Thursday, November 4, 2010

Change Your Clock Change Your Battery - Energizer Smoke Alarm and Battery Giveaway

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Energizer! We look forward to working with you again! The winner has been notified and upon confirmation, follower name will be posted both here and on our homepage. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page Where it reads “Today’s Butterfly! Win Here’!
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I am very grateful that our dear friends at Energizer sent me a very important reminder, that Daylight-saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 7th! I will admit I had completely forgot about it, and probably would have freaked out Monday morning when I got up at the wrong time and cheated myself out of that sweet hour of extra sleep when we 'fall back'. (I still use the 'fall back' and the 'spring ahead' rhyme to remember which way I'm turning the clock, and sadly I can't even cite 'mommy brain' as an excuse!)

What will you be doing with that extra hour? More Sleep? Meditation Maybe?

Sunday, Nov. 7, also marks the 23rd anniversary of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program, created by Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), which reminds people to check and change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors during the fall time change. This message is simple, and the habit can be lifesaving. Forty percent of fatal fire injuries occur in homes without working smoke alarms, while 23 percent occur in homes in which at least one smoke alarm is present but fails to operate.*

Secondly, you can spend your extra hour spreading good in your neighborhood. More than 80 percent of local fire departments are staffed by volunteers. Energizer and the IAFC are encouraging people to use their extra hour volunteering to make a change in their community.

A few years ago there was a fire in our apartment complex and it was the quick thinking of a neighbor who made sure he banged on everyone's door after calling the fire department that helped to alert everyone. Unfortunately being on the upper floor, by the time I got downstairs the smoke was brutal, and a firefighter had to actually put me inside his jacket and help me out of the building which was already dark and extremely smoky!
 
I think to myself often that the whole nightmare evening could have been prevented if that apartment had a working smoke alarm.
 
The after effects of that night included all doors and locks having to be repaired, water and fire damage and countless other damage that was preventable!
 
So needless to say when I learned about this campaign, I felt it was incredibly important to remind readers that you really should use Daylight Savings as a reminder to change the batteries in your alarm and most importantly TEST it, make sure it is working properly. What you may think is a battery change, might be a need to replace it, so just don't change the batteries in the alarm without actually testing it!
 
Each year, Energizer donates 200,000 batteries to help local fire departments nationwide. This year everyone has the chance to help double the donations, up to 400,000 batteries. Visit the CYCCYB tab on the Energizer Bunny Facebook page, and pledge to change your smoke alarm batteries, share the life-saving Change Your Clock Change Your Battery message with others and create your family’s home escape plan so you have an exit plan in place. Each action will trigger a donation of batteries!


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Energizer would like to provide 1 Ascending Butterfly Follower with (1) First Alert Smoke Alarm, along with a 2-pack of 9 volt Energizer Max batteries.

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this" or "I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Thursday, November 04, 2010 until Sunday, November 07, 2010 at 03:00 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email your entry will not be processed)

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 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!)

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tweet this:

Pls RT Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ #ascendingbutterfly First Alert Smoke Alarm and @energizerbunny batteries #Giveaway  http://tinyurl.com/2fxwzuk

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @EnergizerBunny on Twitter

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

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Energizer on Facebook (and remember to tell them 'Ascending Butterfly sent me) HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

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

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NEW! Ascending Butterfly needs your votes! I really want to be NatureMade's Good Mood Blogger, please rock the vote for me daily here (voting for me daily nets you daily extra credit, talk about quid pro quo! I thank you in advance for your support!):

Vote for Me
Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ascending Butterfly is a nominee for the Bloggers Choice ’10 Awards in the ‘Best Blog About Stuff’ Category - You can press the button below to go straight to the page where Ascending Butterfly has been nominated!

My site was nominated for Best Blog About Stuff!

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



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

*Statistics provided by the National Fire Prevention Association

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Wordless Wednesday - Inner Sanctum


Photo Credit: @Nostalgic Radio

I just couldn't resist making this one a Wordless Wednesday, have you visited your inner sanctum lately? Is the door closed shut, partially open, or wide open? and most importantly WHY?

Active Giveaway!


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ends 11/08 - 3 Baskets + 3 Winners! Review and Giveaway with 1800baskets.com! Enter HERE

Remember we are doing this one a bit different, just for fun we are opting to select one winner from our google followers, one winner from Facebook, and one winner from our Twitter Followers, so be sure you are following us in ALL three places, you never know which one will get you picked! See contest rules on the giveaway page in the link above.

Rock The Vote:

Please remember to vote for me daily in my NatureMade contest, it's a super easy, one click, no registration, no captcha code, just press the word vote here: http://www.sam-e.com/job/entries/645 (or you can hop over by pressing the big yellow button on the right hand side that reads 'the good mood gig2 Job Search'. And just to reiterate as some folks have asked me, this does NOT mean I'm leaving Ascending Butterfly! This would be structured in such a way that I could swing both roles with ease!


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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Official Winner's Announcements PLUS . . .ROCK THE VOTE!



**We have two winners!**

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - *'racergirl1313' is our Satya Jewelry Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway Winner, she will receive the Cherry Quartz 'Om' Bracelet (ARV $48) Congrats!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - *'Kimberly W' is our Plenty of Dresses Giveaway Winner, she will receive any item of her choice from Plenty of Dresses, (ARV is based on which item she chooses!) Congrats!

Congratulations to our lucky winners!

Ascending Butterfly would like to thank our friends at Satya Jewelry and at Plenty of Dresses for sponsoring such amazing giveaways! We hope to work with you again soon!

Active Giveaways! Hurry Enter NOW!

1) Ends 11/02 (Hurry this one ends at 3pm EST TODAY!) - Dunkin Donuts Flavored Coffee - Review and Giveaway! Enter HERE

2) Ends 11/08 - 3 Baskets for 3 Winners! Review and Giveaway with 1800baskets.com! Enter HERE

3) Coming Soon: Don't forget the Holiday Buying Guide will be launching in November (11/15), and our Book Club returns too!

ROCK THE VOTE:

Today is Election Day! It is very important you get out to the polls and vote today! And for women even more so, we had to fight very hard to get the right to vote, now that we have it, let's be sure to take full advantage by electing the candidates that will truly make changes that will benefit our families! Change is in YOUR hands today!
And while we are all in the voting spirit, please remember to vote for me daily in my NatureMade contest, it's a super easy, one click, no registration, no captcha code, just press the word vote here: http://www.sam-e.com/job/entries/645

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** We post our winner usernames instead of full names to protect privacy

Monday, November 1, 2010

Today's Words of Inspiration - Only 60 Days Left!


Photo Credit: @funscrape

Are You Ready?

Did you know that there are only 60 days left to the end of the year? We are slowly approaching a time of year that should signal slowing down, spending time with loved ones, yet many of us find ourselves even busier ever! There is always so much to be done, and it seems like the stores usher us straight from one holiday to the next with no pause in between.

How was your Halloween weekend? Did you dress up? (If you have a link to your pictures, please share them!) I hope you remembered to take a moment and enter our fun Halloween giveaway with 1800Baskets.com, if you didn't there is still time, Enter by clicking HERE!

Today's Challenge: Get Your Spirit Ready for this new season!

Remember to give yourself your some time to get your spirit ready for the new season ahead. You need to make your inner house just as ready as your physical house! I know many people cut back on 'me-time', on meditation, yoga, workouts or spiritual walks because of the extra demands of the season, increased work hours, extra shopping, do it yourself projects in the home, and then feel over-worked and over-wraught during the holidays. That frazzled feeling takes away from the fun!

So don't cut back on those things that do your heart and your emotional well-being so much good! It is during this season that you need those things more than ever!

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud 'I affirm today that I will ready my inner house before my outer one to ready myself for an exciting new season ahead!'
"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower." ~ Albert Camus

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

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

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter!

Twitter : re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

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


Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed

Active Giveaways! Hurry Enter NOW!

1) Ends 11/02 - Dunkin Donuts Flavored Coffee - Review and Giveaway! Enter HERE

2) Ends 11/08 - 3 Baskets for 3 Winners! Review and Giveaway with 1800baskets.com! Enter HERE

3) Coming Soon: Don't forget the Holiday Buying Guide will be launching in November (11/15), and our book club returns too!

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Friday, October 29, 2010

3 Baskets for 3 Winners! Review and Giveaway with 1800Baskets.com! Ends 11/08

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor 1800Baskets.com! We look forward to working with you again! The winners are Alisa, @JessieNuez and bdiane34. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page Where it reads “Today’s Butterfly! Win Here’!
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KNOCK! KNOCK! TRICK OR TREAT !


As promised butterflies, it's an 'All Treats and No Tricks' Halloween Weekend at Ascending Butterfly! Our friends at 1800Baskets.com are back with a very special and super fun giveaway! Join me in the pumpkin patch while I wait for the great pumpkin! Casa de Butterfly has been having tons of fun road testing great treats and here's our report:


Photo Credit @ 1800Baskets

12 ct of the Fall Leaves Chocolate Dipped Strawberries - These were super yummy! The strawberries were HUGE and bursting with fresh strawberry goodness! My fave in the variety are the dark chocolate dipped. And these go really well with champagne, just saying! It's starting to get chilly here in the Northeast, which means more time spent indoors, this is a perfect indoor treat for you and that special someone! Because this is a fresh fruit delivery it requires overnight shipping, so keep that in mind when you order it.

Now when you think of fruit you think of two other things, cheese and nuts! What is your favorite? My favorite is definitely Cashews! If anyone figures out why you can't stop at a few of them, please let me know! Are you attending any Fall parties and want a thoughtful hostess gift? If you were coming over to my house, I'd love this:

Photo Credit @ 1800Baskets

Vintage Pressed Glass Jar with Jumbo Cashews - These were great. They were just the right amount of salty, they were whole not halves, and when they say JUMBO they mean jumbo, most important, they were soft, don't you hate when you bite into a cashew and it's so hard that you are afraid you might crack a tooth? I love the jar and will definitely be re-purposing it once I run out of the cashews! So it's really a two for the price of one kind of gift! And the chocolate plaid bow adornment would make it a very guy friendly gift also, send them straight to his office as a fall surprise! (Just don't send 'manflowers' to go with it, save those for when he gets home!)

While I always love working with 1800Baskets and try my best not to pick favorites, I did decide to save the best for last this time. This basket is by far the perfect centerpiece for a Fall Table. It's perfect for Thanksgiving and for the Holidays. And would totally make an excellent Hostess gift as well if you are a guest at a Fall gathering. There is something about the Corncupia shape that just speaks 'bounty' and reminds me immediately of a big Thanksgiving meal shared with Family and Friends!

Photo Credit @ 1800Baskets


Cornucopia of Fruit Gift Basket - The selection in this basket includes:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Cornucopia Basket
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 Comice Pears
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 Bosc Pear
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 Fuji Apples
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 Granny Smith Apple
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 Navel Oranges
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 8oz Cheddar Cheese
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1.5oz Toasted Seasoned Almond Halves
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 3oz Pistachios
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Net wt. 8lbs

I absolutely loved this basket, and will be ordering a few as gifts for sure! It is filled completely no empty spots, you won't feel cheated or that it had more filler than content. It's chock full of delicious fruit, nuts, and cheese! I also hate when I get a basket that includes very few things I actually consume, this basket is a 100% winner!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at 1800Baskets.com would like to provide 3 Ascending Butterfly Followers with a Fall Treat of their own, you win what I tried! I can assure you it's all treats and no tricks here at Ascending Butterfly! We are mixing this one up in honor of Halloween. We will select one google follower, one twitter follower and one facebook follower! (Remember the, twitter and facebook follower must also be a google follower!) Each person will receive one of the items listed above! The first person to respond to their winner notification will receive the Corncupia Basket, the second winner the 12ct chocolate dipped strawberries and the third winner to respond to their notification will receive the Cashew Nuts! We are in no way requiring you to become a Facebook Follower or Twitter Follower of ours or the sponsor (although we would love it if you did!), you can opt to only to do a main entry as a google follower and will still have the same chances as an entrant using the other methods to win!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and Mandatory Entry: (2) Visit 1800baskets.com look through the list of Fall Baskets and link me to any basket other than the three listed above! (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com). (If your email is clearly visible in your profile, you can just say so, that's OK!) Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning (or in this case, the A,B,C’s of winning!) This giveaway is open to USA residents who are 18 years of age or older. No PO Boxes.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this" or "I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Friday, October 29, 2010 until Monday, November 08, 2010 at 03:00 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email your entry will not be processed)

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - In the spirit of Halloween fun, how about an extra credit for sharing your favorite scary movie? (Some of my faves include Nightmare on Elm Street, The Excorcist, and Terror Train!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 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!)

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tweet this:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ #ascendingbutterfly No Tricks all Treats #Halloween #Giveaways with @1800baskets, 3 winners! - http://tinyurl.com/2c2skzj

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @1800baskets on Twitter

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

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow 1800baskets.com on Facebook (and remember to tell them 'Ascending Butterfly sent me) HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

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

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NEW! Ascending Butterfly needs your votes! I really want to be NatureMade's Good Mood Blogger, please rock the vote for me daily here (voting for me daily nets you daily extra credit, talk about quid pro quo! I thank you in advance for your support!):

Vote for Me
Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ascending Butterfly is a nominee for the Bloggers Choice ’10 Awards in the ‘Best Blog About Stuff’ Category - You can press the button below to go straight to the page where Ascending Butterfly has been nominated!

My site was nominated for Best Blog About Stuff!

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


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FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding 1800baskets are my own experiences. I was provided product to facilitate the review & giveaway. The sponsor is fulfilling directly to prize winner(s), this in no way influenced my opinion of the product. Once a winner is selected and their information has been forwarded to the sponsor, the responsibility of prize fulfillment rests with the sponsor.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Halloween Best Dressed Photo Contest Sponsored by Gilt Group! –Enter to Win a $1000 Credit!


Photo Credit: @ Gilt Group via Mom Bloggers Club

Think your child’s costume is the cutest on the block? Want to prove it and get a chance to win something really cool for doing so?

Between October 22nd and November 8th, upload a photo of your child in his or her Halloween outfit to enter for a chance to win a $1,000 Gilt Credit. Visit the “contests” tab on the Gilt Children Facebook page or click here to enter! The 10 most popular entries, as voted on by Gilt Children fans, (until November 19) will become finalists!

Fans can encourage their friends to vote the following ways:

1. Invite friends to participate in the contest on Facebook

2. Post your vote to your Facebook wall by selecting “share on my wall” when you vote for your favorite photo.

3. Let your friends know that you can vote for each entry once per day

Remember for best chances you should submit your entry early and vote often!

A panel of Gilt Groupe judges will then select five winners based on the overall quality of the photo and the costume, announcing the results by November 26 on the Gilt Children page and Twitter account.

Each of the winners will receive a $1000 credit for use on Gilt.com!


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FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post. This is a sponsored post via Mom Bloggers Club and I am a participating blogger in a paid campaign.

Preparing for a weekend of all Treats (No Tricksies)! - Share your favorite horror movie!

photo credit: Mimoco

Our friends at Mimoco posted the coolest Hello Kitty Computer Wallpaper ever on their Facebook Page HERE! I just had to share, isn't Hello Kitty the coolest? As soon as I saw it, I immediately made it my desktop background on my computer and just had to share her with you!

We are preparing for a very cool weekend surprise of all treats and no tricks for you, so stay tuned! HINT: Our friends at 1800-baskets.com are joining us for a 3 baskets for 3 winners Halloween Themed Giveaway! You WON'T want to miss it!

We experienced a server glitch, no worries (you know I'm all over it!), no entries were lost, but as a result we are extending our deadling for the Satya Jewelry Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway that was supposed to close today at 3pm until 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time, so HURRY enter NOW! Click HERE! (And don't forget to show Satya some love when you are shopping for gifts! They have many collections where the proceeds go to charity! And be sure to check back for a special upcoming giveaway with Satya for our holiday buying guide launching in mid-November! So let's show some entry love for this giveaway!)

So because I'm in super work mode, we are keeping things short and simple today. I thought it would be fun if we shared our favorite horror movie, what is yours?

Horror is my favorite genre and guilty pleasure, and my favorite 'killer' is Freddy Kruger, I also like the movie 'Terror Train' (maybe because it reminds me of my morning commute by rail in New York City, ROFLMAO!), and the Excorcist will always have a creepy factor for me!

NEW NEWS!:  Ascending Butterfly needs your votes! I really want to be NatureMade's Good Mood Blogger (no worries I do NOT have to stop blogging here, I can do BOTH jobs!), please rock the vote for me daily here: http://www.sam-e.com/job/entries/645

You can also get there using the cool button below:


Vote for Me
Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

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FTC Disclosure: This is a non-compensated post, just alerting my readers of cute wallpaper and upcoming giveaways! So as they say in my neck of the woods 'Don't get it twisted!'

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Wordless Wednesday - What's in the Oven?



Today I had the pleasure of attending a Panera Bread Baking Event in New York City headed by Tom Gumpel, Panera's Head Baker! Here he is during a demonstration making a super delish Bread Pudding! More details to follow, but I thought this would make a perfect Wordless Wednesday Picture!

So, What's in the Oven?

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FTC Disclosure: This is a non compensated post. I was invited to a local event by the Mom Bloggers Club and Panera Bread, while they did feed us, we were not compensated in any way!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Dunkin Donuts Flavored Coffee - Review and Giveaway!

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Dunkin Donuts! We look forward to working with you again! The winner has been notified and upon confirmation, follower name will be posted both here and on our homepage. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page Where it reads “Today’s Butterfly! Win Here’!
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America Runs on Dunkin

Don't you just love that tagline? America Runs on Dunkin - and on occassion so do I! My first memory of the smell of coffee in the kitchen was in my great-grandmother's kitchen, she was a die hard coffee drinker. And while I am not an every morning cup of joe person, there are mornings when I already know my to-do list for the day is what some don't do even in a week, and it's on those mornings, I know I need help. Help to see me through a day that will end up being 16 hours or more at least with back to back meetings. Sometimes I need a little help summoning up the 'back-to-back' energy for those 'back-to-back' meetings!

I want something that I can enjoy drinking and that won't drain my weekly budget, yes, even a butterfly has to stick to a budget! and in winter when it's freezing out, I want something warm to start my morning!

When the Mom Bloggers Club asked if I'd like to participate in a testing opportunity with Dunkin, needless to say I jumped at the chance, and while I'm no Coffee Connoisseur, I do know what I like, and just how much I am willing to pay for it!

I was sent 3 different flavors to try,  French Vanilla, Cinnamon Spice and Hazelnut. I ripped open the Hazelnut first. Which doesn't surprise me, it's my favorite variety and I already knew it would be. It didn't fail to disappoint, honestly just the smell in the bag before you even brew it, is just heavenly! My second fave was French Vanilla, and Cinnamon Spice came in last, but not least, it's good, but hazelnut is definitely my hands down fave!

While these three year-round flavors are awesome, Dunkin Donuts also offers seasonal flavors! You can find info on the seasonal flavors at: http://www.dunkinathome.com. (There are Halloween as well Holiday flavors available, they even have gift baskets too! Or you can pick up some bags at your local grocery store and put together your own gift basket, I'm sure some of those hard to shop for gifts like your mail carrier would definitely love a bag or two of morning love for the holidays!)

WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Dunkin Donuts would like to provide 1 Ascending Butterfly Follower with a bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee. The flavor will be a surprise, chosen at random by the sponsor; But I can assure you it's all treats and no tricks here at Ascending Butterfly!





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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this" or "I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Tuesday, October 26, 2010 until Tuesday, November 02, 2010 at 03:00 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email your entry will not be processed)

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 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!)

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tweet this:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  #ascendingbutterfly No Tricks all Treats Halloween #Giveaways! - Win a bag of Dunkin Donuts #Coffee! http://tinyurl.com/2g8fswx

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

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

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

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

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ascending Butterfly needs your votes! I really want to be NatureMade's Good Mood Blogger, please rock the vote for me daily here:

Vote for Me
Good Mood Gig from SAM-e


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ascending Butterfly is a nominee for the Bloggers Choice ’10 Awards in the ‘Best Blog About Stuff’ Category - You can press the button below to go straight to the page where Ascending Butterfly has been nominated!

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



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

Monday, October 25, 2010

Today's Words of Inspiration - How can I be the change if nothing ever changes?


credit @littlebuddhadesign

How can I be the change if nothing ever changes?

I know what you are thinking: Million Dollar Question, Right?

As cliche as it may sound, 'the change' that you are waiting for, be it a new job, house, mate, friend, car or lifestyle, starts and ends with you.

If nothing around you is changing, it's because you are doing the same things over and over again, and hoping for a new result. That is defined as insanity. A label that may be a bit harsh, but is certainly rooted in some truth. If your routine is the same now as it was 10 years ago, you can't wonder why things have stayed the same.

When does 'The Change' Happen?

Simply put change happens with or without us. With or without our consent and with or without us being ready, but it happens faster, when YOU get fed up. When you are tired of not seeing the level of progress in your life that YOU measure success by. Notice I said YOU. Your friends, family, parents, partner can tell you where your life should be by now, but until you want it, I mean really want it, you won't get there. We put effort into something that we value. Until the change you want to make becomes something of genuine value to you, you won't make it.

Today's Challenge: Get Fed Up of Being Fed Up!

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud 'I affirm today that I will put in the effort necessary to cultivate the changes needed to reach my goals and find fulfillment!'

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

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

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

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

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


Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed

Active Giveaways! Hurry Enter Now!

1) Ends 10/28 - Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway with Satya Jewelry! Win the Cherry Quartz Om Bracelet (ARV $48)  HERE

2) Ends 10/31 - Plenty of Dresses Review and Giveaway - Win the Item of YOUR choice! Any Dress, Blouse/Top in any style, size or color! HERE

3) Coming Soon: A special giveaway with Smashbox (this was due to YOUR popular demand), Halloween/Fall Treats from 1-800Baskets and so much MORE! Don't forget the Holiday Buying Guide will be launching in November (11/15), and our book club returns too!

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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sunday Moment of Gratitude and Great Giveaways too!


Photo Reads: 'Beleive in Gratitude Big' Credit: @Bing

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 focused breathing meditations.

This week, I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Something I normally wouldn't be, a ritual that comes with the changing of the seasons, clearing out my closets. I've actually been pretty productive and been purging my closets of items that no longer serve a purpose and no longer hold the same value they once did. It's a time consuming process, but very rewarding in the end. And while I still have a bit to go, I'm grateful for the feeling of 'lightness' that clearing out closets leaves me with. The newly cleared spaces are filled with anticipation of what will come, now that a space has been cleared for it.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - For some very happy mailbox days both personal stuff and butterfly stuff! We have some great giveaways ahead, some fun stuff for Halloween and a super fantastic holiday buying guide ahead. For my 'crafty' butterflies we have something super extra special headed your way . . .

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - For all my friends who have participated in Breast Cancer Awareness runs and walks this month, we all choose to honor this month in different ways, but I'm very proud of my friends and the time they put in. And super happy that our friends at Satya Jewelry are hosting such a meaningful awareness giveaway with us! (I'd love it if you could all make sure you take time to enter this giveaway before it closes, and of course if you are shopping for jewelry please consider purchasing from Satya who is donating portions of the proceeds of their special collection to breast cancer awareness, there are also other pieces that donate to different charities as well)

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

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

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

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

Active Giveaways:

1) Ends 10/28 - Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway with Satya Jewelry! Win the Cherry Quartz Om Bracelet (ARV $48)  HERE

2) Ends 10/31 - Plenty of Dresses Review and Giveaway - Win the Item of YOUR choice! Any Dress, Blouse/Top in any style, size or color! HERE

3) Coming Soon: A special giveaway with Smashbox (this was due to YOUR popular demand), Halloween/Fall Treats from 1-800Baskets and so much MORE! Don't forget the Holiday Buying Guide will be launching in November (11/15), and our book club returns too!

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















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

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