Food Fun Family

Ritz Turtle Bites

Lolli — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 16:52:46 +0000

This shopper has been compensated by SheSpeaks, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company and Mondelez International group. All opinions are mine alone.

I have never been one to need an excuse to whip up some tasty treats in the kitchen, but if I needed a reason, then the Big Game would be the perfect excuse. I love how Game Time (especially the Big Game!) brings friends and family together.

I’m a sucker for anything that brings two of my favorite things together – food and friends. Honestly, I look forward to the time spent with good food and the people I love more than I look forward to Game Time (but don’t tell anyone else my little secret!).

I’ve got the perfect pairing for this year’s Game Time celebration, whether you’re hosting a gathering or crashing a friend’s party. I’ve brought a few of my favorite tastes together into one delicious and sinfully easy snack – Ritz Turtle Bites! And I can’t leave out my favorite drink of all time – Coca-Cola Zero Sugar – which goes perfectly with these turtle bites. I picked up all of these ingredients at Walmart this week so that I’d have a head start on our Big Game party planning.

The BEST thing about these Ritz Turtle Bites is how delicious they are, but a close second is how easy they are to make. You can whip up a whole batch in under 10 minutes (can’t beat that!).

I’m telling you – this snack is going to be the hit of your party!

Ritz Turtle Bites

Ingredients:

Ritz Crackers
Pecan halves
Rolo candies

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Place Ritz Crackers on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Put one Rolo candy in the middle of each Ritz cracker.
Heat crackers in the oven for 3-4 minutes, just long enough so that the candy softens. This is the perfect time to pour a nice cold glass of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar to sip while you wait.
Remove the cookie sheet from the oven. While the chocolate is still warm, press one pecan half on top of the Rolo and press down gently.
Let cool for a few minutes and enjoy!
Don’t forget to serve with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar!

The recipe couldn’t be any easier, but I did want to point out a tip about amounts. For every Ritz Cracker, you’ll need one Rolo candy and one pecan half. It’s a one-to-one-to-one recipe. Easy peasy! I recommend planning for 3 turtle bites per person you’re expecting to be at your Game Time gathering. If you need more, it’s quick and easy to put another batch in the oven.

Note: you can also make these in the microwave by placing crackers and Rolos on a microwave-safe plate and heating for about 25 seconds.

Ritz Crackers are the ideal starting point for so many snacks and finger foods, whether you’re craving a sweet treat like this one or serving alongside a cheese log (another party staple at our house!). I love the buttery-salty goodness of Ritz Crackers. It’s amazing how versatile they are!

What are your favorite ways to enjoy Ritz Crackers and Coke? I’d love to hear your favorite cracker pairings – are you a cheese and cracker kind of person or do you like getting creative with sweet treats like me?

Be sure to check out the Recipe Contest on shespeaks.com to share your ideas and get delicious ideas from others, too!

Chilled Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Jody — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 14:54:05 +0000

Do you love spinach and artichoke dip as much as I do? This classic recipe is not only easy, but it’s guaranteed to be a hit at your next get-together!

Football, particularly the Big Game that’s coming up later this month – or any other excuse to have a big family and friends get together – is pretty important in my house. As the hostess and master of food ceremonies in my family, most of the cooking for the day falls to me. I love to cook for a crowd, but I also love to have some free time to actually enjoy the festivities.

I like to take a few shortcuts and give the oven (and myself!) a break now and then but still put out tasty and full of flavor snacks. One of my go-to favorites is Spinach and Artichoke Dip. Thick, creamy, and loaded with yumminess, it is always a hit with crackers, chips, bread, and veggies! If you want to bring a prize-winning dish to your next party that won’t keep you chained to the stove for hours but tastes delicious, this Spinach and Artichoke dip is the perfect option.

How to Make Classic Spinach and Artichoke Dip

5.0 from 1 reviews

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Author: Jody

Recipe type: Appetiser

Ingredients

½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup Sour Cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 oz. can of artichoke hearts, drained
1 10 oz package spinach, thawed and drained
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
a pinch of sea salt

Instructions

The easiest and best way I have found to mix all my ingredients well and so that they end up very smooth and creamy is to toss all the ingredients into the bowl of my stand mixer.
Mix on a medium-high speed until spinach and artichokes have broken down well and all ingredients are completely combined.
Transfer to your serving bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. This allows your flavors to blend very well. You could also put it in a hollowed out bread bowl for an edible container (and less cleanup!).
Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, fresh veggies, or bread.

Note: the following contains Amazon affiliate links so I can share some awesome products and fun football finds with you!

Make your Spinach and Artichoke Dip stand out even more by serving it in a football stadium chip and dip platter (this is too awesome to pass up!) or decorate the table with general football serving dishes and decorations or go all out for your team by decorating everything in team colors. Have fun with family and friends as you enjoy the Big Game!

Disney’s McFarland, USA on Blu-ray | DVD | Digital HD

Lolli — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:00:24 +0000

We received a copy of Disney’s McFarland, USA on Blu-ray to review, but all thoughts are my own. McFarland, USA is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD as of June 2, 2015.

McFARLAND, USA | Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratts) Photo Credit: Ron Phillips ©Disney 2015

My oldest son is a runner. He loves participating on his school’s cross country team and on the city’s track team. In fact, just this weekend he qualified to go to States for the second year in a row (he has placed first by a wide margin in the 1600 meter event at every track meet this spring). So when I originally heard about McFarland, USA, I knew it would be a story that our family would enjoy.

You can read my film review HERE to see how everyone in my family liked seeing the movie in theaters.

McFARLAND, USA Coach Jim White and his wife (Kevin Costner and (Maria Bello) | Photo Credit: Ron Phillips ©Disney 2015

We had an even better time – if that’s possible – watching the movie at home, where we could discuss the movie with our kids. The message of McFarland, USA is uplifting and inspiring – a movie filled with hope and effort and team work – and that’s exactly the kind of movie I want to be watching with my kids!

About McFarland USA

In the tradition of Disney sports movies comes “McFarland, USA” based on a true story of underdogs triumphing over tremendous obstacles. This heartwarming drama follows novice runners who strive to build a cross-country team under Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) in their predominantly Latino high school. Everyone has a lot to learn about each other, but when Coach realizes the boys’ exceptional running ability, things change. Beyond their talent, it’s the power of family, commitment to each other and work ethic that transform them into champions — helping them achieve their own American dream.

McFARLAND, USA | Coach Jim White on set w/ the real McFarland ’87 runners and current cross country team runners | Photo Credit: Ron Phillips..©Disney 2015

RATED: PG McFarland, USA is a story with an uplifting message and family-friendly language. I would say that the movie is geared towards old kids and adults (not because of anything inappropriate, but simply for the interest factor. My kids, including my youngest (age 10) lovde it and have seen it multiple times.

CAST: Kevin Costner (“Dances with Wolves,” “The Untouchables”), Maria Bello (“A History of Violence,” “Prisoners”), Carlos Pratts (“Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” “Out of the Fire”), Morgan Saylor (TV’s “Homeland,” “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant”).

McFARLAND, USA..Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner)..Ph: Ron Phillips..©Disney 2015

DIRECTOR: Niki Caro (“Whale Rider”)

PRODUCERS: Mark Ciardi, Gordon Gray

BONUS FEATURES on McFarland, USA Blu-ray:

McFarland Reflections: Join Kevin Costner and Coach Jum White and members of the 1987 cross-country team as they look back on the bonds they forged and the opportunities they were given.
“Juntos” Music Video: Performed by Juanes
Inspiring McFarland: See the strength and perseverance that brought a community together.
Deleted and Extended Scenes (often my favorite part of a movie!)

The Blu-ray also includes a digital copy so that you can instantly stream and/or download the movie. I added the movie to my Disney Movies Anywhere account and watched it immediately on my iPad while I was working on something at the kitchen table. The kids and my husband headed downstairs to watch it on the Blu-ray player.

McFARLAND, USA (left to right) Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratts), Jose Cardenas (Johnny Ortiz), Johnny Sameniego (Hector Duran), Damacio Diaz (Jamie Michael Aguero) and Victor Puentes (Sergio Avelar) | Photo Credit: Ron Phillips ©Disney 2015

McFarland, USA is also available on one-disk DVD and includes:

“Juntos” Music Video: Performed by Juanes
Inspiring McFarland: See the strength and perseverance that brought a community together.

Do you love watching feel-good sports movies? I loved that McFarland, USA focused on a different sport (which happened to be my son’s favorite and one that I understand as a mom…watching and cheering from the sidelines).

This is one Blu-ray disk I look forward to watching over and over again!

Get McFarland, USA on Amazon.

My Track Star #PSF Give Me Your Best Shot

Lolli — Fri, 08 May 2015 03:15:40 +0000

Two weeks ago, my oldest son (age 14, in the 8th grade) started his second season of Track and Field through the city’s sports and recreation department. Last year was fun. He loves to run. But not surprisingly, since he grew significantly between 12 and 13 (and beyond) he was a little awkward in his own body last year. He had speed but he didn’t have as much control. This year, he is in fantastic shape and he has the control and stamina that he never had before.

And he is cruising past the other runners.

It’s exciting to watch, and it makes me SO excited for next year when he has the chance to be on the high school track team.

T is a distance runner. He crushes everyone else in the mile, and last week, when he ran the 400 meter for the first time, he crushed everyone there, too.

He makes it look effortless.

At his first race this year, he comfortably got a 5 minute 47 second mile. The next week, he set a goal and paced himself…and shaved 7 seconds off his time for a 5 minutes 40 second mile.

Did I mention that I’m a proud mama, and that I can’t wait to see what he can do in high school with training and conditioning?

Except, of course, for the fact that it would mean that I’d have ANOTHER kid in high school. How did I ever get so old??

For a while now, this is what Friday nights will look like for me. Not a bad view. A beautiful new track, a spring-time sunset, and my own not-so-little track star. Not a bad way to spend my time, either.

What have you been up to this week? Now it’s time for YOU to show me your best shots from this past week. Link up below and have a fantastic weekend!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

To play Give Me Your Best Shot – Photo Story Friday, check this. Copy this code into your post and sign the link list:
<center><a href="https://foodfunfamily.com/tag/give-me-your-best-shot" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://mychaosmybliss.com" target="_blank"></a><br />Hosted by <a href="https://mychaosmybliss.com/" target="_blank">Cecily</a> and <a href="https://www.foodfunfamily.com" target="_blank">Lolli</a></p> <p/></center>

An InLinkz Link-up

5 Tips To Stay Active As A Family

Lolli — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 02:37:59 +0000

I’m sharing how my daughters and I stay active thanks to Playtex® Sport® as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #PlaytexSportSquad. All thoughts, opinions, and stories are my own.

I remember when I was younger (during those blissfully naive and free pre-motherhood days) I thought that being a mom meant teaching my kids everything they needed to know. Now that I’m a mom of 4 teens (and one almost-10-year-old), I’ve come to realize that my kids are teaching me just as much as I ever hoped to teach them.

One of the things that has both humbled me and brought me the greatest sense of pride has been the fact that my kids are often such great examples to me. When I feel discouraged or like something is too hard for me to accomplish, my kids are often the ones who show me that I CAN do it. Or at least guilt me into realizing that I should…

I’ve got 3 teenage daughters. Yes, three. My oldest is in college, my middle daughter is in high school, and my youngest daughter is in middle school. If you had asked me a few years ago, while they were still little, what I thought about this current stage that I’m, I would have said that I was terrified. I would have said that I was much better with little kids than I have ever been with teenagers (yes, even when I was a teen myself).

But you know what? Being a mom of teenage girls rocks.

I suppose that it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to me that my girls and I have bonded over feminine issues. Yep. We talk about periods (some kids are more open than others). We talk about the woes of being invited to a swim party at that time of the month, or how awful it is to start in the middle of the school day. Thank goodness my girls have been open to asking questions (and in turn, letting me answer!)…and thank goodness for Playtex® Sport® Tampon & Liner Combo Packs and Playtex® Sport® Pads that allow them to stay active in sports, exercise, and recreation during that time.

Playtex® Sport® allows you to “play on”.Since my girls have been such great examples to me of how and why to be active (as individuals and as a family), I thought it would be fun to put together a list of tips for staying active as a family. Everything is easier when you have a “team” to back you up!

5 Tips To Stay Active As A Family

Here are 5 simple things that we have done to stay active together. How does your family help each other stay active?

Do Chores Together: help each other get the chores done. Working together makes just about anything easier, and teaming up to get chores done not only make the chores go faster, but it can be a lot more fun, too. I think if *most* of my kids were left to their own devices, they’d end up….well, they’d end up on devices. TV, mobile devices (talking, texting or games), you name it. Getting everyone involved in maintaining the house not only gets them up off the couch or out of their bedroom, but it teaches them valuable skills.
Challenge Each Other: Do you have activity trackers or step-counting apps on your phones? Not only are family step challenges fun, but they help motivate each person to “step up” their game. A little friendly competition pushes everyone a little harder. Every once in a while, you’ll see or hear something heat-warming, like an older sister cheering on a younger brother….or a son reminding his dad to do his evening run instead of watching TV.
Head Outside: Play! Go to a park or take a bike ride down the street. If you feel like the kids are too old to “play” outside, then head outside for a bike ride together, a walk around the block, or a hike along a country trail. Remind each other that the outdoors are an exciting, beautiful, relaxing, rejuvinating place to be.
Play…Inside! Some of the most enjoyable mother-daughter moments in the last several years have taken place in front of the TV with remotes in our hands. We love playing active video games, where we have to dance, run, swing, and karate chop our way to the top. We have fun together and we get a workout at the same time!
Be involved: My husband has been amazing about coaching sports teams for the kids. But even if you’re not coach-material, you can support your child’s involvement in sports by practicing with them at home (throwing, pitching, bouncing, stretching, running, you name it). Not only will you help them be more prepared for the next game, but you’ll create some fabulous bonding time, too.

There are so many ways to be more active as a family, and whatever works for YOU is the best answer for you. The most important thing is that you create time to be together and keep the lines of communication open so that they’re willing to come to you when they have questions or concerns.

Are You “Fit To Play”?

What is your perfect fit? The “Fit to Play” quiz takes you through a series of questions like the one below to determine your perfect sport. I loved this question because I felt like I could see each of my teenage daughters in one of the choices. They are all SO unique. Girls, if you’re reading this, I bet you can figure out which option you are!

The quiz also suggests a femcare product as your perfect product fit. You can then sign up for free samples within the quiz experience, too. Take the quiz HERE.

Playtex® Sport®, play on, period

Connect with Playtex® Sport®

Website: PlaytexPlayOn.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/playtexsport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaytexSportandGentleGlide
G+: https://plus.google.com/104456896289544915621/posts

110 of the Best Party Foods for the Big Game

Lolli — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 20:53:29 +0000

Are you getting ready to celebrate the Big Game this weekend with friends…and lots of food? If you’re looking for more ideas for your football party (or any get-together with friends and family where food is involved) I’ve got the ultimate list of delicious party foods….over 100 of them!

110 of the Best Party Foods for the BIG GAME

I have to admit…putting this list of recipes together has made me VERY hungry. I can’t wait to try a few of these! Enjoy 110 of the best party foods around. From salty to sweet, healthy to, well…indulgent.

Finger Foods

Pork and Cabbage Wontons by me
Tortilla Roll Ups by me
Chipotle Peach Meatballs by me
Peach Quesadillas by me
Chicken Quesadillas with Hatch Chile Cheese Sauce by me
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels by me
Meatball Sliders by me
Flatbread Pizzas, 3 Varieties by me
Ham and Pepperjack Pinwheels by me
Buffalo Chicken and Bleu Cheese Crescents by me
BLT with Egg Sliders by Adventures of Mel
Pizza Bites by Adventures of Mel
Olive Cheese Balls by Simply Stacie
Easy Pizza Monkey Bread by Barbara Bakes
Bacon & Cajun Deviled Eggs by This Mom Can Cook
Wonton Jalapeño Popper Bites by Meet Kristy
Buffalo Chicken Bites by Meet Kristy
Buffalo Chicken Sliders by I Was Born to Cook
Cajun Pretzels by The Kitchen is My Playground
Chili Bites in Mini Cornbread Cups by The Kitchen is My Playground
Dill Pickle Bites by The Kitchen is My Playground
Crescent Sausage Bites by The Kitchen is My Playground
Easy Potluck Meatballs by Ashlee Marie
Cheese Ball by Ashlee Marie
Jalapeno Crab Bites by Upstate Ramblings
Sweet and Sour Meatballs by Upstate Ramblings
Stuffed Wontons by Mooshu Jenne
Buttermilk Fried Pickles by Mooshu Jenne
Baked Boneless Buffalo Wings by I Love to Be In The Kitchen
Ham-Pickle Roll-Ups by I Love to Be In The Kitchen
Beef and Cheese Empanadas by Love to be in the Kitchen
Pizza Pull-Apart Bread by My World Simplified
Baked Jalapeno Poppers by My World Simplified
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers by Days of a Domestic Dad
Cayenne Candied Bacon by Just Us Four
Game Day Oven Baked Hot Wings by Captain Fussy Buckets
Buffalo Chicken Cups by Just US Four
Grands BBQ Cups by A Mom’s Take
Smoked Tortilla Turkey Wrap with Pepper Cheese and Southwest Sauce by Simplee Thrifty
Buffalo Chicken Biscuit Poppers by Snappy Gourmet
Slow Cooker Cranberry Chipotle BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders by Snappy Gourmet
Cheesy Canadian Bacon Irish Nachos by Snappy Gourmet
Inside-Out Garlic Cheese Bread by Thrifty Jinxy
Make Your Own Potato Chips in the Microwave by Thrifty Jinxy
Chicken and Tomato Meatballs by Thrifty Jinxy
Macho Nachos by Femme Fraîche
Pickled Pepper and Pepperoni Puff Pastry Pinwheel Pizzas by Farm Fresh Feats
Very Veggie Puff Pastry Pizza Bites by Farm Fresh Feats
Avocado Feta Hummus Layered Vegetable Appetizer by Farm Fresh Feats
Crockpot Shredded Beef {BBQ Beef Sliders} by homework
Chicken hardwood smoked sausage biscuit bites by homework
Baked ravioli with pesto dipping sauce by homework
Quinoa stuffed mushrooms by homework
Tortilla Roll Ups by Gator Mommy Reviews

Sweet Treats

Nutella wontons by me
Classic Lemon Bars by me
S’mores Bars by me
Sea Salt Caramel Bars by me
Mini Cheesecakes by Ashlee Marie
Chocolate No-Bake Football Cookies by The Joys of Boys
Snickers Football Rice Crispy Treat by Thrifty Jinxy
Snickers Brownies by Gator Mommy Reviews
Twix Bacon Cookies by Gator Mommy Reviews
Football Stadium Sugar Cookies by Living Better Together

Dips

Corn, Avocado and Black Eyed Peas Salsa by me
Roasted Tomato Salsa by me
Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa by me
Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip by me
Healthy Mexican Dip by Confessions of an Overworked Mom
Individual 6-Layer Dips by This Mom Can Cook
Slow Cooker Queso Dip by Thrifty DIY Diva
Low Fat 7-Layer Dip by Pays 2 Save
Hot Reuben Dip by I Was Born to Cook
Hot Onion Souffle Dip by The Kitchen is My Playground
Cheesy Black Bean Dip by Organized 31
Spinach Artichoke Dip by Ashlee Marie
Fruit Dip by Ashlee Marie
Vegetable Dip by Ashlee Marie
Chili Con Queso Dip by Ashlee Marie
Meatlover’s Queso Dip by It Happens in a Blink
Bleu Cheese Dip by I Love to Be In The Kitchen
Buffalo Wild Wings Spicy Garlic Dip by I Love to Be In The Kitchen
Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip by I Love to Be In The Kitchen
Potato Chip Dip by Love to be in the Kitchen
Low-fat Creamy Onion Dip by Thrifty Jinxy
Creamy Avocado Dip by Thrifty Jinxy
Chunky Avocado Salsa by Leave No Leftovers
Queso Con Carne by Captain Fussy Buckets
Guacamole by Just Us Four
World’s Best Queso Dip by Just Us Four
Copycat Frito Lay Bean Dip by Simplee Thrifty
Guilt-free Spinach Dip by Domestic Superhero
Pineapple Cream Cheese Ball by Is This Really My Life
Fresh Tomato Pesto by Farm Fresh Feats
5 Layer Mediterranean Chicken Dip by Farm Fresh Feats
Avocado Lemon Feta Yogurt Dip by Farm Fresh Feats
Easy Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip by Laura Kelly Designs

A Little Bit of Everything

Bacon Stuffed Avocados by me
Barbecue Roasted Mixed Nuts by The Kitchen is My Playground
Chai Spiced Mixed Nuts by The Kitchen is My Playground
Football “Snackadium” by Sunshine and Sippy Cips
Kicked Up Snack Mix by Thrifty Jinxy
Football Shaped Meatloaf by Thrifty Jinxy
Bacon Macaroni and Cheese by Just Us Four
Ranch Snack Pretzels by Saving with Shellie
Frito Corn Salad by Crystal and Co

Enjoy the Game this weekend!

The Real People Behind Million Dollar Arm: JB Bernstein, Rinku and Dinesh #MillionDollarArmEvent

Lolli — Thu, 15 May 2014 16:06:24 +0000

Sometimes an interview is just an interview. And sometimes, you leave an interview feeling like you have just created a new branch on your family tree. That’s how I felt after sitting with JB Bernstein, Dinesh Patel, Rinku Singh – the real people upon which Disney’s new movie MILLION DOLLAR ARM is based. They felt like family.

I was thrilled to be able to interview JB, Dinesh and Rinku before the red carpet premiere of Million Dollar Arm. Although travel, accomodations, and experiences were covered by Disney all thoughts are my own.

JB Bernstein, RInku and Dinesh with bloggers (Photo courtesy of Louise Bishop of MomStart.com)

How it all began:

In the movie, it shows how sports agent JB Bernstein decided to do “The Million Dollar Arm” contest. We asked if they would say it was relatively accurate to how everything actually began.

JB: Like any idea, I have Business Partners and they were part of the idea-generating but it’s hard to tell a movie from 80 points of view. In reality, my two business partners, Will Chang and Ash Vasudevan, helped us – we kind of were all thinking about these things separately and it wasn’t really until we came together that the idea went from this nebulous fuzzy thing (to a concrete plan) to try to do this Game Show and see if we could find some athletes. So it’s pretty accurate in that it shows the inspirations for things but obviously, I’m not smart enough to come up with this idea by myself.

On being portrayed on the big screen:

We asked all 3 men how it felt seeing themselves portrayed in a movie. Rinku commented in particular about how he felt about Suraj Sharma playing him:

DINESH: This is a big deal for me. I’m very happy and my family is also happy.

RINKU: (Suraj) has done a great job. I mean, he’s not just a great Actor, he’s also a great human. Meeting him as a person, it just really meant a lot how he really was nice. And the way he actually did it, was awesome. I really liked it.

JB commented on what it was like to be portrayed on the big screen by Jon Hamm:

The fact that with everything available to Jon Hamm that he chose to play me is very humbling and surreal. And he gets me really, really well. There are parts of the movie where friends of mine have seen him and go ‘Oh My Gosh, how long did he stay with you?’ And I was like I didn’t meet him until halfway through the filming. So he obviously thought I’m the most trite person ever…or they wrote a great script.

But it was really humbling and he’s become a good friend and someone that I really care about and someone who is just a genuinely good guy. You meet a lot of celebrities in my line of business and you realize they’re just like regular people. Some are very nice and some are jerks and you know, the richer they are, the more free they are to be their true person and Jon is just one of these guys who probably has been the same since he was a kid. He’s the same guy, very even keeled, nice guy and I’m really lucky to have him play me.

I’m sure it was surreal for all of them to relive moments of their not-so-distant past played out on the big screen!

What was it like to learn to play baseball?

RINKU: It really takes some time. Just like, if you took American baseball player and made them become a cricket player, they’d have no idea how to pitch in Cricket, right? So that was totally different world for me coming here and playing professional baseball. Had no idea. It did take a year but I believe that it doesn’t matter what you’re doing in your life if you’re willing to give whatever you got inside and out, you are gonna succeed.

Rinku, Dinesh, and JB Bernstein at the premiere of Million Dollar Arm (Photo credit: ©Disney)

What was that like to leave family and home?

It’s never easy to leave home and family and everything you know. These boys had hardly traveled outside their hometown before leaving for the US. I can only imagine what it was like for them to transition to America – literally everything was new for them.

DINESH: My parents were really afraid by I’m leaving. They said, don’t go because this is the new world for me.

RINKU: We didn’t just leave the family. Besides the family, we left our Culture, Family, Friends, Food…and we were just 18 year old kids. Making that huge decision wasn’t easy for us. What are we gonna do without knowing anything about American Culture? We don’t know language. We don’t know anybody besides JB. And our parents, they were really afraid cause we never went out of the Country.

And that really changes our life, you know. So I’m really proud of the decision I made coming to America. It’s totally amazing. It has changed my life, changed my family’s life, and I wanted to stay here.

Home is always gonna be home no matter what. No matter how happy you are in another country, you’re always gonna miss home. I’m pretty sure that it would be the same for you guys. Doesn’t matter where you live. You always miss your home. For me, being here, I have to be happy. I am happy to be here just ’cause my dream is here. I got my Mom and Dad there and once in a year, I go back to home, get my heart charged, get ready for another year or two.

Dinesh is currently living in India again with his family, but he said, “When I was here, I missed a lot about home. But right now, I’m living in India with my family. I’m happy.”

JB asked, “Do you miss America now that you’re back in India?”

DINESH: Yeah.

JB: What do you miss? Movies? TV?

DINESH: Everything.

JB: Food?

DINESH: Of course. Pizza.

JB: Of all the true parts, that is one of them!

When you see the movie, you’ll know how true the pizza comment is!

Rinku, JB and Dinesh during our interview (Photo courtesy of Louise Bishop of MomStart.com)

Million Dollar Arm: a life-changing experience!

Rinku and Dinesh were not the only people whose lives were changed by the Million Dollar Arm contest. I love what JB had to say:

JB: I’ve been a Sports Agent for 20 years. I’ve never done anything good until I met these guys. You know, Lisa (our publicist) actually got to go to the White House to meet Obama. I was getting married that day.

I would probably speak for all of us when we say that this is a really personal journey for us. It’s not like your traditional business deal that I’ve done and it’s something that obviously a very pivotal point in our life. So you know, our hope is really two things. One is that people take away what these guys have endured and persevered in order to be successful and take away that lesson that dreams are possible in this country more so than maybe anywhere else in the world. Now for kids, to be able to look at Rinku and Dinesh as role models and say ‘Look, if these guys did this, you know, I can do anything.’

It’s that first spark of hope not just for kids in India but for kids here, for kids everywhere. They have these two guys to look at, who have done something that’s never been done in the history of the world, to go from a position of never hearing of the sport. Rinku won his first game 13 months from the day he picked up a Baseball. Dinesh won his first game 14 months from the first day that he picked up a Baseball. And I mean, that’s just unheard of. I mean, I’ve been a sports man my whole life. I’ve been an agent my whole adult life. I’ve never heard of anything like this. I never heard of anybody even thinking something like this could be possible.

And then, for my story, I think that I’m excited for people to realize it’s never too late to change. It’s never too late to be a better person and it’s not that I was a bad person. I think I was somewhat one dimensional. Everybody says, ‘Were you really that big a jerk?’ and I side step that question because I didn’t feel like a jerk at the time. I wasn’t trying to be. I just was very myopic and I think that now, thanks to these guys, thanks to my family, I have a much different view. So I’m kind of hoping that those two things come through to the general audience but it’s exciting to be able after 6 years of negotiating and filming and whatever, to be able to actually finally share this with the world.

Rinku added: “It really opened (kids in India’s) eyes and they are dreaming big now just like we proved to them (that it was possible). They talk about: be like Rinku and Dinesh. We already have done enough to make them realize that if you want to see dreams, see something big. So those kids really seeing their dream in us…”

JB is now the father of 3-year-old Delphine, although he describes that first year with Rinku and Dinesh as a sort of “baptism of fire” into parenthood.

JB: Having Rinku and Dinesh live with me gave me a taste of Fatherhood. It reminded me of the importance of family. It reminded me of the importance of being surrounded by people that you love and that love you. And being able to take pride in other people’s accomplishments. A lot of the rudimentary lessons of life came back into focus, so I think in a lot of ways, I started being a parent, although kind of baptism by fire with these guys.

Million Dollar Arm continues….

Did you know that the Million Dollar Arm contest is still running in India? JB and his team have continued to return to India since 2008.

JB: During our first season, we saw about 38,000 kids. This year we’ll see half a million. I mean, Major League Baseball is now playing a big part in it. We have a lot more muscle to flex than it was me, Rinku, Dinesh, Ash and Will. Not that the 5 of us aren’t formidable on some level. We have a little bit more muscle to flex and a little bit bigger microphone so I’m hoping that we’ll find talent.

There’s a monetary side to this thing. But there’s a social side to it that really none of us saw coming that has really become the primary focus of “Million Dollar Arm” which sound weird for an Agent to say ’cause you know, I’m suppose to be about making money. But this is a unique opportunity we have to have almost a social revolution.

The real events that inspired Million Dollar Arm have not only changed the lives of those invloved, but they are life-changing for those that see the movie. I was deeply touched! And even though I have already seen it twice, I can’t wait to see it again with my family now that it comes to theaters this week!

PS – be sure to join us TONIGHT 5/15 at 8pm ET for the #MillionDollarArmEvent twitter party (JB says he’ll try to make an appearance!)

Check out the fun we have had so far by following the hashtag: #MillionDollarArmEvent

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MILLION DOLLAR ARM opens in theaters everywhere on May 16th!

Jon Hamm Discusses Million Dollar Arm #MillionDollarArmEvent

Lolli — Mon, 12 May 2014 15:34:31 +0000

I was invited to Los Angeles on an expense-paid trip in exchange for coverage of the events that we attended. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After seeing a screening of Disney’s Million Dollar Arm starring Jon Hamm, I was beyond thrilled to be able to sit down with him for several minutes right before he rushed off to throw a pitch at the Million Dollar Arm Pitching Contest and then head over to make an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live…and then make it back in time for the tailgate/green carpet party before the world premiere of the movie. Yes, Jon Hamm is a busy man and he took time out of his schedule to chat with our little group of bloggers. Also…have you seen him? Yes, we were quite excited for the opportunity.

On filming in India:

We jumped right in to questions as soon as Jon walked in the room. We asked him what it was like filming part of Million Dollar Arm in India.

Jon Hamm: “It’s not just the heat. It’s literally everything. It’s a completely different culture. And when you learn more about the actual J.B. Bernstein (Jon Hamm’s character in the movie), he had to go through all this and figure out how to do business in this country and figure out how to manage all of this stuff. And there was no guarantee that it was going to work, at all. It was a huge leap of faith. If you speak to him now he’s fairly conversant in Hindi and he’s very much, he’s been doing it for six or seven years now so he’s very much comfortable in Indian culture and, and this was a direct result of this experience that he had.”

I wasn’t familiar with J.B. Bernstein’s story before being introduced to the movie, but I was curious how wide-spread the story actually was (particularly for people into sports, which I typically am not). Jon Hamm talked about his introduction to the story:

I did not know it was a true story at the time (that I learned about the film). It somehow escaped my fairly detailed baseball radar. I am a big baseball fan, but I hadn’t heard of it. So I kind of Googled around and looked up some stuff and I learned about it and I thought, ‘Well this could be not only a fun project to work on as an actor but just fun — I mean we get to go to India and that could be an interesting experience too. I’m very, very glad I did. We’re tremendously proud of the film and also I made some really good friends on it.

On portraying a real person:

Acting on Mad Men, Jon Hamm plays a fictional character, but we wondered what it was like to portray a character based on a true story. Not only was Million Dollar Arm based on real experiences of real people, but those people are still alive (and he knew they’d be watching the movie, too!) We asked, “Do you think there was more pressure on you as an actor to portray somebody like a character based on a true story?”

Jon answered: I would suggest maybe if it was somebody that a lot of people knew (it would be a more difficult challenge). There’s probably a little more pressure on Daniel Day Lewis playing Abraham Lincoln although no one around really knows him anymore. I felt very responsible towards J.B., especially after having met him and learning his story and learning how profoundly this experience changed his life. We tried to tell that in the film. The guy’s life was really changed for the better because of this experience. He did not set out to have some sort of life changing experience. He just wanted to make money. Sometimes that happens. Unexpectedly you just all of a sudden find yourself affected by things and that’s J.B.’s story. So I felt very close to that and I didn’t want to misrepresent him at all, certainly. But he’s given me his stamp of approval so…

How Million Dollar Arm changed Jon Hamm:

The experiences that Million Dollar Arm portrayed certainly did change the life of J.B. Bernstein, but was Jon Hamm effected at all by his experience in India?

Hamm responded: I think all travel is, in general (or should be), kind of life affirming and eye-opening in some way. This was certainly no exception. I’d never been to Asia much less India specifically, so I had no concept of what I was going to see. I mean, we’ve all seen photos of the Taj Mahal but when you actually get there and you’re there in person it’s in 3D.

And it’s the sights and smells and the heat and everything else takes that makes the experience even more worthwhile. I can’t point to anything specifically where I had an epiphany about life, the universe and everything but I did very much enjoy it. I would totally go back in a heartbeat. And it’s such a big country with so many influences that I saw the tip, tip, tip of the iceberg. So I’d love to go back.

Jon Hamm’s favorite scenes in Million Dollar Arm:

I have two favorite scenes in the movie (I’ll share more about those in my movie review coming soon) but we were curious to know what Jon Hamm’s favorite part of the movie was and why. Here’s what he had to say:

There are a couple. Most of the stuff we shot in India was pretty great to film because we were in the dirt and it was really exciting. But there’s a scene, toward the end of the film that I actually really liked shooting as well that’s much more from an acting standpoint. Which is basically when the kids throw J.B. his sort of ‘we’re bringing India to you’ party.

He realizes that they somehow feel like he’s disappointed in them. And the honest truth, and J.B. tells this story as well, is that he felt such responsibility for these kids by that point in their life and their career that the idea of him disappointing them somehow was soul-crushing to him. Like (they) could never disappoint me. That’s impossible. You know, ’cause he’s their dad at that point – a surrogate dad. And the boys are so wonderful in the film and they bring such heartfelt warmth to these characters that it’s the emotion that helps to carry the film. It could be just another movie about sports and feel good and this and that but the emotion that the boys bring to their parts really does carry it into a different world.

Million Dollar Arm – So much more than “just a sports film”

Speaking of sports films, we asked Jon Hamm how he felt that this film is set apart from other sports films that have come along. he answered:

I think, like all good sports films, it’s not necessarily all about the sport. I think if you look at something like The Natural. Ostensibly that’s about baseball or a baseball player. But it’s really about this guy and his life and how it was changed and how it was interrupted and then he got to come back and fall in love and all that other stuff. That’s a movie that if I watch the whole thing, I’m a mess by the end of it.

This movie is like that. It’s a family movie that is set against the backdrop of sports, in particular baseball. But it would be a disservice to it, I think, to just say it’s a baseball movie because for me at least it means much more than that. So, again, back to the first question. That’s kind of one of the reasons why I wanted to do this film.

It just felt richer than just a game where I hope they win the big game at the end. And so that was what I hope we brought through the making of it.

It really is. Million Dollar Arm is so much more than “just a sports movie” – it has a message that will resonate with sports fans and non-fans alike. It’s about family and friendships and priorities.

Many thanks again to Jon Hamm for taking the time to chat with us about his role in Million Dollar Arm! More interviews to come! Be sure to check back for all of my updates in the next couple of weeks…And be sure to make plans to see the movie when it comes to theaters on May 16th!

Connect with MILLION DOLLAR ARM (In theaters 5/16/14)

Facebook: Facebook.com/milliondollararm
Twitter: @DisneyPictures (#MillionDollarArm and #MillionDollarArmEvent)
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Website: Disney.com/MillionDollarArm

* Photos courtesy of Disney

Cross Country Runner – Wordless Wednesday

Lolli — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 23:32:33 +0000

My oldest son, Twizzler, was MADE to be a cross country runner. Look at those legs!

And, yes, he is already taller than me at 12.

PS – Did you see my Amazon Giftcard giveaway and tips for earning gift cards and other prizes from Swagbucks?? More tips and special Swag Codes for earning free bucks coming soon, so if you haven’t joined yet, do it now (it’s totally free!).

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The Real People Behind Million Dollar Arm: JB Bernstein, Rinku and Dinesh #MillionDollarArmEvent

How it all began:

On being portrayed on the big screen:

What was it like to learn to play baseball?

What was that like to leave family and home?

Million Dollar Arm: a life-changing experience!

Million Dollar Arm continues….

Jon Hamm Discusses Million Dollar Arm #MillionDollarArmEvent

On filming in India:

On portraying a real person:

How Million Dollar Arm changed Jon Hamm:

Jon Hamm’s favorite scenes in Million Dollar Arm:

Million Dollar Arm – So much more than “just a sports film”

Connect with MILLION DOLLAR ARM (In theaters 5/16/14)

Cross Country Runner – Wordless Wednesday