May 2012 Archives

Over the course of two seasons, fans of the Disney Channel's hit series "Shake It Up" have met quite the variety of characters. One of our favorites is Dina Garcia, the feisty, New Jersey-accented girl who ended up being a perfect match for boyfriend Deuce Martinez. We recently got a chance to learn a bit more about Ainsley Bailey, the talented young actress who brings Dina to life!

IML: Tell us a little about Dina in your own words. How are the two of you alike, and how are you different?

Ainsley: Dina's more of a tomboy than I am. She's very confident and outspoken. She and Deuce are really fun together, they're like an old married couple. They do care for each other and take care of each other, even though they also bicker. Dina and I are both very loyal, good friends and really care about the people who we're close to. I think Dina's more of a daredevil than I am; I'm a little more on the shy side. Dina's not shy at all! It's really fun to play someone so different. It gives you that freedom and permission to step outside of yourself and do things you wouldn't normally do.

IML: Dina wasn't originally supposed to be a regular character. Why do you think Dina's become so popular with viewers?

Ainsley: I think it's good for girls to see someone who isn't the typical girly-girl. Dina's kind of different and I think girls have really responded to that. Her accent is really fun and kids get a kick out of that. People also enjoy seeing the relationship between her and Deuce.

IML: You don't see a lot of really successful relationships in TV shows for tweens. Usually people are breaking up or there's some kind of problem, or whatever. It is nice to have that role model out there.

Ainsley: I think so too. Even though they have arguments and competitions, deep down they really care for each other and it always comes back to that. It's a very sweet relationship to have on the show!

IML: What's the funniest thing that ever happened to you on set?

Ainsley: In one episode, the girls had to eat big tubs of ice cream. Me and Bella and Caroline and Zendaya. We were all really enjoying the ice cream and we had to make sure we had enough for all the takes!

IML: Does the cast get along in real life?

Ainsley: Oh, yes. Everyone's so sweet. I was kind of nervous on my first day there because they already knew each other, and I felt like the new kid. But everyone was so welcoming, and the crew too. Everyone just took me into the family with open arms!

IML: You first started performing when you were around age 10. What made you decide to give it a try?

Ainsley: In elementary school, I tried lots of different things. I tried sports and wasn't very athletic. I sort of fell into acting through a play our community theatre was doing. My friends and I decided to try that and I fell in love with it immediately, it just clicked and I was like, this is where I'm supposed to be. I finally found my niche!

IML: Were you actively looking for something to be your "thing"?

Ainsley: I wanted to try lots of different things. I had an older brother and he was good at sports and stuff, so I wanted to be like him, but I was never quite as good as he was. When I found acting, it was a relief. It was like, okay this makes sense. I'm good at this!

IML: We're sure that's what happens for a lot of kids. So you continued to stay involved with theatre all through school?

Ainsley: Yeah, I did probably seven plays with that community theatre. Then I got to where I wanted to try TV and film. I enrolled in some classes and found a great studio that helped me get on the right track.

IML: So when you were doing all those shows with the community theatre, what do you feel that added to your life?

Ainsley: I really just gave me a sense of belonging and community, of being around other kids who liked to do the same things. I made a lot of my friends in acting. To this day, pretty much all of my friends are people I've met through acting. Once you have that common bond with someone. that is a great building block for a friendship.

IML: We've heard that you have a cause that you really care about. Can you tell us more?

Ainsley: Anything having to do with animal abuse just breaks my heart, so I feel really passionate about humane issues. I've just gotten involved with the SPCA here in Los Angeles. I'm really excited to get started with that and help get the word out about animal adoption as opposed to buying from pet stores or other places. There are so many animals out there that need homes. I want every animal to have a home! I'd really love to volunteer at shelters.

IML: On the surface, "Shake It Up" is a fun show about dancing and friendship. But it seems like there's more to it than that. What would you like viewers to take away from the show?

Ainsley: It's amazing how inspired kids seem to be by the show, especially CeCe and Rocky's story. It inspires them to follow their dreams which is so important, even when it seems like the odds are against you. When I was younger, I was thinking, I want to be an actor but how do I do that? Having that drive and passion...it's so important. I really believe that if it's truly your passion and you're wiling to work hard for it and make sacrifices, it's going to happen. No matter where you come from or what happens, you can always make your dreams come true. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's so true!

IML: Thanks, Ainsley! We loved chatting with you, and good luck!

Ainsley: Thank you!

Mother's Day is kind of an interesting holiday. While most holidays we celebrate in the U.S. are adopted and adapted from other countries, this is one that originated here. In 1912, an American woman named Anna Jarvis was inspired by the memory of her late mother to create the Mother's Day International Association and declare that the second Sunday in May would be recognized as Mother's Day. She was very specific about "mother" being singular, meaning that each family should honor its mothers individually, rather than a much less personal worldwide nod to all moms.

Throughout history, mothers have been celebrated in various places in various ways, but now there was a universal day not tied to religious or cultural traditions. Mother's Day was such a huge "hit" that by the 1920's, Anna Jarvis was horrified by how commercial the holiday had become and spent the rest of her life fighting it! How commercial is Mother's Day? Well, according to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is THE most popular day of the year to eat out. It's estimated that this year, Americans will spend approximately $2.6 billion on flowers, $1.53 billion on pampering stuff like spa gift certificates, and another $68 million on greeting cards. Mama Mia!

Still...it's a lovely and wonderful thing to do, to honor our mothers. Maybe your mom is your best friend, or is totally driving you nuts these days, or you've grown apart but would like to bridge that gap. Maybe there are other women in your life in addition to -- or instead of -- your real mom who are like a mother to you. Whatever your situation, we hope you'll find some way that's special and honest to celebrate the forces of motherhood in your life...a way that you're comfortable with. You're never too old to draw a picture, make your own card, bead some jewelry, pick flowers, or plant something in someone's honor.

Here at IML you can celebrate Mother's Day too, on You Said It pages like The Coolest Thing Mom's Done and More Like Mom or Dad?

Spring (and soon summer) is upon us! And for many IML'ers, that can only mean one thing...it's theme park time! Yes, even as you read this, vacationers of all ages are descending like crazy on countless water parks, adventure lands, zoos, and entertainment mega-worlds. A day at a theme park can be a great way to spend quality time with parents, sibs, relatives, and friends, but it's not always easy to have fun the sun (or rain, or whatever) without going absolutely bonkers, passing out from exhaustion, or demanding to be traded to a less annoying group of people.

So IML has put together this list of Top Ten theme park survival tips for tweens:

1) Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Yeah, yeah, We know this sounds like "grandma advice." But sometimes grandmas are smart! They've been around long enough to know, for example, that those stylish, bejeweled metallic flip-flops will probably shred your feet after about an hour of walking across hot concrete, and that really cute mini-skirt might make it tough to go on certain rides. It's natural to want to look and feel your best, especially if you're spending the day with friends, but you're going to have more fun in the end if you can focus on what you're doing and seeing, not what you're wearing. (Also, keep in mind that you'll very likely get wet at some point in the day, from a ride or water feature or Shamu, so wear something that dries quickly.)

2) Divide and Conquer. We love family unity and friendly togetherness as much as anyone, but to survive a long day at a mega park, you're probably gonna have to split up and take different routes at some point...especially if you have a big group. It'll save a lot of arguing and whining about "what to do next." Don't rely only on cell phones to hook back up, in case technical difficulties come up. Instead, try the old-fashioned method of "Let's meet in front of Raging Rapids at 11 o'clock."

3) Think twice about getting in that looooooong line. Yeah, we know that you want to see the just-opened panda exhibit at the zoo, or take a spin on the brand new ultra-dragon roller coaster at the theme park. But is five minutes of fun worth two hours of waiting in line? If you spent those two hours in a different way, you could take your sweet time exploring the zoo's awesome reptile house, or maybe take five rides on the park's older (but still awesome) coaster instead.

4) Shun the sugar. Wait, what? But yummies are the best part! Of course, treat yourself to one or two things during the day. Everything in moderation! The surge-and crash that comes from sugar overload, plus the physical and emotional yuckiness that too many sweet treats can give you, could put a drain on the whole experience. Drink water instead of soda (or better yet, bring a water bottle and fill it up at fountains to save money and waste), and snack on a pretzel instead of a doughnut. 

5) Know the loopholes. Help the adults you're with to read up on the theme park's special time-saving tricks and programs so you can do less waiting in line. Some popular rides, shows, and attractions may have "fast pass" machines so you can get a timed ticket to come back and skip the main line later in the day. Check insider websites and message boards to pinpoint the best day and time to visit certain attractions.

6) Throw out the checklist. Try not to have a long list of every single thing you "must" do while you're at the park. Remember, it's not about packing in as much as you can during the day, but about having an overall good time. If that means slowing down and skipping a few things, so be it. You may have a better day in the end if you take an hour in the middle to rest with a long lunch than if you powered through to the point of exhaustion.

7) Think like a kid. No matter what age you are, places like zoos and theme parks are more fun if you don't think like a grown-up. If you're with younger children, seeing it through their eyes can really make things magical. Relax and have fun. Don't try to be cool and cynical. Be goofy, especially when you actually meet Goofy.

8) Be money smart. These places are designed to practically Hoover cash out of your pockets. Maybe you rely on the adults you're with to buy you everything at the park but if not, give yourself a personal budget for the day and stick to it by bringing snacks, saving your money for one or two souvenirs you really want, and forgoing stuff that costs extra. After it's all over, you'll most remember your experiences rather than the things you bought, and you may avoid that icky "I can't believe how much money I spent" feeling.

9) Don't be a herd animal. Try not to fall into the same patterns as everyone else at the park...that just leads to crowds and unhappiness. Think different. If nearly everyone packs the lunch spots at noon, try having a light snack at eleven and then lunch at 2, when the food lines are shorter and you won't have to fight for a table. If everybody and his cousin is swarming to the main drag for the 5pm parade, maybe that's the time for you to head to the opposite side of the park and get in the (now much shorter) line for the Mayhem Mountain ride.

10) Fights and feuds are normal, but don't let them spoil things. If you and your friends and family have regular tiffs at home, being in the strange, often stressful environment of a theme park can turn those tiffs into wars. Yes, you're here to have fun...but sometimes the pressure to have that fun (plus the heat, and crowds, and exhaustion) can make it harder to come by! Try to resolve conflicts on the spot using compromises and communication. If you have to give in more than you normally would, or put up with something you would never stand for at home, then so be it. You'll probably find that all the cool distractions will help you forget your disagreement and move on to creating great memories together.

Now it's your turn: share your own stories and tips on our Theme Park You Said It page. You can also get more advice in our Family Vacations section. 

Good luck, and have fun!