Monday, December 07, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and Great Giveaways!

AH-CHOO

This morning, my laptop, just 2 days out of it's 'Limited One Year Warranty' has died, and there isn't even enough time to give it a proper burial. If any laptop makers out there have a laptop they would like reviewed/evaluated by a very savvy tech user and blogger extraordinaire, please let me know! :) (Hey, 'The Secret' says we should send our wishes in the Universe!)

The Ascending Butterfly NING Group is down (alas more technical difficulties) and this quote came across my desk today and it couldn't feel more appropriate:

"Pressure and stress is the common cold of the psyche." - Andrew Denton

Let's just say my Psyche is definitely under the spell of Pressure and Stress that is feeling more like a FLU than a common cold.

And so begins my holiday season, with hardware, software and technical glitches galore!

Not a good place to begin that's for sure. So I must practice what I preach and find a way to center myself despite the chaos around me today and the many demands on my attention.

While the electronic items in my life are currently rebelling against me, I offer the following words of encouragement:

"A faithful friend is the medicine of life." ~ Apocrypha

That is just what the doctor ordered today! Reach out to your friends today as a port in the storm! Let them be a sea of calm in an otherwise insane day.

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 today 'I will turn to my friends today, both when I need them and when they need me.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, 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 here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Great Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

Don't forget to enter the great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! We will be offering multiple giveaways all throughout the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with us. We are really happy you landed HERE!

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

NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and we will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry or your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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Winner Announcement - November Book Club Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to 'Kathy' (we post our winner usernames instead of full names, this is why it's in quotes) the winner of Ascending Butterfly's November Book Club Giveaway! (And in this case becase we have many Kathy's, to  make sure there is no confusion, the winner is 'Kathy D.' who has already confirmed to her winners email!) Thanks to our sponsor, Hachette Book Group, Kathy is going to receive 'Bo's Cafe', 'A Change in Altitude' AND 'The Murder of King Tut'! Three amazing titles to build your library are coming at ya Kathy, Happy Reading!

Ascending Butterfly hosts new titles each month, stay tuned, December's Title, 'Dancing With Butterflies', is coming soon!

We would like to thank our sponsor Hachette Book Group. We would love to work with you again to bring Hachette Title's to our Ascending Butterfly book lovers! Remember books are perfect holiday gifts for anyone on your list!

*Enter to win the Hairfreé™ Round and Flat Brush with Ceramic Technology Giveaway! by pressing HERE!

* Enter to win the Designer Eenamaria 'Workin It' Handbag HERE!

Stay tuned this weekend, there are special surprises in store!! Keep checking in daily we will be posting a wide variety of amazing giveaways each week throughout the holiday season! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend a part of your day with Ascending Butterfly!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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Hachette Book Group provided the titles for review and to giveaway, this is not a paid insertion or a compensated post! All opinions about each reviewed title are expressly my own!

Friday, December 04, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!

Progress Meter!

How is the countdown to Christmas going? Have you been pacing yourself? Just a little time each day devoted to your preparations?

In 'Casa de Butterfly' our tree is up and gracing the living room with it's shiny lights and special ornaments that bring so many memories to mind each time I see them! There is still so much more to go, the door hasn't been done yet, the stockings have not yet been hung by the chimney with care and there is still a ton of shopping left to do. But I am following my own advice, and pacing myself.

I am filled with excitement this holiday season, and looking forward to both sharing inspiration and receiving it, spending time with friends and family, and preparing the meals that just plain say 'home for the holidays'.

Part of my tradition is watching the Tree Lighting Ceremony from Rockefeller Center in my hometown of New York City! What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Remember to not only stop and enjoy the end results of your hard work, but remember to enjoy the process. The process is where the tradition actually originates! What is your favorite way to enjoy the process, is it a tree trimming party, getting together with friends and making cookies or batches of eggnog? (or if any of my fellow Latina friends are reading this, making coquito? or pasteles?)

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 today 'I will enjoy the preparation process and time spent with friends and family this weekend.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, 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 here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

CALL TO ACTION: Today is the last day that Divine Caroline will be accepting votes for the 2009 Love! This site Awards! Ascending Butterfly is a nominee in the 'Body & Soul' category. It is a one time only, super fast vote. If all of our followers voted just once, Ascending Butterfly would win for the Body and Soul category! If you haven't already voted, I urge you to vote today, you can go directly to our nominee page to vote by pressing HERE!

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! We will be offering multiple giveaways all throughout the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with us. We are really happy you landed HERE!

ENDING SOON ALERT: Don't forget to enter the November Book Club Giveaway of 3 AMAZING titles all going to ONE lucky winner! Today is the last day, get your entries in NOW!

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

NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and we will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry or your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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

Winner Announcement - Lush Cosmetics 'Butterfly Kiss' Kit Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to 'Hearts N Flowers' (we post winner user/'follower' name instead of full names, this is why it's in quotes) the winner of Ascending Butterfly's Lush Cosmetics 'Butterfly Kiss' Kit Giveaway!

We would like to thank our sponsor LUSH, we would love to work with you again! (I'm thinking the lovely 'Wild Child' Kit wrapped in butterflies and hearts paper!) ;-)

*There is still time to enter the November: Ascending Butterfly Book Club Review and Giveaway - 1 lucky winner will WIN ALL THREE TITLES - Build your library by entering to win HERE!

*Enter to win the Hairfreé™ Round and Flat Brush with Ceramic Technology Giveaway! by pressing HERE!

* Enter to win the Designer Eenamaria 'Workin It' Handbag HERE!

Stay tuned there are special surprises in store!! Keep checking in daily we will be posting a wide variety of amazing giveaways each week throughout the holiday season! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend a part of your day with Ascending Butterfly!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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LUSH Handmade Cosmetics was the sponsor of this giveaway and also provided product for review. No payment was provided and all opinions in the review are expressly my own.

Hairfreé™ Review and Giveaway! - Holiday Buying Guide Editor's Pick! - There will be TWO winners!

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Hairfreé, We look forward to working with you again! Congratulations to 'Happi Shopr' and 'Carolyn G' (we post our winner's comment/follower names instead of full names, this is why it's in quotes) the winners of Ascending Butterfly's Hairfreé™ Brushes Giveaway! Our two lucky winners will each receive BOTH the flat and round brushes! I am very excited for our winners because I know they are really going to love these brushes! A salon quality blow out at home, what's not to love? Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!
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Ascending Butterfly Holiday Buying Guide Editor's Pick sponsored by:

Stuff her stocking with the best blow-out she's ever had! Don't you just love that fresh from the salon blowout? It's totally perfect, not so straight it looks dead, and not so curly, not even wavy, but that bouncy, healthy, shiny, perfect blowout that your hairdresser leads you to beleive can only come from the pricey salon visit?

Do you hate frizz and fight with your hair to make it straight? Do you only like it 'poker' straight and so after blow drying still use a flat iron?

The high heat it takes to flat iron your hair is damaging. The damage occurs over time. And before you tell me you use the best heat serum protectant flat iron cream on the market, I can tell you, that high heat is STILL causing damage to your hair.

Hairfreé™, is a viable alternative to the killer blowdry and then  flat/curling iron combo! Do you want to continue damaging and burning your hair by using a flat/curling iron or would you like the same shiny, sleek, healthy looking hair with half the effort? I thought so!

Hairfreé™ comes with a 100% money back guarantee! If within 30 days of purchase you are not completely satisfied with the performance of hairfreé™ simply return it for your money back. No questions asked. A super effective product with a company that stands behind what they sell, isn't that awesome?

I have had the opportunity to try out both brushes now and I absolutely love them. I have very problematic hair to work with, it's fine, it's thin but there is alot of it, and it's very frizz prone. My hair, like me, has a mind of it's own. Some days it's a very stubborn mind. I will admit that I always had to do the killer blowdry followed by flat iron combo to get the results I wanted. Until Now. I get an amazing blow-out at home using these brushes. Which means I can visit the salon less frequently just for blowouts, and go mostly when I need to trim my ends or if I want to change my cut/style completely. Remember, for any blow-out to be truly effective you must apply the proper techniques to achieve the sleek results you desire!

Check out these Before and After Photos! (This a model, this is NOT me!)

(Above: BEFORE Blow Out)

(Directly Above: AFTER Blow Out Results using only Hairfreé™ brushes)

Tips for a great blow-out:

• Your hair only begins to take on its final shape when almost dry. Towel dry your hair before you begin.
• Take the effort out of blow drying by using clips. Pin the top layers out of the way and begin with the underneath sections (e.g. the nape hair).
• Fully dry each section before moving to the next to prevent it reverting to its natural state.
• Aim the airflow from your dryer along the hair in the direction of the ends to get a smooth finish.
• Allow hair to cool before removing your brush from a blow-dried section of hair. This will make your blow-dry last longer as it is like using tongs or setting rollers. Leave the hair as it falls from the brush, only running your fingers or brush through it when all the hair is finished and cooled off.
• Finish off with an oil or gloss to prevent frizz and add shine.

And of course, a great blow-out is achieved with a great brush, this is where Hairfreé™ comes in. The Ceramic technology in the brushes allow you to achieve the sleek, straight hair you desire and the venting cuts down on drying time.

Can't wait to find out if you've won? Want to grab a few to stuff some stockings? You can buy your own with a 25% DISCOUNT by shopping directly HERE

WIN IT! - TWO lucky Ascending Butterfly followers will have the chance to win BOTH of the Hairfreé™ brushes!  Each winner will receive (1) Round Brush and (1) Flat/Paddle Brush!

How to Win: (1) You must be a 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' differ from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Tell us your biggest hair woe (Is it frizz? texture? a relentless cowlick?)  (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). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! (Restrictions: USA only 18+)

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 Wednesday, December 02, 2009 until Monday, December 14, 2009 at 11:59 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)

EXTRA CREDIT:

* Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment

* Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you already have our button, just let us know, you will still get extra credit!)

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

* Tweet this: I just entered @Tracy_Iglesias Hairfreé™ brush set #giveaways worth $35 on  #ascendingbutterfly -  http://tinyurl.com/ykmpbhs (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 ONCE A DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified.)

* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

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

* Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

*Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

* Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

* Join Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group HERE

* Please vote for me on the Downy Simple Pleasures Next Scent Contest. My scent is called 'Ascending Butterfly' of course, LOL. You can scroll down to the bottom of this page, and press 'Vote' on the widget below, it's super fast and super easy! (You can do this daily and get credit for voting daily! Just let me know the vote 'count' in your comment. Ex: I was Downy vote #111)

* Take the pledge! In the widget right underneath Downy on the bottom of the page, there is a Get eyeSmart - eye committed widget, if you take the pledge, you will get an extra credit entry! (You will not get any spam!)

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Hairfreé™ provided brushes to evaluate and is the sponsor for the brushes in the giveaway, there was no payment, and all opinions about the product are expressly my own!

Winner Announcement - Unilever Goodie Box Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to 'Anne-Marie T' (we post our winner usernames/'follower' name instead of full names, this is why it's in quotes) the winner of Ascending Butterfly's Unilever Goodie Box Giveaway!

We would like to thank our sponsor Unilever, in conjunction with Rocket XL. We would love to work with you both again!

*There is still time to enter the November: Ascending Butterfly Book Club Review and Giveaway - 1 lucky winner will WIN ALL THREE TITLES - Build your library by entering to win HERE!

*Enter to win a Lush Handmade Cosmetics 'Butterfly Kiss' Kit by pressing HERE!

* Enter to win the Designer Eenamaria 'Workin It' Handbag HERE!

Stay tuned there are special surprises in store!! Keep checking in daily we will be posting a wide variety of amazing giveaways each week throughout the holiday season! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend a part of your day with Ascending Butterfly!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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

Tuesday, December 01, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!

Here Comes 'Sanity' Claus!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend! It was definitely a gratitude filled weekend at 'Casa de Butterfly'!

How did you survive Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Did you get great deals? What was your 'best buy', your biggest deal?

I have to admit I got some great deals both on Black Friday and on Cyber Monday all online! Isn't shopping in your PJ's awesome?

And as one countdown ends a new one begins. The countdown to Christmas has begun! And just in the 'Nick' of time, here comes 'Sanity Claus' to help you get through it all with your peace of mind still intact!

As we approach the holiday season, our daily inspirations and meditations are more important than ever. We are approaching what can 'snowball' (no pun intended) into the most stressful time of the year if you are not careful and you do not take the time to center yourself.

Today let's focus on organization both internal and external. Make a plan of attack so you can make it through the season with the least amount of stress as possible. From meal planning to decorating you can get through it all in smaller batches each day as opposed to a marathon on the weekends or worse still the night before the family is set to arrive!

Get a small notebook and break up what you plan to accomplish into separate pages, creating a running to-do list as ideas come to you. Each day after work devote no more than one hour to tackling items off your list. On weekends you can choose to devote a little more time to it, and you can tackle the errands and shopping needs. At this structured pace you'll find that you will accomplish everything you need to get done, with far less stress and chaos.

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 today 'I will practice internal and external organization.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, 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 here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! We will be offering multiple giveaways all throughout the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with us. We are really happy you landed HERE!

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

NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and we will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry or your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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

Eenamaria Handbag Review and Giveaway!

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Eenamaria, We look forward to working with you again! The lucky winner is 'Lisa'. (We post the comment/follower name of all winners, that's why we put it in quotes!) Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!
˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

"If you live by different rules and see yourself as an Urban Nomad, a life-traveler who knows her way even in places she's never been before.The one leading to the most sensational salsa club, the fastest ski slope, the hottest job, the most interesting people. Sexy. Secure. Life lived in free-style. Eenamaria is you."

Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Eenamaria would like give you a place to stash all that cash you saved on Black Friday sales!

I was sent the 'Workin It' bag (pictured above) for review, and I just can't get enough of this bag, it's incredibly versatile, transitions well from day into night, and is roomy enough to tote my commuter essentials (and stand up to the wear and tear) without me having to carry TWO separate bags. (I  absolutely hate having to carry multiple bags on a daily basis!). This bag can even accomodate a laptop without the strap buckling! Everyone who knows me knows I carry around way to much stuff on a day to day basis and everyone has been amazed at exactly how much I can pack into it! (Yes I know it's bad for me and my poor shoulders, but I've really narrowed myself down the bare essentials) If you are anything like me you want form and function. A generic messenger bag just won't do as the only compromise between carrying everything you need or looking good while doing it. I want both! And for the frugal fashionista, you are not only getting form and function, you are adding an accesory staple to your wardrobe for an amazing price! (Have you priced a laptop bag lately?)

This bag is definitely a Holiday Buying Guide Editor's Pick!

Thanks to our friends at Eenamaria we have a cure for your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping blues, a place to stash all that cash you saved by being a savvy shopper! (ARV $70) You deserve a treat!

WIN IT! - One lucky 'Ascending Butterfly' will have the chance to win an Eenamaria 'Workin It' Bag as shown above of their own! (gentlemen you are not excluded, tell us which lucky lady in your life would be receiving this as a gift)

How to Win: (1) You must be a 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' differ from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Eenamaria bags are sold at ebags.com, please visit HERE and tell us which Eenamaria bag is your favorite, please select a bag OTHER than the 'Workin It' bag. (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). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! USA 18+

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, November 27, 2009 until Friday, December 11, 2009 at 11:59 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)

EXTRA CREDIT:

* Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment

* Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you already have our button, just let us know, you will still get extra credit!)

* Follow Eenamaria on Twitter HERE

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

* Tweet this: I just entered @Tracy_Iglesias @eenamaria Workin' It Laptop Bag #giveaways worth $70 #ascendingbutterfly - http://tinyurl.com/yar6qpt (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 ONCE A DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified.)

* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

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

* Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

*Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

* Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

* Join Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group HERE

* Please vote for me on the Downy Simple Pleasures Next Scent Contest. My scent is called 'Ascending Butterfly' of course, LOL. You can scroll down to the bottom of this page, and press 'Vote' on the widget below, it's super fast and super easy! (You can do this daily and get credit for voting daily! Just let me know the vote 'count' in your comment. Ex: I was Downy vote #111)

* Take the pledge! In the widget right underneath Downy on the bottom of the page, there is a Get eyeSmart - eye committed widget, if you take the pledge, you will get an extra credit entry!

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Eenamaria is the sponsor of this giveaway and provided product for review, this is not a paid insertion, nor was any payment received, the opinions about this bag are expressly my own!

Happy Thanksgiving!

From Our Table to Yours:

Ascending Butterfly wants to wish you a Happy, Healthy, Safe and Blessings Filled Day!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!

I couldn't resist the title. Tomorrow is the big day! Today may be the last day of the countdown before the big day, but I remind you to live in gratitude each and every day, it will enrich your life in ways you never imagined.

Did you perform your 'pay it forward' yesterday? Did you perform your act of kindness? If so, please share it with us.

Let's focus today on ourselves. I know that many of you out there will begin your cooking and prep process today in anticipation of the cooking marathon that is Thanksgiving.

I know there are many of you out there that are 'bracing' yourselves. Bracing Yourselves for the annoying in-laws or sibling rivalry or some other holiday drama. And I want to remind you that it is not necessary to brace yourself. When you expect the worse, you will very well receive it. And in turn, when you expect the best, you make it happen.

Today I urge you to accept those you love for who they are! Is your son/daughter/sibling/parent bringing a guest you don't like? If the person you love, loves them, keep that in mind and focus on their redeeming qualities instead of what you don't like.

Remember, your house doesn't have to look like something out of Better Homes & Gardens, you do not have to set a table like Martha Stewart. You can set a table with mis-matched plates. You can omit the cornucopia the size of a small country. Fill your home with love, your heart with laughter, and your table with the foods you enjoy and you will have created a successful day.

I know there are some of you out there that will be spending some of your day at a soup kitchen, food pantry or local church, spreading your blessings with others, if you can, bring your children with you and have them take part in making their community a better place.

But regardless of how you plan to spend the big day, take some time today for yourself. To relax. To pamper yourself. Take a long hot bath. or take a long walk with your spouse, your kids and even your doggie. And before you start the marathon cleaning, decorating and cooking frenzy, make sure you take a moment to meditate and center yourself. Remember your focused breathing! Ask for help. Don't be an Island!!

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 today 'I will make it a point to express my gratitude today by being kind to MYSELF and others.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, 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 here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! We will be offering multiple giveaways all throughout the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with us. We are really happy you landed HERE!

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

NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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

Winner Announcement - Piece of the Puzzle Affirmative Jewelry Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to 'johnica1' (we post our winner usernames instead of full names, this is why it's in quotes) the winner of Ascending Butterfly's Piece of the Puzzle Affirmative Jewelry Giveaway!

We would like to thank our sponsor The Good Cheer Company. We would love to work with you again! I hope you will all remember The Good Cheer Company for your holiday buying needs! These are perfect gifts for anyone on your list, what about those hard to buy gifts like teachers, doormen, postmen/women, office secret santas, stocking stuffers and more!

*There is still time to enter the November: Ascending Butterfly Book Club Review and Giveaway - WIN ALL THREE TITLES - Build your library by entering to win HERE!

*Enter to win a Lush Handmade Cosmetics 'Butterfly Kiss' Kit by pressing HERE!

* Enter to win a box of Goodies from Unilever containing full size products from Dove, Q-tips, Ponds, and Vaseline! Enter HERE!

Stay tuned this weekend, there are special surprises in store!! Keep checking in daily we will be posting a wide variety of amazing giveaways each week throughout the holiday season! It's just our way of saying Thank You for choosing to spend a part of your day with Ascending Butterfly!

---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!

Our 'Gratitude Countdown' to Thanksgiving continues today. Even in a fast paced city like New York City, the holiday cheer begins early. Maybe it's the wonderfully decorated windows in the stores, but it just seems like there are more smiles to be seen and good wishes given to one another.

Sometimes a good deed slips into the mix, like someone holding a door when you are laden with packages, or offering to help with your bags. You may not always be able to repay that kindness in the moment, so pay it forward. Today make it a point to do one kind thing for someone. It could be anything, holding a door, leaving a generous tip, smiling at a stranger, that circle of kindness you start will eventually come back to you.

Acts of kindness give the recipient something to be grateful for but it also blesses the giver. Let's continue our 'Gratitude Countdown' to Thanksgiving by both being grateful for what we receive and by finding ways to bless each other.

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 today 'I will make it a point to express my gratitude today by being kind to others.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, 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 here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! The holiday push is going to be fast and fierce on Ascending Butterfly, we will be offering multiple giveaways all throughout the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with us. We are really happy you landed HERE!

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

NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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

Monday, November 23, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!

The Gratitude Countdown!

Let's create abundance in our lives this week. The countdown to Thanksgiving should begin with well....THANKS!

Years ago, Sarah Ban Breathnach's book 'Simple Abundance' changed the way I actively chose to express gratitude. Gratitude for the blessings that were already present in my life and gratitude for new blessings that came my way. I loved the idea of a gratitude journal and decided I would join the 'Simple Abundance' path and express my gratitude for all the good I experienced in a day. I went into this experiment a bit nervous. I thought what if I have nothing to say that day? What then?

The amazing thing is that in 10 years, there has NEVER been a day where there wasn't something to be grateful for! I learned not to try to write when I was very stressed out because it would defeat the purpose. I try to write at the end of the night when my mind is more relaxed. On stress filled days you may find you have to think a bit harder, but I'm sure you will also find that there is always something to be grateful for.

Why don't we have a 'Gratitude Countdown' here on Ascending Butterfly? Each day counting down the days to Thanksgiving we will list something we are grateful for! I'll go first. Over the weekend we worked on a Kitchen Renovation in 'casa de butterfly' which included getting rid of things that no longer served a purpose, painting, decorating and major cleaning, I'm grateful this finally got done, and am very much enjoying the new and improved look in the kitchen! What are YOU grateful for today?

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 today 'I will make it a point to express my gratitude today.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, 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 here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! The holiday push is going to be fast and fierce on Ascending Butterfly, we will be offering multiple giveaways all throughout the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with Ascending Butterfly. We are really happy you landed HERE!

REMEMBER: The Piece of the Puzzle Affirmative Jewelry giveaway ends TODAY, so HURRY enter HERE

If you are interested in purchasing Sarah's book, please consider doing so using the banner below:

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NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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Sunday, November 22, 2009 - This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and FIVE giveaways!

Living in Gratitude

On Sunday's, 'Today's Moment of Inspiration' becomes the weekly 'Moment of Gratitude'. While I do still live in Gratitude each and everyday, I decided to change this feature to a weekly to allow a full week of Inspirational messages and breathing meditations.

This week, I am grateful for:

1) Ascending Butterfly has been nominated for the Divine Caroline's Love! This Site Awards '09 For the 'Body and Soul' category! Thank You! If you would like to vote for us, and help bring Ascending Butterfly to the top, please click HERE!

2) I'm also grateful to bring back Ascending Butterfly's Book Club this month, with not just ONE, but THREE titles! Enter HERE.

3) I am also grateful that Ascending Butterfly's Ning Group in is full swing with new members joining everyday, posting photos, enjoying onlline chat, and participating in great threads/forums! Now users can do more than just connect with the site, you can connect with one another too! Join our Ning Group HERE. One of my favorite Ning Group apps is the Twitter Tracker, up to the minute butterfly updates and great conversation!

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. 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 (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter here! 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 FIVE giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

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NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. There are 5 great giveaways today!

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And you also must include your email in your comment entry, we have to have a way to reach you if you win!

How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2) tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list.

Remember, following on twitter or on Networked Blogs is an extra credit step, for the main entry to process you must become a blog follower using google friends connect in addition to your comment. If your 'follower' name is different from your 'comment name', please mention that in your entry (and don't forget your email formatted for security purposes.

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Lush Butterfly Kiss Review and Giveaway! - Holiday Buying Guide Pick

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thank You so much to our wonderful sponsor LUSH Cosmetics! We would love to work with you again!  Remember: There are still some great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!



---Ascending Butterfly's Editorial Team


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

Are you a LUSH?  Because I am!

Yes it's hard to admit, but I must come CLEAN. I am now a LUSH. I am no longer a LUSH virgin and what a way to start, with a Butterfly Kiss! A Butterfly Kiss kit that is!

Twilight isn't the only one out there with DIE HARD FANS. Lush Fans are loyal too and testimonials would take more room than we have here, that's for sure!

I'm not sure what I fell harder for, the description of this kit, the products it contains or the packaging! Yes, that's right option (D) All of the above is correct! Here is the description:

Butterfly Kiss

We imagine if a butterfly swooped down and kissed you on the cheek it would smell of roses and feel soft as silk. Give a Butterfly Kiss to someone you think deserves to feel just as soft and smell just as sweet. They'll enjoy four delightful floral baths - two bath bombs packed with flower petals (one even has silver church bells inside to make you feel as though you're prancing around in the English Countryside) and two bubble bars for soft, fragrant bubbles.

Contains:

English Countryside 6.3 oz., Tisty Tosty 3.1 oz. (Featured Ingredient in Tisty Tosty is Rose Absolute" Our which comes from the flower petals of the damask rose), Amandopondo (shares the Featured ingredient Rose Absolute but also contains lemon and orange citrus scent)  3.1 oz., A French Kiss 3.1 oz (This luxurious French Herb Bubble Bath boasts Lavender as a featured ingredient).

 

But there is something else that really resonates about LUSH, this kit, and it's packaging that must be shared here:

 

Naked products in gifts are wrapped in cello bags for safe transit. Our cello bags are made from renewable wood-pulp and certified for home composting; re-use them or pop them in your bin to decompose. We proudly use Enviro-fill to pack up all of our gifts. It’s made from corn, wheat and potato starch (all renewable and abundant resources) and dissolves in water. Reuse it or put it in your compost! Our beautiful paper gift wrap and paper ribbons are made from 100% post-consumer waste. Continue the giving by re-using on another gift or, if you’ve ripped it in excitement, pop it in the recycling bin to be reincarnated next year.

 
No wonder this kit is considered a LUSH 'Cult Classic'! It's clean and 'green'
 

I could go on and gush some more, but instead I will remind you all that this kit is an editor's pick and has made our Holiday Buying Guide! (Lush has also made me a crazy new convert! If only I could review a new kit a week.....Hmmm........) I'm sure anyone on your list would be delighted to find this perfectly wrapped box of 'bathly delights' under the tree!

 

 

 

WIN IT! - One lucky 'Ascending Butterfly' will have the chance to win a Butterfly Kiss Kit of their very own!

How to Win: (1) You must be a 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' differ from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) If you are already a 'LUSHIE' tell me your favorite product. If you have never tried LUSH before, visit the LUSH website and pick a product you would like to try. (remember you can't pick the butterfly kiss kit because it is already mentioned in the review. (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). Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning! USA AND CANADA 18+

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, November 20, 2009 until Wednesday, December 02, 2009 at 11:59 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)

EXTRA CREDIT:

* Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment

* Grab our Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you already have our button, just let us know, you will still get extra credit!)

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

* Tweet this: ok to RT: I just entered @Tracy_Iglesias LUSH Butterfly Kiss #giveaways worth $30 -#ascendingbutterfly - http://tinyurl.com/yhugk5j  (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 ONCE A DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified.)

* Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

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* Please vote for Ascending Butterfly on Divine Caroline's Love This Site Award '09 for the Body and Soul category, you can press into the badge on the upper right hand site of the page or click through here, there is a Vote button right under the description. It's a one time only, super fast, super easy vote! If all of Ascending Butterfly's readers voted we would sweep the body and soul category, we can do it, let's rock the vote and 'show em how it's done'! (If you have already voted, pls tweet the following: Please Vote #ascendingbutterfly 2009 Love This Site Awards (via @DivineCaroline) #LoveThisSite - http://bit.ly/SepQr  (Don't forget to leave the URL to your tweet in your comment).

* Please vote for me on the Downy Simple Pleasures Next Scent Contest. My scent is called 'Ascending Butterfly' of course, LOL. You can scroll down to the bottom of this page, and press 'Vote' on the widget below, it's super fast and super easy! (You can do this daily and get credit for voting daily! Just let me know the vote 'count' in your comment. Ex: I was Downy vote #111)

*Take the pledge! In the widget right underneath Downy on the bottom of the page, there is a Get eyeSmart - eye committed widget, if you take the pledge, you will get an extra credit entry!

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Thursday, November 19, 2009 - Today's Words of Inspiration and FIVE giveaways!

Yes Virginia, you can still 'staycation'

Summer may be over, but the 'staycation' is still very much in full swing. With the state of the economy, people are not traveling as much as they used to. But that doesn't mean that the holiday fun has to end there. Explore the opportunities in your own 'back yard' to enjoy your holiday season.

Many malls, public areas downtown, parks etc hold Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies, Menorah Lighting Ceremonies, Kwanzaa Candle Lighting Ceremonies and more! It's a great opportunity to connect with friends, family and neighbors in the process of preparing the places you live, work and shop for the upcoming holiday season. Bring the kiddos, grab some hot chocolate and get a good spot!

It's so easy to get wrapped up in your own family holiday preparations, cleaning, decorating, cooking, shopping etc that you easily forget to take out a moment to enjoy what's around you like the big 'Happy Holidays sign welcoming you to the mall, all lit up and festive. Or the big illuminated snowman outside your favorite store. Stop and get a picture of not only the little ones with it, but make sure you get one of yourself too! (Even more fun, if the same one is used annually, get an annual picture in that spot, it will be so much fun to look back at later on!)

Remember how excited you were to write out your list to Santa? Do it again! Do it this year! Put absolutely, positively, NOTHING of practicality on that list. Put everything on that list you wouldn't dream of getting for yourself. Those things you promise you'll get yourself next week because the house needs this, or the kids need that. or the DH needs some new clothes for work....... It's easy for Santa to forget you if you have already forgotten yourself.

I want to help inspire you to make this your best holiday ever, both inside and out! If we can keep you at an even keel emotionally, the stressors of the holiday season won't be able to bring you down physically!

Right now I'm sure you have meal planning on the brain, and I don't mean tonight's pot roast, I mean the big day, Turkey Day, Thanksgiving! I don't care how many people you are hosting this year, do not overdo it! Do not buy a bigger bird than you need. How many Turkey Wraps, Sandwiches etc do you really want to end up making all week so it doesn't go bad/go to waste? And you know full well that the kids will tire of Turkey Leftovers very quickly and beg you for some un-healthy fast food alternative!

A great place to start today is getting rid of what you don't need. Get two big trash bags or boxes, mark one toss and the other donate, pare down drawers, closets etc. De-cluttering your space will make holiday planning from decorating to meals so much easier for you.

Once that is done. Make your grown up christmas wish list. You can even share them here if you'd like, it would be fun to read each other's wish lists!

While you have the pen and paper out, why not begin your New Year's Wish List? Notice I did not say resolutions. What do you want to accomplish in the new year? Keep this book by your bed at night so if you awaken with a goal you can write it down. Bring it to work and write in it during your lunch break. Do you want to learn a new language this coming new year? Perhaps Rosetta Stone DVD's will be on sale during the holiday season, now that you have identified a goal, keep an eye open on getting the things you need to prepare or achieve that goal.

For example. I plan to begin learning Italian, I have always wanted to learn and I have Rosetta Stone's Level 1 Italian Language Learning System. So I need to begin to carve out specific weekly space to achieve the goal of completing this system.

If you go through this holiday season stress free in every way (and actively breathing your way to a more focused mind, visualizing your life the way you want it to be, deserve it to be and therefore SHOULD and WILL be) you will be putting yourself at an AMAZING advantge for the New Year.

I have come up with a meditation mantra that really resonates with me, 'In 2010, I will begin again'. Find your own soul speak and when you take those 5 minutes to center yourself at the begining and end of everyday, begin incorporating your own powerful soul speak into your thoughts. We do it here daily with our daily affirmation/focused breathing excercise of the day. Just make sure the words are really resonating with you, are powerful to you and are relevant to you!

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 today 'I will make way for the holiday season by paring down, de-cluttering and removing stress from my environment and from my mind.'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about amazing, 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 here! twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias Today's Words of Inspiration and Five Super Giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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

Don't forget to enter the 5 great giveaways on the upper right hand side of the page! The holiday push is going to be fast and fierce on Ascending Butterfly, we will be offering multiple giveaways all through the season! It's just our way of saying Thank You! for choosing to spend part of your day with Ascending Butterfly. We are really happy you landed HERE!

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NOTE: Readers have asked us to make entering the contests and giveaways, faster and easier. Your wish is our command! We have moved our 'Today's Butterfly - Featured Site(s) of the day, which is where we host our giveaways, to the upper right hand side of the page. It will be located here from now on to make entering the giveaways faster and easier. Keep the suggestions coming, remember we also have a NING group with real time chat, you can give us your comments and suggestions in REAL time, how cool is that?

NOTE 2: Twitter followers: please remember you must also follow Ascending Butterfly using Google friends connect on the upper right hand side of the page for your entries to be processed. And remember if your profile does not have an email and you don't leave your email in your entry, we will have no way of informing you if you win, and will have to select another winner. Make sure your entry and your profile have your email address!

Just a helpful Reminder: How to Follow Using Google Friends Connect:

Please look to the upper right hand side, where the follower pictures are. (Note the number of followers before you start this process)

1) press the follow button - the google pop up wizard will open, this is not an ad and your pop up blocker will not block it

2)  tick the option that reads 'follow this blog publicly' once that button is selected, hit follow again - it should now read 'you are now following'

3) if the follower count went up you know you did it succesfully, if your profile has a picture, that picture will be the first one on the left side. If your profile doesn't have one, it should still be searchable on the members list. (Remember, following a blog, does NOT subscribe you to receive emails, you have to subscribe separately to do that, you will not receive emails for following)

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