Win a Got Milk? Themed Gift Basket! Chock of full of great stuff and Gift Cards (like American Express & Starbucks!) too! - 2 winners!

#ad: This is a Sponsored Giveaway. Full Dislcosure Below

I have a strong feeling that most of you are already familiar with the Got Milk? Campaign and have seen even celebs rocking those iconic Milk Mustaches everywhere! I got to meet the  team last year at BlogHer 2012 in New York City and had fun at their booth hamming it up and posing for photos. Check out my picture from BlogHer last year with my Milk Mustache:

Ascending Butterfly & The Milkman at The Breakfast Project Booth, BlogHer12

If you are already following us on Pinterest I'm sure you have already seen that photo. Sometimes we post photos on Pinterest that don't make a blog post, so be sure to follow us there as well! The Breakfast Project, milkmustache.com, knows that every good day starts with Milk, and the campaign is running both in English and Spanish. In Spanish it's called El Proyecto Desayuno and can be found at bigotedeleche.com. Please stop over there right now and take a peek! Guess who the Blogger of the Month/Bloguera Del Mes is? That's right, it's ME!

Making Milk a part of your morning routine has incredible health benefits, including:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Helping to avoid Osteoporosis, Hypertension and Colon Cancer, these benefits come from drinking milk directly and do not come from only consuming a supplement. (talk about 'one to grow on'!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Protecting you from Tooth Decay and Cavity Problems

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Keeping you slim! People who drink Milk regularly actually stay slim and enjoy the many natural vitamins and minerals that help keep you healthy and fit. I know people tend to think the contrary, but Milk as part of a healthy diet can keep you slim and fit!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - By drinking Milk regularly you can help prevent heartburn and other gastric problems. Drinking a glass of milk when you experience heartburn can calm your food pipe from inflammation.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The calcium in Milk gives you strong bones, teeth, nails and helps your hair too!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - My Grandma swore by a hot glass of milk at night and she was right, it can soothe your nerves and help relax tense muscles which helps put you to sleep.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Also helps to replenish the body and is good after a strenous workout!

Milk provides nutrients that the body requires to function properly, vitamins (for our red blood cells), calcium (for strong bones), carbohydrates (for energy), magnesium (for muscles), phosphorous (for utilizing energy), potassium (for the nervous system), protein (growth and the healing process), riboflavin (healthy skin) and zinc (boosts immune system). Who knew that one simple glass of milk did so much? If you are not Lactose Intolerant, then you should make sure you are drinking at least one glass of milk per day, and adding it on at breakfast will help you start your day right!

The folks at Proyecto Desayuno sent over a great gift basket full of Milk Related Items to help me celebrate making Blogger of the Month/Bloguera Del Mes, check it out here:

I have got to put on the tshirt so I can take a picture with it on! The basket contained Special K Cereal Bars, Ferrero Rocher Chocolates, Chocolate Straws, Sugar Wafers, a Got Milk? tshirt, Cafe Bustelo (which instantly reminded me of my Abeulita!), A Picture Frame with motivational messages about the importance of family (why is it that I can never have too many picture frames? I love to display my photos!), a pitcher, a Got Milk? Cup with straw, H2O Milk Skincare Products (I love all things H2O! In fact I'm currently using their Sea Salt line in my shower!), and great gift cards including a $15 Starbucks Gift Card, and a $50 American Express Gift Card).

WIN IT:

Ascending Butterfly and the folks at Proyecto Desayuno want you to join in the fun too! 2 very lucky butterflies have a chance to win a Gift Basket of their own! While some of the items may vary in your basket, the gift card amounts will remain the same and be the same for both winners! The main entry is easy peasy, so be sure to enter using the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Is Milk already a part of your Healthy Breakfast Butterflies?

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FTC Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Giveaway by Proyecto Desayuno, All Opinions are 100% my own. Visit our Giveaway and Disclosure Policy HERE. I do feel that Milk is a very important part of a healthy breakfast and is very much a part of my personal morning routine!

Wordless Wednesday: Be the Flow!

We are not formal enough for a linky widget around here, bloggers feel free to comment with a link to your Wordless Wednesday Post and we'll be sure to stop by and say hi!

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterfly!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post.

May is National Moving Month - Tips for a Hassle Free Move + Score a Sweet Discount on your next move here!

Ad: This is a Sponsored Post on behalf of unpakt, all opinions are 100% my own: 

Sadly dear butterflies, Mr. Rogers isn't always right; It's not always a beautiful day in the neighborhood. My neighborhood especially. Loud Music Blaring All Day AND All Night. Tons of nefarious goings on that the both the landlord and super turn a blind eye to, what's a butterfly to do?

With May being National Moving Month, and me being ready for change on so many levels, a Move sounds like a great idea to me! There is very little in my neighborhood that I'll miss quite frankly. If you share my sentiments about being ready for a change of scenery this year and a move is on your agenda, I've got you covered with ideas to get you ready for moving day!

Moving Tips:

TIMING - Spring or late Fall are the best times to move. If possible, avoid the first, last and middle of the month when planning your move.

BOOKING: Moving in the summer? Book at least a month in advance! If you are moving in Spring, Fall or Winter you can book two weeks in advance. Don't forget to consider the weather for your area!

ORGANIZING YOUR MOVE - You need a system, try color coordinating with a designated colored sticker for each box that is based on the room the box should end up in, this way the movers will know where to put everything when you arrive, and you can spend less time directing traffic. Or if that sounds like too much work, you can still try out the color system by assigning each family member a color to keep their belongings organized during the move.

PACK A BOX OF 'MUST HAVES' - This is by far my favorite idea: Pack a box of 'must-haves' that includes items such as a change of clothes, toothbrushes, toiletries, so you won't have to search through all the boxes for these things after a long day of moving. Invariably you won't un-pack everything that first day, but this box will have all the major items you need so you don't have to worry if you decide to stop early and just get some rest!

THINK 'LIKE' - If you keep like items together, it will alleviate time when un-packing.

KEEP 'MUST SECURES' HANDY - Just like you pack a box of must have essentials, you should also consider packing important paperwork and jewelry in a box that stays with YOU at all times!

Save Money on your Move:

DECLUTTER - Before you move, as you are packing, be firm about not bringing anything along you don't really need. (By the way a great rule of thumb is this, if the item you are about to pack up and bring with you hasn't been used in 3 months, chances are you can toss it and not pack it!).

DO YOUR HOMEWORK - An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure my friends! Read Reviews because bad movers will end up costing you more in the long run.

INSURANCE - Take out insurance to protect valuables you cannot afford to replace.

BUDGET - Prepare a budget in advance so you can keep expenses low.

TAX BREAKS - Remember if your move is job-related, you may be able to deduct your moving expenses depending upon how you itemize deductions, check with your accountant/tax professional when filing.

LUGGAGE - In addition to using recycled boxes or renting plastic bins, you can also use existing luggage, use the luggage to move items that you want to remember to have handy so you don't have to search through the boxes or bins.

Tips for Moving With Children:

ONE BOX - Try to pack up child's favorite belongings in one box, and if they have lugguage use their luggage for this purpose, this way you don't spend tons of time sorting through different boxes to find a favorite stuffed animal or pillow.

STICKERS - Let kids decorate their own boxes using fun stickers (if you use something like animal stickers and assign each child a specific animal it will make it easier to sort through when you arrive)

PLAY DATE - If at all possible set up a play date so the kids are away from the moving site, this way you can focus on the move, and the kids won't be under foot of you or the movers. And it also avoids the risk of them getting hurt while furniture and heavy objects are being moved.

UNPACK THEM FIRST - It's easier to un-pack your child's room first and then work on common rooms, this way the move doesn't throw off bed schedules.

About Unpakt:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - First web app/digital marketplace/price comparison site for moving services!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Helps you find reputable moving companies, compare exact prices, read user reviews and book online instantly!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Streamlines the entire 'booking a mover' process to UNDER an hour!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Named one of The Next Web's Top 10 Apps for Home & Work!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Featured in The NY Times, Forbes, TechCrunch, The Huffington Post, Real Simple and more!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Available Coast to Coast!

How it Works:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Enter Move Basics (where/when/what you are moving)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Compare Moving Companies with exact prices, read user reviews and more. You can also save your move plan for later and make changes at any time. Perfect if you want to do preliminary research and then check in with your spouse at a different time.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Book mover at a guaranteed price. Price will not change unless you change inventory or conditions such as distance, stairs, etc.

NAB A DEAL ON YOUR NEXT MOVE:

Not only was Unpakt nice enough to share these great tips, they are also offering a sweet deal to Ascending Butterfly readers! Receive 5% instant cash back on your next move! Enter promo code: BUTTERFLY on Unpakt.com when booking and save. Must book by 07/31/13.

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 'Like' Unpakt on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @Unpakt on twitter and tweet them using Hashtags #moving, #movingday, #startup

**Always remember when getting social to tell them you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly**

So Butterfly, When is YOUR next move?

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FTC Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post on behalf of Unpakt.com, however all opinions shared are 100% my own. By the way, my neighborhood truly does suck!

{#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

{#Review + #Giveaway} I Took The Gorton's Seafood (@gortonsseafood ) Challenge & You Can Too!

GORTON'S SEAFOOD CHALLENGE:

I am a seafood lover, and when I go on vacation it's my favorite part of being near the sea. I like tropical vacations, I guess it's from growing up in the North East where it's cold more months of the year than it is hot. For me a getaway means being by the Beach: palm trees, drinks served in coconuts and some kind of seafood = VACATION.

But when there is no time for a getaway, or I'm nowhere near the beach, or just want seafood for dinner I have always turned to Gorton's Seafood, much like the commercials, I do trust the Gorton's Fisherman, it's what I grew up on when I was younger and the brand I still buy today.

When Gorton's put out the Seafood Challenge, I couldn't resist participating! Gorton's is encouraging families to eat seafood twice a week and they have a collection of recipes as well as 20 products that are 200 calories or less to help encourage a healthy diet!

There are numerous benefits to eating fish:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - They contain Omega-3 fatty acids (my personal fave, Salmon, is very high in Omega-3's)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Promote Heart Health

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Decrease Blood Pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol levels

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Improve Arthritis and Joint Pain

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lessens symptoms of Depression

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lessens symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Supports Eye Health

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Enhances Brain Growth and Development

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Aids Brain Growth in unborn babies, infants and kids

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Decreases the risks for certain Cancers (We have done quite a bit of Cancer related Coverage this week, if you missed our coverage, read HERE and HERE)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Reduces the symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

Try it in a RECIPE:

Part of the challenge was to try out a Gorton's Seafood under 200 Calories Product in a recipe, and I prepared one of my favorites: SHRIMP and SAUSAGE STUFFED MUSHROOMS:

@Wizard Recipes

But I substituted my recipe and instead of using the shrimp from the local fish market I used Gorton's Shrimp Scampi for an extra kick of flavor!

Ingredients:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 box of Gorton's Shrimp Scampi

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 Kielbasa or Andouille Sausage

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 medium yellow or red onion, diced

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 small green pepper, diced

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 tsp of diced Garlic

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1tbsp balsamic vinegar
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1tsp of AllSpice
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 box of Panko
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1tbsp Mayo
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 tbsp Mustard

Directions:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pan Fry Chopped/Diced Sausage until done, set aside

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Saute onion, pepper and garlic

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Add Chopped/Diced Shrimp

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - A bit before the shrimp are actually done, mix (Sausage, Shrimp, onion, Pepper Garlic) into a bowl, add Mayo, Mustard, worcestershire sauce and balsamic and mix together evenly, I prefer to mix in my Panko, but if you prefer the Panko on top and not mixed into the mixture then go ahead and spoon the mix into your preferred mushrooms (organic, portobello etc), if you prefer Panko mixed in like I do, all you need to do is sprinkle with a little four cheese mix (if you don't like cheese or don't wish to add cheese you can skip this step) and if you didn't mix in the panko, you would now put it on top of the mushrooms.

Serving Suggestion: You can plate them with sliced lemon as shown above. If you do not eat meat you can omit the sausage and just add extra veggies!

I also used the Gorton's Tilapia to make Fish Tacos, and those definitely went over well!

These can also be made with the Crunchy Breaded Tilapia Fillets for a bolder, crunchier taco!

Win It! - Our friends at Gorton's want you to take the Seafood Challenge too!

GIVEAWAY:

1 Lucky Ascending Butterfly will win a Gorton's Seafood Prize Pack which includes:

• 5 full-value product coupons so you can sample several different 20 at 200 products
• 1 Gorton's branded apron
• 2 Gorton's branded oven mitts
• 1 Gorton's branded spatula

Get Social/Save Money:

You can get social with Gorton's on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest and right now you can also download a coupon for $1.00 off any two Gorton's items HERE! (app direct links on Facebook can sometimes be tricky so if the direct link didn't work for you just visit Gortons Seafood on Facebook, make sure you are signed in of course) and then you will see a blue banner on the top right that reads 'Download Coupon', press there and the app will launch where you can download/print the coupon.)

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget Below: (if it takes long to load, just refresh your browser)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What is your Favorite Type of Seafood Butterfly?

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Disclosure: No monetary compensation has been received by Ascending Butterfly in exchange for this post. A Seafood Challenge pack was provided for editorial consideration and a pack has also been provided for one winner. Prize Fulfillment rests with Giveaway Sponsor. Ascending Butterfly and Giveaway Sponsors are not responsible for lost, late or mis-directed mail. All opinions and stories contained herein are 100% my own. I am a Gorton's Blogger Program Member. Visit our Giveaway Rules and Disclosure Policy Page HERE for full Disclsoure.

#ad: I am joining @AmericanCancer Society to #finishthefight against #Cancer, because for me, it's very much Personal! Learn how YOU can help too!

Let's Finish The Fight {Sponsored Video}

Disclosure: I am honored to have this opportunity to tell my story as part of the American Cancer Society's 100th Birthday Celebration. While this is a Sponsored Post that includes a Sponsored Video Message, all opinions and stories contained herein are 100% my own. This post is Sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

It's no secret that 'The Big C' has been a major part of my life. I lost my Great-Grandmother to a Brain Tumor, my Grandmother to Uterine Cancer, my Dad to Liver Cancer, and my Mother has battled Ovarian Cancer twice and thankfully is here to tell her tale. Last year I was diagnosed with end stage Lung Cancer despite the fact I have never touched a Cigarette in my entire life. My ongoing battle, (as it stands I am being told by one hospital it's not while another is very sure it is) has not been an easy one. My Godmother, (who is also by blood) my Great Aunt, lost her battle to skin cancer.

I HATE Cancer. There I said it. Hate is not a word I use lightly. I don't use it carelessly. Since I started blogging I have taken as many opportunities as I possibly can to share about initiatives that aid in the fight against Cancer, not just Breast Cancer, but ALL Cancers equally. The fight against Cancer is very much a personal one for me.

In College I helped to put together a Fundraiser Concert for the American Cancer Society, it combined two passions of mine, my love of music (you listen to a lot of music and do a lot of praying while someone you love (or while you yourself), is undergoing testing and treatments) and my desire to aid in the fight in some way. The way fellow students on campus rallied to help is something I have never forgotten.

Will there be a cure in our lifetime? I can't answer that question with total certainty one way or the other, but what I can tell you with 100% certainty is that Cancer does NOT discriminate. It doesn't care how young you are, how much life you have yet to live. It doesn't care if you have a family that needs you. It doesn't care how important you are, it doesn't care what you have done nor does it care what you haven't yet accomplished.

 

Close your eyes and imagine hearing a Doctor tell you that you have end stage cancer and that you are 'on borrowed' time. How would you feel? What is the first thought that crossed your mind? Was it the loved ones you'd be leaving behind? Something you really want to achieve in life that you haven't had the opportunity to do yet?

About The American Cancer Society:

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization that is dedicated to eliminating cancer, they help save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer, by detecting it early, by being there during and after a diagnosis, by finding cures through investment in ground-breaking discoveries and by rallying lawmakers and communities worldwide to join the fight.

The achievements of this organization are amazing, they have contributed to a 20% decline in cancer death rates and have helped to save 1.2 million lives. Their efforts have directly lead to a 50% drop in smoking deaths since the 1960's, contributing to a drop in overall lung cancer death rates.

The Fight Continues:

Despite their impressive accomplishments the fight continues! Some current goals include the undertaking of a historic research study called the 'Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3), the goal is to enroll at least 300,000 adults from various racial/ethnic backgrounds from across the US by the end of THIS year. They want to be sure that people facing Cancer have the help they need including a free place to stay during treatment and a ride to get there (I can't begin to stress how important those two things really are when you are facing such an emotionally, physically and spiritually draining process). In addition to the continuation of giving everyone access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air and more! The Society currently operates 31 Hope Lodge Facilities around the country, each offering a home away from home for patients and their caregivers traveling for treatment at no cost.

Where my online persona and my real one meet:

On Twitter, I am 'The Official #TwitterPartyDJ' as I'm a Twitter Party online hostess, and I'm also a music lover who shares fun tunes and audio accessories that make music sound better because music, and travel are two of my biggest passions. Online, I may be the TwitterPartyDJ, but offline I'm a lucky survivor, and I was super excited to find out two musicians I really like are joining in the fight too, check out these videos by Mary J. Blige and Josh Groban:

YOU CAN HELP:

Silence Won't Finish the Fight AGAINST Cancer:

My Take:

Will YOU take a moment against silence? You can sign up on the American Cancer Society website to join the boldest move yet in the fight against cancer and I hope you will take a moment to do so. Let's help the society with their effort to help people celebrate more birthdays. After you sign up check out the tab that reads '100 Stories of Hope'. If reading those stories don't put your day-to-day temporary worries into perspective, nothing will. Silence never helps anything, let's make noise, let's give this issue a voice online, talking about it raises awareness and raising awareness is the way to get closer to a cure!

Just like I took the StrongMoms Empower pledge, and shared with you recently about #MoonWalkNYC, I have also taken the pledge to help the American Cancer Society to make NOISE to finish the fight against cancer and I hope you will too!

Sixty years ago, 1 out 3 people diagnosed with Cancer survived. Today, thanks in part to the work of the American Cancer Society, 2 out of 3 will survive. Let's make it 3 out of 3!

How has Cancer or the American Cancer Society affected your life Butterfly? Please share your story. Together we can add 100 more stories of hope! 

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

FTC Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of the American Cancer Society. All stories and opinions are 100% my own. I am a survivor and it's important to me personally to empower others with my story!

Alison Sweeney (@Ali_Sweeney) 'the star attraction' #Book Signing Event @makemeaningUSA cc @GabrielasNYC #thestarattractionmamarazzi

Alison Sweeney at 'the star attraction' book signing event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

I have a special (Not Entirely Wordless), Wordless Wednesday Edition this week! I just got back from the City from a super fun book signing and thought I'd share my photos with you!

It's no shocker I'm a Soap Opera Fan (I'm pretty sure the General Hospital Blogger Campaign, and my recent posts on behalf of All My Children and One Life to Live coming back online were a huge tip off), and today I got the chance to attend a Book Signing Event for Alison Sweeney's new book 'the star attraction'.

Alison Sweeney has portrayed the character 'Sami Brady' since she was 16 years old on the NBC hit daytime drama Days of our Lives, and is also the host of NBC's reality series The Biggest Loser. She is also the Author of 'The Mommy Diet' and she has penned another book titled 'the star attraction'.

The new book 'the star attraction' was released yesterday by Hyperion Books, and is about a Hollywood Publicist who scores her PR firm's most important actor client, and after a steamy make out session in a restaurant alley with her big name client, lines start to blur and one woman's daytime soap comes to life.

Sounds 'Tres Steamy' to me and I can't wait to read it! I'm thinking a day at the beach, a pina colada, me and this book have a date soon!

Here are some more pictures from the Book Signing Today:

Left: Denise Albert, Center: Actress/Author Alison Sweeney, Right: Melissa Musen Gerstein, at 'the star attraction' book signing MAMARAZZI event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

Left: Denise Albert, Center: Actress/Author Alison Sweeney, Right: Melissa Musen Gerstein, at 'the star attraction' book signing MAMARAZZI event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

Left: Denise Albert, Center: Actress/Author Alison Sweeney, Right: Melissa Musen Gerstein, at 'the star attraction' book signing MAMARAZZI event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

Left: Denise Albert, Center: Actress/Author Alison Sweeney, Right: Melissa Musen Gerstein, at 'the star attraction' book signing MAMARAZZI event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

Left: Actress/Author Alison Sweeney, Right: Melissa Musen Gerstein, at 'the star attraction' book signing MAMARAZZI event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

Left: Actress/Author Alison Sweeney, Right: Melissa Musen Gerstein, at 'the star attraction' book signing MAMARAZZI event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

Left: Actress/Author Alison Sweeney, Right: Melissa Musen Gerstein, at 'the star attraction' book signing MAMARAZZI event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

Left: Mama Butterfly, Right: Actress/Author Alison Sweeney, at 'the star attraction' book signing MAMARAZZI event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

Left: It's ME! Ascending Butterfly, Right: Actress/Author Alison Sweeney, at 'the star attraction' book signing MAMARAZZI event at the Make Meaning Store in New York City

My Take:

The Moms always take the time to really put thought into their events, the lunch was catered by Gabriela's Restaurant in New York City who put out a wonderful spread, and the Make Meaning Store where the event was held is a space in New York City where you can do crafts (and there is even a 'Wine' night, so I definitely need to go back there and create something fun and kick back with a glass of wine!).

In addition to the lunch and book signing where we got to meet Alison, she also answered questions from the audience and spoke about the difficulties of the work/life balance, and how important it is to truly love what you do. When you love what you do and are excited by it, your children will feel that. You do need to be professionally fulfilled, but if it's not at something you love doing it makes staying energetic for them AND for you, that much harder!

Mama Butterfly asked Alison about her weight struggles and how it was handled by the producers of Days of Our Lives, and Alison said that the Producers were always behind her, but she did read negative comments throughout the years, and that brought me right back to the Strong Moms Empowerment Summit and how important it is not just for press (print or digital) but for all moms to be supportive of each other! Alison was super down to earth and it was a pleasure meeting her! As Mama Butterfly is the one who got me hooked on 'Soaps' on my very first sick day from school as a pre-teen, it was only fitting somehow that we attended this event together!

I will post a full review of the book once I have read it (and I'll try to reach out to publisher and see if they'd like to host a giveaway in an upcoming Ascending Butterfly Book Club, hopefully for the summer as this looks like a great summer read!). I will also create a Pinterest Board for this event on Ascending Butterfly's Pinterest Page!

Here is the video from the Questions and Answers Session:

Video credit: Fredy Mfuko, Mission 101 Media

You can nab the book at a great price below:

What are you reading right now Butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post. No monetary compensation has been received to share our recap coverage of this event. A meet and greet and signed book were provided for editorial consideration, however all opinions are 100% my own! The book banner is an affiliate link.