What is your Studio Look?

What is your Studio Look? Visit yourstyleyourstudio.com and find out! Your Style Your Studio is a digital lookbook launched by L'Oreal Paris based on their Studio line of haircare products where both men and women can upload their own hair looks & get inspired by other looks that have been uploaded. You'll see lots of bold colors, daring cuts, and fashion-forward looks. It came at just the right time for me, as I am ready for a hair makeover.

This year has been a very busy, productive year of many changes and transitions. I had a big birthday this year, I've lost 26 pounds and several dress sizes, and my hair just don't reflect 'the new me'. So next up on my personal agenda, is making the outer me, match the inner me. And my hair needs to keep up! I'd like something shorter, easier to style and manage and for the first time ever I'm thinking of trying out a permanent color change (Thankfully it's not out of necessity, no greys yet!). That's something I've never really done, I've used wash out temporary color before (the last time was for my College Graduation!) but I've never made a real color change commitment. With Your Style Your Studio I can get ideas based on hair type, length and product type which I very much appreciate. Not only do you get an idea of how different styles will look, you can also learn how to achieve that style and what specific products were utilized to create the look.

L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Collection

For more than 25 years the Studio line has offered men and women the tools needed to create their look and express their styles. In 2011, Studio has undergone a dramatic creative overhaul with new packaging, making it easier to find the styling product perfect for you. In addition to a new look, the Studio line now offers five new products, bringing the range to 12 studio-inspired, sophisticated yet user-friendly offerings. The new Volume and Curl offerings help you achieve weightless volume, frizz control and curl definition for long-lasting hold and body. New Mega Hairspray sprays on clean and holds style in place all day with long-lasting shine. The revamped Studio Line provides both men and women with a full line of gels, mousses, sprays, spritzes and texturizers that meet every styling need.

Price: $4.99 each, Available at chain drug, food and mass market retailers nationwide.

I tried:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  This styling product helps you create your look to give you a style all your own. It uses a flexible-holding polymer to add texture and thickness to give your style a hold that doesn't feel hard.

• Your style: Full, thick texturized style that looks natural
• Your result: Reworkable hold that gives you the definition you need 
• Directions: Start with a dime sized amount of putty and rub between your palms. Work through hair and shape. Styling tips: Build volume and fullness by starting at the roots and then lifting hair up and out. Fix your style into place.
• Medium hold with Clean Texture

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - This studio inspired styling product helps create your look to give you a style all your own.

• Contains power-packed polymers to help lock your style into place and keep it smooth and shiny
• Result - A long-lasting style that is smooth and shiny 
• 24 hour max hold for ultimate control & finish 
• Meets all state and federal VOC standards
• Directions: Spray on dry, styled hair 8-12 inches away to keep your style intact. Styling tip: For added control, finish your style with a cool blast of air from your blow dryer.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Silkier Curls can be yours!

• Your studio: This gel combines a styling polymer, to structure curls with long-lasting hold, and silicone for high shine and frizz control.
• Your style: Structured, shapely curls with frizz control.
• Your results: Curls that look shiny and defined with lasting hold.
• Meets all state and federal VOC standards
• Strong hold
• Directions: Rub desired amount in hands. Apply evenly throughout damp or dry hair. Blow dry with a diffuser or let air-dry. Styling tip: For added definition and hold apply and scrunch hair with palms to help separate and form curls. Let air dry.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - This gel blends clean-holding technology with multivitamins for a lightweight, clean-feeling product that holds your style but rinses out easily in the shower.

• Your Style: Clean-looking definition and structure
• Your Results: Strong, lasting hold that won't leave residue or dull your hair
• Made in USA
• Style any way you choose 
• Directions: For classic styles, apply to damp hair and use finger or a comb to shape style. Fix your style into place with Studio Strong Suit Mega Spritz Hairspray

My Take

All the products I tried helped me to achieve salon results at WAY more affordable prices! And the your style your studio website shows how to use each product to achieve desired results. I found that all products worked well with my hair length and texture (which is currently super long, fine, slightly wavy and frizz prone), and the most versatile of the products for me was the overworked hair putty, it's excellent for keeping your bangs in place, and if you have long hair, or don't want to blow out your bangs and just want to slick them back, it's great for keeping the front of your hair in place when pulling it back into a ponytail, it tames it, keeps it in place and gives you a super shiny ponytail!

I did want to share that the hairspray didn't make my hair super stiff either which I appreciated, I don't like when a hairspray gives you that stiff helmut head look!

The mousse gave great elasticity and hold without making hair stiff, it allowed me to re-work my style as needed from day into night.

I liked the gels, but I will admit I'm not a big gel user anymore, and with my hair currently so long, gel is less necessary for me, although perhaps when I cut it shorter, the gel will be more useful for me.

I liked the products I tried from the Studio Line and I like the Your Style Your Studio website, it's given me some ideas on cuts and color that I will be taking to my stylist. If you upload your photo, please be sure to come back here and share the link with us!

Happy Hair Day Butterflies!

Coupon Alert: Buy 1 L'Oréal Studio Line Styling Product, Save $1.00 through 11/30/2011

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FTC Info: This is NOT a sponsored post. Ascending Butterfly attended a L'Oreal Hair Color 101 event and received a gift bag of L'Oreal Paris Studio Line Haircare Products for review. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials In Advertising. Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. Coupon Alert uses an affiliate link.

THE ANNUAL BEAUTY SAMPLE SALE SERIES! Coming to NYC today and a city near you SOON!

PRETTYCITY.COM AND SHAPE MAGAZINE HOST THE ANNUAL BEAUTY SAMPLE SALE SERIES IN NEW YORK!

How would you like to Sample Free Spa/Salon Services, Beauty Products, Cocktails, Appetizers And More While Discovering Beauty Trends, Expert Advice And Swag?

I thought so, because it sounds great to me too, and I will definitely be there! And so should you!

PrettyCity.com, is bringing the most anticipated beauty sampling event of the year to New York. Co-hosted by SHAPE magazine, the annual Beauty Sample Sale series makes its way through five major cities this year, starting in Boston in September and ending in LA in January 2012, offering an extensive array of beauty product samplings, on-site makeovers, and complimentary spa and salon treatments.

With a unique take on the traditional “sample sale,” The Beauty Sample Sale offers beauty devotees a one-of-a-kind shopping and sampling experience. “I’ve always loved sample sales, what woman doesn’t? There are plenty of such sales for the clothes horse but there were no events for beauty aficionados like myself. Women may know what brands of jeans look best on them, but when it comes to finding the perfect shade of red lipstick or picking skin care that suits her skin, sampling is essential,” said Carolyn Brundage, chief executive officer and founder of PrettyCity.com.

Beauty enthusiasts from across the country gather to partake in exclusive samplings of the latest beauty products, opportunities to experience distinctive spa and salon treatments, as well as deeply discounted sale prices on cosmetic, skin and hair care products. Attendees each enjoy a complimentary cocktail or glass of wine and appetizers plus goodie bags filled to the brim with full sized products – not samples – from the likes of Haken Professional, Girlfriends Blotting Papers, Milani Cosmetics, Lavanilla, Ouidad, Mirabella, Mirenesse and more. (You can log on to PrettyCity.com for updated goodie bag “sneak peeks” leading up to each event.)

With over 25,000 women having attended The Beauty Sample Sale in years past, the event is proving to be recession-proof as it has steadily grown since its inception six years ago. “These events have been so popular largely because women consider taking care of themselves outside and inside a top priority. They’re willing to spend money to look great, but they need help wading through the millions of products and thousands of services available to find the ones that truly work for them." The Beauty Sample Sale is a smart way for women to sample products and services that they’ve heard about without wasting their hard-earned dollars,” said Brundage.

The Beauty Sample Sale will take place in New York on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Marquee, two eighty-nine, 10th Avenue. You can purchase tickets online for $29 each at www.BeautySampleSale.com; guests must be 21 and up and present valid photo ID to attend.

Media RSVP: Private media preview begins at 5:30 p.m. on October 12 at Marquee. Limited media passes are available. Please contact pr@prettycity.com with requests.

The Beauty Sample Sale hits Atlanta on 11/09/11, You can RSVP HERE, it hits Chicago on 12/06/11 and you can RSVP HERE for Chi-town, it hits Los Angeles last on 01/11/12, LA folks can RSVP HERE.

It wasn't a sharable widget so I couldn't embed it here, but if you are interested in seeing pictures from Last Year's event in NYC, click HERE.

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received. Ascending Butterfly received admission tickets to the event as well as Media Preview Hour and will receive a gift bag. All opinions are my own. Ascending Butterfly covers local NYC events for our readers to keep them informed of product launches, events and happenings.

{CLOSED} The Prance Boot Review and Giveaway! ARV $225 Ends 10/17

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Kalso Earth Shoes! Look for a new Kalso giveaway coming soon! The winner is: Naddez. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!

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Ascending Butterfly's All Treats No Tricks Countdown to Halloween Giveaway Sponsored By:

Our weather here has been nuts, it started getting rainy and cooler, and then got hot again. This past weekend was very much 'Indian Summer' here, but having lived in NYC all my life I know just how quickly the weather changes. I am not willing to compromise on style just because the weather turns. And I also need boots that are 'commuter city friendly'. There's a lot of walking that happens in this city (and trains which means lots of stairs too).

I'm a boot lover, I love boots as much as I love handbags and I definitely found this years 'favorite pair'. Not too short, not thigh highs, but just like in the Goldilocks and The Three Bears tale, these boots are 'just right'. The weather hadn't even turned when the boots arrived, but I was like a kid at Christmas who wants to play with their new toy all day long! I have worn them almost constantly since I received them and I love them! I haven't found any outfit they don't match with, and most importantly I don't have to sacrifice form for function, they are equal parts comfortable and pretty! And for those girls who are 'wide' or 'athletic' calves, you'll be happy to know these fit  me well and I'm wide calf myself.

Kalso Earth Shoes 'The Prance' Boots

About 'The Prance' Boot

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Equestrian inspired, two-tone, tall-shafted boot

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Full-length inner zipper

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Faux-shearling lining

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Patented “negative heel” sole

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - MSRP: $225.00 (USD)

My Take:

Pictured Above: Ascending Butterfly at Bridesmaid DVD release party wearing The Prance Boot!

In the picture above I am wearing my Prance boots to the DVD release party for Bridemaids! It was a rainy and cool evening, and these were just perfect. I was on my feet quite a bit and when I got home my feet were not even tired!

These are available in Black and a brown color called 'Almond' and I can tell you I am going back for them in Brown, I love them that much!

And if you are thinking 'Deja Shoe', you would be right, I've worked with Earth Footwear before, here are my reviews for the Talera shoes (perfect heels for work or play with comfort footbed) and the Veria shoes (these are so perfect for an evening out, and that red is totally a head turner, I LOVE these shoes and always get compliments when I wear them). I've got to admit that my Prance boots are edging older pairs out, I find myself reaching for these first. With Earth Shoes I have to half size up from normal shoe size, it somehow works out better for me regardless of whether or not it's a heel or a flat. (Remember, that may or may not apply to you, but I always like to share my full experience with a product).

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Kalso Earth Shoes would like to give 1 lucky winner will win a pair of Prance Boots of their own! (Color based on in stock size availability). ARV $225

Don't you just ♥ Kalso Earth Shoes? I know I do!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2)MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Kalso Earth Shoes and provide a URL Link to another pair shoes or boots that you like! (Remember, you cannot select the pair that was reviewed here)  (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. One entry per Household, see Ascending Butterfly Giveaway Rules and Disclosure Policy HERE

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, October 10, 2011 until Monday, October 17, 2011 at 03:00 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email your entry will not be processed)

EXTRA CREDIT:

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

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

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

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @KalsoEarthShoes on Twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tweet this:

Pls RT: Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - @Ascending1 + @KalsoEarthShoes  The Prance #Boot  #Giveaway! #footwear #shoes Ends 10/17 http://tinyurl.com/4yncl5l

(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 Kalso Earth Shoes on Facebook and tell them Ascending Butterfly Sent You or tell them what your favorite shoe or boot is! (Please post the link to your facebook comment, you can get that link the same way you get your link to your tweets! If you don't post the link where you wrote on their wall I can't give you extra credit for it.)

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

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

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

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FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway:  I was provided product to facilitate the review and giveaway. No monetary compensation has been received. The sponsors are fulfilling directly to prize winner(s), this in no way influenced my opinion of the products. Once a winner is selected and their information has been forwarded to the sponsor, the responsibility of prize fulfillment rests with the sponsor.

Weekly Moment of Gratitude! + Winner Announcement!

This week, I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  In the wake of the death of Steve Jobs, co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple who died WAY too young, let's all take a moment to be grateful for this new day we've been gifted with!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - My favorite inpsirational quote from Steve Jobs:

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” ~ Steve Jobs

Hope all my butterflies are having an amazing weekend!

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

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

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

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

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Giveaway Winners:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Kate Spade NY for Lenox Vase with 1800flowers Bouquet of your choice Giveaway winner - 'Royalegacy'

Thanks to both of our wonderful sponsors for hosting this fantastic giveaway! Stay tuned this week butterflies as Earthies will be back again with another great giveaway! (Rumor has it a great pair of boots will be in one very lucky butterfly's future!)

Gratitude Journal Reco:

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

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

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FTC Disclosure: Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Ascending Butterfly lists winner's site usernames for privacy.

Real Steal Movie Review!

Real Steel is out in theaters, and if you can, catch it in Imax so you can really enjoy the fight scenes. The movie is set in the near future and the sport of boxing has gone hi-tech. Robot Boxers in underground matches have replaced human boxers (apparently HBO disappears in the very near future, and we must resort to watching Robot Boxing in underground matches in questionable 'arenas'). It's sort of where 'Rock Em Sock Em Robots' and 'Rocky Balboa' meet with a touch of 'Transformers' for good measure. While this is PG-13 rated, I warn you Hugh Jackman's character, Charlie Kenton, is not quite 'likable', there is some strong language, and an opening scene with a bull that I could have lived without.

Other than the opening scene, it moves along relatively predictably, the fight scenes are enjoyable (yes folks, this butterfly has always been a bit of a tomboy and studied martial arts instead of ballet), and the humanizing of the 'good guy' robot 'Atom', and his relationship with Charles Kenton's son, Max Kenton (Played by Dakota Goyo who you may remember played Young Thor in the Thor Movie) gave the movie a little more depth. Evangeline Lilly as Charles Kenton's ever faithful love interest Bailey was OK, but she's no Talia Shire. (OK, I promise no more Rocky references).

I can't wait to try out the Video Game (although I probably won't get the chance, as it's not available for Wii, it's being released for the Xbox 360 (on October 12) as well as Playstation Network (October 18). So if any of you try it out, please come back here and let me know all about it!

Hugh Jackman (as Charles Kenton) in "Real Steel" (DreamWorks) with Robot 'Atom' and Dakota Goyo who plays son Max Kenton

“The father-son aspect is the spine of the movie,” Jackman said. “As cool a concept as it was to have all of the boxing robots, and as great as that is, we needed to achieve a couple of things beyond that. We needed to make people care about those robots and even with the great design that requires the audience to care about the people around the robots. It’s a redemption tale about all three beings — the father, the son and the robot.” ~Hugh Jackman (via LA Times)

It has the feel good ending audiences can get behind, and enough hi-tech cool factor to keep everyone involved! Visit the Real Steel website to make a cool paper robot and catch up with all things social for Reel Steal on Facebook and Twitter too!

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FTC Info: This is a NON-compensated Post. I attended a Press Screening of Reel Steal. All opinions are my own.

A Little Wine and Beauty in New York City!

Alert to all my New York City Readers, there is tons of fun to be had in the City today, wanna learn how wine and beauty combine?

The Beauty

First: The Beauty. The Beauty Bus is back by popular demand! - Come see the Beauty Bus in Union Square! Union Square West between 15th street and 16th street on October 6th from 12pm – 6pm. Don’t miss the excitement! If you can't get there, you can watch the fun on livestream, how cool is that? The Beauty Bus, a glass truck outfitted with styling chairs, mirrors, and beauty product must-haves, will invite Manhattanites aboard to receive professional makeup applications, DIY beauty tips, and hairstyling consultations. Hair Room Service celebrity stylists and DailyCandy editors will be on-site sharing their favorite beauty tips and looks.

The Wine

Second: The Wine, Great Match 2011 - Once you get all dolled up, you'll invariably need somewhere to go to show off all your fierceness right? How about some wine?  How about the 18th Annual Great Match, featuring Spain’s Vivacious Varietals? Meet with Spanish winery representatives, wine importers and distributors at this must-attend trade-only tasting. Discover new wines while tasting your way through Spain, highlighting more than 150 wines from many of Spain’s denominations of origin.

Don't live in NYC? No problem! If you live in Seattle, this event will be coming to you on Thursday, October 13th, and if you live in Atlanta, Great Match is hitting your city on Tuesday, October 25th. See the Great Match 2011 website for more details!

Give Back

You know I love give back opps, and this event comes with a great one! You can spend money for a fun day and do something to help others at the same time, in my book it doesn't get much better than that! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Food Bank for New York City, the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs.

Tickets are $60 – advance purchase required. Click here to buy tickets. For additional information, please call 888-946-3919. American Express, Visa & MasterCard accepted. All attendees must be 21 or older. Photo ID required. All sales final.

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FTC Disclosure: I have access to both events as a member of the digital press. This is a non-sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received to post about these events.

Do you Motherhood Out Loud?

We live out loud. We laugh out loud. We even love out loud. Then why not motherhood out loud too? That's the question I was left with after taking in the stageplay Motherhood Out Loud at the Primary Stages Theater in New York City.

You can follow primary stages on twitter @primarystages and Motherhood Out Loud on Twitter at @MotherhoodOL) (You can also connect with them on Facebook too!

About Motherhood Out Loud:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - When entrusting the subject of motherhood to such a dazzling collection of celebrated American writers, what results is a joyous, moving, hilarious, and altogether thrilling play. Utterly unpredictable, Motherhood Out Loud shatters traditional notions about parenthood, unveils its inherent comedy and celebrates the deeply personal truths that span and unite generations. Motherhood Out Loud reveals with illuminating insight the humor, raw emotions and rocky roads we experience in life.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Primary Stages presents the New York premiere of the new play, conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein, and written by Leslie Ayvazian, Brooke Berman, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq, Claire LaZebnik, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West, under the direction of Lisa Peterson. Motherhood Out Loud received its triumphant world premiere at Hartford Stage and recently completed its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse (as In Mother Words).

Giving Back:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - $1 will be added to all Motherhood Out Loud tickets as a donation to our charity partner, Choice in Childbirth. Choices in Childbirth is a leader in maternity care consumer education, advocacy and outreach. We believe that every woman deserves a safe, respectful and deeply fulfilling birth experience and we strive to improve maternity care and ensure that the birth of each child is treated with the reverence that it deserves. (You know I love finding ways to make my spending count. How cool is it that you can take in a great play, and be doing something so good at the same time?)

While I can't actually take you to the play, I can share some behind the scenes photos of a special talk back, moderated by Rene Syler (@ReneSyler) Where the writers, director and one of the performers shared their insights on bringing those poignant and memorable moments that comprise being a mother to the stage.

Creators: Claire LaZebnik and Lisa Loomer

Our super energetic moderator Rene Syler

Actress Mary Bacon and her son - he wanted his mama! Talk about Motherhood Out Loud, how cute is he?

Behind the Scenes with the folks behind the production!

My Take

The play offers various perspectives on Motherhood, its funny moments, its heartfelt moments, raw and honest ones, blended families, adoption, family dynamics and more. You can be laughing one moment, and needing a tissue the next (certainly a great tribute to the performances as well as the writing). I went to see the play with my mom, and we both enjoyed it. There were so many relatable moments, and although I myself am not yet a mom, I could certainly relate to many of the moments shared in the play. I wish the timing would have been different, and that this was running during Mother's Day, but it's running through October 29th, so you need to act fast. Don't miss this play!

Bring your mom for FREE! (Or a parent, guardian, or other family member) Motherhood Out Loud is the perfect way to honor that special person in your life. See it together. Enter code MOTHER when purchasing your full price ticket and get a 2nd ticket for FREE!
   
THROUGH 10/29 ONLY! BUY TICKETS NOW!

Call Ticket Central at 212.279.4200,  or visit the 59E59 Theaters Box Office or  CLICK HERE

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FTC Info: Ascending Butterfly received tickets to see Motherhood Out Loud and a gift bag. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials In Advertising. Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Exude Lipstick - Lipstick for the 21st century woman! {Review}

Most little girls have that special moment when they play with mommy's makeup, and their life long love with makeup begins. As for me, the only product that held any long term fascination was lipstick. I loved it, and that's the only thing I asked to wear when I was old enough to start wearing makeup (I'm sure mom was relieved!) I love lipstick so much I custom blend my colors and have been doing so for years now. I constantly get stopped in the street to ask me what color I'm wearing. Even makeup counters have asked me who I'm wearing. I'm thinking I really should be custom blending at a high end cosmetics lab! No one has ever seen me in a lipstick straight from the tube in its original formulation because I have yet to find the 'perfect red' right out the tube so I blend it myself!

I wear my signature custom red almost everyday, and I never get tired of it, and it never grows old. Perhaps it's because I custom blend to my skintone and keep all those factors in mind, I can truly carry it off.  I got to play with the nude trend last year at the MakeUp Show, and I will admit the pro who did it, created an all over look with a heavier eye and nude lips that I still think about to this day. While it should be an easy look, I still prefer my signature (custom blended) red to a nude lip any day.

I recently hit on a lipstick that gets high praise from me for reasons including pigment, application, color saturation, staying power and uniqueness of its Brand Messaging and Packaging, a four out of possible five butterflies goes to Exude.

Exude Lipstick Red #1

About Exude Lipstick:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Exude Lipstick was invented by cosmetics industry veterans Diane Breidenbach and Laurence Mille after extensive conversations with both customers and manufacturers pointed to the problems with existing lipstick and lip gloss products. Following years of testing and intensive design work, they have created Exude Lipstick, a lipstick for the 21st century woman.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Exude wants to empower women to embrace fashion in a smart and fun way, and to reinvent themselves and their idea of what beauty can do. To help epitomize the brand's personality, Exude is teaming up with Style Icon Rachel Zoe who will be a brand ambassador. Exude lipstick is as smart as it is beautiful- exactly like the women who will wear it.

Pictured Above from Top to Bottom: Red #1, Plum and Coral Exude Lipsticks

PROS:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Because of its revolutionary applicator, Exude is able to retain its shape over time and dispense the exact amount of lipstick users need

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Love the packaging! The boxes have the following written on them:

Forget Eyes - we think a woman's lips are the window to her soul. We watch the mouths as much for what isn't said, as for what is. This is who we are. This is what we exude. What will you exude today?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Perfect hybrid between a lipstick and a gloss, with richer pigment saturation. Not matte, not overly glossy, a great shine, non-drying!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Virtual Try On! I LOVE this, they offer a variety of models of all shades/skintones, you pick the model that most closely matches your color tone, and then press the lip color you want to try on. You get a very accurate idea of how the color will look on you, BRILLIANT! You do not have to upload your own photo, or spend a great amount of time figuring it out, it's easy, painless and lets you try on every color so you can easily pick your favorite!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - No mess or waste! And they wear well, they don't rub off too easily, so you don't have to reapply constantly.

CONS:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  The applicator dispenses the exact amount you should use, but I find I get less color saturation with one click. But 2 clicks give me color transfer on my teeth. If it weren't for that this would have received a full 5 butterflies!

My Take:

As someone who has had favorite lipsticks smush down or melt on me even in cool weather, I love that with Exude that can't happen, it can't get smushed or bent! It really is no mess which I love. I did wear it straight out the tube to try each color out on their own, they are actually just right in the sense that they are not too glossy or too matte, which is VERY hard to find! I did experience some transfer on my teeth which wasn't great right before an impromptu photo, but I will admit I do use more than one click, which I'm probably not supposed to do. But as I have naturally fuller lips I feel I get better color saturation with more than one click. Eventually with all colors I ended up doing my own blending alchemy, but I have to admit I was happy with Exude's Red right out the box, which for me is rare, and is very high praise indeed.

I tried the colors Red #1, Plum and Coral and I can tell you they are all a re-buy! I love red almost every day, but the plum is such a great color for Fall I'll be wearing it often. And the coral is perfect for the 'nude lip effect' and great for summer! If you look at the two different pictures I provided of the 3 colors on my skin, my skintone is a Golden Beige (I have yellow undertones) and I put enough of the color to give a good idea, in the first picture they were first applied and very glossy, and by the second as the color absorbed, and under slightly different light conditions you see a more pure pigment to the color, it's not exactly matte, but wears to a rich color that is not overly or in your face glossy, but it's not matte, and never feels that way, even right before you feel it's time to re-apply, your lips will still feel moisturized.

I definitely feel these are totally worth the money, a definite re-buy! (And no emails on my custom blending techniques! Those will die with me!!!) Keep up with Exude Lipstick on Twitter @exudelipstick or on facebook at Exude Lipstick. (You can always tell them Ascending Butterfly sent you, or you saw the Ascending Butterfly review, and hope they come back for a promo so you can win one too!)

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FTC Info: Ascending Butterfly received one or more of the products mentioned above for free for evaluation purposes. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials In Advertising. Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.