Showing posts with label John Legend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Legend. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: India Arie is a Butterfly Too!

In 2009 I won floor seats to a John Legend Concert followed by a meet and greet. To say I was 'excited' is probably an understatement (You can check out my original review of the concert HERE). On my way in, I met Malcolm-Jamal Warner (best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show). And if that wasn't enough he was actually only 3 rows in front of me! The opening act for that concert happened to be none other than India Arie! I already love her music, but when she came out dressed up like a butterfly I couldn't help but smile. Butterflies are my sign. They represent luck, change, someone who has passed saying hello, and always represent the universe telling me I am in the right place at the right time!

Here is my favorite concert picture of India dressed in her beautiful butterfly wings:

India.Arie in butterfly wings, John Legend Concert, Madison Square Garden, 2009

You know that The Official #TwitterPartyDJ is always thinking music, and Ascending Butterfly is always thinking butterflies, so this song by India is certainly the best of worlds, it combines my two loves, music and butterflies! Don't song lyrics read like poetry when you see them written out?

India Arie Butterfly Lyrics

Constantly creepin' caterpillar,
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
Soon you might emerge,
And you're made to emerge.
A little longing to love, lush,
Starving for affection.
Hidden by the size of my perfection,
With one exception...
If you wanna butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
If you wanna butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
How do I hide somebody from the great blue wide?
I'll come and sweep you up,
'Cause your time ain't up, be patient.
Now you see the sun is rising and your realizing,
Wise enough to know,
That you gotta let yourself grow.
If you wanna butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
If you wanna butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
What goes around comes back around;
This is nature's way.
Be conscious of what you do,
Because you will be repaid.
If you put turnips in the ground,
You will not harvest grapes.
You are what you attracted,
And this is why I say;
Uhhhhhh...
If you wanna a butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
If you wanna a butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
Constantly creepin' caterpillar,
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
Soon you might emerge,
And be made to emerge.
Maybe...
Still a swoon in a cocoon (repeated MANY times!)
Uhhhhhh...

India is a fantastic singer, and a BUTTERFLY too! Happy (Not So) Wordless Wednesday Butterflies!


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

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Saturday, August 22, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and TWO giveaways!


Remember that song from the 80's? Who is Frankie anyway? And why is he telling me to relax? YOU RELAX!!! LOL

There has been a lot of stress lately affecting the lives of many people I know. We like to think of Stress as something coming from the outside and affecting our ability to remain on even keel. But it's not. While cars cutting us off in traffic, people bumping into us during rush hour, arguments, problems and even illnesses happen to us, it's not the pressure causing the problem, it is how you REACT to it.

Stop the chaos in your mind first, it will help you not to over-react to situations that are beyond your control. Your reactions to these various forms of 'stress' however, is very much within your realm of control.

So while listening to 'Frankie Says Relax' may not bring you to an enlightened state of being all on it's own, the message and silly delivery of it, can work wonders on your spirits today.

Don't let any situation get the wrong rise out of you. I hope you have been practicing your breathing excercises here daily. Taking a deep breath may not take the situation you are facing away, but doing it, will help you focus your reactions better.

And before the emails begin, I am quite aware of the many connotations of 'Frankie Says Relax', and I'm not choosing to discuss them here! I am taking relax literally here and in no other way! How YOU choose to interpret the rest of the lyrics is entirely up to you!

I for one, am going to crank up music and sing at the top of my lungs today, it usually helps me forget everything. Saturday night is movie night for me, so a few tunes now and dancing around the house will help me when I have to sit still watching movies (I still have trouble mastering the art of sitting still!). Any movie recommendations out there?

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I have full mastery over my reactions to every situation I encounter.'

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and two super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the Day - And TWO Giveaways!

1. Enter to win the Reign Eye Shadow Palette of YOUR CHOICE, Majesty or Monarch HERE (you may also press on the Smashbox graphic below to be taken directly to the giveaway)


2. Don't forget to enter for a chance to win an AUTOGRAPHED copy of our book club of the month title: 'Perseverance' by Carolyn Rubenstein. You can enter for the book HERE (you may also press the cover graphic below)



--> Looking for a way to fight frizz in this humid weather? See our Ouidad Product Review and Giveaway HERE!

--> Missed the John Legend concert? Check out the Recap with Photos HERE!

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Friday, August 21, 2009

Friday, August 21, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and TWO giveaways!

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Leave your stress behind - Try the Four and Eight style of breathing this morning.


When you wake up this morning take four deep breaths in through your nose, slowly and deeply but not overly forced, and not too fast. As you take each breath in bring a positive thought intention with you. Breathe in through your nose and say the word 'love' in your mind, hold that breath there and bring in the next breath by bringing in another positive thought with you by saying 'Peace', holding it in, begin breathing in the next word/intention 'creativity', and as you breathe in your last intention '_____' (You fill in this blank!) you can then begin the process of exhaling on 8 while exhaling, use it to rid yourself of stress you wish to remove from you life. for example debt, illness, inertia, fear, doubt, anger etc, exhale away 8 things that no longer serves your highest good. Work your way toward increasing the frequency. For the first week, just do this in the morning. Then by the second week, do it every morning and night before bed. Then by the third week move up to 3 times per day, morning, noon, and night. These steps will help you draw the traits and determination you need to make effective changes in your daily life. And will also help rid you of negative and stressful feelings that aren't getting you anywhere.

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I release every single way that I sabotage my own success.'

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and two super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the Day - And TWO Giveaways!


1. Enter to win the Reign Eye Shadow Palette of YOUR CHOICE, Majesty or Monarch HERE (you may also press on the Smashbox graphic below to be taken directly to the giveaway)


2. Don't forget to enter for a chance to win an AUTOGRAPHED copy of our book club of the month title: 'Perseverance' by Carolyn Rubenstein. You can enter for the book HERE (you may also press the cover graphic below) - Stay tuned for an Author Q & A next week. You can begin to send in your questions now. Email your questions for the author to me HERE




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Thursday, August 20, 2009

Thursday, August 20, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and TWO giveaways!


Free Clipart

Cultivate Patience

With the weather getting hotter and the humidity rising, it's pretty easy to loose your cool. I'll admit to falling victim to impatience myself and the sticky, humid weather doesn't make it any better!

Rising temperatures sometimes causes aggravation, frustration and a lack of all around patience and good will. Understandable.

It's important to do things that help you cultivate your patience! This way if you are on the receiving end of someone having a bad day you can keep your cool. Two wrongs never make a right.

I like to meditate or read something inspirational to start my day! How do you keep your internal cool as the temperature rises?

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I am patience personified'.

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and two super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the Day - And TWO Giveaways!

1. Enter to win the Reign Eye Shadow Palette of YOUR CHOICE, Majesty or Monarch HERE (you may also press on the Smashbox graphic below to be taken directly to the giveaway)




2. Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a AUTOGRAPHED copy of our book club of the month title: 'Perseverance' by Carolyn Rubenstein. You can enter for the book HERE (you may also press the cover graphic below) - Stay tuned for an Author Q & A next week. You can begin to send in your questions now. Email your questions for the author to me HERE

--> Looking for a way to fight frizz in this humid weather? See our Ouidad Product Review and Giveaway HERE!

--> Missed the John Legend concert? Check out the Recap with Photos HERE!

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Sunday, August 16, 2009

Sunday, August 16, 2009 - This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and TWO giveaways!


Living in Gratitude

On Sunday's, 'Today's Moment of Inspiration' becomes the weekly 'Moment of Gratitude'. While I do still live in Gratitude each and everyday, I decided to change this feature to a weekly to allow a full week of Inspirational messages and breathing meditations. 'Today's Butterfly' will remain a daily and will post with the Today's Inspiration Monday through Saturday, and will post with the Weekly Moment of Gratitude on Sunday.

This week, I am grateful for:

1) I had the opportunity to attend John Legend's concert at Madison Square Garden with opening performance by India.Arie! The music was amazing and so were the featured guests which included Kanye West and Estelle, Rick Ross, Buju Banton, Gramps Morgan and more. The concert started in prayer with India.Arie and ended in prayer with John Legend sending out blessings to the audience, it was amazingly uplifting and I'm still singing the tunes I heard that night! You can see my recap of the concert (including really awesome photos) HERE!

2) I am grateful for Ascending Butterfly's amazing sponsors! See two of them in the 'Today's Butterfly' Featured Site of the day below.

3) I'm grateful for some amazing surprises from my fellow bloggers:

  • New York Chica, you can visit her blog HERE
  • Coupon Queens of Laurel Run, you can visit CQoLR HERE
  • Beauty is Easy, you can visit them HERE
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. So join me on this journey of gratitude. 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 (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update fieldOK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and two super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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Today's Butterfly - Featured Site of the Day - And TWO Giveaways!

1. Enter to win the Reign Eye Shadow Palette of YOUR CHOICE, Majesty or Monarch HERE (you may also press on the Smashbox logo below to be taken directly to the giveaway!




2. Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a AUTOGRAPHED copy of our book club of the month title: 'Perseverance' by Carolyn Rubenstein. You can enter for the book HERE (you may also press the cover graphic below) - Stay tuned for an Author Q & A next week. You can begin to send in your questions now. Email your questions for the author to me HERE

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Friday, August 14, 2009

Weekend Inspiration - Ordinary People Extraordinary Talents!

Today's Words Of Inspiration are going to be a little different today! The Ascending Butterfly celebrates its 2 month 'Blog-a-versary' today! Thank You loyal readers, for choosing to spend some time each day with us.

Last night I had the amazing fortune to be able to attend John Legend's Madison Square Garden Performance, VIP Style. The concert 'opening act' was none other than India.Arie! And that was just one of many surprises the night had in store.

I arrived early enough to watch the set up process and what did I see? A HUGE BUTTERFLY on the screen!!!! I already love India.Arie's style, flow and music, but that just cinched it, seeing that butterfly let me know that I was in the right place at the right time. She started in prayer and John Legend ended in prayer as well. I'm all about living in gratitude and this concert certainly filled my soul on many levels!

We had amazing seats (Thanks J.T./Madison Square Garden/and Hot97). We were about 3 seats away from a celebrity! Malcolm-Jamal Warner (you may remember him as 'Theo' from the Cosby Show) was sitting in front of us!

Since the concert started with India, so will I. I was too happy to see her big butterfly on screen, and she even comes out during the concert wearing butterfly wings!

I am writing and listening to her song 'Therapy' featuring Gramps Morgan. I LOVE this track, if you don't have it yet, pick it up. (And if her lablel is reading this, we'd be stoked to offer up autographed copies to our Ascending Butterfly readers!) 'Therapy' is a track that speaks of the love we are all seeking! It's the love we all want, the WAY we all want it. And the dynamics between India.Arie and Gramps on that stage was absolutely electric! They really have great chemistry together. Ladies, listen to this song, if the man in your life doesn't make you feel this way, you are with the wrong man! (any men out there who want to approach this butterfly, better listen to this song first and learn how it's done!)

That was just one of many amazing songs sung by India.Arie during her set. It was a mix of old favorites and tracks off the new album.

Here are some photos (It is NOT OK to copy or otherwise reproduce or re-distribute these photos!)




ABOVE: India.Arie walking down the main aisle. Look at that smile!

Her voice and her amazing smile, lit the garden up! And the energy she gave out to the audience was extremely uplifting and positive.


ABOVE: India.Arie with her backup singers and her guitarist (and look at the pretty butterfly)




ABOVE: India.Arie in her butterfly wings!



ABOVE: And she brought out a special guest towards the end, HER MOM!!!

I'm very close with my mom and it was so nice to see India.Arie's mom perform with her on stage! The apple didn't fall from the tree! Two beautiful women, Two powerful Voices, two happy spirits.

The night's headliner John Legend, started out singing directly in the heart of the audience. I will admit it was hard to hear him over the screams of the crowd and shrill shrieks of the delighted ladies for the opportunity to touch him or grab his hand as he tried to make his way to the stage!

I am now listening to 'Ordinary People' as I write, it is one of my favorite John Legend tracks. And somehow everytime I see him sing it, I have to think it is his favorite too. ('Used to love you' and 'heaven' are another two favorites of mine!) (I make your label the same offer John, we'd love to give our readers autographed CD's!!)

Like India.Arie, John Legend put together a great combination of his well known tracks blending with tracks from his new album. And there was so many amazing performers that took the stage with him, Rick Ross, Buju Banton, Kanye West and Estelle, and not to mention India.Arie! I've always liked reggae and dancehall and was happily surprised to see Buju Banton take the stage!

John Legend teamed up with Gap to offer 'exclusive (RED)ZONE' seating for (PRODUCT)RED purchases made at Gap. (PRODUCT) RED purchase proceeds help to eliminate AIDS in Africa. It was a concert with a cause and there is nothing more in line with my mission than that! John is definitely the all-around man to watch, great voice, great style and the heart of a humanitarian, a man that wants to help be a part of the solution, that is MY KIND of man, GO JOHN! You can Buy Red and save lives, learn more by signing up to (RED) HERE







ABOVE: John started off singing to the audience, from INSIDE the audience! (as you can see from the lower right of this photo, he definitely gave security a workout and made them earn their money by doing this!)




ABOVE: John and the band







Above: Buju Banton takes to the stage! As you can see from this pic he was feeling the love!





ABOVE: Kanye West and Estelle sing 'American Boy'






ABOVE: John Legend takes to the stage with India.Arie

The concert began and ended in prayer and folks rarely sat down, it was an on your feet, begining to end high energy and very electric night that ended with me actually getting the chance to meet John Legend in person!

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Talent! Do something out of the ordinary this weekend!
And listen to great music while you're doing it!

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the Day - And TWO Giveaways!

1. Enter to win the SmashBox Cosmetics Reign Eye Shadow Palette of YOUR CHOICE - Majesty or Monarch HERE

2. Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a AUTOGRAPHED copy of our book club of the month title: 'Perseverance' by Carolyn Rubenstein. You can enter for the book HERE

Stay tuned for an Author Q & A next week. You can begin to send in your questions now. Email your questions for the author to me HERE

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