Wordless Wednesday - Butterfly Sightings at FFANY!

The Fashion Footwear Association of New York's Footwear Trade Show (follow the twitter hashtag #FFANY) is at the midway point and it's been a whirlwind of Fun and Shoes! (If you want more details, feel free to refer to yesterday's post for more info HERE)

As this is Wordless Wednesday and it's supposed to be all about the pictures, here are the shoe pictures I promised, there were butterfly sightings everywhere I turned during FFANY day 1, I'll post more details about the show and the brands soon and an interview with amazing designer Sasha Igdari!

Bacolté Shoes

I had the chance to receive a private demo with Bacolté, and was amazed at the versatility and very impressed by the line, I hope to be able to partner with them here on Ascending Butterfly!

Bacolté Shoes and Matching Handbags! Butterfly Lovers Paradise!

Matching handbags for the lovely shoes! More Butterflies! I was in heaven! Aren't the pink shoes with butterfly heel and matching bag just simply to die for?

Check out these brown stiletto booties with Butterfly detailing! I'm glad they added a platform in the front to make them more comfortable to wear! (The neutral peep toe booties to the left of them are pretty cute too!

Check out these adorable girls Butterfly Rain Boots! I love the pink and purple combo.

Sasha Igdari - The Designer and her Collection

I had the pleasure of meeting Sasha Igdari the tour-de-force designer behind the bold brand of highly stylish footwear (for those of you attending FFANY she is on the 15th floor!) and was very excited by the technology behind her footwear, who knew super high heels could have an anatomically correct footbed allowing them to be comfortable?

I'd like to profile her more in depth very soon so I'll leave you with this photo I took of her for now!

As usual, my Wordless Wednesday is not entirely wordless, but without captions how else could I make you feel like you were actually there?

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, I attended the Fashion Footwear Trade Show as a member of the online press and I am under no obligation to write about it. As I love all things butterfly related, I couldn't help but share my butterfly finds at the TradeShow with my readers.

Do you LOVE shoes? - FFANY has begun!

June 7-9, 2011 marks the Fashion Footwear Association of New York's Footwear Trade Show, where members of the shoe industy and press will descend upon the Hilton New York Hotel for all things footwear as well as the The annual FFANY Industry Party which is now soldout and will be held Tuesday, June 7, 6:30 – 9:00 pm at the fabulous Bryant Park!

As I already know from experience that my wifi device isn't going to play nicely there, look for tweets later this evening, and for blog post recaps as my schedule permits.

So now you know the real reason I'm playing Hookey from Internet Week, it's because I plan to spend this week in Shoe Paradise instead! So for all of you attending #IWNY, please take notes or send me links to your blog recaps, and I'll gladly send you or better still post here, pics of shoes for your shoe loving pleasure. (Days and Days of Shoe Porn! The only porn you can and should send over twitter!) ;-)

About FFANY

The Fashion Footwear Association of New York has been bringing footwear manufacturers and retailers, the industry players, together for thirty years. They are a not-for-profit trade association representing footwear manufacturers from around the world and are prominent members of the New York Fashion Community.

Their Mission:

FFANY’s mission is to promote and assist the common business interests of its members, who include over 300 footwear manufacturers, representing over 800 fashion footwear, accessory and related apparel brands.

The goal of their tradeshows, held in February, June, August and December, is to create one exciting marketplace in New York City, the fashion capital of the world. Here, exhibiting footwear manufacturers and attending retailers can efficiently buy, sell and develop business networks.

FFANY extends its mission by being committed to philanthropy and by "giving back" to its members and the footwear industry. Through the generous donations of its members companies and its vital partnership with QVC, our charitable event "FFANY Shoes on Sale" has sold more than one million pairs of shoes and has raised over $33 million for breast cancer research and education. FFANY has reached out to millions of women across America with an essential message about breast cancer awareness.

FFANY also supports scholarship programs and charitable organizations within the footwear industry, such as the Two Ten Footwear Foundation and Shoes that Fit. Who knew your love of shoes could also do so much good? Isn't that fab?

Want to keep up with what's going on via Twitter?

Follow my stream @Tracy_Iglesias

Follow @FFANYShoeShow HERE

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Nabisco Newtons Fruit Thins - Where Good Meets Good For You!

Happy Monday Butterflies! Did you miss me this weekend? I spent this weekend away from all things electronic, and spent the weekend where I'm happiest, at the Beach! It's the only place where I feel completely relaxed and can re-charge. Beach trips have always held great memories for me, family, friends, sun, food, music, sand castles.

Spontaneous and entirely un-planned Beach trips usually mean relying on food vendors when you don't bring something of your own. And most food vendors are selling high calorie, not so good for you fried foods. My trip this weekend wasn't entirely un-planned, but the beach we were going to was very far, making me bringing food more of an inconvenience than anything else. So I grabbed some waters and low cal snacks, sunscreen and my ipod and headed out.

As many of you know I have been making very simple, small changes in my life and have lost quite a bit of weight. My biggest weakness is late night sweet snacks like ice cream, and I'm actively trying to substitute my favorite late night treat for healthier snacks!

A trip to the supermarket a few weeks ago, led to a great discovery. A cookie from a brand I already knew quite well and trust, has a brand new line of cookies on the market with 8 grams of whole grain! This definitely caught my eye and I opted to try it in the Chocolate Raspberry flavor. And I'm super happy I did!

When I was little I used to share Fig Newtons with my grandmother, she loved them and passed that love to me. So I had a feeling I would like these too!

Shortly after trying these for myself after a supermarket visit, I was contacted by One2One Network who asked if I'd be interested in trying out Newtons Fruit Thins and share about it with my readers. And needless to say I jumped at the chance! I love sharing about products I already buy for myself. And I was also super lucky because I was sent a different variety than the one I had already purchased myself and tried out!

Newtons Fruit Thins

For more than a century, Newtons has been one unique cookie - wholesome goodness made with real fruit and a taste all its own. Now, with the creation of Newtons Fruit Thins, Nabisco is breaking the mold again with a cookie unlike any other with real fruit in unexpected combinations packed into a thin and crispy cookie. 

The four delicious varieties include:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Cranberry Citrus Oat - I plan on trying this one next!
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Blueberry Brown Sugar - This is the one I tried via One2One Network, YUM!
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Chocolate Raspberry -This was the one I purchased, YUM!
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fig & Honey  - I bet this one will remind me most of traditional Newtons

And because Newtons Fruit Thins are made with real fruit and 8 grams of whole grain per serving you can feel great knowing you’re having a deliciously wholesome snack.  

Nutritional Information

Serving Size - 3 cookies
140 Calories
5 grams total fat
1-1.5 grams saturated fat

My Take:

I've had the chance to try 2 out of the 4 varieties, the first I purchased when I happened upon them in the Supermarket, and the second I tried via One2One Network. I greatly enjoyed both varieties, and I plan to purchase the other 2 as well.

If you are totally tired of cereal, these make a great substitute for cereal for breakfast, they are great to have in your pantry for an anytime of day snack. 3pm doldrums at work? These are perfect! Unlike the traditional Fig Newtons, these are actually crisp, so they give you that crispy crunch, and with the chocolate raspberry variety you can also get that chocolate taste, but still have a healthy snack.

I totally think Newtons Thins are where good meets good for you! It is possible to make healthy snacking choices that don't make you feel like you are sacrificing great taste.

I brought my bag with me to the beach, and friends and family enjoyed them as much I did. My niece and nephews already like traditional Fig Newtons, and they enjoyed these as well. They also have a variety called Fruit Crisps which I haven't found at my local supermarket yet, but I will try it once they carry it, have you tried either Fig Newtons, Fruit Thins or Fruit Crisps yet?

I had a wonderful weekend at the Beach, and I hope you had a great weekend too!

Our annual Dads N Grads Buying Reco Guide, where you have the chance to win everything you see will launch this week!

What did you do this weekend?

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FTC Disclosure Info: This post offers me the chance to win a Gift Card from the One2One Network. I was provided with samples of Nabisco Fruit Thins to help Facilitate this review. All opinions about Nabisco and the Fruit Thins products I sampled are my own. No monetary exchange has taken place. This is not a sponsored post and no compensation has been received in exchange for my opinion.

Weekend Words of Inspiration - See You Monday!

I am taking a long overdue weekend, so our annual Dads N Grads Buying Guide will launch in a few days instead of today and don't be surprised if you send me an email and it doesn't get answered in my usual hyper responsive super timely manner!

This weekend I'll be seeking my own inspiration by taking time away from the hustle and bustle and the super fast pace that has been a constant so far in 2011. The weather in New York City has been absolutely perfect these past few days and this weekend nature in all its glory is calling my name! What are you doing this weekend?

My apologies for those of you getting a pop up asking you to login, just hit the X on the upper right hand side of the pop up or hit cancel and it will go away and the site will load normally, and comments are working fine, I'm working with my host to get this removed.

Weekend Words of Inspiration

 

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud 'I release energies, habits and circumstances that no longer serve my highest good!'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about profound and powerful changes in your life.

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter ! Twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

@Tracy_Iglesias #ascendingbutterfly - Today's Words of #Inspiration - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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Rock The Vote!

Would greatly appreciate your vote (I'm Tracy wearing a Red Leather Jacket) HERE

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Winners Announcement: Wilsons Leather Pelle Camden Leather Satchel Giveaway!

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WINNER: Thanks to Wilson's Leather for hosting our May Featured Handbag in the Spotlight, the lucky winner who will receive the Pelle Camden Leather Satchel in their choice of color is:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Amy Rouse

I will close out the Borghese Spa Bella Mother's Day Gift Set soon, and June marks the begining of our Annual Dads N Grads Buying Guide so stay tuned for some fun surprises!

And if you haven't already, I could use a one time vote (no worries it's not a daily, just a one time vote, I am the one on the top of the list, Tracy, wearing a red leather jacket!) HERE

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Wordless Wednesday - Lil Drummer Girl

Make Up For Ever MakeUp Artist Prepping a Model for Living Marionette Show, New York Groove Event, NY MakeUp Show

Read Full New York Makeup Show Recap HERE

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Reminders:

Active Giveaway: {ENDS SOON} Borghese Spa Bella Gift Set Giveaway -http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/05/borghese-spa-bella-gift-set-giveaway.html

Vote For Ascending Butterfly: Please vote for me, Tracy, I am wearing a red jacket - http://www.yourbestpose.com/competition/?id=1#6

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The MakeUp Show Says GoodBye To New York And Hello To Chicago!

It's Yours Truly, Ascending Butterfly at the 2011 New York MakeUp Show

Last year and this year I had the pleasure of attending  The New York MakeUp Show. The Show which says Goodbye To New York, is headed to Chicago, and it's a must event for all fellow MakeUp Mavens! So if you are in or near Chi-Town, be sure to catch The MakeUp Show Chicago, running Sunday, June 12 - Monday June 13, 2011.

The Makeup Show will bring together your top brands and inspirational artists and educators for two amazing days of community, career and craft building. Learn about the newest lines and product launches. Explore makeup workshops and discover school programs. Network with your peers. Develop new relationships and ignite your passion with the Windy City.

While I have only attended the show for the past two years, this year marked The MakeUp Show's Sixth Consecutive Year in NYC!  Some of the brands in attendance included Make Up For Ever (check out the neat picture I included of them in action at the preview event), Stila, Face Atelier, Smashbox (We have had the pleasure of working with Smashbox often for reviews and giveaways since 2009, and it's always great to see them at the show! And re-stock on my faves like their Primer!), Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Inglot, Iredale Minerals, Kevyn Aucoin, Yves Saint Laurent, Becca Cosmetics (We have also worked with Becca on a review and giveaway here on Ascending Butterfly, I can't say enough about them or their creative packaging) and this year was Nars debut at the show!

Make Up For Ever MakeUp Artist Prepping a Model for Living Marionette Show, New York Groove Event, NY MakeUp Show

I attended the Blogger Preview this year (I can't tell you what was in the Goodie Bags this year, as I didn't receive one, and unfortunately was told it was because fellow Bloggers took multiple bags, leaving some of us with none), however the highlight of the show was the New York Groove Evening Reception - A Gallery of Makeup Art, Fashion and Cocktails! (Need I say more?)

Attendees (including yours truly) had the opportunity to watch the most creative makeup artists in the industry at work, and there was even a living Marionette show!

And all that was just the preview before the actual show! The show offers various workshops, exhibitors, demos, opps to be made over yourself (try to arrive early, you will  more than likely be given a time to go back to the booth. My favorite all time ever Make Over was at Jane Iredale's Booth at The NY MakeUp Show!) and some exhibitors do offer samples. The show also offers exclusive buying opportunties (just remember as tempting as it may be, ask before you grab, some booths are selling, others are not), so you can sample that hot new gloss, or color, and if you discover later it wasn't right for you, at least you nabbed it at a discount!

One of the things I love most about events, are meeting fellow NYC based bloggers in person and finally putting faces to the names! Here is a picture of me (middle) and the bloggers extraordinaire behind Lipstick and Luxury (right) and Definition Royale (left)!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, this is a non-sponsored post. I attended the MakeUp Show as a member of the online press, and I was not asked to post a recap, I am posting one because I am a makeup lover and enjoyed the event!

Happy Memorial Day!

 

Just wanted to take a moment to say Thank You to our Soldiers. I have a few family members who have served throughout the years, my great-grandfather a decorated Vet, and I have a great respect for the sacrifices made on a daily basis by our soldiers AND their family and friends.

However you decide to spend your day remember to take a moment to thank a soldier today!

I'm feeling filled with gratitude today and I hope you are too!

Wishing you and yours a very blessed Memorial Day!

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Sunday Moment of Gratitude, Winners List, Active Giveaways and MORE!

This week, I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - For another reminder to simply be grateful for each day! As you know, I spent the bulk of the week at the BlogWorld East New Media Expo which was sharing space with BookExpo America. I didn't have much time to visit BookExpo, but when I did get a chance to visit, Jane Fonda was speaking, I had a chance to stay and hear her Questions and Answers with the audience, and she was asked "What inspires you?", and her response was quite simple yet very profound "Still Being Around", "Just the fact that I'm still here inspires me". Her response has stayed with me all week. And when problems seemed to overwhelm my thoughts, I remembered that just being here really is the gift, and if you have another day you can let it be a clean slate or merely a repeat of the one that came before.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Even though I'm spending mine mostly getting caught up, I am very happy that it's Memorial Day Weekend! How are you celebrating this weekend? At the beach? Family Barbeque?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The opportunity to learn from my peers in the industry. BlogWorld has helped me to feel even more energized about my blog and my writing. The only real roadblock to my success are my perceptions and thoughts, and those can be always be improved and changed to suit my highest good!  I will post more recaps about specific sessions and some over due event recaps throughout the week.

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WINNERS: Thanks for your patience everyone, I have a long overdue winners list to share! CONGRATULATIONS to our 8 winners!!!!

1800baskets.com Basket of YOUR Choice ($100 and under) Giveaway, 3 Winners:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Eyewonit
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - ChicnSavvy
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ericka T

MOR Cosmetics Heart Shaped Tin in Scent of Choice Giveaway, 3 Winners:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Cataroo
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Kkenty (If you are reading this, I sent you an email regarding prize fulfillment that needs to be answered before you can receive your prize, please answer as soon as possible).
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Hoa

Earthies The Veria Shoe in Color of Choice Giveaway, 1 Winner:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Saraanny83

$200 B-Glowing.com Digital Gift Certificate, 1 Winner:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Patricia S.

Please Note: All winners have confirmed! We post winner usernames only out of respect for privacy.

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What are you grateful for today? I'd love for you to write in and share what you are grateful for this week. The more you say it, the more you speak it, and the more you live in gratitude, the more you will find reasons to be grateful for, and the more reasons that the universe will send you to be grateful for. So join me on this journey of gratitude and inspiration. And you can post here daily (even though my list will be posted weekly).

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me on Twitter here (@Tracy_Iglesias) Twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field at Twitter:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and Great giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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Active Giveaways!

1) Ends 05/31 - Featured Handbag in the Spotlight: Pelle Camden Belted Leather Satchel Giveaway! Winners choice of color! ARV $225 (Birkin Style for the girl who doesn't want to sacrifice style while sticking to her budget!) Enter HERE

2) Ends 06/02 - Borghese Spa Bella Gift Set Giveaway! - Filled with amazing products in a perfect summertime tote, keep it for yourself or give it to someone special. Enter HERE

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For those of you who are interested in keeping a gratitude journal this year, here is my recommendation and where to purchase it:

Make this Your Best Day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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FTC Disclosure: Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link

{CLOSED} Borghese Spa Bella Gift Set Giveaway!

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Borghese! We look forward to working with you again! The winner has been notified and upon confirmation, follower name will be posted both here and on our homepage. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!

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Ascending Butterfly's Annual Mother's Month Buying Guide Giveaway, brought to you by:

Yes it is still Mother's Month at Ascending Butterfly, with all the craziness of BlogWorld 2011 finally coming to an end, I'm catching up on emails, entries and of course blog posts. I wanted to get this post up before BlogWorld, but I didn't get a chance, so I want to start by thanking our dear friends at Borghese for their patience.

I've been using Borghese products (my personal longtime fave is the Fango Mud Mask) well before my Blogging Days, so when I recommend them, I do so because they are a brand I buy anyway!

This week I've been in 'go go go' mode with very little rest (felt much like the Energizer Bunny), with a back to back schedule that left little time for adequate hydration and my skin really paid for it! While makeup has its place, the foundation for great skin is taking good care of it. And even if you have oily or combination skin, it still requires proper hydration to maintain it's health! This weekend aside from trying to catch up on much needed rest, I am planning on some 'at home spa day' treatments to thank my skin for putting up with the abuses I put it through this week!

Spa Bella Mother's Day Gift Set

Pictured Above: Spa Bella Mother's Day Gift Set

Included in the Set:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Gel Delicato Gentle Makeup Remover - a luxurious and lightweight gel that never robs skin of moisture as it lifts away makeup. (I love not having to tug at my skin to get makeup off, especially now as we are approaching summer. This time of year I switch to waterproof everything, requiring a very solid remover, I love having a remover that gets it all off, but doesn't dry or strip my skin in the process!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fango Active Mud for Face and Body  - Stimulate and firm the skin while gently detoxifying. (This is my favorite Mud Mask of all time! It never over dries my skin, and it makes my face look just like my skin does after a pricey spa facial treatment!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sali Esfoliante Salt Scrub - Purifies your skin. (I love salt scrubs, your skin needs exfoliation year round, many people cut back on them in the summer which is actually a mistake, the dead skin cells need to be sloughed off your skin or they clog your pores, so don't cut back on your exfoliation routine just because the weather is getting warm!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - CuraForte Moisture Intensifier - Allows moisturizing products to perform to the max and provides lavish hydration. (Use much like you would a makeup primer, especially if you are more partial to mineral/powder foundations)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Cura di Vita Protettivo Protective Moisturizer SPF 15 - I love this and use it daily, it offers SPF protection, hydration and doesn't make my skin oily.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fluido Protettivo Advanced Spa Lift for Eyes - With my jam packed schedule, I never skip this step! I'm also prone to dark circles from my dads side of the family so I really try to make a concerted effort to use products that help with under eye circles.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tono Body Creme - Give skin the moisture it needs for a healthy glow. If you are going to spend the day at the beach you can put on your sunblock during the day, and then use this at night after your shower, your skin will thank you for it in the morning!

All packed in a perfect-for-summer Straw Tote lined with signature “B” pattern. A $209.00 value, priced at $52.50.

My Take

This is a great gift not just for Mother's Day but a perfect gift for summer month birthdays too! Attending a pool party at a friends house? Dinner party during the summer months, bring this as a hostess gift. It's unique, thoughtful and will be very much appreciated! And this set couldn't possibly be more timely since this is the start of Memorial Day Weekend.

You didn't think I'd forget about you right? Who loves you butterfly?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Borghese have a very special surprise for 1 lucky winner! 1 winner will win the Spa Bella Mother's Day Gift Set!

Don't you just ♥ Borghese? I know I do!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2)MANDATORY entry-Visit Borghese and  Link us to another great item that catches your eye! (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com). (If your email is clearly visible in your profile, you can just say so, that's OK!) Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning (or in this case, the A,B,C’s of winning!) This giveaway is open to USA residents who are 18 years of age or older. No PO Boxes.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this" or "I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Friday, May 27, 2011 until Thursday, June 02, 2011 at 03:00 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email your entry will not be processed)

EXTRA CREDIT:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Rock the VOTE - it's super easy and a ONE time only, Please vote for me, Tracy Iglesias (in red jacket)  - http://www.yourbestpose.com/competition/?id=1#6

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment. (If your blog post contains more than just a pic and link you'll get 5 extra credit entries! Leave five entries.)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - In the spirit of Mother's Day Fun share with us your favorite advice that your mom has given you! (and yes, if you were not raised by your mom, you can share with us the best wisdom received by the person who did raise you!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Grab our NEW Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you have our old one, please swap it out, our URL address has changed!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter (this is ascendingbutterfly’s editor) and give me your twitter ID in a comment

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @@BorgheseBeauty on Twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @Ascending1 on Twitter (this is Ascending Butterfly's new account, we will soon be hosting twitter parties which necessitates having a second account so we can make updates throughout the entire party!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Tweet this:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - @Ascending1 + @BorgheseBeauty Spa Bella Gift Set #Giveaway! Ends 06/02 Pls RT- http://tinyurl.com/443bxp7

(Leave a comment with the tweet’s url so you can get a valid entry (click on the time your tweet was sent to get the direct URL and then copy and paste it here). You can Tweet TWICE per DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified.)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Borghese and tell them Ascending Butterfly Sent You (I'm sure they'd love for you to tell them which Product you most want to try also!) on Facebook HERE (Please post the link to your facebook comment, you can get that link the same way you get your link to your tweets!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Join Ascending Butterfly's NEW Community/Real Time Chat, Group HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - One time only, NOT a daily: Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Have you entered another active giveaway on Ascending Butterfly? Let me know which one and you’ll get more extra credit!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Have you commented on a non-giveaway entry? Let me know which one here and you’ll get more extra credit!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Press the button below and join, you get an extra entry for this giveaway and a shot at more great prizes, lets win together! (one time extra credit, will be verified before entry can be accepted)

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

FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the product and the sponsor are my own experiences. I was provided product to facilitate the review and giveaway. The sponsors are fulfilling directly to prize winner(s), this in no way influenced my opinion of the products. Once a winner is selected and their information has been forwarded to the sponsor, the responsibility of prize fulfillment rests with the sponsor.

The WiFi Gods have NOT been playing nice! BlogWorld NYC, Fleet Week and More!

BlogWorld NY 2011 Keynote: Mega LBS or Mega BS — Photo Credit: BlogWorld & New Media Expo Blog

Yet again the WiFi Gods and my portable device are not playing nicely so my plans to live blog at the BlogWorld New Media Expo (#BWENY) have been thwarted!

Not to worry I am taking very detailed notes of the sessions I attended, and will post blog recaps this week. In the interim, I have been tweeting out memorable quotes from various sessions! Check out my twitter stream to read the quotes!

Some Random Thoughts and Observations:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - While I have attended and exhibited at my fair share of Conferences and Trade Shows, This is my second major blogging conference. The first time, I put WAY too much on my itinerary for each day, this time around I made more time to focus in on sessions, panels and learning, and I'm very glad I did!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I am catching many bloggers doing something this year that bothered me last year. A laser beam focus on meeting speakers, exhibitors and brands, and practically snubbing one another. Example: I was speaking to someone and a fellow blogger 'joined in' on the conversation just as me and the person I was speaking to were about to exchange cards, I handed one to the person I was speaking to and one to the blogger, she didn't hand it back, but after looking at my pass and realizing I was 'just a fellow blogger' she wasn't going to give me hers..... No names being used here to protect the innocent, but if bloggers thought more about the power our numbers have, they'd realize banding together in solidarity and forming relationships with one another is just as important if NOT more so, than the relationships we are forming with Brands.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I have greatly been missing writing an inspirational post, so today I will share with you a quote from the conference that really resonated with me, 'My Thoughts Are My Power, and I will Never Run Out of Those.' - Isn't that a fantastic affirmation? I love that it applies to ANY walk of life, wherever you may find yourself personally and professionally, it's an empowering reminder!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I love featuring Brands that give back, Corporations with A Conscience, I like using my Social Footprint for Good, and heard the term used today 'Social Activist' and had an AHA moment, that's exactly what I am! What is YOUR digital footprint saying about you?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - There was a panel that focused on PR Agencies and Brands working better, and I thought to myself I should speak someday on a similar panel as I've sat on both sides of the house as a Public Relations person, and now on the blogging end of this age old debate. There is so much room for improvement in this area. Are you a blogger? Do you have tips for working better with PR Agencies?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I think ultimately what most conferences teach us is how to connect better, how to improve the ways we build personal relationships, and the sessions that stand out most are the ones that make you think about that topic in a whole new way!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - and I don't know who lined up this conference with the start of Fleet Week, but Thank You! This single gal certainly enjoyed walking out of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center and finding tons of cute sailors in Uniform out and about!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Yesterday's keynote was about geotracking location services. While the panelists were experts in their field and very knowledgeable, I am still not sold on using these services, it shocks many people when I tell them I do not have a FourSquare Account, but then again I never joined Virtual Life either. My real one is too busy. I don't want everyone to know what I'm doing, where I'm shopping and what events I'm attending at any given minute. What's YOUR take? Do you like it, hate it, fall somewhere in between?

Non Conference Related - I would really love your vote so I can win an iPad! (Maybe then I could finally live blog from the conferences!) - please press on the Vote button and vote for ME, Tracy Iglesias here: http://www.yourbestpose.com/competition/?id=1#6

I have been hard at work being your eyes and ears at the BlogWorld New Media Expo, very happy to have them in New York City this year, and I hope to catch them out in Vegas when the conference goes back out there.

And just a reminder, I am not responding to emails during the dates of the Expo, and all entries will be processed later on this weekend for our active giveaway located on the upper right hand side of the page!

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

See you at the BlogWorld New Media Expo Tomorrow!

Last week I co-hosted a Twitter Party (#BWEchat) to help announce that the BlogWorld New Media Expo (#BWENY) was coming to New York City! And soon the big day will finally be here, the Expo begins Tuesday, May 24th and runs through May 26th. You will see Twitter Updates on my Twitter Feed @Tracy_Iglesias and blog updates as time and the wi-fi Gods allow!

For those of you looking for me, my twitter avatar is pretty accurate, except right now I'm sans bangs (Mother Nature is being unusually cruel and cranking up the humidity). I of course will have something 'butterfly' very visible, be it jewelry or clothing. I'll also have my red leather notebook with me, as great as netbooks and laptops are, I still like taking notes retro style!

This is the first time BlogWorld is hitting New York City, and much like last year's BlogHer Conference, I am SO happy to have this conference coming to my backyard! As much as I love to travel, this week I wouldn't have been able to fly out, so to have it here is a huge sigh of relief! I am keeping my fingers crossed that the MTA will be running on time this week, last week with various construction, it took me almost double the time to arrive everywhere than it should have!

I'll be in amazing company, bloggers, writers, podcasters, entrepreneurs and brands and like most conferences, I'm sure it's going to inspire me and turbo charge me into high gear!

The Book Expo is also sharing space with BlogWorld, so I'm looking forward to taking a walk over and checking out The Book Expo as well.

If you are attending and would like to meet up, Tweet Me! (@Tracy_Iglesias)

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