I have to admit, I hardly paid any attention to the rinse agent dispenser of my dishwasher before working with FINISH.

You know where your dishwasher’s rinse agent dispenser is, right? If not (and I’d be happy to know there are more people like me!), here’s a look at ours:

The rinse agent dispenser is where FINISH JET-DRY rinse agents are poured. During the dishwasher’s rinse cycle, JET-DRY is automatically released and distributed across dishes.

We use FINISH JET-DRY because it definitely helps rinse away leftover food and detergent residue, helping avoid those spots on glasses and silverware that drive me so insane. Better yet, the FINISH JET-DRY Turbo Dry not only helps rinse dishes and reduce spotting, it also helps to speed up the drying process so dishes don’t come out of the dishwasher wet.

GIVEAWAY: FINISH knows that celebrating the holidays with family and friends can result in a lot of dirty dishes, so they’re sending one of my readers a FINISH JET-DRY product for free! To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: who does the dishes at your house? US entries only, please. All entries due 11:59pm Central time, Thursday January 5.

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 a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Finish and received a Finish Jet-Dry product sample to facilitate my review, a sample to giveaway, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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CLOSED: FINISH JET-DRY for the Dishwasher {Review & Giveaway} 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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Knowing that some of our friends might be rushing from one activity to the next (it being the busy holiday season and all), I wanted to put out appetizers in addition to the sweets, just in case friends needed something a bit more substantial to eat.

I decided to adapt the Pizza Cup Snack recipe from Ragú.

Ingredients (for a yield of 48 Pizza Cup Snacks at a time):

• 2 cans (10 oz each) refrigerated biscuits
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 jar (14 oz) Ragú Pizza Sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

I was able to put both mini muffin tins I used into the oven at the same time, speeding up the process and getting more appetizers out at once.

We had over 70 friends come through during our open house, and the Ragú Pizza Cup Snacks went quickly! One thing I heard over and over was how nice it was to have a savory snack to balance out all the sweets. More than one person asked me for the recipe before the party was even over!

My kids thought the Ragú Pizza Cup Snacks were even better than the frozen pizza bites we buy often, so I’m thinking from now on I’ll be making these instead.

GIVEAWAY: You might not be planning a party for 70, but Ragú would like to give one of my readers a $300 AMEX Gift Card to help fund a delicious gathering with friends. To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: what are some of your favorite finger foods to put out at parties? US entries only, please. All entries due 11:59pm Central time, Monday, January 9.

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: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program. All opinions expressed are honest and my own. Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.

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Ragú Pizza Cup Snacks Are a Savory Hit (Giveaway: CLOSED) 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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A quick synopsis of the movie:

The vacationing Chipmunks and Chipettes are turning a luxury cruise liner into their personal playground, until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island.  As the ‘Munks and Chipettes scheme to find their way home, they accidentally discover their new turf is not as deserted as it seems. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is in theaters nationwide December 16.

As part of our experience, we got to attend a pre-screening of the movie with a local audience. Sitting at the front of a theater filled with laughing children made for quite the night! Their energy was definitely infectious.

If you’ve seen any of the Chipmunks movies, you’ve already had a taste of what you’re in for with this new one: high-pitched mischief, singing, dancing, goofy humor, and Jason Lee’s now-iconic “Alviiiiin!” yell.

What’s new in ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED is a much grander scope and story. After wreaking a bit of havoc on a fun-filled cruise, the Chipmunks find themselves washed up on a jungle island. What follows are moments of self-discovery, adventure, and mystery. And, of course, typical Chipmunks high-jinks and tomfoolery.

Here’s a quick 30 second trailer that gives you a peek at what I mean:

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED has a lot of heart and really grew on me as the film progressed. Highlights for me were the salsa dance-off between the Chipettes and three women on the cruise (keep on eye out for SYTYCD’s Lauren and dance moves choreographed by Nappytabs!), Simon’s high-flying alter ego Simone, and the final number, complete with an impressive mash-up of three songs (a la Glee).

I would definitely recommend taking your kids to see ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED over the winter break. It opens December 16, is rated G, and is appropriate for all ages.

Disclosure: I was flown to Los Angeles and accomodated at Four Seasons Los Angeles as a guest of 20th Century Fox. I attended a pre-screening of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and the corresponding press junket. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

*original post included giveaway for $25 Fandango Gift Card & movie-theme sweatshirt

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Movie Review: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked 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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New for this Christmas, readers can return to the world of The 39 Clues with an exciting eBook series, The 39 Clues: Rapid Fire.

About the series:

Seven days, seven stories—one explosive secret.

Celebrate the holiday season with The 39 Clues. Beginning on December 25, a different top secret eBook short story will be released daily, leading up to an explosive finale on December 31. Codes hidden in each of the seven stories combine to unlock an exclusive card and medal on http://www.the39clues.com.

“The 39 Clues: Rapid Fire” stand-alone adventure stories will be available for sale at online retailers for $0.99 each.

I know my kids will be eager to follow this new eBook series, not only because they love The 39 Clues, but also because they are always looking for something to keep them busy them during the long winter break. The December 25 launch of The 39 Clues: Rapid Fire comes at the perfect time!

*Disclosure: I received my own 39 Clues: Paperback Boxed Set 1-10. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

*Original post included giveaway of books 1-10

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Introducing The 39 Clues: Rapid Fire eBook Series 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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Now, if you’ve read my review of the movie, you know I originally wasn’t the film’s biggest fan. I was surprised to find, though, that the movie didn’t feel nearly as intense on the small screen, and my 4yo son (who hadn’t seen it in the theater) was totally engaged with the movie’s humor and super secret agent plot. I’m still not the film’s biggest fan, but it’s definitely grown on me.

What’s also grown on me is my son’s new desire to be “SECRET AGENT ELI!” (all in caps and with an exclamation point, just the way he says it) In his version of secret agent world, he’s following clues and solving mysteries. He’s been tickled to discover that he can also “play” spy with the characters from Cars 2 on Juicy Juice’s Spy School website, where there are games to play, badges to earn, and even a Spy Name Generator. (My super secret spy name? Sonia Begonia. Nice!)

To celebrate the release of Cars 2 on DVD and Blu-ray and the Spy School website, Juicy Juice is giving one (1) of my readers a Cars 2/Juicy Juice prize pack, including:

• Cars 2 Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack
• special edition Cars 2 JUICY JUICE eight-box juice boxes
• $25 VISA Gift Card to purchase snacks for your family movie night

To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: who is your favorite character from Cars or Cars 2? US entries only, please. All entries due by 11:59pm Central time, Monday December 12.

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 was sent a prize pack for our family. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

CLOSED: Giveaway: Cars 2 Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack & a $25 VISA Gift Card from Juicy Juice 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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