Wednesday, July 18, 2018

#WordlessWednesday This one is for you #Squirrel Friends! #Photography #NikonD3300

I thought things couldn't get worse after the Fourth of July fire, last night I found out that my Aunt passed away, so for the first time ever, I am very much truly wordless!

This photo was taken by me using a Nikon D3300 DSLR Camera.

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FTC Disclosure: No monetary compensation has been received, and all opinions are 100% my own!  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Fourth of July FIREworks now have a whole new and not so good meaning for me, this #WordlessWednesday photo is definitely worth a thousand words!



I have never truly come close to a true wordless 'Wordless Wednesday', but today will be the closest I have ever come. A bit after midnight on the Fourth of July we were awakened to the sound of someone pounding on our door yelling "FIRE!" "FIRE!".

Someone threw illegal fireworks off the roof and set the building ablaze.

I have more photos of the destruction that the FDNY left in their wake, but I think my battered bible says it all:

Bible, Battered Bible, Post Fire Bible

Unfortunately, this is the second time there was a fire in my apartment complex. This time around I am saddened by not only the things that were lost that can't be replaced, photos, the family bible pictured above, trinkets from my travels but also these things that leave me angry:

- FDNY - The firefighters were so RUDE. They let us know that we were SUPPOSED to go up to the roof and stop people from throwing illegal fireworks, um, it was late at night and I was asleep and two, I am NOT a cop. There has been quite a bit of gang activity in this area and he thinks I am supposed to risk my life confronting criminals?

- My Neighbors - People we have lent a hand to when they were locked out their apartments, held their packages when they missed Fedex/UPS - and when the worst was over everyone closed their doors, not one person asked if we would like to stay with them or needed water or anything.

- My Fair Weather Friends - Remember when it was popular to ask 'Who is your 4 am?' - meaning if anything were to happen to you and you could not call your parents, siblings etc who would that person be that would be there for you in the middle of the night. I should have already known this from my health scare in 2011 - but this, really helped hit home that I do not have a 4 am.

- My Landlord - There should be better security measures in this building and if this isn't proof of that, then I do not know what is.

Readers: Have you ever experienced a fire? 

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FTC Disclosure: No monetary compensation has been received, and all opinions are 100% my own!  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

{#WineWednesday} Looking for a Sparkling #Wine to start your #FourthofJuly2018 with a pop of apple crisp goodness that will carry you into fall? Check out @drinksauvage

Happy Fourth of July Butterflies!

Compensated Post Sponsored By: Sauvage Comsi Comsa Apple Crisp Sparkling Wine

June was a BIG month at Ascending Butterfly, it marked the 10 year anniversary of this blog. I normally do a 'it's our birthday, you get the gifts' month of giveaways, but things got super busy so I will sprinkle some giveaway goodness into your life throughout the summer.

Something about Independence day and the expression "As American as Apple Pie" made me want to work on this post today. And while I am not presenting actual Apple Pie, I am talking about 'Apple Crisp', of a LIQUID variety.


Sauvage Comsi Comsa Apple Crisp Sparkling Wine Flat Overlay with Animal Print Wine Glasses, Sauvage, Comsi Comsa, Apple Crisp, Sparkling Wine, Kosher Wines, Gluten Free Wine



Above: Sauvage Comsi Comsa 'Apple Crisp' Sparkling Wine

You guys have no idea just how long it took to get this flat overlay shot to work, then I used Ribbet (my fave online Photo Editing Software) to get this matte effect!

For some odd reason my wine tasting experiences have leaned heavily on the international side, and when I got to cover the Tropicana Winter Wine Fest in Atlantic City, New Jersey, it was the first time I had a chance to try wines produced closer to home.

Today I am proud to share a wine that is produced in Oneonta, New York and has only TWO ingredients - apples and champagne yeast. This wine is natural, gluten-free and kosher and made with dozens of apple varieties sourced from local farms surrounding the distillery.

Sauvage's distillery and tasting room is in Oneonta, New York in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains along the banks of the Susquehanna River and has direct access to 24 varieties of apple's growing in the nearby region's orchards.

It is 12% alcohol by volume with an Amber-Caramel color and a 'full-bodied nose' and is that intersection where bubbly meets cider (cider is only 6% alcohol by volume, Comsi Comsa 'Apple Crisp' is 12%).

It has the refreshing taste of a crisp green apple, not a sweet, crumbly dessert, I tend to lean toward brut and dry palate wines and love that this is crisp, surprisingly full-bodied and well-balanced.

Sauvage Comsi Comsa Apple Crisp Sparkling Wine Flat Overlay with Animal Print Wine Glasses, Sauvage, Comsi Comsa, Apple Crisp, Sparkling Wine, Kosher Wines, Gluten Free Wine

Above: I was so inspired I even started exploring fun filters - this filter is called "True Vintage" and I love everything about it, I want to enlarge this one and put it in my kitchen!

MY TAKE:

Sauvage Comsi Comsa Sparkling Wine is affordable luxury at $14.99 per bottle and pairs so perfectly with cheeses that you will want to make it the star of your summer and fall. I'm a Brie Cheese lover and the pairing of this wine with Brie is literally a match made in heaven.

If an 'Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away' surely stocking my bar with Comsi Comsa Apple Crisp will help me live forever right?

So be sure to pick up a bottle to go along with your backyard barbecues and fireworks today!

Please drink responsibly butterflies, do NOT drink and drive!

Readers Sound Off: What is your favorite way to enjoy Apples?

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FTC Disclosure:  This is both a compensated and a sponsored Post, but the love is real. Ascending Butterfly is not just my passion project, it's my business/brand. All opinions are 100% my own! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.