Highlights from May 2013 @beautypress #SpotlightDay in New York City! Hot #Beauty Products all in one place!

I don't think it's ever taken me this long to post a Beauty Press Spotlight Day recap, but I cannot begin to explain how insane my schedule really is lately. As usual, Beauty Press delivered a ton of great brands directly to us, which is great. Editors/Bloggers get a ton of event invites, and it's just not possible to attend them all, so going to an event where multiple brands come to you is just a no-brainer to begin with. It saves me a ton of time to meet 10 brands at once, and so far I've discovered a ton of new favorites this way as well.

Just some atmosphere at the venue Midtown Loft in New York City

I will present them all to you in Alphabetical Order:

Balanced Guru's Sign at Beauty Press Spotlight Day at Midtown Loft in New York City

Balanced Guru - Unfortunately this is the one brand I got the least amount of time with and despite being in the morning session they were out of samples when I got to them so I can't really say too much about them, but I was impressed that they offer Certified Organic Choices! We will definitely invite them to come back and work with us so I can give you an actual product *review* :-)

BeingTrue Cosmetics Display at Beauty Press Spotlight Day at Midtown Loft in New York City

Being True - I love this tagline, it sums them up (and me up) in a nutshell 'Explore the difference between simply being and BeingTRUE.' Isn't that the balance we all try to strike each and every single day? I love cosmetics and skincare that do something good for your skin while helping you to put your best face forward. I really liked the folks at Being True and they have sent me a Cosmetics Bundle of Love to play with, so stay tuned for full product features, and who knows, maybe we can finagle something great for YOU too butterflies! What we tested while we were there and they also provided samples in the gift bags was the 'finishing touch perfecting pen'. With this beauty 'pen' you can write fine lines off, immediately erase signs of fatigue, and brighten the skin, I definitely loved this product! It combines Instalift Goji derived from the Goji Berry (provides skin lifting and firming benefits), with Pomegranate and Malakite to help protect the skin against premature aging. If you don't get nearly enough sleep at night (like me), this pen is something you are going to want to keep in your purse, in your desk at work and in your vanity at home!

Sam Brocato at Beauty Press Spotlight Day at Midtown Loft and Terrace May 2013

Brocato - Sam Brocato's core philosophy is that beautiful hair design starts with the right cut and ends with the use of the right liquid styling tools and quite frankly I share that philosophy, without the right cut, even the most expensive styling products are of no use! You guys know I don't always win the battle of the frizz, in fact the event was held on a rainy, humid day and I wasn't quite having the best hair day that day, so I'm looking forward to trying out the great products that were in our gift bags including: supersilk Pure Indulgence Leave-In Treatment, swell volume Full Body Styling Clay (my hair type is fine so I like trying out products that add body and reduce that 'limp' appearance), supersilk Pure Indulgence Shampoo, actives Restorative Hair Infusion (I love that this one is equally effective for curly girls as it is for naturally straight hair, and can be used on wet hair before blow drying as a conditioning booster, and on dry hair before flat ironing to boost and seal in shine), and last but not least Back to the Beach Texturizing Mist. I have been testing another system so I haven't started on these yet, but I am definitely looking forward to it!

Columbia Antiseptic Powder and Columbia Healing Cream on display at Beauty Press Spotlight Day May 2013 at Midtown Loft and Terrace in New York City

Columbia - One of America's oldest family owned skincare product companies that has been developing medicinal treatments used by dermatologists, surgeons, estheticians, podiatrists and veterinaarians since 1871 presented their Antiseptic Powder and Healing Cream. Over the weekend I got my first ever sunburn and I can tell you that these products have come in handy! These definitely get my butterfly stamp of approval!

Left: Eve Pearl at work! Right: ME! Ascending Butterfly

Eve Pearl - is a 5-time Emmy Award winning celebrity Makeup Professional with over 18 years of experience in television, film, theatre and print. She also has the patience of a Saint. As I mentioned the event was held on a rainy and super humid day. Most everyone was mentioning how they were feeling sort of blah and while no one seemed to want to take pictures of themselves getting worked on, they were taking pictures of others instead which did NOT make me happy, it's a huge blogger pet peeve of mine in fact. In my opinion while at an event you shouldn't just take pictures of other bloggers and use them on your site. Granted sometimes you can't help it, you are trying to get a shot of a speaker and get people's heads, but that's not what I'm talking about, I'm talking about purposely snapping a direct on photo of someone who isn't purposely posing for it for you. We have no choice about the venue and event sponsor using our image, but the least we can do is respect one another!

You would think I was the celebrity because when I sat with Eve the amount of flashbulbs going off in my face was totally taking the fun out of the experience for me. And she picked up on that and asked people to stop taking pictures which I can't tell you how much I appreciate that she cared about me feeling comfortable. You can't quite feel 'beautiful' when you are feeling gawked at and super un-comfortable. And while I'm aware I'm probably the weirdest blogger on the planet in that I don't actually enjoy taking tons of pictures of myself or having my picture taken at all really, it really was taking away from the experience having everyone yelling which way to stare while trying to take in the invaluable tips and tricks she was giving me! The makeover she gave me was truly phenomenal, I actually hadn't experienced one that 'transformative' since my last one by Jane Iredale. Eve Pearl gave me a very subtle look that I really liked, it was transformative but in a way that didn't look put on, it was very natural and she was so nice that she really turned my day around! One of the products she used on me that day was the Dual Salmon Concealer Treatment (I am a 'Light/Medium'). I definitely LOVE this concealer. I rarely find one that is as effective as I'd like it to be with acne scarring and this one was fantastic! In fact here is my after picture with Eve:

Left: Eve Pearl, Right: ME! Ascending Butterfly - As you can see by the after, my acne scarring is very well concealed and she left my lip color (as you guys know I custom blend my own lip color and I find it quite flattering that most makeup artists tend to leave my lips alone) and she did a light, natural look on my eyes as well.

Eve was just all around awesome and I would definitely love to have her back on Ascending Butterfly!

I Coloniali - I Coloniali products are designed to offer an experience of beauty that embraces the body, the senses, and the emotions. They feature natural ingredients for the perfect balance for body and mind. They are where Spa Treatments meet the privacy of your own home. and while it was hard to pick a favorite from what I sampled on the spot, I fell in total ♥ with the Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh, it was a standout favorite and I will give it it's own day in the sun on these pages soon! While I requested the full size of this product because I'm totally obsessed with the scent, in our gift bags were also trial sizes of this product as well ast the Relaxing Bath Cream with Bamboo Extract, and the Velveting Hand Cream with Rice Bran Oil.

Juliet Stewart stands by her display at The Beauty Press Spotlight Day at Midtown Loft in New York City

Juliet Stewart - is the CEO of Juliet Stewart, a beauty and wellness company dedicated to teaching women about the power of their inner beauty. 

Left: Our very own 'Mama Butterfly' and Right: Juliet Stewart giving  an eyebrow shaping  to our editor

Juliet gave mama butterfly an eyebrow shaping and we also got to sample her parfum Juliet! Much like Eve Pearl, Juliet was warm, engaging, and super down to the earth, you can tell that she loves helping people bring their inner beauty to the light!

Left: Mama Butterfly Right: Andi from Mistura applies the 6-in1 Beauty Solution Pressed Powder

Mistura - Launched in 2008 and featured on National Television soon after, Mistura's 6-in-1 Beauty Solution multi-functioning pressed powder became an instant best-seller and I can see why! Mama Butterfly and I are very different in skin tone and this product worked equally well for both of us! Here is the after:

Andi from Mistura (left) applied the 6-in1 Beauty Solution Pressed Powder  on Mama Butterfly (right) during Beauty Press Spotlight Day at the Midtown Loft in New York City

Here is a shot of Andi proudly holding up her award winning product:

I was amazed how well this worked for a wide variety of skin tones, and I am not going to be happy when I run out of this that's for sure!

Osense Fragrant Sticks Incense on display at Beauty Press Spotlight Day May 2013 at Midtown Loft in New York City

Osense - You all know by now how much I love meditation (in fact this site started with daily breathing affirmational meditations in 2009), and one of the things that can help enhance meditation is incense, which is why I gravitated to this table as soon as I saw their display! Their 'Fragrant Sticks' are delightful and by far my favorite is the one they call 'Ipanema'. I will definitely be adding these to my meditation, in fact for those in the incense know, I hadn't found one I liked this much since I hit on Nag Champa!

PretendTan - DK Luxury Beauty's newest retail product is derived from their professional spa system for at home use. We all know that the only safe tan 'is tan in a can', and if you are going to do it you want one that is streak-free, oil free, odor free, paraben free, easy to apply and lasts for days!

Want to see what other brands I have been introduced to during past Beauty Press Spotlight Days? Check out previous coverage of past Beauty Press Spotlight Days HERE and HERE.

Butterflies, tell us which brand you are most excited about seeing a giveaway for (and don't forget to visit them on their social media pages and tell them you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly)!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored or compensated post, I am under no obligation to share my event recap coverage and all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

Weekly Moment of Gratitude + New York City + Tony Awards, cc @ConeyIslandFun, @WonderWheelPark, @TheWCS, @LunaParkConeyIs

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Time Spent Re-Exploring my City! - I'm super grateful to the Alliance for Coney Island and the Wildlife Conservation Society for inviting us over to Brooklyn to visit the New York Aquarium, Coney Island's Luna Park, and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. I will post a full recap of my wonderful experience with pictures very soon! Thankfully post Hurricane Sandy, Coney Island is back and stronger than ever!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tonys! - This has been an amazing year at the theatre, and I am super excited for tonight's Tony Awards! I am Team Kinky Boots and I hope they come out on top tonight!

I have been keeping my own daily list of things I am grateful for and taking time to acknowledge my blessings daily. A bit of concentrated focus on what you do have, instead of on what you lack or need, can make a huge shift in your life!

What are YOU most grateful for today Butterfly?

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

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

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

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

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Winner Announcements Upcoming!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - As I have had back to back conferences, meetings and events both evenings and weekends for the past two months, I have not had a chance to process the entries for our Got Milk? Giveaway Basket, entries are currently being processed and I hope to announce the two winners very soon and have a fun new giveaway posted this week! Thanks so much for your patience butterflies!

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Gratitude Journal Reco:

For those of you who are interested in keeping a gratitude journal this year, here is my recommendation and where to purchase it (I love that it gives you writing prompts for when you feel stuck on what to say!):

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

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

Listen Carefully: Dad does NOT want another Tie! + Wanna see a picture of 'Papa Butterfly'? #OralBDads #ad

Thanks to Oral-B for sponsoring this post. Don't forget to head to Target for pre-Father's Day savings on Oral-B electric toothbrushes!

Half of my good looks come from the happy man in the photo! 'Papa Butterfly' or more like 'Papi' to me, was a handsome man with a beautiful smile. He was meticulous about his appearance, and I do mean meticulous.

Dad was definitely a coffee drinker, but despite not missing his morning 'cafecito', he had the most pearly white teeth! Thankfully I inherited his strong pearly white teeth and NOT his love for coffee! My Dad had a very magnetic personality, he was definitely a 'life of the party' person who drew people to him, he had a great smile and a great laugh, to say I miss him dearly would be an understatement.

I do know if he were still here with me, the one thing I would not get him is a tie! Not that he didn't wear them, he did, but the older you get the more you understand how much seeing a tie must makes mens hair stand on end. As a former Special Ed Teacher, Apples do for me what ties do for men, make me cringe! I have a strong feeling men say about ties what teacher's say about apples, if I had a dollar for every.....(I think you can fill that in!)

I get what drew mom and dad together, they both are happy spirits and are both incredibly generous with those they love. They loved giving gifts, and loved that moment when they could see the reaction the recipient had to their gifts. It's something I definitely inherited from them. I love giving gifts and much like them, care about every detail of the gift, including the packaging and presentation.

Another trait my parents share is practicality, while they love being super generous to those they love, they are not always as comfortable being on the receiving end of what they deem an extravagant gift. Which sometimes make shopping for them harder. I for one normally avoid gifts I consider 'practical' it's mostly because I don't like getting them. I guess the saying really is true that we tend to give the gifts we actually want to receive. Which is why I do have a tendency to go over the top a bit.

While I didn't get as much time with my Dad as I would have liked, the one thing that I know holds true about most men, is they hate shopping for mostly everything but Electronics or Auto (and actually I'm a lot like that too so I'm not sure what that says about me!), so if you can get Dad something that knocks a to-do off his list that he doesn't like doing and is also a bit 'techy', why not get it for him?

Oral-B® Deep Sweep 1000

About Oral-B® Deep Sweep 1000

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Removes up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush (You do know that Plaque and Gum Disease affect your health right? Heart Disease and Dementia have long been considered a result of poor oral health!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Deep-sweep motion sweeps away plaque, keeping your mouth feeling fresh.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Electric, rechargeable brush designed to give you triple-cleaning action.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Unique Brush Head Design with 3 Cleaning Zones

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Superior Plaque removal, plus helps to prevent AND reverse gingivitis

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 40,000 pulsations and 8,800 sweeps per minute

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Made by Oral-B, the #1 dentist-recommended toothbrush brand worldwide

Oral-B® Professional™ Care 3D White 1000 (only available at Target)

About Oral-B® Professional™ Care 3D White 1000 (only available at Target)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Oscillating and cordless to stimulate your gums and help you remove the maximum amount of plaque with less effort

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Electric, Rechargeable and designed to give you triple-cleaning action

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Wraps around each tooth to clean those hard-to-reach spots

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - This Electric Toothbrush model is exclusive to Target with a low online price of $39.99 and by the way for only $4.99 more you can add a Target 2-Year Replacement Plan!

Nab a Discount:

You can nab a savings of up to $25 both online and in-store (look for the endcap)!

My Take:

I know that I once I went Electric I never turned back, and remember, just like their manual counterparts, you need to make sure you replace the heads on your electric toothbrushes too. So even if Dad already has the base, the heads still need to be replaced, so consider doing something good for your Dad and your Dad's heart. The more hearth healthy he is, the more time you get with him!

What are you getting your Dad for Father's Day this year?

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FTC Disclosure:  I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed herein are all 100% my own. This is a Sponsored Post. Visit our Disclosure Policy Page for full Disclosure Information.

Wordless Wednesday: #Wine is Bottled #Poetry Edition

The Sign Reads: Wine is Bottled Poetry

I was in between events and making a mad dash to Bowery Street in New York City, when I spotted this sign outside a local shop and I just had to stop and take a picture of it!

Butterflies I hope you all found a Wordless Moment to savor today! Bloggers post a link to your Wordless Wednesday as a comment below so we can check out your photos too! (We are too informal for a linky widget around here!)

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored/Compensated Post.

{#Beauty #Review} @PerlierUSA Shower and Body Cream Travel Kit #PerlierOnHSN

With the insane year I had last year, I intend to squeeze every last drop of life and sunshine out of this summer. And with summer comes vacations, 'daycations, and 'staycations' galore! In fact one of my favorite summer destinations is Atlantic City, New Jersey, dubbed a 'Mini-Vegas' (among other nicknames I'm sure), the one thing that makes Atlantic City different is the beach is very much a real beach, not a simulated one! I've stayed at a number of the properties on the legendary Boardwalk, but one thing that holds true is that most properties could use a wake up when it comes to shower amenities. And so for years I've always brought along my own!

With so many different restrictions from the FAA it's sometimes hard to know what you can and can't carry anymore, so travel kits are one of the best ways to keep your favorite skincare with you and not have to worry about hating the generic stuff that most hotels seem to put out.

I received the Perlier Shower and Body Cream Travel Kit sold on HSN from iFabbo (I'm sure you've noticed my iFabbo blog badge proudly displayed on my home page!), the kit includes 4 pairs of shower gels and their accompanying lotions!

The Perlier Shower and Body Cream Travel Kit Includes:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - A Clear Travel Bag (which the products come in)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1.6 fl. oz. Honey Shower Cream Mini (100% Certified Italian Organic Honey)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 oz. Honey Nurturing Body Balm - Scent: Clean, Pure and Soft

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1.6 fl. oz. Olivarium Bath & Shower Cream Mini (100% Italian Organic Olive Oil)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 oz. Super Nourishing Body Cream with Olive Oil - Scent: A Spa-like clean, Herbal

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1.6 fl. oz. Ultra Rich Moisturizing Cream Shower with Citrus Extract (Pure 100% Certified Organic Shea Butter & Citrus)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1.0 fl oz. - Intensive Nurturing Body Balm with Citrus Extract - Scent:  Soft Notes of Citrus, combination of Lemons, Limes and Oranges provides warmth to the citrusy notes

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1.6 fl. oz. - White Almond Moisturizing Shower Cream (With Cold Pressed & Pure Almond Oil)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1.0 fl. oz. - White Almond Absolute Comfort Almond Body Moisturizing Cream - Scent: Soft Italian Almonds from Sicily (considered to be the best almonds in Italy, with a touch of Marzipan

About Perlier:

For over 80 years, Perlier has specialized in the manufacturing of products derived from the active ingredients of medical plants. In 1972, Perlier expanded operations to include the development of cosmetics.  ALL WITH NO ANIMAL TESTING!

Perlier Products are:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Scientifically Formulated

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tested with Modern Scientific Principles with over 80 years of research background

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Efficient and functional in their results

Get Social:

Come on, you know you want to!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 'Like' Perlier on Facebook (By the way don't forget to enter their WEEKLY Facebook Giveaway, this week's giveaway is for the exact same kit I just featured!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @PerlierUSA on Twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Become Pinterest Besties with Perlier too!

DISCOUNT:

Nab $5 off any Perlier Product Purchase at HSN by using the PROMO CODE: ifabbo5

The Perlier Shower and Body Cream Travel Kit

My Take:

I actually can't pick a favorite scent from the bunch, so I am super stoked to have tried them all, honey is the softest, with a whisper scent, but honey does so much good for the skin, that with it's whisper soft scent it still packs a strong punch of great benefits for the skin. And the Shea Butter is also a mild scent but in a good way, and I've been using Shea products for years now, and am always glad to add a new one to my arsenal. I have also used products with Olive Oil before but not always enjoyed the scent (especially for some reason in the haircare products) so this was a pleasant surprise that I do like the scent. I had actually not used any Cold Pressed Almond Products prior to this kit and it was a perfect introduction.

I love to travel but I hate the skimpy bath products at most properties (I will say that some Suites nowadays offer better amenities, but even those are not always my cup of tea when it comes to scent), this kit allows me the perfect combination of quality skincare, perfect scents, and a great price point, it's a total win/win.

Butterflies please let us know if you nabbed this kit using the discount provided above, I'd love to know what you think, so once you've tried it out, come back here and sound off! And don't forget to enter to win one via the Facebook link provided above!

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FTC Disclosure: I am an iFabbo endorsed independent Fashion and Beauty Blogger who received this sample for editorial consieration. This post is NOT compensated. No compensation has been received for my feedback and all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

Motivation Monday: Find out why I'm urging you to get BLUE! @bluemangroup is headed YOUR way! #BlueManGroup #theatre #review

Yes, I know it sounds super odd that I'm urging you to get Blue on Motivation Monday! You ask, 'but butterfly isn't today the day you share some fun graphic or motivational quote to put some pep in our step for the new week?'.

Have no fear butterflies, I'm still going to put the fun in your Monday! Last week I had the chance to check out Blue Man Group's show in New York City. And at first when I got the invitation I thought, I remember them! I applied for a job as their Social Media Manager many moons ago, and never heard back, so NO WAY! But thankfully my love of the theatre out-weighed my sour grapes for never hearing back from them...

But I digress...don't I always? I'd like to think that's why you all love me so, but it's probably more for my amazing ability to empower everyone I meet in some way! :-)

OK, truth be told another reason I never immediatlely jumped on the bandwagon to see the show is because they don't talk. I'd seen television 'talk show' interviews where they didn't talk, which kinda weirded me out! And while that works so well for one half of Penn and Teller, I wasn't sure sitting around watching people that don't talk at all would be any fun.

And because I'm a big girl, I will be the first to admit I was so wrong in that pre-conceived notion! Not only was there NOT a dull moment, I left the show smiling and feeling super up-lifted. It was exactly what I needed at the right time. Lately I hadn't been feeling like my normally happy self and couldn't put my finger exactly on why. The show helped me realize I needed a little more time living, some time away from electronic devices/work and just a moment to cut loose and immerse myself in fun and absolute frivolity!

The show is active, inter-active and in all ways AMAZE-BALLS (and you know I try not to use that word often!). I didn't think another show this year could come close to being as uplifting as Kinky Boots (if you missed my coverage of it, you can check it out HERE).

Blue Man Group Playbill + Ticket for Astor Theatre Performance in New York City!

You can catch Blue Man Group in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, and you can catch their upcoming US Tour Dates Below:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Houston, TX - June 4-9

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Honolulu, HI - June 18 - July 23

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Atlantic City, NJ - August 22-30 (You all know Atlantic City is MY Happy Place, I may just have to catch the show again this summer!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Durham, NC - September 6-8

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tulsa, OK - September 10 - 15

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lawrence, KS - September 16-17

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Bloomington, IN - September 21 - 22

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lincoln, NE - September 27 - 29

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Clinton Township, MI - October 15 - 16

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Hershey, PA - November 22 - 24

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Baltimore, MD - January 10 - 12, 2014 (all the above dates are 2013 by the way)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Corpus Christi, TX - February 15 -16, 2014

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Des Moines, IA - February 18 - 23, 2014

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sacramento, CA - March 11 -16, 2014

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Charlotte, NC - April 15 - 20, 2014

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Miami, FL - May 13 - 18, 2014

Blue Men Photo by Darbe Rotach

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 'Like' Blue Man Group on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow on Twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Get Tumblr with it

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Become Pinterest besties with Blue Man Group

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - You can also check out their latest updates on instagram

Paint Drumming Photo by Ken Howard

My Take:

I loved the show! I do have some warnings to the wise though, it's a messy show, so all those in the lower level will find a plastic bag on your seats, please put them on! Don't say I didn't warn you! I was upstairs in the Mezzanine, and don't think that being up there will save you, while you won't need the plastic bags up there, the show will definitely still be very interactive from up there, no spoilers, just a friendly warning to the wise! The seats are a bit narrow/small in the Astor Theatre in New York City so be prepared to not only get really close to your neighbor, but if someone with super long legs is behind you will feel them if they are squirmy and move around a lot. I can tell you the show is fun and since it's part of every show, if you are bringing your children be prepared for the 'Shake Your Euphimism' portion of the show where every word/words for the 'behind' is literally put on display!

This show is a definite don't miss, and a total 'TICKET' in my rating system. (I tell it like it is, it's either ticket or skip it with me.).

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post. Press/Media Access to the show was granted to us for Editorial Consideration, this did not influence our review and all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

Weekly Moment of #Gratitude + Winner Announcement, begining of June Edition!

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - June! - I'm so ready to welcome in the new month! For me this new month is filled with new opportunities! As I spent so much time last year in the hospital, this is 'my summer of freedom' and I just can't wait for long summer days, sunshine, and days at the BEACH!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Theatre! - I have a theatre recap coming of a performance I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend!

I have been keeping my own daily list of things I am grateful for and taking time to acknowledge my blessings daily. A bit of concentrated focus on what you do have, instead of on what you lack or need, can make a huge shift in your life!

What are YOU most grateful for today Butterfly?

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

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

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

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

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Giveaway Winner!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Join me in congratulating Selinda M. who is our Gorton's Seafood Prize Pack Giveaway Winner, she was entry #1046! We are working on processing the entries for the Got Milk? Basket winners and will announce them shortly.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Reminder: You must be a public follower for your giveaway entries to be processed, we ended with 1,850 entries and after I deleted all dis-qualified entries we ended with 1,593. I delete all the dis-qualified entries BEFORE I draw a winner. Please double check that you see your avatar and that you are following, and as per instructions do the MAIN entry first before the extra credits. If  you are not a public follower, all entries will be deleted.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - And I just want to bust about the upcoming Accessories Giveaway, but I'm going to keep it a surprise until it launches, so stay tuned, you won't want to miss this one!

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Gratitude Journal Reco:

For those of you who are interested in keeping a gratitude journal this year, here is my recommendation and where to purchase it (I love that it gives you writing prompts for when you feel stuck on what to say!):

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

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

June Has Begun!

Is this day making you sing THIS?:

So Butterflies, How is the first day of June treating you so far?  For Me, It's New Month, New Possibilities!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post

{#Movie #Review} @AfterEarth In theaters now - Ticket or Skip It? #AfterEarth

On Thursday I had the opportunity to attend the MAMARAZZI With Jaden and Will Smith event that in addition to a Questions and Answers Session also included a Screening of the Movie After Earth. We entered to a lovely reception where food and frozen treats were offered to attendees by LYFE Kitchen. I didn't try out the food items because after getting off super hot trains with no air (gee thanks MTA) and the weather being hazy, hot, and humid, I went straight for the Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar in Strawberry! And I'm so glad I did, it was delicious! (Yes, I know butterflies, you can say it New York Problems, some of you will tell me your cities offer limited Public Transportation and I should be happy.....)

Since the event started with the screening, I'll start with that too!

MOVIE SYNOPSIS:

A crash landing leaves teenager Kitai Raige (played by Jaden Smith) and his legendary father Cypher (played by Will Smith) stranded on Earth, one thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity's escape.

With Cypher critically injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help, facing uncharted terrain, evolved animal species that now rule the planet, and an unstoppable alien creature that escaped during the crash. Father and son must learn to work together and trust one another if they want any chance of returning home.

MOVIE TRAILER:

Questions and Answers:

Video Credit: Fredy Mfuko , Mission 101 media

Left: Denise Albert, from The Moms, Jaden Smith, Will Smith Far Right: Melissa Musen Gerstein, The Moms

Left: Jaden Smith, Center: Will Smith Far Right: Melissa Musen Gerstein

Left: Jaden Smith, Right: Will Smith

Left: Jaden Smith, Right: Will Smith

MY TAKE:

When I found out that the movie was based on a story presented by Will Smith (based on a television show called I Shouldn't Be Alive), and was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, I was definitely curious, it's described as a 'scary sci-fi' flick and you all know that horror is my favorite movie genre! And you have to figure if it's a summer movie blockbuster where the world needs saving then you need Will Smith for sure, but unfortunately butterflies I'd be doing you a dis-service if I didn't warn you to SKIP IT.

M. Night peaked with The Sixth Sense as far as I'm concerned. With all of his movies since The Sixth Sense, I set out to the theater with hope it will be, well good.....and the movies have just all fallen short for me, and this one is another one, you leave wondering where the 'meat' was.

I did like that you see a Father and Son who come together and learn about themselves and each other in the process, but it's just predictable and that's the nicest thing I can say about it.

I appreciate the Q&A because it gives you the juxtaposition of the characters they portray and their real life Father/Son dynamic. Will is learning to allow Jaden to become his own man, even when their Fashion Tastes differ, which was the highlight of the Q&A when someone asked Jaden about his 'Skirt/Kilt' and Will ribbed him lovingly along with the audience. They were also asked if we can expect a movie featuring the entire family and Will mentioned that this is something that they have been considering for awhile now, but teased that they would have to work it around daughter's Willow's schedule.

Will Smith is always personable and down to earth so the Questions and Answers was fun. But the movie just falls short for me.

If you do go to see After Earth, please come back and share with us you thought!

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FTC Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This is NOT a compensated post. I attended a screening and questions and answers session hosted by The Moms, I was under no obligation to share my movie review and all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.