Time for another season of So You Think You Can Dance.

My girls and I are absolutely riveted by this show. Not by the well-meaning (though cringe-worthy) fellow who invented The Wiggle and got the audience to do The Ocean. Or by the moron who stood on stage for his audition, railing at how the show makes people “sell out” (my 18yo was yelling at the screen during that segment), and then blamed the judges for his lack of focus and less-than-stellar performance (that guy was such a jerk!).

No, we are riveted by the beauty of what some truly talented folks can do with their bodies. We are riveted by the expression of emotion through movement. We are riveted by the stories of hope and survival that enrich some of these dancers’ performance.

Last night we cheered during the Season 9 Premiere when the show introduced Bree Hafen, a 29-yr old mother of 2 from McKinney, Texas. Not only were we excited that their family appears to be LDS (our Mormon radar when ding!ding!ding! seeing the photo of the temple in their home), but also that she is a mom chasing a dream, and she’s GOOD. (*note: I find some of my favorite new music from SYTYCD. Bree performed to Ingrid Michaelson’s “Sort Of,” which has now been downloaded to my iPhone!)

sorry it's so fuzzy! this is best I could do during her fabulous routine.

We will definitely be cheering her on when the show gets to the Vegas trials!

And speaking of a Mom with a Dream…

Every year as I watch this show, the same ache settles in my gut – a solid wish that I could dance. Not like some of these people dance (I could never hope to have that kind of talent), but enough to move and express myself and not fall flat on my face.

Maybe they need to come up with a new reality show: So You Think You Want to Learn How To Dance with the So You Think You Can Dance All-Stars. Get some of the past contestants to pull regular ol’ folks like me on to a dance floor and teach us how to move. I would definitely sign up for that!

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So You Think You Can Dream {SYTYCD, Season 9!} 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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But The Avengers may have just changed all that.

Written and directed by Joss Whedon, The Avengers is surprisingly funny (my audience laughed so loud and so often that we sometimes missed subsequent dialogue) and incredibly entertaining. I found myself laughing, clapping, cheering, and totally pumped for the many action scenes. This movie is just so much fun to watch. I think it definitely has the power to move a casual fan like me into a superhero movie enthusiast.

The Avengers brings together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye to join S.H.I.E.L.D in saving the earth from an alien army led by Thor’s brother Loki. They have to work through individual differences to become a true team, and along the way end up sparring not only with words, but fists (or hammer, as it goes).

While I felt there were a few weak points to the “aliens take over earth” plot, the dialogue was clever and tight, something not altogether unexpected from Whedon (disclosure: I’m a big fan). I also thought the actors worked well together, which was a concern I had after seeing each of the films individually. In fact, I’m surprised to say that I liked Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston as Thor and Loki even more in The Avengers than I did in their own feature. Robert Downey Jr was his usual wickedly charming self, and Chris Evans remained the virtuous soldier of few words. It was nice to see Scarlett Johansson grow Black Widow beyond her small part in Iron Man 2, and Jeremy Renner – blink and you might have missed him in Thor – develops into the focused, tortured Hawkeye. I loved the chemistry each character and actor had with each other, and since this movie is so dependent on them ultimately becoming a team, that’s a very good thing.

It was my son’s 11th birthday the night of the screening, and I think The Avengers was completely appropriate for him (especially since he’s seen the other Marvel movies). In fact, there was actually much less in terms of sexual content or language as compared to, say, the Iron Man movies. There is, of course, a great deal of action and violence, but nothing I would consider too gory. I think kids 10 and older would be fine to watch The Avengers.

Note: The Avengers is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference.

Another note: you’ll definitely want to wait until after the credits for a snippet of what’s to come!

Final note: because I respect her opinion, here is another review of The Avengers that questions the appropriateness of this movie for kids, and looks at a line of dialogue that I found concerning as well.

*Disclosure: I was provided screening tickets in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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Movie Review: The Avengers 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 week my husband and I were able to attend the Houston stop of the Celtic Woman Believe North American tour. It also happened to be our 19th wedding anniversary, which made the night extra special.

I have been a fan of Celtic Woman for a few years, and have seen their concert specials on PBS, but had never been to a live show. The evening was so powerful and enjoyable for me, I felt I needed to dedicate a few words to the experience and share with you FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULD SEE CELTIC WOMAN LIVE (if you ever get the chance):

1. They leave everything on the stage. I was so impressed by the level of passion, heart, enthusiasm and talent these ladies sustained through the entire performance. There was never a lag in the energy – every song, every movement, even every instance of personal commentary was shared with dedication and care. It really kept the night rolling along.

photo credit: Tracy May. click for source

2. They play to the whole house. There seemed to be a conscious effort to acknowledge all the sections of our large audience, and it’s hard to imagine anyone feeling left out of the performance. It also felt that although we were in little ol’ Houston, Celtic Woman may have been playing for Madison Square Garden; nothing was toned down, we got the full superstar, entertain-your-socks-off treatment. I will say that if you can afford tickets in the first few rows of the theater, go for it. The ladies interacted quite a bit with these fans, and you could tell those seat-holders were thrilled.

I have to say, we had pretty great seats! But you get a fabulous show with Celtic Woman no matter where you sit.

3. The supporting “cast” is amazing. It’s not just the women of Celtic Woman who are oozing with talent. Their supporting crew includes a fabulous Irish dancer, a stellar bagpipe player, a handful of men on a variety of instruments (some traditional, even – spoons, Irish pipes, Celtic flute and drum, and more), and a wonderful supporting choir. They each get a chance to shine, and the display of their skills in highly entertaining.

Anthony Byrne, the "Celtic Piper" featured in the Celtic Woman concert. He was playing in the lobby after the show and taking pictures with people - I wish I would have grabbed my chance! photo from his website, click for source

4. The super-fans are awesome. We had a handful of “super fans” in our audience, as I’m sure there are at any Celtic Woman concert. These fans wore t-shirts and buttons and made a habit of regularly standing and cheering/screaming at the end of every single song. I found their energy infectious, and the women really responded to the adoration.

5. Violinist and fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt. Yes, I am dedicating an entire reason to ONE member of Celtic Woman, because…well…she’s my favorite! Every time she was on stage, my arm hairs stood on end. She is just so talented and her energy is so electric! She had a few serene moments during quieter songs in the concert, but most of the time she was onstage, she was dancing left and right, bounding up and down the risers, literally shouting out to the audience in whoops and hollers – all while playing pitch-perfect on her violin. She was such a joy to watch!

photo credit: Máiréad Nesbitt's official website. click for source.

There are only a handful of Celtic Woman Believe North American Tour dates left, so – especially if you’re on the West Coast – check out this list and see if a Celtic Woman concert is in your near future! (you can buy tickets HERE)

• April 19, 2012 Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena
• April 21, 2012 Portland, OR Keller Auditorium
• April 22, 2012 Spokane, WA INB PAC
• April 23, 2012 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre
• April 25, 2012 Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium
• April 27, 2012 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre
• April 28, 2012 Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
• April 29, 2012 Las Vegas, NV The Smith Center for Performing Arts

And if you happen to miss this tour, don’t worry. Just keep your eyes out and try to catch Celtic Woman the next time they’re in the US.

*Disclosure: We were provided tickets in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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5 Reasons You Should See Celtic Woman Live 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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Thanks to The Bully Project for sponsoring my writing. Visit their website to join the movement and learn more.

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My 10yo son started getting bullied in the 2nd grade. It began with boys pushing him around and cussing him out on the bus. My son is not shy, but does not like confrontation, and can get quiet when attacked. Despite his size (he’s always been bigger than anyone in his class), he can also be quite sensitive and has a huge heart, looks out for others, and does not cuss or make crude jokes. I think this made him an easy target.

We took him off the bus route and I started driving him to and from school. I would have done anything to help my son feel safer and more secure. But then the bullying started happening at school.

There was one boy in particular who seemed to single out my son. He would yell at, tease, taunt, and cuss my son out, using what seemed like a constant barrage of twisted verbal images and sexual slurs. I did not expect to have to explain such hateful speech to my son while he was still so young.

One day during recess in 2nd grade, this boy punched my son in the face, giving him a black eye. The boy had apparently taken away a little girl’s glasses, and my son stepped in to tell him that wasn’t cool. My son pointed his finger into the boy’s chest when telling him to back off, and both boys were called to the office and treated as equal offenders. My son was confused by that, and worried that maybe he shouldn’t stick up for other kids anymore. That broke my heart.

My son, Isaac. Busy and active, yes, but about the sweetest kid you'll ever meet.

The bullying continued through third and fourth grade, though it never turned physical again. But the constant degradation hurt my son’s spirit, and we continued to drive him to school and do what we could to buoy his spirits. He had a few friends at school, did very well with grades, and overall we were feeling optimistic. When the same boy who bullied my son lit a paper towel in the 4th grade bathroom and set the garbage on fire, and was consequently removed from school, we were hopeful that the bullying would stop.

But this year, in 5th grade, it has been worse than it ever was. Once again, one boy has singled my son out to taunt and cuss at, but things have become much more sinister. This boy has managed to frighten enough of his classmates so my son’s former friends won’t talk with him now, or sit with him or play with him. They are too afraid that if they are nice to my son, they will be bullied in return (which has, in fact, happened). My son feels alone and ostracized. His schoolwork has suffered, he asks to stay home from school, I know this boy is constantly on my son’s mind, even outside of school hours.

Before Christmas, my son went to a counselor at his school to tell her what was happening. She, the teacher, the principal – they all seemed completely oblivious that anything was happening at all. Which is difficult for me to understand, but I have to take their word for it. My son said it helped a little to talk to the counselor, but that things didn’t change at all. You could see in his posture at school that his shoulders and head were down most of the time, just trying to muddle through each miserable day.

My son does not want to leave school. I am feeling scared for him, hurt, guilty, angry, broken-hearted. I have suggested homeschooling several times, but it always comes back to my son not wanting to quit. I asked him what he thinks the adults at his school could do to stop the bullying there, and he said “Honestly, I don’t know.” But when I asked him what the kids could do to stop bullying in schools, he shared a flood of answers. “Say something, don’t just watch. Stand up. Don’t be friends with the bullies. Don’t be scared of them. Don’t let them win.”

This is one of the main ideas behind the new documentary Bully. A staggering 13 million kids will be bullied in schools across America this year, “making it the most common form of violence against young people in the U.S.” I listened to filmmaker Lee Hirsch in an interview recently saying that bullying is not just a childhood rite of passage or something we can brush under the rug anymore – it has grown into what can be considered a serious human rights issue. But the adults in the schools need to be more educated as to bullying’s true impact, and the kids – the kids MUST be moved to act. They must be moved from bystander to defender if the bullying in schools is to ever stop.

Bully follows five kids and families over the course of a school year, including two families who’ve lost children to suicide and a mother who waits to learn the fate of her 14 –year-old daughter, incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus to warn away the kids who had been taunting her.

The documentary is currently playing in select theaters across the country, opening on more screens April 13. The MPAA gave Bully an R rating for language, but filmmakers ultimately decided to release it Unrated as a protest against what they felt was the unwarranted rating from the MPAA. Even Common Sense Media, a review site that breaks films down into a variety of factors as an advocate for families and children, said that the language in Bully is not gratuitous and would recommend the movie – accompanied by guided conversation with an adult – for children 13 and older.

This film and accompanying campaign are very near and dear to me. It speaks directly to what our life has been like for the past four years, and what my son has had to live with every day. I encourage you to learn more about Bully, watch the trailer, get involved however you can, speak out, support the message. As hard as I work to protect and save my son’s heart through this terrible time, there are others boys and girls out there I can’t protect – not alone. It will take all of us being involved to end the pervasive culture of bullying in our schools today.

*NOTE: I talked with my son at great length about sharing his story. He gave me full permission and hopes that telling others about what he has to go through every day will either move someone to act, or encourage other kids and parents to know they are not alone. This boy has more courage and heart in his little pinky that many people have in their whole body.

Disclosure: I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. Find showings in your area for The Bully Project and buy tickets here.

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The Bully Project: Our Story 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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