see YOU there!
 
---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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Winner Announcement!

Congratulations to 'heygip' the winner of Ascending Butterfly's SodaStream USA Penguin Soda-Maker Starter Kit!

Thank you to our wonderful sponsor, SodaStream USA for an amazing giveaway, we look forward to working with you again!

*Remember, there is still time to win the new CD by Harry Connick, JR. 'Your Songs' by going HERE

*There is also time to win our October Book Club of the Month Title 'America Libre' by Raul Ramos Y Sanchez, note this is an ENGLISH title, you can win by going HERE

*You can also win a Select Comfort Mattress Topper of your size choice by pressing HERE

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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Five for Fighting is Back!

Five For Fighting is back with their next great album "Slice" full of finely-crafted songs by @JohnOndrasik (Twitter). The Album will be released October 13 and features the single "Chances". You can Watch John's performance of "Chances" on the CBS early show HERE.

First single “Chances”  with lyrics like “Until you crash what have you done/Is there a better bet than love.”, is described by John who says “It’s all about taking the swing—there’s beauty in the scars.” - Sometimes it's the simplest truth that tends to elude us for awhile and it takes that fresh way of presenting it that helps it to finally stick. Music has always been such a powerful force for me. Bet that on most days you can remember the lyrics in their entirety to your favorite songs, but invariably you'll forget something important at the supermarket! LOL

I'm sure that like me, many of you out there have been a fan of Five for Fighting since you first heard ‘Superman' and ‘100 Years'.  While written and released well before 9/11, “Superman” has endeared Ondrasik to the survivors and families of those lost in that tragedy, as well as to servicemen serving around the world. As a New Yorker, the track 'Superman' certainly does hold powerful memories for me.

Ondrasik also conceived and produced For the Troops, a series of compilations featuring superstar recording artists that are available for free to every active service member in the U.S. Armed Forces (the forthcoming collection, For The Troops III, will feature comedians exclusively). Ondrasik’s charity work doesn’t stop there. His site, whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com collects money for various charities. Living in a society that can get wrapped up in celebrity and fame, it very much warms my heart to see those who use this celebrity to help and benefit those in need. Way to Go John!

Ascending Butterfly in conjunction with the One2One Network was recently given the opportunity to review "Slice" at just the perfect time. As most of you know, Ascending Butterfly offices were closed for the holiday weekend (although I will admit, I was forced to push my own advice to the side and make it a working holiday anyway!). I went on an impromptu road trip over the Columbus Day Holiday Weekend and this album certainly became the perfect soundtrack to that journey! As we got farther from the hustle and bustle of the city and the scenery changed to the trees covered in a robe of fall leaves, John's voice became another friend in the car and 'Slice' had my un-divided attention in a way that nothing usually does when I'm sitting at my desk or I'm writing.

I am certainly grateful for the opportune timing (nothing better than new music for a long road trip!), but I am happy to say I really enjoyed the album! Standout Tracks for me are 'Slice', 'Hope', and 'Story of Your Life'.  The entire album takes you along for a journey, that journey will often-times mirror your own so well, it will feel like hanging out with that friend you've known forever.

You can lock in a great pre-order price on Amazon below:

Album Tracklisting:


1. Slice
2. Note To The Unknown Soldier
3. Tuesday
4. Chances
5. This Dance
6. Above The Timberline
7. Transfer
8. Hope
9. Story Of Your Life
10. Love Can't Change The Weather
11. Augie Nieto

TV Appearances:

The View 10/14
The Today Show 10/16

Tour Dates:

John will be hitting the road in October with An Acoustic Evening with Five For Fighting. The songs are great on record, even better live! Definitely a show worth seeing! To find out about how to get tickets in a market near you, go to his site.

18-Oct Toronto, ON El Mocambo
20-Oct New York, NY City Winery
22-Oct Bay Shore, NY (Long Island) YMCA Boulton Center
23-Oct Uncasville, CT The Wolf Den
24-Oct Washington, DC Jammin Java
26-Oct Boston, MA The Paradise
27-Oct Philadelphia, PA World Café Live (downstairs)
29-Oct Nashville, TN The Belcourt
30-Oct Chicago, IL Lakeshore
3-Nov Salt Lake City, UT The State Room
5-Nov Seattle, WA Crocodile
6-Nov Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
10-Nov San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall
11-Nov Los Angeles, CA Largo at the Coronet
Five For Fighting on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fiveforfighting
Five For Fighting Videos on YouTube: http://bit.ly/FFFYouTube

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Harry Connick Jr 'Your Songs', CD Review and Giveaway!

Congratulations Ascending Butterfly follower, 'VJ ~ vantalee' winner of the Harry Connick Jr 'Your Song's CD!  Don't forget to enter our current giveaways listed on the upper right hand side of the page where it says 'WIN HERE'. Good Luck Everyone and congrats to our newest Ascending Butterfly Giveaway Winner!
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Ascending Butterfly wants to add a little music to your Holiday Weekend!

As you may remember we were given the opportunity to provide readers with a review of Harry Connick Jr 'Your Songs', CD, you can read the full review HERE

The One2One Network has generously arranged for one lucky Ascending Butterfly reader to win a copy of their very own!

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WIN IT! - 1 reader will receive a copy of Harry Connick Jr's new CD, 'Your Songs'.

How to Win: You must be a follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. In addition, please share your favorite Harry album or song!

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 on twitter or on Networked Blogs is an extra credit step, for the main entry to process you must become a blog follower using google friends connect in addition to your comment. If your 'follower' name is different from your 'comment name', please mention that in your entry (and don't forget your email formatted for security purposes.

Please 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 blogger profile has your email you can just indicate this in your entry. If your comment name, and your follower name are different, please indicate this as well.

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, so no worries if your comment doesn't appear on the site right away. This giveaway is open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, but you must follow this blog for your entry to count. You have from now until Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. Winner will be announced shortly after Thursday, October 22th! Giveaway open to USA only, 18+.

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

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

* Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a comment. (you can do this DAILY)

* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

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

* Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

* Follow Harry on Facebook HERE

* Please vote for Ascending Butterfly on Divine Caroline's Love! This Site Award '09 for the Body and Soul category, you can press into the badge on the upper right hand site of the page or click through HERE, there is a Vote button right under the description. (it's a one time only, super fast, super easy vote, and here is the best part, people who vote are also going to receive a chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card just for voting!)

* Please vote for Tracy from Bronx, NY to win in the the Nature Made SAM-e Complete®
Good Mood Gig Talent Search! Press HERE  (Vote for me purple button right next to the blue butterfly)

*Please vote for me on the Simmon's I REALLY want my BeautyRest Mattress contest here, I am a finalist thanks to the voters (thank you!) this is the last leg and I really need your help readers, vote HERE

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Make your special little someone's happy!

Ascending Butterfly in conjunction with the One2One Network is proud to introduce (or re-introduce, we should say!) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition!

Now as many of you already know, game night is usually Friday nights here, and it consists of friends and family, our favorite video games (which I won't mention which platform/system here just in case the competition wants us to review theirs, LOL!), loads of snacks, and yes soft drinks too!

This week I received Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack! This is brilliant, you get both a Blu-Ray and a traditional DVD of the movie for about the same price of just a plain DVD. This allows the Blu-Ray to stay in the home theater room/living room and the traditional DVD can be used in any other room, and let's not forget the car, perfect companion for long car trips!

My nieces were so excited we moved up 'game' night and changed it to movie night! I will admit the grown ups were equally excited to re-visit a classic favorite from our youth. (Ladies aren't we all still secretly waiting for that prince? LOL) We screened the Blu-Ray which boasts first time ever High Definition 7.1 sound, it truly felt like we were out at a movie theater! The kiddies loved it!

What is the Limited Diamond Edition?

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition includes a Blu-ray disc and a DVD in one package! You can enjoy the incredible high definition experience of Blu-ray at home, and use the DVD in the kids' room, in the car, or on your computer. Disney Blu-ray Combo Packs are the perfect way to start your Blu-ray collection!

Not only will you get the classic tale of Snow White in this 2-disc special, it comes with plenty of extras:

• First time ever in High Definition 7.1 sound
• All new music video!
• Disneyview - Expanded viewing experience
• Disney Family Plan – games for everyone to enjoy
• Backstage Disney – go behind the scenes of this legendary tale
• Classic Bonus features include Dopey’s Wild Mine Ride Game, Karoke Sing A Long, and so much more

This is a must-have addition to any contemporary family's movie library and it's only available for a limited time!

What is Disney Blu-Ray?

The revolutionary new Diamond Edition provides the highest-level viewing experience, immersive interactivity, unprecedented value, quality, and versatility with the exceptional picture and sound of Blu-ray and the extended utility of DVD. Upgrading to Blu-ray offers you technology on more scratch resistant and kid-proof discs and Blu-ray players play both Blu-ray discs and your favorite DVDs.

 

And, if you already own Snow White on VHS or DVD, click here to grab a $10 off coupon for the new Diamond Edition Combo Pack! Offer is only good until October 20, but starting this fall Disney will introduce their Blu-ray Upgrade program so you will be able to upgrade other Disney titles in your library too!

 
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NOTE: Ascending Butterfly Offices will be Closed from Thursday, October 08, 2009 through Monday, October 12, 2009. There will be no new postings. We will be back on Tuesday, October 13, 2009. We wish our readers a very happy,  healthy Columbus Day Weekend!

 
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Best Blog Award - Chain of Love

Kim at Shop With Me Mama awarded MKOKOPELLI the Best Blog Award along with 9 others, to accept the award, the winning blog has to pick 10 blogs, they think are great, and MKOKOPELLI chose Ascending Butterfly as one of the 10! I am honored!

Here are my 9!

1. MKOKOPELLI - we share a love winged creatures!  :)
2. New York Chica - we share a love of New York City and are both sassy, uber viral Latinas!
3. Raging Rouge - we share a love of all things fab!
4. barefootmommies.com - I totally appreciate the sense of humor!
5. Alice - they heart household products, and so do I, for 'suits' they are not so bad! Alice's blog has great giveaways :-)
6. one meaning couture - ok they are not exactly a blog, but they are just so good they do belong here!
7. Engadget - I'm not even sure if they are officially a blog or not, but I'm a tech head and Engadget has been a part of my daily reading for quite awhile now!
8. Gaiam Life Stream of Consciousness - They just plain rock!
9. - Prissy Green - even though we are nominated in the same category at Divine Caroline's Love! This Site Awards '09, I still love them anyway!

The Best Blog Award rules are:

1) To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 10 other blogs that you have recently discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award. (--I hope posting on Facebook counts as letting each blogger know! Ok I promise I will try to let them all know individually. :)

What a great way to start my Wednesday!

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Book Review: 'Once In A Blue Moon' A Novel by Elieen Goudge

Good Read in ANY Moon!

When the One2One Network reached out to me and asked me if I would be interested in reading and reviewing a new book release titled 'Once In A Blue Moon' by Eileen Goudge, I didn't know what to expect.

When I received it the cover art made me think 'uh oh is this a romance type novel where someone will invariably have 'heaving bosoms' and be laying around on a chaise lounge in 'breathless anticipation' LOL Too my delight, it is NOT that type of novel!

Synopsis:

Sisters Lindsay and Kerrie Ann have known hardship from an early age. Without guidance from their neglectful mother, their only aid came from an unlikely source, a retired exotic dancer by the name of Miss Honi Love. When the girls' mother was sent to prison, Miss Honi tried unsuccessfully to save them from being separated and sent into foster care.

Thirty years later, Lindsay is still trying to reconnect with her sister. The owner of a bookstore in the sleepy California seaside town of Blue Moon Bay, she was lucky enough to have been adopted by a loving couple. Unbeknownst to her, Kerrie Ann has suffered a very different life. Bounced from one foster home to the next, she ran away as a teenager before becoming a drug-addicted single mother. Now, newly sober, Kerrie Ann is fighting to regain custody of the little girl who was taken from her.

Neither sister's expectations are met when they're finally reunited. But as the two sisters engage in the fiercest battles of their lives, they are at last drawn together despite their differences, restoring belief in the unshakable bond of family.

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Statement from the Author about the Novel:

"Set in a fictional coastal town in Northern California, where I grew up, it's the story of two sisters separated at a young age, who reunite in adulthood. There's drama aplenty as well as mishaps, misunderstandings and general mayhem. Not to mention romance, which the sisters find in the unlikeliest of places.

As one of five sisters in a family of eight, I know the territory! In fact this, my thirteenth novel, is dedicated to my sister Patty, who lives in the real-life town of Half Moon Bay, California. (Okay, so I borrowed ...but isn't that what sisters do?)"

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Do you remember the TV series, 'Cheers'? The opening song to the show remind us 'sometimes you wanna go, where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came' and this book reminds me of Cheers! The characters are comfortable, well written, you can not just 'picture' them clearly, but you can feel like you are really there, have always known them and are really a part of the action, truly a part of their lives in this richly crafted story. You find that you immediately care, and you are invested in finding out what happens to them all.

In this economy where bleakness surrounds us on a daily basis, a tale of the unshakeable bonds of love and David beating Goliath feels kind of like a warm blanket on a cold day. I found it hard to say goodbye to the characters when the story was done, and that for me is one of the factors that constitute a good read. This is my first Eileen Goudge title, and most certainly won't be my last. (Now if I could only get Jeff Bezos to send me a Kindle to evaluate, I'd fill it with Eileen's titles to catch up with on the morning commute!).

'Once in a Blue Moon' is available in stores today, October 06, 2009. I would highly encourage you to add this title to your collection. I have a strong feeling it will be one of those books you won't want to 'lend out'.

Eileen's website: http://www.eileengoudge.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eileen-Goudge/132678273034?ref=search&
Twitter: http://twitter.com/eileengoudge


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Monday, October 05, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and THREE giveaways!

Cut it Out

Name one thing you are doing that consistently makes you unhappy. What is one thing you are doing that is hurting you instead of helping you?

Don't list them all. Bad habits creep into your routine slowly over time. That is how you need to eliminate them. Slowly, over time.

Is it procrastination? Is it bad sleep patterns? Is it that late snack attack? Well, Cut it Out! Now! Remember eliminate just one thing first. Once you've eliminated that habit or that thought pattern that is holding you back, then and only then, should you tackle another.

If you are staying up too late, start going to bed one hour earlier. If you are procrastinating on a project, devote 10 minutes a day to that project alone allowing yourself  no distractions until it's done. When you tackle that project, or eliminate that habit, you'll feel one million times better about yourself. A million times better about life. The more habits you change for the better, the more energy you will have to devoting to the life you really should be living.

I know you have already asked yourself the 7 questions, but if you need a reminder, look HERE.

Let's work on trying to eliminate the bad habits and excuses together. Halloween is around the corner, and around the corner from that is Thanksgiving and around the corner from that is Christmas and you know what comes next.....Yes that's right New Years Eve. The night many of us spend writing out resolutions. How about working toward New Year's Eve by eliminating those excuses NOW, by changing thought patterns and behaviors that no longer serve your highest good NOW.

If we can eliminate them together well before that date, you'll be in the best shape ever emotionally and spiritually to make 2010 the best year of your life!

Does it seem surreal that it will soon be 2010? It surely does for me!

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 change the thought patterns, behaviors and excuses that impede me from living my life to it's fullest.'

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 at Twitter:

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

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

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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. There are 3 great giveaways today!

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 you also must include your email in your comment entry, we have to have a way to reach you if you win!

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 on twitter or on Networked Blogs is an extra credit step, for the main entry to process you must become a blog follower using google friends connect in addition to your comment. If your 'follower' name is different from your 'comment name', please mention that in your entry (and don't forget your email formatted for security purposes.

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Sunday, October 04, 2009 - This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and THREE giveaways!

Living in Gratitude

On Sunday's, 'Today's Moment of Inspiration' becomes the weekly 'Moment of Gratitude'. While I do still live in Gratitude each and everyday, I decided to change this feature to a weekly to allow a full week of Inspirational messages and breathing meditations.

This week, I am grateful for:

1) Ascending Butterfly has been nominated for the Divine Caroline's Love! This Site Awards '09 For the 'Body and Soul' category! I am absolutely floored. I have been a long time reader of The Divine Caroline Website and consider them one of my daily sources of inspiration. My heart was certainly filled with gratitude to find out we were nominated. And more meaningful still, to find out it was an Ascending Butterfly reader who nominated us! Thank You! If you would like to vote for us, please click HERE!

2) Thanks to our friends at Hay House Radio, I had the opportunity to attend Dr. Wayne Dyer's NYC stop of his Excuses Begone! Tour, you can get more information about remaining cities in the tour HERE. To say it was enlightening would probably be an understatement, but the opportunity to sit a conference room of 3,000 other inspiration seekers filled me a new sense of energy and the talk most certainly renewed my enthusiasm for creating positive change.

3) I'm also grateful to bring back Ascending Butterfly's Book Club this month, you can enter for this month's title HERE.

4) We are also grateful to launch Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group, now users can do more than just connect with the site, you can connect with one another too! Join our Ning Group HERE. One of my favorite Ning Group apps is the Twitter Tracker, up to the minute butterfly updates and great conversation!

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. 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 (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! 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 THREE giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

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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. There are 3 great giveaways today!

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 you also must include your email in your comment entry, we have to have a way to reach you if you win!

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 on twitter or on Networked Blogs is an extra credit step, for the main entry to process you must become a blog follower using google friends connect in addition to your comment. If your 'follower' name is different from your 'comment name', please mention that in your entry (and don't forget your email formatted for security purposes.

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Ascending Butterfly Book Club Returns! October Book Club Title: 'America Libre' by Raul Ramos y Sanchez - Enter to win an Autographed Copy!

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THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Our winner has been notified, upon verification, winner announcement will be posted both here and on our home page! Check your emails, it could be YOU!

Remember, we have three current giveaways posted on the upper left hand side of the page. And Stay tuned for our November Book Club Title of the Month!
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Enter to win an Autographed Copy of America Libre

The Ascending Butterfly book club took a one month hiatus, and is now back in full force! Not only are we back, we are back with an Autographed Copy, and we are back with a page turning title!

Synopsis

Time: The second decade of the twenty-first century. As the immigration crisis reaches the boiling point, once-peaceful Latino protests explode into rioting. Cities across the nation are in flames. Anglo vigilantes bent on revenge launch drive-by shootings in the barrios, wantonly killing young and old. Exploiting the turmoil, a congressional demagogue succeeds in passing legislation that transforms the nation’s teeming inner-city barrios into walled-off Quarantine Zones. In this chaotic landscape, Manolo Suarez is struggling to provide for his family. Under the spell of a beautiful Latina radical, the former U.S. Army Ranger eventually finds himself questioning his loyalty to his wife—and his country.

Would you like a sneak peak?

The author has generously placed chapter one on his site, you can read the first chapter of America Libre HERE.

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A Statement By The Author

Could it happen here?

When I began writing America Libre in 2004, some thought the book’s premise was unrealistic. An uprising by Hispanics? The idea seemed far-fetched, they said. Today, as the rhetoric over immigration grows more heated, the skeptics are no longer so certain. I posed the nightmare scenario of America Libre as a wake up call to the dangers of extremism—on both sides of this explosive issue. Illegal immigration is a hotly debated topic. Yet it is only the tip of the iceberg. Over the next decade, three other factors will prove equally significant. Some of the volatile conditions presented in America Libre have already surfaced. I hope my abilities as a prophet end here. But the potential for a widespread conflict lurks behind every escalation of our current war of words.

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This book already has the imagination of many readers thinking 'big screen', myself included. The writing really paints the full picture. You feel like you are there. You want to be there! You are yelling at the characters, you are warning them, and this is just with the book! Can you imagine the reactions in the theater? I've read many books both before and after they have become a feature film, with very few did I find myself caring so much about the casting. In this case however, I do.  The author must have anticipated this because there is a chance to play Hollywood Casting agent on the site, allowing you to pick which person in hollywood should play which character from the book. So after you finish this title, head over and vote, play hollywood casting agent for a day HERE. (I've often thought I'd make a great casting agent!)

Now I will say, some of the choices posted so far I can see, others I can't but I do know who should play the character named 'Nesto', anyone who watches the cable television series 'Weeds' will agree that Guillermo Díaz who portrays character Guillermo García Gómez on the show would make a perfect Nesto! If anyone can pull off street smart, wily and with a sly sense of humor, it's him!

I can't get enough of talking about this book, and the book has a very interesting 'Reading Group Guide' I'd love to discuss some of the topics in the guide, and will post a new topic each week!

This week's Topic: Characters

1) Who Was Your Favorite Character? Why?
2) Who Was Your Least Favorite Character? Why?
3) What emotions drove Mano's conversion from loyal citizen to insurgent?
4) Do you think Mano's actions were immoral? Why or Why Not?
5) Under the same circumstances as Mano, what would you have done differently?
6) How did Mano's view of their rebellion differ from the views of Jo and Ramon?
7) What experiences ultimately radicalized Rosa?
8) Do you think Rosa's reaction to her predicament differed from that of a mainstream American Woman? If so, How?

I would love to hear from you! Please post your answers to these questions in this thread. This thread will serve both as a discussion guide for those reading along, as well as the place to leave your entries for the book.

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WIN IT! - 1 reader will receive an AUTOGRAPHED COPY of the book.

How to Win: You must be a follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. In addition, please share your impressions of Chapter one of the book which you can read online HERE! Comments that don't follow these instructions, or just say enter me will NOT be entered into the giveaway!

Please 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 blogger profile has your email you can just indicate this in your entry. If your comment name, and your follower name are different, please indicate this as well.

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, so no worries if your comment doesn't appear on the site right away. This giveaway is open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, but you must follow this blog for your entry to count. You have from now until Monday, November 02, 2009 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. Winner will be announced shortly after Thursday, November 5th! Giveaway open to USA only, 18+.

EXTRA CREDIT:

* Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment
* Follow me @Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter (this is ascendingbutterfly’s editor) and give me your twitter ID in a comment
* Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a comment. (you can do this DAILY)
* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment
* Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment
* Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog
* Follow the author on Facebook HERE
* Become a Facebook fan of AMERICA LIBRE HERE
* Follow the author on Twitter HERE
*NEW: Join Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group HERE

* Please vote for Ascending Butterfly on Divine Caroline's Love! This Site Award '09 for the Body and Soul category, you can press into the badge on the upper right hand site of the page or click through here, there is a Vote button right under the description. (it's a one time only, super fast, super easy vote, and here is the best part, people who vote are also going to receive a chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card just for voting!)

* Please vote for Tracy from Bronx, NY to win in the the Nature Made SAM-e Complete® Good Mood Gig Talent Search! Press HERE (Vote for me purple button right next to the blue butterfly)

*NEW: Please vote for me on the Downy Simple Pleasures Next Scent Contest. My scent is called 'Ascending Butterfly' of course, LOL. You can scroll down to the bottom of this page, and press 'Vote' on the widget below, it's super fast and super easy! (You can do this daily and get credit for voting daily!)

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Thursday, October 01, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and TWO giveaways!

Excuses Begone!

My apologies my lovely Butterflies, there were no words of inspiration yesterday, but I fully intend to make it up to you today!

 

Yesterday I had the amazing privilege to join up with Dr. Wayne Dyer's 2009 Live Tour called,  'Excuses Begone! - How to Change Lifelong Self-Defeating Thinking Habits' at the Jacob Javitz center in NYC. 3,000 people in one conference room sharing one purpose, learning how to put an end to the excuses and negative self dialogue in our heads. The energy was amazing!

 

I want to share the Tour Description for a very specific reason, this description contains 7 questions, seven life altering questions, if you will only invest a moment in yourself to answer them. Make answering these questions honestly your moment of inspiration and meditation today. Or use them as inspiration for a journal entry tonight.

 
Tour Description

In these all-new lectures, Wayne will take you through the seven questions that constitute the Excuses Begone paradigm, and show you how it worked for him and how it can work for you. By examining the support system that a person has erected over a lifetime and putting those timeworn thoughts through the seven steps in this paradigm, excuses begin to fade away and are replaced with thoughts that speak fervently, almost shouting, Yes, you can change any excuse pattern, no matter how long or how pervasive the conditioning process has been! Wayne has seen people change from a lifetime of being overweight or addicted to all manner of substances by simply applying the principles inherent in the Excuses Begone approach to life.

During these profound, life-changing lectures you’ll explore the seven questions of the Excuses Begone paradigm shift:

• Is it true?
• Where did the excuses come from?
• What’s the payoff?
• What would my life look like if I couldn’t use these excuses?
• Can I create a rational reason to change?
• Can I access universal cooperation in shedding old habits?
• How do I continuously reinforce this new way of being?

If you are truly serious about changing any long-established habits of thought that have led you to use excuses as your rationale for staying on the same self-defeating path, then you are encouraged to follow the principles and practices presented in these all-new lectures!

Discover a new way of changing old thinking habits!

For being in a room filled with 3,000 attendees, it was a very warm and intimate evening. We learned a great deal about the man behind the books. The Human Being. Or as he would probably prefer, 'the spiritual being having the human experience.'

 

He is a 69 year old father of Eight, who began his life in an orphanage, who over came a tremendous amount of personal battles in his life, yet he always knew not only what he could be, but he would be. He shared a story about having the following words outside one of his homes for many years 'You are going to have an attitude everyday, pick a good one!' It reminds me of the mantra I share with you all daily 'Remember, Attitude really does determine Altitude.'

 

Another exploration, that  of Motivation vs. Inspiration, really stood out in my mind and I thought we'd also explore that here today. Motivation is when You take an idea, and don't let anything deter you from it and Inspiration is when an idea gets hold of YOU and doesn't let you go. So reader, are you motivated or inspired? Which do you want to be? I personally vary between the two at different times. I think most of us do. But is it more fulfilling to be inspired? Are there steps you can take to become more inspired?

 

The Voices In Your Head

 

Right now if I asked you to list what's wrong in your life, you could probably rattle off the list in one breath, almost without thinking right? Wayne gave a very strong reminder last night to 'stop putting attention on what you DON'T WANT. Stop discussing what is wrong. What is wrong in this moment, this day, this hour, this week, this month and this year. Don't give it energy. Don't give it intention. Don't allow it to take hold of you, to take root and to destroy what you are working so hard to build. A better you each and everyday really is possible.

 

Don't Feed The Spiritual Vampire

 

We all have one. That person who drains our energy. That person we least look forward to speaking with on a daily basis. Stop feeding them. Don't enable the negativity by participating in the talk. If you allow this person to drone on about everything wrong in their life, those things gain power, they continue to experience them, and that person's power to suck all the happiness out of a moment will just increase. And Who wants that??

 

Divine Relationships

 

We all want them, but how are we going about creating them? Wayne asked us to 'create divine relationships in our lives by elavating our concept of ourselves to a higher level.' Be what you want to attract. It really is that simple.

 

It would honestly take days to truly dissect the many topics that were covered in just over 4 hours. But I will say if you have the opportunity to see Dr. Wayne Dyer speak in your city TAKE IT. Those hours will be the absolute best investment in yourself that you could possibly make. It will be the biggest and best investment in your happiness and creating the future you truly deserve.

 

Aside from reminders to be careful about the influences we allow into our homes everyday, we were asked to take the last 5 minutes of our day everyday and 'assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled'. When we sleep, our subconcious minds have 8 hours to 'marinate' (his words readers!) in the last thoughts we go to bed with. Why not shape those thoughts ourselves? Why not give our minds 8 hours to 'marinate' on the life we want to create. The people we want by our sides, the jobs we want to be working on? Put those thoughts in your mind before bed and change your life from the inside. I began his advice last night. And I will say that I honestly tossed and turned way less than ever and woke up with a new level of excitement and energy. (I'm sure my clients are going to be thrilled!)

 

I highly recommend catching Wayne Dyer live, and there is still time to do so. Here are some upcoming appearances: You can go HERE to buy Tickets:

 
Chicago, IL 10/2/09 Chicago, IL Sold Out
Maui, Hawaii 10/23/09 Maui, HI
Phoenix, Arizona 11/13/09 Phoenix
Boston, MA 11/16/09 Boston Sold Out
Tampa, FL 11/20/09 Tampa

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 change my inner dialogue and put aside all of my own excuses into creating the life I desire for myself.'

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 Today's Words of Inspiration and Two Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

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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. There is still time to enter to win a soda-maker!

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 you also must include your email in your comment entry, we have to have a way to reach you if you win!

Our September Book Club Title 'America Libre' by Raul Ramos y Sanchez will be launching shortly!

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