It’s easy to take a good night’s sleep for granted until you experience a bout of insomnia. Lying awake and watching the hours tick by can be incredibly frustrating. But what benefits does the human body derive from sleep, and what happens when you don’t get enough? How can you ensure that your sleep is both regular and restorative?

Whether you want to find a family-friendly film or satisfy your craving for action, fantasy and even horror, the movies slated for release in summer 2012 won’t disappoint.

Southern California offers a lot for families to see and do, from the beach to the mountains and everywhere in between. There are many destinations that are not only kid-friendly but also designed specifically for young ones. Here are five kid-friendly day trips that are popular in the Southland.

Mother’s Day was approved as a holiday on the second Sunday in May by Woodrow Wilson in 1914. Surprisingly, it was not created by the greeting card and floral industries. Movies and music are ideal Mother’s Day gifts because they are affordable, accessible, easily personalized and can capture a shared memory or experience.

The March of Dimes was founded by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to combat a great scourge of his time: polio, a crippling disease that had left Roosevelt himself in a wheelchair. Today American children don't have to worry about getting polio. The disease has been almost completely eradicated thanks to the initiatives by the organization, which led to the development of childhood vaccinations. But the March of Dimes has continued on with a new focus on preventing premature births and birth defects.

On April 22 of each year, citizens around the world unite to honor Earth Day. The day is dedicated to saving the planet through education about climate change, pollution, preservation and recycling.