On Sunday afternoon, I spent an amazing time with one of my favorite beauty & fashion idols! It was Editor-At-Large Mikki Taylor! I first met Mrs.Taylor last year in Orlando, Florida at the Steve Harvey’s Dreamers Academy. I was a bit shy to stop and chat with her.I was thinking the whole time, wow, why didn’t I say anything to her. She really inspires me and I love what Essence magazine represents!

Well this past weekend, I saw her again in Atlanta and I was not going to let her get away! I had the opportunity to interview her about her latest book plus discuss some things she likes to take with her when she travels. I was looking a hot mess that day but the pr person that invited me, informed media to dress down because it was a very casual affair. I still felt uneasy because some people do judge you on your appearance and Mrs.Taylor is a beauty and fashion expert, geesh!

She was such a delight to talk to and gave a very empowering speech to the young girls from the mentoring workshop. When it was my turn to interview her, I told Mrs.Taylor my dream has always been to be a contributing editor with Essence. We talked about her new book and why she wrote it. She said to me that she wanted to bring a style diary to women everywhere, from an inner and outer prospective. Mrs.Taylor went on to say she wanted all women to be “commander in chief” in their lives. She stated that she used Mrs.Obama as a muse because she had noticed a style philosophy in how she carried herself, her conduct,frame of mind plus she is very comfortable in her skin.Michelle Obama’s wardrobe is dictated by her, not the trends.

As far as traveling is concerned, the fashionista loves to check out the climate she is going to, then packs accordingly. She likes to take the “word” with her, music and great skin care products. She loves to be comfortable. Her new book, Commander In Chic: Every Woman’s Guide To Managing Her Style Like A First Lady hits news stands November 29th and I have a copy on the way! I can’t wait to read it! xoxo

We all know and Love Miss Piggy and for her fashion forward style. We had the chance to catch up with the busy diva and chat about her new movie, The Muppets,fashion tips, her relationship with Kermit and more. The Muppets hits theaters November 23,2011.Enjoy the conversation!

What is Disney’s “The Muppets” about?  

It’s moi’s story, of course. It’s about how I am working in Paris and Kermit and the other Muppets come over and beg me to come home. I run the complete gamut of acting—from smiling to frowning. It’s got Oscar® written all over it—and I’m not just talking de La Renta. I have heard rumors that there’s another storyline in the movie that doesn’t involve moi, but who really cares about that?

What is your role in Disney’s “The Muppets?” 

Moi plays moi.  It’s a casting no-brainer. Naturally, all of Hollywood’s top actresses tested for the part—Roberts, Streep, Winslet, Jolie, Bullock—but in the end they decided that there is only one moi and I’m it.

In the movie, I portray the plus-size fashion editor of Vogue Paris—I’m in charge of a whole office full of editors who all want to look just like moi. But of course, Kermit wants me back with the Muppets to save the day and put on some big show.  Can I resist? Well, see the movie and find out.

How does your life differ from the characters you portray on the big screen?

In real life, my wardrobe is much, much bigger and more expensive, but I’m a lot like what you see on the big screen. The camera does add a few pounds—when people meet me in person they’re always amazed at how svelte I am. Take my word for it.

What made you agree to star in Disney’s “The Muppets”?

It was written especially for moi. And they said I could keep all the shoes.

What is the funniest scene in the film?

The scene where Kermie begs me to come back to Hollywood with him is the funniest scene. I’m hilarious; and the frog isn’t half bad either. There are so many very funny scenes in the film… and guess what, moi is in all of them!  Coincidence? I don’t think so.

What was it like working opposite Jason Segel?

Jason is a sweet, sweet man… and a very funny comedic actor. Of course, when I heard he wrote the movie and could write my part even bigger, we became best friends forever.

…Amy Adams?

Amy and moi are so much alike, except for the fact that she’s been nominated for an Academy Award® THREE TIMES and I’ve gotten bupkis!   (Entres nous, I think they just don’t want to nominate anyone outside their species.)

There was a little tension at first, but once Amy learned about not touching the frog, we became fast friends.  We hang together whenever we’re in the same city, which up to now has been… let’s see… never.

…Kermit?

What can I say about Kermie and moi? Separately we’re fabulous and together we are absolute legends—like Astaire & Rogers, Tracy & Hepburn, Oprah & Stedman.

…Walter?

Walter is delightful! He worships the Muppets and especially moi. And as everyone knows, I absolutely adore being worshipped.

You are a fashion icon. What is your secret?

I have a few fashion secrets:

Never wear anything that requires a hoist to get into.

There is no such thing as too much accessorizing.

If it’s expensive, it fits.

Style comes in all shapes and sizes. Therefore, the bigger you are, the more style you have.

What do you do in your free time?

Shop. Eat Chocolate. Pose for photographers. Rinse. Repeat. I’m a diva. I have people to schedule my free time. You have no idea how time consuming that is.

Are you and Kermit together?  

Of course we’re together.  In the movie, we seem to be apart, but that’s just for dramatic tension. In real life, we’re fabulously happy and the longest-running interspecies couple in all of Hollywood.

Why should audiences see Disney’s “The Muppets”?

Because moi is in it!  What a silly question!

It is the best movie I have ever made…and therefore the best movie ever made. Other than that, it’s got a lot of laughs and you’ll have a good time. Are those enough reasons for you?

I’m a huge fan of Actress Sanaa Lathan. Everyone remembers her from her starring role in Love & Basketball. My favorite movie personally was Something New. Sanaa made a pit stop into Atlanta yesterday to promote her new film, Contagion thats in theaters now. She was fun to chat with, showed me how to work my new blackberry and full of advice for newbies wanting to break into acting. She also talked with me about her bohemian chic style and her must haves when she travels. Here is my interview with the carmel coated beauty! Enjoy!

The movie Contagion deals with a worldwide virus epidemic. Has the movie made you more cautious about your surroundings? LOL, I am not that girl. I try not to live my life in fear. I do have a friend who will not touch subways and she brings her own pillow cases to hotels.

Turning 40 is a wonderful life changing experience. How are you dealing with relationships, marriage, kids? I’m taking it one day at a time. Love is a blessing and kids. I am for Love.

Tell me one of your favorite things in your closet? Ooh, I have these one pair of red suede Louboutins that zip up the back. I always pair them with a black dress, they make me feel hott! I wear them a lot lol.

Whats some of your favorite designers and your personal style? Day-to-Day I love Bohemian Chic. I’m a flower child lol. I love Louboutins, Prada,YSL shoes. I wore Rachel Roy to the premiere of Contagion.

Whats your exercise regimen to keep that fab shape? I workout 30 minutes a day on my mini trampoline. I also use this thing called, the rebounder. It really works your core,abs and more.

Whats something that you have to take with you when you travel? I have to have my Magic Bullet blender! I love to juice fruits and vegetable and make shakes. I like to blend something green in it like spinach and I like to use coconut water. The Magic Bullet is portable and I can blend things in my hotel room.

How do you feel about social media? I like it. I have a fan page on Facebook and I’m on Twitter @justsanaa. I keep it real and usually just keep it professional. I’d rather be boring than to regret something later. Its public record you know.

How was it working with the Director & Cast and your role as Aubrey Cheever in the movie Contagion? It was great! I was thrilled with the cast. I’ve always admired director Steven Soderbergh since Traffic. We filmed in Chicago and thats where I met Laurence Fishburne. He is a fine actor. I love different elements when acting, I also like to be challenged in my roles and to be a bit scared.

Any advice for newbies that want to act? Take lots of acting classes. People think that they can just jump right into it. Act as much as you can. I encourage you to study.

Check out the Contagion movie trailer!

In anticipation of the June 8th release of STARSTRUCK: EXTENDED EDITION on DVD, I present you with these Q&A interviews with stars Danielle Campbell & Sterling Knight. Sit back and check it out!

Hi Danielle! What can you tell us about your new movie?

StarStruck is a movie with a great, little love twist. I play a character called Jessica – and the movie’s story is all about her falling for a pop star, played by Sterling Knight. I think the movie’s going to have everyone laughing because it’s funny and it’s really, really sweet.

How would you describe your character?

Jessica is really down to earth and sweet. She’s not obsessed with fame, but her sister is. In fact, her sister is obsessed with Christopher Wilde – who is the pop star played by Sterling in the movie. She’s a huge fan of his!

Are you similar to Jessica in any way?

Well, I can really relate to Jessica because I’m new to Hollywood, just like she is in the movie. Hollywood is a whole new world to me!

Do you live in Hollywood?

I live in Chicago, but I’ve been flying back and forth to LA a lot recently. Los Angeles is a really fun town. There is a lot to do there, so I’ve been enjoying seeing the sights and exploring the landmarks.

What do you like the most about Hollywood?

All of the people in LA are really nice and it’s sunny all the time. Plus, there’s so much to do there. You can go hiking in the hills, you can go swimming in the ocean, you can go surfing… You can do everything. Oh, and the food is amazing!

What’s the worst thing about Hollywood?

Well, it rarely rains in Hollywood – and I love the rain. There are ups and downs to anywhere in the world, but I get frustrated without any rain.

How much fun did you have working with Sterling Knight on StarStruck?

Sterling is a lot of fun. He kept everyone laughing the whole time he was on set and he has this great way of keeping everyone’s energy up. We bonded really well and we loved to tease each other.

What did you tease him about?

He’s not a morning person at all. In fact, you can’t speak to him in the morning. He hates it, so I’d always try to get him into heavy conversations as soon as he got to work. It was always funny to see him struggling with words over breakfast!

Can you tell us any secrets about Sterling?

Sterling is obsessed with cars. He loves them to bits. We were in a Ferrari the other day and he was literally drooling over the car. It’s crazy! It’s his biggest obsession.

Let’s talk fashion, Danielle… Are you a fan of your character’s outfits in StarStruck?

Jessica is really girlie, which is pretty similar to me – but she wears a lot of pink and I’m not the biggest fan of that color. I’m pretty casual, just like Jessica – but I think she wears more dresses than I do.

How would you describe your personal sense of style?

I love wearing jeans. I live in them! You’ll always find me wearing jeans, boots and a T-shirt – but I’m trying to get into fashion more and I want to play around with it. It’s fun to play with fashion and clothes.

What’s the best item in your wardrobe right now?

My favorite jeans are the best thing in there. I wear them everywhere and I love them to bits. They’re amazing!

And what’s the worst thing in there?

Ooh, let me think… [Danielle pauses for a few seconds] I’d probably say it was a sweater that my grandma gave me. Sorry grandma, but it doesn’t even fit me!

Is your wardrobe full of designer clothes now that you’re famous?

No way! I’ve got a few designer things in there, but not many.

Who is your fashion icon?

I love Blake Lively. She’s one of my favorite actresses and she’s got a really classy and beautiful look. She’s somebody that I really look up to and follow.

After starring in your own movie, have you attended many glamorous red carpet events?

I haven’t! I’m still waiting to walk a red carpet. I’m patiently waiting, but I know I’ll get to do one some day.

Are you nervous about your first red carpet event?

To be honest, I’m more excited than nervous. I get excited about everything! I’m excited about auditions, I’m excited about working and I’m excited about visiting Hollywood all the time. I couldn’t be happier!

Have you always wanted to be an actress?

I never really pictured myself as an actress. I just fell into the industry when I was 10 years old.

How did you get your big break?

I was getting my haircut in Chicago when someone approached my mom. They asked me to audition for an agency and it all started from there. I hadn’t even performed in any school plays or anything like that, so it was pretty amazing to be picked up like that.

So what’s your top tip to acting success?

I think it’s all about working hard and learning as much as possible about acting. I took acting classes and I’m always trying to improve myself. Everyone can improve and the more you work in the industry, the better you are going to feel about it.

Do you have any audition tips for youngsters who want to follow in your footsteps and act?

Be yourself. It’s important to get into character when you’re performing a scene, but it’s also important to be yourself when you’re meeting people at castings. Put yourself into the character’s shoes and really follow your instinct when you perform the scene, but it’s fine to be yourself once the scene is over.

Is it natural to be nervous at auditions?

Some people get really nervous, but others don’t. It’s completely random. If nerves hit, you’ve just got to work through them and be confident with yourself. Oh, and stay positive.

Before we go, we’ve got one last question… Would you like to see a StarStruck 2?

Of course I would! I think that would be really cool. I have no idea what we could do in a second movie, but there have been loads of great sequels and I’d love to be part of one. Count me in!

Hi Sterling! Tell us all about your new movie…

StarStruck is a fun-filled romantic comedy. The story is about a ridiculously famous pop star who meets a normal girl and they end up on an adventure together. They learn a lot about each other and a lot about themselves along the way.

Are you a fan of romantic comedies?

Absolutely! I’m definitely a romantic comedy dude because I’m a big romantic at heart. I’m a softy, so it’s always nice to watch movies that make you think that love at first sight is actually possible.

What can you tell us about your character in StarStruck?

Christopher Wilde is the most famous and successful pop star on the face of the planet. He has a skewed perception of reality because that’s what his life is like, but he’s a good person underneath it all and he works hard to do his job properly.

Did you enjoy playing Christopher?

Sure. I love cars, so it was really fun to play a guy that has six of them in his garage! I had the time of my life on this movie.

Have you ever met anyone like Christopher Wilde in real life?

Zac Efron is dangerously close to Christopher Wilde. He doesn’t have as many cars as Christopher, but he is hardworking and he is genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

Where did you meet Zac?

We shot a movie together called 17 Again and we’ve been friends ever since. He’s very similar to Christopher because he’s really, really famous and he’s extremely inspiring to watch.

Would you like to become a pop star like Christopher?

Not really. I’ve always had fun with music, but I prefer to listen to it rather than sing. It was definitely a fun experience to get into a recording studio and see how everything works, but it’s never been a main goal of mine. I don’t think I’ll be actively seeking a pop career.

So there’s no solo Sterling CD in the works?

Not right now. I’m not going to say yes or no, but there’s nothing going on at the moment. I guess we’ll just have to see what happens because you should never say never.

Are you any good at karaoke?

Karaoke? Gosh! Whenever I get up to sing karaoke, I usually try to do a horrible rendition of the AC/DC song, Back In Black. It’s funny to hear that bad voice come out of me!

Are you a fan of karaoke?

Not really. To be honest, I hate it! Getting up to sing is the most frightening thing in the world to me, but occasionally people will force me into it. I’ll be a good sport about it, but I don’t really like it.

Spill the beans, Sterling… Have you ever been starstruck before?

I don’t usually get starstruck, but I met Sir Paul McCartney randomly on Sunset Boulevard a few years ago and I lost it! I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think and I didn’t know how to speak. It was crazy. He was nice enough to talk to my family and me for 10 minutes, but I remember babbling away about nonsense.

Which celebrity would make you starstruck right now?

I think I’d be pretty starstruck over John Mayer. I’m a big fan of his music and I think he’s great. Like I said, I don’t usually lose my cool when I see a celebrity – but I’d be impressed if I got to talk to John Mayer. It would make my day.

Did you have fun shooting StarStruck around Hollywood?

It was really cool to film at some of Hollywood’s most famous landmarks. I’ve been living here for a few years now, so I see the landmarks on a daily basis – but you get desensitized to them when you see them all the time. Then you see them pop up in a movie and you realize they are world-famous. That’s pretty crazy.

What was the highlight to filming in Hollywood?

It was especially cool to film in Hollywood because Danielle – who plays Christopher Wilde’s love interest in StarStruck – had never been to Hollywood before. She’d never seen any of the landmarks and she was really awestruck at the handprints in the concrete at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. It added a great element to the shoot.

Was she blown away by the Hollywood landmarks?

She was! I had so much fun watching her eyes widen when she saw things for the first time. She walked up to the imprint of George Clooney’s shoe to see how big his feet were and things like that. She was really funny.

Did you get recognized when you shot the scenes on the streets of Hollywood?

I got recognized a little bit, but not too much. It was funny because there were times when groups of girls would be screaming my name, but I’d just have to focus and try to remember my lines. It gets a little weird when things like that happen, but it’s all part of the job.

Did you film the Hollywood scenes during the peak tourist season?

We shot at Grauman’s Chinese Theater at five o’clock in the morning, which was horrendous for me. I’m not a morning person at all, but we thought that most sane human beings would be asleep at that time.

Were there many tourists around?

People started to show up and take pictures at around six o’clock. Once people spot a film crew, they start staring – and then a group of younger girls spotted us and started freaking out and screaming. It must have been pretty funny to watch, but it meant that we had to stop shooting whenever the screams got too loud. It’s all the fun of filming in Hollywood really!

BOX-OFF: DISNEY DELIGHTS!

What’s in store for fans on the StarStruck DVD? Sterling has the answers!

Sterling says: “We’ve got some really cool stuff on the StarStruck DVD that I’m really excited about. We’ve got some expanded music sequences that were really fun to shoot and there’s also an entire song that was never heard in the original movie. It’s a really catchy track! If you have as much fun listening to it as I had recording it, you’re in for a HUGE treat. StarStruck is a really cool romantic comedy that will have you laughing your head off. It’s sweet, romantic and a lot of fun to watch. Trust me… You’re going to love it!

Images provided by Click-Comm

Me and my girl Cassandra Ingram

I was on the grind today by going to visit coffee shop owner Cassandra Ingram . She has owned her hip and swanky coffee shop Urban Grind for 4 years now. She lived in Manhattan, Ny for many years and wanted to come to Atlanta and bring a different flavor to coffee shops. She wanted her coffee shop to remind her of all the diversity she saw back home in the big apple.

We sat down and chatted and I loved her spirit. She told me the many challenges she faced when trying to open her own business, and maintaining it. She has lots of repeat customers, that love to just hang out and drink coffee, relax and meet up with friends. Later on you can come back and heat open mic, live music, poetry or see artwork exhibits, you just never know.

Music section

She offered me the Pesto chicken sandwich and a slice of red velvet cake, yum! She said the sandwiches are great sellers and ofcourse the different brands of coffee. Im not a coffee drinker but I would just come to hang out! I really felt comfy and at home in her place.

Pesto Chicken Sandwich

After we chatted, I took her outside to show her my 2010 Cadillac SRX! She loved it and said, “Wow, Cadillac has really stepped it up”. She loved all the room and the fancy tv’s in the back seats.

Cassandra loving the Cadillac SRX

*Please don’t forget to click here to vote for me! If I win I get to give a charity of my choice $2,500! Please support me in this cause!

Here is another successful woman living her dream! Thanks Cassandra for having me out and I wish you much success with your business! Loved the atmosphere and your conversation! Check out the video below!

www.urbangrindatl.com