Showing posts with label Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club. Show all posts

Sunday, December 3, 2017

#ad: #OnTheBlog - Looking for a #supermoon2017 #SuperMoonSunday Read? Then Check out this Review and Giveaway of @tylerperry #HigherIsWaiting a @penguinrandom title #rwm

{CLOSED} CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER TOMI C. THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷThis is a Sponsored Post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Penguin Random House. I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All opinions are 100% my own.


This Sunday, December 3rd is the both the FIRST AND LAST supermoon of 2017. The moon is going to appear up to 14 times larger and 30 times brighter than usual, and I can't think of any better way to enjoy it than cozying up to my favorite reading nook by the window with a good book and a nice glass of wine (or eggnog or hot chocolate, whatever floats your beverage boat!) And I will also have my Crystals on the windowsill 're-charging' as it is thought that the full moon shines down with so much pure energy, anything it touches is imbued with powerful radiance and love. And who couldn't use more of that in their life?

The illumination of the supermoon provides not only physical mind-blowing results when it comes to energy healing but on a soul level as well it helps to sort of shine a light on the dark corners of your subconscious and shine a light that gives you insight into your emotions, your soul, and your soul path. And that all ties so superbly with the review and giveaway I bring you today. (And don't forget in case you missed it, we teamed up with Santa.com to host a fun Giveaway that includes a limited edition Christopher Radko ornament, only 300 of them were made, please be sure to enter it HERE

I know it's been ages since we have had an Ascending Butterfly Book Club on a regular basis monthly, not so much because I haven't been reading, I definitely have, but I have had less time to write and a regular feature was becoming too much of a commitment. Lately my blog life has been matching my single life, not much along the way of time to properly devote to either one. Le Sigh. Being a single butterfly in the city ain't easy!

I do have a title I wanted to share with you called Higher is Waiting by Tyler Perry (note this is an affiliate link to the book, when you purchase from our affiliate link it helps support this site and is always appreciated).

There are so many reasons this book resonates with me.

In addition to writing and social media consulting I am life/career coach and I am always scouring self help aisles to keep myself motivated. I know I have to keep my batteries re-charged if I am going to help others.

A Life Coach in a Funk?

Not cute.

Not a Good Look.

Bad for Business.

I love to scour the self-help aisle at the Library and my favorite bookstores for inspiration. And I squeeze in my reading anywhere I can, during my commute to the City each day, when I am traveling or on a plane, somehow despite the popularity of e-readers and even with my love of tech and tech blogging, I am still old school when it comes to reading, I like a hardcover book in my hand.

Whether you know Tyler Perry from his feature films, twenty stage plays or nine television shows, Higher is Waiting is a very intimate look at the Writer, Author, Filmmaker, playwright, songwriter, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Check out Tyler's "The Perry Foundation" which aims to transform tragedy into triumph by seeding individual potential, supporting communities and harvesting real change.

This is Tyler's second title, his first book, which is also a #1 New York Times Best Seller is called "Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life"

I want to make it very clear that this is NOT a Madea book, nor is this a sequel to that book, this is Tyler Perry opening himself up in a very raw, personal and open way sharing directly from a ten year period of his personal journals with a combination of humor and spiritual hope.

The book is divided into four sections: Planting, Nourishing, Branching Out and Harvesting.

The format is a little bit similar to a book that was a standout pick for me in our Ascending Butterfly Book Club in 2010, called Unforgettable You by Daisy Fuentes, see my review for that book HERE.

Like Unforgettable You, Higher Is Waiting has a call to action at the end of every chapter, and also has recommended bible verses and passages that relate to that chapter and help you expand deeper on the theme in that particular chapter.

WIN IT:

I am partnering with Review Wire Media and Penguin Random House to give one lucky butterfly the chance to win your own copy of "Higher Is Waiting". Use the Rafflecopter Widget Below to enter, if the widget is 'stuck' just refresh the page and it should come back on it's own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MY TAKE:

I had seen interviews with Tyler Perry and had some idea of the abuse he endured in childhood, but not quite the extent of what he endured, while I appreciate Tyler Perry's humor it is in Higher Is Waiting that he gives us the biggest glimpse yet into his soul. Memoirs are terribly difficult to pen - just how much of yourself do you give? How does what you give of yourself impact how an already established audience perceives you?

I have read many other reviews on this book describing it as an easy read. (I always tend to read reviews before I write one.) And I am not quite sure that I agree. A Memoir is something akin to an open sore that you keep peeling the skin off of, it's a raw and a painful process, and to read of someone else's trials and tribulations I would never consider 'easy', but I will agree you can get through each individual chapter quickly because they are shorter chapters.

But the meat is in the end of chapter questions that ask you to probe yourself.

And the soul is in the extra bible verses that he asks you to refer to that expand upon that chapter's theme.

If you are doing it right, and really taking those extra steps at the end of the chapter, this is actually not a fast or easy read, but something that moves you to dig into your own soul in a very empowering way.

And before you say it, yes I am very careful with the three taboo conversation topics even here on my pages: Sex, Politics and Religion. However, I am enlightened enough to say I am open to wisdom and inspiration in any form or shape, and while this book uses bible verses at the end of the chapter for additional sources of inspiration, if you are not inclined, you can skip the bible verses, but please do NOT skip the questions that ask you to probe your own soul or you would be doing yourself a great dis-service. Those questions are for self examination and evaluation, and while you think you may know the answers, keep that pen and paper handy and WRITE out the answers to each question at the end of each chapter, your answers just may surprise you and seeing them written is super powerful.

I recommend this book to my friends in Faith and those who are not Faith inclined, it is an example of endurance, humor, and the wisdom that comes from a life in progress.

A most excellent Holiday Gift in my opinion.

Spill Butterflies: What is your favorite Memoir? or even if it wasn't exactly your favorite, what was the last Memoir you read?

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FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, 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 & Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. Things that lure this butterfly out of her cocoon: Technology, Travel, Fashion, Beauty, Spirits (Sparkling, Champagne, Prosecco, Sake, Bourbon, Craft Brews), Foodie Fun - really I'm such a *simple girl*.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Review and #Giveaway of @monicamcgurk #DarkHopeBook via @Ascending1 #CleverGirls #Spon


Dark Hope: Book One of the Archangel Prophecies, Book Cover

































By now most of my butterflies know I'm obsessed with 'all things with wings', butterflies obviously, but things with wings include dragonflies, ladybugs and as a girl raised in the Catholic Church, the ultimate thing with wings? Angels. I grew up with this Guardian Angel Wall Plaque above my bed as a little girl:

Guardian Angel Wall Plaque


I never once doubted that we all had a Guardian Angel to protect us. One who watched over us, kept us out of harms way and helped us stay on our path. Over time I came to see departed loved ones as additional 'Angels on our Shoulders' and for my confirmation I studied the stories of all the Saints to help me determine which Saint name I would take for my confirmation. I read them all, and returned to class resolute that I wanted 'Saint/Archangel Michael'. I was none to happy to be laughed at by my teacher and class at my audacity and silliness to think I could take a male name. But I loved his story, he stood before the enemy, not just any enemy, THE ENEMY and won! Surely I possessed the same courage? My little inner feminist was not happy when I was told I had to select another Saint, A Female Saint. Not that their stories weren't equally powerful, but they didn't resonate as powerfully with me as Michael's story of defeating the ultimate enemy had.

I came home and explained my dilemma to my Mother who helped guide me to other Saints to study so I could make my final selection. But my fascination with Archangel Michael is still very much a part of me. So much so that I have a prayer card and Sword that I hold very dear to me:

St Michael Prayer Card and Sword, Espada de San Miguel


When the opportunity presented itself to read a book whose central theme was 'the love between a human and an archangel' and not just any archangel, but MY Archangel, MY Michael I just had to read it! Dark Hope: Book One in the Archangel Prophesies by Monica McGurk is categorized as a Young Adult Fantasy Novel, but it certainly touches on some very 'grown up' and important themes.

ABOUT:

A new young adult saga in the Twilight tradition about the love between a human and an archangel.
For years, Hope Carmichael, survivor of a shocking child abduction, has lived a sheltered existence under the protection of her fanatically religious father. Now, liberated by her mother, Hope prepares to start life over as a normal kid in an Atlanta, Georgia, high school.
Normal, that is, until Hope meets Michael, a gorgeous emancipated teen with a mysterious past and a strong interest in Hope. And soon, Hope’s life is filled with questions. What’s behind the angry looks Hope gets from Lucas, leader of a gang of students? Who’s responsible for sending Hope a strange valentine inscribed with Bible quotations? How does this relate to the sinister business of human trafficking that operates on the periphery of Hope’s suburban world? And is Michael really a protector, or something more sinister—and just why does he seem so familiar?
In an epic narrative that takes readers from the back streets of Atlanta to the height of Vegas penthouses and beyond, Dark Hope introduces readers to The Archangel Prophecies, a new young adult saga that blends the feeling of Twilight with a vast mythological scope and moral urgency, as well as to Hope Carmichael—a young woman instantly memorable for her endurance, heart, and determination—and Michael, Hope’s dangerous companion who’s fated either to save Hope—or to kill her.

Note: A portion of proceeds from this book will be donated to organizations that fight human trafficking. Now you know there is nothing that makes Ascending Butterfly happier than a 'Give Back' opportunity, A total win/win in my book. A great read for YOU and you are doing something to help victims of human trafficking as well.

Directly from the Author:




MY TAKE:

I am not going to give out any spoilers, I will say this is a must read. Even if YA is not your usual type of read I would highly urge you to give this book a try, it is a total page turner, and in my opinion is very much respectful to the Church, to how it handles biblical references and surprisingly to how it handles the story line between Michael and Hope. I really wanted to be mad at it, how dare they make MY Michael a romantic protagonist? and seriously with a teen no less? But Butterflies, the writing is TIGHT and the author does make so many unlikely and disparate elements come together cohesively. And in my opinion if it helps to shed light on just how rampant and dangerous the Sexual Trafficking Industry really is then all the better. I know it's not always easy to talk difficult topics, but if you are letting your teen read this, (my personal opinion is that YOU read it first just to make sure you feel comfortable), then use the book as a talking point to teach your teen to be careful in social situations and of their surroundings.

There is even a Pinterest board with a Hope Casting Wish List! (Is there someone you would add to that list that's not there?)

WIN IT:

Our awesome friends at Clever Girls Collective and the Greenleaf Book Group, want one lucky butterfly to win their own copy of this month's Book Club title, so use the rafflecopter form below to enter; and as always, the main entry is easy peasy!

One of the 'Extra Credit' entries is for you all to share your favorite (past or present) Young Adult Book - Remember to answer that here on the giveaway post so we can see your selection, but tick it off in rafflecopter so you get the extra credit entries! (I figured with back-to-school coming I'd get you in the mindset of thinking 'extra credit', sneaky right?)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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FTC Disclosure: I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and this is a sponsored post, the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. Sponsor will be fulfilling prizing directly. Neither Ascending Butterfly, Sponsor or Clever Girls Collective is responsible for lost or mis-directed mail. 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.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Weekly Moment of Gratitude + Giveaway Winner for the @Ascending1 July Monthly Book Club Title!







What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - ? - These past four days have been so bad, that I have nothing to say. I guess with the year I had last year, I'm supposed to say 'getting one more day', but right now that doesn't feel like much of a consolation or a gift considering this has been an entirely un-bearable past week. Sorry butterflies, usually I'm good at finding silver linings, but I'm just plain not feeling very inspired. So I spent a few days not writing hoping I could find a way to put things in perspective for myself. Hopefully you have been having a better week than I have had and that you have great things to share to be grateful for. Maybe I can find some inspiration in your stories this week.


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:


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 - The Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club is Back and we have a winner for our July title, the winner's name is posted in the rafflecopter widget HERE, please join me in congratulating the winner, entry #14, Anita Yancey!

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 lingerie, to loungewear to beachwear this giveaway will have you covered,

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Our Featured Monthly Handbag in the Spotlight is back too in case you missed July's featured handbag, click HERE


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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!) 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!

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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

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!)

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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.

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?

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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

˙·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

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


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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.

Friday, May 24, 2013

TGIF Butterfly: Memorial Day Weekend & Winner Edition!






Thank God It's Friday! And not just any Friday butterflies, it's Memorial Day Weekend! I have a few vets in my family so I hope that even if you don't have anyone who has ever served in your family, that you will still stop and take a moment this weekend especially to send good vibes, prayers and positive energy to all the men and women in the armed forces. This post is not a debate as to whether or not war is right or wrong, so no flames please, this is just my way of taking a moment to thank those who are putting their lives on the line each and everyday, and for their families as well.

Today was a great day, I found out I was a winner in a contest I entered on Facebook, and I also have a winner to announce from our community from our recent Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club Giveaway for the Fast Metabolism Diet!

WINNER:

As you can see in the Rafflecopter Widget, the winner was entrant #25 Brutus D. So join me in congratulating our most recent winner!

And carve out a moment to enter some of current Active Giveaways:

(1) Gorton's Seafood Challenge Prize Pack Giveaway which includes: 5 Full Value Product Coupons so you can try the 20 under 200 calories products for yourself, 1 Gorton's Branded Apron (perfect since BBQ/Cookout season has begun!), 2 Gorton's Branded Oven Mitts and 1 Gorton's Branded Spatula.

(2) I was selected as 'Bloguera del Mes'/'Blogger of the Month' with 'Proyecto Desayuno'/The Breakfast Project! And to celebrate my blogger of the month status, we are hosting a Got Milk? themed Prize Basket Giveaway which includes: Got Milk? Branded Merchandise, plus some really cool gift cards including a $50 American Express Card (so you can stock up on Milk of course!) and a $15 Starbucks Gift Card (so you can get your caffeine on and have tons of energy to read our cool blog posts of course!) :-)

And we are days away from June, but don't think we are slowing down for summer, in fact it will be just the opposite! Stay tuned for our next Featured Handbag in the Spotlight, our next Monthly Book Club Title and and awesome Jewelry giveaway coming up soon for our Fashionista Butterflies in the house!

What are your plans for Memorial Day Weekend Butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. See our full Giveaway and Disclosure Policy.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Ascending Butterfly May Monthly #Book Club Title: Review and #Giveaway of The Fast Metabolism Diet #FastMetabolismDiet



This is a sponsored post/Giveaway for SheSpeaks/Fast Metabolism Diet (All opinions are my own):

I spent 2010 and 2011 on a series of Lifestyle Changes that resulted in very healthy weight loss overtime. Getting more excercise and recipe substitions had resulted in the loss of 3 dress sizes and way more energy. I was thrilled!

Then 2012 happened. I spent the bulk of the year at three different hospitals for long term stays. Which meant being sick to my stomach and not wanting to eat due to the medications and surgeries, and a ton of time in a hospital bed which meant no excercise. To say last year threw me off my game is an understatement. Considering I was told I may not make it, I have much to be grateful for. Every few months it's back to the hospital for testing and I still can't go back to a full workout routine yet.

With summer coming I want to have tons of energy because after a year in the hospital, I plan to go out everyday and take full advantage of the sun this summer! I knew I needed to find a way to get my metabolism going knowing full well that I can't yet go back to the workout routine I was enjoying in 2010 and 2011 (which included Zumba and Yoga).

I had actually seen the book on TV before I was invited to participate in this campaign and it had caught my eye. The one thing I've learned through the years is that Lifestyle Changes, (no matter what they are for, to break bad habits, learn new ones, incorporate meditation into your day), have to be logical and not too difficult to incorporate to be successful. From what I had seen this looked easy to do, and seemed to make sense for me with my many restrictions.

I am going to be totally honest, I tried this out and didn't follow it to the letter, but it's OK because I knew I probably wouldn't. My schedule is erratic and because of my varied obligations, it's ever changing. Events in NYC come with cocktails, food, appetizers and all kind of things that are not always what I was meant to be eating that day. And worse still meetings all day and events most evenings including weekends leave very little time for much of a workout routine anyway.

The Science behind The Fast Metabolism Diet is explained graphically on their website and it's worth taking a look at so you can get an idea of 'the HOW' behind the diet. As a single girl in the city I didn't have the problem of worrying about other people in the home not liking the meals, it was just me I had to worry about. Is that how I eat everyday? NO. So it was hard to get adjusted to. For me the biggest problem was the cutting back of refined sugars, I love my chocolate and my Ice Cream and I am NOT going to cut them completely out of my life.

I was excited to discover that some of the foods I already love like Lobster, Shrimp, Avocados, Cashews, Seaweed (Sushi anyone?), stimulate the release of fat-burning T4 and T3 hormones which create a thermogenic effect in the body, melting those hard fat stores and allowing them to be liquified by the Thyroid Hormones, burned for energy and released from the body. This burn boosts your metabolism!




I know what you are thinking by now, 'So Butterfly, Did it WORK?'. Yes it did. I did not lose 20 pounds, but I have a firm policy of not gauging my weight loss with the scale, I lost one dress size so far, and I have maintained that size, my underwear/lingerie are all so loose I have to get new stuff in a size down, and I am happy with that progress. I am not following it to the letter, but with the principles it outlines, and with me slowly but surely being able to become progressively more active I am sure I will be back to where I was in 2011 in no time.

We are happy to make this our first title for the return of the Book Club, and with the advent of swimsuit season upon us, I am happy to recommend this program as the kick start to a series of full Lifestyle changes that will help you get ready to put your best face forward this summer!

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Author Haylie Pomroy on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Follow  on Twitter

WIN IT

Our friends at She Speaks and The Fast Metabolism Diet want one lucky Ascending Butterfly reader to have the chance to kickstart and rev up their metabolism too!

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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FTC Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post for She Speaks/Fast Metabolism Diet. I received compensation and a complimentary copy of the book, the sponsor is also fulfilling to the giveaway winner. All opinions are 100% my own.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Who won the Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club Title for March? Is it YOU?


We have a winner!



Congratulations to Sandy V. who won our Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club Title for March: Little Angels: Simple Prayers for Everyday! (She was entrant #23!) Join me in congratulating Sandy!

This was our first childrens book, do you want to see us include more titles for children in our monthly book club?  or is the Book Club your escape so you'd like solely adult titles? Please sound off and let us know, we are always trying to improve upon our reviews and giveaways and bring you items we know for sure you are interested in! Next month we go back to an Adult book for the Book Club Feature!

{ENDING SOON}: Don't forget that the 100 Business Cards from Tiny Prints Giveaway ends SOON! So for those of you ramping up and getting yourself ready for Blogging Conferences this Spring, you are definitely going to need creative cards to help you stand out! Tiny Prints offers Custom Designed Cards for a very reasonable price, but what price is better than FREE? So go ahead and enter, you've got to be in it to win it!


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FTC Disclosure: This winner announcement is NOT sponsored or compensated. Giveaway sponsors for all giveaways are responsible for prize fulfillment. Ascending Butterfly and Giveaway Sponsors are NOT responsible for lost or mis-directed mail or prizes damaged in transit.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club: #Review & #Giveaway of @RealRomaDowney Little Angels: Prayers For Every Day



Thanks for your patience while the Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club took a brief hiatus! We are back in action and I thought in honor of Easter coming this month, we'd offer something special for you to tuck into that Easter Basket of your favorite little one! In fact while we normally give the book of the month a full month so you all can get your entries in, we are cutting this one a little short so we can be sure that there is ample time for delivery before Easter!

Much like it is well known that children pick up languages quickly especially when exposed to them at an early age, the same holds true with giving them the fundamentals and foundation of their Faith. Our Faith is the compass that guides our actions and our lives, why not start your children early on giving them the tools they need to build a foundation of Faith that will last forever?

Faith, Prayer and Meditation are incredibly grounding, they set the pace and tone for our day, and the same holds true for little ones!



About the Author:

If that face looks familiar it should! Author Roma Downey is best known for playing the kind hearted Angel, Monica, on the Television Series 'Touched By An Angel'. A role that earned her several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. She is also the Executive Producer on the new epic mini series The Bible which aired on Sunday, March 3rd on the History Channel. She is also a spokesperson for the volunteer group Operation Smile, which provides surgeries for children around the world who were born with severe cleft lips and palates. (Operation Smile and St. Jude's Children Research Hospital are favorite causes for us here at Ascending Butterfly as well).

About the Book:

In Little Angels, four year old twins, Alex and Zoe, have eight Little Angels looking out for them. The angels live on a mural on the nursery's ceiling and come to life when the kids need them most. They act as teachers, protectors and friends - to instruct and guide. Each angel has a distinct personality. Little Angels helps to provide real practical skills such as learning ABC's and 123's in addition to teaching core family values such as the importance of being kind and of sharing, of being truthful and honest and of showing gratitude and love.

The Simple Prayer that inspired it all:

This simple, sweet prayer is what inspired the Little Angels series of books:

God in Heaven, my Savior dear Watch over my children and draw thou near Send your little angels to be at their side To light and to guard to love and to guide.

A prayer from Roma's own childhood was the inspiration for the Little Angels series! Watch Roma as she discusses all things Little Angels:





My Take:

The books are crafted with a great softly padded cover and has thick sturdy pages that are perfect for little hands to maneuver and tough enough to withstand the tortures that little ones sometimes put books through. From the sturdy yet safe construction to the super cute animation, this book (in fact the entire series) is definitely a hit! I love also that the prayers are broken down into categories like prayers for Morning, Praise, Thanks, Mealtimes, Prayers for Others, Prayers for Help, Guidance, Forgiveness, Comfort, and last but not least Bedtime. The prayers read like poems, and some pages have biblical verses which is a great starter to get little ones ready for bible study in a way that is easy for them to understand, and fun too!




Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ- Visit Ideals Books they offer many other faith-based books for children at http://www.idealsbooks.com

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Visit the Official Little Angels Website for more about The Little Angels, http://www.littleangels.com/

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Ideals Books on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow the author on twitter @RealRomaDowney

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - And check them out on YouTube too!

Win It:

We'd love for you to have a copy for your Little Angel this Easter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter Entry Widget Below to get in your entries for a chance to win a copy of your own:

a Rafflecopter giveaway



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FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of Little Angels Prayers For Every Day for editorial consideration and the sponsor is providing the winner's copy, however all opinions are 100% my own. I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." See our Full Disclosure Policy HERE. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. Neither Ascending Butterfly nor it's giveaway sponsors will be held responsible for lost or mis-directed mail. We welcome readers and authors of ALL Faiths!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Weekly Moment of Gratitude! The Post #BlogHer12 Edition!





What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - YOU! -  I wanted to thank you all again for your votes on my #windowstyle makeover entry, while I wasn't selected as one of the five winners, I was told I had the most tweets of support for my entry and that really means a lot to me. I wanted to personally thank all of you who took the time to tweet a vote on my behalf, I greatly appreciate it! I try to limit my vote requests for contests that really matter to me and try to ask as infrequently as possible, so when I work up the courage to make a vote request public it really means a lot to have you all vote! (and I am happy to return vote requests, so don't hesitate to post your requests here or tweet them to me!)



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Survived BlogHer! - I wasn't exactly sure my body was going to be up for the challenge this year, but somehow I not only survived the insanity that is BlogHer, but this year as conference volunteer who had the opportunity to live blog during some of the panels for BlogHer's website. So far, I have one recap live (day one, where the PRESIDENT addressed the conference, which you can read HERE) and I hope to have more posts up soon! I know it sounds weird, not that being sponsored the first time I attended BlogHer wasn't great, because it was (thanks to the great folks at stickylife.com who sponsored me in 2010 and were fantastic to work with), but I was really proud this year to be a volunteer. My medical expenses have been prohibitive, and finding a way to still be able to attend would have been close to impossible, so I am grateful that BlogHer offers the volunteer option and thankful that when I applied I was actually selected. It's the only way I was going to be able to attend this year that's for sure. This year I felt like I 'earned' my own way there, and that my friends is a great feeling!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Random Acts of Kindness! -  I was on the receiving end of a major RAOK, and I know the person who did it didn't do it to be acknowledged publicly, so I won't get too specific, but it did fill my spirit with gratitude, enough to know that I want to pay it forward and will. Have you given or received a Random Act of Kindness this week? If you'd like to share about it, I'd love to hear about it!

What are YOU most grateful for this week 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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Giveaways!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Giveaways will be back very soon, including our two favorite regular features that took a mini-hiatus this summer, The Featured Handbag in the Spotlight, and our Monthly Book Club!

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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:
















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

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FTC Disclosure: Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html - Please note this is not a compensated post!