Not so Wordless Wednesday: Fitness Magazine #FitBlogNYC Event - Ascending Butterfly meets Mia Hamm!

I have been a super busy Butterfly lately, so I thought I'd recap an Amaze Balls event I attended last week as a Not So Wordless Wednesday Post today. In 2011 I set out to amp up my fitness, not just to loose weight so much as to totally change my  lifestyle over for the better with a mind, body and soul approach. And I was doing great at it. I started out with recipe substitutions, I learned some amazing tricks and recipes thanks to a cooking class I attended at the International Culinary Council in New York City thanks to Fage Greek Yogurt! (You can read about that event HERE, and some of the recipes HERE (delicious lemon yogurt coleslaw) and a totally YUMMO Mac N Cheese recipe HERE and totally check out the super yum Tandoori Chicken Recipe HERE). I picked up a ton of fitness games for my Wii, and slowly but surely dropped 26 pounds and 3 dress sizes. Awesome stuff right? Then in 2012 a medical setback hit me like a lightening bolt, and after a series of exploratory surgeries and biopsies, and bed rest, the weight slowly came back on. Even though I'm not eating more (in fact sometimes I haven't had much of an appetite, I haven't been able to work out much).

Keeping still is not easy on a Butterfly. Butterflies like to move, well, they like to fly, and I'm no different. While I'm still not at 100% yet, I'm dying to get my fitness routine back! I had the chance to attend a Fitness Magazine event last week in New York City and it totally got me motivated again! The invite told us to wear workout wear and I put on my favorite new, fresh, just ripped off the tags Macy's Ideology Workout Gear (You can read my review of the line whose ambassador is Cheryl Burke from Dancing With The Stars, HERE), and even just putting my gear on made me feel like my old self again!

Here is the sign welcoming us to the #FitBlogNYC Meet & Tweet in NYC

The event had a very unique premise, we were given a 'passport' at the start of the event, and vendor tables were set up with products, product samples, demos or try on opportunities and at each table our passport was 'stamped' at the end of the event once you were completely stamped you were able to pick up a very neat swag bag. I didn't really need the passport as a motivator to visit with each brand, I definitely would have done so anyway, the chance to be able to learn so much about each product and brand one on one was fantastic! I visited booths such as Oakley, Birkenstock, Vichy, Reebok, Camelbak, V8, Schick Hydro, Kiwi Sweat, and the Grain Foods Foundation where I got the chance to meet Mia Hamm and she also signed a mini soccer ball for me!

Reebok challenged us to consider why Fitness is so important to us!

I got to try the Reebok RealFlex Transition Sneaker, the technology behind the shoe helps promote the natural movement of your foot, the 'nodes' are flex friendly and help the shoe to move and flex with you as you train and thanks to the reinforcements at the heel and toe they provide added stability. They are lightweight, and ideal for runners, but I can tell you whether you are running a marathon or just running to catch a train or bus, these are fantastic! I LOVE them! (I promise to post some photos of them in action soon, but if you'd like a shot at a pair of your own, or a giveaway here, you might want to hit up Reebok on Facebook and let them know you saw the Transition Sneaker featured on Ascending Butterfly and would love for them to host a giveaway with us!)

I also got the chance to try out and take home the Birkenstock Madrid Fitness Sandal which tones the foot and calf muscles while improving circulation. Much like Reebok, I was already familiar with and own a pair of Birks that I love that are quite well worn, so I am happy to have a new pair, in a very fun color for summer. (Again, I promise to post some photos of them in action soon, but if you'd like a shot at a pair of your own, or a giveaway here, you might want to hit up Birkenstock on Facebook and let them know you saw the Madrid Sandal featured on Ascending Butterfly and would love for them to host a giveaway with us!)

I also got a new pair of Oakley Sunglasses, I tried on the Oakley Urgency™ Polarized Urgency Sunglasses Oakley’s Three-Point Fit holds lenses in precise optical alignment and patented hydrophilic Unobtainium® earpads and nosepads ensure a secure fit. These really stay put and are definitely a runners/joggers dream pair of shades! (Again, I promise to post some photos of them in action soon, but if you'd like a shot at a pair of your own, or a giveaway here, you might want to hit up Oakley Sunglasses on Facebook and let them know you saw the Oakley Urgency™ Polarized Urgency Sunglasses featured on Ascending Butterfly and would love for them to host a giveaway with us!)

Some healthy snacks like the Fiber One® Chocolate Bars, and the delish V8 smoothies and the Frosty Chocolate Protein Shakes from Pure Protein were fantastic and definitely will be added to my shopping list!

Below: Here is a picture of Ascending Butterfly with Mia Hamm <-Linking you to her Foundation so you can keep up with what's new with Mia!

Left: Ascending Butterfly rocking her Macy's Ideology Fitness Gear Right: Women's Best All Around Soccer Player Mia Hamm!

I asked her to sign it to 'Ascending Butterfly' but she signed it out to 'Butterfly' which I thought was cooler!

Everytime I'm feeling down in the dumps about not being able to get my routine back on track yet, I look at my signed ball, and keep telling myself I'll get 'back on the ball very soon' and it's been keeping me motivated.

I loved that the event stressed the importance of a mind, body, soul, overall approach to wellness, which is exactly how I've been speaking it from DAY ONE! When the importance of meditation was discussed I nearly jumped out of my chair with excitement and enthusiasm for the topic! YES!

What I also Loved about this event it was the anti-thesis of a NYC event, especially at the Metropolitan Pavilion, those in the know, know it as the home Fashion Week shows, but there were ZERO high heels, cocktail dresses, runway fashions and not even a cocktail to be found. We were all in fitness clothes, a great equalizer, and a great way to feel part of an energized group of dynamic writers, fitness enthusiasts and experts, and brands that gear products to those who want to lead a healthy lifestyle. There were panels on makeup by Laura Geller, on keeping fashion gear fun and fashionable, and even a panel session on monetization and making a profit from your blog, with helpful do's and don'ts for bloggers to keep in mind when approaching brands.

Great Brands? Check.

Great Venue? Check.

Well Organized? Check.

Comprehensive? Check.

Super rocking awesome swag? Check, Plus, Plus.

But leaving with a feeling of motivation to get back to ME again? PRICELESS.

The me that lost 3 dress sizes, in a slow, sustainable and healthy way last year is now back to reclaim her life again. Until my medical nightmare is fully behind me I will have to start very slowly. Some physical therapy first, and then slowly start the process of changing what I eat and getting back to moving again.

Left: Ascending Butterfly, Right: Ms. New York Belleza Latina 2011

I don't think there really is a way to thank Fitness Magazine who put this all together in words that will actually express the depth of my gratitude for inviting me to this event. It's not just the 'stuff', and not just what I learned during the panels, and not just the great people sharing the journey I met along the way. Somewhere during that day I realized that no matter how hard this year has been, there is absolutely nothing standing in the way of me not only replicating last year's results, but actually surpassing them with perseverance, motivation and determination.


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FTC Disclosure: I was invited to attend this event as a member of the digital press and fitness blogging community, this is NOT a sponsored post, as no monetary incentive has been provided to share my recap of this experience. All opinions regarding the brands in attendance, sponsors and products are 100% my own. Gift Bags were provided to event attendees.

What to Expect When You're Expecting Hollywood Movie Money #Giveaway

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor @SafeConBritax! We look forward to working with you again. Congratulations to our winner, Joy F. There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!

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This weekend I got the chance to check out the new movie What to Expect When You're Expecting, (I am sure the movie title reference is familiar to anyone who has the read the book with the same name, which some consider to be a 'pregnancy bible' of sorts.), it's a celeb studded cast that follows parenthood at different stages in life for various couples (as well as how their paths and lives intertwine) and includes the perspective of 'the dudes', a group of dads who come together to provide each other support and a 'judgement free' comfort zone. So if you are looking for a fun movie to take Dad to see on Father's Day, I would definitely recommend this one!

The movie features products, including strollers, car seats and baby carriers by Britax and B.O.B (which is owned by Britax). As a member of Britax’s Hispanic Digital and Social Media Outreach program, Ascending Butterfly will get the chance to bring you exclusive giveaways, product info, un-biased product reviews, and info on all things Britax every month. So don't forget to show some love on their Facebook and Twitter page and let them know that Ascending Butterfly sent you.

Our friends at Britax want you to check out their products in action, so @SafeConBritax and Ascending Butterfly are giving you Hollywood Movie Money so you can see the movie too! Don't you just ♥ Britax USA? I know I do! (The first entry is super easy, just give us your email, the passes will be emailed to the winner so we need your email to send you your prize!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: The Britax Hispanic Digital and Social Media Outreach is in partnership with Mami Innovative Media, a communications and digital marketing company that pairs multicultural and Latino bloggers with influential brands and blogging campaigns. I am a blogger brand ambassador for Britax and  I am part of a long term campaign that does provide additional incentives for my participation. However all opinions are 100% my own. My movie pass and the movie money being used for this giveaway was provided by Britax USA. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Table Thursday: Ham, Garden Veggie and BowTie Pasta Salad

Today is Table Thursday! What's for dinner? How about a Ham, Garden Veggie and Bow Tie Pasta Salad? I had some left over baked ham, a bag of veggies and a box of Bow Tie Pasta and a mission to jazz it up using the NEW Knorr® Homestyle Stock.

ABOUT:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The most carefully selected ingredients slowly simmered to perfection.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Versatility for a multitude of dishes, from soups to skillets to sides.


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - A better value than cartons or cans – each tub makes 3-1/2 cups of broth.


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Two great varieties for adding rich flavor to dishes with either the chicken or beef flavors.

PREP:

Since I had left over Baked Ham (and pre-cooked bow tie pasta), this is of course faster to prep than it would normally be if I had to prepare the meat first and then cook the pasta. I cubed enough ham to feed 4 (I wanted to have leftovers and some for lunch the next day), and added a tub of the concentrated chicken stock and about 2.5 cups of water to the ham in my favorite greenpan frying pan!

I then added frozen garden veggies and once those were almost done I added the pasta and simmered everything all together for a few minutes.

So feel free to substitute with whatever meat you have at hand and you don't have to use bowtie pasta either!

I added some parmesan cheese to it when I served it, feel free to omit if you don't like it or are allergic. And this is equally delish served warm as it is cold! YUM

So Butterfly, What's on Your Table Today?

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FTC Disclosure: I was provided with a sample of Knorr® Homestyle Stock by Smiley360 for my evaluation. This is a non-sponsored post and no monetary compensation has been received. Questions about our disclosure policy? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Birthday Cuz!

Happy Birthday to Cousin Butterfly (as you know I don't name my family here for privacy reasons), my cousin and I were born two weeks apart, here is a picture of us celebrating his birthday this year!

Feel free to list your Wordless Wednesday links as a comment, I look forward to seeing your pictures!

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies!

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Active Giveaway:

Don't forget to enter our Featured Monthly Handbag in the Spotlight/Mother's Day Giveaway for a $200 Gift Card to Wilson's Leather: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2012/05/win-200-gift-card-to-wilsons-leather.html


Please Note: Wilsons Leather also carries mens and childrens items, so this giveaway is truly open to all!

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My Day as a Not So Mystery Shopper in New York City!

Years ago when the 'Mystery Shopper' idea became popular and people were looking for a way to supplement their income, programs cropped up like wildfire, some reputable, others not so much. I won't say the idea didn't intrigue me, but I never had time to pursue it.

The opportunity finally presented itself, well kind of!

As many of you know, I am now a Duane Reade VIP Blogger, it all began with my entry essay blog post where I shared a bit about what Duane Reade meant to me on a personal level which you can check out HERE. When I found I got selected it made that week's Moment of Gratitude, which you can check out HERE.

Here is a Group Shot of myself and fellow fabulous Duane Reade VIP Bloggers:

Can you spot the butterfly?

Being a part of this program has given me the opportunity to take on shopping missions and share with you a bit about my purchase experience, from how I selected what I was going to buy, the path to purchase and then the products getting used at home. It's like being a mystery shopper except without all the mystery!

For me my first shopping 'mission' was all about a lazy weekend and movie night. I knew I didn't feel like cooking, and wanted my favorite snacks at hand for my Movie Night, so I checked out the online  Duane Reader Circular to find out what was on sale before heading out to the store! (Prices in this reader are available through June 2, 2012). I was excited that right on page 1, I spotted my favorite treat, Haagen Daaz (2 pints for $7 which is a super deal) and I circled that, I already knew I'd be doing a bit of cheating on my diet that day, a better choice probably would have been the Good & Delish Veggie Corn with Flaxseed Tortilla Chips and the Good & Delish Organic Salsa. I'll probably pick those up on my next trip to the store (along with the sour cream and onion Pop Chips)!  I had already stocked up on another Duane Reader sales item The Dr. Browns Soda 6 Pack, 2 for $5 (I love the Dark Cherry and Cream Soda's from Dr. Brown's). and the last thing I needed was some eats, so I picked up a DiGiorno Pizza that was also on sale. Making movie night eats and treats complete! All my movie night picks were also on sale which made me extra happy.

During my last few trips to my local store, it was being renovated, and I was happy to see that it had been completed during my recent trip, the aisles are wider and brighter, and it's so much easier to find everything which is a big time saver!

Here are some shots of me on the way to the store, it's a busy shopping district, so it's not so easy to get shots of it without someone invariably passing by and getting in the shot!

Here's me finally inside!

Below: And as soon as I walk in, I find a super friendly employee wearing a Duane Reader tee shirt in one of my favorite colors purple, she agreed to let me take a picture of her!

I wanted to look around and see the renovations so I didn't quite go straight to my aisles.

Of course I got distracted by Beauty Brands, Products and items.

Latina Bella, beauty products made with Latina Skin tones in mind, FAB!

Finally made it to the eats!

MMM.....Pizza!

Then it was on to the treats!

Ice Cream plus warm day means I'll have to run home so it doesn't melt.

Movie Night was a blast, here are my purchases in use:

Eats + Treats = Fun Movie Night!

There are more photos of this shopping experience on Ascending Butterfly's Google+ Page, and you can connect with Duane Reade online, Twitter and Facebook. (Check out the VIP Bloggers Tab on Duane Reade's Facebook Page and you'll see a picture of me! Yay!)

Happy Shopping Butterfly!

If you purchased any specials in the Duane Reader, please be sure to come back here and let us know!

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FTC Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a special social shopper insights study for CollectiveBias. #CBias #DReade #DReadeVIP - However all opinions expressed are 100% my own. Being part of the Duane Reade VIP Blogger Program offers additional incentives for my participation. Questions about Ascending Butterfly's Disclosure Policy? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Motivation Monday - Things with wings!

Hope all my Butterflies are having a magical Monday!

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Weekly Moment of Gratitude - Happy Mother's Day Butterfly!

Happy Mother's Day Butterfly!

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ My Mom -  She is the most amazing woman I know! And she has spent this year helping me through a very dark time and two very difficult hospital stays this year. I am filled with gratitude that God blessed with a mom AND a best friend.

I have been blessed with many strong women in my life, some who are now passed including my Grandmother, my Great-Grandmother, and my Godmother who is also my Great Aunt.

And a special thanks to my Aunt Butterfly who has also been with me during my difficult hospital stays this year along with my mom!

I had a great weekend with my Mama Butterfly this weekend, and I hope you did something special for your mom too!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SAYING NO - I'm sure that sounds odd, but one of the things my health scare this year has taught me is to truly value my time and efforts, and if someone or something isn't a good investment of my time, energies and strength, I now will immediately and unequivocally say no. I'm grateful for this lesson learned. It's certainly helped to reduce my stress!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Thank YOU: Just wanted to thank everyone who voted for me in the Swag Mom contest, while I did not win, in addition to votes, there were so many messages and comments that were super encouraging, and others who shared their own stories or a prayer and those messages meant as much to me as the votes of support do! And for those of you who have emailed me and shared your own health battles that have been fought and won, thank you. I'm inspired by not only your bravery, but the generosity of your spirit by sharing your personal stories with me.

Happy Gratitude Sunday Butterfly!

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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 Active Giveaways!  - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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Active Giveaway

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Because our opening Mother's Day Giveaway also encompasses this month's Featured Handbag in the Spotlight, this one closes on May 30th like our normal handbag feature would, enter to win a $200 Wilson's Leather Gift Card HERE

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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. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

{Movie Reviews} Girl in Progress - in Theatres NOW!

It is Mother's Day Weekend Butterflies! Wishing all my butterfly mamas a very happy Mother's Day! I hope you made your restaurant reservations early, but if you didn't or are planning something more low key like a Movie, what better than a movie themed with Moms in mind!

I had the pleasure of attending a very intimate special screening of Girl in Progress, giving me the chance to catch up with some bloggers and editors that I know and meet some new ones and also check out a release that is hitting a theatre near you this weekend.

ABOUT GIRL IN PROGRESS:

Grace (Eva Mendes) in GIRL IN PROGRESS. Photo credit ©2011 Pantelion Films/Bob Akester

Grace (played by Eva Mendes) is a single mom. She is too busy juggling work,  bills, and the very married Dr. Hartford (played by Matthew Modine), to give  her daughter, Ansiedad (played by Cierra Ramirez) the attention she desperately needs. When Ansiedad's English teacher, Ms. Armstrong (played by Patricia Arquette), introduces her students to classic coming-of-age stories,  Ansiedad is inspired to skip adolescence and jump-start her life without mom. While Grace becomes preoccupied with the increasing affections of her co-worker (played by Eugenio Derbez), Ansiedad enlists the help of her loyal friend, Tavita (played by Raini Rodriguez), to plot her  shortcut to "adulthood". But as her misguided plan unravels, Ansiedad and Grace must learn that sometimes growing-up means acting your age.

Grace (Eva Mendes) and Ansiedad (Cierra Ramirez) in GIRL IN PROGRESS. Photo credit ©2011 Pantelion Films/Bob Akester

Distributor: Pantelion Films 
Cast: Eva Mendes, Matthew Modine, Cierra Ramirez, Raini Rodriguez
Director: Patricia Riggen 
Running time: 90 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content including crude references, and drinking – all involving teens.
Release Date: May 11, 2012

Dr. Hartford (Matthew Modine) and Grace (Eva Mendes) in GIRL IN PROGRESS. Photo credit ©2011 Pantelion Films/Bob Akester

My Take:

The relationship between a Mother and Daughter is a complex one, it evolves with each stage of your child's life and growing up. The movie delves into those critical years where a young teen is struggling with her identity, struggling to be the total opposite of her mom (because at that age, no one thinks it's cool to be like their parents), and the process of learning that life is really in the journey and not the destination so don't try so hard to move it ahead too quickly.

There are some cons for me, the main one is that Eva's character Grace is having an affair with a married man. I don't condone it, and as a Latina I of course wonder why this was put in there. Couldn't Grace be a bit immature, or a struggling single mom of a teenage daughter without having to have an affair with a Married Man? It just felt to stereotypical for me. Yes I know women of all races are capable of this behavior, but why did it have to be this one?

Second, the underage drinking which I also know is really happening out there, so if you want to look at it as a reflection of what is going on in some homes, then it's accurate, but I personally didn't feel so comfortable with that. If you are going to see this with a teen, use that scene as a discussion point after the movie and use it as an opportunity to re-iterate to your child what your stance is on drinking as a whole and on under-age drinking especially.

Now that being said, it was well cast and the daughter, Ansiedad, portrayed by Cierra Ramirez was definitely a stand out first performance from a break out young star in the making! Her best friend Tavita played by Raini Rodriguez (sister of Rico Rodriguez, who portrays Manny on the popular ABC Television Series Modern Family), was also a dynamic performance.

Ansiedad (Cierra Ramirez) and Mission Impossible (Eugenio Derbez) in GIRL IN PROGRESS. Photo credit ©2011 Pantelion Films/Bob Akester

Eugenio Derbez, who plays Grace's co-worker, called 'Mission Impossible' by his co-workers at the restaurant where they work also gave a great performance in this movie, if you haven't already seen it, he was also fantastic in the movie 'Under the Same Moon', He was also in Adam Sandler's Jack and Jill, he is unquestionably one of Mexico's best-known actors, the most recognized actor among the Spanish-speaking population in the United States and I'm happy to see him breaking ground in the mainstream US market too.

If you decide to take in this movie, please come back here and let us know what YOU think!

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FTC Disclosure: I was invited to attend a private screening of Girl in Progress, food & beverages and a lovely gift bag were provided to guests. However, all opinions regarding this film are 100% my own. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Win a $200 Gift Card to Wilsons Leather

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Wilson's Leather! We look forward to working with you again. 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!

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We have a promo so big it actually fits into TWO of our Guides! This promo serves as this month's 'Featured Handbag in the Spotlight' and our first giveaway in our annual Mother's Day Buying Guide! This one is especially for moms who like to travel in style! Wilsons Leather is no stranger to Ascending Butterfly readers, they've hosted a few Featured Handbag in the Spotlights for us (see HERE and HERE for reminders). Wilson's Leather has been my go-to for my handbags, jackets and leather accessories like Leather Gloves for years now. The leather is buttery soft, incredibly durable and the in store (brick and mortar) as well as online service is always top notch.

We are getting dangerously close to June, Is it just me or is this year starting to move way too fast! While everyone likes to harp on the Spring Flowers and the chirping birds and the butterflies (or maybe that's just me), to get there, we get rain. A lot of rain. So a day that may start cool, then get warm goes back to cold at night, which means you don't want to wear a winter coat, but still need something to keep you warm for the mornings and evenings when the temperature drops or it's raining out.

This is where our friends at Wilson's Leather come in, despite the title, they are NOT just leather! And if you are in the market for a great Spring Trenchcoat or a new Travel Bag, check out Wilson's first! If you are a fab frugalista who wants to look spot on and not spend more than you have to doing so, then the current sales will knock your socks off, right now you can get 60-80% off designer jackets, and there is also a sale running where if you buy one business bag you get the second at half off, and that will apply AUTOMATICALLY in cart during checkout, how awesome and fab is that?

Many of you know that it's been a challenging year for me this year to say the least, but the challenges I've faced have forced me to come out of my comfort zone in so many ways. I've been embracing things I normally wouldn't, and forcing myself to do things and wear things I probably never would have. I was a late comer to the 'animal print' trend and now I can't stop wearing it! I must share my newest obsession!

Black Rivet Asymmetrical Zip Front Jacket

Isn't this trench absolutely fantastic? Here is a shot of me wearing it (notice my super cute over-sized butterfly earrings):

I always thought animal prints were just too bold for me, and now I can't get enough! And as Blogging has gotten me more into travel I love that this coat is lightweight enough to be able to pack it easily, but fully lined so I'm not freezing when it gets nippy at night. Traveling in style also requires the right bag, I did tell you that this was also a 'Featured Handbag in the Spotlight' Promo too right? I'm sure by opening with a Trench you were begining to wonder if I had forgotten the Handbag, I have not my friends. I never forget the Handbag, it's a monthly feature for us since 2009!

In fact, this is no ordinary handbag, it's a wheeled briefcase with a sleek style, it's airport easy as it fits in the overhead or slides easily under the seat in front of you, has a padded compartment for your laptop, iPad, or Kindle, and an organizational compartment in the front. The wheel system is totally removable so if you just want throw it over your shoulders for your daily commute you can do so with or without the wheels. It slides on or off easily, but stays on and stays put when you need it!

McKlein USA Roseville 96646 Fly-Through Checkpoint-Friendly 2-in-1 Removable-Wheeled Ladies' Laptop Case

I love to travel, but hate to lug heavy bags, or bags that aren't well organized. Let's face it, airport security checkpoints are not fun. You are already harried, frazzled, and then standing in a super long line with someone right in front of you and directly behind you so have no room to move, then suddenly you have to get your jacket, jewelry and shoes off, take your laptop or portable tablet OUT of your bag and get all this in a bin. Then you are being scanned while worrying about your stuff, and by the time you are done, your bins are already at the end of the aisle and you have to get everything back on and back in your bag in half a second because there are tons of folks behind you. Not so simple right?

The buttery soft Italian Leather had me at Hello and I will now never travel without this bag, it comes with a removable protector for your laptop/tablet that slides easily in and out and protects your device while in the bin. It has great organizational pockets, you can remove the wheel system if you prefer and use the shoulder strap. This trench and this bag together are a KILLER travel combo! You will breeze through the airport cool, confident and in style!

Now butterflies, you all know what Buying Guides mean right? You know I always look out for you butterfly! How would you like to win Trenchcoat and amazing travel briefcase too?

I thought so!

I can even do one better for you, how about a $200 Gift Card to Wilsons Leather so you can buy the trench and bag of YOUR choice? Who loves you butterfly?

Use the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win a $200 gift card to Wilsons Leather, do the mandatory entry to unlock the bonus entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: Ascending Butterfly received the products mentioned above free of charge for editorial consideration, no additional incentives have been received. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commisions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Our full Giveaway Rules and Disclosure Policy can be found HERE.

Wordless Wednesday: The sometimes you have to leave home so you can miss it travel edition!

As promised, here are the photos that should have accompanied Monday's Post, Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies!

Remember, you can press on any individual photo to make it larger, and then hit the backspace on the top of your browser to come back to this page!

Above: I am a Latina Advisory Board Blogger/Britax Hispanic and Digital Outreach Blogger and this is the sign that welcomed me and the other amazing bloggers that were selected for this campaign and invited to Britax USA's Headquarters!

Above: Here is a group shot of the first group of bloggers, call us group 'A'. Bloggers and Team Britax are all smiles, it was a beautiful sunny day. The bloggers were given Headquarter Tours in two segments so they could give us time and really answer everyone's questions. Can you spot Ascending Butterfly?

Above: Another Group A Group Shot. There are a lot of these at different angles, this one is a little closer so I thought I'd include both. To see the list of the bloggers pictured, press on the link above that will take you straight to Monday's post where everyone's name and URL are listed!

Above: Both Group A and Group B were finally united at a Group Dinner for all the bloggers in the campaign at Harry's Grille & Tavern in Charlotte, North Carolina. By the way the next time you are in Charlotte, you need to check this place out, the food was FAB and the service was great, great atmosphere. Poor Harry's, Latina Bloggers from all across the USA descended on them during a weekday! The 'locals' put up with us, promise we didn't make too much noise...well...maybe.......

Since most of the group shots are going to start looking the same to you after awhile, I won't post anymore to this post! I am truly honored to be a part of this campaign, Britax was transparent, welcoming and wonderful hosts, and being amongst this group of dynamic, driven and super smart Latina Bloggers left me so motivated.

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies - Remember sometimes you need to get away from home to realize just how much you miss it! Hope you enjoyed this brief sneakpeak into my Britax USA Headquarters, Charlotte, North Carolina Press trip!

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FTC Disclosure: The Britax Hispanic Digital and Social Media Outreach is in partnership with Mami Innovative Media, a communications and digital marketing company that pairs multicultural and Latino bloggers with influential brands and blogging campaigns. I am a blogger brand ambassador for Britax and while this post is NOT sponsored and NO monetary compensation has been received for sharing this experience, I am part of a long term campaign that does provide additional incentives for my participation. However all opinions are 100% my own. My press trip was sponsored by Britax USA. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Todays Inspiration Tuesday Edition: Put A Little Zen in Your Day!

Just thought I'd put a little ZEN in your Tuesday Butterfly!

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