Organizational tips to get you organized, motivated and ready for Tax Season! + A Great Twitter Party too! {Photos} #StaplesOrgTips

Dirty Little Secret? My desk and closets are usually not so organized. and the bigger the mountain of paperwork gets, the less motivated I feel to tackle it. But right now, an organizer is NOT in my budget. I wish it were!

 

Last week I had the chance to attend a live event hosted by Staples whose focus was organizational tips, DING!, DING!, DING! serious New Year light bulb moment. While you know how I feel about 'formal resolutions', I prefer making both short and long term goals throughout the year and adjusting them as I tackle them with new ones, one of the goals I set for myself in 2013 was getting my space a bit more organized. I know it's not going to be an overnight process and has to be taken in stages, but this event motivated me to get started.

 

So start I did. And I'm super proud to report that I am sitting at my desk which is at this moment, the most organized I've ever seen it. I tackled a mountain of folders, press kits and personal and professional paperwork that had built up over a span of time. I'm feeling a bit pleased with myself right about now.

 

While I'm still waiting on some paperwork to be able to tackle my taxes this year, getting my desk organized will make things so much easier for me when it's time to start preparing my taxes. or for anything really, there is something about a clutter free space that gives you new energy!

 

 

 

“A well-organized office helps you find what you need and to work efficiently, which reduces stress,” said Julie Morgenstern, an internationally known organizing and time management expert. “More importantly, staying organized lets you to spend more of your valuable time on what’s most important to your business.” 

 

Tips to Get Yourself More Organized:

 

Staples newly expanded product assortment ensures that businesses have every product they need to succced. In addition, Staples recommends a few easy steps - shed, shred, and get ahead - to help customers increase efficiency and organize the office.

 

 

 

Shed – purge unwanted files or papers and organize the documents in binders. The Internal Revenue Service recommends keeping important business records from three to seven years, depending on the documents. Staples recently launched its Binder Recycling Program, which gives customers $2 off the purchase of a new binder for each binder they bring in to a Staples store to recycle.

 

 

 

Shred – protect your business and identity against fraud by shredding unneeded paperwork with sensitive information. For larger jobs, consider Staples Copy & Print, which offers confidential shredding at great prices. 

 

Get Ahead – The New Year is also a good time to make sure electronic files are secure and protected. It’s critical for any small business owner to have the right organizational tools such as network storage devices to back up files especially as tax season gets started.

 

Staples’ expanded assortment features top organizational products for the New Year including:

 

Staples New BETTER Binder with removable FileRings™ - the first of its kind binder features file rings that detach from the shell for easy filing in any standard filing cabinet. Now available in black, white, red, green and blue covers exclusively on Staples.com (Staples 1-inch BETTER Binder: $12.99 and removable FileRings: $4.99).

 

 

 

Staples 10-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder – New and improved, the Staples shredder has several new features including a convenient pull out bin, and a lockout key that functions as a master power control and renders the shredder non-functional until the key is replaced. ($99.99)

 

 

 

Staples One-Touch™ Aero Stapler – Perfect for the consumer who has an eye for design and likes to personalize their desk supplies. The 20-sheet capacity Aero offers contemporary designs with a raised handle that makes stapling effortless. Available in black, silver or blue. ($14.99)

 

 

 

Martha Stewart Home Office™ with Avery™ – With this beautiful line of innovative products, customers can keep their office organized and looking great. Available exclusively at Staples, the collection features an accordion file, which is perfect for tax organization. (Starting at $11.99)

 

 

 

M by Staples™ Arc Customizable Notebook System –Available in durable poly or leather covers with premium, heavyweight paper, this customizable notebook has repositionable sheets that can moved from one section to another making organization a breeze. (Starting at $7.99)

 

 

 

Relay Flash Drives – The easy and smart way to transfer files from one computer to another.  (64GB-$69.99; 32GB-$49.99; 16GB-$27.99; 8GB-$17.99)

 

 

 

TurboTax® – This tax software makes it easy for anyone to be their own tax expert. Staples is offering $10 off all deluxe and higher TurboTax solutions along with FREE software (Intuit Quicken 2013 Starter and McAfee Internet Security) after rebate.

 

 

 

External Encrypted Portable Drives – For anyone wanting to ensure confidential, commercially sensitive files are kept secure, Staples has a great assortment of encrypted drives.  Starting WD’s 500GB My Passport ($79.99) and up to two terabytes ($149.99).

 

 

 

Technology Update - Staples offers a great selection of the hottest new computers, laptops, tablets and printers to improve your organization and productivity in the New Year.  Staples customers nationwide can experience the latest Windows 8 computers and get help selecting the right computer from certified Staples EasyTech associates.

 

Martha Stewart Home Office™ Blair Collection - Improve organization, filing and overall productivity in any workspace with the Martha Stewart Home Office™ Blair Collection office furniture.  Available exclusively at Staples and Staples.com, the streamlined Blair desk (walnut brown or sand gray finishes) provides a generous work surface with hidden power strip, USB ports and drop-front center drawer that converts into a shelf. ($299)

 

My Take:

 

Something certainly rubbed off on me from this event, because I immediately put both the tips and products to good use. It took a couple of hours, but I got my desk organized and I couldn't be happier that I did. I started small, one pile of paperwork at a time, and everytime I cleared out a pile I took a break and went back to it, until it was done.

 

I wanted to point out some of the products that are particular standouts for me, I have been using the M by Staples™ Arc Customizable Notebook System for just under one year and I have to tell you I love it. I have been using the refillable planner, and while initially I hesitated using it because it is much larger than my previous planners, I was pleasantly surprised that it was not bulky or heavy and the vinyl sleeve inserts have given me a great way to store receipts, business cards, bus schedules, and more. I love that you can easily remove and insert pages as needed. There is only one small change I wish they would make to it, a place to put your pen. Since the rings are closed I can't insert a pen there, and the one I have doesn't have a pen holder. But this has really helped me stay organized. While I love my smartphone, for some reason I still prefer to carry an actual planner with me, and this system really works well for me. While I don't personally own the shredder they recommend, I do have a shredder that has a wall mount option which I love, but if you don't have the space for one, the affordable paper shredding services are perfect!

 

 

 

Another product I got to try that I really like is the BETTER Binder with Removable File Ring above. Oftentimes there are documents that you need to have additional copies on file for, but don't have enough room in the file cabinet to store it in a binder, the removable file ring allows you to easily file a copy of larger documents like annual reports.

 

“Get Organized with Staples” Twitter Party

 

Date:                    Thursday, February 7^th  

Time:                    7 p.m. - 8 p.m. EST

Location:             #StaplesOrgTips -press to RSVP

Host:                    @JulieMorgenstrn

Prizes:                  $100 Staples Gift Cards

 



I am not the host of this party, so please be sure that you follow instructions on the RSVP page to participate.

 

Get Social With It:

 

You can follow @Staples on Twitter at and 'Like' them on Facebook too!
 

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FTC Disclosure: I attended an in store event that was hosted by Staples, gift bags were provided to attendees, however no monetary compensation has been received by Ascending Butterfly in exchange for this post and all opinions provided are 100% my own.

My Winter Standout Boot!

Living in the Northeast comes with one thing you can count on, super COLD winters! Snow, cold and ice are constants, and when rain factors into that mix, you get pure sleet, which is not only deadly on roadways but equally dangerous while walking the icy City streets.

 

Boots have always been my obsession, second only to handbags, and for the most part, much like handbags, there are boots for different purposes and occasions in my closet. I of course can't get enough of the Equestrian trend and style, but New York winters really do a require an all-weather boot that is really going to not only withstand the winter, but keep me steady on my feet in the snow and ice. And because I'm well, ME, it needs to be cute too, it needs to be a pair I really want to reach for, not just have to reach for.

 

I've been living in my Boreal by BEARPAW Boots this winter, and for good reason, they are not just functional, but also super fashionable. I have other boots by BEARPAW but these are a bit different in a few ways. these are a more *snug* fit, but please know I do NOT mean that in a bad way. You will feel these a bit snugger on the instep, width and toebox than other boots in the line. They tell you on their site to size up one full size, this is definitely correct, this is not just other users telling you so you may think it's subjective, it's the ordering page for the boot that tells you this. Please don't ignore it, you will need to size up a full size because these don't run in half sizes. They are long but the opening is meant to fit you snugly so snow doesn't get in. While they are not touted as Wide Calf in any way, I can tell you that I am a Wide Calf and usually require boots that specifically say they will accommodate a Wide Calf, and these fit me wonderfully around the calf. They are snug enough so snow doesn't get in, but fully and comfortably accommodate my calves!

 

 

About Boreal by BEARPAW:

 

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 16" tall

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Cow suede vamp and heel counter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Nylon shaft with decorative patch

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pocket detail and bungee cord drawstring

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sheepskin and wool blend lining

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sheepskin footbed

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Woven heel logo

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Crepe rubber outsole

 

See them in action in NYC:

 

 

 

Realized I wasn't smiling and took another shot:

 

 

 

My Take:

 

I love that these work well with my Wide Calves, they are tall so when the snow drifts at the end of each sidewalk become a snow mountain, I can easily maneuver with these. While the snugger fit did take a small break in period (I have a super high instep), they did break in quickly. I also have a toe with a past fracture and was pleasantly surprised that these did not bother my toe in any way. I'm wearing them in 'Charcoal', and I saw other user reviews complaining that they thought Charcoal would be black, but it's not, it pictures like a Grey (which is actually why I picked them) and they are a true grey, not silver and definitely not black in color. These are not like the oh so popular 'slipper boots' in feel, these offer a very supportive frame and a real sole, they are not super flat on the bottom which I love. I find they do offer ankle support because of the way they are constructed and that helps keep me stable on the snow and ice which I love. These definitely get high praise, warm, full on weather boots with great fashionable touches and details, what's NOT to love?

 

Get Social With It:

 

While I wasn't able to offer a giveaway this time dear butterflies, please know that BEARPAW hosts their own contests via their social channels, so you definitely want to be sure you are already following them! 

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like BEARPAW on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Become a Pin friend on Pinterest
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @bearpawshoes on Twitter

What Boots Have You Been Living In This Winter Butterfly?
 

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FTC Disclosure: Ascending Butterfly received a pair of Boreal Boots by BEARPAW for Editorial Consideration, however as always all opinions are 100% my own.

What does a Menswear Brand have to do with Women's Self Defense? I'm so glad you asked! {#Video + #Photo}

I have been a student of various forms of Martial Arts for many years, a few years back an injury brought my training to a halt, stopping me midway from achieving 'black belt' status. During College a Women's Self Defense Class was offered on Campus, and sadly this was prompted after a Rape had occurred on Campus. Female students were rightly alarmed, and the first class had a ton of attendees. The Class utilized a few forms of martial arts including Tae Kwon Do and dove tailed them into realistic attack scenarios. The class became very popular and what started as a Self Defense Training Class grew into an actual Tae Kwon Do organization on campus, which I became the Public Relations person for and I organized events, class schedules, belt ceremonies and was pretty much the liaison between the organization of the Dojo, the campus administration and the student body. Aside from my paid internship with The Bronx Observer and my work at a local Bank (I had to work several part time jobs to put myself through College), this was a labor of love that I took on because I really loved what the class was doing for myself and for all the women students. We all left class feeling empowered. Not to mention our instructor did very rigorous warm up exercises as well. Never in a million years did I think I'd have to apply my newly acquired training in a real world scenario, but I did. I was attached on my own College Campus and the person did not expect how well trained his 'victim' would turn out to be. I broke his jaw, fractured two of his ribs, and I broke his nose and left his eyes swollen like two giant footballs!

 

And I owe getting out of that building alive and safe entirely to my training. I still carry those lessons with me to this day. I have actually been wanting to train again, but I am not sure my docs will let me go full on in just yet, I'll have to ease my way back to where I was, but when I received an email from a Menswear company, asking me if I was interested in taking a class that is part of an international movement of providing Self-Defense lessons for women, I hit reply and answered yes in the blink of an eye! Literally!

 

I had tons of questions so they sent me over more information, and I was counting down the days in my calendar!

 

 

 

ABOUT FODADA

There are some things in life that help validate why you were put on this earth and for  me,    becoming a father was that life-changing event. The amazing responsibility of becoming a father and raising my sons has become the most overwhelming and demanding yet rewarding experience of my life. Last year I realized that I needed to celebrate this experience and so I created fodada. I wanted to create a company that could provide a tangible product that could then be leveraged to funnel exposure, support and funding for programming that is relevant and dedicated to fatherhood and families. ~ Bobby Barzi,  Chief Dada, Fodada

In the few months of our existence we have far exceeded what I thought was possible, further validating the need to recognize fatherhood and celebrate its importance. I have to admit, I am humbled with the amazing emails and notes I have received from dads, wives, sons, daughters and individuals about how they love their dads, what this has meant to them and how much they love the clothes.

 

And yes, the clothing! Let’s not forget about that! We continue to look for items that will feel great, look great and add a bit of a style to anyone’s closet. We love seeing celebrities in our clothes and we appreciate product write ups in publications.

 

Our brand has now become a symbol of the great experience that fatherhood is and how much it impacts a family. With that, we have charged ourselves to associate with organizations and causes we believe a dad would be interested in supporting, like: Autism Speaks, Giving Children Hope, Working Wardrobes, and the American Heart Association. These organizations are just a few that we have or will be collaborating with. These associations have also helped inspire campaigns such as Color for Cause and Adopt a Dad.

 

About fodada's International Women's Self-Defense Day

 

We are also passionate about programming initiatives that directly impact a dads life. Our largest to date has been fodada's International Women’s Self Defense Day. In 2012, fifteen U.S. cities, along with Paris, France, Madrid, Spain and Adelaide and Melbourne, Australia conducted free self defense classes for women, aimed to help empower the women in a dad's life. This event was fully sponsored by fodada and was free to all attendees.

And then Hurricane Sandy hit, knocking the New York Metropolitan Transit System Down. Many stations were flooded and not running just a few critical days before, I kept checking the transit reports and the weather reports every second as I was not about to let anything deter me from getting to that class. With the economic crisis this country is still in, things are very dangerous, there has been tons of pickpockets and violence on the rise, especially where I live, so I wanted to polish off my old skills and head over to class to hopefully learn some new tricks and participate in attack scenario situations to learn the skills necessary to get yourself out of the situation and to safety.

The New York City class was held at New York Combat Sambo, and while the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy slowed things down a bit, a brave and intrepid bunch set out to New York Combat Sambo to learn some new Self-Defense Skills!

Here is a video of the group in action:





On November 4, 2012 Fodada sponsored its first annual International Women's Self Defense Day. Martial art clubs in 15 US states and 6 countries offered free classes. This clip is from New York Combat Sambo Women's Self Defense Day Class.

 

 Center(Seated): Stephen Koepfer, Owner/Head Coach

 

Here is an after photo of the entire group post class! (Think you can spot the butterfly? Look carefully, mama butterfly is there too!)

I greatly enjoyed taking this class and think it's phenomenal that a menswear brand thought to put something like this together. It truly speaks to their overall approach to keeping the entire family unit happy and safe.

I'm definitely ready to start training again!

Butterflies, if you train, share what you are doing to keep fit and safe!

 

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FTC Disclosure: Our editors attended a free Women's Self-Defense Class at New York Combat Sambo, the event was part of a larger international initiative sponsored by Fodada Menswear, we did not have to pay to attend the class, however we have not been compensated for re-capping the experience, and all opinions are 100% my own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday: I'm like a #butterfly edition!

Graphic Reads: I'm like a Butterfly, Pretty to look at, Hard to Catch!

Happy Wordless Wednesday Butterflies! Bloggers feel free to comment with a link to your Wordless Wednesday Posts so we can visit you too! 

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post!

Motivation Monday: Sand and Stone Edition!

Hi Butterflies! Just thought I'd put a little motivation in your Monday to start your week off on an inspirational note! Wise Words indeed. 

What is your favorite quote Butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post.

Weekly Moment of Gratitude: The Just say NO! Edition!

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NO! -  It's an empowering word, and I can tell you that I have been using it a lot more lately! I've learned the hard way to value time more than money and I am a lot more selective now when it comes to what I take on. Butterflies it's OK to say No, don't worry about people dis-liking you, worry about whether or not saying yes, will make YOU dislike you more! I keep bumping this post because I think it's important to understand the value behind your work bloggers, you have worked long hard hours at building your community, value it!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - New Year New ME! - I have to tell you I am still loving my new hair! I really absorbed Mark's lesson on how to more effectively blow out my hair, because now that I have tried to re-create the blow out at home, this is the first time I've been so happy with my own blow out, it came out pretty darn close! Thanks Mark!

What are YOU most grateful for this week 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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Giveaways!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Entries are being processed for the Jane Iredale Giveaway and a winner will be notified shortly!

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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: This is NOT a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

We have a Winner! Find out who won the @Yurbuds #Giveaway on @Ascending1

We had just under 1,400 entries for the Yurbuds giveaway, sounds like a lot of butterflies have running and fitness at the forefront of their minds for this New Year! After eliminating entries that did not qualify we closed with 1,032 entries and entry #106 was the lucky winner! So please join me in congratulating Paula M., the lucky winner of the Yurbuds 'Inspire' Sport Earphones for Women in Pink! I truly hope these help keep you stay motivated during your workouts this year Paula!

I thought this would be a great time to check in with you all and see how your New Year's Resolutions are coming along. This is the time where resolve tends to dissolve, so if you need an accountability partner, feel free to post here! Let's help keep each other motivated and inspired!

Our current giveaway comes to a close soon, I hope you got in your entries for the Jane Iredale Triple Pearl Powder Finishing Powder Giveaway, just like a lot of you are mixing up your fitness routines, I'm sure many of you are eager to try something new in your beauty routines as well!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post!

{Not So} Wordless Wednesday: New Haircut by Mark on Madison Edition! {#Photos}

Yesterday we talked about the Orgullosa Community, and that leads into my not so Wordless Wednesday today. In one of the facebook groups I belong to, one of the bloggers posted a call for New Yorkers who wanted to try out a new salon to let her know. With the year and a half I just went through, while I didn't make formal 'New Year's Resolutions', one of the things I promised myself this year is that I would not just embrace, but actually make change in my life. I know that this year won't be different if I approach it the same way, and do the same things.

I want 2013 to be a whole new year, one where I strive to balance taking more time for myself and still meeting the demands of an ever-changing constantly on the go schedule. Spending so much time last year in the hospital made my hair change a bit because of everything I went through including the crazy meds. So honestly when this opportunity opened up it was a total no brainer for me. And so I decided when I agreed to take it that I would truly let the salon go nuts and make my hair over totally.

Although true to my nature I did do my research!

About Mark on Madison:

Mark landed an apprenticeship with world-renowned hairstylist John Barrett at his Bergdoff Goodman salon (and you can best believe that the iconic salon located on the penthouse floor of Bergdoff Goodman in the heart of Manhattan must have been one amazing training ground as the women there expect no less than the best!)

Mark boasts quite a roster of celeb clientele (I won't name drop here, but you can check out his site www.markonmadison.com for a list).

Mark has worked with publications such as Sports Illustrated and Vanity Fair!

He has also worked a wide variety of high profile events including The Academy Awards, New York Fashion Week and Good Morning America!

Here is my Before:

Left: Ascending Butterfly, Right: Mark Borukhov of Mark on Madison Salon, NYC

I arrived with well below my shoulders curly hair! The first thing he told me was 'throw out your flat iron!' - As a life long wavy girl I wasn't sure at first how possible that would be for me as I normally prefer to wear my hair straight.

Here is my During:

Mark styles Ascending Butterfly at Mark on Madison Salon in New York City

Mark created long side parted fringe layers instead of bangs! He also blew out my hair in what has to be an Olympic Record Speed, and showed me how to section my hair for not only faster results, but also less breakage!

Here is my after:

Mark finalizes the style and the look is complete! Mark on Madison Salon, NYC

Voila!

My Take:

Mark took the time to understand what my real day-to-day is like and gave me his signature cut which not only frames my face, but he also took the time to teach me step by step how to maintain it, so when I left the salon I could keep the same style up at home with less effort than before. He also gave me product recommendations and helped de-bunked one of my product myths. I often avoided products that were labelled for 'curly' hair since I tend to wear my straight, but the for curly products he used on my hair worked well for me, and made me re-consider what I have been using at home.

And when I told him that I love my waves, I just hate the frizz, he gave me ideas to help achieve 'Beachy Waves' but avoid the frizz. He told after washing my hair to try gathering it like making a ponytail, then twist it clockwise and put it in a bun and sleep with it (works best for me with hair towel-dried because I have thin, fine hair that is very frizz prone) and then wake up and just rake the waves with my fingers, and then blow dry the front if I wanted it to be sleeker in the front or on top. I love that idea because it's actually workable for me since I have very little time in the morning. Thankfully I'm already using the right brushes (he recommended blow drying my hair with a boar bristle brush), which helps to make the process not only easier but also produce the desired results.

Oddly enough I went in finally ready to commit to a bigger change, and he didn't really feel I needed it. I don't have grays yet, so he didn't really feel a one process color would be a good idea for my hair type. And because I told him I do take the time out to try and wear my hair straighter, he didn't want me to take off a lot of length.

And if a great cut and styling, way faster than I even expected wasn't enough, we also went to a local coffee shop and talked 'shop' for awhile, you have to love a stylist who splits a cheesecake with you! If that's not down to earth I don't know what is!

I highly recommend Mark! And I also love that I found him on a New York City Bloggers forum, I love when bloggers share great leads! I'm not sure I would have found this salon without the recommendation, so word of mouth definitely pays off!

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Book an Appointment with Mark by calling the salon directly at 212.470-3604

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @MarkOnMadison on Twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 'Like' Mark on Facebook too!

When you visit the salon, be sure to tag both Ascending Butterfly and Mark on Madison on Facebook so we can check out your new 'do'.

I don't have an official linky, but bloggers please feel free to comment on this post with a link to your Wordless Wednesday posts so we can check out your pictures too!

Happy Wordless Wednesday and Happy Hair Day Butterfly!

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FTC Disclosure: This is a non-compensated post, no monetary compensation has been received to share my salon experience. I was provided with styling services free of charge for editorial consideration, however as always, all opinions are 100% my own!

Hi #Orgullosa, Is your Skirt Well Positioned?

Some writing challenges seem so conceptually easy that they ideally should write themselves. This time, while I have a lot to say, I'm not exactly sure I know where to begin. So I will start with the question: Is Your Skirt Well Positioned? In Spanish there is a saying 'Mujeres con La Falda Bien Puesta' which in English Translates to, "women with their skirts well positioned'. This actually goes beyond the positioning of your skirt, that is just the literal translation the real translation is that of a women with pride within herself. A strong, proud woman that can always hold her head up high. The word 'Orgullosa' translates to 'Proud', sometimes people give the word 'Orgullosa' a negative connotation that comes closer to translating to 'Vain', but it really means Proud in the sense of Pride. And now, being 'Orgullosa' isn't just being about being 'proud', it's an actual movement! A community of progressive, confident Latina Women who now have an online platform to seize their limitless potential through the transformative power of community and the rapid fire pace of social media helping to spread the message. 

Defining Orgullosa: 

Being 'Proud' is different things to different people, from the way you conduct yourself from day to day, the decisions you make and obstacles you surmount. The feeling that is left behind when you accomplish something everyone told you wasn't possible. It's that woman who 'strives' and not just 'survives'.

The Orgullosa Movement:

Orgullosa.com offers Latinas a platform for peer-to-peer interaction, from daily conversation to opportunities to contribute to the community at large. It is a destination that focuses on best-in-class brands and solutions for her changing and busy lifestyle.

Aspiring to Inspire:

In my family we learned at an early age that helping others was important, that you move forward when you help others to do the same!

Last year one of the communities and ambassadorships I played a part of had the opportunity to help in the judging component of a 25K scholarship to an aspiring young Latina. For me it was a source of pride to help a young person realize their dream of going to College. When I went to College there weren't as many opportunities as readily available. I worked very hard in High School, and did land some Scholarship Funding, but I also worked 2 part time jobs: one on campus, and one off-campus, to get through College. In the end I think that degree meant more to me because I had to work very hard to achieve it!

Left: Ascending Butterfly, College Graduation, Right: Mama Butterfly, Both of us were super 'Orgullosa' that day!

My 'Orgullosa' Moments:

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ My first television appearance when I was in Kindegarten! (I was destined for *Stardom*)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ President of the Chess Team 3 years running! (Cute Nerds RULE!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Graduating College! (My entire family was proud of that moment!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Writing for a newspaper! (When my first article made the front page, I definitely let out a WEPA!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Film Critic! (I'll never forget my first Press Junket!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Reaching the title of "President" in Corporate America and running the entire NorthEast Division

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Now owning the Title of 'Founder'

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Surviving a year I was told I wouldn't even get to ring in, and now ringing in another!

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Finally making my first official 'VLOG' in front of the camera instead of just behind it (with super awesome television personality and celeb stylist Robert Verdi no less!)

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ When my first Twitter Party 'Trended' :-)

Join The Movement/Get Social With It:

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ 'Like' Orgullosa on Facebook

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Join The Orgullosa Community

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ Follow the @Orgullosa movement on Twitter using the hashtag #Orgullosa

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FTC Disclosure: I am participating in a Sponsored Post on behalf of Procter & Gamble via The Niche Mommy Network, however all opinions are 100% my own!