Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sunday Moment of Gratitude!


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 - I am grateful to our friends at Disney for providing me with passes to a Screening of Tangled in 3D this weekend, I needed to get away from the computer for awhile, and it was fun watching the children react to the 3D animation and images seeming to pop right off the screen! (And I think Disney has been writing with me in mind, because there was a butterfly sighting in this movie too!) No spoilers here, but I definitely recommend! I decided to make Saturday a total movie day and I am totally grateful for the day off, it was well-deserved and MUCH needed.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Our 'Surprise-A-Day' Giveaway is in full swing and there has been great response! Thanks readers for all the entries and the emails! And to our wonderful sponsors for making this one of our biggest holiday buying guides ever, there are huge surprises to come. I needed to take the weekend to moderate all the entries in the queue before putting up some new ones!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The fact that the holiday buying guide pushed up my time frame for getting holiday decorating completed, means that when most people are starting the frenzy I am already pretty much done, which will allow me to be in the moment and enjoy the holidays more this year! It's been a great pleasure enjoying evenings in front of my tree which went up so much earlier than my usual!

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 MONDAY 11/22 - Win Your Christmas Tree with a $100 Gift Certificate to Hayneedle.com (or any other product of your choosing in their over 220 stores) Enter HERE (this one ends soon, like TOMORROW so hurry!)

2) Ends 11/23 - Activeion Ionator HOM Review and Giveaway! (ARV $179) An amazing eco friendly cleaner! Enter HERE

3) Ends 11/24 - Disney Tangled Prize Pack Giveaway! Enter HERE

4) Ends 11/25 - Win an Allergy Blocking Window Panels Pair of YOUR choice from CleanRest® - 2 winners (ARV $100 per prize = $200 since there are 2 winners)- (Allergans are not just restricted to Spring, breathe easy in your home YEAR ROUND!) Enter HERE

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

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:















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

FTC Disclosure: This is not a compensated post nor is this a paid insertion. I attended a Disney Screening this weekend, and was under no obligation to post, but I really enjoyed the movie and thought I'd share! All giveaways listed are sponsored and will be fulfilled directly by the sponsor. I really do live in gratitude and this is the journal I use which is why I recommend it.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

SURPRISE!



Ascending Butterfly's Surprise-a-Day Countdown to Christmas Giveaways will return soon! Our server is flooded with entries, and we need to get them processed before we can post new giveaways! Surprise, I just realized there is but so much I can possibly do in a day! :-)

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! I am off to a Disney 'Tangled' Screening this weekend! While I'm watching the movie, why don't you enter to win a Disney Tangled Prize Pack HERE

And while you are in the Christmas state of mind, don't forget to enter to win our Activeion Ionator HOM giveaway HERE

or a pair of Allergy Blocking Window Curtains from Clean Rest HERE

and ending soon, you can win your Christmas Tree or any other product your heart desires from over 220 Stores with a $100 Hayneedle.com Gift Card HERE

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

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Win an Allergy Blocking Window Panels Pair of YOUR choice from CleanRest® - 2 winners - Ends 11/25

˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙
This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Clean Rest! We look forward to working with you again! The winners are 'Kathy Pease' and 'Nicole B.'  Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!
˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙

Ascending Butterfly Holidays Buying Guide 2010, Fourth Giveaway sponsored by:



We are so happy to have our friends at CleanRest® back this year for our holiday gift guide. As a New Yorker where Bed Bugs are taking over the town and where even if you are maniacal about cleaning, dust bunnies still try to take over, it's important to use brands in my home that allow me to feel certain that I am doing the best I can to reduce allergans and keep dust levels at bay!

When we last worked with CleanRest® we told you all about their Pillows and Mattress Covers (see HERE to refresh your memory), during the giveaway when we asked you to tell us which other product caught your eye, most of you picked the Allergy Blocking Window Panels. So thanks to your popular demand, we are very happy to offer them to you now.

About the Allergy Blocking Window Panels:

CleanRest® window panels are made using a patented textile technology called MicronOne®. This technology creates a very unique pore structure that prevents micro-organisms like dust mites from colonizing in the fabric its self, as a result the waste that dust mites produce will not build up over time in the window panel like what happens in regular window panels that don’t use MicronOne® technology.

In every home, there are various airborne micro-toxins like pet dander and pollen that build up naturally over time on all surfaces. In order to remove this build up, surfaces need to be cleaned. CleanRest® window panels can easily be wiped down or washed in a home laundry machine and tumble dried like any set of bed sheets or household laundry, making them easy to keep clean and remove the build up of other toxins that occur in every home.

Blocks dust mites, mold spores, pollen and pet dander

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - BPA Free, Phthalate Free, No VOCs

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Machine washable

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Includes one rod pocket panel with back tabs

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fits up to 2" diameter rod

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fully Lined

I love these curtains and basically now want a pair in EVERY color!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at CleanRest® would like to provide 2 Ascending Butterfly Followers with a PAIR of Allergy Blocking Window Panels in the color of their choice!

Don't you just ♥ CleanRest®? I know I do!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and Mandatory Entry: (2) Post the link to another product you would like from CleanRest®! (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 18, 2010 until Thursday, November 25, 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 Christmas fun, how about an extra credit for sharing your favorite holiday movie?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tell me what color panels you'd pick if you won for another extra credit!

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 + @CleanRest Allergy Blocking Window Panels #Giveaways!  - 2 winners! http://tinyurl.com/2cb3z4b

(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 @CleanRest 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 CleanRest® at Protect Your Sleep 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 - I could use your vote (please leave me your voting number in the comment field for an extra credit) - http://www.itsthoughtful.com/gift-idea/2758/

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


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


FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the product and the sponsor are my own experiences. I was provided product to facilitate the review and giveaway. The 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.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Disney Tangled Prize Pack Giveaway!

˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙
This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Disney! 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!
˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙

Ascending Butterfly Holidays Buying Guide 2010, Third Giveaway sponsored by:


On November 24, 2010, Walt Disney Pictures’ 50th full-length animated feature, Tangled, will be coming to a theatre near you! Can you believe it's already been 50 full length features? This one will be coming to you in Disney Digital 3D! Definitely a great iMax Theater pick!

One of my favorite escapes before Thanksgiving and the Holiday Shopping frenzy begins, is to take a movie break, it definitely makes things easier when the kiddos get restless while you are shopping! A promise of a movie and some downtime usually makes everyone happy! And of course, you want to keep it family friendly (save the horror movies for date night or girls night out!).

I will be seeing it this weekend, which means no spoilers here, but I thought I'd at least share the trailer, we can watch it together!



When the kingdom’s most wanted—and most charming—bandit Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi) is taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore), a feisty teen with 70 feet of golden hair who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away in for years, the unlikely duo sets off on a hilarious, hair-raising escapade filled with adventure, heart, humor and hair—lots of hair. I remember reading Rapunzel when I was a little girl! I'm looking forward to seeing this movie!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Disney would like to provide 1 Ascending Butterfly Follower with a Tangled Prize Pack!

Which Includes (you will receive the whole kit and kaboodle as pictured below):


Female fit Rapunzel t-shirt (Youth)

General fit Flynn Rider t-shirt (adult)


General fit Pascal t-shirt (adult)
Silly Bandz – set of 4 characters (Rapunzel, Flynn, Pascal, Maximus)

Don't you just ♥ Disney? (I know I Do!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and Mandatory Entry: (2) Tell us who your favorite Disney Movie Character is and from which movie! (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 Wednesday, November 17, 2010 until Wednesday, November 24, 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 Christmas fun, how about an extra credit for sharing your favorite holiday movie?

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 + @DisneyAnimation Disney Tangled Prize Pack #Giveaway!  - http://tinyurl.com/32t3chr

(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 @DisneyAnimation 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 Disney's Tangled 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 - I could use your vote (please leave me your voting number in the comment field for an extra credit) - http://www.itsthoughtful.com/gift-idea/2758/

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


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


FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the product and the sponsor are my own experiences. I was provided product to facilitate the review and giveaway. The 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.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Activeion Ionator HOM Review and Giveaway! (ARV $179)

˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙
This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Activeion! We look forward to working with you again! The winner is 'Jaime'. Remember: There are great giveaways active in our Holiday Buying Guide on the upper right hand side of the page!
˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙


Ascending Butterfly Holidays Buying Guide 2010, Second Giveaway sponsored by:



Last year I had the opportunity to review and host a giveaway of the Activeion Pro, you can read that review HERE. Today we are launching Giveaway #2 in our Annual Holidays Buying Guide, this is going to be an amazing countdown to Christmas! You are not going to want to miss a day.

When I tried the Pro Unit last year, I found it to be the best 'green' cleaning product I had ever used. And use it I did! However, after just under a year into using the Pro Unit, the battery wouldn't hold it's charge as long. When I want to tackle big jobs, I can't constantly have the battery losing it's charge or needing to be re-charged mid-stream. While the product itself has not lost it's efficacy, and still can tackle big cleaning jobs, the battery issue can become a bit annoying, if like me, you start with your goals set out of what you want to accomplish in a cleaning session and you have to stop and wait for the battery to charge itself again.

Unbeknowngst to me, team Activeion was taking various feedback about the Activeion Pro and making it more user-friendly for home use! They actually also re-made the Pro unit I tried, and have a newer version called the EXP which I have not tried yet. Some of the cons of the old Pro Unit was that even though it has a large water reservoir, it's also much heavier in the hand. And secondly, it doesn't hold a battery charge long enough after awhile to tackle time consuming jobs like windows. Apparently, they took these complaints to heart, and lo and behold the Activeion Ionator HOM was born!

The Activeion Ionator HOM makes all the changes I wanted to see happen with the Pro Unit. It's lighter and much more intuitive and ergnomic, making it easier to hold for extended periods of time and easier to use. The battery life on this unit is a much bigger improvement from the model I used last year. The Ionator HOM holds it's charge MUCH longer, and does not require recharges as quickly as last year's Pro Unit. When I first saw it, I wondered if it could tackle the tough jobs as effectively as the Pro Unit I tried does, and I am happy to report it does! The smaller, prettier, design definitely marries form with function. I used it to tackle my toughest cleaning jobs, like Windows, Kitchen and Bathroom surfaces. I love that it Eliminates 99.9% of harmful germs including H1N1 and E. coli! And does it without harmful chemicals! Specifically, I love that it does not trigger my allergies or induce asthma, it's good for those to clean with who have any types of sensitivies and it's good for the environment as well. It's definitely all about living greener and cleaner. And the fact that you are saving money in the process is a HUGE bonus! You tackle various jobs with ONE product that utilizes tap water! Which also means less bottles, and less clutter in the cabinets! (LOVE that!)

If you have a clean freak in your life, they will not stop thanking you if they found this under the tree! I also highly recommend this for anyone with young adults going off to College. They have very limited space, and that space is shared by a large amount of people. The Activeion Ionator HOM is a portable and super convenient option for them, they can store it in a drawer in their desk or under their bed and get in the habit of making sure they wipe down their desk, headboard and phone every single day. They also wouldn't have to worry if they have a super allergic roommate since this product won't trigger an allergic reaction in anyone with allergies or sensitivities. And anything that can help them eliminate spreading common colds around the dorm is a great idea! (Just make sure they follow the instructions and use it properly to maximize it's effectiveness!)

The Activeion Ionator HOM is also an excellent gift for a young bachelor who just got a new apartment! or a young lady or a young couple just starting out! Trust me, it's the gift that keeps on giving, and will be remembered long after the holiday season is over.

This is definitely a thoughtful gift; it saves the recipient time and money and gives them what we all want, the cleanest and safest possible environment in our homes!

I am super happy with the improvements that have been made, and highly recommend the Activeion Ionator HOM.



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at activeion.com would like to provide 1 Ascending Butterfly Follower with an Ionator HOM of their own!

Don't you just ♥ Activeion? (I know I Do!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and Mandatory Entry: (2) Visit Activeion Ionator HOM and tell me something you learned about the product. (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, November 16, 2010 until Tuesday, November 23, 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 Christmas fun, how about an extra credit for sharing your favorite holiday movie?

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 + @Activeion win an Ionator HOM (ARV $179) #holidaybuyingguide #eco - http://tinyurl.com/2dlh2mg

(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 @Activeion 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 Activeion 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 - I could use your vote (please leave me your voting number in the comment field for an extra credit) - http://www.itsthoughtful.com/gift-idea/2758/

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


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


FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the product and the sponsor are my own experiences. I was provided product to facilitate the review and giveaway. The 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. BTW, I genuinely LOVE the holidays! =)

Monday, November 15, 2010

Win Your Christmas Tree with a $100 Gift Certificate to Hayneedle.com

˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙
This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Hayneedle.com! We look forward to working with you again! The winner is 'mamawj' (we post winner usernames for privacy) Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!
˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙

Ascending Butterfly Holidays Buying Guide 2010, First Giveaway sponsored by:


It's begining to look a lot like Christmas! Santa's little butterfly elves have been in the workshop working feverishly to bring you an amazing buying guide this year! I'm sure some of you caught the not so subtle hint on Saturday and figured out that we'd be starting off our Annual Holidays Buying Guide with a Christmas Tree!

While I love 'Live' Trees, they don't quite fit into my urban dwelling lifestyle. I'm on a Fifth Floor Walkup with no elevator, so there is no way I'm lugging a Live Christmas Tree up here! I stick with the artificial ones, delivered by an express mail carrier (we won't name any specific one, they can pay to advertise!)

My former artificial tree was truly on it's last legs and it was time for a replacement. Another great reason for using artificial trees for me, is that I store them well and hold onto them usually well past their warranty, which makes them the greener option.

I also knew that I wanted to be true to my preferences about making sure I was working with someone who gives back, you know I simply can't resist 'shopping with a conscience'. I always try to find ways to give back with every purchase I make. I love finding ways to shop smarter not harder, stay on budget and still manage to give back.

While I did receive the opportunity to review an Artificial Christmas Tree that truly suited my needs and my preferences, I was also delighted to find out that when you purchase your Christmas Tree from Hayneedle, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant a live tree in one of our nation's needy forests. Their goal is to help plant up to 15,000 trees! I would definitely love to see them achieve that goal! Learn more about Hayneedle's goal to plant 15,000 trees. (Not only can you help but at minimal cost to you, READ ON!)

I didn't get a chance to take pictures every single step of the way, but here is a picture of the tree just after assembly, since it's a pre-lit, after I assembled the base, attached the bottom, middle and top tier, I plugged it in, and this is what it looked like:



It was a little weird working with a new tree after having had my old one for so long, it took a bit to get the shape the way I wanted to, and ultimately I did end up adding a bit more lights of my own to it. (I love alot of lights on the tree!)

Then I went on to the fun stuff, Decorating! After me and the butterfly elves got to working our magic and decorating the tree it looked like this:


For my fellow travel lovers with an observant eye, yes that is a picture of 'El Morro' (San Juan, Puerto Rico) in the background, taken by yours truly and blown up and framed!

Now don't get me wrong, Hayneedle is WAY more than just Christmas Trees! Hayneedle.com includes 220 stores and counting, each devoted to a single product category. Best of all, you can shop all of them with one global shopping cart! Who needs 'Brick and Mortar' when you can get it all done in your PJ's in your ahem 'Spare Time'.

Here is a sponsor image of the tree (you know I love the hi-res!)


Technical Tree Stats:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Shape: Full
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Base Width: 64-inches
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Number of Bulbs: 800
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Number of Tips: 2176
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Material: PVC
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Style: Pine Trees
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - When one light goes out, the rest will stay lit as long as the bulb remains in the circuit

Pros:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pre-lit is super convenient, no more fighting with those 'string balls' of lights that are all tangled
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Base worked the first time! (for anyone who has had to fight with their Christmas Base - you know what I mean!
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The branches are long! This gives you room to play with, you can tilt them up if you have a narrow space, and spread them out full if you want a really wide look to it!

Cons:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - If you are putting this up solo, the base piece is pretty heavy
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - It doesn't come in something to keep it safe, so be careful if using a box cutter to open the outer box, there is nothing in there to protect the pieces but bubble wrap. (My box arrived pretty banged up) I really wished the tree would have come inside a storage box or bag to keep it safe during transit.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - It does require time to get the 'shape'
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Would have loved more lights, but you can easily add your own, which I did
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The instructions are a bit vague so make sure you line it up well so that when you connect each tier the plugs line up for the lights, you want each tier to have it's plugs in the back.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Hayneedle.com would like to provide 1 Ascending Butterfly Follower with a $100 Gift Card! - You can use the gift card to get a Christmas Tree, or on any item in their 220 stores!

Don't you just ♥ Hayneedle? (I know I Do!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and Mandatory Entry: (2) Visit Hayneedle.com and link me to what you would use your $100 Gift Card for. Remember you cannot link to the reviewed tree! (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 Monday, November 15, 2010 until Monday, November 22, 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 Christmas fun, how about an extra credit for sharing your favorite holiday movie?

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 + @hayneedle Holiday Buying Guide #Giveaways $100 Gift Certificate - http://tinyurl.com/2arpd9n

(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 @hayneedle 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 Hayneedle 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 - I could use your vote (please leave me your voting number in the comment field for an extra credit) - http://www.itsthoughtful.com/gift-idea/2758/

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


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







FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the product and the sponsor are my own experiences. I was provided product to facilitate the review & 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. BTW, I genuinely LOVE the holidays! =)