#ad: Is furthering your Education part of your 2014 Long Term Goals? Find out how to score a 10K Scholarship to do just that! #spon

#ad: This is a Sponsored Post on behalf of Scholarships 4 Moms

I for one have been in 2014 planning mode for awhile now. Both long and short term goals are swirling around my head. From personal to professional there are a myriad of goals I have set for myself and a new year is the ideal time to begin working on them.

I worked three part time jobs and had landed a few merit scholarships to cover my College Tuition. It wasn't easy, but I know the sacrifices I made to pursue to my degree were very much worth it. Post College was a whirlwind of work and I shelved my Master's Degree dream because I was on a career path that kept me very busy.

I want to go back. I want to pursue a Master's, and I'm sure I'm not alone. I'm probably busier now then I was right after College, but despite having way more on my plate, I am not going to let anything, including this lousy economy stand in my way. I have never let any obstacle stand in the way of something I really want for myself.

5 Tips for any Adult Considering Returning to College:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Choose a Degree that is PROFITABLE - Adults have less time to experiment and knowing which Degree is 'profitable' in the long run is going to be half the battle won!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - STEM initiatives (acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are not just for younger students! Educations focusing on the Technical and Scientific Fields are actually a bit easier to find Scholarships for. I am NOT saying it will be easy to land them, but there is a bigger need especially for women in these fields and there are scholarships out there geared to students who wish to pursue a scientific or technical career!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Exhaust all options as 2013 acceptance rates showed heightened School Selectivity. It's even harder for Adult returning students to compete for those Golden Acceptance Letters, you need to be creative and exhaust as many options as possible.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Consider Distance Learning. Who said the only way to get a Degree is to attend an actual campus? Your dining room table can be your study hall, with a Distance Learning Degree, College comes to YOU on your schedule whenever, wherever.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Start with what you already know - Sit with a counselor or academic advisor to find out how your real world experience may translate into credits toward your degree. Your experience and maturity is actually an ADVANTAGE not a dis-advantage!

$10,000 Scholarship 4 Moms Sweepstakes:

Exhausting every possible option for funding is just plain smart! How about the chance to win $10K to return to school?

Benefits of entering:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - No Essay to complete!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - No GPA Score Required to Participate!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Short Registration Form!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - $10,000 to put toward the start of your DREAMS!

Instead of asking Why? Ask Why Not?

Are you still here?

WIN IT:

Visit HERE and enter for your chance to win $10,000 to put toward your Degree! If you are a mom all I can say is this, aside from your children, your degree is the second biggest job with sacrifices you'll ever love and NEVER regret! Go for it! (I always say before any entering any competition, check out the Official Rules first!)

MY TAKE:

As a Career and Life Coach I can tell you that a Degree is a must! Hiring Managers in this economy can be way more selective, and if you don't have a degree (as a former recruiter) I can tell you a hiring manager is going to lean toward the candidate who has that Degree!

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FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated campaign brought to you by Scholarships 4 Moms and Mom Bloggers Club. All opinions are 100% my own. 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 visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

{#Giveaway} @Ascending1 & @ToiletTreeProd want to stuff your stocking with the Professional #Skincare System! 3 Winners!

How about a gift you can't quite put a price on? Confidence. Self-Esteem. Both are boosted when you put your best face forward. And putting it forward everyday with or without cosmetics is what it's all about! Good skincare is at the core of your self-esteem, and while good cosmetics help you hide things, good skincare helps you enhance everything!

Exfoliation is wonderful for the skin but some exfoliation products can be too harsh or even cause tiny abrasions in the skin. All makeup does is go into those abrasions, it doesn't take them away! You have to be super careful about the frequency you exfoliate and what you use.

I love skin scrubbing brushes but had very bad luck with a well known brush on the market constantly konking out on me before the 60 day mark. And when customer service and social media was less than helpful in getting an exchange, I became a bit dis-heartened about using them. But I did miss the benefits!

And as you guys know I'm all in when it comes to trying out new exfoliators, I love what exfoliation does for my skin! And one of my favorite 'pros' when it comes to exfoliation brushes is that they have a brush for face and one for the body as well, and they even have a pumice stone attachment to do your feet!

When I found out ToiletTree Products had a skincare brush I HAD to try it! I have the fogless shower mirror and it's one of my all-time favorite things (in case you missed that review you can check it out HERE), I can tell you their products are definitely built to last and always perform as promised!

I opted to wait a full 90 days before posting a review on this one as I had such bad luck with the pricier systems dying out on me, and I can tell you this one is still going strong. I love that this one is battery operated so it's always ready to go and a great option for travel as you don't have to worry about converters!

About The ToiletTree Products Professional Skincare System (+ benefits):

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Includes: 2 face exfoliators (1 soft for sensitive skin & 1 medium for normal skin), 1 body exfoliator and 1 pumice sphere.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Rotating Facial and Body Brushes Provide Deep Cleansing and Exfoliating

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Reduces the appearance of problem areas such as: oily skin, dry patches, fine lines, blemishes, visible pores, blackheads and wrinkles

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - ideal for both the preparation and removal of cosmetics

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - gentle massaging action helps stimulate new skin cell production, creating firmer & healthy glowing skin

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - cleanses deep to remove stubborn makeup

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - improves skin clarity and appearance

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - removes dead skin cells to expose healthy looking skin

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - enhances absorption of moisturizers

My Take:

This system is perfect for literally everyone on your list! Who doesn't want healthy, glowing and radiant skin? Hard to shop for? CHECK. Teens? CHECK. Men or Women? Check, Check! I can't imagine anyone on your list these wouldn't suit, and the regular price on these won't break the bank! They are actually super budget friendly and do the job as effectively as their pricier (and not so often reliable) counterparts! I LOVE mine, and when I told my friends at ToiletTree Products just how much I love mine and how much I thought YOU would love it too, they decided to join in the fun and offer 3 lucky Butterflies the chance to win The Professional Skin Care System in the color of YOUR choice! WOOT!

Win It:

As always our main entry is easy, peasy nice and breezy! So throw in an entry using rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: This giveaway is being sponsored by Toilet Tree Products, prize fulfillment will be handled directly by sponsor. Ascending Butterfly and giveaway sponsors are not responsible for lost, late or mis-directed mail. One entry per Household. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry and reside in the United States. All opinions are 100% my own. A Professional Skincare System was 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 visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

#spon @Ascending1 wants YOU to Fall in Love with @IGIGI with a $75 Holiday Shopping Spree! {#Giveaway} #Fashion

#Sponsored - Prizes are being sponsored by:

By now it's no surprise just how much I love IGIGI by Yuliya as I have been wearing their Fashion quite a bit and sharing my pictures with you from events that I have been proudly wearing clothing by IGIGI Style. From dresses to separates to career and outwear and pretty much everything in between, there is literally something for everyone at IGIGI.

IGIGI clothes are cut with Curvy Women in mind, and are not only figure flattering, but always on trend! No more 'Moo-Moo's' or tunics ladies!  IGIGI clothes are not about HIDING your figure, they are all about ENHANCING it and showing it off!

I am in love with their Fall Collection and have worn quite a few pieces from this collection to various events and have felt confident and received tons of compliments. Here are some photos of me wearing pieces from IGIGI's Fall Collection (others are not in the fall collection but I am providing direct links to all pieces featured):

Ascending Butterfly is wearing the IGIGI Miwa Top in Black, (the top with comes with the Obi-Belt Sash pictured) and the matching IGIGI Penelope Pencil Skirt in Malachite Green.

Same outfit as above!

Ascending Butterfly is wearing the IGIGI Margherita Wrap Dress in Turquoise

Left: Ascending Butterfly (with hair in bun) is wearing the IGIGI Luella top in Red, this color is no longer available but the top is available in 'Garden Green' HERE

Which item from the Fall Collection is your personal fave? (Commenting here with a link to your favorite piece in the Fall Collection will get you extra credit entries in the giveaway! Woot! Woot!)

My Take:

I only have one problem with IGIGI, I like EVERYTHING! Definitely a good problem to have right? Usually us 'curvies' have trouble finding clothes that not just fit but actually flatter, with IGIGI I can tell you I haven't found an outfit I don't like. I'm a huge fan of separates because of their versatility, but with IGIGI I have actually been wearing more dresses and skirts which I used to shy away from until now! I feel more confident in IGIGI and find myself reaching for them each and every time I go into my closet. They are definitely helping me win the battle of the age old closet dilemma of 'not having anything to wear'!

DISCOUNTS:

PRE-BLACK FRIDAY SALE - EXTRA 25% OFF SELECT CATEGORIES!

Code: THANKSNSAVE

Sale ends 11/22 at 12 pm PST

FREE GROUND SHIPPING on all Continental U.S. orders of $150 or more and 50% off on ALL International Orders! Offer Ends 12/31

WIN IT:

I want you to fall in love with IGIGI too, and when I told my friends at IGIGI that November is our annual holiday buying guide month, they wanted to join in the fun and give one lucky Ascending Butterfly Reader a gift certificate to have a shopping spree of their own just in time for the holidays! (Ladies they have some beaded gowns that will knock your socks off for New Years Eve!)

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget Below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: This giveaway is being sponsored by IGIGI, prize fulfillment will be handled directly by sponsor. Ascending Butterfly and giveaway sponsors are not responsible for lost, late or mis-directed mail. One entry per Household. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry and reside in the United States. All opinions are 100% my own. Fashions 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 visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

Win 100 Business Cards from @TinyPrints via @Ascending1 - See why these are my FAVORITE Cards!

{CLOSED} Congratulations Carolyn Gonzalez, Entry #298!

2014 will be here before you know it butterflies, are you ready? Do your current business cards truly reflect your brand?

I have a graphic design background and I can tell you that you should never design your own cards, let someone else do it! You need someone to put the same energy into YOU as you do for your clients. If you are very anal about things this 'giving up control' will probably be extremely difficult for you at first, but I can promise you it will be so worth it at the end.

I have never received more compliments on any former Business Card than I have with this one, and I have not looked back since. When I check into events, I wait for my card back but the person always keeps my card! It's quite a compliment!

About Tiny Prints:

tinyprints is a company that was founded by three friends with big dreams and a passion for beautiful paper that has grown from a tiny, self-funded company specializing in unique baby stationery into a booming online destination for stylish stationery (and more!) for every occasion.

My business card is a folded card, this is how I present it when I hand it to someone

When the person takes it they can tell it opens, this is the 'inside' of the actual card (I blanked out my phone number, sorry guys! LOL)

The back of the card has room for notes, and even though the surface of the card is 'pearlized' you can write on it easily!

My Take:

I had a very demanding vision in my mind for my business cards, I wanted to promote two different offerings on one card, and wanted my card to have pops of color and creativity in addition to my logo and signature butterfly of course, and was delighted to learn of tinyprints custom design service, my card ideas weren't actually something a ready made template would accurately cover, I wanted a card that was way more comprehensive than those I had used in the past. In fact since I started blogging, I've designed a new card each year, which makes perfect sense, the cards evolved as much as me and my site have. But now I'm in more of a 'groove' and wanted to grow into my card instead of it being the other way around all the time.

I was delighted to learn that tinyprints has a Custom Design Service! You can make a completely unique card, work 1-on-1 with a Designer, and they offer a free physical AND digital proof. There is a low One-Time Fee of $25 for the service. My designer was amazingly patient, and he was able to take a very BIG vision and tall order and help me organize it all in a way that made sense from a design standpoint, and still retain the creativity I wanted the card to have. The quality of the cardstock and the brilliant design make these my favorite cards to date! I couldn't recommend tinyprints more, but I will warn you, order at least 100 more than you think you'll need, you'd be surprised just how many you will go through PER conference or networking event with these!

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tinyprints

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinyprints

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/tiny_prints/

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Google+: https://plus.google.com/+tinyprints/

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Instagram: http://instagram.com/tinyprints

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Blog: http://blog.tinyprints.com/

Discount:

You can find current Tiny Prints Coupons Codes and Promotions HERE - Get free shipping on all orders! Use Code: FS13 | Limited time only see website for details

Win It:

One lucky butterfly will win 100 business cards of their own. Get yourself and your business ready for the new year! Use the rafflecopter widget below for your entries, remember as always, the first entry is easy-peasy! (and of course keep a look out for fun and easy extra credit entries too!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: Tiny Prints provided us with Custom-Designed Business Cards for editorial consideration, and will be providing cards for one winner. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. Neither Ascending Butterfly nor contest sponsor will be held responsible for lost or mis-directed mail. 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!  

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.

Wordless Wednesday: Take me out to the ballgame - Check out my photos from the @Yankees Game and find out how to win a trip to #Florida! #SummerSequel

Alas butterflies, summer is winding down and Back-to-School is upon us again. (As a commuter in NYC I'm not looking forward to the teens back on the trains again, but that's a story for another day). 

Are you ready for summer to end? I for one, am NOT ready to let go of summer!

As you may remember I co-hosted the #SummerSequel Twitter Party (I saw a ton of butterflies on the party, so thanks so much for your support butterflies), Kiss News Wire, the team that is helping to drum attention to Kissimee, Florida as a fun vacation destination for families, hit baseball stadiums in addition to the twitter party to help draw attention to their super fun 'Summer Sequel Sweepstakes'.

The Grand Prize winner will win a 5 day/4 night vacation for FOUR to Kissimmee, Florida that includes accomodations at Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista South, four 2-day theme park passes, dinner at Capone's Dinner & Show, an air boat ride at Ultimate Airboat Ride and a coach tour with Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida, and if that's not enough a Rental Car also! (Round trip economy air is also included for the winner and four guests!). There are two ways to enter, you can text KISS to 55155 or you can enter online at www.summersequel.com, and if you live in Atlanta the team will be at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia on August 31st. But hurry butterflies, the sweepstakes ends on September 9th!

The Kiss News Wire Team wanted to thank Ascending Butterfly for her help with the tweet up and twitter party and sent family Butterfly to a local baseball game. And no ordinary seats, but in the Delta Skybox at Yankee Stadium no less! Who could pass that up?

On August 20th, the home team pulled a double header and the Yankees swept a twin bill versus the Jays, it was a super exciting game to watch under the light of a beautiful full moon! (By the way Jayson Nix really did it big that night!)

Since this is Wordless Wednesday, I thought I'd share my pictures from the game:

Left: Mama Butterfly, Right: ME! Ascending Butterfly

Left: Mama Butterfly, Center: Debi from the Blog, The Spring Mount 6 Pack, Right: ME! Ascending Butterfly

Left: Mama Butterfly, Center: Debi from the Blog, The Spring Mount 6 Pack, Right: ME! Ascending Butterfly

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies! Bloggers feel free to link us to your Photos leave the link as a comment to this post we'd love to see them and show you some support too! (NO Giveaway links please!)

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Compensated Post however our Game Tickets were provided to us by Kiss News Wire. We have not been compensated to share our recap coverage of the game!

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: #Cheesecake and #milk @ParkerMeridien New York City! #NYC #wordlesswednesday #lifestyleblogger

Had a gap between events on a hot summer day in New York City and thought I'd kill the time with this:

Cold Milk and a New York Style Cheesecake at Le Parker Meridien Hotel in Midtown , New York City

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies! Bloggers feel free to post the link to your Wordless Wednesday Photo as a comment so we can visit your photos too. (No Giveaways Please, Only WW posts)

And don't forget to leave a comment on THIS post (it could lead to something great for YOU!) And don't forget to enter to win our Ascending Butterfly Book Club Title of the Month - Pancho Land! Also, if you haven't already done so, I need your VOTE. (If for some reason it opens up to all the entries, my entry is Tracy from New York City and I am wearing an Orange Jacket! This is a one time only, super quick, super easy vote!)

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received to share this photo, all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

@Ascending1 Monthly #Book Club - July #Giveaway: Enter to #win Pancho Land by @Raul_Ramos

No monetary compensation has been received to host this giveaway, full disclosure below:

Butterflies I apologize for the hiatus, but our book club is back just in time for summer, because this is the season where my best reading gets done! Whether it's in the airport lounge, on the plane or beach/pool side I always bring something along to read. And not to knock the 'e-reader' craze, but I still prefer real books. Hard Cover preferably, but even soft covers still have their appeal. Much like music, I still get excited by holding a new CD in my hand, despite having a portable MP3 Player and various services that I love including iTunes and Spotify. There is just something exciting about holding that book in my hand. Like some love their soaps and shows, that's how I feel about books, I can't wait to see where the author will transport me.

We are stoked to have the Monthly Book Club return with Pancho Land by Raul Ramos Y Sanchez!

The author's name should sound familiar to loyal Ascending Butterfly readers, this book is the third in a trilogy of books, and we reviewed the first book in the series (called America Libre) HERE.

I have to start by assuaging a fear I'm sure most of you share with me, starting with a third book in a popular trilogy, but you don't have to worry about that with this book, it does stand alone if you are starting with this book, but the author also weaves in the back story so well that readers of the entire trilogy won't get bored, but new readers get an understanding of the characters and their back stories.

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I will say that after reading the end of the trilogy, you are going to be amazed at what happens with the characters. The trilogy centers around a family, a family that experiences incredible blows, incredible lows and incredible highs too. It really is the journey butterflies, not the final destination that matters.

Raul is a skilled writer and you can't help but find yourself invested in the family that is at the center of the books. I can totally see this trilogy becoming a movie! (and like every armchair reader I have strong casting ideas on the roles too!)

While you will see this in the rafflecopter widget below when you enter, I wanted to let readers know that if you "Like" the Class H Trilogy Page on Facebook you will be automatically entered each month in a drawing for a signed and dedicated copy of Pancho Land, America Libre or House Divided! Don't you love having not just one shot at winning but TWO shots at winning? I know I do! Not to mention you can get PDF quick peeks of a chapter in the books as well.

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - "Like" the Class H Trilogy Page on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Follow @Raul_Ramos on Twitter

Remember you get extra credit in the giveaway for social follows so be sure to get your entries

WIN IT: 

One lucky Ascending Butterfly reader can win a copy as well (and based on availability of course) the author will try his best to provide either a physical copy or an electronic copy, winners choice!

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, the sponsor is fulfilling to the giveaway winner. All opinions are 100% my own. Neither Ascending Butterfly or our giveaway sponsors will be held responsible for late, lost or mis-directed mail. See our Full Disclosure page for any questions or concerns.

Showing Some Sweet #Tuesday Love + Great Giveaway for #Jewelry #Fashion #Accessories Lovers!

And A Great Giveaway Reminder, Don't forget to enter our BuDhaGirl Core Cuff Bracelet Giveaway! Their jewelry is where Fashion and Intention meet, they are all about making life better by the use of intention, and that is definitely what being an Ascending Butterfly is all about!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post!