Win a Fathers Day Grand Meat and Cheese Basket from 1800baskets.com!

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor 1800baskets.com! We look forward to working with you again! The winner is 'saphyress'. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!

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Ascending Butterfly's Father's Day Buying Guide Pick Sponsored By:

Happy Father' Day! OK, so right now it's a little bit early, but not to early to start thinking of gifts! Most people I know say that shopping for Dad is the hardest. While most I know say their moms just don't want them to spend too much, their dads say 'I don't need anything'.

Well most of us don't technically 'NEED' anything, but we want everything, am I right? Don't let dad off the hook that easy, while his lips may grumble 'I don't need anything', trust me folks, there is a little boy in there who WANTS stuff. Cool Stuff. Unique Stuff.

Ladies, trust me when I say the one thing that will never change is that the way to a Man's Heart is through his stomach. His food loving, amazingly quick calorie burning stomach.  Feed him and he's YOURS!

This Memorial Day weekend was so much more memorable with the arrival of some special review baskets! It's a tough job but somebody has to do it! And with family and friends over, I can tell you the contents of these baskets went QUICK! (I received two of them today well after everyone left, so those are mine, all MINE! Hopefully no one I know is reading this, SHHH don' tell anyone! LOL)

I have been giving and receiving baskets as gifts for YEARS now, and I will say that the best presenation by far has been with 800 Baskets. You receive it exactly as pictured, and they are always so much fun to open. There is attention to detail from the contents, to how it's packaged and wrapped, and even with the shipping, the attention to detail is there. Instead of a box that lets out packing peanuts all over the carpet, the peanuts themselves were contained in their own packaging so the basket was protected from being bumped in transit, but was also easy open with no mess.

On Mother's Day 2010, Ascending Butterfly readers showed 800baskets.com so much love on their facebook page and on Twitter, that they have come back to join us for the kick off of our Father's Day Buying Guide! Great job guys and girls!

There is quite an extensive assortment of baskets to cover all kinds of dads. Let's not forget the other guys in our lives who are dads, our brothers, uncles, grand-dad, boss, your postal carrier, doorman, that favorite co-worker you go to lunch with everyday, etc.

While there are many more, I'm going to highlight the ones I received, in the order they were received. I'm going to start with the Crunchy Candy Crush Pretzels, and it's because I'm eating one right now!!!

Basket 1: What do you get when you take the crispiest pretzel rod you’ll ever crunch, dip it in caramel, then cover it with one of 5 classic candy favorites? An unbelievably excellent treat that’s only for the sweetest of the very sweet. They’ll love munching on this satisfying snack. It’s easy to share – if they dare.

10 crispy pretzel rods coated with caramel and 5 candy favorites (2 of each flavor)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Butterfinger®
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Heath Bar®
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - M&Ms®
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Mounds®
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Oreo®

Arrives in a whimsical pattern gift box

This was one of the ones that arrived during memorial day weekend, I'm amazed that I even was able to save one for me, these went super quick. I loved the box and that each one was individually wrapped. It's the best of both worlds, a crunchy pretzel dipped in a sinfully delicious candy topping! Sweet & Salty! They are perfect if you are planning on  making Father's Day a Movie Night. (At home or at the theater, these are way yummier than stale popcorn, I'm just saying!) These definitely received a thumbs up! Adding this one on to my corporate quick gift list as well.

Basket 2: This one also arrived during Memorial Day weekend, and the contents were prepared and quickly devoured. A thumbs up from the entire 'casa de butterfly' breakfast table for the 'Hearty Breakfast Gift Basket'. I can't imagine any dad not loving this one, especially presented to him by you and the kids, who can resist breakfast in bed?

Inspired by the hearty breakfast fare served in rustic mountain cabins, this unbelievably decadent basketful of breakfast foods has been designed with Dad in mind. This Father’s Day, make Dad breakfast in bed. Start with a steaming hot cup of Columbian coffee, Lehi Roller Mills® Whole Grain Heart Healthy Hotcakes, or buttermilk pancakes and waffles with apple butter syrup and topped with rich, sweet wild Maine blueberry preserves. Next, serve up a side of crisp hickory smoked pepper bacon. Top if all off with a huge hug and a kiss to make Dad’s special breakfast complete.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sophisticated dark brown willow gift basket
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Arrives bearing a Happy Father’s Day ribbon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Rich Columbian coffee
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Hearty pepper bacon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Rich applebutter syrup
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Wild Maine blueberry preserves
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lehi Roller Mills® Whole Grain Heart Healthy Hotcake Mix
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fluffy buttermilk pancake mix

All I can say is that there is a reason why Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day! I don't know what arrangement 800baskets.com has with Fedex but this arrived early in the am and everyone was hungry! While more hands meant this basket disappeared quickly, it was fun having help in the kitchen! I know sometimes people hesitate buying baskets because they figure they won't like all the contents, but I am sure that this basket of breakfast goodies will be the perfect way to start dad's day!

Basket 3: Is your dad a Sports Fan? Does your Dad particpate in any sport? (My dad played baseball, so I definitely would have considered getting him the All Star Snacks Big Ceramic Baseball Bowl)

I do have a few Golf Loving Dads in my life, thankfully none of them were here when the Golfer's Choice Big Ceramic Snack Bowl arrived, because that would have started a war for sure!

It’s a great big hole in one! Speak Dad’s snack language with this super cool, super big, ceramic Golfer’s Choice Snack Bowl. It’s packed with treats including Kettle corn, pub mix, an Old Dominion® peanut bar, and praline pecan caramels. Makes a great Father’s Day gift that’s right on par!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Golf ball-shaped ceramic bowl with embossed pattern
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tied with a grosgrain ribbon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 4oz Kettle corn
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 5oz Pub mix
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2.25oz Old Dominion® peanut bar
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 10oz praline pecan caramels

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Makes a great holder for tees and score cards or even chips are the snacks are gone

Basket 4: And while I will not play favorites among the baskets, I will say we are ending with a bang! If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, if you didn't melt his heart with the breakfast basket, you are about to now! The contents of this basket are certainly drool worthy:

Fathers Day Grand Meat and Cheese Basket - This Father’s Day, make a grand gesture in gourmet food gift giving. He’ll love San Francisco-crafted Columbus® classic Italian salame that is hand-tied, and American-made farm fresh premium cheeses like Rouge et Noir® Original Brie Cheese and Sierra Nevada Aged Goat Cheddar Cheese. Pair these exceptional cheeses with snacks like a citrus spice appetizer spread, sweet & spicy mustard dip and premium water crackers and it’s enough to make a foodie weep tears of joy.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Artistically designed in a covered willow basket with a fabric liner
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Arrives bearing a Happy Father’s Day ribbon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - San Francisco-crafted Columbus® classic Italian salame
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Rouge et Noir® Original Brie Cheese
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sierra Nevada Aged Goat Cheddar Cheese
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Columbus® Italian Dry Salame
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Columbus® Salame
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Citrus Spice Appetizer Spread and more
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Measures 7”Hx11 ½”Wx13 ½”L
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - This gift includes exceptionally fresh cheese and requires Overnight delivery

This basket is perfect for a picnic in the park or at the beach!! You and your honey should definitely take some time to re-connect, how about after the kids are all tucked in their beds, you grab this basket and your sweetie and watch the sunset together?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at 1800baskets.com would like to provide one lucky winner with the opportunity to win the Fathers Day Grand Meat and Cheese Basket! (ARV $69.99)!

Don't you just ♥ 1800baskets.com? I know I do! And I know Dad will too!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Visit 1800baskets.com and pick another FATHER'S DAY basket OTHER than the review & giveaway baskets featured here and post the URL (3) You must also 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 email is visible in your profile, just say so, that's OK! Just remember, even if you are a subscriber, if your profile is set to private and you don't include an email we have to disqaulify your entry). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! This giveaway is open to USA residents who are 18 years of age or older.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this" or "I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Wednesday, June 02, 2010 until Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 03:00 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email address your entry will not be processed.)

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you already have our button, just let us know, you will still get extra credit! If we cannot see the button we will not process this extra credit.)

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

Tweet this:

Pls RT #WIN Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ #ascendingbutterfly + @1800baskets Fathers Day Grand Meat and Cheese Basket #Giveaways - http://tinyurl.com/29754o5

*Two Tweets per person per day MAX

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

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Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

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Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Join Ascending Butterfly's Community Group (with real time chat) NOTE: We switched from NING to Spruz, if you were a member of our old group you'll need to switch for this credit to count HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Subscribe to receive Ascending Butterfly emails using our Feedburner widget on the upper right hand side of the page below the follower thumbnail pictures! (If you are already a subscriber you will still receive extra credit!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please Vote, Ascending Butterfly is a nominee for the Bloggers Choice ’10 Awards in the ‘Best Blog About Stuff’ Category. Where it reads total votes, there is a yellow box that reads 'Vote' Press there to vote, you must be logged in to see the number increase/vote registered. You can also vote directly using the button located on our home page and below: (This will be checked, so please don't cite this as an extra credit if you didn't actually vote)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NEW DAILY: Please vote for my outfit 'Yay4WkEnd' @ Macy's Fashion director (note you do not have to register to vote for me, one click daily super fast, super easy!) HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Enter another active giveaway on Ascending Butterfly and earn extra credit, leave a comment letting me know which giveaway you entered. (This will be checked!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Purchase any basket anytime between 6/2 - 6/14 and receive 10 extra entries. (you will need to email us a copy of your invoice as proof. Yes, you can cross off method of payment information!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NEW! Press the button below and join, you get an extra entry for this giveaway and a shot at more great prizes, lets win together! (one time extra credit, will be verified before entry can be accepted)

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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. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a community group page with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

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 remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will not accept your entry. Make sure your entry or your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow A Blog Publicly 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 a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

Are you getting the dreaded 'Your Entry Can't Be Processed' message when leaving an entry or comment? Before hitting enter, highlight your comment and COPY it. If you get that message after hitting enter and your comment is still there, just ignore the message and hit enter again, then you will get a screen with a captcha code, enter the captcha code, then submit and VOILA. If after you hit the submit button the first time, you get the dreaded message and the comment 'disappeared' no worries, that's why I asked you to copy it in the first step. Paste it back in and submit again. This has worked for me when comment boxes have glitched on me, and I hope it helps you too!

We are excited to report that this giveaway is a Prizey.net's Editor's Pick! Thanks Prizey, and thanks for all the Ascending Butterfly readers for your enthusiastic response!

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FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the products are expressly my own experiences. I was provided product to review and for the giveaway. The sponsor is fulfilling directly to prize winner, this in no way influenced my opinion of the product. Once a winner is selected and their information has been forwarded to the sponsor, the responsibility of prize fulfillment rests with the sponsor.