Weekly Moment of Gratitude: The OH NO they didn't edition!

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NO! NO! NO! -  I have decided NOT to let someone tell me how to operate MY business, trust that more details will be forthcoming, but butterflies I warn you, if you give someone an un-deserved inch, you best believe they will try for that mile, so reign it in at the first and early signs! But I am thankful for the lessons and the chance to see this so called partner's true stripes. I don't suffer fools or hypocrites lightly and this week gave me the chance to cut off some very dead weight. The word NO! seems to keep getting re-played over and over this year!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Events! - I have attended some fun and wonderful events lately and I will be sure to post the recaps as quickly as possible!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - DUH WINNING! - I have received some of the prizes I won recently, and got notification of a few more since my last posts, I won a great Merci Chocolates Prize Pack from a blog contest recently and a $50 Target Gift Card from a Twitter Party! Not only is it fun hosting twitter parties, but I love entering and participating in them too!

Sorry it's been so long since my last Gratitude Post Butterflies, it's not that I haven't had things to be grateful for, quite the contrary in fact, but I have been taking more time away from blogging and social media and giving myself some much needed time! It has been leaving me scrambling to catch up a bit on posts, so this feature got cut for awhile while I got caught up. I have been keeping my own daily list of things I am grateful for and taking time to acknowledge my blessings daily. A bit of concentrated focus on what you do have, instead of on what you lack or need, can make a huge shift in your life!

What are YOU most grateful for this week Butterfly?

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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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Giveaways!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ascending Butterfly Book Club will be returning, and our first title will actually a special title for the little ones in your life, stay tuned!

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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: This is NOT a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Motivation Monday: What goes better with quotes than butterflies?

Graphic Reads: "When you get to the end of all the light you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly!" ~ Edward Teller

I feel like I am about to step into the unknown myself this year in so many ways, and my Faith definitely tells me I will fly! Just thought I'd put a little Motivation in your Monday, here's hoping you not just 'fly' but 'soar' this week!

What do you need encouragement to try this week? Share your leap of Faith!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post!

What does a Menswear Brand have to do with Women's Self Defense? I'm so glad you asked! {#Video + #Photo}

I have been a student of various forms of Martial Arts for many years, a few years back an injury brought my training to a halt, stopping me midway from achieving 'black belt' status. During College a Women's Self Defense Class was offered on Campus, and sadly this was prompted after a Rape had occurred on Campus. Female students were rightly alarmed, and the first class had a ton of attendees. The Class utilized a few forms of martial arts including Tae Kwon Do and dove tailed them into realistic attack scenarios. The class became very popular and what started as a Self Defense Training Class grew into an actual Tae Kwon Do organization on campus, which I became the Public Relations person for and I organized events, class schedules, belt ceremonies and was pretty much the liaison between the organization of the Dojo, the campus administration and the student body. Aside from my paid internship with The Bronx Observer and my work at a local Bank (I had to work several part time jobs to put myself through College), this was a labor of love that I took on because I really loved what the class was doing for myself and for all the women students. We all left class feeling empowered. Not to mention our instructor did very rigorous warm up exercises as well. Never in a million years did I think I'd have to apply my newly acquired training in a real world scenario, but I did. I was attached on my own College Campus and the person did not expect how well trained his 'victim' would turn out to be. I broke his jaw, fractured two of his ribs, and I broke his nose and left his eyes swollen like two giant footballs!

 

And I owe getting out of that building alive and safe entirely to my training. I still carry those lessons with me to this day. I have actually been wanting to train again, but I am not sure my docs will let me go full on in just yet, I'll have to ease my way back to where I was, but when I received an email from a Menswear company, asking me if I was interested in taking a class that is part of an international movement of providing Self-Defense lessons for women, I hit reply and answered yes in the blink of an eye! Literally!

 

I had tons of questions so they sent me over more information, and I was counting down the days in my calendar!

 

 

 

ABOUT FODADA

There are some things in life that help validate why you were put on this earth and for  me,    becoming a father was that life-changing event. The amazing responsibility of becoming a father and raising my sons has become the most overwhelming and demanding yet rewarding experience of my life. Last year I realized that I needed to celebrate this experience and so I created fodada. I wanted to create a company that could provide a tangible product that could then be leveraged to funnel exposure, support and funding for programming that is relevant and dedicated to fatherhood and families. ~ Bobby Barzi,  Chief Dada, Fodada

In the few months of our existence we have far exceeded what I thought was possible, further validating the need to recognize fatherhood and celebrate its importance. I have to admit, I am humbled with the amazing emails and notes I have received from dads, wives, sons, daughters and individuals about how they love their dads, what this has meant to them and how much they love the clothes.

 

And yes, the clothing! Let’s not forget about that! We continue to look for items that will feel great, look great and add a bit of a style to anyone’s closet. We love seeing celebrities in our clothes and we appreciate product write ups in publications.

 

Our brand has now become a symbol of the great experience that fatherhood is and how much it impacts a family. With that, we have charged ourselves to associate with organizations and causes we believe a dad would be interested in supporting, like: Autism Speaks, Giving Children Hope, Working Wardrobes, and the American Heart Association. These organizations are just a few that we have or will be collaborating with. These associations have also helped inspire campaigns such as Color for Cause and Adopt a Dad.

 

About fodada's International Women's Self-Defense Day

 

We are also passionate about programming initiatives that directly impact a dads life. Our largest to date has been fodada's International Women’s Self Defense Day. In 2012, fifteen U.S. cities, along with Paris, France, Madrid, Spain and Adelaide and Melbourne, Australia conducted free self defense classes for women, aimed to help empower the women in a dad's life. This event was fully sponsored by fodada and was free to all attendees.

And then Hurricane Sandy hit, knocking the New York Metropolitan Transit System Down. Many stations were flooded and not running just a few critical days before, I kept checking the transit reports and the weather reports every second as I was not about to let anything deter me from getting to that class. With the economic crisis this country is still in, things are very dangerous, there has been tons of pickpockets and violence on the rise, especially where I live, so I wanted to polish off my old skills and head over to class to hopefully learn some new tricks and participate in attack scenario situations to learn the skills necessary to get yourself out of the situation and to safety.

The New York City class was held at New York Combat Sambo, and while the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy slowed things down a bit, a brave and intrepid bunch set out to New York Combat Sambo to learn some new Self-Defense Skills!

Here is a video of the group in action:





On November 4, 2012 Fodada sponsored its first annual International Women's Self Defense Day. Martial art clubs in 15 US states and 6 countries offered free classes. This clip is from New York Combat Sambo Women's Self Defense Day Class.

 

 Center(Seated): Stephen Koepfer, Owner/Head Coach

 

Here is an after photo of the entire group post class! (Think you can spot the butterfly? Look carefully, mama butterfly is there too!)

I greatly enjoyed taking this class and think it's phenomenal that a menswear brand thought to put something like this together. It truly speaks to their overall approach to keeping the entire family unit happy and safe.

I'm definitely ready to start training again!

Butterflies, if you train, share what you are doing to keep fit and safe!

 

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FTC Disclosure: Our editors attended a free Women's Self-Defense Class at New York Combat Sambo, the event was part of a larger international initiative sponsored by Fodada Menswear, we did not have to pay to attend the class, however we have not been compensated for re-capping the experience, and all opinions are 100% my own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motivation Monday: Sand and Stone Edition!

Hi Butterflies! Just thought I'd put a little motivation in your Monday to start your week off on an inspirational note! Wise Words indeed. 

What is your favorite quote Butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post.

Weekly Moment of Gratitude: The Just say NO! Edition!

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NO! -  It's an empowering word, and I can tell you that I have been using it a lot more lately! I've learned the hard way to value time more than money and I am a lot more selective now when it comes to what I take on. Butterflies it's OK to say No, don't worry about people dis-liking you, worry about whether or not saying yes, will make YOU dislike you more! I keep bumping this post because I think it's important to understand the value behind your work bloggers, you have worked long hard hours at building your community, value it!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - New Year New ME! - I have to tell you I am still loving my new hair! I really absorbed Mark's lesson on how to more effectively blow out my hair, because now that I have tried to re-create the blow out at home, this is the first time I've been so happy with my own blow out, it came out pretty darn close! Thanks Mark!

What are YOU most grateful for this week Butterfly?

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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

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

Giveaways!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Entries are being processed for the Jane Iredale Giveaway and a winner will be notified shortly!

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

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: This is NOT a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Hi #Orgullosa, Is your Skirt Well Positioned?

Some writing challenges seem so conceptually easy that they ideally should write themselves. This time, while I have a lot to say, I'm not exactly sure I know where to begin. So I will start with the question: Is Your Skirt Well Positioned? In Spanish there is a saying 'Mujeres con La Falda Bien Puesta' which in English Translates to, "women with their skirts well positioned'. This actually goes beyond the positioning of your skirt, that is just the literal translation the real translation is that of a women with pride within herself. A strong, proud woman that can always hold her head up high. The word 'Orgullosa' translates to 'Proud', sometimes people give the word 'Orgullosa' a negative connotation that comes closer to translating to 'Vain', but it really means Proud in the sense of Pride. And now, being 'Orgullosa' isn't just being about being 'proud', it's an actual movement! A community of progressive, confident Latina Women who now have an online platform to seize their limitless potential through the transformative power of community and the rapid fire pace of social media helping to spread the message. 

Defining Orgullosa: 

Being 'Proud' is different things to different people, from the way you conduct yourself from day to day, the decisions you make and obstacles you surmount. The feeling that is left behind when you accomplish something everyone told you wasn't possible. It's that woman who 'strives' and not just 'survives'.

The Orgullosa Movement:

Orgullosa.com offers Latinas a platform for peer-to-peer interaction, from daily conversation to opportunities to contribute to the community at large. It is a destination that focuses on best-in-class brands and solutions for her changing and busy lifestyle.

Aspiring to Inspire:

In my family we learned at an early age that helping others was important, that you move forward when you help others to do the same!

Last year one of the communities and ambassadorships I played a part of had the opportunity to help in the judging component of a 25K scholarship to an aspiring young Latina. For me it was a source of pride to help a young person realize their dream of going to College. When I went to College there weren't as many opportunities as readily available. I worked very hard in High School, and did land some Scholarship Funding, but I also worked 2 part time jobs: one on campus, and one off-campus, to get through College. In the end I think that degree meant more to me because I had to work very hard to achieve it!

Left: Ascending Butterfly, College Graduation, Right: Mama Butterfly, Both of us were super 'Orgullosa' that day!

My 'Orgullosa' Moments:

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ My first television appearance when I was in Kindegarten! (I was destined for *Stardom*)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ President of the Chess Team 3 years running! (Cute Nerds RULE!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Graduating College! (My entire family was proud of that moment!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Writing for a newspaper! (When my first article made the front page, I definitely let out a WEPA!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Film Critic! (I'll never forget my first Press Junket!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Reaching the title of "President" in Corporate America and running the entire NorthEast Division

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Now owning the Title of 'Founder'

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Surviving a year I was told I wouldn't even get to ring in, and now ringing in another!

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Finally making my first official 'VLOG' in front of the camera instead of just behind it (with super awesome television personality and celeb stylist Robert Verdi no less!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ When my first Twitter Party 'Trended' :-)

Join The Movement/Get Social With It:

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ 'Like' Orgullosa on Facebook

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Join The Orgullosa Community

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Follow the @Orgullosa movement on Twitter using the hashtag #Orgullosa

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FTC Disclosure: I am participating in a Sponsored Post on behalf of Procter & Gamble via The Niche Mommy Network, however all opinions are 100% my own!

Monday Motivation: Keep Calm and Believe On! #inspiration #MotivationMonday

I have been taking my own advice about carving out much needed time for myself, and I took a long weekend to re-group, de-stress, and just be. Doing so definitely helped to put me in a much better mood, and give me much needed perspective and I can now tackle a new week with energy and enthusiasm!

I hope all my butterflies out there had a wonderful weekend!

I will be closing out the yurbuds giveaway and contacting the winner shortly, and this week stay tuned for a new giveaway, and if you need a hint as to what it will be, read HERE.

Happy Monday Butterfly! What do you believe you can do this week?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post!

Today's Words of #Inspiration: Happy Monday! Try todays #affirmation on for size!

Day SEVEN of a brand new year butterflies! Are you excited? I am. I am feeling filled with anticipation of victory, blessings, new paths and new destinations! A new week has begun and I made sure to start it with affirmations! I say intstead of singing 'Manic Monday' think 'Magic Monday' instead!
I am definitely not telling you to cover the sky with one hand, but you can shape your day with your thoughts so why not make them positive ones?
Buried under a mountain of emails? STOP! Take a 5 minute break. Even if the most walking you can do in those five minutes is a quick trip to the water cooler, then take it.
Buried under an insane to-do list? You won't get as much accomplished if you are harried. Call someone right now who makes you happy. Stopping for just a moment will help you center yourself. And in the end you'll be able to accomplish more than if you just rush through that list like its a marathon.
How are you coming along with your resolutions? Don't give up on them. Break the main goals down into steps, and take yourself one step closer by the end of the week. You have 51 weeks left to make this your best year ever!
Todays affirmation: 'I deserve love, peace, prosperity and serenity.'  - When your day gets hectic, stop and say this. Say this when you get up, and again when you are headed to bed. Keep reminding yourself of this!
Happy Monday Butterfly! Because we all know a Happy Butterfly, is an Ascending Butterfly! :)

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. But if anyone wants to sponsor a Daily Inspirational post, please contact us! :)

Weekly Moment of #Gratitude + #Fitness Giveaway + DUH #Winning!

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Using bad moments as a learning experience! -  I won't go into too many specifics out of respect for someone else's privacy, but life has thrown me the chance to use a recent bad experience I went through and make things easier for someone who is currently going through something similar. We sometimes go through personal challenges and not understand the rhyme or reasoning behind them. I can only tell you that those experiences teach you to be more sympathetic and understanding to others. Sometimes life will challenge you or slow you down to teach you humility, patience and sympathy, but if you take those challenges and use them to help others, your spirit really does grow.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - New Year New ME! - I think the challenges of 2011 and 2012 have helped to create a new me. I was robbed of a lot of things that really matter spending almost a year and a half in and out of the hospital, but one of the things that drove me the most crazy is lost time. Part of New Year, New ME is giving myself the gift of time. Being a little less Type 'A', and a lot more type 'G' for 'Go' with the flow, instead of just go, go, go!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - DUH WINNING! - There hasn't been tons of spare time these past few weeks, but even with the business of the holidays I took some time out to visit some of my favorite blogs and doing so really paid off, I won some totally neat contests! Last year attending the Inaugral year of The Niche Mommy Blogging Conference allowed me to finally meet in a person a blogger I was already following Maria from Blogging, Babies and the Bayou, and I visited her blog and saw her post about adding soybean oil to your favorite holiday baking recipes and entered her contest for a $25 Walmart card which I won! I'd say it was a win/win all around because while I love to cook, my baking skills could definitely use some help, so I got great advice and won something I can definitely use! And then came a win that nearly made me fall off my chair, I won an an HP ENVY 23 TouchSmart AiO Computer! As most of you know when it comes to computers I'm pretty much HP loyal, but my last 3 desktops and laptops that were all HP died out on me WAY faster than they should have. My laptop died during my second hospital stay last year and my current desktop (a four year old HP Touchsmart) is literally on it's last legs, so I do have to tell you I cried tears of joy when I read the email from Kimberly @ She Scribes telling me I won her HP Envy giveaway! I got the chance to meet Kimberly for the first time many years ago at a back-to-school event for Staples, then we saw each other again at the World Premiere of The Sorcerers Apprentice on the Red Carpet, and since then I try to visit her blog as often as I can. I like her reviews and I've been using HP computers myself since College and couldn't wait to see what she thought about the Envy and quite frankly never in a million years did I think I'd actually win. I knew I told the Universe what I needed and asked in Faith, and feel super blessed and super grateful for both of these wins. Both emails put a smile on my face and were amazing starts to what I know is going to a very blessed year!

What are YOU most grateful for this week Butterfly?

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

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

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

Giveaways!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ New Year, New YOU Giveaway!: @yurbuds Inspire for Women Sport Earphones Review + Rafflecopter Giveaway - 1 Winner, Ends 01/11

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

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: This is NOT a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Today's Words of Inspiration: Be What You Believe! Inspired by my new #Pajamas Edition!

One of my Christmas gifts this year was a new pair of Pajamas, and they read 'Be What You Believe'. It's a super simple, yet very powerful message. How often do you catch yourself being something your not? I don't mean in a hypocritical way. Just conforming who you are to make someone else happy or comfortable? Trying not to be offensive, or walking on eggshells around a particular person or co-worker?

It's not fun is it?

In the long run, not being what you believe just fills you up with toxic energy. Be What You Believe at all times, that doesn't mean you have to be hurtful or blunt, just authentic, honest and truthful.

Whether you make resolutions or you don't, Be What You Believe in 2013.

I'm actively trying to open my mind to all sources of inspiration so I can make positive and forward moving changes in this year, I have a lot of lost time to make up for! But if a simple pair of Pajamas can inspire me to inspire YOU, what can you find to be inspired by today?

How will you be what you believe this year?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post.

2013 Today's Words of #Inspiration: Do NOT work for Free!

As most of you know I went kicking and screaming into Pinterest. Not because I'm afraid of being an early adopter, in fact many who know me come to me with questions on new software, apps, tech and the like because I am an early adopter. I was afraid of pinterest, because I knew invariably I would spend a ton of time there. And lo and behold, when I joined that exactly what happened. To me it's like facebook with the commentary turned off, so it allows you to focus on what is worth the proverbial 'thousand words' the pictures!

When I got the email notification from Pinterest that fellow Blogger Bren from B So Chic! was following me on Pinterest, I immediately followed her back, and went to check out her boards, I saw the graphic above and I just had to share it because it sums up how most bloggers feel in a nutshell.

When a blogger solicits a brand, we better have a value proposition in place, very few bloggers are being 'gifted' a thing. We are expected to not only leverage our Social Media Influence, we are expected to be a Marketing and Public Relations Power House, and a photographer, editor and powerful story teller, and a myriad of other requirements sometimes before a brand will even consider working with us.

But brands however seem to feel it's OK to come us with no value proposition in place. A review item, (no matter how high it's approximate retail value may be), isn't even close to compensating that reviewer for their time.

We can't pay our landlords or bills with the knowledge of your brand or client's (in the case of a PR firm) sales, discounts or events. We can't pay our bills with your good intentions. We can't pay our bills with tweets, instagram, pins or likes. We can only do that with payment.

A magazine editor draws a salary and gets benefits (and those vary by publisher, I worked for a number of publications before I flew the coup). They are also oftentimes 'assigned' a product. Bloggers are not. We can't pay our bills with your widgets no matter how shiny or sparkly they may be. And conversely, when we solicit a brand, more often than not it's a product we already know well so we are already consumers of that brand.

So when you get a Media Kit in response to your solicitation to me or any blogger, don't be offended. Welcome to reality. Welcome to the new digital age.

Bloggers, If you don't value your time or work, neither will anyone else. So when you are asked for what amounts to free social media consulting and PR services, put a price on it! Wipe that digital dust off your Media Kit and send it back when you receive a solicitation. And not just for the obviously bad pitches as a way to make them go away, but for the good ones too, even if you like a product it doesn't mean your time shouldn't be valued.

We read enough pitches to know when a brand is seriously looking to build a long term, mutually beneficial relationship or just use you for a one shot mouthpiece with no regards to your time, efforts, energies and talents.

I held on to this graphic and this post since last year as I saw it during the Holiday Season, and my editiorial calendar had already closed, but this post was sitting in drafts just waiting for 2013 to begin. So Bren, thank you, what may have been a simple Pinterest 'pin' for you one day, definitely inspired me to sound off on blogging on the whole.

They say the relationship between PR firms/Brands and Bloggers could always stand room for improvement, but a great start is by respecting one another's time. And YES, that very much goes both ways.

Please don't mis-interpret the title of this post, I am NOT discussing Volunteer work, you should definitely find ways to give back, and using your platforms for social good is a wonderful thing too, but let's face it, there are but so many hours in any given, day, week, month or year, and not all of them can be given away for free. I actually think the topic has merit across the board and is not specific to only blogging, consultants go through this each and every single day, freelancers and at some point down the line, every single job hunter. How many Marketing job interviews don't come with the 'write out a presentation or brief about specific ways you'd improve our Marketing Strategy' and then you are not selected, but your ideas get used anyway. Putting a price on your skills reduces the burnout and feeling of being used. Like Beyonce sings the famous 'If you like it, then you should have a put a ring on it!', you too need to put a price on it so others know how to value it! And remember, just like the cost of living goes up from year to year, your prices can and should too, so revamp your Media Kits!

I'm also toying with a full post on the differences between soliciting someone and trying to bully them, but for now I leave you all with my usual questions to spark some additional thoughts and great conversation on a topic which I'm sure many of you will have very strong opinions on!

Today's Thought/Challenge: What do YOU think butterfly? Do you think the 'business of blogging' will soon change as more bloggers put a price tag on their services? Bloggers what has been your biggest PR or Brand Fail? Why?

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FTC Disclosure: You can best believe that this is NOT a sponsored post! All opinions expressed herein are 100% my own! (Although I'm sure you can find a few hundred thousand bloggers out there who share these sentiments!)

Today's Words of Inspiration: Good Bye 2012, Welcome 2013 Edition! #IDeclare

Suck it 2012. Suck it long and Suck it hard, I won't be sorry to see you go. I spent the last 3 months of 2011, and the majority of 2012 in the hospital, actually several hospitals over the course of the year. At this time last year I was in the E.R. fighting for my life. I got the worse news a Doctor could possibly give you. The prognosis this time last year on the cusp of New Year's Eve is that I wouldn't make it to see 2012 nevertheless actually be here days before it comes to an end.

The Doctors said I wouldn't be here today, yet here I stand.The first hospital's negligence almost killed me, yet here I stand.The Mayans calendar came to end in 2012, some thought the world would end, yet here I stand.

To say I can't wait for 2012 to come to an end so I can put it all behind me is an understatement. I spent a year and a half not knowing how much time I had left, and will approach this year as if I have NO time to spare.

I am declaring victory and favor and a 2013 filled not only with promise, not only with hope but with action. Definitive and focused action. I will concentrate on my intentions with laser beam focus because if a long year in the hospital did anything good, it gave me time to reflect, time to see myself for who I really am and time to decide exactly what I want for myself.

While I'm sure like each year that I have been writing, (both on my own blog and several others) that my writing will grow, change and mutate based on what my interests are shifting to, I also know that on every level I will work to enact positive change in my  life. Spiritually, Emotionally, Physically and Professionally this year will bring transformation. That's what being an Ascending Butterfly is. It's being willing to flow forward and upward, it's awkward stages and growing pains that eventually lead you on the right path.

Dear friends reminded me this year that I wasn't being tested, that much like the Diamond that is my birthstone, I am being Polished. Becoming a newer version of myself and it's up to me to keep that polished surface beautiful.

I know that every single day I have had since my bleak prognosis has been a gift, one that I do treasure and cherish. There is a reason I am still standing. And while every single day of each year I've lived in Gratitude, I want to live this year more earnestly yet more purposefully. Actively working to discover what my mission on earth really is. As a life and career coach I've lived my life inspiring, encouraging and motivating others, but this year I find myself a bit more reflective. The only way to continue to motivate others is to motivate myself. And that dear butterflies is what I intend to do.

Utilizing and Sharing my affirmations regularly (I kind of miss retro butterfly, I miss butterfly 2009), I want to bring back the affirmations and Today's Words of Inspiration more consistently.

Because 2013 adds up to six: 2+0+1+3 = 6, I say that I'm working on version Butterfly 6.0.

Let's take that journey of transformation together for another year, shall we?

I'm not going to talk about resolutions, some people make them, others don't, but whether it's a vision board, goal setting, or a declaration, decide what you want 2013 to be and make a plan of attack on how you are going to achieve it.

Whether it's weight loss, getting yourself more organized, changing careers, finding love, moving somewhere new, you CAN have it. If you need an accountability partner or just someone to keep you motivated, let's tap into our collective empowerment community and find ways to help one another. I can tell you that if you can't do it daily, make it a point to go outside yourself for someone else this year at least once, you'll surprise just how much better your life will become when you do!

On the eve of New Year's Eve, have you thought about what YOU want for yourself in 2013 Butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all my butterflies a very Merry Christmas! A day filled with magic, surprises and beautiful memories. As this time last year I was fighting for my life in a hospital emergency room waiting for a bed after having been told I might not even see 2012 begin nevertheless end, this year, I'm grateful just to be home for the holidays!
In case you missed yesterday's post, I was sharing my favorite holiday tradition, I hope you will sound off and share yours as well!
Don't forget the BOB stroller giveaway is ending VERY soon, so get in your entries before it's too late!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post!

Wordless Wednesday: Blue Butterfly #Inspiration

In light of this week's events, this seemed like a fitting Wordless Wednesday!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post.

Monday Motivation + #Giveaways + 5 #winners to announce!

What I am grateful for:

I read a great post in Jennifer James' Mom Bloggers Magazine it was an articled titled 'Mom Blogging Has Treated Many Well This Year', and it got me thinking! I actually write about many of my blogging blessings in my weekly gratitude posts, but responding to this thread and seeing the highlights all in one place made a big impact on me, and I thought I'd share about that here. While I'm a woman who blogs, I am NOT actually a Mom Blogger, I'm not yet a mom. But many of my readers are, and I'm an Aunt and God-mother.

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Blogging Blessings This Year: The highlights! -  Of course my top 3 highlights would be my 3 Ambassadorships this year, Britax, The Bronx Zoo, and Duane Reade. They have blessed me in very different ways, but thanks to my Britax Ambassadorship I had the opportunity to attend the Niche Mommy Conference in New Orleans in it's Inaugral Year as a guest of Britax one the conference's official sponsors. It was an amazing trip and an amazing City! I made new friends there and I will never forget that trip. I also got to visit Britax at their US Headquarters in North Carolina and meet fellow Hispanic Digital Advisory and Social Media Outreach Ambassadors. It's a dynamic, smart and enthusiastic group of Latina Bloggers across the United States that I'm super proud to be a part of! Through Duane Reade, I've met Jordin Sparks, enjoyed an amazing massage from Oasis Day Spa, been introduced to a variety of great products, got my first experience with a Celeb Stylist, and more! Thanks to P&G I bit the bullet and filmed my very first VLOG  with the amazing Robert Verdi! Super Awesome Interview! I got the chance to interview Gerard Butler while he was in Miami promoting his new movie Playing for Keeps! It was a conference call and myself and one other awesome blogger (Rosy from Accidental Sexiness!) got to ask Gerard Butler (press on his name to go to the Q&A article if you missed it!) questions about his new movie. I asked 3 questions, and 2 were from Ascending Butterfly readers! I posted asking everyone if they could ask Gerard Butler one question about his upcoming new movie what would it be. I used one question that was asked on the post, and the other from a twitter follower! And I got to host some awesome Twitter Parties this year that were even picked up for additional media coverage! Some fun Mamarazzi screenings and events where I got to meet Jada Pinkett-Smith, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin James and Henry Winkler, and had some great moments on Broadway in New York City at the theatre (even some behind the scenes!) at Ghost The Musical, Annie, Emotional Creatures, Rated P for Parenthood, and Elf The Musical. And last but certainly not least two memorable Breast Cancer Awareness events this year one with Kristin Chenoweth and the other with Giuliana Rancic in conjunction with P&G's #GIVEHope campaign where a live twitter party was also hosted!

I remember being angry at the begining of the year when I lost out on a job because the company 'couldn't wait for me', I spent New Year's Eve in the hospital after being given a very bleak prognosis, and missing out on my birthday as well as a conference because I wasn't yet cleared for air travel. I spent a long time angry about the opportunities I missed. I needed to stop and count the ones I did enjoy and not worry about those that were missed!

As I look back on a year that I was told I wouldn't even see begin, nevertheless end, I'm still humbled by all I accomplished this year. If I can overcome the worst news one person can ever hope to receive, what can YOU accomplish? If I did all that in 2012 while spending the bulk of my year in and out of the hospital, I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

What are YOU most grateful for this week Butterfly?

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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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Giveaways!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Holidays Buying Guide Giveaway!: December is National "Made in America Month!" 5 Winners can win @TeroxFootwear - MEN OR WOMEN, in our very first GLOBAL Giveaway! - Butterflies, these flip flops are truly comfortable, and spring you back with each step! Slip one of these in someone's Christmas Stocking and they will definitely be happy!

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

3 giveaways down, 5 winners to share!

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - McDonald's Cheddar Bacon Onion Sandwich Giveaway Winners Are:

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Nicole T.
 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Brad M.

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Triple Action Purex with Oxi and Zout Stain Removers Product Coupon Giveaway Winners Are:

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Anne D.
 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sonia G.

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Gund Boo Plush Toy and mini Boo Plush Toy Giveaway Winner Is:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sharon L.

We are working on closing entries and processing a winner for the $100 Wilsons Leather Giveaway and will have a winner announced shortly!

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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: This is NOT a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html