On May 1st, Scholastic launched its Mother Daughter Book Club to help families like ours explore great new books together. The book club – which will feature monthly selections aimed at readers 8-12 years old – launched with 4 titles: Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood, Pie by Sarah Weeks, The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone, and Tomorrow Girls: Behind the Gates by Eva Gray, and there will be 2 new featured titles each month.

The Scholastic Mother Daughter Book Club website is a great resource for beginning a reading adventure with your own daughter, or even a group of other mothers and daughters. A brief synopsis on each book is provided, along with it’s relative genre. There are also links to author bios, discussion guides, links for “where to buy,” and suggested recipes for including in your book club evening or event. Finally, readers can enter a monthly sweepstakes to win a book club Skype chat with one of the featured authors.

GIVEAWAY: To celebrate the launch of the Scholastic Mother Daughter Book Club, Scholastic is giving away one (1) fantastic prize pack valued at $140, which includes:

• all four books from the May 1st launch
• -plus- the 2 books chosen as the picks for June – Whatever After by Sarah Mlynowski and The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
• -plus- a $50 VISA Gift Card to host your own Mother Daughter Book Club!

Scholastic Mother Daughter Book Club Giveaway: 6 Books and a $50 VISA Gift Card is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Thank you COOL WHIP for sponsoring this post. Join us on Facebook for inspiration and recipes for everyday treats. What you add makes it. #coolwhipmoms

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My 4yo often starts the day by asking for some kind of sweet treat. You’ve got to love his optimism that there’s a chance I’ll say yes, but each morning he settles for his cereal and juice, buoyed by the promise of a treat at the end of the day .

And indeed, nearly every day, when all the snacks and meals are said and done, my kids and I regularly like to enjoy some type of treat together. Sometimes even more than the bustle of dinnertime, sitting down for a everyday treat brings out conversation between my family and we enjoy a relaxing moment and time together.

My husband has a special talent for making everyday treats – cookies, tarts, cakes, even pies. But since he works out of town during the week, we’re left to my very basic talents in the kitchen. Good thing everyday treats can still be simple treats, and are made even better with a taste of COOL WHIP whipped topping. Especially important to me are recipe ideas that are quick and involve ingredients I might already have on hand or can easily use again for other recipes.

Recently we tried a frozen twist on a strawberry “shortcake,” made with graham crackers, strawberry frozen yogurt, and COOL WHIP whipped topping.

Start by lining the bottom of a bowl with crushed graham crackers – this is the “crust” or “cake” part of the treat. You can make it as chunky or fine as you want.

Next, top with strawberry frozen yogurt and a dollop of COOL WHIP whipped topping. I crushed more graham crackers into a fine powder and flaked it over the COOL WHIP whipped topping.

With the temperature already climbing in the Houston area, this frozen treat was tasty and refreshing.

The COOL WHIP website has dozens of other recipe ideas, including popular favorites, classics, “especially for kids,” and more. Just surfing the site, I found several easy recipes I’d love to try, including one for Sweet Little Fruit Bites. I could definitely see my kids asking for these as an everyday treat!

I also got some new recipe ideas from the COOL WHIP Moms on Facebook – four bloggers sharing their secrets for easy, delicious everyday treats with COOL WHIP whipped topping. My favorite at first glance? The Chocolate Lasagna, submitted by Jenny from Picky Palate. Check out all the Moms and their ideas on Facebook!

*Disclosure: Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.

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A Quick “Everyday Treat” with COOL WHIP Whipped Topping is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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This means we’ve swapped out many of our regular snacking options for Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop!, and even though my family members each have different “snacking personalities,” we’ve all found something to love about the Challenge.

1. I think there is something psychologically pleasing about a snack with a “crunch,” but instead of chips, we can all munch on SmartPop! and get the same satisfaction with a snack that is 94% fat free.
2. My kids are fuller quicker and longer with Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop! versus some other sweeter snacks they might choose after school. The protein and dietary fiber of SmartPop! seems to stick in their belly, helping them to make the stretch to dinnertime much easier.
3. I’m a confessed late-night snacker, and with only 120 calories per serving, I have much less guilt snacking on SmartPop! at night. And again, the individual crunch-crunch-crunch and large portions help me feel like I’m getting a lot for a little.

GIVEAWAY: Five (5) readers will each win their own box of Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop! to start a “Healthy Snacking Challenge” of their own! To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: what regular snack would you replace with Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop!?

US entries only, please. All entries due by 11:59pm Central time, Monday, May 28.

For extra entries, please:

• share this giveaway (JUST ONCE!) with your followers on Twitter by using the share button below and leaving “@StaceyNerdin” in the text
• get updates on future posts and giveaways by subscribing to Tree, Root, and Twig via RSS or email

Please leave an extra comment for any additional entry methods used.

Good luck!

Read the complete Official Giveaway Rules for Tree, Root, and Twig.

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in an ambassador campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Orville Redenbacher’s. I received Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop! products as well as a promotional item as a thanks for my participation.

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Win Orville Rendenbacher’s SmartPop! and Begin Your Own “Healthy Snacking Challenge” is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Tomorrow I’m looking forward to joining the National Pork Board at a Twitter party called #ChopInspiration to discuss great ways to cook pork (including on the grill – Hello Summertime!).

PARTY DETAILS:

Who: Main hosts are @AllAboutPork and @TheMotherhood

When: Thursday, May 17 at 7-8 p.m. ET

What: We’ll talk about pork chops, get recipe inspiration, test your “pork chop personality,” and win prizes!

Where: on Twitter, under the #ChopInspiration hashtag

Prizes: Win one of five prize packs, each including $20 in pork coupons, a new Weber charcoal grill and other items to help unleash the power of the pork chop. Prizes will be offered based on responses to trivia questions.

RSVP: HERE

I’ll be there (@StaceyNerdin), along with these other fantastic bloggers:

Crystal, Simply Being Mommy
Divina, for Mom Confessionals
Ellen, Confessions of an Overworked Mom
Heather, The Fabulous Finds
Jackie, Free is My Life
Jennifer, Mom Spotted
Louise, Mom Start
Nichol, KiddiesCorner Deals
Stacey, Tree, Root and Twig
Victoria, Veep Veep

Do you have a great recipe for cooking pork? How about a marinade that rocks? Join us at the #ChopInspiration party and let us know!

*Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated opportunity to co-host this Twitter party with The Motherhood. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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Could You Use a Little #ChopInspiration? {Twitter Party & Prizes} is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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This stubbornness of mine has been particularly challenging since my husband started working out of town last year. He likes to call and check in at least once a day (sometimes more), but I often keep the conversations short because I’m distracted by the task I’ve just left on hold. (ps: I feel bad about that.)

We’ve been testing out the VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Home Phone System for the last two weeks, and it easily solves a few of my biggest problems when it comes to finding time to chat.

Of the many features listed on the VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Phone System product page, here are my favorites:

• Voice Announce Caller ID: the phone will actually tell you who’s calling, so you don’t have to run to the phone to check the caller ID. Of course, it can be amusing to hear how the phone pronounces some names/businesses (some words can get quite skewed), but for the most part I can understand what “she” is saying, and I love being able to stay where I’m at until I know for sure if I should get up and answer the call.
• Built-in Digital Answering System: there are no tapes or moving parts, no having to pick up the receiver and dial in to your service provider to get your voice mail. Easily retrieve messages from the machine or the handset, or listen as they are being left – this also helps me keep an ear out if I decide to not pick up a call, but the message is urgent and changes my mind.
• System is expandable up to 12 Cordless Handsets: Believe it or not, our 3600 sq foot house has only ONE phone jack installed upstairs, and it’s in my 4yo’s bedroom. Not ideal. The cordless handset does not (just as the name indicates) need a phone jack – instead, you just plug it in and it works off the signals from the main telephone base. This has been great for when I’m working on something upstairs – the cordless unit still has the Voice Announce Caller ID, so I can screen my calls, and the reception is great so I don’t have to run back downstairs to pick up a call.
• Last, but NOT LEAST, the Cordless Headset: Sure, it may make me feel a little like a Time Life operator answering a call, but using the cordless headset while talking to my husband has meant that I can keep the conversation going while still attending to the things I need to get done at home. Just yesterday he called right as we were walking in the door with groceries. I was able to put everything away and talk to him at the same time – it might seem like a small thing, but it made a big difference in being able to connect with him more while he’s away. (note: I have not had great success with using just the “ear hooks” with the headset – it’s not a very secure fit for me and interferes with wearing my glasses. I have, however, liked using the provided headband with the headset – it has the perfect tension to keep the earpiece securely in place.)

Aside from all these super-practical features, I like that so many options can be customized, and the phone just looks so sleek on my kitchen counter. I should also say that my husband reports the sound quality is great from his end of the line, even when I use the headset (that was important to me – I didn’t want to sound too “tinny” while we talked), and my kids love jumping on the two handsets while I’m using the headset – it’s like a big conference call with Dad!

The VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Home Phone System has definitely changed how I respond to phone calls now; instead of simply ignoring the ring, I listen to the caller ID being announced or the message being left, and hurry to get my headset ready if I decide it’s time for a good chat.

To learn more about the VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Home Phone System - including how this might just be the perfect gift for the busy mom in your life – visit:

• the VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Home Phone System product page
• VTech on Facebook
• VTech on Twitter

*Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of VTech and received a product sample to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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Mother’s Day Gift Idea: The VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Home Phone System is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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