When New York City Serves up Tornados, Why not make it a MIST instead? An @EnjoyArborMist that is!

Today it has been literally raining cats and dogs. To say it's 'heavy rain' is certainly an understatement. So what do you when the 'City that Never Sleeps' serves up Tornado weather and you'd rather be sitting on a sunny, sandy beach?

Unfurl my Yoga Mat, pretend it's a beach towel and serve up some Arbor Mist Frozen Wine Cocktails! The perfect cure for the 'rainy day blues'!

Arbor Mist Frozen Cocktails Nestled Comfortably in my Freezer!

I got my package a bit late, (way after BlogHer), which moved straight to the Niche Mommy Blogging Conference (Thanks to my wonderful conference sponsors @SafeConBritax) and then BAM! it was suddenly Fashion Week and this review was LONG overdue. But I always say there are no small coincidences, and this grey, gloomy day outside, turned into something so much better because I chose to try these today!

Arbor Mist Frozen Cocktails Nestled Comfortably in my Freezer!

About Arbor Mist Frozen Wine Cocktails

Learn more by watching the video below, just press play!

Freeze.Squeeze.Enjoy! Introducing the fastest way to enjoy frozen wine cocktails! Arbor Mist's ready-to-drink, portable pouches combine your favorite wine and fruit flavors in a refreshing frozen cocktail. No mixing, blending or cleanup.

After giving them ample time to freeze it was time to take them out of the freezer!

Time to add glasses to the mix!

What I Tried:

White Pear Pinot Grigio - In true 'tasting' fashion I started with a white so I could end my tasting with a red! This one has natural pear flavor with hints of apple and citrus. The two tasters (me being one of them, both gave this one a thumbs up!)

Here are some pics of the White Pear Pinot Grigio in action:

One package gave us enough for two glasses, pretty cool!

We let some of it 'melt' a bit before taking our first sip!

Strawberry White Zinfandel - The bursting flavor of fresh picked strawberries integrates so well with the White Zinfandel, this was both of our favorite of the three by far. For me it was so reminiscent of a frozen strawberry daiquiri, instead of using rum, using Wine, and not just any wine, but Arbor Mist's White Zinfandel to be exact! This one was delicious!

Here are some pictures of the Strawberry White Zinfandel in Action:

Arbor Mist's Frozen Wine White Zinfandel Strawberry Cocktail pre pour!

Arbor Mist's Frozen Wine White Zinfandel Strawberry Cocktails, Ready to Taste!

Major Thumbs Up All Around for the Strawberry White Zinfandel Arbor Mist Frozen Cocktail!

And last, but certainly not least was the Blackberry Merlot - This one hits you with the aroma of ripe blackberries and fresh guava which is a great new twist to the Arbor Wine Merlot. We moved from the Whites to the Red and greatly enjoyed this one as well. All three flavors got a thumbs up with the Strawberry White Zinfandel a definite first place, and this one and the White Pear Pinot Grigio equally tied at second place.

Here are some Pics of the Blackberry Merlot:

Blackberry Merlot Frozen Wine Cocktail by Arbor Mist, just out the freezer!

Blackberry Merlot Frozen Wine Cocktail by Arbor Mist, a little time out the freezer and after massaging the pack and giving it a good squeeze, we are ready to go!

Blackberry Merlot Frozen Wine Cocktail by Arbor Mist, doesn't this just say 'taste me'?

My Take:

These are a definite re-buy for us, with the Strawberry White Zinfandel standing out as the favorite! I highly recommend these for frozen drink lovers as well as Wine lovers. And don't be afraid to think outside the box with these, they are NOT just summer drinks. I'd pair the White Pear Pinot Grigio with my favorite scallops wrapped in bacon with spicy dipping sauces. The spice of the sauce and the nutty flavor of the scallop pair so well with the smooth crispness of the frozen White Pear Pinot Grigio, and I'd do any of my favorite Thai food with the Strawberry White Zinfandel Frozen Cocktail. I love that these are freeze, squeeze and serve they are totally easy peasy, no mixing, no mess and more time to spend with my guests!

If anyone tries out the newest flavor before I do, the Moscato Mango Strawberry, please come back here and post about it, I plan to try that one out next!

The Arbor Mists Frozen Wine Cocktails turned my frown upside down, literally! Take a look:

Frozen Cocktail Happy Face!

Get Social With It:

If you are 21+, tweet with Arbor Mist on Twitter @EnjoyArborMist
You can also give them a 'Like' on Facebook too!

Did you take some time to 'savor the moment' today?

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FTC Disclosure: Samples were provided for editorial consideration by SheSpeaks on behalf of Arbor Mist, however all opinions are 100% my own. Please enjoy your Frozen Wine Cocktails Responsibly. Do NOT drink and drive!

What do we want? Low Prices! When do we want them? NOW!

I'm probably the most weird woman on the planet, I HATE to shop. There I said it. Nothing bores me more. I hate the endless walking up and down aisles. I hate trying on clothes. If I could do all my shopping online I would.

This always drove my sisters crazy. Unlike me, if they could shop all day everyday they would. And the concept of window shopping, drives me crazy and my sisters, well they live for it.  I wasn't the teen trying to hang out at the mall. Fitting rooms plain make my hairs stand up on end.

Now when my sisters shop, I hang with my brother-in-laws. We check out electronics stores, sit on massage chairs and watch the room size televisions or play video games while we wait for everyone else to finish up their shopping so we can go eat!

Unfortunately I can't avoid shopping all together, and me being the tech nerd that I am, I figured there had to be a way to make shopping, faster, shorter, just plain easier, and thankfully there is! I personally enjoy marking decades by their commercial catch phrases (remember 'Where's The Beef?). This decade will be probably be best known for 'There's an App for that!', because usually there is! I actually found an app that takes the chore out of shopping, and I figured you'd want to know all about it too!

We are definitely living in an instant gratification society, and while I am not here to debate the pros and cons of it, I can tell you that when it comes to low prices, we can all agree we want it now! I want to know the lowest price on an item before I even step foot in the store, no one wants to waste gas driving around searching for the lowest price on something, especially when it comes to high end items like electronics. I for one am currently searching for a new laptop as I will be Live Blogging this year at the BlogHer 2012 Conference. (and I don't just mean as a blogger who will be there, I am live blogging at panels FOR BlogHer! I am super excited!) Here is the app I am using to help me take the choices I've narrowed it down to and find the best price for it:

About RedLaser:

RedLaser is a free app available for download for iPhone, Android and Windows phones. Downloaded over 20 million times, RedLaser is a secret weapon for the smart shopper – allowing you to scan or search for items to make sure you have all the information you need, including product details, ratings and price comparison.

Features:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Scan and search for products using the bar code scanner

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Compare prices online and at local retailers, so you’ll know you’re getting the best deal

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Find out which stores stock what you’re looking for by searching for a product locally. No need to drive around town searching for what you need!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Browse product reviews and rating

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Buy directly from your phone using PayPal mobile express checkout and you can pick up your item in a nearby store.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Create shopping lists (or wish lists!) and easily share them with friends and family via email, SMS, Twitter and Facebook.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Scan a food item to get allergen and ingredient information

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - To see RedLaser in action, check out this video, which shows how you can use RedLaser to find a last-minute gift.

I know know where the three specific laptops I've narrowed my choices down to are the cheapest. The app gave me just the info I need, the only thing I need to do now is decide which of the three I want! (of course if any laptop manufacturers are reading this and want to send me one, I'm totally open to it!).

RedLaser App in Action

My Take:

The app is free, easy to use, and tells you exactly where to go to find what you are looking for at the best possible price, it's instant gratification at its finest! For me it takes the chore out of shopping, and makes finding what I want at the best possible price, quick and painless. I for one read reviews on everything before making a purchase (minor or major) so I especially love that I can also browse product reviews!

Get Social:

You can get social with RedLaser on both Facebook and Twitter @RedLaserApp and don't forget to use the hashtag when you let them know just how much money you've saved, #RedLaser

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FTC Disclosure: I am participating in a sponsored post campaign for RedLaser in conjunction SheSpeaks, however all opinions are 100% my own.

Not So Wordless Wednesday: My day with Vanessa Lachey in NYC!

The butterfly was out and about today and got a chance to celebrate Earth Week in New York City learning about a super easy way to greatly impact the environment!

The clever folks at Future Friendly from Procter & Gamble makers of household products that include Tide Coldwater, Duracell Rechargeable, Cascade Action Packs, Dawn Ultra, Prilosec OTC, PUR and Pampers Cruisers hosted a fun countdown to Earth Day event in New York City which featured Tide Coldwater Laundry Detergent, Maytag® Bravos XL® HE Top Load Washer and Dryer and their spokesperson and celebrity host, the very personable Mrs. Vanessa Lachey, host of the ABC television series Wipeout.

One of my favorite quotes from Vanessa was:

"This is a realistic change that everyone can do."

As a shespeaks VIP blogger at the Take A Load Off event, my day began with a pick up from NYC Green Car, an eco friendly car service that provides a fleet of advanced hybrid only vehicles for corporations who want to cut back on their carbon footprint. And this being a very small world, my driver actually lives only 4 blocks from me! You can connect with them on twitter @nycgreencar

Arriving a bit early gave me the opportunity to re-connect with some of my favorite bloggers including: @dancinghotdogs, @jenwag57,  @TinaSeitzinger, @MomMostTraveled (a fellow Duane Reade VIP Blogger!),  @SweetiesSweeps,  @barrettboys and more! (Apologies, I normally provide blog links, but twitter links were just so much faster, you can link to all their blogs via their twitter pages!).

TIDE COLDWATER

Developed by P&G to work most effectively in cold water conditions, Tide Coldwater Laundry Detergent ranked among the top detergents by a leading consumer group. It is specially formulated with different enzymes and surfactant which allows for effective cleaning in cold water and also allows consumers to live more sustainably and save money without sacrificing the results they expect from a leading brand such as Tide.

MAKE THE SWITCH TO TIDE COLDWATER

Switching to a cold water laundry detergent is such a win-win. You are cutting down on household energy use and saving money while doing something good for the environment.

Many people are hesitant because they feel only warm water kills germs, but one of the most interesting quotes from the event came from Jack English, Senior Scientist at The Procter & Gamble company who said:

"The Dryer uses heat to kill germs, but most washers don't unless they are set to 140 degrees, for the most part the germs are really being killed in the heat of your dryer"

Utilizing 'Catalytic Chemistry', the enzymes are allowing Tide Coldwater to clean just as effectively as warm water washing cycles.

So before I get to what makes Wordless Wednesday so great, the PICTURES, I know you must be thinking 'But Butterfly, what's in this for ME?', and I'm so glad you asked!

Take A Load Off Sweepstakes!

P&G is inviting consumers to pledge to wash in cold water for a chance to win some awesome prizes in their Take A Load Off Sweepstakes. Between now and May 13, 2012 enter daily for a shot at weekly prizes that include a Maytag® Bravos XL® HE Top Load Washer and Dryer and Tide Coldwater Detergent to help you keep up your pledge in high laundry style!

My VIP Blogging experience continued with a special lunch, roundtable and Q&A with Vanessa Lachey! Vanessa is a mommy to be, and it was very clear that protecting our environment to ensure the safety of her coming little one is important to her, she was super down to earth, and spends time online herself seeking out tips to help set up a safe nursery. I am sharing some awesome photos from todays event, the photos without the Ascending Butterfly watermark are from PR firm Citizen Paine and are being used here WITH their permission, please check with them before borrowing any photos. The watermarked photos were taken by Ascending Butterfly and the same applies, please contact us for use of any of our photos. You can press on each photo individually to make them open up bigger and then hit backspace to come back to the main article.

Vanessa Lachey, Take A Load Off Event in New York City, April 18, 2012

Above: This was one of my favorite shots, and I'm pretty stoked it came out so clear because I had to use a bit of zoom to get in this close, and usually when I zoom the shots get grainy. Thankfully all that time in the hospital I didn't loose my photographic touch!

 Vanessa Lachey, Take A Load Off Event in New York City, April 18, 2012

Above: Vanessa's actually quite a ham, and there were a few times where she took quirky, fun shots and I was happy I was able to catch one of those moments from my awkward vantage point.

Vanessa Lachey, Take A Load Off Event in New York City, April 18, 2012

Left: Jack English, Tide and Right: Vanessa Lachey

Above: This picture was taken during the lunch roundtable Q&A session. On the left is P&G Senior Scientist, Jack W. English. On the Right, Celebrity Spokesperson, Vanessa Lachey. At the Sagaponack Bar & Grill in the Flatiron District in New York City. 

Above: Group Shot with She Speaks VIP Bloggers and Celebrity Host, Vanessa Lachey. For those playing 'Spot the Butterfly', I'm standing on the very right in a wine colored jacket!

 A few pro shots:

So now you have a full peak into my day with Vanessa Lachey! Hope you decide to take the Pledge too!

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FTC Disclosure: I am blogging on behalf of SheSpeaks/Tide and received VIP perks for attending this event. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Snack Rut? How does Chocolate and Truffles strike you?

I have had a life long love of travel, and each trip I have had the fortune of taking be it for business or pleasure always has a special memory that is unique to that particular trip. For me it's not about coming back with a ton of dust catchers that get stored away to never see the light of day. I take tons of pictures, visit places on and off the beaten path, and enjoy experiences, sometimes it's the arts, sometimes it's culinary, sometimes it's just being still like at a tropical beach at sunset.

I'm a music lover and somehow am always thinking music and soundtracks to moments in my life. They say smells take us back to a time and place, pictures can do that, tastes can do that and so can music. Everytime I hear Tony Bennett's - (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco, my mind races right back to my very first trip to the city by the bay!

I was there for a convention but everytime I travel I make it a point to factor in some 'ME' time. Time to just let my feet and my mind wander. And one of my favorite 'me' time moments was a visit to Ghiardelli Square. Where I got my first introduction to a brand who had actually relocated there in 1895. Ghirardelli square is where the flagship Ghirardelli Chocolate Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop is located. And the place where I got my first introduction to the brand and their delectable chocolate. I got to try some there, and bought some that I tore into sitting outside where a local band was playing. I picked up several CD's from that band, and each time I hear them I am brought back to that moment. It is a cherished memory for me. And while much like Tony Bennett's song I fear that I may have really left my heart in San Francisco, air travel is expensive, and I don't get out there nearly as much as I'd like, but the closest I can come to an escape is putting on my CD's that I bought at the square and enjoying some Ghirardelli Chocolate at home.

Ghirardelli Milk and Truffle Stand Up Bag

While I love most of the stuff I have tried from Ghirardelli throughout the years, I keep going back for their signature squares. My absolute favorite being their Dark Chocolate Raspberry. They are rich and satisfying, a decadent escape indeed and also always take me back to sitting on the square and enjoying my find!

So when given the opportunity to try the Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Truffle Filling SQUARES^TM, I definitely jumped at the chance. Chocolate AND Truffles? Um, YES Please.

Many moons ago, when financial firms still existed I worked in a firm that had a truffle shop in the lobby. A truffle shop that made each truffle by hand, I was obsessed with that shop, and haven't ever really had a truffle that compared. Ghirardelli's Milk & Truffle Squares were definitely a sensory delight from 'square one' (really no pun intended, well maybe a little), they took me back to two very pleasant memories, my visit to San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square, and my favorite New York City Truffle Shop all in one bite!

Ghirardelli Milk and Truffle Squares

It also somewhat got me out of my Ghirardelli snack rut because each time I reach for the squares when I'm shopping I end up with the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Raspberry Stand up Bag which had been becoming a bit of a snack obsession for me until the Milk Chocolate with Truffle filling came along! In my eyes, I'm not really cheating on my favorite snack, since I'm just hanging out with a different variation.....

If you are stuck in a Snack Rut, let Ghirardelli wake up your taste buds! You can get social with Ghirardelli on Facebook and of course, don't forget to tell them you saw them featured here on Ascending Butterfly! (Who knows, maybe you can sway them to return with a fun reader giveaway!)

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FTC Disclosure: I received the product for this review for free, courtesy of Ghirardelli and SheSpeaks. However, all opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commisions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Our full Giveaway Rules and Disclosure Policy can be found HERE.

Tide Coldwater Liquid Laundry Detergent Review

The Power of Tide and Cold, that's right COLD Water!

There are certain things I don't compromise with when I shop, brands I refuse to substitute and my laundry detergent is one of them. I have always used Tide, it's what was used in my house growing up and now I still use it. For one simple reason. It works.

I am a SheSpeaks.com member and was invited to participate in their Tide Coldwater Challenge. I gladly accepted because I already knew I could trust Tide. And unfortunately I have been taking this challenge for years now without exactly wanting to. My apartment and regular hot water just don't always happen, so many times I start my load of laundry in hot water, and the load ends up being washed in cold water anyway. So my Tide was already proving itself in cold water before they put out a special Cold Water version.

Tide Coldwater Liquid Laundry Detergent, is specially formulated to help get clothes clean when they are washed in cold water. Washing in cold water is one small step you can take in your daily life to help conserve energy and save money on your utility bill! To think I've been doing this for quite awhile without even meaning to!

Can washing in cold water get your laundry just as clean? I can definitely tell you, yes it can! Tide Coldwater Liquid Laundry Detergent was just as effective on my wash as the regular formulation. When I have a stain, I use it to pre-treat the way I normally would and find the stains gone when I'm done. And one of my favorite cold water tests is that my favorite PJ's don't fade or shrink. And the biggest test for me is how white my whites come out, especially in cold water using the new formulation. I'm happy to say my whites do come out very bright even washing them in cold water with the Tide Coldwater Liquid Laundry Detergent! (And if you run around doing Zumba for Wii at home on your hardwood floors wearing white socks, you need to be able to rely on your detergent to get your whites super bright!)

I am hoping to try out the Pods next (anything to avoid lugging heavy detergent bottles up five flights of stairs!) Keep up with Tide on Facebook to check out what promotions they are currently running and follow them on Twitter too! You can also keep up with all things She Speaks on Facebook too!

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FTC Disclosure: I received a Tide Coldwater Liquid Detergent sample, resources and promotional item from SheSpeaks.com to help facilitate this review. All Opinions are 100% my own.