Monday, July 15, 2013

Monday Motivation: Hugs Edition - Just wanted to put a little pretty in your Monday!




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

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Mani's & Pedi's & Hair Oh My! It's going to be a #PGSummer #Beauty #Cocktails @PGBeauty

#PGSummer, P&G Beauty, Olay, Covergirl, Secret, Venus, Vidal Sassoon Pro Series, Natural Instincts, Head & Shoulders, Damage Rescue, Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss,  BlastFlipStick, Pantene Age Defy Collection,
#PGSummer Event Product Display Table


Remember when I told you had some fun summer events to recap? Here is one of my favorites, a summer beauty Mixology event that gave attendees the chance to mix up their summer beauty routines with P&G Beauty and enjoy an exclusive mixology lesson with acclaimed mixologist Elayne Duke!

After some time to mix and mingle, the evening started with a mixology lesson:

Elayne Duke, mixology, mixologist, cocktails, Venue Above Thompson
Acclaimed mixologist Elayne Duke teaches us how to mix some fun summer cocktails!

There is an art to shaking which some of us learned the hard way, I think the most re-tweeted quote of the evening was 'Wasted Booze is a Crime' which made us all laugh!

Elayne Duke, mixology, mixologist, cocktails, Venue Above Thompson
Like most things in life, it's all in the ratio/balance!

I will admit the cocktails were super refreshing for summer and I can't wait to try these out on my friends this summer!

That's me on the very left! We are holding up 'Double Trouble' one of the summer cocktails that Elayne Duke taught us how to prepare!
Here is a picture of the signature cocktail:



Wanna see a hot mama drinking a hot mama?

Tracy of Ascending Butterfly enjoying the Hot Mama Cocktail that she learned how to make!

COCKTAIL RECIPES

Double Trouble:

1.5 oz Vodka
1.5 oz Lime juice
1 oz Lemon Grass Syrup
1 oz Ginger Beer
.5 oz POM Syrup

Serving Instructions:

Glass: Highball
Garnish: Scored Lime and a straw

Hot Mama:

1.5 oz Gin
1 oz St. Germain
1 oz Aperol
1 oz Lemon Juice

Serving Instructions:

Glass: Coupe
Garnish: Lemon twist

Then it was time to explore the Beauty Stations! I got a braided updo, had my makeup touched up and enjoyed a manicure in the color I have been enjoying all summer Orange!

Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss, Color 245 Go-Go Mango
Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss


I just had to try a Manicure with CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in color '245 - Go-Go Mango'. These Glossy Colors last about a week, and they have a built in top coat. Available in 45 High Gloss Shades! (I am so going to try out that blue one next!)

We got to build our own gift bags which was fun, with products including:

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss, Vidal Sassoon Pro Series, the NEW Gillette Venus & Olay Razor, Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof Antiperspirant/Deodorant, VS PrecisionMix Color Creme Formula Hair Color, CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation, Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash, Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Eye & Lash Duo, Natural Instincts Hair Color, Head & Shoulders Damage Rescue, Complete All Day Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15, Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Color Collection The Color Protect Shampoo & Conditioner as well as The Color Protect Spray, CoverGirl New Clump Crusher by LashBlast Mascara, CoverGirl BlastFlipStick, New Pantene Age Defy Collection.

My Take:

This was a fun way for P&G Beauty to share great products with us in a venue with a great view and a fun, relaxed summer vibe. I enjoyed getting my hair done, makeup re-touched and my great Orange Manicure too! But the Mixology lessons just might be my favorite, we were all surprised at just how refreshing the Double Trouble was as few of us had actually tried Ginger Beer and we all expected it to be over-powering but it wasn't. The Hot Mama was delish also!

DID YOU KNOW?:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The amount of sunscreen needed to cover the entire body is about a shot glass full (and if you are curvy like me, a bit more wouldn't hurt!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - For the face on average you need the size of an almond.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Summer sun is especially dangerous UV intensity tends to be highest during the summer months.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Long Car rides a big part of your summer? Glass does NOT block UVA. Glass filters UVB, but if light shines through, so does UVA.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Eyes age 36% faster than the rest of a woman's body so it's super important to protect them from summer rays!

And of course you can see these photos on our #PGSummer Pinterest Board too!

Butterflies, what P&G Beauty Products are part of your summer beauty routine?

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

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post. This is an event recap, and no compensation has been received to share our recap coverage, all opinions are 100% my own.

Friday, July 12, 2013

July 12 is National Pecan Pie Day! + other fun observances!

Pecan Pie, Pecan Pie with slice missing


Today is a day where those with different colored eyes should have a slice of Pecan Pie in honor of Thoreau's Birth Anniversary and Simplicity Day!

LOL. Simple Enough right?

Today is:


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Different Colored Eyes Day
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - National Pecan Pie Day
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The birth anniversary of Henry David Thoreau
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - and last but not least Simplicity Day. (Had technology been cooperative today, my day certainly would have been more simple!

Did you observe any of these? Do any of you have two different color eyes? Tag us on facebook or twitter, we'd love to see a picture!


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

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Unplug your summer and keep cool with the @BowlAtAMF Summer Unplugged and Summer Pass! #bowling



Have you already exhausted your arsenal of keeping the entire family entertained during the summer? If so, I have a way for you to both beat the heat and provide the family some fun summer entertainment, best part? It's absolutely FREE for Kids ages 15 and under!

SUMMER UNPLUGGED DEETS:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Time: FREE Bowling for KIDS 15 and Under until 8:00 pm, 7 days a week

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dates: May 14 - September 3, 2013

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Parents click HERE to select a participating center (there are over 250 locations!) and complete a super simple registration form

NOTE: You can register up to six children in the program. There are also $3.29 Kids Meals Available. (And it's way more active than just watching a movie!)



SUMMER PASS DEETS:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Don't think the kids get all the fun! - Check out the deals for those 16 and up:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - An AMF Summer Pass is only $34.95 and includes 2 FREE Games for the Pass Owner per day for up to FOUR people (the owner of the pass and three guests) ALL SUMMER LONG (the same dates and times apply that we listed above for Summer Unplugged)

Worth Noting: Neither Summer Unplugged nor Summer Pass will include shoe rental (I personally own my own bowling shoes, it's something you might want to consider as well!)

My Take:

They've made some improvements for 2013, with one simple sign-up there are now no coupons to be emailed or printed, now you just present your membership card or your name at your local AMF bowling center and you are all set to go which is super convenient. Summer Unplugged Members can also enjoy the "Stay and Play" option, additional games can be added for just $1.49 which is definitely cheaper than it costs at most competing centers near me.

I don't get to go bowling as often as I'd like because of my insane schedule, but I do enjoy it. When I worked in staffing we'd host client/talent bowling nights often and we'd make up crazy gutterball dances! I might just have to pick up a summer pass myself and get back into it again!

What are YOUR best bowling tips Butterflies?


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

FTC Disclosure: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions expressed herein are 100% my own, please be sure to visit our Disclosure Page for more information about our Giveaway and Disclosure Policies.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: #Cheesecake and #milk @ParkerMeridien New York City! #NYC #wordlesswednesday #lifestyleblogger

Had a gap between events on a hot summer day in New York City and thought I'd kill the time with this:

Parker Meridien, New York City, Cheesecake, Milk
Cold Milk and a New York Style Cheesecake at Le Parker Meridien Hotel in Midtown , New York City




















Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies! Bloggers feel free to post the link to your Wordless Wednesday Photo as a comment so we can visit your photos too. (No Giveaways Please, Only WW posts)

And don't forget to leave a comment on THIS post (it could lead to something great for YOU!) And don't forget to enter to win our Ascending Butterfly Book Club Title of the Month - Pancho Land! Also, if you haven't already done so, I need your VOTE. (If for some reason it opens up to all the entries, my entry is Tracy from New York City and I am wearing an Orange Jacket! This is a one time only, super quick, super easy vote!)

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


FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received to share this photo, all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

I can finally fuel my designer #handbag obsession & get great prices, seriously folks there is #MoreatSears than meets the eye!

#Sponsored: This is a Sponsored Post written by Ascending Butterfly on behalf of Sears via the Niche Mommy Network & Conference

#MoreatSears



It's no surprise to long time followers that I have a handbag obsession. I will never own enough handbags. If there were a support group, I'd be it's President. Since 2009 we have featured a 'Featured Monthly Handbag in the Spotlight' on Ascending Butterfly, it's included both established and emerging brands /designers and probably just about every color of handbag under the sun.

I recently found out a handbag I have been coveting by a major designer is being dis-continued (I know right GASP!) so I went on an online hunt to see who still had it (My top three favorite Manhattan Department Stores were already sold out, UM serious LE SIGH!), and after scrolling was super surprised to find out Sears actually has it, so I skipped off to my nearest store, and they didn't have it. NOT COOL (My city is in the midst of a major heatwave, zapping me of any desire to be outside, walking or moving in general.)

Remember how I was telling you yesterday that the blogging Gods & the Universe have been sending me all kinds of signals? When this info hit my email inbox I have to admit it made me laugh. Not in a bad way, just in a not surprised way because I actually inadvertently discovered this revelation on my own, and I'm more than happy to let you guys in on the secret.

As a curvy Latina one of my biggest pet peeves is finding a super sweet outfit in the store, (or go looking for a coveted handbag), and then find out someone else snatched up the last one. To resolve this very issue, Sears has expanded its website. In fact, the Sears website is now WAY larger than the stores. Sears.com carries more sizes and colors than you can find at your local Sears. And for last minute shoppers, have no fear you can buy it online, schedule an in store pickup and Sears guarantees that they will have your item ready in 5 minutes or less, if they don't, you'll get a $5 in store coupon. (Um, even those pizza folks make you wait 30 minutes before making it up to you for the slow service! Just Saying!)

Aside from having more colors and sizes on the website, Sears.com carries more brands and styles online than they do in store. They really have 'stepped up their retail game' with brands like Ray Ban, Michael Kors, DeWalt Tools, Steve Madden, Nike, Vince Camuto, and one I've been obsessed with for a long time, Tory Burch. (You can't tell me that Capital T Logo of theirs didn't have ME in mind!)

Check out the Newest Arrivals at Sears Market Place!

Screen Capture of Sears.com Front Loader Washers - New Arrivals!
















I don't know about you, but this mercury retrograde has been wreaking havoc on my appliances and electronics so I am researching a few major purchases (for after the retrograde dust clears of course) including a new Washer/Dryer, Refrigerator, and hoping somewhere in there I can squeeze in that handbag I'm lusting after, before it totally sells out!

What will YOU buy at Sears.com today?


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


FTC DisclosureThis is a Sponsored Post written by Ascending Butterfly on behalf of Sears via the Niche Mommy Network & Conference, however all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own. See our Full Disclosure Policy for additional information.


Monday, July 8, 2013

Did your post holiday smartphone photos fail to 'Wow' you? Learn how the new offerings from @PENTAXIAN can help! #DSLR #photography

This is an event recap coverage, NOT a sponsored post! No compensation has been provided to share about our experiences at this event, all opinions are 100% my own. Full Disclosure Below:

Breaking Tradition, Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation, Photography, Digital Photography, New York City Events, NYC, event recaps
"At this event personal style, fashion and consumer electronics met in a way that has never before been seen", said Jim Malcolm, Executive Vice President, PENTAX RICOH IMAGING.


I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend! And most importantly spent as much time as possible creating memories. Memories that I'm sure you captured. No doubt, with what was at hand. 

75% of the time it's a smart device, a phone, tablet or iPod. And then you upload those precious memories and find out that a picture that looked so great in the thumbnail actually looks blurry because your smart device doesn't have anti-shake technology. And worse still are those times when you find out that almost all the shots are less than usable. Those are moments you can't re-create. Those are moments you cannot re-capture.

I for one have never been that big on one device doing a million things barely well, and trust me, I have the world's heaviest handbag even on days when I 'pare down', I get why multi-functional devices are so popular, but I think a device that is meant for a specific activity will do it a million times better since that is what it's made for!

You know how much I believe that the Universe puts us in the right place at the right time, right?

I got invited to a Special Surprise Launch Event from Pentax, at a time when my favorite digital camera (that I have had for over 12 years now) is no longer being supported and it's battery is no longer being made. Worse still, even Amazon no longer sells my battery (you know that's a bad sign). We were actually asked not to talk about the event right away which is why you didn't see any instagrams or tweets from me as I wanted to respect the wishes of the host! Upon entering the amazing venue we were handed an SD card, and that is what we took home with us, leaving us with the amazing memories we made during the event! I ran into one of my favorite bloggers, Kimmie, @Cocoabebe on twitter, if you are not following her already, you definitely should be. She was my partner in photography and we had a great time working with the models!

It was a super fun and entirely creative event, but a bit bittersweet. It made me come to the painful conclusion that it really is time to let my old camera go! I really don't want to change cameras so it's a painful realization. I know I have to, but this camera is like a dear friend. It was an entry level digital camera at the time, no anti-shake, not much along the way of special features, but it's been with me on every vacation, it's been there for every special occasion. And in my humble opinion that old point and shoot gave me the best pictures! How do you say goodbye?

I got to say goodbye to my old friend by attending a Roaring Twenties party at a landmark New York City Townhouse (Being part of the digital press does have it's privileges!). You know how they say the best way to get over an old boyfriend is with a new one? I guess the same holds true for cameras!

"The introduction of these capable and versatile cameras empowers consumers to incorporate their personality and taste into the design of their camera, making the K-50 and Q7 more than just an imaging device. They are a statement of self". ~ Jim Malcolm, Executive Vice President, PENTAX RICOH IMAGING.

Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation launched two new interchangeable lens cameras at an event in New York City, where members of the press were invited to take a look back in time to the roaring twenties as models styled as flapper girls and dapper guys were subjects for interactive photo shoots located in various sections of the decorated landmark townhouse 632 on Hudson. Appetizers and specialty cocktails prepared by Chef Jesse Schenker (@JBSchef on twitter) of Recette Restaurant was another highlight of the interactive event where the new K-50 DSLR (available in 120 color combinations) and the K-500 made their debut!

I loved the interactive element of the event most, getting the chance to shoot the models using both cameras and thankfully with some help in setting up/staging the rooms and shots I got the chance to play with both cameras hands on. With my current camera being a point and shoot without interchangeable lenses, the first thing I noticed was that I had to change lenses for certain shots. I am not so used to doing that so it felt a bit awkward to me at first, but I got the hang of it, and love both cameras equally, obvs they are HUGE step up from my current camera, but I will say the pop of color is totally refreshing! My current point and shoot is a silver tone, so I'm not necessarily stuck on getting my new one in black, I love having options! And there are so many great colors to chose from, I've been loving Teal and they even have that color in a metallic, but Red is another favorite color of mine. Red is a power color and it's symbolic of fire, passion and power, I would love to infuse that energy into my photography. Am I pro? No. But I am an enthusiast who because of what I do, require something more sophisticated and advanced than what I have been using so far.

Here are the shots I took with the PENTAX CAMERA (all of mine were taken with the K-500 camera as the K-50's were all in rotation during the time I was shooting) unless indicated, no enhancement was made to any of the shots so I could get a feel for not only the camera but my ability with it.

Roaring Twenties Pentax event in NYC's landmark 632 on Hudson, taken with the K-500 Camera
Roaring Twenties Pentax event in NYC's landmark 632 on Hudson, taken with the K-500 Camera

I had to resist the urge to 'brighten' this one and play with my photo editing filters and software, it's a little dark for me, but you have the double whammy of dark wood behind and below her. And then with other people waiting to take their shots, you have to find the fine balance of learning the camera, improving and capturing your shots and leaving time for others to do the same.

Roaring Twenties Pentax event in NYC's landmark 632 on Hudson, taken with the K-500 Camera
Roaring Twenties Pentax event in NYC's landmark 632 on Hudson, taken with the K-500 Camera
This is my second shot with the K-500, also un-enhanced, what I love is that for this shot, I got in closer and bent down to take the shot and my un-steady hands because I was off balance is NOT reflected in the shot. My current camera unfortunately wouldn't have done nearly as well since my hands were not 'steady'. I resisted the urge to play with the exposure settings again with this one. (You can press each shot to see it in its full size and then hit back space to come back here, or check out our pinterest page as well to see shots that don't make this post for the sake of space.

Different part of the room, the model moved but I stayed in the same spot


This time I have the model move to the Chaise Lounge with light coming from the window behind her I got a much better shot, but for final printing again I would have used filters to brighten the exposure a bit. I have to give the models credit, they were amazingly patient, but they also really had fun with it. And considering how repetitive it can be to have tons of photo enthusiasts taking shot after shot, they were very open and easy to work with.



For this shot I physically moved myself and changed my shooting angle and our shoot advisors had me change my lens on the K-500, I did not enhance or alter this shot, I am using it as it was on the SD card with no filters or post editing. This is what I wanted that shot to look like all along, I have two more shots of her on the chaise that I am not going to use here, if you'd like to see those, please check the pinterest board as I will post them there. This is exactly what I was trying to achieve, but I noticed despite the lens change, me changing my shooting angle also made a big difference to the final results, this is the shot I wanted!



The internal room we wanted to go to next was really full so we went upstairs and shot one of the male models on the beautiful rooftop. It's pretty hard to get a bad shot in full daylight, but I did take another because I wanted something closer and wanted to better capture his personality.



I probably would have cropped these a little, but again I didn't want to alter the photos so you could get a good feel for it. I wasn't using a tripod and moved a bit between shots, for this one I ducked down a bit and there is no motion.



Now this shot which was also taken outdoors on the rooftop is using my super old camera that I don't want to let go of, I also did NOT enhance, sharpen or boost this in anyway either. This is a 4 mega pixel camera with no anti-shake or real bells and whistles, no interchangeable lens, just an old point and shoot.



This one was also taken with my old point and shoot, but I did have to enhance this a bit to make me viewable because of the angle it was shot. The venue was an old townhouse with great bones and soul, for those in the know, I got quite a few 'orbs' in my photos! For some reason the ones I capture near me are always in the same spot. (You all know how much I love Buddha Statues and I just had to take this shot with a fun zen pose!)



This was also taken with my point and shoot, but as you can see one of the K-50s are on display in front of the statue! There is similar photo at a different angle that I'm not using here but will be in the Pinterest Board.



Just wanted to give you a full feel of the outdoor rooftop, again this was my point and shoot camera.



Another outdoor shot with my point and shoot!



Back indoors waiting to shoot with the Pentax and nabbed this interiors vignette with my point and shoot! I love Asian Art! Looked like a nice spot to pull up a chair and write!



Back indoors, this was taken with the Pentax K-500, but I did 'boost' it slightly as I found it way too dark for you to even see the details with this one. Oddly the thumbnail did NOT look that dark, but when I saw it on screen it needed some brightness to bring out the detail.


Here it is again with the Pentax K-500 this time UNTOUCHED in any way.



This was also taken with the Pentax K-500 and again is NOT re-touched or post-processed in any way at all. There are a TON of in betweens from the two shots above this and this one, you can also find them on the  Pinterest Board. But this final shot made me the happiest, although I personally would add some brightness to it but I tend to like my shots a bit brighter and warmer.



While I was waiting to nab the K-500, I took this shot with my point and shoot, she was looking at the photographer who had the K-500 at that moment but I liked that she wasn't really posing for me and I was able to zoom in and pre-focus with my point and shoot although I was a lot farther back in the room than the shot would initially indicate. This is also NOT touched or edited in any way.



and all the men in the room just rolled their eyes when I shot this moody shot of the model's shoes, but I couldn't help myself!

There are way more photos and when I post them to the Pinterest Board, I will caption which were taken with the Pentax and which weren't so you can see them all in full size and get a full appreciation of each photo in a way that you can't here as they get automatically re-sized to fit my blog's template ratio.

My Take:

I loved the interactivity of this event. But after playing with them for awhile I was super sad that we didn't get to come home with one, especially since I have to let mine go and move on to a new one. This was a super creative idea that even with the furniture and staging wouldn't have worked as well in other venues as it did with 632 on hudson, that townhouse had 'good bones' and just had it's own 'soul', the event came to life there, and the models were an absolute dream to work with. Since I didn't have experience beyond a point and shoot digital, it took me a bit to get a feel for how to work with the camera and the lenses but thankfully that was the point, to learn. And when an event, truly becomes an 'experience', it gives you not only great memories, but you also leave it feeling like you really learned something. They presented a product launch in such a way that I could really 'experience' it and challenge myself in the process. It made photography, and as you can tell from the length of this post, my recap blogging that much more fun!

Then I actually got to see the Pentax team again at the Arcadia Fall 2013 Fashion Preview and drool over the fun colors on the K-50's again! Is the universe telling me something?

Pentax put the fun back into photography for me that day, and the wide range of colors puts that fashion and individuality as well as customization into the technology. Just note the K-500 that I used to take the Pentax shots only comes in black, it's the K-50's that come in the range of colors shown in the photo at the top of the post. Another way the K-500 differs from the K-50 is that the K-500 offers a weather-sealed body, electronic level and included battery. Both of the new cameras also come with lower-cost versions of existing Pentax lenses. Both the F3.5-5.6 18-55mm and the F4.0-F5.6 50-200mm WR lenses fall under Pentax's L line-up. They are lighter than regular DA lenses, and have a plastic mount. (Same Glass and they are just as water-resistant as the DA Models). And both the K-50 and the K-500 offer Eye-Fi Card Control!

The K-50 and the K-500's are photographer friendly digital SLRs at a budget ready price point that truly deliver! Now I want one!

Extra Credit Fun for reading through: Take a look at their website and come back and tell us how you'd customize your K-50, then leave a comment here telling us, we will tag Pentax with your responses (who knows maybe if they see enough Butterfly interest we can work on something fun together for our readers!)

DON'T FORGET TO COME BACK AND COMMENT WITH HOW YOU WOULD CUSTOMIZE YOUR K-50!


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


FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post. No compensation has been received to share our recap coverage of the product launch Roaring Twenties Event. Gift Bags were received but sadly they did NOT contain cameras! But if they decide to send me one, I'd be their best friend forever! J

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Weekly Moment of Gratitude: The Mercury Retrograde is driving me nuts edition!







What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Comedy of Errors! - I am sure most of you have great Mercury Retrograde mishaps to share, here's mine: I wake up drenched in sweat on the advent of a heat wave in my city. Every other appliance in the room is working except my air conditioner. It's not an old unit. I try everything I can think of and nothing seems to work. I realize it's then time to move heavy furniture and check plugs. Moving heavy furniture sends various piles of stuff to the ground. I also find a dead mouse. YUCK. EWWW. Insert rally cry to the heavens here. I find out it's the extension my air conditioner was plugged into, but not the unit itself that was broken. So on a weekend I was hoping to shirk off anything major I spend it knocking down piles of stuff. SO NOT what I had in mind. But I am sitting here writing this on a desk where I can actually see stuff, so is that my lemonade?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The peeling has finally stopped! - My first ever super horrible sunburn finally doesn't hurt to the touch anymore and the peeling has stopped. I can tell you I will NEVER let that happen again.

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?

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

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

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

Active Giveaway:

Pancho Land, Cover Art, Book, Books, Raul Ramos Y Sanchez, Author, Review, Reviews, Giveaway, Giveaways, Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club
Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club July 2013 Title


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club is Back! - Enter to win our latest book club selection, Pancho Land by Raul Ramos Y Sanchez HERE!

Please Note: Just a reminder to giveaway entrants, please follow mandatory entry instructions very carefully, some of you are not doing the mandatory entry which means you are not entered in the final draw. We eliminate the entries that do not follow the mandatory entry instructions BEFORE we go to draw the winner which means that those going into the final draw have followed all the entry instructions! (We like to keep things fair!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - UPCOMING GIVEAWAYS!: Our next giveaway is going to be another pick your prize promotion from one of our favorite intimate brand partners, so stay tuned! From Bridal, to lounge wear to beachwear this giveaway will have you covered, our Featured Monthly Handbag in the Spotlight is back too. It's from one of our favorite handbag brands so stay tuned!


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

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!) You don't have to wait until January 1st to buy a new journal. I actually like to re-set my year and re-visit my goals on my birthday instead of new years eve, so make this a birthday gift for your spirit that you give yourself!

















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

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

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

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Happy Butterfly Fourth of July! - New York City Style!

Happy Butterfly Fourth of July, Independence Day, Butterflies



















Wishing you a fun filled day of happiness, fireworks and butterflies in the sky!

























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


FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post! Have a Happy Holiday!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

@Ascending1 Monthly #Book Club - July #Giveaway: Enter to #win Pancho Land by @Raul_Ramos



No monetary compensation has been received to host this giveaway, full disclosure below:

Butterflies I apologize for the hiatus, but our book club is back just in time for summer, because this is the season where my best reading gets done! Whether it's in the airport lounge, on the plane or beach/pool side I always bring something along to read. And not to knock the 'e-reader' craze, but I still prefer real books. Hard Cover preferably, but even soft covers still have their appeal. Much like music, I still get excited by holding a new CD in my hand, despite having a portable MP3 Player and various services that I love including iTunes and Spotify. There is just something exciting about holding that book in my hand. Like some love their soaps and shows, that's how I feel about books, I can't wait to see where the author will transport me.

We are stoked to have the Monthly Book Club return with Pancho Land by Raul Ramos Y Sanchez!

The author's name should sound familiar to loyal Ascending Butterfly readers, this book is the third in a trilogy of books, and we reviewed the first book in the series (called America Libre) HERE.

I have to start by assuaging a fear I'm sure most of you share with me, starting with a third book in a popular trilogy, but you don't have to worry about that with this book, it does stand alone if you are starting with this book, but the author also weaves in the back story so well that readers of the entire trilogy won't get bored, but new readers get an understanding of the characters and their back stories.

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I will say that after reading the end of the trilogy, you are going to be amazed at what happens with the characters. The trilogy centers around a family, a family that experiences incredible blows, incredible lows and incredible highs too. It really is the journey butterflies, not the final destination that matters.

Raul is a skilled writer and you can't help but find yourself invested in the family that is at the center of the books. I can totally see this trilogy becoming a movie! (and like every armchair reader I have strong casting ideas on the roles too!)

While you will see this in the rafflecopter widget below when you enter, I wanted to let readers know that if you "Like" the Class H Trilogy Page on Facebook you will be automatically entered each month in a drawing for a signed and dedicated copy of Pancho Land, America Libre or House Divided! Don't you love having not just one shot at winning but TWO shots at winning? I know I do! Not to mention you can get PDF quick peeks of a chapter in the books as well.

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - "Like" the Class H Trilogy Page on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Follow  on Twitter

Remember you get extra credit in the giveaway for social follows so be sure to get your entries

WIN IT: 

One lucky Ascending Butterfly reader can win a copy as well (and based on availability of course) the author will try his best to provide either a physical copy or an electronic copy, winners choice!

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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


FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, the sponsor is fulfilling to the giveaway winner. All opinions are 100% my own. Neither Ascending Butterfly or our giveaway sponsors will be held responsible for late, lost or mis-directed mail. See our Full Disclosure page for any questions or concerns.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Do you know what day it is? Seriously, July 1st has more observances than you might expect!

Celebrate Today, Today is a Special Holiday of Some Sort
Adapted from Clip-Art Heaven

Happy First of July Butterfly! For over 10 years now I have a habit of searching on the internet to find out if there are any holidays and observances on any given date, for some reason I love starting my morning with this ritual, it just never gets old for me. I had no idea just how many observances occur on July 1st!

How many of these did you know about?:

Build A Scarecrow Day
Photo Credit: Holiday Insights


Build A Scarecrow Day - I had no idea building scarecrows even had it's own day, nevertheless that it was TODAY!

Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day
Photo Credit: AZPARZYCH


Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day - I LOVE Ice Cream, now this is an observance I can wrap my head around! I do this already without an ice cream maker! (What flavor would you present to the ice cream companies?)

Early Bird Day


Early Bird Day - Supposedly procrastinators stand the best chance of kicking their procrastination habit today. (Who knew? - I still haven't tackled my closets and didn't have any sudden urge to do so today, so the jury is still out on this observance!)

Gingersnap Day


Gingersnap Day - I don't eat these, but for those who do, today is your day to go wild!

International Joke Day


International Joke Day - Beware of quipsters, punsters and jokesters! (or get a head start on them if you can!)

Special Saints Day


Special Saints Day - This is a HUGE list, you can get the specifics on The Calendar of the Saints!

Other notables: This is a HUGE list so I had to leave some out but they include American Stamp Day, American Zoo Day, Bankers Day (Guatemala), Biggest All Night Gospel Singing in the World Day, Canada Day, Donkeyfest, Feast of the Most Precious Blood, Zip Code's Birthday and many, many more!

Which one of these will you be celebrating today?

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

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post!