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!

{#Theatre Review} Have you made your appointment for the @SoulDoctor yet? If not, you definitely should! #Broadway

Soul Doctor Playbill signed by Eric Anderson who portrays Shlomo Carlebach (signature on bottom right) and Amber Iman who plays Nina Simone (signature on top left)


So after spending a year and a half in the hospital I wasn't totally convinced I wanted to watch anything that had 'Doctor' in the title, but some of my most magical memories have come from nights on Broadway with family and friends. It's the one thing that most lifelong New Yorkers can agree is one the best perks of living in this insane city. The city that never sleeps is always 'Go, Go, Go!' but when you go to the Theatre, the City slows down and when the lights go down you just somehow surrender and allow yourself to be transported.

While I am not Jewish, a little known Ascending Butterfly fact is that I worked for a Jewish Theological Seminary here in New York City for a Rabbi who taught me so much about the Jewish Faith, that when I learned that this was in fact based on the true story of the life and the music of Shlomo Carlebach I was very much intrigued.

About Soul Doctor:

Soul Doctor tells the fascinating story of the father of popular Jewish Music, Shlomo Carlebach, and his unlikely friendship with Nina Simone. A modern-day troubadour, Shlomo ignited the spirit of millions around the world with his soul-stirring melodies, transformative storytelling and boundless love.

After his escape from Nazi Germany, the young Rabbi befriended the legendary jazz singer Nina Simone who introduced him to soul and gospel music. With the "High Priestess of Soul" as his inspiration, Shlomo created a joyous new sound with melodies that fused his roots with American Popular Music. His meteoric rise as a "Rock Star Rabbi" as he struggled to harmonize his traditional beliefs with the "free love" generation of the 1960's features his timeless hits in a rocking score woven together by the orchestrator of The Who's Tommy and Elton John's Aida.

Soul Doctor Cast in Alphabetical Order Theatre Signage for our early August Performance at Circle in the Square Theatre

Cast:

Visit Soul Doctor's website for the Full Cast and Crew list HERE.

Eric Anderson stars as Shlomo, he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his portrayal of Shlomo in the NYTW production of Soul Doctor. His Broadway credits include: Kinky Boots (which you guys know is my personal pick of my favorite Broadway Show for 2013), and South Pacific.

Amber Iman plays Nina Simone in  her SPECTACULAR Broadway Debut! (she was fantastic) Off Broadway, she has appeared in Rent, and A Civil War.

I was lucky enough to get both Eric Anderson and Amber Iman (pictured above) to sign my playbill after the performance, and she posed for a picture too and was genuine, warm and open to all the fans who approached her! Team Butterfly was being silly and goofing around saying 'Just one more baby it's the flash, yeah, it's the flash', and our cheesy Eddie Murphy impression made her crack up! I will never forget this shot, so her autograph of my playbill will make that moment and that show so much more meaningful for me!

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - "Like" Soul Doctor on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @SoulDoctor on Twitter

My Take:

I enjoyed Soul Doctor, it was well-cast, and while the subject matter isn't always light-hearted, you are drawn into the performance and the journey as the character's develop. Eric delivers a strong performance as Schlomo Carlebach, and Amber Iman also delivers a strong and dynamic debut performance in her role as Nina Simone. They both had big shoes to fill that's for sure, and they both delivered, they had an ease and comfort with each other and there was so much electricity in their scenes together as well.

As a fab frugalista in a super expensive city, I'm the first to tell you that Broadway is NOT cheap, so the biggest compliment that I can give a show is that if I weren't press, would I have paid to see it and still been happy? YES. I would definitely have left just as happy if I had paid full price. I found myself truly swept up in the emotions and roller coaster ride of Shlomo's story. Good entertainment has a tendency to play on universal themes to be relevant to everyone, Shlomo's struggle to not only find his inner voice, but to buck everything he knew, as well as his parents wishes of what they felt was best for him, to find his inner voice and share that with the world is in essence every man and woman's story!

When a show can make you laugh and cry it has defintely transported you, and Soul Doctor is one appointment you WON'T want to put off!

Team Butterfly, Left: Mama Butterfly and Right: ME! Ascending Butterfly holding up my signed playbill outside Circle in the Square Theatre! Sign reads: Destined to Become a hit on Broadway for Years to Come! May it be so!

Yes Indeed Lovelies, The Doctor is IN!

Will you be going to see Soul Doctor Butterflies? If so, don't forget to come back and sound off here about it! We would love to know what you think! What is your favorite Broadway Show this year Butterflies?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post! No monetary compensation has been received to post pictures or our review of Soul Doctor. Ascending Butterfly editors received complimentary tickets to a performance of Soul Doctor to facilitate our Theatre Review. As life long New Yorkers, our editorial team greatly enjoy Broadway Theatre and enjoy sharing our experiences with our readers. Special Thanks to Culture Mom Media LLC.

@BestBuyMobile is more than just cellular check out my new @wearefrends #headphones #twitterpartyDJ #wearefriends

As an independent Fashion and Beauty Blogger who also has a great deal of Music Experience and Expertise, finding inspiration in an un-likely place is a rare pleasure. It's no surprise that with an online persona as "The Official #TwitterPartyDJ" that a lot of Audio Accessories are sent my way for a stamp of approval. Plainly, some of them hit the mark and get written about, others don't. I'm the first to tell you, I am not gentle on my Headphones, it's a good thing they are being built tougher!

I don't know if it's Mercury Retrograde Madness, but I'm experiencing weird behavior from a ton of tech products and appliances. I'm actually in the market for replacements for a few things right now, and while looking for one thing, I found another. I guess that is how life tends to work. It really is the journey my friends, sometimes actually making the destination as planned is the easiest way to miss things...

I had a gap between events last week and I got the chance to check out a Best Buy Mobile (I'm in the market for a new Cell Phone. My current one is super old and never plays nice with WiFi at most venues, so it's time to upgrade), and I also went to pick up an online order for a pair for Frends Headphones figuring I'd play with a few phones while I was there. As an Audiophile, it's great to know that Best Buy Mobile is more than just cellphones.

I will tell you when you go to pick up an online order at a Best Buy Mobile location they are definitely thorough, they want to make sure the person picking them up is the one who placed the order, in addition to ID they also asked for the last four digits of the credit card method of payment. The store was a bit crowded when I went so I didn't get as much of a chance as I would have liked to play with the phones, but now that I know how close that store is to some of the event venues I often find myself I will head over on another day to spend more time narrowing down what phone and plan will work best for me.

Before they bagged my order they opened the box in front of me so I could take a peek at my new headphones, and as I left the store I wanted to rip into them but I had to refrain myself as I was off to another event!

Frends headphones are actually designed specifically for women, an ultimate accessory to compliment her style while delivering premium sound. What you will notice first is the Jewelry Craftmanship. They are much like jewels for your ears! Real metals, luxury materials like sumptious, soft white leather and a collapsible design means they will fit in any clutch or even in your pocket.

Please Note: iPod is NOT included! In the box are the carrying case and headphones only

ABOUT FRENDS: (Why you'll want to make FRENDS your Friend!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Collapsible Design - These are lightweight and truly collapsible making them a dream to travel with!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - MIC & Volume Control - Listen to music or talk on the phone using the built in 3 button mic control

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Premium Acoustics - The collection has been developed and tuned by the same expert manufacturers that are responsible for Beats by Dre and Monster! They have been finely tuned for a women's ear, focusing on clarity, warmth and range rather than over-powering base. (They probably couldn't use the name 'Lady Beats' but that's a good way to think of them). There is a 40 mm driver under that 'pretty hood'

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lifetime Warranty - I can tell you I will probably be the first one to take them up on this, stay tuned! I'm pretty tough on headphones so I'm glad they come with a Lifetime Warranty, I'll probably need it!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Eliminates Hair Snags - Unlike traditional headphones, the sealed internal headband adjustment eliminates hair snags. (Love that!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Comfortable with Earrings - In addition to not applying extra pressure for when you are wearing earrings, I have the double whammy of earrings and eyeglasses so I appreciate how well the padding molds and doesn't cause extra pressure on the side of my head.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Travel in Style - Frends Taylor Headphones are lightweight and pair metal hardware with sleek white leather

This reads: The Beauty of Sound Straight from the Runway!

My Take:

What first me threw me for a loop about these is probably what I now love the most, they are super lightweight, which is what I love about earbuds and normally favor earbuds for my daily commute, I honestly worried at first that they might be too dainty for my heavy use, but they have held up well and I haven't 'babied them'. I figure the only way I could evaluate them is to use them the way I'd use any standard pair. They get tossed in my bag carelessly when I reach my subway stop and my handbags are usually heavy and loaded because I'd rather shove everything into one big bag than carry a million little ones. So sometimes a good yank is required to get at anything that falls to the bottom, and these have held up well to the abuses I put headphones through. I do however recommend using their carrying case since they are white leather!

These are designed with iPod in mind, The remote and mic are supported only by iPod nano (4th generation and later), iPod classic (120GB and 160GB), iPod Touch (2nd generation and later), iPhone 3Gs or later and of course iPad. As the mic and remote is designed for apple products it may not be compatible with Android devices. FYI, I tested them on my Pantech Tablet which is an Android device using iTunes for Android and the sound was fine but the remote does not work with my Android device, just apple, it does say this on the box. I tend to like to 'skin' my devices, but these pair just brilliantly with my newer generation apple iPod Touch that is NOT skinned, these really are my iPod's best friend, you should definitely consider making them YOURS.

These are for true Fashionistas, totally feminine but not for the wallflower, these attract attention! Perfect music and fashion accessory but with a great deal of power under that pretty hood! I can tell you these will be on the Christmas list of Fashion Forward, Music Loving teenage girls everywhere! (They are an expensive price point, so keep the maturity level of the recipient in mind, if they are careless and lose these they would be devasted, so keep that in mind before you buy!). For all our male readers who write in asking what to get their ladies, get them THESE, trust me, they will love them! I know I do!

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Best Buy on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like FRENDS on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @BestBuyMobile on Twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @wearefrends on Twitter be sure to use the hashtag #wearefriends
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - And for our Pin friends in the house, don't forget to follow FRENDS via Pinterest too!

10% off all FRENDS headphones using THIS COUPON (must print coupon, 1 per household), this offer is only valid at Best Buy Mobile Specialty Stores, you can find one nearest you by using the locator at www.bestbuymobile.com

I will definitely have to reach out to the folks at FRENDS and invite them to show some love to our readers, but in the meantime, don't forget to hit their social pages and tell them you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly first! The Taylor headphones by FRENDS get the butterfly and "TwitterPartyDJ" stamp of approval.

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FTC: Disclosure: The products/services referenced have been provided at a reduced price or for free. I am a member of Best Buy's Wolf Blogger Blogging Program. All opinions are 100% my own.

New & HOT in #Audio: Headphones that FLIP to powerful SPEAKERS - FlipsAudio™ #solo2social reviewed by the #TwitterPartyDJ

What is the soundtrack of your life?

I normally save my question and my call to action and reserve it for the end of my post, but this time it just seemed so fitting for it to go first! I'll bet there is a song that represents major moments of your life, your first dance, prom, wedding and more. 

or maybe you are like me and there is always a running soundtrack in your head.

Have you ever wished you could share that soundtrack in real time? Now, with a simple flip you can! 

How Flips Works:

Just thought I'd share this video produced by Flips so you can see how easy it is to go from 'solo' listening, to 'social' sharing of your music (I'll try to do a Vine or quick video of my own when I get more caught up!):

It's literally that easy!

You can use them like regular headphones for solo listening, or you can charge them (they have a Lithium Ion Battery that is USB recharge-able) and then flip them and use them as you would any portable speaker!

PROs:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Portable Speakers and Headphones all-in-one! They are lightweight, portable and convenient to use!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Memory Foam Padded Earpiece that is comfortable and if you wear glasses or earrings they don't press them into your head!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - They are compatible with any 3.5 millimeter audio jack which is the standard size on most portable devices including tablets, smart phones, iPods etc.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Comes with Protective Carrying Case

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - If you buy them directly from FlipsAudio, you get free shipping if you buy multiple units in the same order! (So if you have a pal that was looking into these, maybe you can guys can put the order in together and save on the shipping!)

CONs:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Of course Lithium Ion has it's Pros as well as Cons, if it's not fully charged you aren't going to get a lot of time when you are in Share mode, on a full charge it will give you 3 hours.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I did notice that it has a bit higher treble than most people are probably used to with standard headphones (probably because it's a Speaker as well as headphones, so you may have to adjust your device's treble settings to get a more 'even' sound.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - For now, the color choices are a bit narrow, All White with Red Accents (which is the color I selected) or All Black with Lime Accents (my fellow Alienware Computer Enthusiasts are going to love that color scheme! But since most of my headphones and earbuds are actually Black like the typical New Yorker I am, I went with white this time around.)

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - "Like' FlipsAudioUSA on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @FlipsAudio on Twitter
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Subscribe to the FlipsAudio YouTube Channel

My Take:

Butterflies you all know that I went into headphones kicking and screaming because I have always preferred earbuds. I am an eyeglass wearer and I also wear pierced earrings which makes headphones a pain for me, I can tell you after extended hours of use with these they do NOT hurt my ears or push my eyeglasses or sunglasses or earrings into the side of my head. No Marks, means happy butterfly! I am very happy with the sound as a speaker and as headphones as well. I do have a 'good ear' when it comes to audio so it was hard at first getting used the higher treble capture with these, but I've adjusted my settings and once I did that I found that these really do deliver a quality audio experience across various Musical Genres. I have a very eclectic collection of music (but then again what 'DJ' doesn't?), and despite their bigger profile in my handbag, I have found myself reaching for them all the time (BTW, I love the protective case that comes with these!). They are delivering big price sound that allows you to easily share the beat at a price that won't break the bank. One of the highest ratings I can give with me having a background in music and studios and being a blogger is this 'Would you re-buy them if something went wrong?' and the answer is definitely a re-sounding yes! I of course hope they last a long time (and a long time for me is relative and is WAY different than the average mainstream user) but if I lost them I would re-buy them!

My apologies dear butterflies I was not able to arrange for a giveaway with these this time around, but please visit FlipsAudio on their Social Channels and let them know you saw them reviewed here and would love a giveaway, I'm sure your enthusiasm would help sway 'The-Powers-That-Be' over at FlipsAudio! J

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FTC Disclosure: We were provided with the FlipsAudio #solo2social headphones to facilitate our review, no monetary compensation has been received in exchange for our review. All opinions are 100% my own. See our full disclosure policy for any questions.

{#Motivation Monday} Michael Bublé #ToBeLoved" {#Music #Review}

Motivation Monday Music Review:

Disclosure: I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the album to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for additional incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

With one of my online personas being "The Official #TwitterPartyDJ" I'm sure the reigning assumption is that I listen to Pop/Dance Music all day long, the truth is while I did grow up around DJ's and the music scene and I do have a great ear for transitions and mixing, the nickname came up more for my hosting and co-hosting Twitter Parties then it did for my listening preferences. Over time when the nickname stuck, I started getting Audio Gear to review and I get more emails from labels and artists asking me to 'play' their song on twitter than I can even count. (If only I had one dollar for every request I receive from artists....I wouldn't have to play the Powerball anymore that's for sure!)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, Music and Travel are my primary passions (and pastimes) and I'm always more than happy to share my favorites every chance I get! I have a pretty eclectic music and book library. My collections are vast and varied, and there is pretty much something to suit almost any taste, preference or mood.

Music sets a tone, it gives a party life, makes long commutes appear to fly by, and can alter one's mood in an instant.

I live in the City and my apartment complex is filled with hugely inconsiderate neighbors who play loud music with such frequency it almost made me start to hate the one thing I really love. But I wouldn't be an Ascending Butterfly if I let anything or anyone get me down!

For me the end of a super long day means seeking peace and stillness, and there is nothing better than a long hot bath, a glass of wine and soothing music, to drown out the annoying neighbors! I put on my headphones, lay back on the bath pillow and just let my mind wander. My bath-time playlist is a mix of jazz favorites, crooners and balladeers!

"Do not think I take my success these last ten years for granted. I was anything but an overnight sensation,which inspires me to deliver big time for my fans—maybe even make some new ones this time out." says Bublé.

One of the artists that come up in my 'Tub-Time Playlist' is Michael Bublé, his last two albums topped the charts for over a month, and it would be no surprise if he did it again with his newest release To Be Loved. This is his eighth studio album!

There are fourteen songs on the new album, ten are covers, most of those are Frank Sinatra covers.  Michael has always been compared to Sinatra since the very beginning, so it's only fitting that this album is practically a Sinatra Tribute.

"I labored over every song, every note and every arrangement because I can’t resist trying to make each record better than my last one." says Bublé.

To Be Loved Track Listing:

1. “You Make Me Feel So Young”
2. “It’s a Beautiful Day”
3. “To Love Somebody”
4. “Who’s Lovin You”
5. “Something Stupid” (featuring Reese Witherspoon)
6. “Come Dance with Me”
7. “Close Your Eyes”
8. “After All” (featuring Bryan Adams)
9. “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” (with Naturally 7)
10. “To Be Loved”
11. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
12. “Nevertheless (I’m in Love with You)” (featuring The Puppini Sisters)
13. “I Got It Easy”
14. “Young at Heart”

I have a feeling you have probably heard about it by now or have even seen it by now, but just in case, here is the "It's A Beautiful Day" [Official Video]:

My Take:

Sometimes a Butterfly just needs to RELAX. This is definitely a great album to un-wind with after a long day, so for Motivation Monday I leave you with one thought 'To Be Loved'!

Buy it at a great price (amazon always has great prices!):

  

Who makes you feel loved Butterfly?

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Disclosure: I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the album to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for additional incentives. All opinions stated are my own. The Banner to buy the album via Amazon is an affiliate link

The Official #TwitterPartyDJ Reviews the Voxx International 808 Studio Quality Headphones!

I grew up around DJ's both family and friends, not just weekend enthusiasts, but pros that started off in clubs and many now own their own Audio Production Companies, for my family Music wasn't just entertainment it was always very much business. So when it comes to Audio Products and Accessories I'm pretty picky and I learned early on that labels, names, flash and floss didn't always mean great sound.

I love Music and feel blessed to have grown up in a family that takes it so seriously and also exposed me to such a wide variety of artists and musical genres. Their love of music and sound and what goes behind creating memorable musical moments definitely rubbed off on me, but there is always one place where I differed from the Pro's in my family. I prefer earbuds. That's definitely not a secret to long time readers, but it's still where me and my family members in the industry differ. And they spent years trying to convert me to headphones but they were never successful. I always hated how they 'crushed' my hair (remember how high 80's hair used to be right?), I have always worn eyeglasses and the headphones would press my glasses into my temples which after awhile would hurt and as I live in the Public Transportation Capital of the Planet, New York City, I always hated how headphones drew too  much attention to you. To my fellow individualists, trust me when I tell you that the one place you don't want to draw too much attention to yourself is on a New York City Subway Train.

808 Studio Quality Headphones in Matte Black

So when a pair of 808 headphones arrived for editorial consideration to say I was a bit skeptical would probably be an understatement. I recently reviewed my new HP Envy Desktop computer which I absolutely love (which is awesome because I had purchased a few lemons over the last few years and was slowly losing faith in them), one of the things that stand out about my new desktop is the amazing Audio. As a long time HP owner (both at work and at home both desktop and laptop), I was never all that impressed with their Audio, until my new Envy, the Beats Audio on my new system is fantastic. Like many writers I have a tendency to write better late at night and once I get into the flow I could write until the wee hours of the morning. That means I'm up clicking away while my world is asleep and for me not to disturb anyone I always listen to music at night while on my computer or desktop with earbuds on.

Studio Quality 808 Headphones Un-boxed showing Headphones, Instruction Manual and Protective Travel Case

I've spent the past few weeks listening to music on my HP Envy Desktop Computer wearing my new 808 headphones and I've also been bringing them with me on roadtrips on weekends and I have to tell you in all the years of my family members in the Audio Industry trying to get me to switch to headphones, this time spent road testing the 808's has made me a convert!

About the 808 Studio Quality Headphones:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Advanced and Powerful 40mm Dynamic Range Audio Drivers with outstanding response and accuracy

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Soft, Comfortable earcups

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 Detachable Cables - round without mic and flat with mic

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - High Quality Durable Protective Travel Case

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 3 colors: Black Matte, Black High Gloss, and White High Gloss

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Compatible with iPod, iPhone and iPad

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Works with Android

Watch them in Action:

My Take:

With a street smart style, cutting-edge audio technology, and an affordable price tag, these headphones prove that style, substance and smarts can be achieved at a price point that is reachable for everyone. It brings out nuances in some songs that I don't hear when wearing other headphones/earbuds, there were songs from U2 and Sheryl Crow that I've heard over and over that sounded so much different to me with these. They blocked outside noise (like when I'm in the bus with them on, I don't hear ambulance sirens blaring in my ears and interrupting my tunes) and in the trains I can  use these to block out the Garbled MTA messages (Perhaps the MTA should retain Voxx International to re-do the audio in the subway system, maybe then you'd actually be able hear to the announcements!), they also smartly help me tune out wailing infants, obnoxiously loud cell phone conversations and just immerse myself in the escape that my music collection provides me during a hectic rush hour traffic commute into the city.

Warning to the wise, turn DOWN your current audio level setting on your device before you plug these in, you won't need to have the volume anywhere as close to the setting you are using now. These deliver a rich, even consistent sound, rich bass, and definitely have style for days. I love my 808 headphones, and am excited about their upcoming On-Ear (the Drift) and In-Ear Earbuds that are set to release in 2013 in the months ahead!

I am going to have to see if our friends at Voxx International will consider joining us in our upcoming June 'Dads N Grads' annual gift buying guide with a reader giveaway, because I know you are going to LOVE these as much as I do.

808 'Gloss White' Headphones

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Like 808 Headphones on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @RCA_Scoop on Twitter as well as on @Audiovox_Corp on Twitter

They post tons of fun contests, promotions and giveaways and hint, hint, there is one going on right NOW! (and don't forget to tell them on facebook or on twitter that you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly)

Can't wait for us to offer a giveaway? (I can't say I blame you!), Amazon has them at a STEAL, and I mean that literally, you can order them NOW on Amazon by pressing the banner below:

Butterfly what is your favorite Audio Product or Audio Accessory?

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FTC Disclosure: Voxx International has provided me with a product sample for editorial consideration, however all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

We have a Winner! Find out who won the @Yurbuds #Giveaway on @Ascending1

We had just under 1,400 entries for the Yurbuds giveaway, sounds like a lot of butterflies have running and fitness at the forefront of their minds for this New Year! After eliminating entries that did not qualify we closed with 1,032 entries and entry #106 was the lucky winner! So please join me in congratulating Paula M., the lucky winner of the Yurbuds 'Inspire' Sport Earphones for Women in Pink! I truly hope these help keep you stay motivated during your workouts this year Paula!

I thought this would be a great time to check in with you all and see how your New Year's Resolutions are coming along. This is the time where resolve tends to dissolve, so if you need an accountability partner, feel free to post here! Let's help keep each other motivated and inspired!

Our current giveaway comes to a close soon, I hope you got in your entries for the Jane Iredale Triple Pearl Powder Finishing Powder Giveaway, just like a lot of you are mixing up your fitness routines, I'm sure many of you are eager to try something new in your beauty routines as well!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post!

@yurbuds Inspire for Women Sport Earphones #Review + #Giveaway - 1 winner, Ends 01/11 #Fitness

Happy New Year Butterfly! As this is the week where most people dust off last year's resolutions and change the year on them to the current one, with Fitness being number one on the list, I thought we should start the year talking fitness, and my favorite thing MUSIC!

Music has been a lifelong love and with an older cousin who is a well known club DJ, making mix tapes was a big hobby of mine, and now it's playlists for every possible mood and occasion. Before blogging, I went through a wide variety of portable music players and an even wider variety of headphones and earphones.

Then I started blogging, then hit the twitter scene and it was the perfect place to find and connect with other music lovers. I became 'The Official #TwitterPartyDJ' and not long after did music accessories start to appear. I'm definitely not complaining, but when it comes to my headphones and earphones I'm super picky, so not everything I try out makes the cut.

I grew up around the DJ scene and you will always see headphones, I was always the oddball who preferred earphones and I still do. So when MomSelect asked if I was interested in trying out yurbuds® Inspire for Women Sport Earphones I definitely said yes. Let's face it, with a name like 'Inspire' these couldn't be a better fit (no pun intended). But our mission statement here is simple: 'To Seek out and Share the best sources of inspiration both on and off the web.'.

About yurbuds®

When you're sweating through a workout, the only sound better than hearing your feet pound the pavement is your favorite song in your ears! We've all had that moment when we're powering along to our go-to song when all of a sudden our earphones come loose and the music comes to a screeching halt, along with our motivation. Luckily, our friends at yurbuds® are changing that with their new Inspire line, designed specifically for women.

  

Since its arrival on the sports equipment scene, yurbuds has made an impact on athletes everywhere as the only earphones with patented TwistLock™ technology, guaranteed never to fall out. The new Inspire for Women features that same technology, and the FlexSoft™ comfort fit, while being specifically designed to fit smaller ears. Available at Target for $29.99, these performance fit earphones are sweat and water-resistant, provide exceptional sound, and are the perfect training partner for the female athlete.

My Take:

I was a bit nervous at first since they are specifically designed for smaller ears that they would make my ears sore, because I actually tend to use larger bud covers on other pairs, but once I got used to 'twising' them in place, it all fell into place. So here are my pros and cons:

Pros:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - They do stay in place. I have NOT had them fall out, they definitely don't come out until I take them off myself.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Good Sound, even though they are not touted as 'noise cancellation' earphones, they do help to block out some ambient sound, because of the fit.

Cons:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I don't why it is, but these do attract dust to the silicone on the earphones more than other pairs I've used. Thankfully this can be remedied because you can remove the silicone buds and wash them off, but I will admit I'm not Ms. Delicate Girl with my earphones, I do tend in the morning to just shove my earphones anywhere in my bag when I get off the train. These really need to go in a protective case so they don't attract dust or lint.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I'm used to a bit deeper bass, but for the price point I really can't complain.

Final Thought: Again they are not noise cancellation so the person sitting next to you will 'hear' you if you tend to listen to your tunes a bit too loud, I'm not calling this a Con only because this is a matter of personal preference and will differ for everyone. And since these are intended for runners, no one should really hear you as you jog past! :-)

They introduced a Pro version that has a Microphone which I am thinking would have been better suited to me (not to mention I love Red) so I'll have to reach out to yurbuds and see if we can upgrade for Valentine's Day, I'll keep you guys posted!

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 'Like' yurbuds on Facebook, and don't forget to tell them you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly! Endorsed by 'The Official #TwitterPartyDJ'

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Get 'Tweety with @yurbuds on Twitter too!

Win It!

Our friends at MomSelect and yurbuds® know that inspiration is an important part of the Ascending Butterfly community, this is an inspiration and empowerment community, and because we want you to be inspired to stick with your fitness resolutions and goals this year, we thought we'd help to make your workouts more fun by giving you a pair too! So start 2013 on a good foot, and take your favorite tunes along for the ride! As always our main entry is easy peasy, so just follow rafflecopter instructions below to get in your entries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: yurbuds has provided me with a product sample for editorial consideration via the MomSelect program, as well as a pair for giveaway, however all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own. Ascending Butterfly and our giveaway sponsors are not responsible for lost or mis-directed mail.