Showing posts with label Royal Asscher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Royal Asscher. Show all posts

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Weekly Moment of Gratitude! + Active Giveaways! + Events + WINS!



This week, I am grateful for:


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Happy News! (Which I've been long overdue for in my life lately!) - I found out that I was selected as part of Duane Reade's NY VIP Blogger Program! And I found out via my favorite part of the 'SocialMediaVerse', Twitter of course, check out the tweet that put a smile on my face HERE. While many people participated, only 10 New York City based Bloggers were chosen and I am one of them. For all those butterflies who tweeted a vote on my behalf THANK YOU! I am super excited and promise to work hard. And I hope to be able to share great deals with you too! I'm a #DReadeVIP, last year I enjoyed my time as a Blogger Brand Ambassador for Kmart's Latina Smart program and I'm looking forward to working with Duane Reade in 2012.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - A Win! I don't often get too much time to enter giveaways (as I'm mostly hosting them), but I entered a giveaway in conjunction with the New York Toy Fair this year and won! I won a Wonderworld Toys Smart Gear Balance Bike! The news definitely brought a smile to my face.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Another Win! I won a conference pass to Hispanicize! I now have to find sponsorship so I can get out there! The conference is 6 days after my birthday, sounds like a nice birthday present!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Events: I attended an amazing event where I had the opportunity to see the inner workings of a brand with heart, if you didn't have a chance to read the recap of The Royal Asscher event, check it out HERE. I have some fun ones coming up this week, including a screening of Disney's John Carter!

While there is still a bit of confusion in my life as of late, this week was a fresh breeze of relief that makes me feel things are really turning around, and good things are finally headed my way this year! With a few weeks before my birthday, I remember the saying that says your real new year is not December 31st or January 1st, but the actual day of your birthday. I'd like to beleive that is true, as my January New Year wasn't the best ever this year, but these weeks leading up to my actual birthday just feel so filled with hope! I have a strong feeling, that this year, on this particular birthday, the doors will finally open and a floodgate of opportunities are being sent my way!

Hope all my butterflies are having an amazing weekend!

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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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Active Giveaway:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Press Directly on Description to link to giveaway: Ascending Butterfly Monthly Book Club: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times Book Giveaway! Ends 03/25 <-This book has brought me a great deal of hope, and the prayers are spoking so directly and with a simple, yet raw honesty, that they truly touched my soul. I genuinely hope that the winner of this giveaway finds this book to be a huge blessing and source of hope that helps them find the words and faith to pray their life onto a better path.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - {Coming Soon} : The return of our monthly Featured Handbag in the Spotlight with a handbag from Nicole Miller! (A perfect handbag for a night out!) + Our friends at Smashbox are coming back for a Spring Beauty Promotion with a collection that you will certainly want to add to your beauty bag this Spring!

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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.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Champagne and Diamonds Event in NYC - Royal Asscher Diamonds, Where Luxury Meets HEART!


Last week I was invited to a Champagne and Diamonds Event, and I have to admit, being born in the month of April (which makes Diamonds my birthright ahem I mean birthstone) I was quite a bit intrigued about what the night would bring! As a girl who of course loves Diamonds, I already knew that the Asscher Cut Diamonds are considered to be among the Worlds Finest. And now the 21st Century brings The Royal Asscher Cut, a signature diamond cut for Royal Asscher.



It is very rare for a brand to open their doors and allow you in for a full behind the scenes no holds barred sneak peek. And bloggers, editors and socialites alike enjoyed an evening in New York City's infamous Diamond District sipping Champagne and learning all about the history of the Asscher Diamond Company run by Fifth and Sixth Generation Asschers upholding a 160 year old tradition of Diamond excellence and innovation. Over 90% of Royal Asscher Diamonds are above VS2 clarity!

An Amazing History:

Both the Excelsior and Cullinan Diamond's were cleaved by the Asscher Family, specifically by Abraham Asscher (Excelsior - 997 carats) and Joseph Asscher (Cullinan - 3,105 carats) respectively. The two largest stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond, called Cullinan 1 and Cullinan 2 can be found in Great Britain's Crown Jewels.

Edward Asscher stands in front of a photo of his Grandfather, Joseph Asscher as he cleaves the Cullinan Diamond

Getting the chance to learn of the company's history and charitable works directly from Edward Asscher was certainly un-forgettable, and team Asscher couldn't have been more personable or more welcoming.

Replica of the Imperial State Crown which contains the Cullinan 1 and 2 Diamonds

The replica for Kate Middleton's Diamond Tiara was also on display and while this isn’t Kate’s official tiara, nor is it the tiara she wore on her wedding day, the tiara was inspired by Kate and is an absolute stunner! (See Photo Below):

Kate Middleton Tiara designed by Royal Asscher’s Reena Ahluwalia

Where Luxury Meets Heart

The Asscher Family has made a commitment to Social Good that extends way beyond just avoiding 'blood diamonds', they don't source from Sierra Leone so all of their Diamonds are considered 'conflict free' but despite the fact they don't use Diamonds from Sierra Leone, they still give back to Africa. They have three main iniatives that I wanted to share with Ascending Butterfly readers because I love when brands find ways to give back!

Stars of Africa:

The Stars of Africa Collection (named after the largest Diamond ever found, The Star of Africa (aka Cullinan Diamond), is a fundraising initiative launched in 2009,  to improve the infrastructure in Africa by creating funding for healthcare, education and self-sufficiency programs with a portion of the proceeds from each piece in the Stars of Africa Collection. The collection is incredibly fashion forward (it includes rings, pendants, cufflinks, colliers and earrings) and have been fondly nicknamed by many 'The Diamond Snow Globes' as the Diamonds are suspended in a silicone fluid that allows them to appear to float.

Stars of Africa Diamond Rings

The floating diamond part came from my love affair with snow globes. It’s always so mesmerizing, I can't stop staring at them, and I have noticed many agree with me. It is such a beautiful concept; it keeps you looking at it all day.” – Lita Asscher

I have to admit to being a bit obsessed with this collection, as it combines two joys of mine, Diamonds (which are certainly this April Baby's best friend) and GIVING. I got to meet Lita Asccher, Royal Asscher's President, during the Champagne and Diamond's event and her passion for helping the people of Sierra Leone is very much infectious!

The Diamond Empowerment Fund - A non-profit international organization

Mission

Founded in 2007, The Diamond Empowerment Fund™ (D.E.F.) is a non-profit international organization with the mission to raise money to support education initiatives that develop and empower economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource.

Seven Bar

Royal Asscher Special Collection in support of Seven Bar Foundation. A Foundation which empowers women via microfinance by helping them out of poverty and into business. Available on CoutureLab. Every sale results in a 25% retail profit to benefit the Foundation and women around the world.

Edward Asscher hinted that another philanthropic effort is in the works and once I have more details I'll be sure to share it with you my butterflies!

More behind the scenes photos:


Left: Lita Asscher Right: Edward Asscher, Father and Daughter face behind the Royal Asscher Brand

Had my camera had burst mode, I would have caught a very sweet kiss on the cheek that Edward gave Lita!


Left: Lita Asscher, Center: Ascending Butterfly, Right: Edward Asscher


Left: Ascending Butterfly, Center: Edward Asscher, Right: Mama Butterfly

I love that Royal Asscher is where Luxury meets Heart. The Asscher Family is incredibly down-to-earth, Socially Conscious, Innovative and Fun. I have to say living in the City that Never Sleeps has its perks, but this evening of Champagne and Diamonds, wasn't just another night in New York City, it was an honor and a pleasure! You can stay updated with Royal Asscher on both Facebook and Twitter or sign up for their newsletter.
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FTC Disclosure: Gift Bags were provided to event attendees. All opinions are 100% my own. No additional compensation has been received.