Spring Skin Care with #Neutrogena helping us all to feel #ntgbeautifulinsideout

Feeling Beautiful Inside and Out certainly doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg! For every pricey Department Store Brand, I'll bet that I can find you an equivalent product at your local drugstore! As a blogger I get to test a lot of wonderful products, but my skin tends to need a break, and when I'm not testing anything specific, the brand I usually go back to is Neutrogena! I started with Neutrogena in my teens, their iconic Glycerin Bar was the only thing that would work for my skin for a long time, and it's still the one I turn to when my skin gets angry from playing with so many different products per week.

For me beauty starts on the inside, being emotionally, mentally and spiritually in balance gives you an inner glow that you can't help but radiate outward! Getting the outer you to reflect that beauty inside doesn't have to be complicated and can definitely be super affordable.

I am now days away from my birthday (April 4th), and as you know after me spending a year in the hospital, 3 different hospitals in fact, this year I want to go all out for my big day, I want to have fun and just be happy that day, so when a package arrived at my door with Neutrogena's essentials for Spring I couldn't have been happier! I considered it an 'Easter Basket' Blessing for us grown ups!

Here is a picture of the goodies:

From Left to Right: Top left: Oil Free Cleansing Wipes, Shine Control Primer,   Shine Control Powder,  Top Right: Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock with SPF 45, Far Left Center row: Neutrogena Shine Control Makeup w SPF 20 in color Fresh Beige, Very Center: MoistureSmooth Color Stick in color 'Sweet Watermelon', Bottom Row/Far Left: New Healthy Lengths Mascara in color 'Carbon Black 01', Bottom Row Center: New Crease Proof Eye Shadow in color 'Constant Copper 40', and Bottom Row Far Right: Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

Not a bad haul right? (Happy Birthday to ME!)

Here is a closer look at what I received:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pink Grapefruit line

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - RTR Moisturizer

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ultra Sheer Sunscreen

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Shine Control line

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Healthy Lengths Mascara

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - MoistureSmooth Color Stick

Let's Break Them Down One-by-One:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes in Pink Grapefruit is geared to those with Acne Prone skin, the premoistened wipes help cleanse the skin of pore-clogging impurities leaving your skin clean and with no greasy residue. I personally always carry makeup remover in my cosmetics bag, and I never thought of remover wipes formulated for acne prone skin until I tried these!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45 - This is a light weight formula that provides heavy protection from UVA/UVB rays. It provides 80 minutes of water-resistant coverage, and it's non-comedogenic so it won't clog your pores and it's PABA-free! Please protect your skin from the sun butterflies! I lost my Aunt/Godmother to Skin Cancer!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Shine Control Line - The Shine Control Primer is step one for a shine free face all day, you then follow it with the Shine Control Liquid Makeup and then lastly the Shine Control Powder is a quick 3 step system to help keep you shine free and beautiful inside out all day! Oily girls or just those with an oily T-Zone will love this system!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Healthy Lengths Mascara - Exclusive Vitamin E and Olive Oil formula will nourish and strengthen your lashes so they stay strong day after day, it lengthens and I can tell you I have experienced absolutely NO clumps, flaking or smuding, it replaced a different very popular 'available in drugstores brand' that I was previously using. I really do love this mascara!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - MoistureSmooth Color Stick - These moisturize and continuosly condition your lips so they are softer and smoother day after day. Made with fruit extracts along with Mango and Shea Butter, it goes on easy and it's sheer tint of color lasts for hours. It's a twist up color so you don't need to sharpen this. I loved the feel, but on it's own I found the sheer color too light for me, so I use this over my lipstick to give myself more pigment. (I might have to get these in the darker shades like Plum or Raisin to see if those colors give a slightly deeper pigment as I lean toward a darker lip even on a day-to-day basis)

My Take:

I am a long time Neutrogena user, it's what I started with to care for my skin as a teen, and it's what I still use now to regulate my skin between product evaluations! I think I've probably used every product in their line at one time or another, but I will admit the Eye Shadow, Mascara and Primer were new to me, and I greatly enjoyed the chance to try them out! All of them are a re-buy, but the Mascara really stands out, it doesn't clump, it gets really good distribution and I haven't had to double dip and it really applies easily and smoothly. If I get another bundle of love from Neutrogena, I hope it contains their Body Oil (light sesame formula) as that has been my favorite Neutrogena product for what seems like my whole lifetime as my mom introduced me to it first many years ago and I still use it just out the shower with my skin still slightly damp! This Body Oil was a life changer for me, I love the way it leaves my skin feeling and I use it for all four seasons!

I feel ready to face Spring with a fresh face and beauty from the inside out! I will definitely be using these again on my birthday!

Get Social:

You can connect with Neutrogena on Facebook or Tweet them with the hashtag #NTGBeautifulInsideOut

Happy April Fools Day Butterflies! What is your Neutrogena Beauty Favorite?

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

FTC Disclosure: I am participating in a compensated campaign with Neutrogena via Latina Bloggers Connect, products were sent to Ascending Butterfly free of charge for editorial consideration, however all opinions are 100% my own. That Body Oil really did change my skin!

Get your #makeup bag ready for Spring! Win the new @janeiredale PureGloss Lip Gloss and Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening #Mascara

Very slowly here in New York City I'm sensing signs of Spring, the little birds chirping outside the window, and families preparing for Easter. Like most, I wish Punxsutawney Phil has been a bit more accurate about Spring coming early, as we are actually expecting more snow this week which I am NOT looking forward to!

Since my birthday is in early April, I thought I'd host a fun giveaway countdown to my birthday called 'It's MY birthday but YOU get the gifts', and to get ourselves in a festive mood, why not start with a beauty giveaway?

A few years ago I read about using your birthday as your actual 'new year' and not the calendar new year, and I thought that was a fantastic idea! Your birthday is always a great time to take stock of where you've been, where you are, and where you WANT to be.

Back in late February, I shared with you about getting a sneak peek at fab new products for lashes and lips from Jane Iredale Cosmetics for Spring, in case you missed it, you can check it out HERE. And as promised I reached out to the team and arranged to get these fab goodies in your hands just in time for Spring. This way if you are anything like me and clear out your bag seasonally, you can get rid of that mascara of yours (remember the longer you keep it, the more likely it will clump on your lashes, or irritate your eyes), I can't stress enough how important it is to rotate your mascaras frequently whether you consider yourself to have sensitive eyes or not! And I also like to update my lip and eye shadow colors for the new season ahead!

This year I want to be a bit bolder and more dramatic with my makeup, and try out not so much just new trends, but explore which products bring out a bolder and more fun me. I have had so much fun playing with the new Jane Iredale Goodies I got to try out and wanted you to have some fun also!

About PureGloss Lip Gloss

I love that Jane is so innovative and decided to take a good thing and make it that much better! The New PureGloss touts many benefits including:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Organic Oils

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Moringa Butter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lotus Flower Wax

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Orange Peel Wax

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Blackberry Extracts

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pomegranate Extracts

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - anti-oxidants

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vitamin C

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vitamin E

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - New improved flatter packaging

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - New improved longer wand so you get the most product from the tube with less waste

And with 18 flattering shades, much like a pringles, I challenge you to be able to settle on just one! You are going to want ALL of these shades ladies!

Longest Lash Lengthening and Thickening Mascara

Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara

Much like the PureGloss Lip Gloss, the Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara has a new improved flatter packaging and new improved longer wand so you get the most product from the tube with less waste!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - This is a Vegan/Gluten product

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Cruelty Free

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Formulated with a proprietary blend of seaweed lipids to condition, moisturize and protect lashes.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Reduces Splitting and Breaking

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Free of lacquers, shellac and petroleum

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Resistant to smearing and flaking

My Take:

I love that I can create a wide variety of looks with Jane's products, I can go from day to night with ease all the while knowing I am doing something GOOD for my skin! If you take a moment to read the product testimonials on their site, you'll see good reviews and reviews from users who weren't 100% satisfied, but the difference is, when Jane Iredale Cosmetics gets a less than glowing review, they really want to know WHY the product didn't work, and they actually go back to the lab and find ways to make their products better! Can we satisfy 100% of the people 100% of the time, of course not, but it's nice to see a brand take user feedback so seriously that they keep re-formulating, and bringing new innovations to products that are already best-selling favorites. The newly re-formulated PureGloss Lip Gloss and the Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara is proof in the pudding that Jane is really reading your messages and taking your ideas into account. 

How great is it to finally have a product that you can get the most from the tube as possible? That idea benefits US more than it does the brand which is one of the things I think is so cool about it!

Get Social With It:

Don't forget that you will get extra credit in the giveaway for doing so!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 'Like' Jane Iredale on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @janeiredale

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Become a pin friend by following Jane Iredale on Pinterest

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Want to see Jane Iredale's products in action? Follow Jane on YouTube!

Win It:

When I told my friends at Jane Iredale that it was my birthday and I wanted my readers to share in the gifts, they were more than happy to join in the fun! Win the PureGloss Lip Gloss shade and the Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara in the shade of your choice (this is based on product availability at the time of the drawing so pick a few shades just in case!). Let Jane Iredale and Ascending Butterfly pimp those makeup bags for Spring!

Enter using the Rafflecopter Form below, as always, the first entry is easy peasy, and how much extra credit you do is up to you, but you have to be in it to win it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

FTC Disclosure: Jane Iredale provided us with the cosmetics featured for editorial consideration, and will be providing prizing for one winner. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. Neither Ascending Butterfly nor contest sponsor will be held responsible for lost or mis-directed mail. See full Giveaway and Disclosure Policy HERE

Put a little pretty in her Holiday with @BorgheseBeauty

As we swiftly approach the holidays, figuring out what to get everyone on your list becomes mission critical as we are literally in the final hours. You want something thoughtful and useful, but how about it also being something that can transform her skin too? Something that will make her see herself in a new light as she awakens to prettier skin each day, now that my friends is a 2013 to look forward to!

Borghese Beauty literally has Christmas in the bag with really awesome beauty kits that even the most discerning on your list will absolutely love!

Here are the two I tried:

About Tuscan Treasures:

Gift Set Includes:

• Collezione D’Oro Occhi Eye Treatment
• Collezione D’Oro Siero Reparative Serum
• Satin Shadow Milano Trio – Splend’Oro Green
• Superiore State-of-the-Art Mascara, Black
• Double-sided Travel Bag

The packaging is fantastic, and I can tell you that the entire kit is phenomenal, I have been using Borghese Serum's for a long time now and I just love what they do for my skin, and with the year I have had this year, Eye Treatment is a MUST! And I love the Satin Shadow Milano Trio, all the colors are perfect and the products coming in a double sided travel bag which just makes it even more useful, it's the gift that keeps on giving. Not to mention, Mascara should be changed every 3 months and if you have sensitive eyes like mine, even more often than that, I don't know about you, but I can always use a good mascara!

About ReaFIRMing Beauty:

Gift Set Includes:

• Fango Ferma Firming Mud Mask for Face and Body – rehydrates and immediately firms skin (7.5 oz)
• Insta-Firm Platinum Advanced Wrinkle Relaxer – helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines while improving skin resiliency from within (1 oz)
• Crema Intensiva Intensive Firming Creme – hydrates, smoothes and helps skin regain its youthful looking tone and vitality (1.7 oz)

This comes packed in a beautiful logo embossed silver cosmetics case, again super useful 'wrapping' that can be re-purposed, and I love the Fango Mud Mask, I had no idea they had a firming mask, and this is definitely a re-buy! Following the mask with both the Insta-Firm Platinum Advanced Wrinkle Relaxer and the Crema Instensiva Intensive Firming Creme, leaves you with smooth, firm and baby soft skin. I can't think of a better gift than Happy Skin, can you?

Some honorable mentions I didn't get to try include the Effortlessly Extraordinary set, the Borghese Gardens Candle Coffret candle set, and the Bella Bacio Lip Gloss set!

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Borghese on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @BorgheseBeauty on Twitter

My Take:

Borghese is a always a great beauty bet, it's like bringing a high end spa home with you. You get to pamper your skin in the comfort of your own home with the same high quality products you'd experience in a spa. While the kits I got to try are $79 and $75 respectively, they are worth every penny, they are beautifully packaged and the products are fantastic. My mom was the one who introduced me to Borghese many years ago, and it's a brand I constantly find myself coming back to because I love the efficacy of the products. I do see a difference in my skin when I use it, and I certainly see the difference when I stop using it!

We weren't able to squeeze in a giveaway with enough time to get fulfilled by the holidays so we invited Borghese to come back and do something fun with us in the New Year. But in the meantime, I wanted to get these kits on your radar, whether you are hitting the department stores for some last minute shopping, or just thinking about a treat for yourself after playing Santa for everyone else, these beauty kits are a great choice!

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

FTC Disclosure: Borghese supplied the Tuscan Treasures and ReaFIRMing Beauty kits for editorial consideration and for the purpose of facilitating this review, all opinions expressed however are 100% my own.

L'Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lash Mascara {Review} - Ladies Are YOU Faking it?

The question today is: Are YOU Faking it?

L’ORÉAL PARIS ENCOURAGES WOMEN EVERYWHERE TO STOP “FAKING IT”

No woman should ever have to “fake it.” Whether it’s flashing a faux smile through a horrible date or flaunting fake lashes that are tricky, frustrating and time-consuming to achieve, L’Oréal Paris is encouraging thousands of women everywhere to join them in pledging to never fake it again. Because after all, any woman that’s experienced the real thing is sure to pass on faux forever. Confess Ladies, how many of you have faked your way through a horrible date?

About Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara:

From the creators of the cult-favorite Voluminous Mascara comes a breakthrough in fiber mascara technology. Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara reinvents the false eyelash look, making it possible to achieve the clean impact of professionally-applied false lashes. A combination of super-fine nylon and rayon fibers perfectly adhere to natural lashes, enveloping them from root to tip thanks to an exclusive polymer in the formula. Meanwhile, an architectural precision brush with a 40-degree angle and reverse twist bristles ensure optimal application, making lashes appear fuller, longer, curled and sculpted. No clumps or messy results – just flawless lashes from every angle.

My Take:

I have super sensitive eyes. My failed attempts at wearing contact lenses throughout my life attest to the fact that my eyes are just beyond sensitive. I have to change my Mascara more frequently than most people. Once air hits my mascara, I don't tend to get many applications before my eyes become super sensitive to it. I have that reaction with eyeliners as well. And one thing that has proven true for me so far, is that while I have access to a variety of brands and products, with me, for Mascara, I have had much better luck with 'drugstore' brands, and I am happy to report that L'Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lash Mascara has proven my theory right yet again!

I must confess I have never applied actual False Eyelashes to my eyes, I'm sure someday I will try them, but I haven't yet, I don't consider my eyelashes super short, but they aren't super long either, I'm sure 'falsies' are dramatic and quite glamorous, but I'm not sure how my eyes would react to the glue for one, so I've been a bit afraid of trying them out. I like that with L'Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lash Mascara I'm getting the effect of False Eyelashes, without the price tag or the time involved with application.

Pros: For me L'Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lash Mascara are the perfect alternative to Falsies! You get the glam factor for a fraction of the cost and most certainly a fraction of the time!

Con: It's a 'dry' formulation so you do have a small 'tug' factor upon application. Its a Waterproof formulation which is great because you can avoid racoon eyes, but waterproof formulations are a bit more dry. So if you are used to a more 'wet' feel when you first open a mascara, you could even confuse it for being old. But it's not!

My suggestion: If you like a more wet feel, apply a lash conditioner or lash primer gel to your lashes FIRST, then apply L'Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lash Mascara, so you won't have to tug as much and you'll get the benefits of great length, no racoon eyes and plumper lashes! A total win/win, here's to saying NO to faking it!

Availability: L’Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes is available now at mass-market retailers and drugstores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $8.95.

Keeping it Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Take the Facebook L'Oreal Paris USA Never Fake It Again Challenge

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Get Tweety with @LOrealParisUSA

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

FTC Disclosure Info: This is a sponsored post on behalf of L’Oréal Paris via One2One Network. I was compensated and provided product for this post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Smashbox - HeartBreaker Collection Review and Giveaway!

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

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Smashbox Cosmetics, We look forward to working with you again! Congratulations to both *'Martha' and *'~J ' the confirmed winners of Ascending Butterfly's Smashbox - HeartBreaker Collection Giveaway! Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!

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

Are You 'Hot Date' or 'Kiss n' Tell'?

One Amazing Collection, two uniquely fun and flirtatious Valentine's Day Looks! So fess up are you feeling 'Kiss N' Tell' this year? or are you up for a bit of 'Hot Date' for this Valentines Day?

Our friends at Smashbox are back (and with a vengeance might I add!) to add some fun to your Valentine's Day with a new collection called 'HeartBreaker'. You will be turning heads AND breaking hearts. I adore the entire collection, and still haven't decided which look to go with on the big day! When  I said  'New Year/New You' earlier this year, I meant it! Married or Single there is no excuse not to unleash the sexy within!

This collection thinks of everything, it's got it all, down to a rollerball fragrance to go with it! Even the outer packaging speaks of flirty fun with drawings that are reminiscent of the hand drawn hearts you'd doodle in your notebook during class, with words like 'HOT' and 'KISS' and 'FLIRT' on the box you know there is no way cupid is missing his mark this year.

Let's break the collection down into it's fun parts and take a peek at the looks you can create:

Above is the Fun and Flirty look Smashbox calls 'Kiss N' Tell'

This look is NOT afraid of color and is totally ready to play! Isn't the lip fantastic? And if you think that's sassy, wait until you check out the next look!

Directly Above, is the Va-Va-Voom look that Smashbox calls 'Hot Date'

This look plays up a sultrier eye with a more 'nude' lip, and it's ultra-sexy! It's very 'shy kitten' isn't it? So have you picked out your look yet? Which one is you? I don't envy the task ahead of you!

Here are both Eye Palettes Side by Side!

Here  are both Lip Shines

HeartBreaker Lash  DNA

Are you drooling yet? Well drool no more my friends! WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Smashbox want to help you put the fun and the flirt back in your Valentine's Day! TWO lucky 'Ascending Butterfly' followers will EACH have the chance to win a HeartBreaker Lash DNA, a Pink Sugar roller gloss, and an  Eye Palette of YOUR Choice! (Don't you just ♥ Smashbox?)

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 Smashbox HERE and compare both Palettes, tell us which Palette you would choose if you win! (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 clearly visible in your profile,  you can just say so, that's OK!) 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.

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 Monday, February 01, 2010 until Monday, February 08, 2010 at 11:59 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 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!)

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tweet this: Follow and RT: @Tracy_Iglesias #ascendingbutterfly + @smashboxartists HeartBreaker Collection Giveaway! Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - http://tinyurl.com/ygnsxlo

(Leave a comment with the tweet’s url so you can get a valid entry (click on the time your tweet was sent to get the direct URL and then copy and paste it here). You can Tweet ONCE A DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified.)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow SmashBox Cosmetics (and don't forget to write on their wall that Ascending Butterfly sent you!) on Facebook HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Smashbox on Twitter HERE

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Join Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group 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!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NEW METHOD OF EXTRA CREDIT, (You can vote daily for extra credit): Ascending Butterfly is a nominee for the Bloggers Choice ’10 Awards in the ‘Best Blog About Stuff’ Category - http://bloggerschoiceawards.com/  - You can press the button below to go straight to the page where Ascending Butterfly has been nominated!

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

FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the product are expressly my own experiences. I was provided product to review and the sponsor is also fulfilling product to prize winners.

Smashbox - Reign Fall 2009 Collection -Review and Giveaway!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Congratulations to 'Miss Manda' the winner of Ascending Butterfly's Smashbox Purple Reign Giveaway!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Smashbox' new Fall Collection - Purple Reign

► REIGN JET SET PALETTE - ($48.00) - Adorn eyes with opulent shades of budge-proof metallic liner. Includes four shades of our cult-favorite waterproof liner (3 brand-new hues and our best-selling deep black) housed in a mirrored airtight compact with a mini arced liner brush for flawless application.Shades: Matte black, Matte deep brown, Metallic deep gold, Metallic bronze

► REIGN LIP GLOSS - ($19.00) - Indulge lips in luxurious, creamy color and scandalous shine. This ultra-moisturizing gloss saturates lips in a gorgeous warm nude shade that pairs perfectly with a smoky eye.Shade: Soft peachy pink

► REIGN DOUBLETAKE LIP COLOR - ($22.00) - Envelop lips in color to lust after. A long-wearing liner on one end and velvety-smooth lip color on the other in two of Fall’s hottest shades.Amaretto: Nude Pink, Creamy peachy pinkCurrant: Deep wine, Deep berry red

► REIGN LASH DNA MASCARA - ($19.00) - Bejewel lashes in a sumptuous new shade fit for a royal. Lash DNA protein and amino acid packed formula dramatically lengthens, strengthens and defines for stand-out eyes.Shade: Shimmering black plum

► REIGN FUSION BLUSH ($32.00) - Give cheeks a sensual glow with this dual-toned blush in both matte and shimmer shades, in a gorgeous flip-top mirrored compact. Shades: Matte peachy nude, Shimmery peachy nude

► REIGN EYE SHADOW PALETTE ($42.00) - Decadent mirrored compacts with 6 baked shadows in both matte and shimmer for higher pigmentation and longer wear. Wear wet for a metallic look or dry for a sexy wash of color. Majesty: Matte champagne, Shimmery champagne, Matte cabernet, Shimmery cabernet, Matte black, Shimmery black. Monarch: Matte soft gold, Shimmery soft gold, Matte copper, Shimmery copper, Matte deep brown, Shimmery deep brown

WIN IT! - We like to save the best for last! Thanks to our friends at Smashbox, you have the opportunity to win the Reign Eye Shadow Palette of YOUR CHOICE! Monarch or Majesty!

How to Win: You must be a follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (this will be checked if you are selected as a winner) and indicate your palette preference in your entry. Please 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 blogger profile has your email you can just indicate this in your entry.

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, so no worries if your comment doesn't appear on the site right away. This giveaway is open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, but you must follow this blog for your entry to count. You have from now until Friday, September 11, 2009 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. Winner will be announced shortly after Tuesday, September 15th!

EXTRA CREDIT:

• 
  
  Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment
  
  
  
• 
  
  Follow me @Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter (this is ascendingbutterfly’s editor) and give me your twitter ID in a comment
  
  
  
• 
  
  Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a comment.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment
  
  
  
• 
  
  Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment
  
  
  
• 
  
  Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog
  
  
  
• 
  
  Follow SmashBox Cosmetics on Facebook HERE
  
  
  
• 
  
  Follow SmashBox on MySpace HERE
  
  
  
• 
  
  Follow Smashbox on Twitter HERE
  
  
  

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

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and TWO giveaways!

Purple Tuesday

In honor of our Smashbox giveaway launch, I have dubbed this 'Purple Tuesday'! I will wear Purple, and of course I'm listening to Prince's song 'Purple Rain' in the background as I write today.

Purple is the color for Fall this season, although as far I'm concerned Purple never goes out of style, it's a color I'm very fond of! I love it in it's entire shade range from lavendar to Royal. Purple has a special, almost sacred place in nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered precious. Because purple is derived from the mixing of a strong warm and strong cool color it has both warm and cool properties. A purple room can boost a child's imagination or an artist's creativity. Too much purple, like the color blue, could result in moodiness.

The color of mourning for widows in Thailand, purple was the favorite color of Egypt's Cleopatra. It has been traditionally associated with royalty in many cultures. Purple robes were worn by royalty and people of authority or high rank. The Purple Heart is a U.S. Military decoration given to soldiers wounded in battle.

Considering using Purple to decorate this season? Deep or bright purples suggest riches while lighter purples are more romantic and delicate. Use redder purples for a warmer color scheme or the bluer purples to cool down.

There is a lot more to color than meets the eye! Color your space today, color your world!

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 will add color to my life and my space.'

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 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!

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

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 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

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