The Better Sleep Council is “a non-profit organization supported by the mattress industry. The BSC is devoted to educating the public about the importance of sleep to good health and quality of life and about the value of the mattress and sleep environment in pursuit of a good night’s sleep.“

For the next two months I’ll be joining the Better Sleep Council in their Stop Sleeping Around campaign. A cheeky play on words, this campaign is meant to encourage people to stop nodding off outside of the bedroom and instead create a positive, restful routine and environment for sleeping in bed.

I absolutely understand what it’s like to fall asleep on the couch during the day while my son plays nearby. My nights tend to be restless because of our past-its-prime mattress (it must be 10+ years old!) and the stress that comes from having my husband working out of town every week. Even though I think I might be “catching up” with the couch-time catnaps, I know my overall health would improve greatly if I not only slept more hours, but slept more soundly during the night.

To create a better sleeping environment for my own situation, we are currently shopping around for a quality mattress and I’ve started a routine at night of unplugging from everything – tv, computer, iPhone – before bed so I can help my mind get quiet and ready for sleep.

The folks at Stop Sleeping Around have created some short, funny video clips of ways and places people like me nod off during the day. I particularly like this one, because I can *totally* see my daughters doing this (and my husband has been known to fall asleep in a chair!).

A number of other entertaining videos can be found on the Stop Sleeping Around YouTube Channel, including “Shh! Don’t Sleep Around in the Library,” “Sleeping Around at Dinner Gets Messy,” and more. You can also visit the Stop Sleeping Around Facebook Page for tips and resources on taking back your nights and waking up rested.

GIVEAWAY: One (1) winner will receive a Sleep Sanctuary Kit and a $100 VISA gift card in order to help them gain a restful night’s sleep and to “Stop Sleeping Around.” The Sleep Sanctuary Kit includes:

• (1) Sleep Sounds CD - to help your mind relax as you fall asleep to soothing sounds
• (2) Mineral Bath Salts - which have been shown to induce calmness and promote relaxation
• (1) Lavender Oil Reed Diffuser - a little aromatherapy to help relax and calm the mind.
• (1) Sleep Mask - to block out distracting light
• (1) Package of Ear Plugs  - to block out any distracting noises
• (1) Better Sleep Guide - to provide additional tips on creating your personal sleep sanctuary and getting a full night’s rest

To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: have you ever fallen asleep someplace during the day (outside of your room)? Where were you? 

US entries only, please. All entries due by 11:59pm Central time, Friday, May 18.

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 post as part of a paid campaign for Stop Sleeping Around and the Better Sleep Council. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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CLOSED: Win a Sleep Sanctuary Kit & $100 VISA Gift Card from the “Stop Sleeping Around” Campaign 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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Sure enough, as my daughter has grown and gotten involved in marching band (a sport in and of itself in Texas!), her ankle has given her a lot of trouble. She often tries wearing a brace to support the weak ankle, but many have been too bulky to either wear under her marching uniform or use comfortably during practice.

SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap is a self adhesive, water resistant, reusable, latex free wrap that helps in situations like my daughter’s. It does not need clips or pins to secure it in place, and best yet, it’s the first colored sports wrap designed specifically for children and teens and is available in red and blue. [Which reminds me: when my daughter needed her cast re-set, she begged the nurse to use red and blue wrap - the colors for Spiderman! Wonderfully enough, the nurse did it for her.]

Though my daughter’s original injury happened at home, each year, more than 3.5 million children under age 14 receive medical treatment for sports-related injuries,¹with strains and sprains among the most common complaints.² SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap can help with recovery to get those kids back on the field quicker.

With the bright colors (versus the boring ol’ beige of other wraps), you might also find your kids using SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap to get a little silly!

My three girls being silly with SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap!

You can learn more about Kids Sports Wrap on the SAFESKIN® Facebook Page, and right now you can print your own .50-cents off coupon at home!

SUPER-QUICK GIVEAWAY: One (1) reader will win a $100 Walmart gift card to stock up on your own SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap (+ a little extra, I’m sure!). To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: have you or your child ever suffered a sports-related injury? What happened? 

US entries only, please. All entries due by 11:59pm Central time, Tuesday, May 8.

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.

1 Youth Sports New York, SUNY Youth Sports Institute, http://www.youthsportsny.org/2011/04/printer-sports-injury-statistics-safet.html (Updated April 21, 2011) [Accessed Feb. 9, 2012]
2 National Center for Sports Safety, Sports Injury Facts, http://www.sportssafety.org/sports-injury-facts/(Updated Not Available) [Assessed Feb. 6, 2012]
*SAFESKIN Kids Sport Wrap is not intended for direct contact with broken skin.
SAFESKIN Kids Sport Wrap is a trademark of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. or its affiliates.

*Disclosure: I received compensation from Kimberly-Clark Professional in the form of a gift card to participate in this campaign promoting the Sport Some Color SAFESKIN Kids Sport Wrap Challenge.The winner of this giveaway will be randomly chosen.  In addition, Kimberly-Clark Professional provided the gift card I am using as the prize in my promotion. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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CLOSED: Win a $100 Walmart Gift Card from SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap 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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• About Because Your Mommy Loves You:

When a little boy and his mom go camping, mini-disasters abound, and there are lots of opportunities for Mom to step in and fix everything. But instead, with a loving touch, this mommy shows her child ways to do things for himself, going far to encourage her child’s independence. And there is still plenty of opportunity for snuggling under the stars. This warm and humorous testament to all the loving things a supportive mom does each day is every bit as heartwarming as its predecessor (‘Because Your Daddy Loves You’) and is sure to become a favorite for families everywhere.

• About author Andrew Clements:

Andrew Clements is the author of many best-selling books, among them the middle grade novel Frindle. He lives in Westborough, Massachusetts, and can be found at www.andrewclements.com.

•  About illustrator R. W. Alley:

R. W. Alley is the illustrator of many beloved picture books, including the Paddington Bear series. He lives in Barrington, Rhode Island. Visit him atwww.rwalley.com.

This book resonates so powerfully with me because I am constantly negotiating that fine balance between wanting to help my children, but also wanting them to help themselves. This is true not only for my 4yo, but for each of my children, especially my 18yo daughter as she prepares for graduation and college. I think the reason I cry at nearly every reading of this book is because its honesty hits so close to home, and also validates all the hard work I do as a mom.

Because Your Mommy Loves You is a book I believe every family should own. It’s a sweet example of how a mother’s love doesn’t always mean stepping in and doing things for our children, but being there to teach them and give them the confidence to do for themselves.

GIVEAWAY: One (1) reader will win a copy of Because Your Mommy Loves You + a customized photo frame engraved with “Because [insert child’s name] loves you!” (Prize Pack valued at $42)

To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: have you ever cried when reading a book (children’s or otherwise)? Which one was it? US entries only, please. All entries due by 11:59pm Central time, Monday May 14.

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 received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Prizing and sample courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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CLOSED: Children’s Book Review and Giveaway: Because Your Mommy Loves You 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 month I’ve decided to try “a twist on a classic” with Hellmann’s Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu.

HELLMANN’S EASY CHICKEN CORDON BLEU

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
• 3/4 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, parsley or rosemary leaves, crushed
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• 3-1/2 lbs. chicken parts, skin removed
• 1/2 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Mayonnaise Dressing with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil, then spray with no-stick cooking spray; set aside.
2. Brush chicken with Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise, then coat in bread crumbs. Arrange chicken on prepared baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Evenly top chicken with 4 slices ham, then cheese. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

To see how this recipe came together, take a look at this fun video we made for you!:

GIVEAWAY: One (1) reader will win a fun “Twist on a Classic” prize pack from Hellmann’s in order to help you be more creative in the kitchen. Included in the prize pack:

• Herb Savor Pod Set of 3
• Substituting Ingredients Cookbook
• Chicken Rubs & Seasoning Set
• Microplane Grater & Zester

To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: what is your favorite classic chicken dish to prepare for friends and family? US entries only, please. All entries due by 11:59pm Central time, Friday May 11.

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.

Make sure to keep an eye on the Hellmann’s Facebook page for other “twist on a classic” recipes and more from the Chicken Change-Up challenge, including the $5000 grocery card sweepstakes and daily prizes.

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.  Hellmann’s product and additional incentives were provided to me.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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CLOSED: A Twist on a Classic: Recipe and Giveaway from the Hellmann’s Chicken Change-Up 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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About HOP:

From the makers of Despicable Me comes an all-new comedy about candy, chicks and rock n roll! He was destined to be the Easter Bunny, but all he wanted to do was rock! When teenage E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand) leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream to become a rockstar drummer, he meets Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own lofty goals. Together the two encounter a series of hilarious mishaps and misadventures and in the end help each other recognize the importance of family. Now available on Blu-ray & DVD!

The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes an All-New Mini Movie and additional content to extend the fun even more. Plus it has 3 ways to watch so your family can enjoy HOP anytime, anywhere (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)!

We followed the directions to access our Digital Copy of HOP, and I love the convenience of my son being able to watch on any of our computers if the TV is occupied, and he’s even watched bits of it on my iPhone when we’re out and about.

To learn more about HOP, please visit:

• HOP on Facebook
• the official HOP website

or…watch this trailer for the movie:

GIVEAWAY: Two (2) readers will win the HOP Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) and a variety of HOP Easter basket stuffers.

To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: what was the last movie you watched together with your kids? US entries only, please. All entries due by 11:59pm Central time, Monday April 16.

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: Sample Blu-ray Combo Pack and giveaway prizing courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. I received no other compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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CLOSED: HOP Blu-ray Combo Pack 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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