Whether it’s last minute holiday repairs or getting a jump start on those nagging home improvement ideas you’ve been putting off – Angie’s List is your go-to site to get it all done!

Have you ever wished that when hiring a professional for home improvement jobs, you could see a report card on their performance? What about having the ability to read reviews from the people in your neighborhood without having to go door to door for advice? Perhaps you are pessimistic due to a prior disaster involving a contractor with less than classy behavior around your children. Or maybe you have had a surprisingly satisfying experience with a team of local landscapers who not only helped you realize your dream but made it better than you could have imagined. Whether you need a job done or you have just had one completed and would like to share your experience, Angie’s List is the answer to everything.

What is Angie’s List?
Angie’s List is a website where you’ll find thousands of unbiased reports and reviews about service companies in your area. You can find information and costumer reviews on over 450 categories of service. Angie’s List members share their experiences with each other so that you can choose the service company that’s right for your job the first time around. This is more than just a resource site for home improvement. You will also find services such as health care, child care, fitness centers, catering and much, much more. You can even search from a list of strictly eco-friendly companies for those of you who are dedicated to green living.

When browsing through the Angie’s List you will find all kinds of extra helpful information. For example, there is Angie’s Tips and I think you’ll agree that the tips provided are not what you would expect from any normal website of this nature. Here are just a few topics that could help answer those little questions that nag you from time to time:

How to buy green flooring
When to keep a sick child home
How to break up with your hairstylist
Holiday decorating safety tips
Online shopping tips
Diabetes warning sign and tips

Angie also has what is called a penalty box. Rather than only listing those service providers that are excellent, she also finds it very important to list those that have failed to meet a costumer’s satisfaction. The penalty box is operated by a complaint resolution process. There are four possible outcomes in the resolution process.
The first outcome is “pending” meaning that the complaint is in process and a final outcome has not yet been determined. The second is “resolved”, this simply means that the service company has met the member’s request for resolution to the complaint. The third is “stalemate” and it means that the service company has responded to the member’s request for resolution, but they have declined to fulfill the member’s requirements for resolution. The fourth and final outcome is “penalty box” and this is reserved for companies that have failed to respond to a costumers request for resolution, or sometimes they have responded but failed to follow through with their promise to the costumer. Bottom line is you don’t want to end up in the penalty box if you are a company on Angie’s List and as a consumer you would want to steer clear of these companies for your service needs.

There is quite a bit of buzz surrounding Angie’s List. Aside from all the wonderful advice, helpful tid bits and dozens of other reasons to visit this website there is a wonderful section where you can check local news reports as well as local costumer reviews just by picking your city and state from a drop down list. Once you choose your town you will be directed to a page where you can read thousands of reports to help you in your decision making process.
Check out some of the reviews from nationwide reports:

And here are some costumer reviews:

“I’ve heard horror stories about women being taken advantage of on price and service, and I didn’t want this to happen to me. So I talked to a friend, and she directed me to Angie’s List. What a blessing! Now I can avoid being the victim of another horror story. Thank you Angie’s List!”
–Jessica K., Atlanta, Ga.

“When I had a problem with a service provider, Angie stuck up for me, and I got action immediately. I wish I would have called earlier!”
–Robert H., Columbus, Ohio

“Before Angie’s List, selecting a service provider was like throwing darts blind folded. Those who report on Angie’s List have helped me make informed, logical, educated decisions. I am truly grateful.”
–Nancy B., St. Paul, Minn.

“I think it’s great that people can use Angie’s List for medical referrals. I absolutely love my pediatrician, and I think people should know about
my holistic dentist!”
–Joan L., San Jose

There is also a fabulous blog section, podcasts, and Angie’s List Magazine. You might be wondering if there is a fee to join Angie’s List and the answer is yes, but the fees are minimal and with so much information at your fingertips it’s hard to imagine why anyone would use any other resource for their service needs.

So go check out Angie’s List from our retailer line-up. I’m confident you will be impressed and the next time you need any type of service for your home you’ll know exactly where to turn for help.

By shopping for your MTV Staying Alive Foundation/Shepard Fairey shirt HERE your purchase will support The Foundation, help raise awareness as to the increase of HIV/AIDS in America while keeping you fashionably hip at the same time!!

Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive… except when it comes to a great undergarment from Spanx.   And with the holidays just ahead, a little deception from this excellent performance wear line can help hide a multitude of sweet and tasty sins.  As a woman, I’ve learned that no matter what shape or size you are, we women all need a good support system.  So like a gift from the Gods above, Spanx gives us exactly that.  We all want to look great in our clothes.  Some people prefer the helping hand of a bra with back support, while those of us who are less top heavy, so to speak, prefer the security of a gentle hug around our caboose.  With Spanx you can find the support and discretion you need to proudly strut your stuff from head to toe. They cater to every shape from petite to curvaceous, including those lucky ladies with legs that seem to go on for days or the mommy to be who refuses to give up on her fierce style simply because there’s a bun in the oven.  Pictured below is a sampling of the sleek solutions to keeping things under control.  Spanx has a surprisingly large line of undergarments to choose from –and nonprofitshoppingmall.com proudly works with 5 major retailers who carry the Spanx brand online, for maximum convenience.

The second best thing about Spanx is how comfortable they are. Unlike traditional girdle-like garments, Spanx products are soft and breathable – with no embarrassing tight bands that roll down at the belly when you sit or bend either!

Spanx has such a great line of tights and pantyhose. There are cute designs like the hounds-tooth tights pictured above, and they even carry fishnets. The tights pictured above center are fantastic. They are reversible. One day you can wear brown and another day you can turn them inside out and wear blue.  How cool is that?  Most importantly, woman who are pregnant want to feel sexy and they deserve it.  Spanx has some great pantyhose that give you sexy legs and full tummy support.

As a big fan of strapless dresses and capri pants, these three shape-wear undergarments are my favorite.

Where can I buy Spanx?

AND WHO DO WE THANK FOR SPANX?
In 1998, Spanx creator Sara Blakely found herself in a fashion dilemma. What she wanted to wear one day was her favorite pair of cream colored pants with some open-toe shoes. Sara was not a fan of the thong, nor did she want a visible panty line. So, she did what any fashion driven woman would do. She grabbed a pair of pantyhose and cut off the toes. Voila — she now had footless pantyhose and did not have to compromise her open-toe shoe.  That, my friends, was the birth of Spanx.  Sara Blakely now offers women, all over the world, freedom from visible panty lines, clingy fabrics, and tummy bulges. Thank you Sara!!

This summer, Staples and DoSomething.org are making it easy for you to help the 13 million children in the US that live in poverty by getting them the basic supplies they need to go back to school.

Run a school supplies drive in your school, community or with your friends. See how many new school supplies you can collect this summer!

Drop off your supplies at any Staples store nationwide now through September 19th and we’ll make sure they get delivered to a child in need in your community.

Check out Ciara’s PSA supporting the Staples/Do Something 101 school supply drive.http://shop.dosomething.org/

It’s bittersweet when the hot days of summer begin waning into the breezy and chill nights of autumn.  Personally I’m a summer fanatic but I can’t deny the overwhelming joy of being able to slip back into a cozy set of pajamas.  In fact, as I scan my dresser drawers I realize I might just have more pajamas than regular clothes.  After all, some nights I feel the need to call upon the old faithful flannels and other nights it’s the magic of the sexy satins – one must be prepared. Whatever your preference may be, we all could use a great set of pj’s to make us feel cozy and warm.  At Bed Head Pajamas there is something for everyone, not to mention some of the cutest pj’s for children that I have ever seen.  For men, they have styles that are casual, classy and sexy all rolled into one.  Take a look.

From BedHead’s women’s collection, these two pajama sets are my absolute favorites. I could easily wear the flannel cheetah print jammies around the house all day long.  The only excuse I need is a rainy day, a good movie and a cup of delicious coffee.  The other set is a sateen kimono style pajama.  The colors and design are beautiful and the style is very sexy.  Give me a great book and a chaise lounge so I can feel completely spoiled in style.

Now, at some point in life all of us ladies must endure what I call “the rite of wisdom”.  Others might just call it hot, wet misery, but with these amazing pajamas below it doesn’t matter how you look at it, there is relief.  Bed Head has blessed us with a variety of pajamas made of Cotton Voile.  What is Cotton Voile?  It is a plain weave, gauze-like, free flowing material.  Garments made of this magical fabric are perfect for summer and brief waves of heat that come and go as they please whether we want them to or not.  The sheer quality of Voile allows for maximum airflow while still providing superb coverage. And, it should come as no surprise to you that these pajamas are both adorable and chic.

I find something terribly attractive about a man in pajamas, particularly in plaid prints. And, who can deny the simple allure of the basic white tee and shorts?

Here we have the children’s pajamas. Having a child of my own I have to admit I melt at the sight of my daughter in her jammies. I get tickled over wispy-eyed babies in cozy little footsie sleepers and cotton thermal sets. With BedHead Pajamas new children’s line, they have definitely found my tickle spot.

Last but surely not least, BedHead also offers other goods such as bedding and accessories. The bedding is very elegant and comes in most of the same prints as the pj’s. The fabrics, of course, are a gift to the touch.  And it doesn’t just stop there, BedHead has all the things we love like a warm pair of slippers, a luxurious robe or a cute little make-up case.

Our friends at BedHead are currently offering a free shipping code. Just enter “TRISJA” in the discount code box at checkout!  Oh – and sleep tight …http://www.nonprofitshoppingmall.com

I can’t believe it’s nearing the end of August already. As all the school employees are preparing our schools for the year ahead, those of us with kids are gearing up to shop for their back to school goods. Let us be grateful for the plethora of online discounts. As an avid online shopper myself, I’ve discovered that there are almost always deeper discounts on the web than in store. Of course, there are shipping fees. However, once you’ve factored in driving from store to store, filling up on gas, dragging the kids around and having to transform from mom to lioness just to survive the crowds of bargain thirsty consumers, you realize S&H fees aren’t so bad. What if you could escape the stress of the back to school shopping frenzy by purchasing absolutely everything you needed online at one single store while saving tons of money, giving back to our local communities, as well as your favorite nonprofit? Well, I decided to put one of my favorite stores to the test, because nothing excites me more than convenience mixed with huge savings. I went to Target.com and there was nothing I wasn’t able to find through their search function. Understand me here – I found everything I was looking for! Here are some basic back-to-school styles for kids that are super-cute as well as functional.

Also, as more and more public schools are switching over to the uniform only program, the styles for school uniforms are becoming more fashionable.  It’s not just polo shirts and pleated skirts these days.  I found some snappy looks for boys and girls who have the desire to stand out from the masses.  It’s just darling to see our kids wearing swanky threads.  I love the look of the button up oxford with a tie, and teacher will be thrilled to have such a dapper little student.

For the girls I found plenty of skirts and pants. What caught my eye was this navy button up dress with just a hint of late 1940’s casual style. Also, these khaki Bermuda’s with a white button up blouse are particularly cute.

To round out the back to school shopping experience, I also found some very cool backpacks.  As a child of the 80’s, I remember the trendy designs of the Jansport backpack.  It looks like the Jansport people are still just as much stuck in the 80’s as I am. The black and white checkered backpack featured below is reminiscent of my childhood skater days. For girls I found this adorable messenger bag. It’s just the right size for textbooks and has plenty of pockets, including three pockets for pens or pencils. As for lunchboxes Target.com has all the usual stuff but this Retro Tin Lunchbox is not only awesome as is, but your kids can get their creative with it too. The lunchbox comes with art supplies to design your own signature day glow art-box!!  Like it or not day glow will always be cool.

Prices for all of these items range from $9.99-$29.99 – Target.com really is on-target when it comes to back to school!http://www.nonprofitshoppingmall.com