Since #WordlessWednesday is a day to let the pictures do the talking, here is a visual representation of where I am at right now!

So my visit to the Cost Plus World Market Hello Kitty Pop Up Shop in New York City where there was a Japanese Calligrapher who I asked to spell out "Butterfly" instead of my actual name totally got me back into Calligraphy again. I used to do it when I was younger, but haven't whipped out my calligraphy pens in a very long time.

In Japanese Calligraphy, here is where I am at right now (at least emotionally):

My Take:

Right now I am definitely an "Ascending Butterfly in Transition"

It is hard to believe that in a few short weeks we will be ending an entire decade!

Are you ready for a new decade?

I am trying to start thinking about my "focus word/phrase" for 2020 - have you figured out yours already?

I also want to take a moment to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. 

Even if you do not do anything special to celebrate it - it is an amazing time of year to tally your blessings and take a moment to express your gratitude for all that has gone well this year.

READERS: Have you ever used the Kanji Name Generator to see your name in Japanese Calligraphy?

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FTC Disclosure: All opinions are 100% MY OWN. This is NOT a Compensated Post. 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.

{#MotivationMonday} In this case you have BOTH! Make this the week YOU change your life! {Todays' #inspiration"}

Today you have BOTH! A Monday AND a Brand New Year to start those changes! Get working on those resolutions, it's never too late or too soon, just start! (Did you check out our new Facebook Cover Photo? It reads for a New Year to Bring You Something New, Make A Move Like A Butterfly Tearing Its Cocoon! Make A Move! - What do you think of it? What new move will YOU make this week?)

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post!

{Wordless Wednesday} The if I were a #Tarot Card I'd be the @DoreenVirtue444 #Butterfly Maiden of course edition!

Butterfly Maiden Tarot Card: Transformation - "You are experiencing enormous change right now, which brings great blessings"

No words even necessary as to why this card applies to me right?

Fellow Bloggers Please Leave the Link to your Wordless Wednesday Posts as a comment, no formal linky around here, but we would love to check out your photo for today and say hi! (No Giveaways Please!)

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FTC Disclosure: This is not a Sponsored Post!

Weekly Moment of #Gratitude: The subtle and not so subtle shifts edition! #inspiration #motivation #change

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Not focusing on insensitivity! - As a life long New Yorker I have to admit I was outraged to hear of the two women who dressed as The Twin Towers being destroyed as a 'Halloween Costume' and the woman who opted to dress like a Boston Marathoner, I can't say I can begin to understand what went through their heads. But this weekend an event took me to the site. I have mixed feelings when I visit there. It's become a bit of a tourist attraction and there were folks trying to sell stuff to the tourists to make money which did not make me happy, I don't think it's right for someone to try and profit from the tragedy that occurred that day. But when I took in the scene there this weekend, there is excitement and hope that something has finally been done with the location. That New York took it back, we came together, re-grouped and decided to re-build. Is what was ultimately done with the site going to please everyone? Probably not, but something did need to go there. That empty hole, that space needed new life and like it or not, there is something there, life must and will go on. Instead of focusing on what's not, on the horror and tragedy that occurred that day, I took a moment to focus on what the space can now become, and I'm going to let that fill me with hope.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Receiving! - I'm normally the giver in most of my relationships, and when someone gives to me without expecting something back in return, it still sadly takes me aback. Don't get me wrong, it's not a matter of seeing the bad in people before the good, I'm just not in the habit of being on the receiving end of generosity. And this week someone did something super nice and it made me feel grateful that there are still nice people out there.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Subtle and Not So Subtle Inner 'Shifts'! - There has been a lot of putting my foot down this year and making it super clear to myself and others about what is and isn't acceptable, these subtle and not so subtle shifts have caused some doors to close and some relationships to come to an end, and while it doesn't feel like it in the moment, the year soon coming to an end has made me realize it was necessary for some of those doors to close to make room for bigger and better opportunities. Don't mourn the doors that close butterflies, celebrate the ones that open!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Events! - A very mixed bag of non-stop events that I will recap shortly. The wide variety of experiences that I have had this week kind of made me feel like I lived a year in a week, so today while trying to clear my devices to make room and space for the new week of events and experiences that are ahead of me I took some time to reflect on the subtle and not so subtle shifts these experiences made on me and be grateful for how each and every single one of them allowed me to 'shift' and grow.

This month is moving super fast and somehow December is almost here! The flurry of holiday madness is descending upon us and another year will soon come to end. Are you ready?

Our Holidays Buying Guide has already begun and new giveaways will launch this week so stay tuned! And we will draw and announce the winner of the $100 Staples Gift Card soon!

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 What are you GRATEFUL for this week Butterfly?  Is it a lesson learned, or a random act of kindness that you gave or received?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post.

The stars at night are big and bright....and I want to see them ALL!

Most of you already know I'm a One2One Network member. Throughout the years my membership has been just as much a benefit to me as it has been to each and every single reader of Ascending Butterfly. I have had the chance to share about great products, great deals as well as host a giveaway or three! Be it by email or during Blogging Conferences, I have been often asked why I am a member, or do I find being a member valuable and would I recommend them? My answer is YES.

I learned a long time ago that Blogging is NOT an Island. And as for work/life balance there are only so many hours in a day, and I don't have as much time as I'd like to do outreach for Ascending Butterfly. I take blogging seriously and enjoy bringing you diverse, rich content. Companies like One2One Network that bring brands and bloggers together specialize in outreach, in a way that I never could, or probably wouldn't even want to. I love to write, I never aspired to be a sales person. But somehow throughout the years it's a hat I've had to wear. With One2One it's like having my own sales team, they do the outreach and then come back to me with the opportunity to connect with brands I actually know and work on projects that excite me, without any penalty when I don't want to or just simply can't participate in a campaign for whatever reason.

The company was founded by Barbara Jones and my favorite quote about why she founded the community is:

"I saw an opportunity to break-out on my own and build a grassroots team of socially active women who have the 'I-can't-help-myself' desire to share information about new products and services with their friends, family and colleagues." ~ Barbara Jones

Their motto is: Fun Projects, Cool Perks, Nice People and throughout the years that's exactly what it has been! I've read great books (like Once in a Blue Moon), Listened to great music (like Harry Connick Jr Your Songs, Norah Jones ...Featuring and many others including the fantastic Sex and The City 2 Soundtrack!) and tried some great products including: Crest 3D Whitestrips (please note if you visit that link, that giveaway is already closed), L'Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lash Mascara, and Gain Apple Mango Tango Laundry Detergent - all of which remain on my permanent shopping list!

One2One is doing something amazing right now and I really want to be a part of it! One2One Network is hosting a full sponsorship to the Blissdom13 conference for it's members, and I truly want to attend! Check out this page to get more info about the sponsorship contest.

I have never been to Blissdom. I've been to BlogHer (both in 2010 and this year), and I'm headed to the Niche Mommy Conference this month (this is the FIRST year and it's being held in New Orleans! Awesomesauce!), but how I've never been to Blissdom I don't know, just the name alone sounds like I should be there!

I started my year with a shocking and horrible mis-diagnosis, that I was on 'borrowed time' it's pretty much anyone's worst nightmare. And after almost a year of exploratory surgeries (and 2 long hospitalizations later) I'm still very much standing. But my medical setback has given me a mountain of medical expenses to deal with and also robbed me of some major holidays (I spent both New Years Eve and my birthday in the hospital this year). It also placed limits on what I could do physically. I'm finally getting back on track and have TONS of lost time to make up for.

So as much as I'd like to attend to Blissdom13 next year, it won't be possible for me without a sponsorship. This year to get to BlogHer12 I volunteered for my pass, if not, I wouldn't have been able to make it. And for Niche Mommy I won my sponsorship this year which I'm super grateful for!

The four Blissdom13 tracks are: Business, Writing, Life Development, and Photography and they would help me grow both Ascending Butterfly (as well as myself) both personally and professionally speaking and I love the fact that the Writing and Photography Tracks format will also have a hands-on workshop feel! 

The conference after 5 years in Nashville, TN is moving to Dallas, TX. There is something so very fitting about that for me, the conference itself has decided IT needed change and that's exactly how I feel in my life. After being told I might lose mine, I really don't want to hold back in any area of my life anymore. I want to see things I haven't seen, I'm bolder now, I'm not as afraid of taking risks or chances and most of all I want change, I want growth. I think my medical setback kind of brought me into a real life 'chrysalis' state and now that it's almost totally behind me, I want to emerge from my cocoon as a whole new butterfly, and what better way to do it than with a new experience?

I'm sure you guessed it by now, but this is a contest entry, but it's also a super personal glimpse into where I'm at right now!

How about you butterfly, What kind of change do you want to bring into your life for 2013?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. However this post does serve as a contest entry for One2One Network Members.

Today's Words of Inspiration - Never Fear Inspiration is HERE!

Be The Palm Tree!

Wow my butterflies! After a very short mini vacation over the Columbus Day Holiday Weekend, I've spent much of this week catching up on emails. Most from readers asking where the words of inspiration and focused breathing meditations went! I'm happy to say they are back today in full swing!

It's been quite a week! We had a winner this week in our SodaStream USA Penguin Starter Kit Soda Maker Giveaway, the lucky winner was reader 'heygip', congratulate him in the official winner announcement page HERE

And we have lined up some amazing giveaways, it's going to be an awesome winter season at Ascending Butterfly. Grab your favorite warm beverage and a throw blanket and curl up with your laptop. You are going to want to check in daily so you don't miss anything.

We have some very different giveaways coming up, not only in the variety of items, but HOW you can enter, but more on this later. (Hint: Those who have already joined the NING group have an advantage of staying in the know about what is coming a little earlier.....)

Because this week has forced me out of my routine in many ways I thought it would make a great focus for today's words of inspiration. Variation stimulates the mind and soul in so many ways. Change and adapting to that change helps you see things from a new perspective. That new perspective is where amazing growth and progress comes from. The weekend is a great time to break out of your rut! It's Friday, don't go straight home, go out after work today, go to a park, a museum, a movie, bowling, dancing; just go do something you normally wouldn't! (nothing destructive or you'll impede your own progress!) If you are not working and spend all your weekdays job hunting, cut the search short early today and go OUT. Meet up with an old friend for lunch. Re-connect with a sibling (in person!). Just don't go home and sit on the couch!

Obviously you can't go out every night after work, but you can make other changes in your day to day routine that will benefit you. For example you can turn in 15 minutes earlier and avoid the 3pm slump the next day at work. You can get up 10 minutes earlier and meditate. You can spend the whole day taking the stairs instead of the elevator. You can try a restaurant you've never eaten in before for lunch. You can take a walk around the neighborhood after dinner with  your family. You can change or add on an additional family game night.

Embrace change and be rejuvenated by it, buck it, and watch the house of cards come tumbling down! I often remembered hearing the story of the Palm Tree, how it sways both in warm, balmy breezes as well tropical storms, but doesn't break. So if someone asks you that 'getting to know you' quiz question and asks you what type of tree you are, don't easily be swayed by proclaiming yourself a mighty oak, consider becoming a go with the flow Palm Tree, the ones with the true longetivity. The ones that sway....come what may.

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 welcome, change, variation and a new way of thinking into my mind and into my life. I AM a Palm Tree.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, profound and powerful changes in your life.

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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NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier.

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed.

Just a helpful Reminder:

How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list.

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