Featured #Handbag in the Spotlight: It's YOUR choice! Win a $100 @wilsonsleather Gift Card with @Ascending1

Happy Holidays Butterflies! I didn't want you think that we forgot about the Featured Handbag in the Spotlight Feature for November! This time we are doing a unique twist, I'm not featuring a specific bag, I'm letting you select the star!

As most of you know I spent most of my 2012 in and out of the hospital. Hospital food coupled with not even wanting to eat most days meant I lost quite a bit of weight, and this winter the first thing I realized is that my winter coat was a bit too big and this year I needed a brand new coat.

So given the choice, despite the fact I always have leather handbags on my brain, I did the practical thing and opted for a new coat, and I couldn't be happier! I've been a longtime fan of Wilsons. As a teen, as soon as I started earning my own money, my very first handbag purchase was a Wilsons Leather handbag I purchased at my favorite mall. I loved that bag, and fell in love Wilsons too, I went on to buy many of my coats and leather blazers and handbags at Wilsons Leather both in store and then eventually online. I am thoroughly familiar with the quality of their leather and how well their products stand the test of time. That first handbag I bought from them as a teenager I actually passed along to someone not long ago and it was still in such great shape it looked new on the inside and out! It was just too small for my day to day needs now, but it was literally no worse for wear.

Here is the coat I opted on:

Wilsons Leather Ultimate hooded Faux Shearling Leather Jacket - Back

Wilsons Leather Ultimate hooded Faux Shearling Leather Jacket - Front

Say hello to the Wilsons Ultimate hooded Faux-Shearling Leather Jacket! The leather is 100% genuine leather, the fur trim is faux shearling and 100% warm, cozy and inviting. This jacket is super comfortable, and very warm and the hood doesn't fall down as I walk, when I have it up it stays up (no dorky string either). I can't tell you just how much I love this coat, if they decide to add it in other colors I would totally get it in every color! Look at the shaping and detaling on this coat!

I have worn it everywhere so far! Here is a picture of me wearing it:

Ascending Butterfly wearing Wilsons Leather Ultimate Hooded Faux Shearling Genuine Leather Jacket

My Take:

I have received tons of compliments on this jacket! I also wanted to point out that this one really runs true to size, I've purchased from them enough to know I usually have to size up (and if you read reviews this is across the board and not restricted to one type of sizing), with this after reading the measurements I opted not to size up and I was worried at first that it might not leave me the room necessary for heavier sweaters, but I'm glad I didn't size up, this fits well with winter weight wool business jackets and thicker sweaters underneath, so if you are buying this one, order it in your true size, do not size up it won't be necessary. It's super warm, but it's NOT overly heavy or bulky when wearing it or removing it if you are carrying it around indoors when you take it off. I absolutely love it! I'd totally love to see this one in a Red color!

Win It:

Our friends at Wilsons Leather wanted to join in on the Holiday Fun and offer 1 lucky reader the chance to win a $100 Gift Card that you can use to purchase anything your heart desires in store or online! Buy a great new handbag or put it toward a new coat or jacket with their great pricing and frequent sales the sky really is the limit on how far that gift card could stretch!

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

FTC Disclosure: I was provided product to facilitate my review and for the giveaway. The sponsor is fulfilling directly to prize winner(s), this in no way influenced my opinion of the product. Once a winner is selected and their information has been forwarded to the sponsor, the responsibility of prize fulfillment rests with the sponsor. However all opinions are 100% my own. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Win a $200 Gift Card to Wilsons Leather

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

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Wilson's Leather! We look forward to working with you again. Winner has been notified, and upon confirmation, follower name will be posted both here and on our homepage. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!

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

We have a promo so big it actually fits into TWO of our Guides! This promo serves as this month's 'Featured Handbag in the Spotlight' and our first giveaway in our annual Mother's Day Buying Guide! This one is especially for moms who like to travel in style! Wilsons Leather is no stranger to Ascending Butterfly readers, they've hosted a few Featured Handbag in the Spotlights for us (see HERE and HERE for reminders). Wilson's Leather has been my go-to for my handbags, jackets and leather accessories like Leather Gloves for years now. The leather is buttery soft, incredibly durable and the in store (brick and mortar) as well as online service is always top notch.

We are getting dangerously close to June, Is it just me or is this year starting to move way too fast! While everyone likes to harp on the Spring Flowers and the chirping birds and the butterflies (or maybe that's just me), to get there, we get rain. A lot of rain. So a day that may start cool, then get warm goes back to cold at night, which means you don't want to wear a winter coat, but still need something to keep you warm for the mornings and evenings when the temperature drops or it's raining out.

This is where our friends at Wilson's Leather come in, despite the title, they are NOT just leather! And if you are in the market for a great Spring Trenchcoat or a new Travel Bag, check out Wilson's first! If you are a fab frugalista who wants to look spot on and not spend more than you have to doing so, then the current sales will knock your socks off, right now you can get 60-80% off designer jackets, and there is also a sale running where if you buy one business bag you get the second at half off, and that will apply AUTOMATICALLY in cart during checkout, how awesome and fab is that?

Many of you know that it's been a challenging year for me this year to say the least, but the challenges I've faced have forced me to come out of my comfort zone in so many ways. I've been embracing things I normally wouldn't, and forcing myself to do things and wear things I probably never would have. I was a late comer to the 'animal print' trend and now I can't stop wearing it! I must share my newest obsession!

Black Rivet Asymmetrical Zip Front Jacket

Isn't this trench absolutely fantastic? Here is a shot of me wearing it (notice my super cute over-sized butterfly earrings):

I always thought animal prints were just too bold for me, and now I can't get enough! And as Blogging has gotten me more into travel I love that this coat is lightweight enough to be able to pack it easily, but fully lined so I'm not freezing when it gets nippy at night. Traveling in style also requires the right bag, I did tell you that this was also a 'Featured Handbag in the Spotlight' Promo too right? I'm sure by opening with a Trench you were begining to wonder if I had forgotten the Handbag, I have not my friends. I never forget the Handbag, it's a monthly feature for us since 2009!

In fact, this is no ordinary handbag, it's a wheeled briefcase with a sleek style, it's airport easy as it fits in the overhead or slides easily under the seat in front of you, has a padded compartment for your laptop, iPad, or Kindle, and an organizational compartment in the front. The wheel system is totally removable so if you just want throw it over your shoulders for your daily commute you can do so with or without the wheels. It slides on or off easily, but stays on and stays put when you need it!

McKlein USA Roseville 96646 Fly-Through Checkpoint-Friendly 2-in-1 Removable-Wheeled Ladies' Laptop Case

I love to travel, but hate to lug heavy bags, or bags that aren't well organized. Let's face it, airport security checkpoints are not fun. You are already harried, frazzled, and then standing in a super long line with someone right in front of you and directly behind you so have no room to move, then suddenly you have to get your jacket, jewelry and shoes off, take your laptop or portable tablet OUT of your bag and get all this in a bin. Then you are being scanned while worrying about your stuff, and by the time you are done, your bins are already at the end of the aisle and you have to get everything back on and back in your bag in half a second because there are tons of folks behind you. Not so simple right?

The buttery soft Italian Leather had me at Hello and I will now never travel without this bag, it comes with a removable protector for your laptop/tablet that slides easily in and out and protects your device while in the bin. It has great organizational pockets, you can remove the wheel system if you prefer and use the shoulder strap. This trench and this bag together are a KILLER travel combo! You will breeze through the airport cool, confident and in style!

Now butterflies, you all know what Buying Guides mean right? You know I always look out for you butterfly! How would you like to win Trenchcoat and amazing travel briefcase too?

I thought so!

I can even do one better for you, how about a $200 Gift Card to Wilsons Leather so you can buy the trench and bag of YOUR choice? Who loves you butterfly?

Use the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win a $200 gift card to Wilsons Leather, do the mandatory entry to unlock the bonus entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

FTC Disclosure: Ascending Butterfly received the products mentioned above free of charge for editorial consideration, no additional incentives have been received. All opinions expressed 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.