#TheOfficialTwitterPartyDJ meets @COVERGIRL Ambassador & #ElectricLady @JanelleMonae @ApolloTheater #covermoment {#Photos)

You all know how much I love Music, so when Covergirl invited me to attend Janelle Monae's (aka The Electric Lady #1) 'Electric Tour' with a VIP backstage meet and greet you know I couldn't turn that down! As you know my online alter ego is #TheOfficialTwitterPartyDJ, and Music and Travel are my top two passions in life. And in all my years living in New York City this was my very first visit to the historic Apollo Theatre! (And it certainly won't be my last!) The very last pictures include our meet and greet photo! So stay with this post until the end butterflies!

Janelle is the new face of Covergirl and she is on tour to promote her new album, The Electric Lady, which you definitely need to pick up if you haven't already! Pick it up on Amazon:



The excitement was definitely building outside the entrance of the theatre while we were waiting to get in, The billboard changes very rapidly but I was able to nab a shot of the sign announcing Janelle before it switched again to other shows:

Outside the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York City for the Janelle Monae 'Electric Tour'

of course Mama Butterfly and I wanted to take a picture before we even sat down:

Left: ME! Ascending Butterfly Right: Mama Butterfly inside the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NYC

We got there super early as you can tell and they hadn't even started setting up yet so we got some time to ham it up and check out the theatre!

The excitement was definitely starting to build as the band started setting up!

Check out 'Mini Janelle'!

Everyone just had to stop and snap pictures with a super cute little girl that was dressed up like Janelle!

Janelle Monae 'Electric Tour' Concert at Apollo Theatre in New York City

You could literally feel the floor beneath you vibrating as concert goers jumped up when Janelle took the stage, everyone was jumping and dancing and it's like the floor had come alive beneath your feet!

Janelle was definitely bringing her 'A' Game!

My inner Fashionista was totally digging this outfit! The Jacket! Those Boots! YES!!!

The confetti was flying and it felt like New Years Eve!

The Electric Lady was definitely bringing it!

You know we were all singing along with her!

No one was ready for Janelle and the band to take a bow, we wanted MORE!

I had to let Janelle know how much I enjoyed the show!

How do artists keep straight which camera to focus on?

Now that's better, you can now see the whole Apollo sign in the background!

Even Mama Butterfly got in on the Meet and Greet Fun!

My Take:

The last time I did a concert in New York City with a VIP Meet and Greet was for John Legend, so I was super excited to get to do another one! Janelle truly delivered, it was an amazing concert and her new album has 20 songs and she is joined on some tracks by some amazing artists including Prince (yes THE Prince), Miguel, Erykah Badu, Solange, as well as Esperanza Spalding (who I love, love, love by the way) on an expansive double disc set.

Serving Face? Indeed Butterflies, that's why she is the face of Covergirl! She tore it up at the Apollo! Thanks Covergirl, I will never forget this concert!

"Even if it makes others uncomfortable, I will love who I am" ~Janelle Monae, on the track Q.U.E.E.N. featuring Erykah Badu, check out the official video below:

Have you grabbed this album yet? If so, what is your favorite track?

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FTC Disclosure: This is an event recap, this is NOT a compensated or sponsored post, Concert Tickets were provided to Ascending Butterfly for Editorial Consideration. 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. All opinions are 100% my own! The Amazon Banner to purchase The Electric Lady MP3 download of the album  is an affiliate link.

Win a VIP @SmoothJazzNY Angela Bofill Experience Concert Cruise with #dinner & drinks via @Ascending1 #Giveaway

#Sponsored: This giveaway has been sponsored by (see below for full disclosure):

I have been partnering with Smooth Jazz New York for a number of years now and it has become an annual tradition that I greatly look forward to! While it's fantastic in summer, it's the final sail that happens right after the beginning of Fall that is my favorite. It's always bitter sweet because I know the Boat Cruises are over for the season until next summer, but it also means a host of other fun events are on the way. 

I didn't get to take the final sail last year and most of you know why by now, so I am looking that much more forward to this year's final sail.

Angela Bofill

The Smooth Cruise season is coming to an end, and the last sail is: Smooth Cruise Encore: The Angela Bofill Experience!

Like me Angela is a Bronx Native and you may know her by her six albums that made the Top 40, (five of which made the Top 100 on the pop charts as well), her albums 'Angel of the Night' and 'Too Tough' made the top 10! With performances by Maysa and Kim Waters, this is going to be some sail folks!

Here is a picture of me and mama butterfly all smiles during our last sail this summer during the Spyro Gyra sail, if you missed my recap of that sail, you can check it out HERE:

Left: Tracy of Ascending Butterfly and Right: Mama Butterfly enjoying the smooth sounds of Spyro Gyra on the Smooth Jazz Cruise in New York City

My Take:

The Smooth Jazz Cruises are my favorite part of summer, and the final sail just gets me in the mood for Fall. Back in my recruiting days it was a favorite client gift. It is just a super relaxing evening with great music, food and people! I have met so many wonderful people throughout the years (I have actually been taking the sails well before my blogging days!)

Win It:

Our friends at Smooth Jazz New York want you to experience the same VIP experience I did! One lucky butterfly (and a guest) will win a pair of passes to the October 4th 2013, 9:30 Smooth Cruise Encore: The Angela Bofill Experience sail including dinner and drink tickets for two as well! This is a true New York Experience not to be missed! (Please do not enter if you cannot attend on 10/4 as this is a very fast turnaround and we won't have time to process a last minute cancellation)

Enter using the link to the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway ˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: Smooth Jazz New York provided Ascending Butterfly with tickets to the upcoming Encore Sail for editorial consideration, all opinions are 100% my own, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

Photos from The Art of the Score: #Film Week at the @nyphil - Hitchcock with an intermission sponsored by @FAGEUSA!

You know how much I love Suspense/Horror films and when our friends at FAGE invited us to attend 'The Art of The Score: Film Week at the New York Philharmonic - Hitchcock!' you know I couldn't possibly pass that up! Being based in New York City affords me a wealth of events to attend pretty much daily, but this has to be the most unique pairing and most interesting event I've attended lately! FAGE sponsored the show and they offered a tasting during intermission! Brilliant! I'd love to see more brands partner with New York Philharmonic to bring unique intermission experiences to an already iconic New York Institution!

Since it's Wordless Wednesday, without furthur ado here are my photos:

Avery Fisher Hall Home of the New York Philharmonic

Sign reads: Fage #1 Yogurt in Greece Presenting Sponsor of Hitchcock! The Art of the Score Film Week at the Philharmonic. Please join us for a tasting during intermission.

Calm before the storm, the Fage table before intermission! :)

A mix of interactive on-screen clips from Alfred Hitchcock's most iconic films coupled with music from the New York Philharmonic, a night in New York City doesn't get much better than this!

Alec Baldwin was the emcee for the evening!

Nothing prettier than the fountain lit up at night!

Left: ME! Ascending Butterfly! and Right: Mama Butterfly!

Left: ME! Ascending Butterfly! and Right: Mama Butterfly! - Ready for our closeup!

It was a FULL MOON that night!

My Take:

This was a unique partnership and I am so glad I got the chance to attend. I am a big fan of suspense/thriller/horror genre and nothing is more iconic than the work of Alfred Hitchcock! And no matter how perfect your home theater set up may be, a suspense film being brought to life by the New York Philharmonic is an experience, not just entertainment!

And in case you missed our 2011 Healthify your summer with Fage recipe series, here are the links:

Recipe #1 FAGE Fried Chicken:

http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/07/healthify-your-summer-with-fage.html

Recipe #2 FAGE Total Greek Yogurt Lemon Coleslaw:

http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/07/healthify-your-summer-with-fage-recipe.html

Recipe #3 FAGE Macaroni and Cheese: 

http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/08/healthify-your-summer-with-fage-recipe.html

Happy Wordless Wednesday, Bloggers feel free to post the link to your Wordless Wednesday post as a comment on this thread so we can visit you and check out your photos as well! (Sorry NO Giveaway Links please!)

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FTC Disclosure: Tickets to the Philharmonic were provided to Ascending Butterfly by FAGE USA for editorial consideration, however this did NOT influence our opinion. All opinions are 100% my own. We were not provided with any monetary compensation whatsoever to share our recap coverage!

Win a VIP Experience @SmoothJazzNY Cruise to see Phil Perry w/dinner and drinks via @Ascending1 #Giveaway

#Sponsored: This giveaway has been sponsored by (see below for full disclosure):

One thing that's never been much of a secret is that I'm a born and raised New York City Girl, and like anyone living in a City that is a major tourist hub, there are sites you get sick of because of you have to take family and friends visiting town to these same sites/restaurants and experiences pretty much Ad Nausem, and yes, some of them tend to grow old.

Others however have become annual traditions whether or not someone is in town. That's how fun the experience is, that it never grows old or tired, and you never get that 'been there, done that' feeling afterwards. For me being an official Media Partner for Smooth Jazz Smooth Cruises has been an annual tradition that I greatly look forward to. 

Late 2011 on the night before my sail I fell into the hospital which started an over one year drama that forced me to miss the sail in 2011 I was slated for, and I also missed the sails in 2012 which truly made me sad. The smooth jazz cruises are the best part of my summer memories each year. It gives me dedicated time to connect with family and friends in a totally relaxed environment. No TV, No Distractions, just dinner, drinks, hot jazz on a cool night on the water with an expansive of view New York City all around you. And eventually great dinner, great drinks and great music with close proximity to other tables means you can always meet a new friend and have a great conversation with your table mates or those at tables in close proximity to you. 

You can stay in the lower level and have front seats to the concert, or one level up on the buffet level where you can look through directly to the stage from your seat, and eat your meal in comfort enjoying the smooth jazz sounds around you. And you can always head outside for a bit and take in the view, the night air, a cocktail on deck, and the smooth jazz music that is piped outside so you can hear the music both inside and outside the ship.

The Smooth Cruises are winding down for the season, but that doesn't mean the fun is over my butterflies, it's actually FAR from it, there is a full schedule ahead of other fun activities, as well as a rewind sail in October that we will be sharing with you all very soon! 

The Smooth Cruise season is coming to an end, and the last sail is: the smooth sounds of Phil Perry!

I got to enjoy a 6:30 sunset Sail on the Spyro Gyra Cruise and I had a blast! This was the first time I took a Smooth Jazz sail and stayed indoors the whole time. I normally spend some time on the buffet floor, then grab a drink and listen to the smooth jazz live downstairs for a few, then head upstairs to an upper deck overlooking the expanse of the water and the beautiful view, with the sound of the music dancing in my head and I put my feet up and lean back and feel the breeze that is coming off the water brush my hair back, and I take a sip of my drink and literally feel the stress of the week literally slide right off my back. It's like a meditation for me with music. My mind just goes into a relaxed, zen-like state, and I always leave smiling.

Here are some photos from my Sail, The Spyro Gyra Sail:

Spyro Gyra takes the stage at the Smooth Jazz Cruise in New York City

Spyro Gyra takes the stage at the Smooth Jazz Cruise in New York City

Lee Pearson takes a drum solo at The Smooth Jazz Spyro Gyra Sail in New York City

Ascending Butterfly filming the action at The Spyro Gyra Smooth Jazz NYC Sail

Left: Tracy of Ascending Butterfly and Right: Mama Butterfly enjoying the smooth sounds of Spyro Gyra on the Smooth Jazz Cruise in New York City

Emcee of the evening was none other than @LennyGreen Host of the Syndicated Radio Show #TheQuietStorm

Tracy of Ascending Butterfly at Pier 62 in Chelsea Piers, I'm wearing: Jacket: Wilsons Leather, Shirt: Covered Perfectly Shoes: Tika Sandals by Earthies

My Take:

The Smooth Jazz Cruises are my favorite part of summer, back in my recruiting days it was a favorite client gift. It is just a super relaxing evening with great music, food and people! Check out our Pinterest Page for additional photos that didn't make the post!

Win It:

Our friends at Smooth Jazz New York want you to experience the same VIP experience I did! One lucky butterfly will win a pair of passes to the 9:30 Phil Perry sail including dinner and drink tickets for two as well!

Enter using the link to the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: Smooth Jazz New York provided Ascending Butterfly with tickets to the Spyro Gyra sail for editorial consideration, all opinions are 100% my own, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

Wordless Wednesday: India Arie is a Butterfly Too!

In 2009 I won floor seats to a John Legend Concert followed by a meet and greet. To say I was 'excited' is probably an understatement (You can check out my original review of the concert HERE). On my way in, I met Malcolm-Jamal Warner (best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show). And if that wasn't enough he was actually only 3 rows in front of me! The opening act for that concert happened to be none other than India Arie! I already love her music, but when she came out dressed up like a butterfly I couldn't help but smile. Butterflies are my sign. They represent luck, change, someone who has passed saying hello, and always represent the universe telling me I am in the right place at the right time!

Here is my favorite concert picture of India dressed in her beautiful butterfly wings:

India.Arie in butterfly wings, John Legend Concert, Madison Square Garden, 2009

You know that The Official #TwitterPartyDJ is always thinking music, and Ascending Butterfly is always thinking butterflies, so this song by India is certainly the best of worlds, it combines my two loves, music and butterflies! Don't song lyrics read like poetry when you see them written out?

India Arie Butterfly Lyrics

Constantly creepin' caterpillar,
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
Soon you might emerge,
And you're made to emerge.
A little longing to love, lush,
Starving for affection.
Hidden by the size of my perfection,
With one exception...
If you wanna butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
If you wanna butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
How do I hide somebody from the great blue wide?
I'll come and sweep you up,
'Cause your time ain't up, be patient.
Now you see the sun is rising and your realizing,
Wise enough to know,
That you gotta let yourself grow.
If you wanna butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
If you wanna butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
What goes around comes back around;
This is nature's way.
Be conscious of what you do,
Because you will be repaid.
If you put turnips in the ground,
You will not harvest grapes.
You are what you attracted,
And this is why I say;
Uhhhhhh...
If you wanna a butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
If you wanna a butterfly,
You gotta be a butterfly.
You know that nothing falls out of the sky.
Constantly creepin' caterpillar,
Still a swoon in a cocoon.
Soon you might emerge,
And be made to emerge.
Maybe...
Still a swoon in a cocoon (repeated MANY times!)
Uhhhhhh...

India is a fantastic singer, and a BUTTERFLY too! Happy (Not So) Wordless Wednesday Butterflies!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post.

Sunday, August 16, 2009 - This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and TWO giveaways!

Living in Gratitude

On Sunday's, 'Today's Moment of Inspiration' becomes the weekly 'Moment of Gratitude'. While I do still live in Gratitude each and everyday, I decided to change this feature to a weekly to allow a full week of Inspirational messages and breathing meditations. 'Today's Butterfly' will remain a daily and will post with the Today's Inspiration Monday through Saturday, and will post with the Weekly Moment of Gratitude on Sunday.

This week, I am grateful for:

1) I had the opportunity to attend John Legend's concert at Madison Square Garden with opening performance by India.Arie! The music was amazing and so were the featured guests which included Kanye West and Estelle, Rick Ross, Buju Banton, Gramps Morgan and more. The concert started in prayer with India.Arie and ended in prayer with John Legend sending out blessings to the audience, it was amazingly uplifting and I'm still singing the tunes I heard that night! You can see my recap of the concert (including really awesome photos) HERE!

2) I am grateful for Ascending Butterfly's amazing sponsors! See two of them in the 'Today's Butterfly' Featured Site of the day below.

3) I'm grateful for some amazing surprises from my fellow bloggers:

• New York Chica, you can visit her blog HERE
• Coupon Queens of Laurel Run, you can visit CQoLR HERE
• Beauty is Easy, you can visit them HERE

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. So join me on this journey of gratitude. 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 (@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!

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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 a 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

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