Give the Gift of Positivity and Style: prAna Clothing and Accessories {Coupon Code}

Wouldn't it be nice if, when arriving at a website, there was a little meter that could answer the questions that you're really thinking?

How many times have you browsed online and wondered things like: Is this furniture going to fall apart after one month? Are these sheets going to turn out to be scratchy and rough? Are these toys truly safe for my children? Is that gadget going to be out of date by the time it arrives here?

I just want to know that a company cares — about their products, about the environment, about their customers, and about giving back. I want to know that they love what they do and are passionate about sharing that with the world. On top of that, I want their products to be well-made, high quality, and ones that I'm going to look at every day and be happy that they're in my home.

Is that all too much to ask? For a lot of sites, yes. But for prAna, that's exactly what you'll find in their stylish, comfortable, and gorgeous apparel, accessories, and gifts.

Focused on creating versatile, stylish, and sustainable clothing and accessories that you can wear during every activity, every adventure, and for every day, prAna makes clothing that looks good and plays hard. Plus, along with combining classic and urban style with sustainable materials, they are always mindful of where and how their creations are made.

Pretty great, right? I love that prAna offers sustainable, recycled, fair trade certified, and hemp items so this holiday season you can gift your friends and family (or yourself) something amazing that also shows love for our planet.

But not only that, prAna also makes it a top priority to give back to communities all over the world. From making a difference locally in their own community to sending aid to international charities and areas affected by natural disasters, it is easy to feel good about your purchase actually helping make a difference.

So even though I was already impressed with prAna and completely smitten with the look of the Annexi Pant and Stacia Sweater just from their pictures, seeing and feeling them in person still left me in complete amazement.

Crafted from 54% hemp (an incredibly sustainable and eco-friendly product), the Annexi Pant is lightweight, comfortable, and perfect from morning until night. Going to yoga? They'll take you there. Throwing on a pair of tennis shoes and running errand after errand? You'll look chic and modern while staying cozy. Curling up on the couch with a good book? You're all set.

Everything from the elastic leg cuffs to the relaxed fit to the addition of the back elastic waistband makes the Annexi the most versatile pair of pants that I own. They can easily be dressed up, worn to work, donned for a hike in the wild outdoors, and more. Each time I have reached for them I feel ready for anything and everything that life may throw at me that day!

But as much as I like the Annexi Pant, prAna's Stacia Sweater has easily been my new go-to sweater to keep me warm as winter has set in here in the Midwest.

This Fair Trade Certified sweater is made from extremely soft organic cotton and features Dolman style sleeves and an intricate stitching design down the front. I love the added detail that gives the Stacia just a little something extra!

While I wish that it were just a few inches longer, the relaxed fit has made this perfect for layering over just about any tank or top and this sweater looks great with leggings, pants, skirts, and more.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with prAna as a company and with their amazing apparel. They clearly care about the environment as well as with providing their customers high quality items that are safe from any unwanted, harmful ingredients... and that will surely provide style, comfort, and luxury for any age no matter what sort of adventure you may be going on.

Although the prices on prAna items are a little higher than I might normally pay (the Annexi Pant retails for $85 but is currently on sale for $59.50 while the Stacia Sweater sells for $89 but is on sale for $62.30), these are definitely items that feel sumptuously worth it. Not to mention that each time you reach into your closet and pull a prAna item out to wear, the feeling of having made a positive impact on the planet makes it feel just that much better!

This holiday season and beyond, head over to prAna.com (and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest) to see their full collection of organic, hemp, sustainable, and fair trade items that would make fantastic gifts.

But, wait! Who doesn't want a good deal? Simply enter the promo code TMHF16TMC at checkout and you'll receive a 15% discount off of your entire prAna order!

Other than the prAna clothing samples that I received in order facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about these products and this company.

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker {Review}

With the holiday season upon us, families near and far are celebrating the sights and sounds in a wide variety of ways — from time-honored traditions to new and exciting activities.

While my own family has already participated in fun and festive events of all kinds, I was recently also able to experience one show that has delighted audiences from coast to coast with its incredible artistry, costumes, performance, puppetry, music and more: Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker!

The company of almost 40 dancers is the only internationally touring ballet group to perform to critical acclaim in over 75 North American cities annually. The renowned, award-winning principal dancers and corps de ballet thrill audiences with their expertise, dramatic expression and stunning leaps, turns and drops... and I, for one, was excited to see this fantastic show for myself!

Once inside the beautiful and historical Orpheum Theater in downtown Madison, WI, it didn't take long before we were shown to our seats to eagerly await the opening curtain.

I'll admit to being vaguely familiar with this story (the Nutcracker comes to life, what more did I need to know?) and soon found myself completely drawn in by the beauty and grace of the performers. I can only imagine the number of years and endless hours of practice that they have put in to be able to dance and soar across the stage as they did!

As for the show itself, the Great Russian Nutcracker opens with eccentric Uncle Drosselmeyer preparing the magical toys he will bring to Mayor Stalhbaum's Christmas Eve party. When he arrives the party is underway with adults and children full of merriment and joy.

As flash photography was not allowed, my photos are not the highest quality. Moscow Ballet has a beautiful gallery if you would like to see closer, more professional photographs!

At the party we meet Masha, her brother Fritz, and their friends, who are delighted to find out what presents they will receive. Masha instantly loves her gift of a Nutcracker Doll, but mischievous Fritz accidentally breaks it!

Heartbroken, Masha sleeps and dreams that mice and the Rat King battle with the brave Nutcracker, who defeats them. The Nutcracker Prince and Masha then journey to the Snow Forest and meet folk legends Ded Moroz and Snegurochka, who escort them to the Land of Peace and Harmony.

After a 20 minute intermission, Act II opened with the much-anticipated Dove of Peace (danced by two dancers each with one feathered wing)...

...and a great celebration ensued! Emissaries of Spain, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Russian performed in honor of Masha and the Nutcracker Prince and playful animals joined them to represent gifts for Masha — the bulls offered daring, elephants offered wisdom, lions offered pride, the dragon offered playfulness, the bears offered strength, and the unicorns offered kindness.

These larger than life animal puppets were definitely a highlight of the show, as they were incredibly detailed to look at, while also acting in a bit of a fun and goofy manner. I hadn't realized I would be laughing out loud while at a ballet!

Finally, Masha and the Nutcracker Prince were entertained by the Waltz of the Flowers and then danced a grand Pas de Deux as their gift in return.

Last, to bring the story full circle and to a close, Masha awakens and finds her beloved Nutcracker by her side. A perfect ending to a beautiful tale!

A big of romance, a lot of beauty, incredible costumes, fanciful effects, life-size dolls, shimmering backdrops, and much more... Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker was two hours of amazing talent, gorgeous music, and overall wonderful artistry. The audience was filled with everyone from very young to quite old, and we all left the theater smiling from ear to ear after giving a standing ovation.

If you are looking for a great way to get into spirit of the holiday season (or to start or continue a cherished family tradition), be sure to head over to Nutcracker.com today to see the full schedule of event dates/venues to check for your area.

But why not shop with a discount? Use the promo code JOY to receive the largest discount available (up to $30 off!) so that you can save money while partaking in this wonderful holiday tradition!

This post is part of a promotional campaign with Moscow Ballet but all thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

A Holiday Tradition: Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker 2015 North American Tour {Coupon Code}

When it comes to holiday traditions, some families have a particular dish or meal, some travel to a certain destination, and some decorate their tree with the same ornaments or lights year after year.

For others, however, the ultimate holiday tradition is one that creates memories for a lifetime when they go to see the amazing artistry, costumes, performance, puppetry, music and more involved in Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker!

Tickets are on sale now!

The company of almost 40 dancers is the only internationally touring ballet group to perform to critical acclaim in over 75 North American cities annually. The renowned, award-winning principal dancers and corps de ballet thrill audiences with their expertise, dramatic expression and stunning leaps, turns and drops.

Including over 200 romantic costumes and 10' tall playful animal puppets; shimmering colorful, backdrops splashed with 3-D effects; life-sized Matrushka (Nesting) Dolls and a puppet show for shadowing the Nutcracker Story at the opening Christmas Party, this is one performance unlike any other.

The production is also known for its dedication to world peace: naming Act II the "Land of Peace and Harmony" and featuring a stunning "Dove of Peace" with a 20' wingspan (danced by two dancers each with one feathered wing).

Children and adults of all ages will be amazed at all there is to see throughout this performance! During the battle with Nutcracker Prince and the 3-headed Rat King, a golden cannon shoots roses. In the Magical Snow Forest an authentic Russian style Troika Sleigh, known as the fastest sleigh in the world, is escorted by Father Christmas and Snow Maiden on their way to Act II.

Truly, Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker is a breathtaking sight to behold from start to finish!

As tickets are on sale for Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker in most cities on the 2015 North American tour, now is the time to order some for your family to get into the spirit of the season.

But why not shop with a discount? Use the promo code JOY to receive the largest discount available (up to $30 off!) so that you can save money while partaking in this wonderful holiday tradition!

For a full schedule of event dates/venues and times, head over to Nutcracker.com today!

This post is part of a promotional campaign with Moscow Ballet but all thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Receive Personalized Money-Saving Offers with AT&T Alerts {$50 Visa Gift Card Giveaway}

Although our family and friends often get a laugh out of my and my husband's frugal dedication to using coupons or taking advantage of a sale, we just shrug, satisfied with the feeling of having not spent any unnecessary money.

However, even though we are big fans of pulling out our 50% off coupons or diligently sending in our rebate forms, the issue that we run into the most is a common one: not having our discounts or coupons with us when we actually need them.

Oh, shoot! Had I known we were going to be by a (store name), then I would have checked for a coupon before we left!

Instead, how convenient would it be if you could be walking down the street past a store and receive a text message offering a discount at that store right then and there? Sound far-fetched? It's not and it exists right now with AT&T Alerts.

An innovative, optional new service from AT&T that proactively delivers offers straight to wireless customers' phones, AT&T Alerts are location-based text messages that provide savings on what you want, when you need it.

Quite simply, these opt-in alerts allow AT&T customers nationwide to save money with relevant offers from nearby retailers on their mobile phones. All that is required is to sign up for AT&T Alerts at http://alerts.att.com/coffee and you'll begin receiving discounts, rewards and offers via text message when you are near one of the participating retailers and brands.

AT&T Alerts' growing list of participating retailers and brands now includes: Apple Vacations, Banana Republic, Chuck E. Cheese's, Discover, Duracell, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Gap, Haggar, InterContinental Hotels Group, JCPenney, Kiehl's, Meguiar's, Motorola, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, PayAnywhere, PayPal, Qdoba and Zales.

What's the catch, right?

There isn't one! Text messages to and from AT&T Alerts are FREE for AT&T customers and you have the ability to customize your offer preferences and settings to receive the offers most relevant to you.

As an added bonus, when you sign up and confirm your registration now, you'll also receive a $5 Starbucks Card eGift (while supplies last). So not only will you be set to start receiving discounts on an ongoing basis when and where you need them, but you'll be able to celebrate with your favorite brewed drink... for free!

To find out more about this personalized, money-saving service, head over to AT&T Alerts and sign up to start receiving your own custom deals and offers right on your phone (note that AT&T Alerts is not currently available for the iPhone 5).

Plus, thanks to the generosity of AT&T, one person will be even more excited to head out shopping, because...

One lucky person will win a $50 Visa gift card!

Entry-Form

A big thank you to AT&T for providing a thank you gift for me as well as a $50 Visa gift card for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Change and Make Your Bed Quickly and Easily with Zipit Bedding {Review & Coupon Code}

I equate making the bed with flossing your teeth.

Both are aspects that you know you should do... but unless you were raised doing them daily, therefore ensuring that they are ingrained as part of your daily routine, it can be extremely difficult to pick up either one and turn it into a habit.

For me, I would love to have my bed made every day. There's just something about how having the sheets smoothed into place and the duvet laid out neatly that is so much more inviting than the crumpled mess that currently awaits me. The problem lays in the two factors that affect just about everything I do: my lack of time and my laziness.

So if I can't even take the extra few minutes to get my own bed situated in the morning, how can I expect my kids to do any differently? Fortunately, that's where Zipit Bedding comes in and makes the entire process quick and easy.

A brand new, mom-invented product that enables anyone (including kids!) to make and change their bed in seconds, Zipit Bedding gives new meaning to the phrase "just Zipit!"

As anyone who has ever made a bed before knows, the various pieces — sheets, blankets and comforters — are easily entangled and hard to keep neat. What is it that we do during the night that gets them that way? However, instead of struggling to lay each part into place separately, Zipit Bedding connects a fitted sheet and comforter via zippers down the sides to result in one easy-to-use unit.

Considering that I can normally walk into my kids' rooms and find their beds looking not so neat...

 ...I was eager to see if Zipit Bedding could transform the sloppy look into something that was not only neat, but was one that they were able to take care of all on their own.

As I laid out the three piece set,  it was easy to see that the concept behind the sheet, blanket and pillowcase was to create normal bedding that functions with the simplicity of a sleeping bag. Instead of it being a chore to make your bed, you only have to zip up the side and you're ready to go!

After throwing the pieces in the washing machine (which was extremely easy due to the fact that they are connected together), I found that placing them on Big Sister E's bed took much less time than normal. As I stretched the elastic of the sheet around the corners, the blanket was pulled right into place with it!

When it came time to put the pillowcase on, I was thrilled with the zipper feature included there as well. Instead of doing the smush-smush-shake-shake-shake dance that I typically have to do to get a pillow to shimmy down into a pillowcase, Zipit has made it so much easier to unzip, place the pillow inside, and zip it closed.

In the end, the bed was made in a fraction of the time that it normally takes and Big Sister E loved it!

She has since been extremely proud of the fact that she can climb in and zip herself up to go to sleep...

...as well as get out and zip her bed made in the mornings without needing help.

The only thing that we've found missing from our Zipit Bedding is a flat sheet, as with the summer months ahead it might get too warm to have a blanket all the time.

On the other hand, however, I love that Zipit Bedding included great little zippered pockets on each side, as those have proved to be a great place to store special little belongings.

Currently available in twin or full sizes in pink or navy (I look forward to more colors in the future!), Zipit Bedding is the answer to stress-free making and changing of a bed. Instead of finding your child's blankets in a crumpled mess on the floor or at the end of the bed each morning, they will love how fun, fast and easy it is to zip it and be done!

Retailing for $69.99 for full and $59.99 for twin, now is the time to try out this great bedding with a special not-to-be-missed discount! For a limited time, you simply have to enter the coupon code GREEN10 at checkout and your purchase of a twin size Zipit Bedding will only cost $39.99! That's $20 off of the discounted web price and a really great deal to be able to experience the bedding that is the wave of the future.

To find out much more about this innovative new way to make your bed and to make a purchase, visit ZipitBedding.com, connect with them on Facebook and Twitter, and check out their humorous ad!



(Other than the Zipit Bedding twin set that I received from Zipit Bedding, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this product.)

Celebrate Graduation with Pear Tree Greetings {Thank You Cards Giveaway}

It's a fairly common consensus among adults that we wouldn't want to go back and relive high school all over again. Even if you had the best of friends and the most wonderful teachers and danced your heart out at your prom, there's still a decent chance that you have a list of things that you would like to turn to the former you and ask What in the world are you thinking?

But one thing that I do look back on (for high school as well as college) as a fun and positive time was graduation. After all of the work that was put into the previous 16+ years of schooling, it's about time to celebrate that accomplishment, isn't it? And one of the important aspects of graduation that goes along with donning a cap and gown and accepting a diploma has to be sharing the good news with family and friends.

So when your child is preparing to graduate, whether from preschool, kindergarten, high school or college, you can help them share their pride with the world by turning to Pear Tree Greetings for all of your graduation announcements and more.

Offering announcements, invitations, thank you cards and more (even napkins!), Pear Tree Greetings has the products for graduation that can help make the event special. I appreciate that they offer such a wide variety of designs, while also giving customers the ability to customize their purchases so that they fit for their personality and event — pick the right photo placement, change the design colors to match your school colors, and more.

I am especially partial to the photo graduation announcements, as I believe that seeing the happy celebrant is the best way to share the great news. Pear Tree Greetings' wide variety of options ensure that whether you have a single favorite image or a series of them showing changes throughout the years, you'll find the style card that works for you.

I love the extreme simplicity and modern design of the Modern Emblem Photo Graduation Invitation...

...while at the same time, the ability to include a dozen photos from over the years in the Year by Year Collage Photo Graduation Invitation gives me a big grin. It's just too cute!

As the colors of each announcement are so bright and vivid and with personalization options at every turn, the possibilities are endless when it comes to finding just the right one for your graduate. Whether you are interested in elaborate and creative or simple and straightforward, the hardest part of shopping at Pear Tree Greetings has always been deciding on a favorite.

And even though I don't have a high school or college graduate just yet, I love the adorable options that Pear Tree Greetings has for the younger crowd as well. I have no doubt that Big Sister E would think it was really cool to send out announcements sharing in the excitement of completing preschool!


The Alphabet Bash and the Top of the Class kids' graduation cards are just such a fun way to pass on the good news or to invite people over for a picnic or afternoon in honor of this accomplishment. After all, it's important to celebrate preschool, kindergarten, and middle school so that kids will be excited to move on to bigger and better graduations, right?

The only thing better than celebrating graduation with Pear Tree Greetings this year is saving money while doing it! Right now if you enter the coupon code BBGRAD12 you'll receive 12% off of orders of $49 or more worth of graduation products. This promo code expires on May 1st, so hurry over!

Even better than a discount? The opportunity to win $1,000 for your grad in the fun graduation contest that Pear Tree Greetings has going on now! The details are easy:

To enter, simply submit your advice for today's grads and upload it, along with a photo from your high school years. Entries will be accepted until May 6th and then public voting will occur until May 13th. At that point, the top 10 voted entries will become finalists and Pear Tree Greetings’ panel of judges will pick the first, second, and third place winners based on the thoughtfulness and creativity of the entries.

What do you wish you'd known on your graduation day? Head over and let Pear Tree Greetings know and hopefully it will win you and your lucky grad $1,000!

Speaking of winning, thanks to the generosity of Pear Tree Greetings, one person will be prepared to express their gratitude this spring as well, because...

One lucky person will win a set of 24 Thank You Cards of their choosing from Pear Tree Greetings!

(Enter with the Rafflecopter form below - if you don't see the form, click here! If you have any problems entering, there is a video tutorial found here that can help.)

CleanItSupply.com {Bounty Paper Towels Review & Giveaway - 3 winners!}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Lindsay S, McKim and Jennifer!}

Having had my mom in town for an extended visit recently, life around our house seems a little more lonely now that she's gone.

But wherein the kids and I miss having her to play with and enjoy her company, my husband has already commented that he misses coming home and finding the house not a complete mess due to her cleaning help. Such a sentimental guy, isn't he?

He's right, though. When left to my own devices, the never-ending washing, vacuuming, scrubbing, sweeping, and more just seems to fall lower and lower on the list of what I strive to accomplish each day. It's just going to be dirty again tomorrow, so why bother?

Fortunately, if I have the cleaning supplies and tools needed at my fingertips, then I'm much more likely to keep up with the ongoing battle throughout the day. And with the discounted prices on cleaning products at CleanItSupply.com, I really have no excuse to not have everything I need to keep our house in order all the time!

As I mentioned in my first review and giveaway, CleanItSupply.com is a wholesale janitorial supply company with the widest selections of cleaning supplies on the internet at the lowest prices.

As well as being the shopping destination of choice for businesses, consumers are able to get in on the great deals as well! From eco-friendly and environmentally responsible products to the brand names that we all know and love, every time I browse CleanItSupply.com, the immediate question is Why would I spend more elsewhere?

If I'm going to have to purchase trash bags, toilet paper, and laundry detergent already, then why wouldn't I pick it up for less? Then there are mops, brooms, hand soap, toilet bowl cleaner, baby wipes... the list is endless and I, for one, am not a fan of heading to the closet to find that my husband has used the last roll of the Bounty paper towels without telling me.

Instead of having to drag the kids to the store every month to purchase the same products over and over again, CleanItSupply.com has the same great brands and high quality items that I want but at a discount price... and will deliver it right to my door!

And one item that we are forever using, both indoors and out, are those Bounty towels. Even though we have tried different brands before, Bounty is always the name that we come back to for use for cleaning, as a napkin, and more.

Considering how often we reach for our roll of paper towels, buying them one at a time or even in a pack with a few in it just doesn't make sense. We would be forever running out! Instead, CleanItSupply.com allows me to be confident that when I open the closet, I'll be sure to find more waiting for me.

We've never been more ready for summer! Bounty paper towels are super absorbent and are perfect for packing in our picnic lunches, having out for our next barbecue or just having handy for all of the big and small messes that seem to come along with having kids.

I appreciate that CleanItSupply.com offers Bounty Paper Towels in packages of various sizes so that you can get exactly how many rolls you need, whether that be as small as 8 or as large as 30. It's bulk shopping at its finest!

What cleaning supplies do you need to stock up on? CleanItSupply.com has them and they have them for less! Their low prices are guaranteed, they are #1 in customer service and product knowledge, and with no minimum order and lightening fast shipping, you'll have the products you need immediately without the hassle of the store.

Even better, how about a discount on them? Take advantage of an even better deal at CleanItSupply.com by entering the discount coupon code ThanksMailCarrier10 and save 10% on your order today!

And, thanks to their generosity, three people will be able to enjoy having Bounty paper towels on hand for quite some time to come as well, because...

Three lucky people will win Bounty Paper Towels from CleanItSupply.com! The 1st place winner will receive a case of 30 rolls, the 2nd place winner will receive a case of 15 rolls and the 3rd place winner will receive a case of 8 rolls!

To enter to win: Visit CleanItSupply.com and LEAVE THE LINK to the product you would most like to own or purchase there.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

2 Extra Entries (per method) if you follow CleanItSupply.com on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you update your Facebook status to the following: Have you shopped at CleanItSupply.com yet? Get all the supplies you need at discount prices: http://bit.ly/aLUQ2! I also just entered to win a case of Bounty paper towels from Thanks, Mail Carrier: http://bit.ly/iEH6v1!
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

CleanItSupply.com has it all at http://bit.ly/aLUQ2! I entered the #giveaway to #win a case of Bounty paper towels: http://bit.ly/iEH6v1!

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, follow me on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
5 Extra Entries if you blog about CleanItSupply.com and link it to CleanItSupply.com and this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on July 14th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to CleanItSupply.com for providing a case of Bounty paper towels for me to review as well as for three lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.