Join the Hollywood Herd!

Did you see a movie this year that absolutely blew you away? Have you herd how riveting Argo was? Are you obsessed with Les Miserables? Or do you love Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance in Lincoln?  Well, it’s time for your favorite nominees to be recognized on February 24 on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Speaking of nominees and awards, did you know that Serta has its very own award winners?  That’s right, the beloved Counting Sheep were honored as Advertising Icons of the year in 2008.  It’s been a little while since our furry friends have enjoyed the award spotlight, so we’re helping them out on Sunday night.  Read on to learn more and to find out how you can join us to enter to win some great Serta prizes!

Tweet and Win!

Don’t nod off during the commercials when you can play along on awards night with the Serta® Counting Sheep Nominees Giveaway.

To join in the fun, Twitter users must simply replace a word in a nominee’s name with the word “sheep” followed by the hashtag #ReplaceMovieNodsWithSheep. That means, Life of Pi becomes Life of Sheep and so on!

Here is an example of a qualifying tweet: 

I’m betting on Silver Sheep Playbook!  #ReplaceMovieNodsWithSheep

If you are one of the first 50 people to have @SertaMattresses retweet your message, you will automatically be selected to receive a free Serta Counting Sheep plushie!  Then, one lucky winner from these 50 individuals will be selected to win two iComfort gel memory foam pillows!

Official Rules:

To enter this giveaway you must be 18 years of age and live in the contiguous United States (excludes Alaska and Hawaii).  The giveaway is valid only during the duration of the 85^th Academy Awards live broadcast on February 24^th, 2013. The first 50 individuals whose qualifying message is retweeted by @SertaMattresses will receive a free Serta Counting Sheep plush toy. (ARV of each is $4.) (Serta may retweet more than 50 messages; only the first 50 to be retweeted qualify to win).  One of these 50 individuals will be randomly selected to also receive two (2) iComfort queen size Scrunch Pillows® (ARV of up to $159). ARV of all prizes is $359. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Odds of winning depend on number of entries recieved. Sponsored by Serta, Inc., 2600 Forbs Ave., Hoffman Estates, IL 60192. Individuals suspected of using multiple Twitter accounts to enter will be disqualified.

Enter to Win:

1. Post a message on Twitter using the #ReplaceMovieNodsWithSheep and the name of an individual, film or song nominated for an Academy Award, replacing one word of the name with the word “Sheep”, during the awards broadcast on February 24^th, 2013.  Tweets must be made during the live broadcast.

This promotion is now closed.  See below for a list of the Twitter handles associated with the first 50 qualifying tweets to be re-tweeted by Serta:

@illusionbh

@Embarrassthykids

@cheezdogger

@broder13

@jaqjaq05

Country Music Fans Can Bid on One-of-a-Kind Counting Sheep

Serta and City of Hope are offering Country Music fans a rare opportunity to bid on a special, large Serta Counting Sheep plush toy autographed by some of Country Music’s hottest stars!  Serta’s large display Counting Sheep are rarely sold to the public, and this is the first sheep in the herd to rub hooves with Nashville’s elite! 

This adorable #60 Counting Sheep is a special Serta Anniversary Edition measuring 30″ high.  All profits go to City of Hope. All profits go to City of Hope to aid in the continued fight against cancer.  CLICK HERE to learn more and bid on this one of a kind Counting Sheep.

Couples Sleeping Separately: Bad For the Relationship?

Happy Valentine’s Day!  What better way to send your love than with an adorable Serta Counting Sheep Valentine?  Visit us on Faceook and click on the Sheep Valentines tab to choose your favorite and share with friends.  Each Counting Sheep Valentine is tagged with a message about Serta’s Adopt-a-Sheep for the Fight Against Cancer Event, going on now to raise funds for our friends at City of Hope.  Find us at www.facebook.com/sertamattress.

Now, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we ask an age-old question – is sleeping separately really bad for the relationship? 

The bed: for many, it’s a sacred private space that symbolizes union and intimacy.

But sharing a bed seems to be falling out of favor with some, as more couples choose to go their separate ways at night. In fact, a 2005 National Sleep Foundation poll found that nearly one in four American couples sleeps in separate beds or separate rooms. And the National Association of Home Builders says that by 2015 it expects 60 percent of custom-built homes to have separate master bedrooms.

That may sound decidedly unromantic, but many people have a good reason for splitting up after dark. Sometimes one partner’s nighttime behaviors – loud snoring, sleep talking, restless movements and so forth – are too disruptive. In other cases, the “fit” between the couple’s sleeping habits is the problem. Maybe one person is a light sleeper and the other has a penchant for stealing covers. Or one partner loves to snuggle with the kids in the wee hours while the other can’t get comfortable amidst all the little elbows and knees. Add in conflicting sleep times, differing work schedules and TV habits or electronics and you can see why some partners give up.  Just because a couple chooses to live happily ever after doesn’t mean their nighttime personalities are a perfect match.

Couples come up with different arrangements: two beds in the same room will do the trick for some, while others head for completely separate rooms (especially in the case of loud snoring). Sleep is a fundamental biological need and the bottom line is that we do what’s necessary to protect it.

But are separate beds a sign of a distant relationship? Some couples say bed is a place they connect, talk about the day, share feelings and so on; in the midst of busy schedules and family life, beds can feel like a personal haven. And we know that physical affection – holding, cuddling and intimacy – is an important part of healthy relationships. Our brains release bonding chemicals like oxytocin when we touch each other lovingly. For a couple pulled in different directions by day, sharing a bed might be one of their only sources of physical contact.

Only you and your other half know if sleeping separately is the right plan. But if you want to stay under the sheets together, it’s important to talk and problem solve. If snoring is the issue, consider adjusting your head or body position, avoid alcohol before bed and invest in earplugs. Decide on the rules of the bed, such as if and when pets or kids are welcome.  Make sure the mattress and pillows are comfortable for both of you and negotiate things like bedtime schedules to give each person the best chance at rest.  Remember, couples spend a third of their lives in bed, so it’s well worth a dedicated discussion and some fine-tuning.

Serta & City of Hope Join Forces in the Adopt-a-Sheep for the Fight Against Cancer Event

Serta and City of Hope have teamed up to bring the public a new and unique way to support cancer research, treatment and education.   The Adopt-a-Sheep for the Fight Against Cancer Event is going on now and offers people the opportunity to “adopt” a limited edition #60 Counting Sheep plush toy designed by Serta and City of Hope.  This new Counting Sheep will help raise funds for City of Hope through distribution at participating Serta retailers and sales made directly to the public online.  Serta will donate a minimum of $1.50 for each sale or distribution of the #60 plush toy to City of Hope, one of the nation’s leading cancer research, treatment and education centers. The event runs until March 31st, 2012.

Serta Counting Sheep plush toys have been collected by fans since 2000, when Serta first introduced the herd as the reluctant brand icons.  The campaign has been very successful for Serta, earning a Gold Effie and the Counting Sheep a spot on the Advertising Walk of Fame.  The Adopt-a-Sheep Event allows Serta to introduce a new, limited edition plush toy to collectors and the general public while also raising funds for City of Hope and getting people involved in the fight against cancer.

“Serta has a long-standing partnership with City of Hope, and we believe in their innovative approach in fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses” says Bob Sherman, president of Serta.  “That is why our Adopt-a-Sheep Event is so important to our company, and we are excited to give people a fun and engaging way to get involved in supporting City of Hope.”

There are two simple ways to bring home a limited edition #60 Counting Sheep plush toy:

1. Visit a participating Serta retailer to receive a #60 Sheep for free with either a qualified purchase or “test rest” of the iComfort® Sleep System, Serta’s latest breakthrough in memory foam technology featuring Cool Action™ material.  The offer will vary by participating retailer; see store for details.   Serta has made a minimum donation of $1.50 to City of Hope for each #60 plush toy distributed to participating retailers.

2. Purchase a #60 Sheep from Serta online by visiting Serta.Com/Adopt and selecting “Buy Your Sheep Online”.   Serta will make a minimum donation of $1.50, up to $9, for each #60 plush toy sold online.

“Serta has been a terrific supporter of City of Hope and we’re delighted to partner with the company to offer consumers a unique way to join the fight against cancer,” said Steve Martin, vice president of marketing, City of Hope. “This year, more than one million people will be diagnosed with cancer. This partnership will enable City of Hope to advance research and improve treatments for patients while giving people a creative way to honor friends and family who have been personally affected by cancer.”