We interrupt your summer to tell you that it's almost time for BACK TO SCHOOL! #StaplesHasIt + @NickCannon & a #Giveaway too!

I know the thought of Back to School will send all your child's hairs to stand on end, but doing all your shopping at the very last minute, will do the same to your wallet! Did you know that the bulk of a student's shopping budget is actually in 'tech' products now? And not every back to school shopping retailer can offer a wide range of school supplies AND technology products too at affordable prices that won't break the bank!

I recently attended a Back-to-School event where we got one resounding message loud and clear STAPLES HAS IT, or in this new age of speaking in hashtags: #StaplesHasIt

Back-to-School Made Easy with the Newest Trends

For the 2013 Back-to-School Shopping Season, Staples is offering an expanded assortment of fashionable and super functional must-have supplies, that will make going to back to class more fun! To help families save money on those must-have supplies the popular Back-to-School Savings Pass is back this year which gives you a 15 percent discount on supplies! Remember you can only purchase the pass through August 31st, and it's valid through September 21st which is great, because sometimes despite our best efforts we end up having to make multiple trips to the store for supply runs anyway! The pass costs $10, but if even if you have only one tech item on your list the 15% discount will help ensure that the cost of the savings pass pays for itself!

Some trends you'll spot at Staples this season include:

Neon - Get into the groove will cool and bold hues, Neon Sharpies or the Quilted Collection of Zipper Binders, Pencil Pouches, Tablet Cases and Clipboards!

Exclusive Patterns and Designs - Let's face it, individual expression is what it's all about, and Staples offers unique designs on products like the Staples BETTER binders, sticky notes and index card holders. One of my favorites are the ARC notebooks that offer a customizable cover that you can change whenever you get bored or want to mix things up! (for me it's like the notebook equivalent of swapping out your desktop wallpaper!)

Twinkle, Twinkle - The Glo-Lite Collection lights up when pushed and includes staplers, rulers and dry-erase boards. The Fiber Optic Pencil Pouches which are Exclusive to Staples, twinkle with designs that include shoe, piano and paisley. The Magnetic Motion Sensor Locker Chandelier with seven LED lights, the exclusive Glo-Lite Magnetic Pencil Bin, glitter rugs, Twinkle Scissors and magnetic wallpaper will help students spruce up their space and stand out in style.

Tech You Can Touch - The Acer Aspire Touch Laptop and new tablets like the HP Slate with Beats, Samsung Galaxy II, Samsung Note 8.0, Google Nexus 7 or the Kindle Fire HD help kids stay connected online both in and out of the classroom. (Again that savings pass will come in handy if you plan to purchase any tech for Back-to-School). And of course you need a cool case to protect your new touch device, how about a Zebra Print Tablet Case by Jansport? (pictured above)

Non Basic Basics -  I fell in love with the new, bendable Staples Flexible Calculator, and the Scotch Magic Chameleon Tape Dispenser which changes color when touched! (pictured above)

Lunchtime = Funtime - The Fit and Fresh 14 Piece Healthy Lunch Set features perfectly proportioned containers with ice packs that snap into the lids! Cool It! Ice Packs will keep the chill in any lunch bag or box. Or enjoy the updated classic LEGO Lunch Box. (all are pictured above)

Celebrity Surprise:

Staples surprised us all when Nick Cannon and AJ from Extra payed a visit to promote his Designer N-Tune headphones produced by Monster!

I was there! Here is a picture of Nick giving me, 'The Official #TwitterPartyDJ' my new Monster NCredible N-Tune On-Ear Headphones (Black):

Left: Tracy, Founder, Butterfly-in-Chief, Ascending Butterfly, Right: Nick Cannon

Here is a picture of AJ Calloway from Extra Television, interviewing Nick Cannon, he asked him about his new N-Tune headphones as well as how it was working with Amanda Bynes!

Here is a picture of me and AJ from Extra TV, he just loves bloggers!

Right: AJ from Extra TV, Left: Tracy from Ascending Butterfly

Staples Gives Back:

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and Staples, Inc have teamed up with teen actor Jake T. Austin for the 6th annual Staples for Students national school supply drive to help kids get the tools they need to be successful in school and achieve great futures!

There are THREE ways YOU can HELP!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Give $1 at checkout - Donate $1 at any Staples register from June 30 - September 28

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Share to Give - Visit Staples for Students on Facebook and they will donate $1 for every share starting July 15th! Isn't that awesome?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Donate Supplies -  Drop off donated supplies at your local Staples August 11-17th (Just make sure it's not the stuff you pilfered from the office, LOL)

My Take:

As a tech enthusiast I know the Savings Pass will definitely pay for itself! It's been awesome having the opportunity to attend Staples Preview Events, they always present something unique, and their events are always fun, but I will admit I didn't expect the celebrity surprise this time, and Nick couldn't have been more down to earth. I can see why he is so excited about his latest collaboration, Monster produces quality audio accessories and better still they really stand behind them (which I can personally attest to, when my Monster Vivienne Tam Butterfly Headphones died way before they should have, Monster took the time to make it right and send me a replacement, which is not just good customer service, it means they really stand behind the product!). Nick took the time out of his day, to present each and every single one of us with our headphones and to take pictures. He was super approachable and I definitely wish this latest venture of Nick's great success!

YOUR Chance to WIN:

Check out the #StaplesHasIt Photobomb Giveaway - Every Tuesday you can enter the #StaplesHasIt Photobomb Giveaway by submitting a caption for a chance to win a tablet and a Savings Pass! You can enter via Facebook or by following @Staples via twitter and tweeting your caption to the photo of the week! (Hint: That Cool Tape Dispenser I Posted the Picture of above? it just might be in this week's giveaway, so get those creative juices flowing and head on over for your chance to win!)

Have you started your Back-to-School Shopping Yet? What is on your shopping list for this year Butterflies?

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FTC Disclosure: We were provided with the opportunity to learn of Staples Back-toSchool Products at a Digital Press Preview Event, we got to meet Nick Cannon and were supplied with the N-Tune headphones  and a gift bag with an assortment of products to facilitate our review, no monetary compensation has been received in exchange for our event recap coverage. All opinions are 100% my own. See our full disclosure policy for any questions.

Best Buy Wants to Help You Capture and Store Your Memorable Moments at a Price That WON'T Break the Bank!

As many of you have already guessed from my recent posts both here and across my Social Media sites, I am on the hunt for a new Digital Camera. Don't get me wrong, my first 'real' Digital Camera is an Olympus that I love, love, love, it's compact, sturdy (over the years it has withstood quite a few steep falls and is still ticking), and it takes way better pictures than any mobile device I've tried.

But much like my blog has evolved throughout the years, so have my photography skills and it's time to make the big (price-wise) and scary leap of upgrading to a DSLR, and I have my choices narrowed down based on recommendations from friends, family, consumer reviews and other bloggers I have queried.

Instagram pictures from events will always have their place to share information when I am at an event or conference and don't have time or access for a full post. But to me nothing, and I mean nothing, beats the optical quality of a picture taken from a camera. Very few smart phone or smart device photos can actually rival those of a good quality camera.

Not to mention, those important memories are ones that you will want to share and even enlarge and frame, and very few smart phone photos are of sufficient optical quality to be able to enlarge them without them becoming blurry, pixelated and for all intensive purposes, useless.

I have been doing my research and I've narrowed down my choices to either the Canon - EOS Rebel T5i pictured below:

or the Nikon - D3200 24.2-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera pictured below:

I hear great things about both cameras, If you have either one, please post a comment and let us know what you think!

As an 'April Baby' Spring is my season, my Spring Memories Season, first my birthday in April, Mother's Day in May, and in June there are June Weddings to attend, Graduation Ceremonies to attend and Father's Day too and let's not even get started on summer vacations! My favorite take home from any vacation is my photos!

With Mother's Day swiftly approaching, many people often wonder what to get Mom, whether it's your mom you are shopping for, or for men that are shopping for their wives & the mother of their children. I will stop and tell you first and foremost what NOT to get mom, do NOT get mom a new household cleaning appliance for Mother's Day. That is not a gift for HER. Get her something that she will cherish and treasure for always.

I for one am incredibly tech oriented, so for me a new DSLR would get my heart racing, but there are ways to get a tech friendly gift for those who are not necessarily tech oriented, a Digital Photo Frame is a great gift for mom (a new DSLR + a Digital Photo Frame would be even better, just saying!), it's a great way to store treasured family memories. (Extra Brownie Points for pre-loading it with her favorite photos and setting it up for her!). And with Best Buy offering Digital Photo Frames less than $50, you can get the moms in your life a meaningful gift that doesn't break the bank!

And butterflies if you think that rocks, what until you find out what else Best Buy has in store for YOU! For a limited time you can get an ADDITIONAL 25% off select digital photo frames with a special Friends & Family Coupon Offer! You can either press the word coupon in the previous sentence, or go directly to www.bestbuy.com and when you purchase a Digital Photo Frame with the SKUs: 2915399, 2915371, 6331239, 3757047, and 3757065, to redeem coupon, enter the code MEMORYMAKER at check out to see an additional 25% savings off the already low price! (Who loves you butterfly?) And if you didn't read our helpful post on Best Buy and Recycling, remember you can trade in your old camera for a Best Buy Gift Card, which you should of course put towards a special Mother's Day Gift for your Mom! 

With a low price guarantee, free shipping on cameras and a limited time additional 25% savings on Digital Photo Frames, Best Buy has got you covered for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, Summer Travel and BEYOND!

So Butterfly, what are you getting for your mom this Mother's Day?

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FTC: Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post, compensation has been received in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or the products/services referenced have been provided at a reduced price or for free. I am a member of Best Buy's Wolf Blogger Blogging Campaign. All opinions are 100% my own.

Review of the HP ENVY 23-d140t TouchSmart All-in-One Desktop PC with Beats Audio!

As a Blogger and Social Media Influencer I feel it is just as important to praise brands when they get it right as it is to use social to reach them when things go terribly wrong. We sometimes forget to praise as quickly as we tend to complain as consumers. Brands need to know it when they are doing a great job too!

Straight out of College I began doing Graphic Design work, and my first post College Computer in the workplace was actually a Mac, but I was so used to PC's that I had a PC at home and used the Mac at work during the day. Don't get me wrong, I'm equally proficient on both platforms to be totally honest with you, I can shift from one to the other with relative ease. Once I changed jobs I ended up in a more conservative environment, which meant going back to PC's and my next workplace computer was an HP.

After a very sad breakup with both DELL and Gateway, and a brief happy romance with a Compaq that outlasted many of the computers purchased to replace it, I made the foray into HP at home. Since I loved the HP I was using at work at the time, I thought I'd try them at home, and I bought an HP printer to go with it. That printer would actually go on to last over 10 years, but the desktop? Not so much. It didn't even survive 30 days. It took quite a bit of effort on my part to get help with this (yes this was pre-facebook and twitter), but eventually I did find help, and they did replace it, but the replacement didn't last even 6 months. I was NOT a happy camper. I was bent for some reason on the HP Pavilion Model, and both myself and my cousin who is a photographer both got lemons whose hard drives konked out before the 30 day mark. He switched brands, but I couldn't, I kept trying.

To make a long story short, between desktops and laptops I've had 3 bad HP desktops and 3 bad HP laptops, that is across the span of 20 years though. In my eyes that's NOT a bad track record. I will say it was mixed how it was handled each time, and it got better after the advent of Social Media as a customer service tool. The last experience with an HP Pavilion before I switched out from that particular model was the worst because they chose to replace it with a refurbished machine that didn't last very long. So after that I switched brands for awhile, but ended up trying HP again when I found the HP TouchSmart IQ846 Desktop PC on Amazon at a great price and that coupled with some Amazon Gift Certificates I had stored up just made it too good to pass up on.

I loved that PC and it actually lasted the longest any HP computer has ever held up for me, 4 years, and it was still working, just super slow and I knew it wouldn't last long, and let's face technology gets outdated, it just made sense to start over. And that's where a blog campaign comes in, but it wasn't one I was personally participating in. HP launched a bloggers campaign for Holidays 2012 called #HPFamilyTime bloggers, and a series of reviews and giveaways hit the blogs, I went and read as many of the reviews as I could and on some sites I entered the corresponding giveaways, much to my surprise I won one! I entered the giveaway on She Scribes blog, so a HUGE thanks to her for hosting and to HP for sponsoring the giveaway.

I put it out into the Universe and made the effort to go with my intention, and got the result I was after! I was excited after reading the specs:

About the HP ENVY 23-d140t TouchSmart All-in-One Desktop PC with Beats Audio:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3220 dual-core processor [3.3GHz, 3MB Shared Cache ] Windows 8 or other operating system

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Go beyond the keyboard and mouse to get more from Windows 8. Swipe and tap using all 10 fingers on the Full-HD display. It gives “hands on” a whole new meaning.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Save space in style with all-in-one PC featuring a sleek, edge-to-edge glass design. Set up with as little as one wire, and free up even more limited space by mounting the HP ENVY 23 TouchSmart on a wall.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - optional solid-state drive, it delivers outstanding reliability day after day.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sync photos across your PC, smartphone, and tablet. Crop, rotate, add captions, and more. Then share in seconds with friends and family through your social networks. HP Connected Photo. Picture the fun.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sometimes only a face-to-face conversation will do. With the HP TrueVision HD Webcam, you always come off looking your best. Even in low light.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - With Beats Audio™ and an optional subwoofer, the HP ENVY 23 TouchSmart is designed for the best-sounding, richest audio experience available on a PC. So it sounds as amazing as it looks.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Get the most out of the tunes you love today and discover more music in a whole new way with HP Connected Music.

MY Take:

While I liked my HP TouchSmart IQ846 Desktop PC, my new HP ENVY 23-d140t TouchSmart AIO has got it beat hands down! The things that were 'cons' for me about HP computers in the past, slow startup, overly bloated, shotty hard drives, have definitely all been addressed this time around. With Windows 8 the TouchSmart finally has the right dance partner! Windows 8 truly helps bring out what makes the TouchSmart so great, it's what you love about your favorite tablet, just bigger! It's smart, starts up at lightening speed, gives you literally everything you could want at your fingertips and the 1 Terabyte of built in storage means you can go nuts with music and photos (my two particular passions!).

I have had the opportunity to put this machine through it's paces, I will admit I hit my machines hard, I have A LOT of applications and programs open at the same time, client databases, spreadsheets, presentations, a TON of internet windows, and so far it's only given me 3 warnings about my browser using up to much memory. And for me that's good, my older HP Touch would just konk out or freeze up when I'd hit it that hard.

This one came with Norton built in, and in the past I've found Norton to be a resource hog, but so far I will say I'm also impressed, Norton has been doing a great job protecting my new PC, it hasn't been obtrusive in any way or slowed down my PC.

Thankfully I had attended the Windows 8 demos at last year's BlogHer conference, so I had some advantage now being thrown directly into a Windows 8 Operating System User Interface. There were some things I needed to learn to do differently but thankfully you can operate in 'view it in destop mode' which will look like the interface that you are more used to.

THE AUDIO!!!! Sorry I don't normally shout, but as 'The Official #TwitterPartyDJ' I have to tell you that the Beats Audio in this computer blows most onboard Desktop Audio to shreds. It's simply fantastic! I'm now using this new PC to test out Audio Accessories like Headphones and then compare the sound of the headphones on my PC to my portable music devices, and I can tell you this PC does not need separate speaker add ons, it would truly be an insult to it!

The good thing about being with the same brand for almost 20 years is I can almost feel how long it will last me, I know it's good, bad and ugly, but so far my HP ENVY 23-d140t TouchSmart All in One Desktop PC with Beats Audio is so much more than I ever expected it could be! I also tested the HP Deskjet 3052A printer, which I'm satisfied with, but I think my Kodak Hero 7.1 is a bit more robust.

If you haven't figured it out to this point, this PC is a definite 'Get it!'. I couldn't recommend this model more highly, I actually really, really, really want to try the HP Envy 2 laptop or the HP Spectre Ultrabook so I could keep the fun going during my travels!

Do you have the HP Envy Butterfly? What do you think of it? What is your favorite desktop computer?

Get Social:

Why not let HP know on Twitter or on Facebook that you saw the HP Envy 23 Touchsmart Desktop All in One PC featured on Ascending Butterfly? Who knows? Maybe they'll want to surprise Ascending Butterfly readers too!

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FTC Disclosure: I was under NO obligation to write this review, no monetary compensation has been received, this is NOT a sponsored post. In fact I won the computer, so I did not have to review it, I chose to do so because I feel it's a very high quality computer and wanted to share about it with my readers!

Are You Recycling Your Electronics? We can all get a bit 'leaner' and 'greener'!

I am a Spring Baby and with the end of Daylight Savings Time coming soon, and signs of Spring popping up everywhere, my mind is on Spring Cleaning, the closet purging that will make room for some fun summer fashions, and a purge of a very different kind as well. An 'electronics purge'.

I don't know about you but there are old phones, TV's and other outdated tech that I have been meaning to get rid of, but it has piled up. With some of it, (many of you I am sure can relate to this), I kept as a 'backup'. (Especially with some of the phones). But I've never touched those backups and in some cases have gone on to newer technology well past their immediate replacements.

As a renter, space is at a premium and there isn't really the luxury of allowing outdated items to pile up. I've been actively trying to switch over to all Energy Star Certified Products and get a bit 'greener', which in turn helps you get 'leaner' as Energy Star Certified Products all save you money in the long run!

With my schedule, I need Recycling to be simple and easy and with my budget, I definitely need it to NOT be a burden. So how do you do something good for the environment AND you? I'm so glad you asked!

Best Buy Electronic​s Recycling Program:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Available for free in every Best Buy location in Puerto Rico and the U.S.! Learn more about the program by clicking HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - No matter where you bought or how old it is, Best Buy will recycle it!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Best Buy recycles 387 pounds of electronics each minute their stores are open!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -   Did you know that Best Buy carries a whole line of Energy Star certified products as well?  Recycle your old electronics and upgrade to more energy efficient ones. To learn more about Best Buy's Energy Star certified products, click HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Best Buy will recycle any eligible item at no charge.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Recycling Kiosks - Every US and Puerto Rico Best Buy store has free kiosks, just inside the door, for you to drop off ink and toner cartridges, rechargeable batteries, wires, cords and cables.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Appliance and TV Haul-Away — Best Buy will remove an appliance or TV free of charge from a customer's home when a new product is purchased and delivered by Best Buy Home Delivery.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Not ordering something from Best Buy right now, but would still like home pick up? Appliance and TV Pickup - For $100, Best Buy will arrange a home visit to remove up to two appliances or TVs for recycling. For more than two units, add $20 per additional unit.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Want a Gift Card? - Trade-In @ Best Buy - You can visit wwww.bestbuy.com/tradein to trade-in select gently used electronics for a Best Buy gift card.

My Take:

You can Recycle free of charge or even trade in and get a gift card so you can upgrade your technology, what's NOT to love? Turn your old technology into that new iPad or Tablet you've been wanting! Turn some outdated stuff into a brand new GPS for this summer's road trips, the possibilities are endless, and with the old stuff NOT polluting our landfills and getting re-purposed, you are doing something for the environment, something for you and getting something great in return! GO FOR IT!

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Best Buy on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @BestBuy on Twitter

Have you tried Best Buy Electronics Recycling Yet? If so, what product(s) did you recycle? Did you Trade In or use the in store kiosk? Don't forget to let Best Buy know you saw the Electronics Recycling Program featured on Ascending Butterfly!

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FTC Disclosure: I am a Best Buy WOLF program Blogger, you can also visit the WOLF program on Facebook and Twitter. I will receive a Best Buy Gift Card for sharing about the Recycling Program, however all opinions are 100% my own. This program offers additional incentives for participation. But you can best believe I reduce, re-use and recycle! Go Green!

A quick way to make a difference for multi-cultural children with #Autism

The one thing many people are very surprised to find out about me is that I was a Special Education Teacher. I taught a class with students that had a very wide variety of Special Needs. Childhood Education issues and the needs of Special Ed students is something I still keep track on the pulse of despite the fact that I no longer teach.

It was an amazing learning experience for me. I learned to sign because I had students that were deaf, I taught a class that was multi-cultural and my lesson plans were conducted in both English as well as Spanish. I could reach most of my students, but sadly not all. I had one Autistic student. A student who was a challenge to reach. And the fact the student's parents both told me their child really loved my class, made me want to try harder to reach him.

I didn't have the tech resources available to me then as I do now.

I recently participated in a contest, a very important one, AT&T put out a call for entries for an 'Autism Speaks App Idea Contest' and on a whim I entered. Well I forgot all about that whim until I got an email telling me my entry made the final round, and is up for voting. It brought tears to my eyes, while I was happy I am in the running for winning, I thought about that one student I could never fully reach.

The winning App will be featured at an upcoming AT&T Hackathon, the voting ends SOON on February 17th, so if you could take one second to vote for my App idea I would greatly appreciate it. Resources to reach Autistic children are crucial, and there isn't a ton out there for bi-lingual children either, this App would be a great resource and a great learning tool for children with Autism, their families and their teachers!

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Press here, you will go to another window

2) You will land on the Autism Speaks Facebook Page, like them if you are not doing so already

3) Press blue tab that reads 'view entries'

4) copy and paste this into search box: Bi-lingual Autism Feelings App then when the entry loads on the page

5) on the right press the blue button that reads VOTE!

THANK YOU!, THANK YOU!, THANK YOU!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received in exchange for sharing about this contest. I do not get any extra credit for sharing about it either, but if I win, I will win a non-cash prize.

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!
 

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

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.

Find out what The Official #TwitterPartyDJ is recommending this Christmas for the #Music Lover in your life! Seriously, @Bassbuds are like a concert in your ears!

Last year I had the chance to review a pair of earphones that were the closest to 'accessory nirvana' as I even imagined possible, I reviewed the Monster® Butterfly™ by Vivienne Tam with ControlTalk™ High Performance In-Ear Headphones and while I loved them, they died on me in one ear during a very long commute. Not Cool. I will tell you that Monster did make it right and replace them, but I was a bit surprised to have those die before their 1 year anniversary of commuting with me during my daily commute. I've had some cheapos last me way longer.

Because of my status as 'The Official #TwitterPartyDJ' I get a wide variety of pitches, directly from musicians (alas I wish I had the influence with the studios to help them more), labels, or music accessories. I'm often a bit leery when it comes to music accessories reviews, I am very picky/selective, I have a great ear, and I will be honest when it comes to my assessments, not all tech or tech gear are alike.

I'm also not ashamed to say the fashionista in me still wants a little form with all that function, but when it comes to music, at the end of the day, sound is and always will be King. Most of my DJ pals will only work with Over-the-Ear Headphones, and while I get that, my strong preference is in-ear earphones. No matter how well padded, I have yet to meet the headphone that doesn't press down on my ears and make them red. With earphones I'm able to adjust the size better and wear them longer.

I've been enjoying happy listening with a new pair of earphones that literally feel like it's a concert in my ear, and I mean that in a GOOD way. A very good way!

Bassbuds Classics in ear Earphones

 About Bassbuds:

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Ultra distortion-free bass and crisp treble

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Noise Isolation: Immerse in the music

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - 9mm Dynamic Speakers with Neodynium Magnet

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Earphone Housing is made with high grade aluminium

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Swarovski Crystals are embedded in the back of the aluminium sound chamber

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Sound waves emitted in the sound chamber are specifically tuned and directed towards the front chamber housing entering the ear canal with optimal bass and balance in treble

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Speaker diaphragm is composed of PET materials and the diaphragm patterns are uniquely designed to maximize the performance of the micro speaker with minimal distortion

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Micro Filter for extra audio purity

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Wide Frequency Response

Close Up Image of Bassbuds in ear Earphones with Advanced Crystaltronics Sound Technology

My Take:

When they say 'Noise Immersion' they really mean it! When I evaluate new earphones I take time to listen to music across as many genres/styles of music as possible, from Classical, to Jazz, to Rap, to Metal, Latin Music and more, and these literally bring out the sound in ways other earphones hadn't for me. I will warn you to put DOWN the volume on your device before putting these in your ears. And for me that is one of the perks to quality earphones, I can listen to my music on much lower settings, meaning I don't have to charge my portable devices as often when using these! I love the packaging, super sleek and sexy, and when you open it not only are the additional size tips for the earphones included on top, there are also extras right below them inside a carrying pouch you can use to store them while on the go. All packaged with a Certificate of Authenticity. And with their genuine SWAROVSKI Elements, they put the fashion and form into what is already an amazingly functional pair of earphones with amazing sound! They are hands down a perfect holiday gift for any audiophile/music lover in your life. Although I am sure you are going to be pretty hard pressed when it comes time to wrap them because you are NOT going to want to give these away! I will tell you they have a super light weight feel to them, but don't let the good looks fool you, there is serious sound under that 'pretty face'.

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Bassbuds on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @BassBuds on Twitter

Discount:

I wasn't able to nab a pair at this time for a giveaway, but I did score you an amazing discount! Use this code to get $30.00 off! - BB59809

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: No Monetary Compensation has been received in exchange for this post, however a pair of Bassbuds were sent to us for editorial consideration and to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed herein are 100% my own. I am participating in this campaign via Fuelmyblog.com.