Our @kingofchristmas artificial Blue Spruce is still up in honor of Three Kings Day + Clearance Sale & Discount Code! #KingofChristmas #ThreeKingsDay #DiaDeLosReyesMagos

 

 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, January 6, we celebrate Three Kings Day! 

 

Celebrated most in Europe, Spain, and Latin America, ‘El Dia de los Reyes’, as it’s called in Spanish, marks the glorification of baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men. In Mexico and many other Latin American countries, Santa Claus isn’t as popular as he is in the United States. Rather, it is the Three Wise Men who are the bearers of gifts and leave presents in or near the shoes of small children. The holiday is also known by the name Epiphany and dates back to the 4th century. 

 

A grand feast would be held on this day to honor the occasion of Jesus’ baptism and to pay homage to the Three Wise Men. Three Kings Day, or El Dia de Reyes, remains an important holiday for Catholics. In addition to gift-giving, there is also a culinary treat that is specific to the holiday. Known as Rosca de Reyes (King’s Cake), this holiday dessert is a symbolic pastry. Shaped in a circle to signify a king’s crown, this sweet bread holds a special surprise. Inside is a small plastic figurine representing the baby Jesus. Whoever finds this token is obligated to host an upcoming party for the occasion Dia de la Condelaria (Candlemas Day) which occurs each year on February 2.

 
I actually put up my tree on Christmas Day (things were completely insane for me, I like to normally have it up by Thanksgiving Day) and it always stays up until Three Kings Day as it's always been our family tradition.

 
This year our artificial Blue Spruce is from King of Christmas! 

 

My Take:

 

There are three major standouts for me, how easy it was to assemble, how evenly spaced and well lit the lights are, and they include these long gloves to use so you can shape your tree and not get scratched up! (and the remote not just for on and off but different light functions at the touch of your fingertips is also wonderful!)

 

Discount: 

 

There is currently an 'after christmas' 40% clearance sale on select items and free shipping with the code: CHRISTMAS20

 
Readers Sound Off: 

 

Do you keep your tree up until Three Kings Day or does it come down before?

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

FTC Disclosure: No monetary compensation has been received. King of Christmas has provided a tree for Editorial Consideration. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. 

If you like this article treat me to a coffee, a caffeinated writer is a happy writer! 

paypal.me/TracyIglesias or https://cash.app/$ascendingbutterfly or Venmo: Ascending1

#ad Objet d'art or cool new #tech toy? I first spotted the @NortonOnline Norton Core™ Secure High Performance Wi-Fi Router at #PPE2017 then @BestBuy Claus delivered one right to me!

♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ As part of the Best Buy Blogger program I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and have received Product for Editorial Consideration ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ 

I got to attend PDN PhotoPlus Expo this year in New York City, and one of the most unique non-photography items I saw at the show could easily pass for an Objet d' art!

The booth was fun, you went to each demo station and when they completed the product demo you collected a raffle ticket, the more product demos you experienced the more raffle tickets, this was the product that stood out most from their booth and I garnered as many raffle tickets as I could trying to enter to win it.

While I was not a lucky winner, not shortly after this came up as a blog campaign and I jumped at the chance! The PDN PhotoPlus Expo is tough to recap in one post as there was so much to see and do, so I will try to bring you pieces of what I saw there a bit more organically and try not to overwhelm you guys with a post that would take an hour to read/digest.

What is multi operating system friendly, poses as BOTH a Router and Security Program for not only your home devices but while on the go too?

THIS GUY:

Above: It blends so well into my modern zen home decor that I took a shot of it with my favorite scent warmer, without the box there telling you what it is, it literally would just blend into the background with my current decor. Oddly enough my living room walls are painted grey right now, so the Graphite Grey Color on this unit really does blend into my living room perfectly! Tech can be both functional AND fashionable.

If someone special in your life is getting a new computer, there are certain things you know you need for it, a security/protection software package and a router, so why not get them BOTH in one box?

Above: Another shot sans my scent warmer! I actually have mine situated right next to my smart TV as my TV goes online to update itself and it's apps often!

BENEFITS!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - EASE OF SET-UP - Bluetooth-enabled iOS/Android device with a mobile data plan is needed. Download the Norton Core app to complete set up. Modem required.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SECURE + HIGH PEFORMANCE - Wi-Fi router helps protect your connected devices on your home network by stopping cyber-attacks at the network level you can stream your favorite movies in 4K, play online games or download content with Core’s powerful dual-core processor. With comprehensive network security to protect your connected home from malware, viruses, phishing tactics and even botnets. Norton Core supports speeds up to 2.5 Gbps* — ensuring fast 4K streaming and lag-free gaming (perfect since I switched from a Desktop to a Laptop Gaming Rig, review of my Gaming Rig coming soon, it was purchased by me at Best Buy, not gifted, although I wish it were!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - PROTECTS ALL CONNECTED DEVICE -  One year subscription to Norton Core Security Plus* is included to protect your Macs, PCs, tablets, smartphones & smart devices. (after the one year is over you pay $9.99 per month)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Bandwidth Optimization - Does one device need a bit more juice than the other? You can give priority to any device in the house with a touch of a button! Downloading music or movies? Give that device the extra bandwidth so the downloads go faster. When you turn in at night, give it to the devices you are leaving running updates or to your smart TV. This by far has to be one of my favorite features!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SMART PARENTAL CONTROLS - Manage screen time by setting content filters or daily limits on usage. And when needed, pause the Internet. Not a feature I need as there are no baby butterflies here, but it is great to know it's there! The ability to pause the network entirely will leave you drunk with power!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SECURITY SCORE- Butterflies your credit isn't the only thing with a score, your network and home security gets one too with Norton Core, but it doesn't just score your security, it offers insight and tools to help improve your score. Your devices and smart home can now breathe a sigh of relief!

MY TAKE:

Norton has always been a reliable security product for me, and now with the added functionality of a 'two-in-one' where I get both a router and security in a package that is sleek, modern and actually quite pretty to look at, what's not to love?

I have always loved that Norton protects my devices at home and on the go and it is the brand of security software I regularly use, even paying for it over the free security software that comes with my Cable! I had a different security program for the past few months because I recently changed from a desktop to a gaming rig laptop and that came with it's own protection built in, but while I have no complaints about the security software that came with my gaming rig (which I did purchase at Best Buy, again with MY money, not gift cards or sponsored), I will say I am very happy to be back with Norton Again! I find Norton easy to use, it's great about updating itself and playing nice with my operating system too! It pretty much takes care of itself and my network so I can worry about other things! (Like Photo Editing, Traveling, Writing, Blogging, Life Coaching, Social Media Consulting, and attending fantastic events and tradeshows in NYC).

I have been making it a point to keep you guys updated over time how products perform like the earbuds I reviewed that literally kept dying at the one year mark (Remember I'm already 8 years into blogging here at Ascending Butterfly), I like to check out my monthly reports with a security software, so I would like to tell you guys how my score changes over time with this one which I hope will provide you with an idea of how well the product performs over time. This butterfly is always thorough!

Spill Butterflies: How old is your current router? What Security Program/Software do you use? What is your current brand of router? Are you happy with it? Have you experienced dead zones for devices in your own home?

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FTC Disclosure: I am part of Best Buy's Blogging Program and I received product at NO cost to me for Editorial Consideration and I also received a gift card, however 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 check our Giveaway & Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. Things that lure this butterfly out of her cocoon: Technology, Travel, Fashion, Beauty, Spirits (Sparkling, Champagne, Prosecco, Sake, Bourbon, Craft Brews), Foodie Fun - really I'm such a *simple girl*.

#ad: #OnTheBlog - Looking for a #supermoon2017 #SuperMoonSunday Read? Then Check out this Review and Giveaway of @tylerperry #HigherIsWaiting a @penguinrandom title #rwm

{CLOSED} CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER TOMI C. THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷThis is a Sponsored Post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Penguin Random House. I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All opinions are 100% my own.

This Sunday, December 3rd is the both the FIRST AND LAST supermoon of 2017. The moon is going to appear up to 14 times larger and 30 times brighter than usual, and I can't think of any better way to enjoy it than cozying up to my favorite reading nook by the window with a good book and a nice glass of wine (or eggnog or hot chocolate, whatever floats your beverage boat!) And I will also have my Crystals on the windowsill 're-charging' as it is thought that the full moon shines down with so much pure energy, anything it touches is imbued with powerful radiance and love. And who couldn't use more of that in their life?

The illumination of the supermoon provides not only physical mind-blowing results when it comes to energy healing but on a soul level as well it helps to sort of shine a light on the dark corners of your subconscious and shine a light that gives you insight into your emotions, your soul, and your soul path. And that all ties so superbly with the review and giveaway I bring you today. (And don't forget in case you missed it, we teamed up with Santa.com to host a fun Giveaway that includes a limited edition Christopher Radko ornament, only 300 of them were made, please be sure to enter it HERE) 

I know it's been ages since we have had an Ascending Butterfly Book Club on a regular basis monthly, not so much because I haven't been reading, I definitely have, but I have had less time to write and a regular feature was becoming too much of a commitment. Lately my blog life has been matching my single life, not much along the way of time to properly devote to either one. Le Sigh. Being a single butterfly in the city ain't easy!

I do have a title I wanted to share with you called Higher is Waiting by Tyler Perry (note this is an affiliate link to the book, when you purchase from our affiliate link it helps support this site and is always appreciated).

There are so many reasons this book resonates with me.

In addition to writing and social media consulting I am life/career coach and I am always scouring self help aisles to keep myself motivated. I know I have to keep my batteries re-charged if I am going to help others.

A Life Coach in a Funk?

Not cute.

Not a Good Look.

Bad for Business.

I love to scour the self-help aisle at the Library and my favorite bookstores for inspiration. And I squeeze in my reading anywhere I can, during my commute to the City each day, when I am traveling or on a plane, somehow despite the popularity of e-readers and even with my love of tech and tech blogging, I am still old school when it comes to reading, I like a hardcover book in my hand.

Whether you know Tyler Perry from his feature films, twenty stage plays or nine television shows, Higher is Waiting is a very intimate look at the Writer, Author, Filmmaker, playwright, songwriter, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Check out Tyler's "The Perry Foundation" which aims to transform tragedy into triumph by seeding individual potential, supporting communities and harvesting real change.

This is Tyler's second title, his first book, which is also a #1 New York Times Best Seller is called "Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life"

I want to make it very clear that this is NOT a Madea book, nor is this a sequel to that book, this is Tyler Perry opening himself up in a very raw, personal and open way sharing directly from a ten year period of his personal journals with a combination of humor and spiritual hope.

The book is divided into four sections: Planting, Nourishing, Branching Out and Harvesting.

The format is a little bit similar to a book that was a standout pick for me in our Ascending Butterfly Book Club in 2010, called Unforgettable You by Daisy Fuentes, see my review for that book HERE.

Like Unforgettable You, Higher Is Waiting has a call to action at the end of every chapter, and also has recommended bible verses and passages that relate to that chapter and help you expand deeper on the theme in that particular chapter.

WIN IT:

I am partnering with Review Wire Media and Penguin Random House to give one lucky butterfly the chance to win your own copy of "Higher Is Waiting". Use the Rafflecopter Widget Below to enter, if the widget is 'stuck' just refresh the page and it should come back on it's own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MY TAKE:

I had seen interviews with Tyler Perry and had some idea of the abuse he endured in childhood, but not quite the extent of what he endured, while I appreciate Tyler Perry's humor it is in Higher Is Waiting that he gives us the biggest glimpse yet into his soul. Memoirs are terribly difficult to pen - just how much of yourself do you give? How does what you give of yourself impact how an already established audience perceives you?

I have read many other reviews on this book describing it as an easy read. (I always tend to read reviews before I write one.) And I am not quite sure that I agree. A Memoir is something akin to an open sore that you keep peeling the skin off of, it's a raw and a painful process, and to read of someone else's trials and tribulations I would never consider 'easy', but I will agree you can get through each individual chapter quickly because they are shorter chapters.

But the meat is in the end of chapter questions that ask you to probe yourself.

And the soul is in the extra bible verses that he asks you to refer to that expand upon that chapter's theme.

If you are doing it right, and really taking those extra steps at the end of the chapter, this is actually not a fast or easy read, but something that moves you to dig into your own soul in a very empowering way.

And before you say it, yes I am very careful with the three taboo conversation topics even here on my pages: Sex, Politics and Religion. However, I am enlightened enough to say I am open to wisdom and inspiration in any form or shape, and while this book uses bible verses at the end of the chapter for additional sources of inspiration, if you are not inclined, you can skip the bible verses, but please do NOT skip the questions that ask you to probe your own soul or you would be doing yourself a great dis-service. Those questions are for self examination and evaluation, and while you think you may know the answers, keep that pen and paper handy and WRITE out the answers to each question at the end of each chapter, your answers just may surprise you and seeing them written is super powerful.

I recommend this book to my friends in Faith and those who are not Faith inclined, it is an example of endurance, humor, and the wisdom that comes from a life in progress.

A most excellent Holiday Gift in my opinion.

Spill Butterflies: What is your favorite Memoir? or even if it wasn't exactly your favorite, what was the last Memoir you read?

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FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, 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 check our Giveaway & Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. Things that lure this butterfly out of her cocoon: Technology, Travel, Fashion, Beauty, Spirits (Sparkling, Champagne, Prosecco, Sake, Bourbon, Craft Brews), Foodie Fun - really I'm such a *simple girl*.

Our #WomenEntrepreneurWednesday #NYNow Spotlight is back with a Flash #Giveaway from @elementstruffle #Spon

 Giveaway Sponsored by Elements Truffles

This summer I met so many inspiring women at the NYNOW Tradeshow (The Market for Home, Lifestyle and Gifts), that instead of lumping my recap of the show into one big post where you might only get a one or two sentence recap, I wanted to give each woman entrepreneur and their amazing brands their own individual day in the sun.

While the first Woman Entrepreneur/Woman Crush Wednesday was not from NYNOW but from a different event entirely (if you missed it I featured Emaurade Toubia from the show Shadowhunters who moderated a great panel on Latina Beauty HERE), I wanted to devote some dedicated time to featuring women who are pursuing their passions and following their dreams.

One of the brands that stood out was Elements Truffles and it's Founder, Alak Vasa who I got a chance to meet in person during NYNOW.

About the Founder:

One of the things that stood out most about Alak Vasa, founder of Elements Truffles is that she was a Wall Street Trader. I worked in Finance for quite awhile during College and I remember working on the Trading Floor for quite a number of Financial Firms and remember first hand just how incredibly stressful the environment is.

Good chocolate is one of the things that kept Alak going and also planted a seed of inspiration. Combining her culinary experiments with her spirituality and the ancient life science of Ayurveda, Alak turned her passion for chocolate and how the five elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether - into an artisanal dessert.

Oddly enough when I worked in Finance we had a great truffle store located inside our building, except those truffles were popular for their 'spirits' not just their spirit! If you know what I mean! Wink! Wink!


About Elements Truffles They contain NO:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - GMO
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Soy or other Emulsifiers
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Preservatives
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Synthetic Flavors
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Gluten
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Cane Sugars
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Refined Sugars
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dairy

You read it right, Dairy Free and Gluten Free Chocolate and trust me you wouldn't be able to tell by the flavor that these are Dairy Free!

Ingredient Sourcing:

Their ingredients including Cacao made from fine quality Criollo beans from Peru and honey extracted ethically from local honey bees in New Jersey are all from Fair Trade Manufacturers that align with Element Truffles philosophies (high quality with low environmental impact).

Social Stewardship:

Not only do 25% of the profits go towards supporting the education of under-privileged children in tribal areas of India, (their charity partner is www.careforchildren.org) each member of The Elements Truffles team invests at least five hours of their time each week giving back to the community.

I loved them all, but these were my top two flavors in no particular order:

Above: Peppermint infused with Lavender - Elements Truffles Ayurveda Inspired Artisanal Chocolate Bar

Above: Raspberry infused with beetroot - Elements Truffles Ayurveda Inspired Artisanal Chocolate Bar

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WIN IT + MY TAKE:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

24 Count Assorted Elements Truffles - Photo Used With Permission

What I can't stress highly enough is just how delicious Elements Truffles are! It's rare that people rave that something good for you, tastes good too. That's what amazes me most, they hide all this healthy stuff inside their chocolate, yet it tastes better than most I have tried to date. At this point in my blogging career the highest praise I can give something that helps you understand my sincerity is to tell you I plan to buy these on regular rotation so I can have them at hand, and that is saying A LOT!

Our friends at Elements Truffles want you to experience their artisanal chocolate first hand so we have teamed up to give away a 24 count box of their assorted truffles!

Can't wait to see if you've won, or have a chocolate craving and must get some NOW, now NOW!? I can't say I blame you, shop them here:  Shop Elements Truffles

Follow the instructions in the Gleam widget below so you can be in it to win it (we are switching from Rafflecopter to Gleam this time around, please let us know if you experience any glitches so we know going forward if we should stick with Gleam and consider going Pro or go back to rafflecopter - we are letting you decide!)

Elements Truffles 24 Count Box of Assorted Truffles

I have tried a larger number of 'healthy chocolate' brands than you know dear butterflies. The reason you don't know is because they don't all make these pages. The last time I was this jazzed about a chocolate that could honestly call itself "healthy" was unreal which I featured HERE if you missed it.

READERS SOUND OFF: Visit Elements Truffles and tell us which of their flavors you are most excited to try (by the way that is the mandatory entry for this contest, so don't forget to tell us in the Gleam Widget what name you commented under so you can get your entry!)

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FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post sponsored by Elements Truffles, all opinions are 100% my own! They are sponsoring the prize, however this post is NOT compensated! 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.

Join the #SummerOfMemories #Giveaway Campaign! #AscendingButterfly wants to 'pimp your summer'

It is officially Summa Time, Summa Time, Sum Sum Summa Time!

We want you out there making memories this summer and thought the most fun way to support you would be with a summer of giveaway fun that encourages making memories.

Today we are launching our Summer of Memories Giveaway Campaign - it's a giveaway promotion that will grow all summer!

Our first brand up is Tiny Prints and Shutterfly. Read more about my love for them HERE. They are offering YOUR choice of a $100 Gift Card to Tiny Prints or Shutterfly!

The giveaway page will be automatically updated with new giveaways so check the home-page of the blog to find out who the next giveaway brand will be! If the widget gets stuck, refresh your page and then hit the words "a Rafflecopter Giveaway" and follow the prompts to enter. (Unless noted, all giveaways end 09/01/2016 - check each giveaways launch page to double check!)

What is YOUR Favorite Summer Memory? (Yes it can be a past summer if you are still working on summer memories for this summer)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: The Summer of Memories Giveaway Promotion is a Sponsored Promotion - products and compensation have been provided. Sponsors are responsible for prize fulfillment. Neither Ascending Butterfly nor contest sponsor(s) 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!

#AscendingButterfly is opening our #SummerOfMemories #Giveaway Campaign with @Tinyprints & @Shutterfly

This post is Sponsored by:

It is officially Summa Time, Summa Time, Sum Sum Summa Time!

We want you out there making memories this summer and thought the most fun way to support you would be with a summer of giveaway fun that encourages making memories.

Today we are launching our Summer of Memories Giveaway Campaign - it's a giveaway promotion that will grow all summer!

Our first brand up is Tiny Prints and Shutterfly.

You guys already know how obsessed I am with Tiny Prints as I only use them for my business cards, you can check out past posts (remember if you look back on a giveaway post that giveaway is now closed so be sure to enter the new one under our Summer of Memories promotion!) the love is real folks as evidenced in past posts HERE, HERE, and HERE.

In fact, we have a 'twofer' for you! You can get 30% off at Tiny Prints using the coupon below:

and in our Summer of Memories Giveaway we are hosting a Giveaway of $100 to YOUR choice of Tiny Prints of Shutterfly! So whether it's creating beautiful invitations, photo gifts, photo collages or amaze balls Business Cards, we've got you covered!

My Cards:

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:

Tiny Prints has certainly solved 'my one year itch' when it comes to re-designing my Business Cards. I am long standing customer of both Shutterfly and Tiny Prints, and nothing makes me happier than being able to have my personal likes reflected on my blog and partnering with brands that are already a part of my life!

What would you select if you were picked as the winner - A $100 Gift Card to Shutterfly or Tiny Prints?

(And no worries, they won't get offended if you pick one over the other as they are affiliated! LOL)

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FTC Disclosure: Tiny Prints/Shutterfly provided business cards for Editorial Consideration. The Summer of Memories Giveaway Promotion is a Sponsored Promotion - products and compensation have been provided. 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!

Find out why Ascending Butterfly recommends following the Butterfly for 'Happy Feet' @AlegriaNation!

Nothing puts the motivation in my Monday faster than a good pep in my step. And while I had no idea that my love of butterflies would become a blog or a brand for me, I do know that following the butterfly has never led me wrong yet.

I'm an April baby and while everyone thinks the 'season of renewal', after many years of soggy birthdays, I have learned the hard way about 'April Showers bringing May Flowers'. Meaning I want to keep my feet dry, but don't necessarily need boots with fur anymore and that's exactly where Alegria Shoes come in. Not just any shoes, but the shoes with the butterfly on them.

If like me you thought Alegria was all 'Nursing Shoes' I urge you to take another look at their website, they are not just for Nurses.

I got to try out the Alegria Cami Mahogany Boot:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Genuine Mahogany Leather
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Buckle Straps at the Calf and Ankle to allow for a custom fit
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Leather Covered insole let's your feet naturally breathe
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Cork, Memory Foam & Latex footbed, form to the natural contours of your foot
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Removable Footbed
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Hand sewn, Dri Lex Lining
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Superior Arch Support
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Roomy Toe Box
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Heel Height: 1 1/4 in.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Platform Height: 1/2 in.

MY TAKE:

These are super comfortable, I actually broke them in during a weekend away in Atlantic City and I usually never break in new shoes when traveling there because I know I will be doing more walking than usual. My feet didn't hurt at the end of the day, and I had tons of people asking me about them. Whenever I go to an event I tend to wear something that has a butterfly on it, (usually jewelry) and now I get to add my footwear to the mix which is fun. I love the arch support on these because that's one of the things I actually need the most. I love that these are comfort footwear but don't really look like it. The Buckles give it a hard edge and then the butterfly lends it a more feminine vibe. I'm not going to be happy when the weather warms up so much that I will have to put these away.

These definitely get a 10 butterfly rating out of 10 for hitting it right out the park: comfort (check), stylish (check), BUTTERFLY (check plus, plus!).

And as my fellow Latinas already know, 'Alegria' means happiness, and who doesn't want happy feet?

Are you already a member of the Alegria Nation? If so, which is your favorite pair? Don't forget to tweet @AlegriaNation and tell them you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly! (Apologies for no giveaway this time around, hopefully they can come back for something fun for Spring/Summer!)


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

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, however the Alegria Cami Mahogany Boot was provided to us for editorial consideration. 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 check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

{#Giveaway} Need to update your brand? Start by winning 100 Business Cards from our friends @tinyprints!

This Giveaway is CLOSED, winner is Rachel T.

It is exactly one year now that I have been putting my 'best face' forward on my business cards and using a card that is not only creative, but the most reflective of me and my personal brand.

For me, being an 'Ascending Butterfly' is a soul that is always in transition, always growing, changing and evolving. Even in the most simple ways I like to see signs of change, my desktop wallpaper rotates every 15 minutes with a new picture or motivational quote, the same with my screensaver. I even change the desktop background to my phone daily! So for me to say I haven't re-designed my business cards in over a year is truly saying a lot. Usually every time I needed a new box, I would re-design the entire card. But not anymore!

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 into a booming online destination for stylish stationery (and more!) for every occasion.

My business card is a folded card so it can be stored as a standard size card. But as you can see below, it is anything but 'standard'.

It opens up and this is the 'inside' of the actual card (I blanked out my phone number, sorry guys!)

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:

Since I started blogging I have designed a new card each year, which makes perfect sense, the cards evolved as much as me and my blog have. But now I'm in more of a 'groove' and my tinyprints Business Cards have been the most accurate reflection of me to date!

The tinyprints Custom Design Service allows you to work directly with a Designer, so your card truly reflects your vision instead of just a standard template. They also offer a free physical AND digital proof. There is a low One-Time Fee of $25 for the service. My designer took a very scattered vision and helped 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 (as you can see from past reviews, here and here), 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! For me the past few months have been filled with non-stop tradeshows, conferences, expos and events, and I have almost run through a print run of 500 cards already!

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 orders $49 or more! Use Code: FREESHIP49 | Limited time only see website for details

Win It:

One lucky butterfly will win 100 business cards! 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 fast extra credit entries too!) Hurry this giveaway ends on St. Patrick's Day!

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 100 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! RRRUK88F2KC4

Looking for a #Healthy Snack? @HarvestSnaps has got you covered!

With the advent of the Holiday Season upon us there are going to be a million ways to blow your diet. Holiday Parties with their array of tempting treats, and not let's not even begin to discuss the amount of average calories consumed on Thanksgiving Day. (Although with Black Friday starting earlier and earlier at many retailers you may get to burn quite a few calories pushing and shoving your way in the door for those great deals and bargains!)

If you are looking for a few healthy snack alternatives to have on hand (and at this time of the year who isn't?) I would highly recommend Harvest Snaps. I have to tell you they are the weirdest 'snack idea' you'll forever love. I found myself super skeptical about trying these, but one bite definitely turned my idea of normal late night 'salty snacking' on it's head!

I write best late at night when the world is asleep and all is quiet (well as quiet as City living can be anyway), and I invariably end up craving a late night snack when I'm up late trying to meet deadlines, let's face it, any eating after midnight is pretty much bad eating, so finding a way to minimize the damage to my waistline and keep the cravings at bay in a healthy way is something I'm all for!

Here is what I tried:

Benefits:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ – Less Fat and less Sodium

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ – More Fiber

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ – Higher Levels of Protein and Vitamin B

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ – Gluten Free

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ – Lower Glycemic Index

My Take:

I enjoyed all of these with Wasabi Ranch, Black Pepper, and Tomato Basil being my stand out favorites of the bunch, but I truly did enjoy each variety. They satisfied my salty cravings and I found myself reaching for them first. Niece and Nephew Butterfly like them also, and had no idea they were 'good for you' snacks, they just thought they were good! These are perfect anytime, but I also tried them as a crunchy topping on a salad which I liked a lot! Post workout or just plain late night snack out the bag you won't be able to stop at just one!

Get Social AND WIN IT:

You want to be sure to get social with Harvest Snaps because they are having a contest to win a bag and try them for yourself with their newest flavor, "Salted Caramel":

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ –  Follow them on Twitter @HarvestSnaps

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ –  "Like" them on Facebook too

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ – WIN A BAG: https://apps.facebook.com/shaketheseason/

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

FTC Disclosure: Harvest Snaps 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.