As we finally had our first taste of spring this weekend it means that its time to start prepping the BBQ grills for those family cookouts. My wife watches The Chew daily (sometimes even cooks a thing or two from the show) when I heard that Michael Symon (one of The Chew co-hosts) had a new book out called “Playing With Fire” I just had to check this out.
The 72 finger-licking, lip-smacking recipes here draw inspiration from his favorites, including dry ribs from Memphis, wet ribs from Nashville, brisket from Texas, pork steak from St. Louis, and burnt ends from Kansas City–to name just a few–as well as the unique and now signature Cleveland-style barbecue he developed to showcase the flavors of his hometown. Michael offers expert guidance on working with different styles of grills and smokers, choosing aromatic woods for smoking, cooking various cuts of meat, and successfully pairing proteins with rubs, sauces, and sides.
Clarkson Potter sent me a copy of Playing With Fire AND they’re providing a prize pack for one of you! The Grillmaster prize pack includes:
Michael Symon cooks with soul, having grown up in a Greek and Sicilian family. The Cleveland native shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with viewers as an Iron Chef on Food Network and as a co-host on ABC’s The Chew. Michael is the chef and owner of more than 18 restaurants, including Lola and Mabel’s BBQ in downtown Cleveland, locals of B-Spot Burgers throughout the Midwest, and Angeline at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. He is also the author of five cookbooks.
How to win it: Leave a comment with your favorite food to grill!
Contest ends 11:59pm EST on April 21st, 2018. Limited to USA residents only. Must be over the age of 18 to enter.
What in my mind was the best Star Wars film in the last 15 years is finally available to bring home for your endless enjoyment.
Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi—the next action-packed chapter of the Star Wars saga— Earned critical acclaim and theNo. 1 spot atop 2017’s list of highest-grossing films. The visually stunning film welcomes the return of original characters, including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Yoda, R2-D2 and C-3PO and further explores the deepening journey of the saga’s new members, Rey, Finn, Poe, and Kylo Ren. Now families can bring home the movie digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and via Movies Anywhere and now 4K Ultra HD™ Blu-ray, and Blu-ray™ disc. This release also marks Disney’s first title available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in both Dolby Vision™ HDR and Dolby Atmos® immersive audio, delivering consumers a transformative viewing experience.
The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern with Frank Oz, and Benicio Del Toro. Star Wars: TheLastJedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman. J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski and Jason McGatlin are the executive producers.
Bonus features include*:
The Director and the Jedi – Go deep behind the scenes with writer-director Rian Johnson on an intimate and personal journey through the production of the movie—and experience what it’s like to helm a global franchise and cultural phenomenon.
Balance of the Force – Explore the mythology of the Force and why Rian Johnson chose to interpret its role in such a unique way.
Scene Breakdowns
o Lighting the Spark: Creating the Space Battle – Get a close-up look at the epic space battle, from the sounds that help propel the action, through the practical and visual effects, to the characters who bring it all to life.
o Snoke and Mirrors – Motion capture and Star Wars collide as the filmmakers take us through the detailed process of creating the movie’s malevolent master villain.
o Showdown on Crait – Break down everything that went into creating the stunning world seen in the movie’s final confrontation, including the interplay between real-word locations and visual effects, reimagining the walkers, designing the crystal foxes, and much more.
Andy Serkis Live! (One Night Only) – Writer-director Rian Johnson presents two exclusive sequences from the movie featuring Andy Serkis’ riveting, raw on-set performance before his digital makeover into Snoke.
Deleted Scenes – With an introduction and optional commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.
Audio Commentary – View the movie with in-depth feature audio commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.
The upcoming DC Baby Show is a family-friendly mega-event! The DC Baby Show, a JPMA and family media and trade event is happening this year in Washington, DC. JPMA will host its annual trade show to industry insiders on March 20th-23rd. Then on the final day of the JPMA Baby Show will open up to the public for those who purchase tickets as, the DC Baby Show will take place this Saturday March 24th.
I have an exciting offer that will allow my audience 50% off the ticket price. Please use the coupon code: DADAROCKS50. Regular priced tickets to the DC Baby Show are $30 per family (for 2 adults and up to 4 children), or $20 per individual.
You will be able to connect with influencers from the world of parenting and pregnancy and most importantly see, touch and feel the products you may have been reading about on blogs, Instagram or pinned on Pinterest. For a full list of exhibitors click here.
REGISTER HERE with my special coupon code for 50% off.
PROMO CODE: DADAROCKS50
How to win it: Leave a comment with the name of your (or your child’s) favorite Star Wars character.
Contest ends 11:59pm EST on March 21st, 2018. Limited to USA residents only. Must be over the age of 18 to enter.
Have you been watching Star Wars Lego Freemaker Adventures?
“LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures,” the animated television series on Disney XD, is set between Stars Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and stars three siblings who scour the galaxy for useful debris that they use to build new vehicles of their own design. Rowan Freemaker is a spunky Force-sensitive 12-and-a-half-year-old with a thirst for adventure; his quick-witted older sister, Kordi, manages the family business and is the glue that holds the family together; ace pilot and charming rogue, Zander, is the oldest brother and the family’s self-proclaimed starship connoisseur; and R0-GR is their refurbished battle droid from the Clone Wars. When Rowan has visions of an ancient and powerful Jedi starship called The Arrowhead, he and his family set out on an epic quest to rebuild it so they can turn the tide of battle for the Rebellion. Together, they explore new worlds, meet new characters and Star Wars icons, and have unforgettable adventures.
In season two of “LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures,” the three Freemaker siblings—Rowan, Kordi and Zander—have found a new home with the Rebel fleet. But working with the Rebels in their fight to bring down the Empire brings them face to face with brutal Imperial forces, desperate Hutts, conniving Sith Lords and the Emperor’s latest plaything, M-OC.
It’s that time of year again. On Sunday, March 11, the clocks go forward, the days get longer and families get an extra precious hour of daylight. Perfect for moms like me who want our kids outside playing as long as possible.
But what you may not know is that Daylight Savings is also a great time to check your smoke alarms to make sure the batteries are fresh.
Did You Know That Having A Working Smoke Alarm Doubles Your Chances Of Surviving A Fire?
For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside every sleeping area and in every bedroom. Smoke alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings and tested monthly.
Check Your Batteries Once A Year
It’s important to replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, even if alarms are wired directly into your home’s electrical system. You may also want to consider installing a smoke alarm that has a 10-year battery for more peace of mind.
Reminder: Smoke alarms don’t last forever. They typically expire after 8-10 years. So if your alarm is more than 10 years old, it’s time to install a new one.
Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” is ready to come home available on HD digital and on blu-ray / dvd. Thor: Ragnarok is the third movie in the series and certainly features a fresh new tone. This movie carries more humor then the first two movies but I will say this one comes with a pretty large body count. For those dads looking to enjoy this movie with their children keep that in mind. I recommend this movie for ages 8 and up.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok – the destruction of his home world and the end of Asgardian civilization – at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger – the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) – and grapple with his silver-tongued adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the fierce warrior Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the eccentric Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum).
The movie now features exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features include deleted scenes; hilarious outtakes; an exclusive short: part three of the mockumentary “Team Thor,” retitled “Team Darryl” and featuring an eccentric new roommate; the evolution of MCU’s heroes culminating in “Avengers: Infinity War;” numerous making-of featurettes which explore the unique vision of director Taika Waititi; the story’s unstoppable women; the effortlessly charismatic Korg; the tyrannical leader of Sakaar, the Grandmaster; and the film’s comic-book origins; audio commentary by Waititi; and more.
BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):
Blu-ray:
Director’s Introduction
Deleted/Extended Scenes – Deleted Scenes: The Sorcerer Supreme, Skurge Finds Heimdall & Hulk Chases Thor Through Sakaar and Extended Scenes: Thor Meets the Grandmaster, Stupid Avenger vs. Tiny Avenger & Grandmaster and Topaz
Gag Reel – Watch a collection of goofs, gaffes and pratfalls starring the cast
Exclusive Short/Team Darryl – Fresh off being unseated as the ruler of Sakaar, the Grandmaster makes his way to Earth to start a new life. It’s been over a year since Thor left Australia and Darryl has been struggling to pay his rent. Now Darryl needs a new roommate to help make the monthly payments. Unfortunately for Darryl, the Grandmaster was the only one who answered Darryl’s “Roommate Needed” ad and with no viable options, the Grandmaster moves in.
Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years – The Evolution of Heroes – Marvel’s universe is vast and transcends both time and space. We’ll examine the Cinematic Universe as a whole and revisit each of our heroes’ current location and their place in the current MCU timeline, as it all leads up to the one culminating event: “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Getting in Touch with Your Inner Thor – “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi has brought his unique sensibility and sense of humor to the film in a great many ways but it is the evolution of Thor’s own sense of humor, which stands out the most in the new film. This piece explores the impact Chris Hemsworth has made on the development of his widely-loved character and celebrates the mighty cast and crew who reveal the fun and hard work that went into assembling Thor’s eccentric counterparts.
Unstoppable Women: Hela & Valkyrie – This piece explores the strong female characters in “Thor: Ragnarok,” their importance in the MCU, their incredible casting and their epic comic origins.
Finding Korg – A tongue-in-cheek interview with Taika on casting Korg. He describes the difficult search for just the right evolution of the character design, and the nuances of this instantly classic character in the MCU. This conversation will also delve into all the extraordinary visual effects that brought Korg, Sakaar and the worlds of “Thor: Ragnarok” to life.
Sakaar: On the Edge of the Known and Unknown – Sakaar is the collection point for all lost and unloved things. This documentary will answer all known and unknown questions while also exploring the hard work and creativity that went into creating the look and feel of Sakaar. From design inspired by Jack Kirby’s classic artwork to the dedication of the visual development team to the awe-inspiring physical and digital production, you will see this distant world come alive.
Journey into Mystery – A deep dive story piece with the writers, director and producer Kevin Feige about the inspirations for “Thor: Ragnarok” within the comics. Most notably, the contest of champions limited series where the Grandmaster pitted our favorite heroes against one another as he does in the film. This piece also further explores Thor’s comic book origins and classic arcs through interviews with some of the most important comic creators, such as Walt Simonson and Jack Kirby.
8bit Scenes – Final Bridge Battle + Sakaar Spaceship Battle. Dive into these climactic sequences presented in retro video-game format.
Directors Commentary
Digital Exclusives:
Evolution of Thor and Hulk’s Bromance – We’ll examine this Super Hero friendship, which has spanned through several Marvel films. From their original Helicarrier fight match to the now iconic Hulk punch from Avengers 1, see how Marvel’s most powerful Super Heroes become the most extraordinary Super Hero buddies.
Additional Deleted Scenes –Travel to Asgard & Race To The Wormhole
Check out this bonus feature Tribute to Kirby (Bonus Feature)
Disney’s cherished animated classic, “Lady and the Tramp,” will join the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection! As one of the greatest love stories ever told, “Lady and the Tramp” is sure to melt the hearts of generations with its beloved characters, brilliant animation, memorable music and sweet sentiment. Every member of the family will treasure this timeless tale—loaded with three versions of the film, classic bonus material and three all-new features—when it heads home onDigital and Blu-ray & DVD.
“Lady and the Tramp” is the sixth title to join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, which includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. The film takes its place alongside “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pinocchio,” “Bambi” and “The Lion King.” Lady and the Tramp is a classic love story and I know my girls love watching all of the above Disney classics and I cant wait to share this movie with them.
As one of the greatest love stories ever told, “Lady and the Tramp” is sure to melt the hearts of generations with its beloved characters, brilliant animation, memorable music and sweet sentiment. The animated treasure tells the story of Lady, a lovingly pampered cocker spaniel, and Tramp, a freewheeling mutt with a heart of gold. Through the Signature Collection edition, viewers can relive the pair’s thrilling adventures, sing along with the film’s unforgettable songs like “Bella Notte,” and swoon over one of the most memorable movie moments of all time—the iconic scene in which Lady and Tramp share a plate of spaghetti and an accidental kiss.
BLU-RAY & DIGITAL*:
Film Versions
Original Theatrical Edition – Enjoy this cherished Disney classic that captivates audiences of all ages.
Sing-Along Mode – Sing along with all your favorite songs as you watch the movie.
Inside Walt’s Story Meetings – As you view the film, hear reenactments of Walt’s story sessions with animators and see how their ideas were realized on-screen.
New Signature Bonus
Walt & His Dogs – Through archival recordings and photos, hear the tales of the dogs Walt Disney owned and loved over his lifetime.
Stories from Walt’s Office – Take a tour of Walt’s office suite on the Studio lot, carefully re-created to look just as it did when he occupied it.
How to Make a Meatball and Other Fun Facts About “Lady and The Tramp” – Watch a delicious lesson on how to make perfect meatballs with teen chef Amber Kelley and Oh My Disney Show Host Alexys Gabrielle.
Songs
“Peace on Earth”
“What Is a Baby/La La Lu”
“The Siamese Cat Song”
“Bella Notte”
“He’s a Tramp”
Classic Bonus Features
Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad – Walt’s daughter shares memories of her father and Disneyland’s early days, as well as a look at his apartment above the firehouse.
Never-Recorded Song – “I’m Free as the Breeze” – Take a listen to a song originally meant to be sung by Tramp.
Deleted Scenes
Introduction of Boris – Tramp wasn’t always meant to be Lady’s only suitor. Meet Boris the aristocrat and Homer the peasant in this deleted scene.
Waiting for Baby – Lady watches as Jim Dear plans out his new son’s future in this early storyboard.
Dog Show – See the storyboards for this deleted scene in which Lady and Tramp unexpectedly find themselves in the middle of a dog show.
Classic Bonus Features on Digital Only*
Lady’s Pedigree: The Making of “Lady and the Tramp” – A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Walt Disney’s first feature-length animated film based on an original story.
Finding Lady: The Art of the Storyboard – Explore the origins of the storyboard and how they’re used by filmmakers today.
Original 1943 Storyboard Version of the Film – View a unique presentation of the original 1943 storyboards for “Lady and the Tramp.”
PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs – Wild and wacky comedian Fred Willard takes us on an outing to the dog park to learn all about dogs and their owners.
Deleted Scenes
Turning the Tables – In this story-reel presentation, Tramp dreams of a world where dogs run the show and humans are on the other end of the leash.
The Arrival of Baby – In this alternate scene re-created from original storyboards and with original voice talent, Lady makes way for a new arrival.
Baby Arrives – Lady is baffled by the strange goings-on in the house—the arrival of a squealing bundle only deepens the mystery.
Lady’s Sweater – Lady gets a new sweater for her birthday and must figure out an ingenious way to lose it for good.
Trailers
1955 Original Theatrical Trailer – More than just a trailer, this preview features several minutes of footage from the film and introduces each major character.
1972 Theatrical Re-Issue Trailer – This trailer from the 1972 rerelease heralds Disney’s “happiest motion picture.”
1986 Theatrical Re-Issue Trailer – Released theatrically for the 1986 holiday season, this trailer highlights the love story between Lady and the handsome Tramp.
The inaugural U.S. event, LEGO LIVE NYC, is geared towards LEGO fans of all ages, with interactive, life-size builds, workshops with Master LEGO Builders, iconic LEGO activities, and more.
The show will feature 65,000 square feet of immersive experiences, hands-on building activities, live performances and demonstrations for families and visitors of all ages at Pier 36 in Manhattan.
A must-attend event for any LEGO fan, LEGO LIVE NYC will include a range of interactive themed play zones, each offering a distinct experience – from classic building challenges to using coding and robotic technology to program a multi-functional model. Fans will also be able to meet LEGO Master Builders at the Master Lab Help Desk, where builders can get one-on-one advice and show off their creations. Show guests can explore the latest LEGO building sets, compete in exciting building challenges, and take photos with LEGO models based on beloved characters from iconic films and LEGO properties such as Star Wars™ and NINJAGO®. Among the many experiences, families will find:
LEGO® Life: Maximize your show experience via the LEGO Life app, a safe, social network for kids who love to build. The app will offer details on show activities and insider tips, and the LEGO Life team will host exclusive opportunities to build, capture and share unique LEGO creations made at the show with the broader community of LEGO fans in the app.
Meet the Masters on the Main Stage: Meet a. @Lego_Groupand learn building tips and tricks in live demonstrations, competitions and Q&Asessions.
LEGO Architecture:Build together to create the iconic skyscrapers that make up the Manhattan skyline in this community building area.
LEGO Minecraft™: Journey with Steve to build your way through the iconic and ever-popular Minecraft universe with the thousands of specialty LEGO pieces found in this creative building zone.
Coding Corner: Build, code and play with the new LEGO BOOST and heritage LEGO MINDSTORMS®toolkits to test your skill in creating your ownLEGO robot.
LEGO Shop: Browse a huge selection of LEGO sets for builders of all ages, or select from an assortment of “show only” souvenirs.
Tickets are now available and can be purchased at legolive.frontgatetickets.com. $30General Admission, $45 VIG (Very Important Guest) and $75 VIK (Very Important Kid) ticketing options are available.
I’ve rounded up some pretty awesome gifts for Valentine’s Day from our friends at Logitech. If you’re into music, running, home security, gaming or just being super productive with an iPad this list has you covered.
Logitech Circle 2 ($179.99 Wired; $199.99 Wire-free): Logitech Circle 2 is an indoor and outdoor camera that can keep an eye on your front door or back porch with customizable attachments and mounting accessories. Simply place Circle 2 in your desired location, connect to the Logi Circle web or mobile app, and let the 1080p HD security camera do the rest. With customizable motion alerts and built-in smart home integrations, Circle 2 gives you customizable security and ensures that your whole home is covered.
Jaybird RUN ($179.99): Get in shape for Valentine’s Day with Jaybird’s first truly wireless pair of headphones designed for runners. With Jaybird RUN, you can forget about your big date that night and focus on you, your music, and your environment – no wires, no worries. Sweat-proof and water-resistant, Jaybird RUN delivers customizable music from two wireless headphones with a single-button on each headphone for control and a secure comfort-fit for all ears.
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM ($99.99 [but on sale]): Enjoy your music the way it’s meant to be heard with Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM, the super-portable, waterproof, Bluetooth speaker with surprisingly big sound. WONDERBOOM blasts room-filling 360-degree sound that is clear, crisp and full of big, beautiful bass. It also floats on its own and sports a travel-ready hanging loop on top. WONDERBOOM is drop-proof from up to five feet, boasts a 10-hour battery life and 100-foot wireless Bluetooth range. To turn things up, connect two WONDERBOOM speakers together to party louder.
Logitech G433 7.1 Gaming Headset ($99.99): The Logitech G433 7.1 Gaming Headset features advanced audio technologies such as Pro-G drivers and DTS Headphone:X®, in a comfortable, lightweight and stylish design. The multi-platform G433 features high-grade audio in a modern headset that is suitable for use everywhere in a gamer’s life, and comes in four custom colors, Royal Blue, Fire Red, Triple Black and Camo Blue. It supports PCs, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™ and mobile devices.
Logitech Slim Combo ($129.99 for 10.5-inch iPad Pro; $149.99 for 12.9-inch iPad Pro): The Logitech Slim Combo is the love match your new 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch iPad Pro has been waiting for. When the Slim Combo connects with the iPad Pro, it brings the future of personal computing to your lap with a protective cover and detachable keyboard that supports four modes – typing, viewing, FaceTime and reading – so you’ll be ready to work on-the-go.
It has just been over a week since the release of Dreamworks Animation Studios, Netflix Original Series Trolls: The Beat Goes On. Personally, I LOVE IT! After watching the entire season in just under a week, twice (I have kids and everything has to replay) it has provided some very special moments with the kids. The story, the songs, the animation has all resonated so well with my family it has become one of our go to shows to put on first thing in the morning.
One of my most memorable experiences during my trip to Dreamworks Animation Studios was our time in the theater. Almost everything I was a part of was a first for me and with all of the activities this wonderful organization had us part of I was there just taking it all in with amazement and participating as often as I could.
Meeting some of the team leads behind this incredible show was very surreal and it was inspiring to hear all the wonderful things they had to say in relation to its overall process. Also, having the opportunity to see other bloggers who were way more experienced than me asking all kinds of cool questions only added to the experience for the better. It was such a pleasure to meet so many wonderful people from around the country. (more…)
Clarkson Potter sent me a copy of Playing With Fire AND they’re providing a prize pack for one of you! The Grillmaster prize pack includes:
Michael Symon cooks with soul, having grown up in a Greek and Sicilian family. The Cleveland native shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with viewers as an Iron Chef on Food Network and as a co-host on ABC’s The Chew. Michael is the chef and owner of more than 18 restaurants, including Lola and Mabel’s BBQ in downtown Cleveland, locals of B-Spot Burgers throughout the Midwest, and Angeline at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. He is also the author of five cookbooks.
