Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Beauty SOS! Sending out a Beauty Bat Signal to #windowstyle

I can finally announce that I am attending BlogHer 2012 this year! Because of my medical nightmare that started last year I was unable to attend BlogHer 2011 in San Diego, and this year I didn't have time to do any outreaches for conference sponsorship because I spent so much of this year in the hospital. Being in the hospital did have one benefit, I had a lot of time to read (well between exploratory surgeries and high doses of super intense medications, LOL), and during my nightly reading online one night, I found out that BlogHer needed Volunteers and a light bulb went off! With medical expenses I would not have been able to purchase a ticket to BlogHer this year. So I applied to volunteer. And thankfully, I was selected. I will be 'earning' my seat which I'm grateful for and very proud of! And I have also been asked to Live Blog during BlogHer Panels FOR BlogHer, not just as an attendee! WOWZERS + AWESOMESAUCE = YAY ME!

I am totally excited, but also incredibly nervous. I don't get to 'hide' this time behind my laptop, camera or portable device, I will be meeting panelists and attendees as a Microphone Wrangler, and I will actually have to come out of my shell. Not so easy! All eyes on me has never been something I was totally comfortable with. (Yes I do get the irony of that statement, but I didn't really begin blogging to 'live my life out loud', it just sort of happened throughout the years!)

Like many bloggers, as the day swiftly approaches, I have been raiding all my closets in hopes that I'd find something *perfect* to wear. As if some magical unicorn would place some perfect 'power outfit' in my closet for me that would fit to a tee!

My research on ideas on what to wear to BlogHer did turn up an amazing find! I found a post on the Windows Experience Blog that caught my eye - BlogHer Attendees: Win A $1500 Style Makeover from Windows #sweepstakes!

What it boils down to? I'm glad you asked, it's my job in this post to explain why I deserve a style makeover and what I’d like my new re-imagined look to be like, and so I thought I'd do it in pictures!

I started my new year here:



I was told I was on 'borrowed time' and would soon end up here:


Several exploratory surgeries later (with me actually waking up during one of them) we discovered I had been given a mis-diagnosis originally (you can read more about my medical nightmare here: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-new-presbyterian.html):


I have been unable to resume the workout routine that was really working for me in 2010 and early 2011 (I had lost over 26 pounds and 3 dress sizes it was hard work and I was SO happy). But this year with multiple surgeries I was told to take it easy, so this year I blew up like a:



I'm at a major crossroads (personally and professionally) and after starting my year thinking that it would be my last, I have a new lease on life and I want my outside to reflect my inside! Here is a vision board of what I imagine I could be, of what I want my makeover to look like:



So far this medical nightmare robbed me of both New Year's AND my birthday this year and I refuse to let it rob me of anything else! As far as I'm concerned, this BlogHer isn't just another conference, it's 'carpe blogem' for me, I plan to seize the day, the conference and my blog! I figure if I'm going to invest my time in making my blog better, shouldn't I invest the same amount of time in making myself better?

Emotionally I'm still trying to piece this year together, it's been much like Tornado, but slowly and surely I am getting the pieces together and my outside should look like as empowered as I feel on the inside. Ascending Butterfly's mission statement is a simple one: To seek and share the best sources of inspiration out there. This year I want to be inspired. The only way I can continue to inspire and empower others is by empowering myself, this makeover would be the first major step toward that goal.

If you'd like to see your favorite butterfly blogger go from Chrysalis to Butterfly, please send a quick tweet to @kristinalibby with the hashtag #windowstyle

Here is a sample tweet:

@kristinalibby Pls pick @Ascending1 to go from Chrysalis to #Butterfly during #BlogHer12 with a #windowstyle #Makeover http://ow.ly/ctAO9

If you voted, please be sure to come back and post the link to your tweet on this post!

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

FTC Disclosure: In writing this post, I’m entering the Microsoft Windows Style Makeover Sweepstakes for a chance to win a head to toe makeover. No monetary compensation has been received for sharing this information. All opinions are 100% my own.

13 comments:

  1. Here you go:

    https://twitter.com/barrettboys/status/227961277824262144

    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Milena - Thanks so much for voting, I truly appreciate your support!

      ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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  2. Wishing you the best and hoping the worst is behind you- keep up the great attitude and I know you'll be the victor.

    Abrazos y muchos BB2U.

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    1. @Bohemian Babushka - Thanks for your vote! Are you coming to BlogHer? I hope we can finally meet up in person! I hated that I had to miss Hispanicize!

      ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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  3. Replies
    1. @DailyCurlz - Thank You! I appreciate your support! I hope we can meet up during BlogHer!

      ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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  4. BEST OF LUCK girl! You most definitely deserve this. I'm so glad you'll be at BlogHer and I look forward to reading you updates.

    https://twitter.com/PattyAizaga/status/228081272981950464

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    Replies
    1. @Patty - Thanks! It's been a long hard road, and I'm still not entirely out of the water yet, but I'm looking forward to BlogHer this year more than ever!

      ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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  5. @kristinalibby Pls pick @Ascending1 to go from Chrysalis to #Butterfly during #BlogHer12 with a #windowstyle #Makeover http://ow.ly/ctAO9

    Best wishes!
    Manny

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @PapiBlogger - Manny I can't even begin to thank you for your support and how all around awesome you've been to me! I am so sorry I had to miss Hispanicize due to my health scare, but I'm really looking forward to BlogHer. And also can't wait until I can finally meet you in person!

      ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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  6. I voted for you sweets. Best of luck to you.
    Saw the post about your Aunt and skin cancer. Sorry for your loss!

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    Replies
    1. @Nancy - Thanks for your vote and for sympathies regarding my Aunt (she was also my Godmother!). Her example of strong Faith despite what she was experiencing served as an amazing example to me during my own medical nightmare this year.

      ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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  7. https://twitter.com/hbbs55/status/229677762712055808

    ReplyDelete